Chapter 7 - The Canyon Trap
Naelli knew she was being followed.
That was why she had left.
She led Scar-face toward Red Canyon, away from Dry Creek.
What she did not know was that Elias was following both of them.
Scar-face caught her near the canyon mouth.
“Give me the papers.”
“They are not with me.”
His smile disappeared.
“You're lying.”
“Then search.”
He did.
Nothing.
“You used yourself as bait.”
Naelli smiled faintly.
“Yes.”
He struck her.
She fell.
Before he could reach for his gun, Elias’s voice echoed.
“Touch her again.”
Scar-face turned.
Elias stood above them with a rifle.
“You really are stupid, Carver.”
“Been hearing that lately.”
Scar-face grabbed Naelli and placed a pistol near her.
Elias froze.
“Drop it.”
Naelli met Elias’s eyes.
A childhood memory passed between them.
The flooded creek.
A signal they had once invented.
Three fingers.
Elias subtly moved his hand.
One.
Two.
Three.
Naelli dropped.
Elias fired.
The pistol flew away.
Scar-face ran.
Naelli tackled his legs.
Elias reached them.
This time Scar-face did not escape.
Burke arrived an hour later with deputies.
Scar-face finally gave them everything.
Mercer.
The killings.
The forged deeds.
The bounty.
The fire.
Enough to ensure Mercer would never return to Dry Creek as a free man.
But Elias wasn't celebrating.
He turned to Naelli.
“You left.”
“To protect you.”
“You don't get to decide whether I need protecting.”
“I did not want your home burned again.”
“My home wasn't the house.”
Naelli stared.
Elias stepped closer.
“My home became wherever you were the moment you walked through that gate.”
Her eyes filled.
“Elias…”
He stopped.
He would not force words she wasn't ready to hear.
“We've lost thirty years,” he said. “I'm not losing another day because you're afraid to stay.”
Naelli whispered, “I am afraid.”
“So am I.”
For once, that was enough.
She took his hand.
And together they rode home.
But Dry Creek was about to learn that defeating Mercer was only the beginning.
Because the territorial records revealed something astonishing.
May you like
Naelli legally owned more land around Dry Creek than Mercer ever had.
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