“Yes.”
Eliza almost smiled.
“Then I accept.”
Caleb muttered:
“This is going to be difficult.”
“What?”
“Having another person in house.”
“I noticed.”
Two mornings later, riders came.
Three men.
Caleb saw them from ridge before they saw cabin.
He returned quickly.
“Eliza.”
She looked up from cradle.
“What?”
“Cellar.”
“No.”
“Not again.”
“Eliza.”
“Who?”
“Three riders.”
“Could be anyone.”
“Could be Hollis.”
Her face paled.
Caleb opened trapdoor beneath rug.
“You go down with girls.”
She looked toward door.
Then nodded.
No argument.
He helped her down.
Before closing trap, Eliza caught sleeve.
“Don't get yourself killed.”
Caleb looked at her.
“Planning to avoid it.”
“Caleb.”
He waited.
“You are the only family they have left.”
Words struck harder than she intended.
Caleb looked toward babies.
Then nodded.
He closed hatch.
Riders reached yard.
One knocked.
Caleb opened door with rifle visible but not raised.
The man in center wore deputy’s coat.
Caleb recognized him.
Warren Pike.
New deputy.
Hollis’s nephew.
Of course.
“Morning, Morgan.”
“Pike.”
“We’re searching for woman.”
“Lots of those.”
Pike smiled.
“This one escaped custody.”
“Custody?”
“Wanted for murder.”
Caleb’s face remained still.
“Who?”
“Her husband.”
“Name?”
“Eliza Hart.”
Caleb almost admired efficiency of lie.
Pike continued:
“She killed a ranch hand named Samuel Hart.”
“Took his newborn children.”
“Family wants girls returned.”
“What family?”
“His employer.”
“That isn't family.”
Pike’s smile thinned.
“You seen her?”
Caleb leaned against doorway.
“If I had?”
“We’d need take her.”
“You have warrant?”
Pike produced paper.
Caleb took it.
County seal.
Judge’s signature.
Charge: murder.
Kidnapping.
The twins referred to as “property under guardianship.”
Caleb looked at him.
“Babies are property now?”
“Legal language.”
“Bad legal language.”
Pike extended hand.
“Seen her?”
Caleb tore warrant in half.
Pike’s expression disappeared.
Two men behind him shifted.
Caleb said:
“Bring proper court order.”
“That was proper.”
“No.”
“You want obstruct deputy?”
“You want search my house?”
“Yes.”
“Get federal marshal.”
Pike stepped closer.
“Careful, Morgan.”
Caleb’s eyes hardened.
“You're standing on my land.”
“Your land?”
Pike smiled.
“For now.”
There it was.
Caleb noticed.
Pike realized too late.
“For now?”
Caleb asked.
Pike backed toward horse.
“Paperwork changes.”
“So do fortunes.”
Caleb glanced at Hollis ranch mark on one horse.
“Tell Silas I remember how to read brands.”
Pike mounted.
“We’ll return.”
“I’ll be here.”
They left.
Caleb waited until riders disappeared before opening cellar.