They rode until the horses could no longer run.
Dawn found Caleb and Elena deep inside a maze of sandstone cliffs, both animals foaming at the mouth.
Caleb finally raised a hand.
"We stop."
Elena dismounted without argument.
That worried him.
During the escape, she had seemed carved from iron.
Now, when her boots touched the ground, her knees buckled.
Caleb caught her.
"I'm fine."
"That's usually what people say right before proving they aren't."
She pushed away from him.
"I'm fine."
Then Caleb saw the blood.
A dark stain spread along the fabric near her ribs.
His expression hardened.
"You've been shot."
"Grazed."
"When?"
"Leaving the canyon."
"And you didn't mention it?"
"We were busy."
Caleb muttered something under his breath.
"What?"
"Nothing polite."
He led her beneath an overhang.
The wound was indeed a graze, but a deep one.
Caleb tore a strip from the bottom of his shirt.
Elena watched.
"Your wardrobe cannot afford that."
"My wardrobe has survived worse."
He cleaned the wound with water.
She flinched but made no sound.
"You don't have to pretend it doesn't hurt."
"I'm not pretending."
"You're terrible at lying."
"So are you."
Caleb looked up.
"What does that mean?"
"You have been lying since we met."
"About what?"
"Why Silas hates you."
Caleb's hands stopped.
"I told you."
"You told me about rifles."
"That's why."
"No."
She studied him.
"That is part of why."
Caleb tied the bandage.
"You're wounded. Save your strength."
"And you change the subject badly."
"Another useful observation."
Elena leaned against the rock.
"Silas looked at you like a man whose hatred is personal."
"It is."
"Why?"
Caleb stood.
"Because I betrayed him."
"By stopping guns from being sold?"
Caleb picked up his canteen.
"There was more."
Elena waited.
Caleb had spent years avoiding the memory.
But they were being hunted because of it now.
She deserved the truth.
"Silas had a younger brother."
Elena remained quiet.
"Daniel Crowe. Nineteen years old. Thought Silas hung the moon."
Caleb stared at the canyon floor.
"When I stole the wagon, Daniel followed me."
"To stop you?"
"At first."
Caleb swallowed.
"But once he learned who was buying the rifles, he agreed to help."
"What happened?"
"Silas caught us."
Wind moved through the rocks.
Caleb's voice became quieter.
"There was shooting. Daniel was between us. I fired at Silas."
Elena understood before he finished.
"You hit Daniel."
Caleb nodded.
"He died before sunrise."
"I'm sorry."
"I pulled the trigger."
"You were aiming at Silas."
"I pulled the trigger."
There was no anger in his voice.
Only a fact he had punished himself with for eight years.
Elena said, "And Silas blamed you."
"He should."
"No."
Caleb looked at her.
"You think guilt and responsibility are the same thing."
"Aren't they?"
"Not always."
"You weren't there."
"No. But I know what it is to carry something because putting it down feels like betraying the person you lost."
Caleb studied her.
She looked away.
"My mother."
He had heard nothing about her except that Elena carried the name she'd chosen.
"She died?"
"When I was fourteen."
"I'm sorry."
"So was my father. He became afraid after that."
"Afraid of losing you."
"Yes."
Elena stared toward the horizon.
"That is why he said what he said to you."
Caleb remained silent.
"He would never normally promise me to someone. He knew I would refuse."
"Good."
A faint smile touched her mouth.
"You seemed offended by the idea."
"I was."
"Why?"
Caleb blinked.
"Why?"
"Most men would consider a beautiful woman a generous reward."
Caleb glanced at her.
"You said beautiful. Not me."
Her eyebrows rose.
He failed to hide the smallest smile.
Elena shook her head.
"You're impossible."
"So I've been told."
But the moment of humor vanished when they heard distant hoofbeats.
Caleb stood instantly.
Silas.
"How many?"
Elena listened.
"Four. Maybe five."
Caleb looked at their exhausted horses.
They couldn't outrun fresh mounts.
He studied the terrain.
A narrow passage cut between two formations.
"Can you ride another mile?"
"Yes."
"You sure?"
"No. But I'll do it."
They mounted.
Caleb led them into the passage.
The canyon narrowed.
Exactly what he wanted.
Half a mile later, he found a place where loose rock rose steeply above the trail.
He dismounted.
"Take both horses."
Elena frowned.
"What are you doing?"
"Buying time."
"No."
"Elena—"
"We escaped together."
"And we'll stay escaped if one of us gets back to your people."
"You believe I'm leaving you."
"I believe you're smart enough to understand what has to happen."
Her face hardened.
"I understand perfectly. You intend to stand here pretending your life is worth less than mine."
"That's not what I'm doing."
"It is exactly what you're doing."
Hoofbeats grew louder.
Caleb handed her the reins.
"Go."
She took the reins.
For one second, he thought she would obey.
Instead, she tied both horses behind a rock.
Then drew Caleb's revolver.
"What are you doing?"
"Being disappointing."
"This isn't funny."
"I agree."
She crouched beside him.
"How do we stop them?"
Caleb stared.
"You're stubborn."
"So are you."
"Fine."
He pointed upward.
"See the loose shelf?"
"Yes."
"If we drop enough rock after the first riders enter, they'll be separated from the rest."
Elena nodded.
"Then?"
"Then we hope your claim about being a better shot is true."
They climbed.
Minutes later, four riders entered the passage.
Silas wasn't among them.
The first two passed below.
The third followed.
Caleb shoved against a large loose stone.
Nothing.
Elena joined him.
Together they pushed.
The rock shifted.
Then fell.
A cascade followed.
The passage exploded in dust.
One horse reared.
Two men were cut off from the others.
Caleb dropped from the ridge.
The first outlaw barely turned before Caleb slammed into him.
They hit the ground.
The outlaw reached for his revolver.
Caleb punched him.
Once.
Twice.
The man drew a knife.
Elena fired.
The blade flew from his hand.
Caleb looked toward her.
"Show-off."
"You're welcome."
The second outlaw charged her.
Elena stepped aside and drove the butt of the revolver into his jaw.
The man collapsed.
Caleb stared.
"Better shot, better rider, and you fight."
"My father has sons."
"You have brothers?"
"Three."
"That explains everything."
Behind the rockslide, the remaining riders shouted.
They couldn't get through quickly.
Caleb grabbed rifles and ammunition from the fallen men.
Then he and Elena rode.
By midday they reached a dry riverbed.
Caleb recognized one of Nahko's trail markers.
They were close to Apache country.
Relief had just begun when Elena stopped her horse.
Caleb turned.
"What?"
She looked at the ground.
Tracks.
Many.
Fresh.
Too many to be Silas's men.
Elena dismounted and examined them.
"My brothers."
Caleb exhaled.
"Finally some good news."
She stood slowly.
"No."
Caleb frowned.
"What?"
"They shouldn't be here."
"Maybe your father sent them."
"He told them not to follow."
A rifle clicked behind them.
Caleb lifted his hands.
Apache warriors emerged from both sides of the wash.
At least twelve.
One stepped forward.
Younger than Caleb.
Tall.
Expression furious.
Elena whispered, "Tomas."
Her oldest brother.
Tomas looked at Caleb.
Then Elena.
Then the bandage at her side.
His face changed.
Caleb knew immediately what he thought.
"Wait," Elena said.
Tomas struck Caleb before she could finish.
Caleb fell.
"Tomas!"
Her brother drew a knife.
"He took you."
"No!"
"He hurt you."
"No!"
Tomas stepped toward Caleb.
Elena moved between them.
"He rescued me."
Tomas stopped.
"Move."
"No."
"He is the reason—"
"The reason I am alive."
Tomas stared at her.
Elena's voice sharpened.
"Put the knife away."
Slowly, reluctantly, Tomas obeyed.
Caleb wiped blood from his mouth.
"Family reunion going well."
Elena shot him a look.
"Do not help."
The warriors escorted them back toward Nahko's camp.
They arrived at sunset.
Elena's father was waiting.
For a moment, the chief did not move.
Neither did Elena.
Then she walked toward him.
Nahko's composure shattered.
He embraced his daughter.
She closed her eyes against his shoulder.
The camp erupted with relief.
Women cried.
Children ran forward.
Elena's brothers surrounded her.
Caleb stood apart.
That felt natural.
He was good at standing outside other people's happiness.
Nahko finally approached him.
"You brought her home."
"She brought herself home as much as I did."
Nahko glanced toward his daughter.
"That sounds like her."
Then his expression became serious.
"Silas Crowe?"
"Alive."
Nahko's jaw tightened.
Caleb said, "He's moving rifles. He wants access through your southern canyon."
"I know."
"You knew about him?"
"I knew a man had returned. I did not know it was Crowe until after Elena was taken."
Caleb looked at him.
"And me?"
"I knew he wanted you."
"Yet you sent me."
Nahko did not look away.
"I gave you the choice."
Caleb's anger rose.
"You used me."
"Yes."
The directness stopped him.
Nahko continued.
"And if you wish to hate me for it, I will accept that."
Elena approached.
"Father."
Nahko looked at her.
She spoke quietly.
"You promised me to him."
Pain crossed his face.
"I was afraid."
"You had no right."
"I know."
Silence.
Nahko lowered his head.
"I know."
That mattered.
Not enough to erase it.
But enough to begin repairing something.
Then Nahko faced Caleb.
"A promise was made."
Caleb immediately shook his head.
"No."
Several people looked toward him.
He continued.
"Your daughter doesn't owe me anything."
Elena studied him.
Caleb faced her instead.
"You are home. That's all I came to accomplish."
"And now?"
"Now I leave."
Something flashed across her face.
"You always leave?"
The question hit harder than Tomas's fist.
Caleb shrugged.
"It's what I'm good at."
He turned toward Buck.
Elena said, "Silas will come."
Caleb stopped.
"Yes."
"He wants you."
"Yes."
"He wants the canyon."
"Yes."
"And you believe leaving protects us?"
Caleb said nothing.
Elena stepped closer.
"You told my father that my future was my choice."
"It is."
"Then listen to my choice."
Caleb turned.
"I choose to fight the man who tied me to a post."
"Elena—"
"And I choose not to let the man who came after me ride away simply because he is afraid of belonging somewhere."
The entire camp had become quiet.
Caleb looked at Nahko.
The older man's expression was almost amused.
Caleb sighed.
"I preferred you tied to the post."
Elena's eyes narrowed.
"I'm joking."
"You are not good at it."
"So I've discovered."
Then a rider appeared beyond the camp.
One of Nahko's scouts.
His horse was lathered.
He shouted before reaching them.
"Men coming from the west!"
Nahko turned.
"How many?"
"More than twenty."
Caleb's face hardened.
"Silas."
The scout shook his head.
"No."
Everyone went still.
"Soldiers."
Caleb frowned.
"Why would soldiers come here?"
The scout looked toward him.
"They are asking for Caleb Mercer."
Caleb felt the past close around him again.
But this time he wasn't sure whether the men coming intended to arrest him—
or help Silas finish what he had started.