Thomas Ward looked older than the photograph.
Harder.
There was a scar across one cheek and a coldness in his eyes that made Asha understand immediately why Elias had once stopped speaking about him.
“Put the gun down,” Elias said.
Thomas laughed.
“You always were the righteous one.”
“I said put it down.”
“And let her shoot me?”
Asha's hand rested near her knife.
Thomas noticed.
“Your father had that same look.”
Her entire body went rigid.
Elias took one step forward.
“Don't speak about him.”
Thomas's smile widened.
“There he is. My little brother finally found something worth fighting for.”
Elias raised his revolver.
Thomas's expression changed.
For the first time, he seemed uncertain.
“Asha,” Elias said without looking away from him, “move behind the desk.”
She didn't.
“Asha.”
“I heard you.”
Thomas laughed again.
“She doesn't obey very well.”
“No,” Elias said. “That's one of the things I respect about her.”
Something shifted inside Asha.
Even here.
Even now.
He would not reduce her to someone needing rescue.
Thomas lowered his gun slightly.
“You think I'm the villain.”
“Are you?”
Thomas looked at Asha.
“I warned your father.”
“About what?”
“That powerful men were coming.”
“You betrayed him.”
“I tried to save him.”
“By giving them his name?”
Thomas's face hardened.
“Your father had evidence that could've destroyed men who owned half this territory.”
“And you helped them.”
“I survived.”
Asha felt rage rise.
“So did I.”
Thomas looked at her.
“And what did surviving give you?”
Elias moved before Asha could.
He slammed Thomas against the wall.
“Enough.”
Thomas laughed through clenched teeth.
“You love her.”
Elias froze.
Thomas saw the answer.
“Oh, that's rich.”
Asha's heart hammered.
“Elias.”
He released his brother.
Thomas rubbed his throat.
“You don't know what you're protecting.”
“Then explain.”
Thomas glanced toward the records.
“Nantan survived. So did your father's ledger.”
Asha stepped forward.
“Where is he?”
“I don't know.”
“Liar.”
“I haven't seen him in thirteen years.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Because Silas Crowe found out the ledger exists.”
Elias frowned.
“Crowe said he was looking for you.”
“He's looking for everybody.”
Thomas explained that Silas worked for Everett Vane, one of the last surviving businessmen involved in the land scheme. Vane had built wealth and influence over decades. If Asha's father's ledger surfaced, it could destroy him.
Thomas claimed he had returned to stop Vane.
Elias didn't believe him.
Asha wasn't sure.
Then hoofbeats sounded outside.
Many.
Thomas's expression changed.
“That's not me.”
Elias extinguished the nearest lamp.
Men surrounded the station.
A voice called from outside.
“Bring us the girl and walk away.”
Elias looked at Asha.
Thomas whispered, “Vane's men.”
Gunfire erupted.
Wood splintered.
They escaped through a rear storage room, running toward the horses.
Asha rode first.
Elias followed.
Thomas came behind them.
For several miles, riders pursued.
At a narrow ravine, Thomas turned and fired at the men chasing them.
Elias shouted, “Move!”
They reached the trees.
By sunset, they had lost the pursuit.
Thomas dismounted.
Elias immediately pointed his gun at him.
“You saved us. That doesn't make us friends.”
“I don't need friendship.”
“What do you need?”
Thomas looked toward Asha.
“To finish what I should've finished years ago.”
Asha stared at him.
“You're going to take us to Nantan.”
“If he'll see me.”
She walked closer.
“If you're lying, I'll know.”
Thomas smiled faintly.
“You really are your father's daughter.”
Asha slapped him.
Hard.
Thomas's head snapped sideways.
Elias said nothing.
Asha's voice shook.
“Don't use my father to make me trust you.”
Thomas slowly looked back at her.
For once, the arrogance was gone.
“You're right.”
That night they camped under cottonwoods.
Asha sat near the creek.
Elias approached.
“Can I sit?”
She nodded.
He lowered himself beside her.
“My brother was cruel when we were young.”
“Were you?”
“Sometimes.”
She looked at him.
Elias smiled sadly.
“I wasn't born forty years old.”
Asha almost laughed.
“He used to protect me,” Elias continued. “Then our father died. Thomas decided money was the only thing that kept a man safe.”
“Did you know what he became?”
“Not everything.”
Asha studied the water.
“Do you feel responsible?”
“Yes.”
“You aren't.”
“I should've stopped him.”
“You were his brother, not his keeper.”
Elias looked toward her.
“You keep saying things I need to hear.”
“Then listen.”
He smiled.
Asha leaned her shoulder against his.
Elias became completely still.
She whispered, “You said you were afraid of wanting something you shouldn't.”
“Yes.”
“What if I want it too?”
“Asha.”
She turned toward him.
“I know how old I am.”
“I know.”
“I know how old you are.”
“That sounds worse when you say it.”
This time she laughed.
Elias did too.
Then he became serious.
“You've lost almost everyone you loved.”
“I know.”
“I won't let grief make a decision for you.”
“It isn't.”
“How can you know?”
“Because grief feels like disappearing.”
Asha touched his face.
“You make me feel here.”
Elias closed his eyes.
For one heartbeat, he leaned into her palm.
Then he kissed her forehead.
Nothing more.
It was the gentlest thing anyone had done to her in years.
By noon the next day, Thomas led them into mountain country.
They reached a hidden settlement near dusk.
An older Apache man stepped from a cabin.
Asha stopped breathing.
“Nantan?”
The man stared at her.
His face changed.
“Asha?”
She ran to him.
Nantan caught her in his arms.
For the first time since the attack, Asha cried without trying to stop.
Nantan cried too.
“You lived,” he whispered.
“So did you.”
Later, beside the fire, Nantan told the truth.
Thomas had betrayed Asha's father.
But not in the way she believed.
Thomas had revealed the location of a meeting.
He thought Vane's men intended only to seize documents.
Instead, armed riders attacked the village.
“When Thomas realized what they planned,” Nantan said, “he tried to warn us.”
Asha stared at Thomas.
“He was too late.”
Thomas looked at the floor.
“My cowardice killed people.”
Nantan continued.
“Your father knew Thomas regretted what he'd done. Before he died, he gave Thomas one instruction.”
Asha whispered, “What?”
“Protect you if you survived.”
Her eyes filled.
Thomas reached inside his coat.
He removed a small leather pouch.
Inside was a carved wooden pendant.
Asha recognized it instantly.
Her father's.
Thomas placed it on the table.
“I've carried it fourteen years.”
Asha couldn't touch it.
Not yet.
“Why didn't you find me?”
“I thought you died.”
“And when you learned I lived?”
Thomas looked away.
“I was ashamed.”
Asha stood.
“Your shame left me alone.”
“I know.”
“You don't get forgiveness because you finally feel sorry.”
“I know.”
Her anger almost broke her.
But Nantan raised a hand.
“There is more.”
He brought out a folded map.
“Your father hid the ledger in a place only Asha could identify.”
She looked at the markings.
A river.
A ridge.
Three stones arranged like stars.
A childhood place.
Her father had taken her there many times.
“The Whispering Canyon,” she said.
Thomas immediately stood.
“So Vane will figure it out eventually.”
Nantan nodded.
“We must reach it first.”
Asha looked around the room.
Elias.
Nantan.
Thomas.
The dead had suddenly become connected to the living again.
Her past was no longer ashes.
It was moving.
Dangerous.
Alive.
At dawn, they rode toward Whispering Canyon.
But when they reached the entrance, black smoke rose from the valley.
Someone was already there.
Asha urged her horse forward.
Elias grabbed the reins.
“Wait.”
She pointed.
“My father's hiding place.”
“I know.”
Then a rider appeared on the ridge.
Silas Crowe.
Beside him stood Everett Vane.
And Vane was holding a rifle against the head of Judge Clay.
Vane shouted across the canyon.
“Bring me the girl.”
Asha's blood went cold.
“And I'll tell her which one of you really caused her family's deaths.”
---