The dogs barked.
The men outside froze.
Gideon called out.
"The next shot won't be a warning."
Silence.
Then a voice from farther away.
"Move around back."
Gideon's eyes narrowed.
He had expected it.
He moved toward the rear window.
A man appeared.
Gideon fired.
The man dropped behind the woodpile.
The second man ran.
The dogs tore toward the back door.
Gideon opened it.
They disappeared into the snow.
He stood in the doorway, rifle ready.
Then he heard Clara scream.
Not from fear.
From anger.
She had opened the cellar hatch.
"Clara!"
She emerged holding something.
A small revolver.
Gideon stared.
"Where did you get that?"
"My father's."
"You had a gun this entire time?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"You never asked."
He almost laughed.
Then Everett stepped from behind the barn.
He held a pistol.
Gideon raised his rifle.
Clara stepped beside him.
Everett stared at her.
"Come with me."
"No."
"You don't know what you're doing."
"I do."
"You belong with me."
"No."
"You promised."
"I was sixteen."
Everett's expression hardened.
"You promised."
"I was sixteen."
She repeated it.
Louder.
"I was sixteen."
Gideon looked at her.
Everett lowered his weapon slightly.
"You loved me."
"I thought I did."
"You ran away."
"Because you became cruel."
"I was trying to protect you."
"You locked me in a room."
Everett's face twisted.
"You were going to leave."
"Yes."
"You betrayed me."
"No."
Clara's voice became steady.
"I saved myself."
The words carried across the snow.
Everett stared at her.
Then he raised his pistol.
Gideon moved.
But Clara was faster.
She fired.
Everett's pistol flew from his hand.
He stared at her in shock.
Clara's hand shook.
But she did not lower the revolver.
"Leave."
Everett looked at Gideon.
Then at Clara.
"You'll regret this."
"No."
She lowered the gun.
"I already regretted staying."
Everett ran.
Gideon watched him disappear into the storm.
Then he turned to Clara.
She was trembling.
He took the revolver from her hand.
She looked at him.
"I shot him."
"You didn't kill him."
"I could have."
"But you didn't."
She swallowed.
Then her knees weakened.