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“Think You Can Handle All Three of Us?” the Three Sisters Asked the Cowboy in His Barn — What Happened Before Dawn Changed the Whole County

Chapter 6

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"Early for chores, Ethan," Rourke said, his voice flat and devoid of warmth."Storm woke me," Ethan replied calmly. "Had to check on a leaky roof.""Funny," Rourke said, his eyes scanning the yard. "Storm woke us too."Ethan rested one arm casually on the top rail of the wooden fence. "What brings Copper Ridge riders out to my stretch of dirt at sunrise?"Rourke didn't answer immediately. His dark eyes traveled down to the mud near Ethan’s boots, following the distinct, fresh footprints that led directly from the open trail straight into the barn.Rourke’s mouth twisted into a thin, ugly smile. "Three women passed this way.""Lots of things pass this way," Ethan said. "Wind. Coyotes. Rain.""Not these women," Rourke said. "They're on foot. One of 'em's wounded.""Haven't seen 'em."Rourke looked up, his eyes locking onto Ethan’s face. The smile vanished, replaced by an icy, dangerous stare."You're a bad liar, Cole.""Never claimed otherwise," Ethan said smoothly.One of the riders beside Rourke—a lean, pock-marked gunman with a rifle scabbard across his saddle—let out a short, mocking laugh. Rourke did not join in. He kept his attention entirely on Ethan."They stole private documents from Mr. Harrow's personal safe," Rourke said, his tone turning crisp and military. "We're here to retrieve Copper Ridge property."Ethan tilted his head slightly. "Women aren't property, Rourke.""I meant the documents in the satchel," Rourke snapped. "Though Mr. Harrow considers the women his business too.""If it's legal business, go back to town and get the sheriff to issue a warrant," Ethan said. "Otherwise, you're trespassing on my land."Rourke leaned forward in his leather saddle, his horse shifting beneath him."You really want to make this your problem, Cole?" Rourke asked softly, his hand drifting an inch closer to his weapon. "Look around you. You got a small ranch, eighty head of cattle, and no kin left to bury you. You think Silas Harrow gives a damn about a fence line?"Ethan stood motionless in the rain.Behind him, inside the dark barn, three terrified women were watching through the cracks in the oak planks. He thought of the deep purple bruise on young Mae’s cheek. He thought of the exhaustion lined around Clara’s eyes, and the fierce, protective anger that drove Ruth to hold an iron bar against a stranger.
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“Think You Can Handle All Three of Us?” the Three Sisters Asked the Cowboy in His Barn — What Happened Before Dawn Changed the Whole County

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