Chapter 15 - Silas Boon’s Last Stand
Rebuilding became a town project.
Not everyone helped.
Some still resented the scandal.
Some had benefited from Harland.
But enough came.
Silas designed a larger house.
Ruth asked why.
“Seven women take space.”
Pearl laughed.
“Eight if Eda stays.”
Eda threw a rag at her.
Silas turned red.
For the first time, life contained ordinary embarrassment instead of terror.
Then Clem escaped during transfer.
Again.
This time he returned for revenge.
Silas found him near Abigail's grave.
Clem held a revolver.
“You ruined everything.”
Silas stood still.
“No. You did.”
“You should've kept walking that day.”
“Probably.”
Clem laughed bitterly.
“You and that word.”
Silas looked toward the approaching road.
He had seen dust.
Amos.
Federal officers.
Clem hadn't.
“You going to shoot me?” Silas asked.
“I thought about it.”
“Then?”
“I want you afraid first.”
Silas almost smiled.
“You made that mistake before.”
Clem frowned.
“Which?”
“Thinking fear means obedience.”
Behind him came a voice.
“We won't obey.”
Eda.
She stood beside Amos.
Clem turned.
Officers surrounded him.
No shootout.
No glorious death.
Clem simply understood there was nowhere left to run.
He dropped the gun.
Eda watched the irons close around his wrists.
This time she felt no triumph.
Only release.
Clem looked at her.
“All this over seven dollars.”
Eda shook her head.
“No.”
She looked at the women behind her.
“All this because you thought seven lives were worth less.”
Clem was taken away.
And this time he never returned.
May you like
But the greatest change at the Boon ranch was still waiting to happen.
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