Page 98 of Whispers of Helena
My body sways, like my legs might give out beneath me. “Are you—” I swallow against the tightness in my throat. “Are you sure?”
Eli nods, his expression grim. “Marcel overheard him talking with his brother, Lee, at a Cattlemen’s meeting. They were planning it, Caroline. They wanted the land, needed it to expand their operation, but Silas never budged while he was alive. No matter how much money they threw at him.”
Tears blur my vision. “We weremurdered?” I say, my voice barely making it past my lips. My hands tremble as I press them to my face, my shoulders shaking with the revelation of it.
“Ruth thinks that’s why Silas is still here,” Eli says gently. “He loves this land, sure. But it’s more than that. Whether he knows it or not, his soul—” He exhales heavily. “It’s been seeking revenge.”
I drop my hands, my chest heaving. “So what Ruth said is true. He’s the one that’s been killing them off. One by one.”
Eli doesn’t answer. He doesn’t have to. It’s the final confirmation I needed.
God.
I press a hand to my stomach, nausea twisting inside me. “Fuck, Eli,” I whisper. “He can’t kill again. Not now. Not since he learned who I am. When my veil dropped, his chances ran out. The angels made that clear to me.” I lift my gaze, my entire body shaking now. “If he does, that means I failed. That means he was given a second chance and threw it away. This is it. His one shot. If he takes Bennett’s life, it’s over. There’s no redemption. He’ll be damned.”
Eli’s jaw clenches. He knows I’m right.
I square my shoulders, gripping the doorknob so tight my knuckles go white. “I’m not leaving here without him. I need you to pray, Eli.” I snap my eyes to his, holding his stare with urgent desperation. “Pray hard.”
He nods once. “I will.” Then, his voice drops even lower. “Go.”
I open the door and as I hit the first step, I hear Shadow’s hooves hitting the brush covered ground of the treeline. I focus my energy on the task of getting Merriweather out of the stables. Once we’re under the night sky, I jump up, swinging my leg over her side. I grip the reins and we set out, following behind Silas.
Then sharp, haunting howls pierce the night. I know without a doubt that Silas didn’t ride out in search of peace. He’s riding to claim his final revenge.
Showdown
Silas
Shadow movesbeneath me like a specter, his hooves barely touching the ground as we ride hard toward the eastern edge of the property. The wind whips against my face, but I barely feel it. My focus is razor-sharp.
This is the last time I will make this ride.
The thought settles deep in my chest, heavy like the hand of judgment. I ride for Caroline. For Kiran. For Eli. For the land that has bound me in life and in death. Knowing he set that fire drives the darkest parts of my soul to finish him. Our home is safe now, but there is one last thread to cut, one final piece that must be removed to be completely sure.
Bennett Everly.
It started a year after we passed. We had just returned from the Cattlemen’s convention in Cheyenne, still carrying the dust of the road on our boots, still settling back into the rhythm of home. That was when Marcel sat Eli and me down, his face carved from stone, his voice quiet but certain.
Everly wanted the land. And he would do whatever it took to get it.
The first time I took a life, it wasn’t supposed to be permanent. I had meant only to send a warning—a message in blood and broken bones. But when my rope tightened around Bennett’syoungest brother’s throat, when I felt his body thrash beneath my grip, saw the desperate, panicked light fade from his eyes, something inside me shifted. My soul had been starved for justice, and in that moment, it was fed.
And when I witnessed the aftermath, the whispered speculation, the creeping fear that settled over their camp, a sick satisfaction set in and I knew what had to be done.
One by one, I hunted them down. One by one, I took their lives. And each time, I felt the land breathe easier, felt the grip of their greed and corruption loosen just a little more.
But Bennett Everly is still standing. And until he’s gone, my mission is not complete.
Tonight, I will finish what I started.
As we near the treeline, I tighten my grip on the reins and pull back, slowing Shadow to a near crawl. The night air is thick with tension, the scent of damp earth and pine clinging to my skin. I guide us through the brush, the whisper of leaves shifting under hooves the only sound as we emerge into the clearing behind Bennett’s house.
Every muscle in my body is on fire, ready. My eyes scan the yard, the darkened windows, searching for any sign of movement. Nothing.
I dismount, my boots landing soundlessly on the ground, and grip the coiled rope in my hand. The rough fibers bite into my palm, grounding me. With steady steps, I move toward the back door, sliding the pick from my pocket. A flick of my wrist, a twist, and the lock gives way with a muted click. I slip inside, the air heavy with silence.
No voices. No movement. Even the spirits are absent. They must be lingering in the bunkhouse, unwilling to bear witness to what comes next.
