No wonder, Catherine jumped at sudden sounds. No wonder, Rose met the world with defiance. This Morrison, Jake said slowly. Big man owns a lot of land. "Half of Breckenridge County," Rose confirmed.
Maybe more by now. He's been buying up properties, forcing out smaller ranchers, those who won't sell. She shrugged, but the implication was clear. Jake nodded thoughtfully. He'd heard of such men, land barons who built their empires on blood and fear.
And the law is his, Margaret said bitterly. Bought and paid for. "Think you can handle us all? " Rose asked suddenly, echoing her words from that first night. "But now Jake understood the weight behind them. This wasn't just about giving shelter to three women.
This was about standing against a man who killed with impunity, who had the law in his pocket and an army of hired guns at his disposal. "Yes," Jake said simply. Rose blinked, clearly not expecting such a direct answer. "Just like that. My father used to say that evil flourishes when good men do nothing," Jake said.
"Been doing nothing for 3 years now, hiding out here, keeping to myself. Maybe it's time that changed. You don't owe us anything, Margaret protested. This isn't your fight. You made it my fight when you walked into my barn.
Jake replied. Besides, I've got no love for men who prey on women and call it their right. Catherine moved forward suddenly, reaching out as if to touch his arm. Then pulling back. You don't understand.
Morrison doesn't just kill his enemies. He destroys them. Their families, their homes, everything they've built. We've seen it. Then why'd you stop here?
Jake asked gently. You could have kept riding, found another place to shelter. The sisters looked at each other. Some silent communication passing between them. Finally, Rose answered, "Because we're tired.
Because Katie's sick from exhaustion and poor food. Because Maggie's about to collapse from trying to protect us alone. And because she paused, meeting his eyes, because something told us you were different. I'm just a rancher. Jake said, "No," Margaret said quietly.
"You're a man who took in three strangers without asking questions. Who fed us, offered us work, gave us your parents' room? That's not just anything. " The night wind picked up, bringing with it the scent of rain. Another storm building. Jake thought, "Seemed fitting.
If Morrison's men come here, he said, I need to know you won't run. Can't protect you if you're scattered to the winds. We're done running, Rose said firmly. Rose, Margaret began. No, Maggie.