He Was the Deadliest Gun in the Territory — Until a Child Gave Him Something Worth Fighting For
Chapter 3
Cole stayed until morning.
He intended to leave after breakfast.
Then they heard horses.
Evelyn immediately stood.
Noah went pale.
Cole looked through the window.
Four riders.
Maybe five.
“Friends?” he asked.
“No.”
Cole sighed.
“I was afraid you’d say that.”
He walked outside.
The riders stopped at the edge of the property.
One shouted:
“We’re looking for the boy.”
Cole rested his hand on his revolver.
“You’ve found the wrong house.”
The man laughed.
“Move aside, Tanner.”
Cole’s eyes narrowed.
“You know my name?”
“We know enough.”
The first man reached for his gun.
Cole’s revolver was already in his hand.
The gunfire lasted seconds.
When it ended, two men were on the ground, disarmed.
The others fled.
Cole didn’t chase them.
He returned to the cabin.
Evelyn was holding Noah.
“What do they want?” he asked.
Evelyn didn’t answer.
Cole looked at her.
“Evelyn.”
She closed her eyes.
“My husband discovered something.”
“What?”
“Land records.”
Cole waited.
“He found evidence that Silas Crowe had been taking land from settlers.”
Cole knew Crowe.
Everyone did.
The richest rancher in the county.
A man with friends in every important office.
“What did Daniel find?”
“I don’t know.”
Cole looked at her.
She was lying.
Not because she was protecting herself.
Because she was protecting Noah.
That distinction mattered.
“Why are they after your son?”
“I don’t know.”
Cole stared at the boy.
Noah was wearing a small silver locket around his neck.
Cole noticed it.
“Where’d you get that?”
“My father.”
Evelyn’s expression changed.
Cole saw it.
Fear.
Real fear.
“What is inside?”
“Nothing.”
Cole didn’t believe her.
Before he could ask more, Evelyn spoke.
“Cole, please.”
He nodded.
“All right.”
He picked up his hat.
“I’ll take you somewhere safe.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I know.”
He looked at Noah.
“But someone does.”
