Clara didn't answer. Didn't move. "I don't have anyone here. " Another smile. Wider. See, that's a problem.
His hand shot out fast, grabbed her arm hard. Pain shot up her shoulder. "You're lying. " She pulled back. Tried. Didn't break free.
"Let go," she said. Voice tight. He leaned closer. Close enough she could smell him. You tell me where he is, he said, low and sharp.
And I might leave you something to come back to. Her heart slammed hard. Fast, I said. The shot cut her off. Loud.
Close. The man jerked, eyes wide. A dark hole opened in his chest. He staggered back. Hit the dirt.
Didn't get up. Clara froze. Everything stopped. Then more movement. The other two reached for their guns.
Another shot. From the barn. Eli stepped out. Rifle steady, face empty. Not fear, not doubt, just focus.
He worked the lever. Another round ready. The riders looked at him, then at the body, then turned, ran. No fight. No second chance.
They were gone in seconds. Hooves fading fast. Silence came back. Slow, heavy. Clara's knees gave slightly.
She caught herself on the wall. Eli lowered the rifle, looked at the man on the ground, then at her. His chest rose once. Twice. "That was them," he said.
She nodded. Couldn't speak. "They'll come back. " The words hung there. Cold. Real.
Clara looked at the body. Rain began again. light at first, then stronger, washing the blood into the dirt. "What do we do? " she asked. Eli didn't answer right away. His eyes moved to the horizon.
Like he could already see it coming. "This doesn't stop here," he said. "It ends or it takes everything with it. " Clara stepped closer, closer than before. "You're not leaving," she said. "Not a question. " His jaw tightened.
They'll burn this place down. Then we stand. Her voice didn't shake. Not this time. He looked at her.
Really looked. Something changed. Not soft. Not gentle, but settled. Like a decision finally made.
They'll come at night, he said. Or before dawn. Then we don't sleep. The rain picked up harder now. The storm hadn't left after all.
It had just waited. Clara grabbed the rifle, checked the chamber. Her hands still shook, but not the same way. Eli stepped closer, not touching, but near. Close enough she could feel his presence.
"We hold the house," he said. " she nodded. "And if they break through," she asked, his eyes locked with hers. "Then we don't let them leave. " Thunder rolled in the distance. The wind shifted, carrying something with it. Hoof beats.
Faint, but coming. Clara lifted the rifle, took her place by the door. Eli moved toward the barn, grabbing what he could. Tools, anything that could kill. The light outside dimmed fast, like the world was closing in again.
They didn't speak. Didn't need to. The fight wasn't coming. It was already.