Josie knew the horse before Wyatt saw the blood.
Silas's bay mare came trotting through the gate with broken reins dragging through the mud.
"Mr. Boone?" Seth cried.
Josie's heart stopped.
She walked toward the animal.
Then saw the dark stain across the saddle.
"No."
Wyatt was already running.
"Mama, stay here."
She grabbed him.
"No."
His eyes were wide with terror.
"You've got the little ones."
"And you're my son."
"I'm fourteen."
"Exactly."
She turned toward Levi.
"Get Sheriff Cobb."
Then she looked at Wyatt again.
"You and me."
They rode together.
Night covered the mountains by the time they reached the old north road.
Josie carried a lantern.
Wyatt carried Silas's spare rifle.
Neither spoke.
They found hoofprints near a creek.
Then blood.
Josie wanted to scream.
Instead she followed.
Fifty yards into the pines, Wyatt shouted.
"There!"
Silas lay beside a fallen tree.
Josie slid from her horse so quickly she nearly fell.
"Silas!"
No response.
She dropped beside him.
Blood soaked his shirt near the ribs.
"Silas."
His eyes opened slightly.
"Took you long enough."
A sob burst from her throat.
"You miserable man."
"Been called worse."
Wyatt knelt.
"What happened?"
"Bell had friends."
Silas coughed.
"Three of them."
"Where are they?"
"One ran. Two won't be bothering anyone."
Josie did not ask what that meant.
"We're getting you home."
"No."
"Don't argue."
"Bullet's still in."
"I know."
"Need doctor."
"We'll get him."
He caught her wrist.
"Reed's leaving."
"What?"
"Bell talked."
Silas struggled to breathe.
"Reed has money hidden at the old stamp mill. Plans to cross south before territorial marshal arrives."
Josie's jaw tightened.
"Then let him run."
Silas stared.
"Josie—"
"I don't care about Reed right now."
Silas's expression softened.
"I do."
"Why?"
"Because he'll come back."
The answer frightened her.
Reed had already shown what he was willing to do.
If he escaped with money and connections, none of them would ever be safe.
Wyatt stood.
"I'll ride for Sheriff Cobb."
Josie grabbed his coat.
"Straight to town."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Do not chase anybody."
"I won't."
"Promise."
"I promise."
Wyatt rode.
Josie stayed with Silas.
She tore fabric from her petticoat and pressed it against the wound.
He hissed.
"Sorry."
"No, you're not."
"No."
He almost smiled.
They sat beneath the pines.
The wind moved overhead.
After several minutes Silas whispered, "You shouldn't have come looking."
Josie stared at him.
"Try saying something that stupid again and I'll press harder."
"Seven children need you."
"So?"
"So you don't risk yourself for me."
Her eyes burned.
"You don't get to decide whose life matters to me."
Silas looked at her.
Neither moved.
Josie realized what she had said.
She could have taken it back.
She did not.
"You're important to them," she whispered.
"To the children."
"Yes."
A pause.
"And?"
She hated him for asking.
"And me."
Something vulnerable crossed his face.
The feared mountain man looked suddenly less frightening than any person she had ever known.
He reached up.
His rough fingers touched her cheek.
"Josie."
"Don't you dare die after making me admit that."
His hand fell.
"Wasn't planning on it."
Dr. Foster arrived near midnight with Sheriff Cobb and two deputies.
They carried Silas back to the Dalton cabin.
The bullet had passed through his side without striking bone.
The doctor called it miraculous.
Josie called it insufficient.
She sat beside Silas for two days.
When he slept, she worked.
When he woke, she fed him broth.
He objected.
She ignored him.
By the third day, news arrived from Denver.
Territorial authorities had accepted Arthur's journal, Kane's testimony, and Sheriff Cobb's statements.
A marshal was coming.
But Clement Reed had vanished.
So had Horace Bell.
The bank remained locked.
Depositors gathered outside demanding answers.
Then Mrs. Montgomery arrived at Josie's cabin.
Josie nearly closed the door.
"Please."
The wealthy woman looked different.
No fancy hat.
No superior smile.
"Mr. Reed has my husband's savings."
Josie stared.
"Seems like a problem between you and the man you defended."
Harriet flinched.
"I deserve that."
"Yes."
The woman looked toward the floor.
"I laughed that day."
Josie said nothing.
"I told myself it was uncomfortable laughter. That I didn't truly want your children separated."
"But you laughed."
"Yes."
Harriet's eyes filled.
"I was cruel."
Josie had imagined hearing an apology.
It gave less satisfaction than expected.
"What do you want?"
"Reed emptied accounts. Nearly thirty families may lose everything."
"And?"
"You have his attention. If anyone knows where he went—"
"Silas knows."
Harriet looked past her.
"Can I speak with him?"
"No."
Silas's voice came from the bedroom.
"Yes."
Josie turned.
"You are supposed to be sleeping."
"So I've been told."
He limped into the main room with one hand pressed to his bandage.
Josie glared.
He sat.
Harriet explained.
Silas listened.
Then he unfolded a rough map.
"Old stamp mill."
Josie frowned.
"You mentioned that."
"Bell said Reed hid cash there."
Sheriff Cobb arrived an hour later.
By sunset, they had a plan.
Cobb would take four deputies.
Silas insisted on joining them.
Josie refused.
"You have a hole in your side."
"I've ridden with worse."
"No."
"Josie."
"No."
In the end, both went.
Silas because nobody could stop him.
Josie because she refused to wait helplessly.
The children stayed with Dr. Foster's wife.
They approached the abandoned stamp mill after dark.
A light glowed within.
Sheriff Cobb positioned his deputies.
Silas whispered, "Stay behind the wagon."
Josie nodded.
For once, she meant to obey.
Then someone screamed inside.
A woman.
Josie recognized the voice.
Clara Finch, Reed's seventeen-year-old bank clerk.
Josie ran.
"Josie!"
Too late.
She reached the side door.
Inside, Reed held Clara by the arm.
Horace Bell stood nearby.
A table was covered with cash, ledgers, and gold.
Reed aimed a pistol toward the entrance.
"You."
Josie raised her hands.
"Let the girl go."
Reed laughed.
"The great Josephine Dalton."
His eyes were wild.
"Do you know what you've cost me?"
"Apparently more than three hundred dollars."
"You stupid cow."
Years earlier, those words might have wounded her.
Now they barely registered.
"You had everything," Reed continued. "Thirty thousand dollars. More money than a woman like you could spend in a lifetime."
"A woman like me?"
"Look at you."
He gestured contemptuously.
"A penniless widow with seven brats."
Josie stared at him.
"Funny."
"What?"
"You lost to me anyway."
His face twisted.
The pistol rose.
Silas appeared in the doorway.
"Put it down."
Bell reached for his gun.
Sheriff Cobb shouted from another entrance.
"Nobody move!"
For one tense second, everyone froze.
Then Reed shoved Clara toward Josie and fired.
Silas fired almost simultaneously.
Reed's bullet struck wood.
Silas's struck Reed's hand.
The pistol fell.
Bell surrendered.
Reed screamed and collapsed against the table.
Deputies rushed in.
Clara buried herself against Josie.
"It's all right."
The girl shook violently.
"He was making me burn the ledgers."
Josie looked toward the books.
Bank records.
Evidence.
Everything Reed had tried to hide.
Sheriff Cobb opened one.
His expression changed.
"These show payments to Deep Vein supervisors."
Silas walked closer.
"Arthur?"
Cobb nodded.
One entry had been made the week before the collapse.
$200—structural correction, Dalton section.
Josie closed her eyes.
Arthur's death had indeed been purchased.
Not an accident.
Not bad luck.
Murder.
She expected rage.
Instead grief washed through her.
"He was a fool sometimes," she whispered.
Silas stood beside her.
"But he was my fool."
His hand found hers.
Reed was dragged away in shackles.
As he passed, he glared at Josie.
"You think this makes you respectable?"
Josie looked at him calmly.
"No."
Reed sneered.
She continued.
"I finally learned I never needed you to think I was."
For perhaps the first time in his life, Clement Reed had no answer.