"I can still give you a way out," he said. "There's no deal," Rhett replied. You ought to think about it. Vance Creed already requested Seth Voss's records. For the first time, Rafe lost control.
It was only a small tightening in his jaw, but Nia saw it. You've got an Apache woman filling your head with stories. Rhett stepped toward him. That woman has done more for this land in a few weeks than you've done in your whole life. Rafe looked at Nia.
The contempt was gone from his eyes. What replaced it was fear. He climbed onto his horse and left without another word. Nia watched the dust trail behind him. He won't run.
Vance slowly closed his notebook. No, a man like him will try to destroy the evidence before he lets it destroy him. That night, Nia slept in her clothes. A little after midnight, three shadows appeared near the eastern fence. Nia noticed the reflection first.
Not a flame, just a brief flash of metal, too low to be a star and too still to belong to an animal. She sat up in bed and listened. Nothing. Then the smell reached her. Kerosene.
Nia pulled on her boots without lighting a lamp and stepped into the hallway. She knocked once on Rhett's door. There are men at the eastern fence. He opened immediately. He was already dressed.
How many? Three. They're carrying fuel. Rhett reached for his rifle. Nia woke Clay, Dusty, and Luke.
She never raised her voice. Fear was useful when a person needed to run. It was useless when they needed to think. Luke, go get Deputy Finn Ward, Rhett ordered. Don't ride through Ash Creek.
Take the creek trail. Luke saddled up without asking questions. Dusty, open the South Corral. Nia said, "If the fire reaches the stable, the cattle will need somewhere to escape. Rhett looked at her.
"You stay near the house. "No, Nia. If that stable catches, you'll need someone who knows how those animals will react. Clay Boon loaded his shotgun. No time to argue.
They moved without lanterns, staying inside the shadows cast by the corrals. Far ahead, three figures worked along the fence. One poured kerosene over the wood. Another was crouched near the pipeline. The third watched the road.