The rider hesitated. The men behind him sensed it. One of them reached for his rifle, shifting it across his lap. Elias's hand moved toward his holster, not fast, but with enough warning to show he wouldn't hesitate if pushed. Aiona and Nielli held their breath behind the door.
He didn't need to see outside to feel the tension rising. The scarred man finally lifted his hand, signaling the others to ease back." Didn't come here to put anyone in the ground tonight," he said." Maybe this place isn't worth what we thought." "Correct," Elias replied. The man stepped back, mounted his horse, and gave the homestead a long, calculating look.
Elias saw the decision forming behind his eyes. The riders weren't finished. They would return. Maybe not tonight, maybe not tomorrow, but soon enough. We'll be around, the man said.
Keep the fire burning. Makes it easier to see who's home. They turned their horses and rode off into the darkness, disappearing behind the ridge with slow, deliberate steps meant to remind the homestead that their retreat wasn't defeat, only delay. Elias closed the door firmly and barred again. Aiona approached him, her expression tight, but steady.
They'll return. Yes, Elias said, "But next time they'll know we're ready." Nielli exhaled shakily, stepping closer to them. Did they see us? Only enough to know you're not alone. Elias assured her.
That's all they needed to see. He didn't say the rest. That their presence made the homestead worth taking to the wrong kind of men. That the riders had recognized value here. Shelter, supplies, women, and wouldn't forget it.
Instead, he focused on what mattered now. We prepare from sunrise. Elias said, "They won't catch us off guard." Aiona nodded. Nielli leaned into her sister's side, steadying herself. The cabin settled into an uneasy quiet, but something had changed.
The sisters no longer felt helpless. Elias no longer felt like a stranger guarding someone else's land. They were three people standing against a threat together, a united front that the riders hadn't expected. Outside, the wind carried distant hoof echoes, fading into the night. Inside the small cabin braced for the days to come, strengthened by the decision that none of them would face what approached alone.