That woman ran off in the night. Wyatt shrugged like it hardly mattered either way. Took water, took food, probably halfway to somewhere else by now. The men traded doubtful looks. You expect us to swallow that?
It's the truth. She fought like a soldier back on the road. No keeping a woman like that pen anywhere against her will. Then you won't mind us searching the house. The leader waved five men forward toward the main building.
Wyatt needed more time yet. Naellili couldn't be in position already. Hold on. He raised his voice. If you're set on robbing me blind regardless, at least tell me what's in it for you finding her.
The leader paused clearly. A man who enjoyed the sound of his own boasting. Big reward on her. Alive, of course. Her father would trade gold, horses, land, anything at all to get her back.
And you're splitting that 18 ways. A little doubt crept deliberately into Wyatt's voice. Doesn't strike me as much of a cut for the men doing the real work. A ripple of uncertain glances moved through the riders. The leader's face darkened.
Clearly a man who'd planned on pocketing far more than his fair share. Shut your mouth. Search the house. Now five men broke toward the front door at a run. Why counted one more time in his head.
It had to be now. And fired three shots straight up into the evening sky. Gunfire answered from the barn almost instantly. Naelli's shots rang out sharp and precise, hopping between angles fast enough to sound like half a dozen guns instead of one. A bullet took the leader's hat clean off.
Another kicked dirt between the boots of a man sprinting for the porch. You're surrounded. Wyatt bellowed, pitching his voice to carry the whole yard. 10 men positioned around this ranch. A bold-faced lie, but panic never stops to check facts first.
The riders scattered every direction, some diving for cover, others sprinting for spooked horses. Wyatt fired near their mounts feet, sending three animals bolting riderless. Naellili kept shifting between windows in the barn, her aim close enough to terrify without drawing a drop of blood. She wanted them running, not bleeding out across his land. It's a trap.