He smiled.
“Mr. Creed.”
Silas's eyes were cold.
“Shaw.”
“I hear you've been asking questions.”
“I have.”
“You've found some old papers.”
“Yes.”
Shaw's smile disappeared.
“You should hand them over.”
“No.”
“This doesn't concern you.”
Silas looked at Eleanor.
“It concerns her.”
Shaw looked at her.
“Miss Vale.”
“Mr. Shaw.”
“You should have stayed in the East.”
“I considered it.”
“And?”
“I changed my mind.”
Shaw's eyes narrowed.
“You don't understand what you're involved in.”
“I understand enough.”
He looked at Silas.
“You'll lose everything.”
Silas stepped forward.
“You already tried that.”
Shaw smiled.
“You have no proof.”
Eleanor held up the deed.
Shaw's expression changed.
Silas saw it.
That was enough.
“You know what this is,” Silas said.
Shaw reached for his pistol.
Silas moved faster.
But before either man fired, the sheriff arrived with deputies.
Behind him came two federal marshals.
Shaw turned.
“What is this?”
Sheriff Harlan held up a warrant.
“You're under arrest.”
Shaw stared.
“For what?”
“Fraud, cattle theft, conspiracy, and the murder of Thomas Bell.”
Shaw looked at Silas.
“You think this ends here?”
Silas shook his head.
“No.”
He glanced at Eleanor.
“It ends with the truth.”
Shaw was taken away.
The ranch fell silent.
For several minutes, no one moved.
Then Amos Pike said, “Well.”
Silas looked at him.
Amos smiled.
“I reckon that's one way to welcome a bride.”
Eleanor laughed.
Silas looked at her.
She was wearing the sapphire-blue dress again.
The same dress from the day she arrived.
The same hat.
The same gloves.
But she no longer looked like a stranger.
She looked like she belonged.
Silas walked toward her.
“You still want to marry me?”
She tilted her head.
“That depends.”
“On what?”
“Are you still looking for a plain woman?”
“No.”
“A quiet one?”
“No.”
“A woman who doesn't challenge you?”
“Absolutely not.”
She smiled.
“Then perhaps.”
He took her hand.
“Perhaps?”
“You haven't asked.”
Silas stared at her.
He had faced gunmen.
Winter storms.
Stampedes.
Death.
None had frightened him like this.
He took a breath.
“Eleanor Vale.”
“Yes?”
“Will you marry me?”
She looked at him.
“For real this time?”