The voice outside belonged to Silas Mercer, the wealthy rancher who had once saved Gideon’s life during a winter storm.

But according to Mave’s marriage papers, Silas Mercer was dead.

Gideon stood before the locked door.

“You told the agency you were a widow,” he whispered.

Mave’s tears spilled down her cheeks.

“I had to. He told everyone I was his property. Every time I tried leaving, he brought me back.”

Another knock shook the wooden frame.

“Gideon! I know she’s inside!”

Gideon reached for his rifle but kept it lowered.

“Stay behind me.”

When he opened the door, Silas stood outside wearing an expensive fur coat, two armed riders waiting behind him.

Silas smiled.

“That’s my wife you’ve got in there.”

“Your former wife,” Gideon answered.

Silas laughed.

“There’s no divorce, mountain man. She’s coming home.”

Gideon’s expression hardened.

“She decides where she goes.”

For the first time, Silas stopped smiling.

Then Mave stepped forward.

Her hands were shaking, but her voice was clear.

“I’m not going with you.”

Silas reached inside his coat.

Gideon raised his rifle.

“Think carefully about your next move.”

A long silence followed.

Then Silas slowly withdrew a folded document.

“You might want to read this before pretending you’re a hero.”

Gideon unfolded the paper.

It was a legal accusation bearing Mave’s name, alleging she had stolen a fortune from Silas’s ranch.

At the bottom was the signature of the county sheriff.

Silas leaned closer.

“By morning, every lawman in Montana will be looking for her.”

Mave covered her mouth.

Gideon studied the signature again. Something was wrong.

He recognized the sheriff’s handwriting.

And the signature on that document wasn’t his.

Silas had forged it.

Gideon looked up.

“You made a mistake coming here.”

Silas narrowed his eyes.

“What mistake?”

Gideon folded the document and slipped it into his pocket.

“You brought me the proof.”

But before Silas could respond, one of his riders shouted from the trail.

“Boss! Someone’s coming!”

Through the falling snow, three mounted figures appeared between the pines.

The man leading them wore a sheriff’s badge.

And when Mave recognized the rider beside him, she whispered something that made Gideon turn pale.

“That’s my brother.”

She swallowed.

“He’s the one who sold me to Silas.”