The Apache woman stepped into the cowboy’s path and placed her hand against his chest.
“Stay with us tonight, cowboy,” she whispered. “Every woman here wants something from you.”
Nathan Cole stared at her.
Behind her stood twelve women, watching him beneath the fading Arizona sunset.
“What exactly do they want?” he asked.
The woman smiled.
“You’ll find out when the doors close.”
Nathan had spent thirty years working cattle, surviving dust storms, and avoiding trouble. Nothing had prepared him for this.
Three days earlier, he had ridden into the Apache settlement searching for his missing horse.
Instead, he found himself standing before Chief Nantan, who had an unusual demand.
“You may leave when every woman in our community is satisfied with what you have done.”
Nathan blinked.
“Every woman?”
“Every one.”
“And if I refuse?”
The chief studied him.
“Then you leave without the answers you came seeking.”
Nathan frowned.
He had not mentioned the other reason for his journey.
His younger brother, Thomas, had disappeared near this settlement six months earlier.
The sheriff claimed Thomas had abandoned his ranch.
Nathan knew better.
Thomas would never leave without saying goodbye.
“How do you know about my brother?” Nathan demanded.
Nantan looked toward his daughter.
“Ask Aiyana.”
She was twenty seven, with dark eyes and a calm voice that made Nathan strangely nervous.
Aiyana approached him.
“Your brother came here before he disappeared.”
Nathan’s heart quickened.
“Where is he?”
“That depends on whether you can help us.”
“With what?”
She glanced toward the women gathered outside the council lodge.
“Something our men have been unable to finish.”
Nathan folded his arms.
“Lady, I’m a rancher, not a miracle worker.”
“Good,” she answered. “We don’t need miracles. We need someone willing to listen.”
That evening, Aiyana led him into a large wooden meeting hall.
Twelve women waited inside.
Some were elderly. Others were young mothers. One held a sleeping child.
An older woman named Tala stepped forward.
“Before we begin, cowboy, understand that none of us is asking you to become our husband.”
Nathan nearly laughed.
“That’s a relief.”
Aiyana raised an eyebrow.
“Were you worried?”
“Considering how you invited me here, wouldn’t you be?”
Several women chuckled.
Then Tala placed a wooden box on the table.
“Your brother left this with us.”
Nathan immediately recognized the carving on its lid.
Thomas had made it when they were boys.
“Open it,” Tala said.
Inside were twelve folded letters.
Each carried a woman’s name.
Nathan reached for the first.
Aiyana stopped him.
“Not yet.”
“Why?”
“Because you must promise to finish what Thomas started.”
Nathan looked around the room.
“What did he start?”
Aiyana’s expression darkened.
“He discovered why our families have been losing their land.”
Nathan felt his stomach tighten.
Outside, a horse approached at speed.
A young boy rushed into the hall.
“Chief Nantan! The sheriff is coming!”
The women exchanged frightened glances.
Aiyana grabbed Nathan’s hand.
“Listen carefully. Whatever happens tonight, don’t let him see those letters.”
Nathan stared at her.
“Why would the sheriff care?”
“Because Thomas trusted him.”
“And?”
Aiyana swallowed.
“That was his mistake.”
Suddenly, someone pounded on the door.
“Cole!” Sheriff Briggs shouted. “Step outside!”
Aiyana moved closer.
“Before you answer, there’s one more thing.”
“What?”
“Your brother is alive.”
Nathan froze.
“Where?”
She pointed toward the locked room behind the meeting hall.
“And he’s been waiting for you.”
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