Chapter 12

Standing near the stone hearth, holding an iron sledgehammer, was Silas Vance.The room was in total ruin—chairs overturned, wooden shelves smashed to splinters, and rag rugs torn from the floorboards as Vance's men searched for the hidden compartment in the stone chimney.Vance looked at Ethan standing in the doorway, a cruel, triumphant sneer spreading through his gray beard. He held up his left hand.In his gloved fingers was a heavy, yellowed parchment document sealed with a dark red wax stamp—the original 1872 territorial deed."Looking for this, Cole?" Vance sneered, his voice laced with malicious joy. "We found your father's little secret behind the third mantle stone five minutes ago."Vance reached into his coat pocket, pulling out a sulfur match."You're too late, boy," Vance laughed, striking the match against the stone hearth. "Without this paper, your fake marriage is worthless, and your Indian friends are homeless!"

The sulfur match flared into a bright, yellow flame in Vance's hand. He brought the flame straight toward the dry, yellowed edge of the 1872 deed!BANG!A sharp rifle shot echoed from the porch behind Ethan!Aiyana’s Springfield rifle barked with lightning speed! The heavy lead bullet struck the iron sledgehammer sitting on the floor beside Vance’s boot, sending a blinding shower of white sparks and iron splinters straight into Vance’s face!Vance let out a shriek of pain and shock, dropping both the match and the parchment document onto the wooden floorboards as he scrambled backward against the wall!"Take the hands!" Ethan roared to Aiyana!Ethan lunged forward across the room like a charging bear! He threw his broad shoulder straight into the chest of the nearest hired hand who was raising a double-barrel shotgun, hurling the man backward over the shattered oak table!The second hired hand drew a heavy Colt revolver, but Aiyana stepped through the doorway, using the heavy stock of her Springfield rifle like a club, swinging it with fierce, precise strength straight into the man's jaw! The gunman collapsed into the wood bin, his revolver clattering harmlessly across the floorboards!Meanwhile, Vance had pulled a long bowie knife from his belt, his eyes wild with bloodlust as he lunged at Ethan!"I'll gut you, Cole!" Vance screamed, thrusting the eight-inch steel blade straight toward Ethan's ribs!Ethan sidestepped the thrust with practiced mountain agility, his left hand clapping down onto Vance’s wrist like a steel vise! He twisted Vance's arm violently to the right, driving his right fist straight into Vance’s nose with all the force of his broad shoulders!

He Saved a Wounded Man Then Was Ordered to Marry His Daughter

The Weapon Disguised as a Father

The Champion Ignored Her Tap and Kept the Choke Locked — Then a Quiet Man

The Wyoming Rancher Married a Woman From the Border to Save His Land — On Their First Night, She Asked, “What Do You Want Me to Do?”

THE COWBOY WHO FED THE STRANGER

He Bought Every Pie Before Sunset. By Dawn, She Learned Why He Had Really Come

News in the same category

He Saved a Wounded Man Then Was Ordered to Marry His Daughter