Chapter 11 - The Men Who Returned
Spring brought danger back.
Caleb Voss had disappeared after Bell's arrest.
Now he returned with four men who believed the settlement's witnesses had destroyed their futures.
They attacked Black Mesa first.
Rourke survived.
Two barns burned.
Then Voss headed south.
Elias organized defenses.
But this time he did something different.
He did not try handling everything alone.
He trusted the elders.
Rourke.
Thomas.
Marshal Hayes.
Aayoka.
Even Nara, who insisted she could shoot better than Thomas.
Thomas wisely did not challenge the claim.
Voss arrived expecting frightened isolated families.
Instead he found an entire community prepared.
He never reached the cabins.
Hayes arrested him after a brief confrontation near the ridge.
Voss stared at Elias while being taken away.
“You used to be smarter, Ward.”
“How?”
“You stayed alone.”
Elias looked toward Aayoka.
“No.”
He smiled faintly.
May you like
“I used to be easier to defeat.”
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