The Town’s Most Feared Gunslinger Risked His Life to Save a New Waitress From Outlaws — Until a Secret From Twelve Years Ago Revealed That Her Missing Father and His Missing Brother Had Vanished on the Same Night
Chapter 3
That evening, Red Hollow held its annual town celebration.
Lanterns hung between buildings.
Music filled the square.
But Clara couldn’t forget the photograph.
She found Elias standing alone near the edge of the crowd.
“You should be enjoying yourself,” he said.
“I don’t know how.”
“Neither do I.”
She smiled.
“That’s unfortunate.”
He looked at her.
“I remember you saying that.”
“You remember everything.”
“Some things.”
He offered his hand.
“Dance?”
“You said you couldn’t dance.”
“I still can’t.”
She laughed.
“Then why ask?”
“Because I want to.”
She took his hand.
For the first time, Elias looked nervous.
Clara noticed.
“The famous Elias Boone is afraid?”
“Of dancing.”
“Not guns?”
“No.”
“Not death?”
“Not anymore.”
“Then what?”
He looked at her.
“Losing someone.”
The music slowed.
They danced.
Across the square, an old man watched them.
His face was hidden beneath a black hat.
He held a photograph.
But this photograph was different.
It showed Clara as a little girl.
Standing beside her father.
The old man whispered:
“Thomas was right.”
Then he walked away.
Later that night, Clara found Elias outside the restaurant.
“Why did you come here?”
“I wanted to see you.”
She smiled.
“That’s dangerous.”
“I’ve noticed.”
They sat together.
Clara told him about her father.
About the night he disappeared.
About the last thing he said to her.
“Stay close to your mother.”
Elias looked down.
“What else?”
“He gave me a wooden box.”
“What happened to it?”
“My mother burned it.”
“Why?”
“She said it was dangerous.”
Elias became silent.
“Clara.”
“What?”
“If you still have anything your father left…”
“I don’t.”
He looked at her.
“Are you sure?”
She hesitated.
Then remembered something.
A tiny silver key.
She had worn it around her neck since childhood.
Her father had told her never to lose it.
She touched it.
Elias stared at the key.
“Where did you get that?”
“My father.”
Elias’s expression changed.
“That’s not a key.”
“What is it?”
He whispered:
“It’s a warning.”
