Chapter 6 - The Price of Two Children
Mateo wanted to ride immediately.
Thomas stopped him.
“That gets them killed.”
“They are my grandchildren!”
“And Calder knows you'll react.”
Elias studied the message.
“He wants Naya and the evidence.”
Naya stepped forward.
“I go.”
“No.”
She looked at Elias.
“Children.”
“I know.”
“I go.”
“And then Calder kills you and the children.”
Naya's jaw tightened.
“Then plan.”
Elias looked at Thomas.
For the first time in six years, the brothers thought the same way.
They would give Calder exactly what he expected.
Almost.
At dawn, Naya rode toward Red Creek carrying the leather pouch.
Elias followed at a distance.
Thomas and Mateo took another route.
Red Creek looked peaceful.
That made it worse.
Sheriff Cole stood outside the jail.
Silas Calder waited beside him.
Two children sat inside a wagon.
Alive.
Naya dismounted.
Calder smiled.
“Smart girl.”
“Children first.”
Calder laughed.
“You're negotiating?”
Naya stared at him.
“Yes.”
Something about her confidence unsettled him.
“Give me the papers.”
“Children.”
Calder signaled.
One child climbed down.
Then the second.
They ran toward Mateo, who appeared at the end of the street.
Calder extended his hand.
Naya gave him the pouch.
He opened it.
Empty.
His smile vanished.
Elias stepped from the general store.
“Looking for something?”
Calder reached for his gun.
Rifles appeared on rooftops.
Keme and his riders.
Thomas had recruited them overnight.
Sheriff Cole shouted, “Everyone lower your weapons!”
Then Thomas walked into the street.
“Interesting advice from a wanted man.”
Cole went pale.
Thomas held up copies of the ledger.
“Twenty copies.”
Calder's expression changed.
Thomas smiled.
“You kill us, they still reach Prescott.”
For the first time, Calder looked afraid.
But desperate men were dangerous.
Calder grabbed Naya.
His revolver pressed against her side.
Elias raised his rifle.
“Let her go.”
Calder backed toward a horse.
“Drop it.”
Naya looked at Elias.
Not frightened.
Watching.
Waiting.
Elias slowly lowered his rifle.
Calder smiled.
Then Naya drove her heel into his foot and twisted away.
Elias moved.
Keme moved.
Thomas moved.
But Naya was fastest.
She drew her knife and held it beneath Calder's chin.
“Come take,” she whispered.
Calder froze.
The same words she'd spoken in the desert.
This time, he was the one surrounded.
Territorial marshals arrived before noon.
Thomas had sent for them days earlier.
Sheriff Cole was arrested.
Calder was chained.
But as they loaded him into the wagon, Calder smiled at Elias.
“You think this is over?”
Elias said nothing.
Calder leaned closer.
“Ask your brother what really happened to Sarah.”
Elias went cold.
Thomas's face lost all color.
Elias slowly turned.
“What does he mean?”
Thomas didn't answer.
May you like
And Elias knew immediately that whatever came next would hurt worse than any bullet.
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