Ethan lunged.
Mara stopped him.
"Not here."
Vane smiled.
"You see? Violence."
Ethan stared at him.
"I'll prove what you did."
Vane walked away.
The meeting changed everything.
The fight was no longer merely about land.
Ethan wanted justice for his father.
Tomas wanted survival for his people.
The three sisters wanted their home protected.
Their goals were different.
But for the first time, they pointed in the same direction.
That night, Ethan and Mara sat near the fire.
"You loved your father," Mara said.
"More than anyone."
"Then don't let anger become your master."
Ethan looked at her.
"How do you know?"
"My mother."
"What happened?"
"She died because a man wanted land."
Mara looked into the fire.
"I spent years wanting revenge."
"Did you get it?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because revenge didn't bring her back."
Ethan was silent.
Mara turned toward him.
"Justice is different."
"How?"
"Justice builds something after the fire."
Those words stayed with Ethan.
The next morning, the company attacked.
This time they came from three directions.
The valley erupted into gunfire.
Mara led the northern defense.
Lena took the western rocks.
Ana moved between the wounded.
Ethan rode with Tomas.
For hours, they held the valley.
Then the enemy brought dynamite.
The first explosion destroyed the eastern trail.
The second struck near the spring.
Water burst from the earth.
Children screamed.
Tomas looked horrified.
"They are trying to poison the spring."
Ethan understood.
If the water became unusable, the valley would fall without another shot.
He turned to Mara.
"We need to stop them."
Mara nodded.
The four rode into the smoke
The attackers had placed barrels around the spring.
Ethan recognized the plan.
They intended to contaminate the water and then claim the valley was unusable.
Lena found the first fuse.
Ana found the second.
Mara rode toward the third.
A bullet struck her horse.
She fell.
"Mara!"
Ethan jumped down.
She was alive.
Her horse was not.
She tried to stand.
"I'm fine."
"You're bleeding."
"Later."
Another explosion shook the valley.
Tomas shouted from the ridge.
"Ethan!"
Ethan looked.
Silas Vane had reached the center of the settlement.
He held a torch.
"If you want your water," Vane shouted, "come take it."
Ethan started forward.
Mara grabbed his arm.
"Don't."
"Why?"
"He wants you angry."
Ethan looked at Vane.
She was right.
He lowered his rifle.
Then he smiled.
"We'll do it another way."
He turned to Lena.
"Can you reach the northern pass?"
"Yes."
"Ana?"
"Yes."
"Mara?"
She stood despite the pain.
"Yes."
Ethan looked at Tomas.
"Then let's end this."
Their plan was simple.
Not to defeat Vane by force.
To expose him.
Lena rode toward the telegraph station.
Ana gathered witnesses.
Mara recovered the company documents from the abandoned trading post.
Ethan confronted Vane.
"You wanted me angry."
Vane raised his pistol.
"I wanted you dead."
"Then why are we talking?"
Vane hesitated.
Ethan smiled.
"Because you need something."
"What?"
"The survey."
Vane's expression changed.
"You have it."
"Yes."
"And you will give it to me?"
"No."
Vane raised his pistol.
Then Tomas appeared behind him.
So did Mara.
Lena arrived with a telegraph operator.
Ana brought three county officials who had secretly opposed Vane.
Vane looked around.
For the first time, he realized his empire was collapsing.
Ethan held up the original survey.
"You forged the lease."
One official nodded.
"You bribed the clerk."
Another nodded.
"You threatened my father."
Vane said nothing.
"And you tried to destroy the water."
Still nothing.
Ethan stepped closer.
"You thought nobody would stand together."
Vane looked at Tomas.
Then at the three sisters.
Then at Ethan.
"You are all fools."
Tomas answered quietly.
"Perhaps."
He pointed toward the valley.
"But we are fools together."