Inside, Serena searched beneath the floorboards.
Nothing.
Ethan checked the walls.
Nothing.
Then Serena stopped.
“My mother always said she never hid anything where a man would look first.”
Ethan smiled.
“So where would she hide it?”
Serena walked to the bell tower.
“Somewhere above us.”
They climbed.
Behind an old wooden beam, they found a small metal box.
Inside was a folded document wrapped in oilcloth.
Serena opened it.
Her eyes widened.
“The treaty.”
Ethan exhaled.
They had what they needed.
Then a gunshot shattered the window.
The box fell.
Serena screamed.
Ethan pulled her down.
Another shot struck the wall.
“They followed us.”
“How many?”
“Enough.”
They escaped through the rear door and ran into the forest.
Rain blinded them.
They reached a narrow ravine.
Ethan grabbed Serena's hand.
“Keep moving.”
She stumbled.
He caught her.
“I can walk.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you holding me?”
“Because I don't want you falling.”
She looked at their joined hands.
Neither released the other.
Not immediately.
Finally Serena whispered,
“Ethan.”
“Yes?”
“If we survive this…”
He looked at her.
“What?”
“I want to make my own choice.”
He understood.
“Then you will.”
She nodded.
And this time, when they ran, they ran side by side.
The Man Who Wouldn't Own Her
They returned to the valley after dark.
Chief Keona read the treaty by lantern light.
His hands trembled.
“My father signed this.”
“And the territorial agent signed it too,” Ethan said.
Keona looked up.
“This could save the valley.”
“Could.”
“You don't believe it?”
“I believe paper matters only when someone with power agrees it matters.”
Keona folded the document.
“What do you want?”
Ethan frowned.
“Nothing.”
“You risked your life.”
“So did Serena.”
Keona looked toward his daughter.
She stood beside the doorway.
The chief understood.
“You care for her.”
Ethan did not answer.
Serena did.
“I care for him.”
The room became silent.
Keona closed his eyes.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he looked at Ethan.
“If you marry her, I will consider you family.”
Ethan shook his head.
“That's not how this works.”
Keona frowned.
“Then how?”
“She chooses.”
Serena stepped forward.
“And I haven't chosen yet.”
Keona looked surprised.
Ethan smiled.
“Good.”
She looked at him.
“You don't want me to choose you?”
“I want you to choose me for the right reason.”
“What reason is right?”
“Because when nobody is watching, you'd still want me beside you.”
Serena stared at him.
The answer frightened her.
Because she already knew.
That night, Ethan slept near the horses.
Serena approached.
“You really intend to leave?”
“When this is over.”
“Why?”
“Because your father was right about one thing.”
“What?”
“You need freedom from everyone deciding your life.”
She sat beside him.
“What if I want you?”
Ethan looked at her.
“Then tell me after you're free.”
She smiled.
“That may be the hardest thing anyone has ever asked me to do.”
“I'm sorry.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“Thank you.”
The Surveyors
The surveyors arrived at sunrise.
Six wagons.
Four armed guards.
Two government officials.
And Jacob Rusk.
He rode at the front wearing a black coat and a silver watch.
Ethan recognized him immediately.
Rusk dismounted.
“Ethan Vale.”
“Jacob Rusk.”
Rusk smiled.
“I heard you were dead.”
“People hear a lot.”
Rusk looked toward Serena.
“So this is the chief's daughter.”
Serena said nothing.
Rusk's smile disappeared.
“I'd be careful if I were you.”
She stepped closer to Ethan.
“I don't take advice from men who arrive with rifles.”
Rusk laughed.
“You have spirit.”
Ethan stepped between them.
“Say what you came to say.”
Rusk unfolded a document.
“This land has been scheduled for survey and transfer.”
Chief Keona appeared behind Ethan.
“Transfer to whom?”
“Private development.”
“Whose?”
Rusk smiled.
“Mine.”
Keona's warriors raised their weapons.
Ethan raised one hand.
“Don't.”
Rusk looked amused.
“Wise.”
Ethan pulled the treaty from his coat.
“Read this.”
Rusk's smile faded.
He looked at the document.
For the first time, Ethan saw fear in his eyes.
“You stole that.”
“No.”
Rusk turned toward the officials.
“You cannot recognize that.”
One official reached for the treaty.
The older surveyor read it carefully.
“This is legitimate.”
Rusk's face hardened.
“That's impossible.”
The official looked at Keona.
“Chief, this agreement guarantees tribal use of the valley.”
Rusk stepped forward.
“This document is decades old.”
“Still valid.”
Rusk's hand moved toward his gun.
Ethan noticed.
So did Serena.
She moved first.
Her rifle came up.
“Don't.”
Rusk froze.
Then he smiled.
“This isn't over.”
“No,” Ethan said.
“It isn't.”
Rusk mounted his horse.
As he rode away, Ethan noticed something.
One of the surveyors remained behind.
The man approached quietly.
“My name is Samuel Grant.”
Ethan looked at him.
“I was sent to survey the valley.”
“And?”
Grant lowered his voice.
“I've been investigating Rusk for two years.”
That changed everything.
“Can you testify?”
“If you can get me to the territorial court alive.”