Mrs. Hawthorne, it's John Miller. We're coming in. Relief hit her so hard her knees buckled. She opened the door to find John Miller and six other men dismounting, all armed, all grim-faced.
What happened? Miller demanded, his gaze sweeping the clearing. Thomas Avery's men. They came to make a deal. When I refused, they Mara gestured helplessly at the bullet scarred trees.
They wanted to scare us. Miller's expression darkened. Did they hurt anyone? No, but John. Her voice broke.
They're not going to stop. Silas went to get the law, but I don't know if it'll be enough. Thomas wants that deed, and he's willing to do anything to get it. Miller was quiet for a moment. Then he turned to his men.
Tom, you and Bill stay here. Keep watch until Silas gets back. The rest of you, come with me. We're going to pay Thomas Avery a visit. John, no, Mara said quickly.
You can't just, can't I? Miller's voice was cold. He burned your property, shot at your home with children inside. That's not business, Mrs. Hawthorne.
That's war. And if he wants war, we'll damn well give him one. But if you go after him, you'll be no better than we're not going to hurt him. Miller's smile was thin. We're just going to have a conversation, the kind that makes a man think twice about his choices.
Mara wanted to argue, wanted to tell them that violence would only beget more violence. That they needed to wait for Silas, for the law, for something other than vigilante justice. But she was too tired, too scared, too angry. "Be careful," she said instead. Miller tipped his hat.
"Always am, ma'am." He and his men rode out, leaving two guards behind. Mara went back inside, gathered her children close, and tried not to think about what Miller was going to do. tried not to hope that whatever it was, it would finally make Thomas Avery leave them alone. The next morning dawned cold and clear. The guards had seen nothing more overnight, and the valley was peaceful in a way that felt wrong, like the silence before a storm. Mara fed the children a meager breakfast and tried to keep them calm.
They were subdued, frightened, jumping at every sound. Even the twins had stopped their usual chatter, sitting close together with their hands entwined. "When's Paw Silas coming back?" Clara asked for the 10th time. "Soon, sweetheart. Very soon." But Mara was starting to worry.
Silas had been gone more than a day now. What if something had happened to him? What if Thomas had men waiting on the road to Rock Springs? What if she forced herself to stop? Dwelling on worst case scenarios wouldn't help anyone.
At midday, John Miller returned alone. Mara met him at the door, her stomach tight with dread. What happened? Miller's expression was grim. Thomas Avery's gone.