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didn’t stop the jolt from ricocheting through his chest when those piercing eyes latched onto him.
    â€œI came to warn you, Travis.”
    Travis? She knew who he was? Most folks meeting the Archers all at once had no way of knowing him from Crockett or Jim. Yet she said his name with the confidence of recognition.
    He squinted at her. “Look, lady. I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, but I want no part of it.”
    â€œThis is no game. Please, Travis. Just listen.”
    â€œYou know this gal, Trav?”
    Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his youngest brother start to lower his rifle. “Hush up, Neill, and hold your line.” The kid obeyed without question, firming up his grip.
    â€œThe man who wants to buy your land is sending men out here tonight to persuade you to change your mind. They plan to set fire to the place while you sleep and force you to accept the next offer in order to recoup your losses.”
    Her announcement closed around Travis’s heart like a vise that slowly began to tighten. Why wouldn’t people just let them alone? Whether it was the do-gooders fourteen years ago who thought they knew best and attempted to take his brothers off to some orphanage, or the string of men who came after, trying to take advantage of a green kid with prime land, he was sick to death of people interfering in his affairs.
    There was plenty of other land to be had, after all—although none of the available acreage had a house and outbuildings already built or a creek that didn’t run dry in the summer. The more honorable vultures had sought to buy him out at a price far below market value, assuming he was too inexperienced to know the difference. The less honorable ones tried to take the land by force.
    He still shuddered every time he thought of that bullet in Jim’s shoulder—the one Crockett dug out, holed up in the cellar, while Travis drove the rest of the attackers from their land. Jim had been a pup at fifteen. Crockett, seventeen. And nine-year-old Neill had been the only one left to stand guard. They’d almost lost Jim to the fever afterward, but in the end, God had spared his life.
    And now, according to this woman, another round was about to begin.
    Travis glanced at each of his brothers. Being well trained, none had dropped his guard, but he could sense their wariness, hear the questions hanging unspoken in the air.
    â€œPlease, Travis. You have to believe me,” the woman pled. “You and your brothers are in danger.”
    â€œLook, lady,” Travis ground out between clenched teeth, “I don’t know what you’re up to, but I do know that if someone was planning to attack us, they sure as shootin’ wouldn’t go around announcing that fact to the general public. That tells me that if what you’re saying is true, you’re a part of it somehow, and I can’t trust you.”
    Pain flashed in the woman’s eyes, but she quickly blinked it away before jutting out her chin. “The man my aunt and uncle want me to marry is the one who wants to buy your land. While in his company earlier today, I chanced to overhear a private conversation between him and one of his subordinates. I was horrified by what I heard and knew I had to warn you. After your kindness to me, I couldn’t stand by and do nothing.”
    Travis drew back. “What kindness ? I’ve never even seen you before.” Yet the familiarity that continued to stir at the edge of his consciousness made him question the accuracy of that statement.
    â€œBut you have.” The crazy woman actually took a step closer to him, completely ignoring the rifle he was still pointing at her chest. “I was a trespasser then, too, only a much younger one.”
    She reached for something in her skirts, and he cocked his weapon. “Don’t move, lady. I don’t want to hurt you.”
    â€œI know.”
    Instead of shrinking