Chapter 31 · Her Name on Paper

"Qin Sheng." Luke says my name slow, like he's tasting it. "That you?"

I don't answer. He's got paper in his hand and my name written on it. The ink's fresh. Someone wrote it today.

Eight men behind him. Maybe nine. They smell like gun oil and sweat and the kind of anger that doesn't ask questions first.

Amy's inside the shed. Still breathing. Still alive. Still wrong.

Edith's gone. Slipped out the back before the torches came up the hill. Left me standing here with a choice I didn't want and a kid I can't save the way she needs.

Luke folds the paper. Tucks it in his coat. His hand doesn't go near his gun yet, but I can hear his pulse ticking faster.

He's deciding something.

"Captain wants her alive," one of the militia says. Older guy. Beard down to his chest. "Preacher said she's the one been draining cattle."

"Preacher says a lot of things," Luke says.

The bearded man spits. "You got her name on your sheet. That means you bring her in, or we do."

Luke still hasn't looked at him. He's looking at me.

I know what he sees.