"Hand over the woman and nobody gets hurt." Cal lifted the rifle slightly. The weak sunlight flashed along the barrel. His voice came hard and level. "She never belonged to you."
For an instant, Boone's smile vanished. Then it returned, colder than before. "You still don't understand how things work out here, do you?" He leaned forward in the saddle. "What we take becomes ours."
His eyes narrowed. "And right now you're standing in the way." Gus spat into the dirt. "Move aside, Ransom. We'd rather not bury you beside her."
Tala's fingers tightened around the revolver. Then she spoke. Her English still carried the rough edges of a language learned through necessity, but there was no weakness in her voice. "We fight together." Boone turned toward her.
For one brief second, surprise crossed his face. Then his smile deepened into something cruel. "Well, look at that." He gave a quiet laugh. "She learned how to talk back."
His eyes hardened. "Shame it won't save you." Cal's jaw tightened. "If you want her, you'll have to come through me." The yard went still.
Even the wind seemed to stop. Gus's hand began creeping toward his revolver. Cade's horse stamped nervously at the frozen ground. Boone remained motionless in the saddle, studying the two people in front of him. One lone rancher holding a rifle.
One Apache woman standing beside him with a gun of her own. He saw no fear, no weakness, only defiance. The kind that did not break easily. At last, Boone leaned back in the saddle and let that poisonous smile return. Not today.
He pulled the reins and turned his horse. Gus muttered something under his breath, but followed. Before leaving, Cade gave Cal one final look. The kind of look that carried a promise without needing words. Then all three disappeared among the pines.
Their hoofbeats faded through the hills like distant thunder. Cal kept the rifle raised until the last sound vanished. Only then did he breathe deeply, but his eyes stayed fixed on the ridge. He knew men like Boone Kersey too well. They were not leaving for good.
Beside him, Tala still held the revolver high. Her breathing came fast. After a moment, she slowly lowered the weapon and looked at Cal. They'll come back. Cal nodded.