If the reservoir emptied uncontrollably, the county would blame Samuel.
Voss would then step in as the only man capable of "saving" the water system.
It was perfect.
Unless Samuel could stop it.
The River Under Black Hollow
They reached the surface just before sunrise.
Water was already rushing through the canyon.
Black Hollow Creek, dry for generations, had become a violent river.
It tore through fences.
Carried trees.
Destroyed roads.
Samuel rode toward the ranch.
He could see water spreading across the valley.
People were fleeing.
Cattle were trapped.
Homes were surrounded.
Voss's plan had become real.
Clara shouted:
"There's too much water!"
Samuel looked at the map.
Then he saw it.
The old diversion channel.
His grandfather had built it.
The original channel could redirect the flood toward an abandoned basin.
But the gate was miles away.
And the gate mechanism had been buried for decades.
Samuel turned to Daniel.
"Can it still work?"
Daniel smiled.
"Your grandfather built things to last."
They rode.
Behind them, the flood grew.
At the abandoned basin, Samuel found the old gate.
It was rusted solid.
Eli was barely conscious.
Clara studied the mechanism.
"We need leverage."
Samuel looked at the surrounding rocks.
Then at the horses.
He smiled.
"Bring the chains."
They attached the ranch chains to the gate.
Samuel mounted the strongest horse.
"On three."
Clara nodded.
"One."
The chains tightened.
"Two."
The horse pulled.
"Three!"
Metal screamed.
The gate moved an inch.
Then another.
Water began changing direction.
Samuel shouted.
"Again!"
They pulled.
The gate opened.
The flood turned.
A massive wall of water rushed into the abandoned basin.
The valley began to drain.
People watched from the hills.
Then a shot rang out.
Samuel turned.
Caleb Voss stood on the ridge.
He had survived the cavern.
His rifle was aimed at Samuel.
"You ruined everything."
Samuel looked at him.
"No."
Voss fired.
The bullet struck Samuel's horse.
The animal collapsed.
Samuel rolled into the mud.
Voss approached.
"Your grandfather should have sold me this place."
Samuel slowly stood.
"He knew better."
Voss raised the rifle.
Then Daniel appeared behind him.
"Drop it."
Voss turned.
Daniel held a revolver.
Voss laughed.
"You?"
Daniel smiled.
"I've been waiting forty years."
Voss hesitated.
Then lowered the rifle.
Sheriff's riders appeared in the distance.
Clara had sent for them.
Voss looked around.
For the first time, he realized he had lost.
Not because Samuel had beaten him.
Because the valley had witnessed everything.
People had seen the flood.
They had seen the sabotage.
They had seen the attempt to steal the water.
And now they knew the truth.
The Man Who Would Not Sell
Caleb Voss was arrested before sunset.
The investigation lasted months.
The forged surveys were discovered.
The bribed officials confessed.
The men who had attacked Black Hollow testified.
And beneath the mountain, investigators found the old diversion system.
The evidence was impossible to deny.
But Samuel faced another problem.
His ranch was nearly destroyed.
The barn was gone.
Half the fences were gone.