Chapter 12 - Silas Ward Stands Alone
Silas reached the ranch first.
The cabin door stood open.
Inside, Caleb Voss waited.
He held Mian at gunpoint.
Luli cried nearby.
Silas stopped.
“Let her go.”
Voss laughed.
“You ruined everything.”
“No.”
Silas slowly lowered his rifle.
“You built something that required everybody to stay afraid. That's not the same as me ruining it.”
Voss pressed the revolver closer to Mian.
Silas's eyes never left hers.
She was frightened.
But she was thinking.
Silas knew that look.
Behind Voss sat the stove.
Beside Mian was a pot.
Silas said quietly, “Mian.”
Her eyes flicked toward him.
“Remember the first night?”
Voss frowned.
“What?”
Silas continued.
“Water first.”
Mian understood.
She grabbed the pot and threw the water into Voss's face.
It wasn't boiling.
It didn't need to be.
He recoiled.
Silas lunged.
The revolver fired into the ceiling.
They crashed against the table.
Voss struck Silas.
Silas hit back.
Years of rage surfaced.
Anna.
The barn.
The threats.
Mian starving.
Atseli bleeding.
The babies.
Silas pinned Voss.
His fist rose.
Then stopped.
Outside came hoofbeats.
Boon entered.
Silas slowly stood.
“He's yours.”
Voss stared at him in disbelief.
“You could kill me.”
“Yes.”
“Why don't you?”
Silas looked toward Luli.
“Because this house has seen enough death.”
Boon handcuffed Voss.
Silas picked up the crying baby.
Luli immediately quieted against his chest.
He looked down.
This time, holding a child did not return him to the night Anna died.
May you like
For the first time, it made him think about tomorrow.
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