Ethan stared at the paper.
The name was unmistakable.
Thomas Vale.
His father.
Ethan took the document.
The land description covered an enormous section of the valley.
His father's ranch had once extended into these mountains.
But according to official records, Thomas Vale had sold the land before his death.
Ethan knew that was a lie.
His father had never sold it.
He had fought over it until the day he died.
"Where did you get this?"
"Blackstone owns the rights."
"Forgery."
The man's smile disappeared.
"Careful."
Ethan tore the document in half.
Then again.
Then dropped the pieces into the dirt.
The man reached for his weapon.
Serena suddenly spoke.
"Don't."
Everyone stopped.
She stepped forward.
"This is what they want."
The man looked at her.
"What?"
"They want us fighting each other."
Ethan looked at Serena.
She continued.
"Blackstone has been pushing people toward violence for months."
The man laughed.
"You don't know what you're talking about."
"I know more than you think."
She pointed toward the ridge.
"There are three men watching us."
Ethan turned.
He couldn't see them.
Then he heard it.
A faint metallic click.
A rifle being moved.
He grabbed Serena's arm.
"Down."
A shot cracked across the valley.
The bullet struck the wooden barrier.
Horses screamed.
Everyone scattered.
Ethan pulled Serena behind a rock.
"Are you hurt?"
"No."
"Stay here."
He moved uphill.
Two more shots echoed.
Then silence.
The men from Blackstone fled.
Ethan returned.
Serena was pale.
"You shouldn't have followed me."
"I didn't."
She pointed toward a small ridge.
"They were aiming at you."
Ethan looked.
"Why?"
"Because they know your father."
"What does my father have to do with them?"
Serena hesitated.
"I don't know."
Ethan stared at her.
"You know something."
She looked away.
"My father told me never to tell you."
"Tell me anyway."
She shook her head.
"Not here."
They returned to camp before sunset.
Keona was waiting.
When he saw their faces, he knew something had happened.
"Blackstone?"
Ethan nodded.
"They shot at us."
The chief looked at Serena.
"Did they see you?"
"Yes."
Keona closed his eyes.
"Then it has begun."
Ethan stepped forward.
"What has begun?"
Keona looked at him.
"The war your father thought he had ended."
The Secret Beneath the Mountain
That night, Keona finally told Ethan the truth.
Twenty years earlier, Thomas Vale had discovered something in the mountains.
Not gold.
Not silver.
Something far more valuable.
Water.
A massive underground aquifer ran beneath the valley.
Fresh, clean water.
Enough to sustain thousands of people.
At the time, Thomas had refused to sell the information.
He believed the valley belonged to the people who depended upon it.
Blackstone had wanted control.
Thomas refused.
Then the pressure began.
Threats.
Broken fences.
Stolen cattle.
False accusations.
Finally, the fire.
Ethan listened without speaking.
"My father knew?"
"Yes."
"How much?"
"Everything."
Ethan looked at Keona.
"Why didn't anyone tell me?"
"Your father asked us not to."
"Why?"
"Because you were young."
Ethan laughed bitterly.
"I was twenty-four."
"You were still his son."
Keona's voice softened.
"He wanted you to leave."
"He told me to run."
"Yes."
"I thought he was ashamed of me."
"No."
Keona looked toward the fire.
"He was trying to save you."
Ethan stared at the flames.
For years, he had carried the belief that his father had died angry with him.
Now that belief was beginning to crack.
"What happened to the map?"
Keona looked at Serena.
She stood quietly behind him.
Serena stepped forward.
"My father has it."
Ethan frowned.
"Where?"
She pointed toward a small wooden chest.
Keona opened it.
Inside was a leather-bound journal.
Ethan recognized the handwriting immediately.
His father's.
He opened the first page.
If Ethan ever returns, tell him the truth.
Ethan stopped breathing.
He read the next line.
The land was never sold. The deed was stolen.
His hands began to tremble.
He turned the page.
There were names.
Dates.
Payments.
Witnesses.
And one name appeared repeatedly.
Silas Mercer.
Ethan closed the book.
"Why now?"
Keona answered.
"Because Mercer knows the map exists."
"And Serena?"
Keona looked at his daughter.
"She is the only person who knows where it is hidden."
Ethan turned.
Serena's expression was terrified.
"Where?"
She shook her head.
"I can't."
"Serena."
"I promised my father."
Ethan walked toward her slowly.
"I won't force you."
She looked at him.