Chapter 4 - Twenty Riders at Midnight
The first bullet struck stone.
The second came through the mission window.
Elias shoved Naya behind the altar.
Thomas crawled toward him.
“There's a tunnel.”
Elias stared.
“What?”
“Old priests used it during raids. Entrance behind the sacristy.”
“You knew about this place?”
“I chose it.”
Elias nearly hit him.
“You led us here?”
“I was trying to intercept you before Calder did.”
Another volley hit the mission.
Naya shouted, “Argue later!”
Both brothers looked at her.
Elias almost smiled.
“She's right.”
Thomas glanced between them.
“Who is she to you?”
Naya answered before Elias could.
“Wife.”
Thomas stared.
Elias closed his eyes.
“Not now.”
Despite bullets striking the building, Thomas actually laughed.
They reached the sacristy.
Thomas moved an old cabinet, revealing a narrow opening.
Naya went first.
Elias followed.
Thomas entered last and pulled the cabinet back.
The tunnel smelled of dust and earth.
They crawled for what felt like half a mile before emerging in a dry ravine behind the mission.
Three horses waited there.
Elias looked at Thomas.
“You planned this.”
“I've been running from Calder longer than you.”
They rode before Calder discovered the tunnel.
Near dawn, they reached an isolated ranch.
An elderly Mexican rancher named Mateo Alvarez opened the door.
“Thomas.”
“We need help.”
Mateo saw Naya.
His expression changed.
“Taza's daughter?”
Naya nodded.
Mateo embraced her.
For the first time Elias saw her cry.
Not from fear.
From grief.
Mateo had known her father.
Inside the ranch house, Thomas opened his ledger.
Names.
Payments.
Land deeds.
Bribes.
Murders disguised as accidents.
Sheriff Cole appeared repeatedly.
So did territorial officials.
“What does Calder want?” Elias asked.
“Control of the San Pedro water corridor,” Thomas answered. “Whoever controls water controls ranching, mining, settlement—everything.”
“And Naya's document?”
“The missing piece.”
Thomas looked at her.
“Taza recorded the original boundaries before Calder altered them. Naya has his signed testimony.”
“So together…”
“We can destroy Calder.”
Naya stared at Thomas.
“You promise father safe.”
Thomas's face fell.
“Yes.”
“You fail.”
“Yes.”
She stood.
“I not forgive.”
Thomas nodded.
“You shouldn't.”
Then Naya surprised him.
“But help finish.”
Thomas looked up.
She touched the leather pouch.
“For father.”
That afternoon, Elias found her near the corral.
“You okay?”
“No.”
It was the first honest no she'd given him.
Elias stood beside her.
After a while, Naya asked, “Woman?”
“What woman?”
“Your heart.”
Elias went still.
Naya looked at him.
“You carry someone.”
He considered lying.
Instead he said, “Sarah.”
He told her.
Sarah had been his fiancée.
Years earlier, Elias had promised to return from a cattle drive before winter.
He hadn't.
A flash flood delayed him.
While he was gone, raiders attacked the ranch.
Sarah died.
Elias had spent years believing that if he'd been there, she might have lived.
Naya listened.
Then said quietly, “You think love makes death.”
Elias frowned.
“No.”
“Yes.”
She touched his chest.
“You think if love, lose.”
He couldn't answer.
Naya stepped away.
“My father love me.”
Her eyes filled.
“He die.”
She wiped a tear angrily.
“I still glad he love.”
Then she walked back toward the house.
Elias remained by the corral.
That night, Mateo's dogs began barking.
Thomas appeared at the door.
“Riders.”
Elias grabbed his rifle.
But the riders weren't Calder's men.
There were six Apache horsemen.
Their leader dismounted.
Naya stepped outside.
Her face went pale.
“Who is he?” Elias whispered.
Mateo answered.
“Keme.”
“Keme?”
“Naya's promised husband.”
Elias looked at Naya.
Then at the warrior.
Then back at Naya.
She had told him he was her husband.
Apparently someone else had already been given the job.
May you like
And Keme did not look pleased to find Elias standing beside her.
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