Chapter 10 - The Truth Beneath Rattler Creek
The federal marshal arrived the next morning.
His name was Nathaniel Cole.
He listened.
That alone distinguished him from most men involved.
He examined the babies.
The contracts.
The ledger.
Then he said something Silas did not expect.
“I've been investigating Voss for eighteen months.”
Boon stared.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because your deputy worked for him.”
Fair point.
Cole explained that Voss's operation extended beyond Rattler Creek.
The false charges against Mian and Atseli were desperate attempts to regain control of witnesses.
The marshal tore the warrants in half.
Mian nearly collapsed.
But Cole had worse news.
Voss had disappeared with money, weapons and several loyal men.
They believed he was hiding in tunnels beneath an abandoned silver mine.
Silas knew the mine.
It connected to old passages beneath the ridge.
One tunnel opened less than a mile from Ward Ranch.
That evening, Silas heard an explosion.
The ground shook.
Water began pouring through the lower pasture.
Voss had destroyed an old retaining wall.
A flood of freezing mine water raced toward the ranch.
“Get the babies uphill!” Silas shouted.
Everyone ran.
Water tore through fences.
Livestock scattered.
Silas freed horses.
Boon helped Mian.
Atseli carried both babies uphill.
Then Silas saw a small figure trapped near the flooded creek.
Eli Mercer.
The boy who had witnessed the barn burning.
“ELI!”
Silas ran.
The current swept the boy from his feet.
Silas jumped into the freezing water.
He caught Eli's coat.
The current dragged both downstream.
Atseli screamed from the hill.
Silas struck a fallen tree.
Pain exploded through his shoulder.
He held on.
Boon threw a rope.
Silas caught it.
They pulled Eli ashore.
The boy coughed.
Alive.
Silas collapsed.
Across the valley, a rider stood on the ridge.
Caleb Voss.
He watched.
Then disappeared.
Voss had declared war.
And Silas knew where he would strike next.
May you like
The town itself.
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