When he looked at Abigail, she was holding the kettle with both hands.

"You told me not to leave the cabin," she said.

Elias stared at her.

"I did."

"You didn't say I couldn't defend it."

Despite the gunfire around them, he almost laughed.

Then another shot struck the cabin wall.

The battle continued.

Cain finally realized the town would not surrender.

His expression became murderous.

"Get Boone."

His men obeyed.

Elias had become the center of the defense.

If Cain could kill him, the town might collapse.

But Elias understood the same thing.

So he disappeared.

He moved through alleys.

Across rooftops.

Behind barns.

He allowed Cain to believe he had retreated.

Then he appeared somewhere else.

Every time Cain's men advanced, they found another obstacle.

Another barricade.

Another rifle.

Another determined citizen.

The afternoon light began to fade.

Rain clouds thickened overhead.

Then thunder rolled across Eagle Ridge.

Cain looked toward the mountains.

His men were tired.

The town was still standing.

But Cain was not finished.

He had one final plan.

He looked toward Abigail's cabin.

"Take the woman."

His lieutenant hesitated.

"She's pregnant."

Cain's eyes remained cold.

"That's why she'll work."

The storm arrived with violent force.

Rain struck Red Pine Crossing like thrown gravel.

The streets became mud.

Thunder shook the windows.

Most of the fighting stopped.

The outlaws retreated beyond the edge of town.

The defenders believed they had won the first stage.

They were wrong.

Cain had sent six men around the eastern ridge.

They approached Abigail's cabin under cover of darkness.

Inside, Abigail was sorting bandages.

She heard a sound.

A boot scraping against the porch.

She froze.

Then another.

She quietly reached for the rifle beside the table.

The door opened.

A man stepped inside.

Abigail raised the weapon.

"Stop."

The outlaw smiled.

"You won't shoot."

"Try me."

Behind him, another man appeared.

Then another.

Abigail backed toward the wall.

Her heart hammered.

She was afraid.

Terrified.

But she remembered something Elias had told her.

Fear was not the same as surrender.

She fired.

The bullet struck the ceiling.

The first man ducked.

Abigail ran.

She kicked the table over.

The lantern fell.

Darkness filled the room.

Someone grabbed her arm.

She screamed.

Then the window shattered.

Elias came through it.

He struck the nearest man with his shoulder.

The outlaw crashed into the wall.

Elias fired once into the floor.

"Run!"

Abigail did.

They escaped through the back door.

Rain soaked them instantly.

Elias led her toward the church.

Behind them, Cain's men chased.

"Why did they come for me?" Abigail asked.

"You."

"Why?"

Elias did not answer.

She stopped.

"Elias."

He turned.

"Because Cain knows you matter to me."

The words hung between them.

Rain poured around them.

Abigail stared at him.

Then she understood.

He wasn't simply protecting a stranger anymore.

He was protecting her.

Elias looked away.

"We have to move."

They reached the church.

Inside were families, children, and wounded defenders.

Sheriff Grady approached.

"What happened?"

"They tried to take Abigail."

Grady's face hardened.

"Cain?"

"Yes."

The sheriff looked toward the windows.

"We need to end this."

Elias nodded.

Outside, thunder rolled again.

Then came another sound.

Hoofbeats.

Dozens.

White Elk entered the church.

Behind him were several members of his community.

They had seen the fires and heard the gunshots.

They had come to help protect the settlement and preserve the trade routes that connected the mountain communities.

White Elk looked at Elias.

"You are surrounded by fear."

Elias nodded.

"Fear can be useful."

White Elk smiled faintly.

"If controlled."

Together, they studied the map of Red Pine Crossing.

White Elk knew the surrounding terrain.

He pointed toward a narrow ridge.

"Cain's men are here."

Then another place.

"Here."

Elias studied the map.

"He'll attack from the north."

Grady frowned.

"Why?"

"Because he thinks we're expecting the south."

White Elk nodded.

"Correct."

Elias stood.

"Then that's where we'll be."

They prepared through the night.

At dawn, the rain stopped.

The clouds broke.

Sunlight touched the mountains.

Cain attacked again.

This time from the north.

His riders came down the slope expecting an undefended approach.

Instead, they found Elias waiting.

The defenders fired.

Cain's formation collapsed.

White Elk and his companions blocked the western trail, preventing retreat.

Sheriff Grady's deputies moved along the eastern side.

For the first time, Cain realized he was trapped.

His men began surrendering.

One.

Then another.

Then three more.

Cain refused.

He fought his way toward the center of town.

His rifle was empty.

He drew a revolver.

His eyes fixed on Abigail's cabin.

He believed she was the reason Elias had become careless.

He rode toward her.

Elias saw him.

"Abigail!"

She turned.

Cain jumped from his horse.