Chapter 3 - The Friend on the Other Side
“Elias!”
Jonah Pike’s voice carried through the trees.
Elias stared in disbelief.
He had known Jonah for fourteen years.
They had driven cattle together.
Drunk together.
Buried friends together.
When Ruth Boone died, Jonah stood beside Elias at the grave.
Now he was riding with Voss’s men.
Tavan signaled silently.
The warriors disappeared among the pines with astonishing speed.
Sani helped Elias behind a fallen log.
“You stay.”
“I’m not a dog.”
“With that leg, you are slower than one.”
Elias nearly argued.
Then Jonah called again.
“We’re here to help you!”
Tavan crouched beside Elias.
“Does he know you are hurt?”
“He shouldn’t.”
“Then do not answer.”
Elias watched through branches.
Jonah dismounted.
“Elias?”
Two Voss riders spread outward.
They were searching.
Not rescuing.
One man carried a shotgun.
Another held rope.
Elias whispered, “What were they supposed to do when they found me?”
Tavan replied, “Ask them.”
Elias looked down at his revolver.
Then shouted.
“Jonah!”
Every rider froze.
Jonah turned toward the sound.
“Elias?”
“Come alone.”
Tavan gave him a warning glance.
Elias ignored it.
Jonah slowly approached.
When he saw Elias’s splinted leg, concern flashed across his face.
“That looks bad.”
“You were waiting for me.”
Jonah stopped.
“What?”
“Eastern trail.”
“I was looking for you.”
“With five armed men?”
“Voss heard you stole something.”
“So he sent you.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Jonah looked toward the forest.
“Can we discuss this somewhere else?”
“No.”
Elias raised the revolver.
Jonah’s face changed.
“Easy.”
“Did the courier let me take that saddlebag?”
Jonah said nothing.
That was enough.
Elias felt something inside him fracture.
“Fourteen years.”
“Elias—”
“Fourteen damned years and you can’t even lie quickly?”
Jonah lowered his voice.
“Voss said he only wanted to scare you.”
“Into doing what?”
“Coming back.”
“To him?”
“Yes.”
“Why put a baby bracelet in the bag?”
Jonah genuinely looked confused.
“What bracelet?”
Tavan emerged from the trees.
Jonah reached for his pistol.
Three arrows instantly pointed at his chest.
“Don’t,” Elias said.
Jonah slowly lowered his hand.
Tavan studied him.
“You did not know about the pouch.”
“No.”
“Who packed the bag?”
Jonah’s jaw tightened.
“Voss.”
Elias felt the story shift again.
“What does Voss want from me?”
“He says the Boone property matter has become complicated.”
“My ranch?”
“Not Kansas.”
Elias stared.
“What other Boone property?”
Jonah looked at Tavan.
Then back at Elias.
“I wasn’t supposed to tell you.”
Elias cocked the revolver.
Jonah exhaled.
“Cedar Basin.”
The name struck Elias strangely.
He had heard it before.
Not recently.
Childhood perhaps.
A place whispered between Ruth and Silas Boone when they believed Elias was asleep.
“What do I own in Cedar Basin?”
Jonah shook his head.
“I don’t know.”
“Bad answer.”
“I swear.”
Tavan said, “He knows enough.”
Jonah looked at him.
“You want the land too.”
Tavan’s face remained calm.
“We want what was taken returned.”
Jonah laughed bitterly.
“There. Hear that, Elias? You think these men chased you because they love you?”
Elias stiffened.
“I never said that.”
“They need your signature.”
Tavan’s gaze sharpened.
Jonah continued.
“Voss needs it. They need it. Everybody needs Elias Boone because one dead surveyor put his infant son’s name on a land trust.”
Elias stopped breathing.
“My father was a surveyor?”
Jonah realized he had gone too far.
Tavan closed his eyes briefly.
Elias turned on him.
“You knew.”
“Yes.”
“Who was my father?”
Tavan answered quietly.
“Caleb Boone.”
Elias’s world seemed to tilt.
“My father was Silas Boone.”
“No.”
Tavan pointed toward the west.
“Silas was Caleb’s younger brother.”
Elias could hear his own heartbeat.
Silas Boone—the stern rancher who taught him to ride, shoot, mend fences and never borrow what he could earn—was not his father.
He was his uncle.
Jonah said, “Voss told me Silas signed away Caleb’s property years ago.”
Tavan shook his head.
“He could not.”
“Why not?”
“Because it belonged to Elias.”
Elias looked between them.
He suddenly understood why everyone needed him.
Not because of the ledger.
Not because of a stolen saddlebag.
Because of a signature.
His.
Jonah took one careful step closer.
“Come with me. Voss will explain.”
Tavan said, “And once you sign, you may never leave his camp.”
Jonah snapped, “You don’t know that.”
“I know Harlan Voss.”
“So do I.”
“That is why you should be ashamed.”
Jonah’s face flushed.
Elias raised one hand.
“Enough.”
He looked at Jonah.
“Go back.”
“Elias—”
“Tell Voss I’ll meet him when I can stand.”
Jonah’s eyes moved to the saddlebag.
“He’ll want that.”
Elias pulled it closer.
“I’m not giving it back.”
The words echoed what he had shouted during the chase.
But they felt different now.
Jonah mounted.
Before leaving, he looked at Elias with something close to guilt.
“Ask Tavan what happened the night your parents died.”
Elias turned toward the Chief.
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Jonah added one final sentence.
“Then ask him why Silas Boone was the one who carried you away.”
