Chapter 9 - A Grave Without a Body
A former mine worker named Silas Boone led them into the hills.
“I remember Tomas,” he said.
“He saved my life.”
Naira's heart pounded.
“When?”
“Two years ago.”
Silas brought them to a dry riverbed.
“Voss's men were moving prisoners. Tomas escaped.”
Naira could barely speak.
“Then?”
“He was shot.”
Elias looked at Silas.
“Did he die?”
“I don't know.”
Silas pointed toward the mountains.
“He disappeared into those canyons.”
They searched.
On the second day, Naira found turquoise.
One bead.
Then another.
A trail.
Tomas had been leaving markers.
The trail ended at a grave.
Naira collapsed beside it.
There was no name.
Elias dug carefully.
The grave contained a man.
But it wasn't Tomas.
Beside the body was a message carved into stone:
T.N. WENT EAST.
Naira laughed through tears.
“He survived.”
Maybe.
For the first time, hope became more painful than grief.
Because hope could still be taken away.
May you like
And someone was riding toward them through the canyon.
Captain Harlan Voss had finally come himself.
