Seiya stood completely still beside me, staring at the fortune with wide, unbelieving eyes. "We found it," she breathed. "Cade, we actually found it." I looked at her. "Then you're free now. Even a small part of this could buy you the life no man could control.
You could go anywhere you wanted and become whoever you chose to be. Seiya turned toward me. And you? What will you do? I don't know.
I suppose I'll go back to the ranch, try to put things back together, and return to that quiet life I had before all this started without me. My heart gave a hard beat. That depends on you. Seiata took a step closer. Cade, I don't want to.
She never finished. Voices suddenly echoed from outside. A lot of voices. We spun toward the entrance. Boon Voss stood there and behind him were the Voss riders, nearly 20 armed men.
"Well, well," Boon said, wearing a smile cold enough to freeze desert water. "Looks like we finally made it." I immediately stepped in front of Seiya. How did you find us? Boon laughed. I followed you, fool.
Ever since Three Rocks, I've let the two of you do the hard work. He glanced around at the mountains of gold. And now I'm here to collect my reward. The treasure belongs to Seiya. Boon threw his head back and laughed.
Treasure belongs to whoever has the strength to take it, cowboy. His eyes hardened. And that man is going to be me. The Voss riders spread through the temple, surrounding us from every side. Boon looked past me towards Seiya.
And I'm taking the woman, too. That map of hers may come in handy again someday. You'll have to walk over my dead body first. Boon drew his revolver. That can be arranged.
For one long second, the whole world seemed to stop. Boon Voss leveled his revolver directly at my chest. My hand hovered near my own gun, but there were two of us and nearly 20 of them. No matter how fast I was, there was no way I could gun them all down. Cade Seya whispered behind me.
You can't fight all of them. I have to try. They'll kill you. Then I'll die protecting what I love. Boon's expression changed.
Love? He gave a cruel little laugh. You actually fell in love with the slave? My jaw tightened. She is not a slave.
I stared him straight in the eye. She's a free woman. How touching, Boon mocked. Then his smile vanished. And how pathetic.