Mateo reacted immediately. He took her in his arms carefully. She was light, too light, as if the cold had drained all the weight from her body.

“Hold on,” he murmured close to his ear. You’re safe now.

I didn’t know if it was true.

But it was the only thing he could say.

He arranged her in front of him in the Lightning chair and wrapped his own coat around her. Then he turned the horse toward the ranch.

The return trip was brutal.

The wind seemed to want to tear them away from the world.

The snow erased any trace of the road.

But Lightning knew these lands better than any man.

Step by step.

Snorting.

He advanced.

When Matthew’s little house finally appeared in the storm, the relief was so strong that it almost made him laugh.

He entered with the woman in his arms.

He placed it by the fire.

He lit more wood.

He rubbed his icy hands together.

He gave him hot coffee in small sips.

Hours passed.

Slow.

Silent.

Finally, around midnight, the woman opened her eyes.

This time with clarity.

Her dark pupils moved slowly until they met Matthew’s face.

“Where am I…?”

His voice was barely a whisper.

Matthew was sitting in a wooden chair, leaning forward, watching the fire.

“On my ranch,” he answered. You were about to freeze out there.

She closed her eyes for a moment.

He took a deep breath.

Then he looked at it again.

“My name is…” Isabela.

Mateo nodded.

“Matthew.

There was a brief silence.

Then Matthew asked:

“What was a wagon like that doing in the middle of a storm?”

Isabela looked at the fire.

The flames reflected something in his eyes.

Something dark.

“I was running away.

Mateo frowned.

“From whom?”

Isabela was slow to respond.

Finally he said:

“Of men who want to kill me.”

Mateo felt a chill.

“Why?”

Isabela looked directly at him.

“Because I’m the owner of Rancho San Gabriel.

Mateo remained motionless.

The San Gabriel Ranch.

All of northern Mexico knew that name.

Thousands of hectares.

Won by the hundreds.

Lands that seemed to have no end.

It was the largest ranch in the entire state.

“My family has had it for generations,” Isabela continued. But after my father’s death… Some men decided it would be easier to take it off.

Matthew rested his elbows on his knees.

“And those men know you’re here?”

Isabela did not respond immediately.

He just looked at the door.

At that very moment…

something was heard.

A deep sound.

Matthew recognized him instantly.

Helmets.

Many.

Horses.

Getting closer.

Matthew slowly stood up.

His heart beat with strange calm.

Like when the storm had already passed and danger was right ahead.

Isabela looked at him.

“It’s them.

The sound stopped in front of the house.

Then…

a brutal knock on the door.

The wood vibrated.

A deep voice shouted from outside:

“We know you’re there, Miss Montoya!”

The silence inside the house became heavy.

Mateo walked to the window.

Through the ice-covered glass he saw shadows.

Four.

Maybe five men.

“Matthew,” Isabela whispered. You don’t have to do this.

Matthew turned to her.

“Do what?”

“Protect myself.”

Mateo shrugged his shoulders slightly.

“I found you half dead in the snow. That already gets me into the problem.

Another knock shook the door.

“Open or we’ll tear the house down!”

Matthew took a deep breath.

Then he walked to the door.

He opened it.

The wind came in like a beast.

Outside were five mounted men.

The one in front had a scar across his face.

“Good evening,” Mateo said calmly.

The man watched him.

“We are looking for a woman.

Mateo crossed his arms.

—I also look for many things.

The man narrowed his eyes.

“The woman in the cart.”

“I haven’t seen any wagons.

One of the men behind spat in the snow.

“Let’s search the house.

Mateo did not move.

“No.

The man with the scar smiled.

“And who’s going to stop it?”

Mateo stepped forward.

He did not raise his voice.

“Me.”

There was a tense silence.

The wind kept roaring.

Finally the man with the scar sighed.

“It’s not worth dying for someone yo