Chapter 7

Alonzo focused on the potatoes in his hand, refusing to put Ben even more ill at ease by trying to press him to speak when he obviously wasn’t ready.

“Cullen is greedy and wants what doesn’t belong to him,” Ben said, breaking the silence that had settled between them. “That land is all I have. All that I am. His man tried to force me to sign an agreement, giving it to Cullen, and when I refused…” He exhaled and closed his eyes, shaking his head in resignation. “I warned Cullen I would not go peacefully. His deputy’s blood is on his hands, as well as mine.”

“So, instead of arresting you and putting you on trial for murder, risking exposure of his own greed, he beat you and left you to die a slow death. Your land is vulnerable right now.”

“I know. I do not plan on it being vulnerable for long.”