Jonah inspected every wall.
Elena joined him.
"You think he'll attack?"
"Yes."
"Tonight?"
"Before sunrise."
She looked toward the darkness.
"Can we win?"
Jonah looked at her.
"I don't know."
She smiled.
"You finally admit it."
"I've been admitting it for years."
"Not to me."
Jonah sat against the wall.
For a moment he looked exhausted.
Elena sat beside him.
"You could leave."
"I could."
"Why don't you?"
Jonah looked toward the children.
"Because I know what happens when everyone leaves."
She waited.
"My mother died during a drought."
Elena remained silent.
"People came to our farm looking for water. My father refused them."
"Why?"
"He was afraid there wouldn't be enough for us."
"What happened?"
"They left."
Jonah swallowed.
"My mother died three days later."
Elena touched his hand.
"You blame your father."
"I did."
"And now?"
Jonah looked at the stars.
"Now I understand he was afraid."
He looked at her.
"But understanding isn't the same as forgiving."
Elena nodded.
"No."
Jonah smiled sadly.
"Maybe that's why I came when I saw you."
The Battle at Dawn
Crowe attacked before sunrise.
His men came from three directions.
The first wave reached the eastern wall.
Apache rifles answered.
Jonah fired from the western tower.
One rider fell.
Another retreated.
Crowe shouted orders.
The attack continued.
Elena carried ammunition.
Tomas stood beside the children.
Jonah moved constantly.
He knew they couldn't hold forever.
Then he saw Crowe.
The rancher was moving toward the water storage room.
Jonah understood.
Crowe didn't care about the fort.
He wanted the water destroyed.
Jonah ran.
Crowe entered the storage room.
He struck a match.
Jonah tackled him.
The match fell.
They fought in the darkness.
Crowe was stronger.
He punched Jonah across the face.
Jonah hit the wall.
Crowe reached for his revolver.
Jonah caught his wrist.
They struggled.
Crowe whispered, "You could have had land."
Jonah shook his head.
"I never wanted it."
"You could have been rich."
"I've seen what rich men become."
Crowe pulled free.
The revolver came up.
A shot echoed.
Crowe froze.
Elena stood in the doorway.
Her rifle was raised.
Crowe slowly dropped his gun.
The battle outside stopped minutes later.
Several of Crowe's men surrendered.
Others fled.
Crowe remained standing.
Jonah looked at him.
"It didn't have to end this way."
Crowe laughed bitterly.
"It always ends this way."
Jonah shook his head.
"No."
He looked toward the spring.
"It ends when people decide enough is enough."
The Water Road
The battle changed everything.
Crowe's hidden water stores were opened.
Ranchers from surrounding valleys arrived.
Some had believed the rumors.
Others had feared Crowe.
Now they saw the truth.
Water was distributed freely.
The Apache families stayed at the fort while their children recovered.
Jonah spent weeks repairing trails between the spring and nearby settlements.
He marked safe routes.
He mapped wells.
He taught people how to build small stone reservoirs.
Elena helped organize food and supplies.
For the first time in his life, Jonah worked with other people.
It felt strange.
Almost dangerous.
One afternoon, Elena found him repairing a fence.
"You are becoming a rancher."
Jonah looked horrified.
"Don't say that."
She laughed.
"You have a fence."
"It's a temporary fence."
"You have chickens."
"They followed me."
"You have a cabin."
"That was already there."
"And me."
Jonah stopped.
Elena smiled.
"Was I already there?"
Jonah stared at her.
"No."
"Then perhaps I'm the only thing you chose."
He lowered his hammer.
"I chose you a long time ago."
Her smile disappeared.
"Jonah..."
"I know I don't have much."
"You have enough."
"I don't know how to build a life."
"Neither do I."
She stepped closer.
"We can learn."
Jonah looked at the mountains.
Then at the spring.
Then at her.
"All right."
The Last Trial
Winter came early.
The mountains turned white.
The desert became cold.
Jonah received word that Crowe had escaped prison.
He knew the man would return.
Three weeks later, Jonah found hoofprints near the cabin.
Five riders.
He followed them.
They had taken Elena.
Jonah rode alone.
The tracks led into the canyon where the old spring had first been discovered.
Crowe waited there.