She wiped ash from her cheek.

“You're welcome.”

He almost smiled.

Elijah Turner walked over.

“This wasn't an accident.”

Cole looked at him.

“Tracks?”

“Three riders.”

“Direction?”

“East.”

Cole's jaw tightened.

“Crane.”

Lillian looked at him.

“Who is Crane?”

“Silas Granger's cousin.”

She remembered Silas.

“Why does he care about me?”

Cole looked toward the burning barn.

“Because your death was never really about witchcraft.”

Lillian waited.

Cole continued.

“Silas owned land around the northern valley. Land that became worthless when the drought started. Someone has been stealing water from the western wells.”

“You think the drought was caused by people?”

“Some of it.”

“And Mercer?”

“Mercer gave frightened people a story.”

Lillian understood.

“They needed someone to blame.”

Cole nodded.

“And you were convenient.”

The realization chilled her.

The witch hunt had never been about God.

It had been about power.

Three days later, Cole gave Lillian a revolver.

They stood behind the ranch house.

“Hold it properly.”

She raised the weapon.

“Like this?”

“Lower your shoulder.”

She fired.

The bullet struck the fence post.

Cole nodded.

“Better.”

She frowned.

“You sound surprised.”

“I am.”

She reloaded.

“You think I'm helpless.”

“No.”

“You do.”

“I think you're angry.”

Lillian looked at him.

“I'm terrified.”

Cole's expression softened.

“That's different.”

She fired again.

This time the bullet hit the center of the post.

Cole nodded.

“Good.”

Lillian lowered the gun.

“The last time someone pointed a gun at me, they were trying to kill me.”

“I know.”

“I don't want to become like them.”

“You won't.”

“How do you know?”

“Because you still care.”

She looked away.

That evening, they sat on the porch.

The silence between them was no longer uncomfortable.

Lillian finally asked:

“Why were you in Red Hollow?”

“Silas Granger owed me money.”

“Was that why you went there?”

“Yes.”

“Were you going to kill him?”

Cole looked at her.

“No.”

She studied his face.

“You're telling the truth.”

“I am.”

“Why?”

“Because if we're going to survive this, you need to know who your husband is.”

She smiled faintly.

“My husband.”

The words sounded strange.

Cole looked at her.

“You regret it?”

Lillian shook her head.

“No.”

Before he could respond, a rider appeared in the distance.

He was moving too fast.

The horse collapsed before reaching the ranch house.

The man fell into the dirt.

Cole and Elijah ran toward him.

“Ambush,” the rider gasped.

“Where?”

“Serenity Springs.”

He coughed.

“Crane's men.”

Cole grabbed his shoulders.

“Where's the boss?”

The rider looked at Lillian.

“Crane captured him.”

Lillian's blood froze.

“Cole?”

The rider nodded.

“He's alive.”

“Where?”

“They're holding him beneath the old church.”

Lillian's heart stopped.

The same church.

The same place where Silas had died.

The same place where Mercer had first called her a witch.

The rider whispered:

“They're going to hang him at dawn.”

Silence filled the yard.

Lillian turned toward the ranch house.

“Gather the men.”

Elijah stared at her.

“Mrs. Maverick—”

“Gather them.”

Within minutes, forty ranch hands filled the study.

Hicks, the largest of them, stepped forward.

“No offense, ma'am, but what do you think you're doing?”

Lillian looked at every man.

“I'm going to bring my husband home.”

“You've been here less than a week.”

“I know.”

“You don't know our land.”

“I know.”

“You don't know this war.”

Lillian's voice became steady.

“But I know what it feels like when everyone wants you dead.”

The room became silent.

“And I know Cole Maverick jumped into a lake to save a woman he didn't know.”

She looked at Hicks.

“Are you telling me none of you would do the same for him?”

No one answered.

Then Elijah stepped forward.

“The lady asked you a question.”

Hicks lowered his head.

Finally he said:

“What do you need?”

Lillian answered:

“Guns.”

She paused.

“And every man willing to ride into hell.”

One by one, the men stood.

Hats came off.

Weapons were checked.

Horses were saddled.

Before midnight, Lillian was leading them into the mountains.

She had entered Blackstone Ranch as a frightened girl.

Now she rode at the front of forty armed men.

Something inside her had changed.

She was still afraid.

But fear no longer controlled her.

The riders moved through the darkness without speaking.

Moonlight barely touched the mountains.

Lillian rode beside Elijah.

He glanced at her several times.

“You've never done this before.”

“No.”

“You sure you want to?”

“Yes.”

“You could stay behind.”

Lillian looked at him.