The abandoned mining office stood less than two miles outside Ashford Crossing.
Nobody had used it in a decade.
Half the roof had collapsed.
Windows were boarded.
The old Redwater Mining Company sign hung sideways above the entrance, squeaking whenever the wind moved.
According to Crowe's riders, Judge Shaw's ledger was somewhere inside.
According to Caleb, walking directly through the front door would be foolish.
According to Eleanor, waiting another day was worse.
They argued in Abram Cole's blacksmith shop.
"No," Caleb said.
Eleanor folded her arms.
"You don't own that word."
"I know."
"Then stop using it like you do."
Abram stared intensely at a horseshoe, pretending not to listen.
Caleb leaned across the workbench.
"Crowe burned my barn because we went to Silverton. You think he left his most dangerous evidence sitting unguarded?"
"No."
"So—"
"Which is why he'll expect you."
Caleb stopped.
Eleanor pointed at herself.
"Not me."
His expression darkened immediately.
"Absolutely not."
"You just said he expects you."
"Then we disappoint him together."
"He knows we're together."
Abram cleared his throat.
"She has a point."
Caleb slowly turned.
Abram became very interested in the horseshoe again.
Eleanor continued.
"People in town still think I'm hiding at your ranch."
"Somebody saw us return."
"Maybe. But Crowe's men will watch you."
"What are you proposing?"
"I enter through the back during church service tomorrow. Half the town will be near the chapel, including Crowe if he wants everyone to see what a respectable man he is."
Caleb stared at her.
"No."
She smiled tightly.
"You're doing it again."
The next morning, Caleb accompanied her anyway.
He stayed two hundred yards away among the trees while Eleanor approached the mining office from behind.
The back door was chained.
She found a broken window partially concealed by brush.
Removing her heavy coat, Eleanor squeezed through.
Inside, dust covered everything.
Broken desks.
Rusting tools.
Stacks of rotting paper.
She stood still.
Think.
If Crowe had moved a ledger here, he would hide it somewhere protected from weather.
Not upstairs.
Roof leaked.
Not near windows.
Perhaps—
A floorboard creaked.
Eleanor froze.
Someone else was inside.
Footsteps crossed the room beyond the wall.
She crouched.
A man's voice muttered.
Then another.
"Search everything."
Crowe's men.
Perhaps they had come to remove the ledger.
Eleanor moved quietly toward a narrow hallway.
Two men entered the main room.
She recognized one from Crowe's ranch.
"Boss says Rourke went to Silverton."
"He came back."
"Exactly why this needs moving."
Eleanor's pulse jumped.
Moving what?
The first man walked toward an old iron stove.
He knelt.
Reached behind it.
A panel opened.
Eleanor held her breath.
He pulled out a leather-bound book.
The ledger.
The second man turned toward the window.
"Thought I heard something."
Eleanor backed away.
Her heel touched a metal bucket.
It rolled.
Both men spun.
"Who's there?"
Eleanor ran.
She heard shouting behind her.
The broken window was ten yards away.
Too far.
She entered a side office and slammed the door.
No lock.
A shoulder struck from the other side.
Wood cracked.
Eleanor looked around.
No exit.
Then she saw an opening in the floor.
An old delivery hatch.
She pulled it open.
Darkness below.
Another impact hit the door.
Eleanor climbed down.
Her shoes touched a ladder.
She descended into what had once been a storage cellar.
Above her, the office door broke.
"Find her!"
Eleanor moved through darkness.
Cobwebs caught her hair.
She reached a stone wall.
Dead end.
Footsteps descended behind her.
Then a hand covered her mouth.
Eleanor nearly screamed.
"Quiet."
Caleb.
She sagged against him.
He pointed toward a low tunnel.
"Old mine passage."
"You followed me."
"Yes."
"I told you—"
"Be angry later."
Men entered the cellar.
Caleb and Eleanor crawled into the tunnel.
They reached another opening fifty yards away.
Caleb emerged first.
Eleanor followed.
"Ledger?" he whispered.
"They have it."
"Then we wait."
"What?"
"They'll bring it out."
They positioned themselves behind rocks near the front road.
Minutes later the two men emerged carrying the ledger.
Caleb stepped into view.
"Put it down."
Both froze.
One reached for his gun.
Eleanor appeared on the opposite side with her revolver.
"I wouldn't."
The man recognized her.
"You again."
"Unfortunately."
The ledger was placed on the ground.
Caleb motioned for the men to back away.
Instead, one smiled.
"You think Crowe only sent two?"
Horses appeared behind them.
Five riders.
Then six.
Caleb cursed.
Silas Crowe rode into the clearing.
"Very disappointing, Eleanor."
Her grip tightened.
Crowe dismounted slowly.
"You could have made this easy."
"For whom?"
"For yourself."
"That's what you said about the contract."
His smile remained.
"You were alone. Pregnant. Broke. I offered security."
"You offered a cage."
"Words."
Crowe looked toward Caleb.
"And you. Playing hero. You know what everyone calls you?"
Caleb's expression did not change.
"I've heard."
"The Blackstone Butcher."
"Needs improvement."
Crowe laughed.
"Do you really believe she'll stay once she understands you?"
Eleanor stepped forward.
"I understand him better than you ever will."
Crowe's eyes hardened.
"Do you?"
He turned toward Eleanor.
"Ask him what happened to Lieutenant Harris during the war."
Caleb went completely still.
Eleanor noticed.
Crowe smiled.
"There it is."
"What are you talking about?" Eleanor asked.
"Caleb never told you?"
"Silas," Caleb said quietly.
Crowe ignored him.
"Harris was an officer in Caleb's scouting unit. Died after an argument."
Caleb's face drained of color.
"Crowe."
"Shot in the back."
"Stop."
Eleanor looked at Caleb.
Not because she believed Crowe.
Because Caleb looked devastated.
Crowe enjoyed it.
"Your gentle rancher has secrets."
Caleb lowered his rifle.
For one second.
That was enough.
Crowe's men rushed.
Caleb struck the first with the rifle stock.
Eleanor fired into the ground before another reached her.
Horses scattered.
Someone tackled Caleb.
Crowe grabbed the ledger.
Then a gunshot rang from the road.
Everyone stopped.
Sheriff Bell stood with Abram Cole and eight armed townsmen.
"Drop them!"
Crowe stared.
Bell's hands shook.
But his weapon did not.
"Silas Crowe, I'm arresting your men for attempted kidnapping and arson."
Crowe laughed.
"You don't have authority."
"I have witnesses."
"I own your office."
The sheriff's face reddened.
"Not anymore."
Crowe looked around.
Something fundamental had changed in Ashford Crossing.
People who had once lowered their heads now looked directly at him.
Crowe mounted.
"You won't hold me."
Bell raised his gun.
"Try me."
Crowe slowly lifted both hands.
Hours later the ledger sat on Sheriff Bell's desk.
It was worse than anyone expected.
Pages of payments.
Property descriptions.
False debts.
Names of deputies.
Names of lawyers.
Judge Shaw appeared repeatedly.
So did Silas Crowe.
Caleb barely looked at it.
He sat alone outside.
Eleanor found him near the hitching post.
"Lieutenant Harris."
Caleb's shoulders tightened.
"You should stay away from me."
"No."
"Eleanor."
"Tell me."
He looked toward the mountains.
"Harris was leading six men through a canyon. We were ambushed."
Caleb's voice became distant.
"He panicked. Ordered a retreat across open ground. I told him it would get everyone killed."
"What happened?"
"He drew on me."
Caleb's scar seemed whiter in the afternoon light.
"We fought. He fell."
"Fell?"
"Off the ridge."
"Then Crowe lied."
"Not entirely."
Caleb looked at her.
"I hit Harris. Hard. He stumbled. I could have reached him."
"Could you?"
"I don't know."
"But you've decided you could."
Caleb said nothing.
"And you've punished yourself ever since."
"You weren't there."
"Neither was Crowe."
That struck him.
Eleanor stepped closer.
"You saved me without asking what I could give you. You risked your ranch. You crossed mountains. You let me choose every step."
Caleb looked away.
"That doesn't erase what happened."
"No."
She gently touched his injured arm.
"But one terrible moment doesn't become every moment afterward."
His eyes met hers.
She had never been so close to him.
Caleb's hand lifted.
Stopped.
"May I?"
Eleanor knew what he meant.
She whispered, "Yes."
He touched her cheek.
Nothing more.
No kiss.
No demand.
Just his rough palm against her skin.
Eleanor closed her eyes.
For one quiet second, the whole violent territory disappeared.
Then bells began ringing at the courthouse.
Sheriff Bell ran outside.
"Crowe escaped!"
Caleb's hand dropped.
"What?"
"One deputy helped him."
Eleanor looked toward the office.
"The ledger?"
Bell's face went pale.
"Still here."
Caleb turned toward Eleanor.
Both understood at once.
Crowe no longer needed the ledger.
He needed the person who could testify about where it came from.
He needed Eleanor.
And somewhere in Ashford Crossing, a desperate man was now willing to do anything to silence her.