She looked toward the hot spring.
Steam hid part of the mechanism.
Would they find it?
A man coughed.
“Smells like sulfur.”
Another:
“Spring.”
Then:
“Get the rug off.”
The woman backed deeper into the tunnel.
A deep voice came from above.
“No.”
The mountain man.
Then chaos.
The sound of bodies hitting wood.
A chair breaking.
A grunt.
Something heavy rolled.
Then the unmistakable crack of a fist against flesh.
The woman winced.
Another gunshot.
This time followed by silence.
Long.
Too long.
She could not stay.
She moved toward the hidden door.
Placed one hand against the rock.
Before she could search for the latch, the panel opened.
The mountain man appeared.
Blood marked one side of his forehead.
Her heart stopped.
“You’re hurt.”
“Scratch.”
She stepped closer.
“That is blood.”
“Usually is.”
She stared.
Then slapped his arm.
Not hard.
He looked stunned.
“Do not joke right now.”
His mouth opened.
Then closed.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Where are they?”
“Leaving.”
“All of them?”
“Four.”
Her face changed.
“You said six.”
“Two are tied to the porch.”
She stared.
“You tied robbers to your porch?”
“Yes.”
“In a blizzard?”
“They have coats.”
Despite herself:
“Thoughtful.”
The mountain man smiled.
Then winced.
She immediately touched his face.
The gesture surprised both of them.
Her fingers rested beside his cheek.
His skin was cold.
Rough.
His eyes changed.
For one second, the attack vanished.
The tunnel vanished.
Everything reduced to her hand against his face.
She whispered:
“You frightened me.”
He answered just as softly.
“I’m sorry.”
The woman pulled back.
“What happens now?”
“We leave before the four return with more men.”
“What about the two outside?”
“County marshal can collect them.”
“There is a county marshal?”
“Eventually.”
She sighed.
“Of course.”
They returned to the cabin.
The damage looked worse than it sounded.
One broken chair.
Glass.
Door frame splintered.
Blood on the floor that the mountain man said was not his.
The two captives sat outside beneath the porch overhang with their wrists tied.
The woman recognized one.
He had been on the stagecoach road.
The man looked toward her.
His eyes widened.
“There she is.”
The mountain man stepped between them.
The captive laughed.
“You think he’s protecting you?”
The woman stiffened.
The robber continued.
“He wants the claim too.”
The mountain man did not react.
The woman looked toward him.
The robber smiled.
“Ask him who filed the competing water rights.”