Chapter 10 - The Night the Ranch Burned
They watched from the hills.
The house collapsed shortly before dawn.
Joelle cried.
Pearl held her.
Silas said nothing.
Eda stood beside him.
“I'm sorry.”
Silas looked at the flames.
“So am I.”
“Your home—”
“Home isn't timber.”
He looked at the seven women.
Not one had left.
“It took me too long to learn that.”
They moved into an abandoned church outside town.
Harland announced Silas had burned his own property to destroy evidence.
That lie angered people.
Especially because several townsmen had seen Harland's riders heading toward the ranch.
Mrs. Talbot spoke first.
Then the blacksmith.
Then a stable boy.
Harland threatened arrests.
The town grew quieter.
But not obedient.
Meanwhile, Amos contacted the federal marshal.
He was coming.
Three days.
Harland needed the evidence before then.
Silas needed to survive three days.
Then Joelle disappeared.
Her blanket was empty.
The church door stood open.
A note remained.
They have Margaret.
Joelle had gone voluntarily.
Eda's face collapsed.
“She went after her sister.”
Silas saddled immediately.
“Then we go after Joelle.”
This time nobody suggested leaving the others behind.
All seven had begun the journey together.
Six now rode into darkness to recover the seventh.
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And somewhere beyond town, Joelle was about to discover whether the sister she had mourned for years was truly alive.
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