“For three months, our northern scouts have tracked an outlaw group moving closer to our lands.”
The crowd became silent.
Eli noticed several warriors exchange looks.
“They call their leader Lucien Voss.”
The name meant something even to Eli.
He had heard it in New Mexico.
Voss ran horses through illegal markets from Arizona to Sonora. He recruited deserters, thieves, failed prospectors, and men who preferred money without questions.
Tahoma’s expression hardened.
“Three nights ago, his men entered the northern grazing fields.”
Yara spoke next.
“They took two horses.”
Eli looked toward her.
“They tried for twelve.”
“What stopped them?”
“We did.”
She did not elaborate.
Tahoma continued.
“They will return.”
White Cedar looked toward Eli.
“Our horses are the future of Red Mesa.”
Another elder, an older woman called Naya, added, “Voss knows their value.”
Eli thought of Jasper.
Then of the Apache-bred horses he had seen below.
“How many men?”
“Perhaps sixteen,” Yara said.
“Rifles?”
“Yes.”
“Experienced?”
“Enough.”
Eli glanced around the circle.
“And you think I change that?”
Tahoma answered.
“You understand horse thieves.”
“I understand horses.”
“You understand towns.”
“Unfortunately.”
“You can enter places our scouts cannot without attracting danger.”
Eli saw the shape of the problem.
“So the river tradition suddenly becomes useful.”
Yara looked annoyed.
“That is exactly what I said last night.”
Tahoma ignored her.
“I am not asking you to marry my daughter because I need a messenger.”
“Good.”
“I am saying the timing matters.”
White Cedar spoke.
“A stranger enters Moon Promise on the same week Red Mesa may lose everything.”
He looked around the circle.
“Perhaps tradition is not about obeying old words literally.”
Yara raised an eyebrow.
“That would have been useful to hear twenty years ago.”
Several elders smiled despite themselves.
White Cedar continued.
“Perhaps tradition means recognizing what arrives when we need it.”
Eli exhaled.
That sounded less insane.
“What exactly would you need from me?”
Tahoma answered.
“Help us understand Voss.”
“Help us prepare.”
“Help us speak with people outside this valley.”
“And after that?”
Tahoma looked toward Yara.
“The marriage decision belongs to two people.”
That surprised her.
“Father?”
He looked at her.
“I will not give you to a man like a horse.”
The entire circle became quiet.
“Then the tradition?”
Tahoma smiled faintly.
“The tradition brought him here.”
He gestured toward Eli.
“It does not get to speak his vows.”
Yara stared at him.
For the first time since Eli met her, she looked close to tears.
Eli cleared his throat.
“In that case, I’ll help.”