Who would throw stones at his door? Luke knew the difference between a knock and a whack.

Holding the pistol above his head, he crept toward the door. He pulled the slat back and snuck a look outside. Darkness defeated the remaining light. He focused on the tree line, waiting for someone to step beneath the starlit clearing.

Luke looked back at Ruth and her daughter in the kitchen, where the mother stood, holding her daughter's shoulders.

Luke swallowed a lump in his throat, slid the bar from the door, and slipped outside. The sound of crickets filled the air and fireflies lit the sky.

Holding the revolver above his shoulder, Luke called out her name. "Ayanna! I got no time for games. Show yourself."

Ayanna stumbled out into the clearing beneath the starry sky. Luke fastened his eyes on her enough to see the rope tied around her waist. And someone held the other end from the trees.

Luke heard a voice calling from darkness. "Hey Luke, I reckon I have something of value. How about we make a trade? Give me the gale you got inside, and I give you back your squaw!"

Luke was at a loss for words. His stomach soured over Ayanna. Somehow, the bounty hunter outflanked her as she tried to lead him away into the canyon.

"What you say, Luke? I'm only going to bring her to the authorities and collect my reward. I won't tell the marshal in town; you've been harboring a fugitive. You got my word!"

Luke approached Ayanna yards away. "It takes a real man to tie up a woman!"

Luke edged closer, waiting to fire toward the sound of his voice.

"Don't try to be clever. My old Henry is leveled on your pretty, little maiden. And Mr. she's one fiery feline. She bit a piece of my ear! She needs to be tamed."

It was like stabbing Luke's heart with a hot poker. He seethed with anger. "You best be careful, or I'll deliver your dead carcass on my pack mule in town."

"Seems you should be the one who's careful. Best call this one soon, before I raise the stakes. My trigger fingers got an itch."

Luke heard the door behind him open and shut. He turned to see Ruth running toward him with a lantern in one hand and pulling on her dress with the other.

Breathing heavy and barely able to talk, she whispered in his ear. "I'm going with him. After you collect Ayanna, you best pick up the trail and shoot him dead. Promise you'll come for me. Promise."

"No, Ruth. Don't." He could see the glistening tears in her brown doe eyes. Luke nodded.

She walked away from him with the lamplight toward Ayanna. "Don't be such a stubborn mule."

"I swear people might think we are hitched."

Luke knew the hunter had the drop on him. He could easily level his rifle on him from the pitch dark. Whatever Luke did would be a literal shot in the dark.

Ruth held the lantern at shoulder level next to Ayanna. With her free hand, she revealed a knife hidden in her dress. Cutting the rope, she freed her. After exchanging a few words, Ruth gave her the light. Then she stepped toward the bounty hunter into the darkness of her personal abyss.

Ayanna stumbled toward Luke. With the light beaming over her, Luke could tell, she'd been battered and bruised. His heart pecked like a trapped bird. "What did he do? What did he do to you? When I catch him, I'll make him pay."

Ayanna reassured Luke. "He tried to have his way with me, but when he leaned over to kiss me, that's when I bit off a piece of his ear."

Luke simmered down some. He wanted to go after him now, but he knew the man would have to camp before he'd make it into town. It would be too treacherous scaling down the mountain, even with a firelight.

The door slapped open. Anna Beth ran toward the pair. "Where's my mother? Momma!"

Ayanna was forced to snatch her and hold her tight. The girl clinched her fist and fought Ayanna back to the cabin, while Luke led with the lantern.

"Don't cry child," said Ayanna. "Luke will find her."

Anna Beth kicked and clawed all the way back to the cabin until she wore herself out. From the porch, Luke asked. "Mind telling me what words you shared?"

Ayanna looked into Luke's eyes, her face a mix of mud and blood. Then she sat Anna Beth down and covered her ears. "If you can't save her, I should stay with you to raise her daughter."

There was an air of silence between them. Luke was at a loss for words.

"She also said, if anyone deserves to marry you it should be me. She said, "'We were meant for each other."'