"What is this?"
"The land before the boundaries."
He traced the symbols.
"They mark water."
"And burial places."
"And trails."
"Yes."
Caleb realized something.
"This isn't a map of land."
White Elk smiled.
"No."
"It is a map of trust."
The chief nodded.
"Every place marked here represents a promise made between people."
Caleb looked at the first map.
Then the second.
"The red line connects them."
"Yes."
"Why did my father have it?"
"Because Samuel gave it to him."
"Why?"
"To remind him that he still had a choice."
Caleb felt the weight of the old parchment in his hand.
His father had carried the map for decades.
Perhaps he had intended to return.
Perhaps he had never found the courage.
"What does Daniel want?"
White Elk looked toward the mountains.
"The spring."
"Why?"
"His father's ranch is dying."
Caleb thought about it.
"So this isn't only greed."
"No."
"Desperation."
"Desperation can be more dangerous than greed."
Caleb nodded.
Then an idea came to him.
"Maybe we don't have to fight him."
Elena frowned.
"Daniel Ward?"
"Yes."
"He will not listen."
"Then I'll make him listen."
The Bargain
Caleb rode alone to Daniel Ward's camp.
He carried no rifle.
Daniel's men surrounded him.
"You have courage," Daniel said.
"Maybe."
"Or stupidity."
"Could be both."
Daniel laughed.
"What do you want?"
"To make a deal."
Daniel looked interested.
Caleb handed him the original deed.
Daniel stared.
"You have it."
"No."
Caleb withdrew it before Daniel could touch it.
"I know where it is."
Daniel's face hardened.
"What do you want?"
"Your family leaves the valley alone."
"And in return?"
"You get water."
Daniel stared at him.
Caleb explained.
The spring was connected to an underground stream that emerged miles away.
A channel could be dug.
Water could be shared.
Daniel would receive enough for his cattle.
The Apache village would keep the valley.
Daniel laughed.
"You expect me to believe them?"
"No."
"I expect you to believe me."
Daniel studied him.
"You are asking me to trust you."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because neither of us can survive another war."
Daniel looked toward the mountains.
"My father spent his whole life trying to own this place."
"Your father is dead."
The words were simple.
But they struck hard.
Daniel looked at Caleb.
"What if I refuse?"
Caleb answered honestly.
"Then people will die."
"And you?"
"I might be one of them."
Daniel looked at him for a long time.
Finally he said:
"Give me one day."
Caleb nodded.
"One day."
The Night of Fire
Daniel never got the chance.
That night, someone attacked his camp.
His tents caught fire.
Horses scattered.
Shots rang across the valley.
Caleb woke to the sound and rode toward the flames.
He found Daniel trapped beneath a fallen wagon.
Caleb dragged him free.
"Who did this?" Daniel coughed.
Caleb looked at the attackers.
They were not Apache.
They wore no uniforms.
But one carried an old rifle marked with a symbol Caleb recognized.
The Morgan family crest.
Caleb froze.
"My father."
One of the attackers shouted.
"Kill them both!"
Caleb fired.
He and Daniel fought side by side until the attackers retreated.
When the fire finally died, Daniel looked at Caleb.
"Your father?"
Caleb nodded.
"I thought he was part of the solution."
Daniel stared at him.
"He was."
Caleb looked confused.
Daniel continued.
"Your father was working against mine."
"What?"
"He tried to stop Ward."
"Then why did he run?"
"Because he was threatened."
"By whom?"
Daniel looked at the burning camp.
"Someone worse than my father."
Caleb felt cold despite the heat.
"Who?"
Daniel reached into his coat.
He pulled out a letter.
"The man who wanted the valley was never Elias Ward."
Caleb opened the letter.
A single name appeared.
Silas Mercer.
A powerful land speculator who had been buying property across the territory.