“You found them?”
“They found us.”
“You seem very pleased about that.”
Sela shrugged.
“Your horse has better judgment than you.”
Ethan stared at her.
“Does everyone here insult strangers?”
“No.”
She smiled.
“Only the ones who deserve it.”
By sunset, the water was flowing again.
The camp gathered around a fire.
Ethan was invited to eat.
He expected to discuss Crane.
Instead, Tomas asked him a question that nearly made him choke on his coffee.
“You are unmarried.”
Ethan slowly lowered his cup.
“I am.”
Tomas nodded.
“My daughters are unmarried.”
Ethan looked at Lena.
Then Mara.
Then Sela.
Sela was already trying not to laugh.
Ethan looked back at Tomas.
“I think I know where this conversation is going.”
Tomas remained completely serious.
“Choose one.”
The fire crackled.
Nobody moved.
Ethan stared at the chief.
“Choose one what?”
“My daughters.”
Lena closed her eyes.
“Father.”
Mara sighed.
“Please don't do this.”
Sela leaned closer to Ethan.
“I told you he was trouble.”
Ethan looked from one woman to another.
“I don't think anyone asked me whether I wanted to be involved in this.”
Tomas continued.
“The company wants to isolate us. Your ranch stands between them and the eastern settlements. If you become part of this family, Crane cannot easily separate us.”
Ethan frowned.
“So this is politics.”
“Yes.”
“Not marriage.”
Tomas's expression changed slightly.
“Marriage can be both.”
Ethan looked at the three sisters.
Lena had folded her arms.
Mara appeared thoughtful.
Sela looked amused.
Ethan stood.
“I won't choose a wife because someone wants a stronger political position.”
Tomas's eyes narrowed.
“You refuse?”
“I refuse to choose a woman like I'm choosing a horse.”
Silence returned.
Lena looked at him differently.
Mara closed her leather book.
Sela's smile disappeared.
Ethan continued.
“If one of your daughters wants me someday, that's her decision. If she doesn't, that's also her decision.”
Tomas studied him for a long moment.
Then the chief nodded.
“Good.”
Ethan frowned.
“Good?”
“I wanted to know whether you understood the difference between an alliance and ownership.”
Before Ethan could answer, a rifle shot shattered the night.
Everyone moved.
Another shot struck a clay water jar.
Children screamed.
Women pulled them behind shelters.
Lena grabbed her rifle.
Mara seized the leather case containing the land documents.
Sela ran for the horses.
Ethan reached for his Winchester.
Men appeared along the northern ridge.
There were more than twenty.
At their center sat a tall man wearing a gray coat.
Silas Crane.
He raised a white cloth.
“Dry River is company property!” he shouted. “You have until sunrise to leave!”
Tomas walked into the open.
“This land is not yours.”
Crane laughed.
“Tomorrow it will be.”
Then Crane noticed Ethan.
His smile vanished.
“Cole.”
“Crane.”
“This doesn't concern you.”