She swallowed.
"He was wounded badly. He told me Crowe's men had attacked him."
"What happened then?"
"He died before dawn."
Daniel was silent.
"Why didn't you testify?"
Elena laughed bitterly.
"Against Crowe?"
She shook her head.
"The sheriff worked for him."
Daniel understood.
"So you stayed."
"I had nowhere to go."
She looked at the house.
"This was Samuel's land."
Daniel looked away.
He understood that too.
He had left everything behind because staying hurt.
Elena had stayed because leaving would hurt more.
By noon, Daniel discovered something else.
The spring was not merely water.
It was enormous.
Beneath the house was a natural underground reservoir fed by mountain runoff.
If properly tapped, it could supply the entire valley.
Crowe didn't want the land for cattle.
He wanted control of the water.
Daniel understood why he was willing to kill for it.
He also understood why Elena was in danger.
"How deep?"
Thomas asked.
"About thirty feet."
"Can we reach it?"
"Maybe."
Thomas looked excited.
Elena didn't.
"Even if we do, Crowe will take it."
Daniel shook his head.
"Not if we make it public."
Elena stared at him.
"How?"
"Surveyor."
"There isn't one."
"Town has one."
"He won't come."
"Then we'll make him."
Daniel spent the afternoon preparing.
He repaired the wagon.
Checked ammunition.
Sharpened a shovel.
Then he did something he hadn't done in eleven years.
He wrote a letter.
It was addressed to the territorial marshal.
Inside was the name Silas Crowe.
The location of the Ward property.
And the evidence of the underground water source.
He gave it to Thomas.
"Ride to town."
Thomas looked nervous.
"Alone?"
"Yes."
"What if Crowe's men find me?"
"Don't let them."
Thomas smiled weakly.
"That's helpful."
Daniel looked at him.
"You asked why I stayed."
Thomas nodded.
"This is why."
Daniel pointed toward the house.
"Because sometimes someone has to stand between danger and people who can't fight it alone."
Thomas mounted.
Before leaving, he looked at Daniel.
"Will you still be here when I get back?"
Daniel paused.
Then said:
"Yes."
Thomas rode away.
Elena stood beside Daniel.
"You promised him."
"I know."
"You don't make promises."
"I know."
"Why now?"
Daniel looked at the road.
"Maybe because I'm tired of breaking them."
The Storm
The storm came before sunset.
Lightning split the sky.
Rain poured into the valley.
The dry creek became a river within minutes.
Daniel moved the horses to higher ground.
Elena secured the barn.
Thomas had not returned.
The storm made the road impossible.
Then came the gunfire.
Daniel grabbed his rifle.
Three riders appeared through the rain.
Crowe.
And two men.
Daniel fired.
One rider fell.
The second disappeared behind the barn.
Crowe rode directly toward the house.
Daniel moved to the porch.
Crowe shouted:
"Give me the deed!"
Elena stood behind Daniel.
"There is no deed for sale."
Crowe fired.
The bullet struck the porch post.
Daniel returned fire.
Crowe's horse reared.
Then the storm swallowed them.
Daniel waited.
Nothing.
He turned.
"Where's Thomas?"
Elena's face was pale.
"He should have returned."
Daniel looked toward the road.
"We have to find him."
"You can't go."
"Why?"
"Because Crowe wants you dead."
Daniel loaded his rifle.