The gunman crossed his arms.
"He's already nervous."
"He owes me more than he can repay."
Harrow stood.
"Then we'll give him one last reason to act."
Creed watched him.
"What are you planning?"
Harrow approached the map hanging beside the fireplace.
He pointed toward the northern mountains.
"The army believes there's a hostile force gathering in this region."
Creed nodded.
"Yes."
"Then perhaps it's time we gave them something to find."
Creed studied the map.
A slow smile spread across his face.
"An armed confrontation?"
Harrow nodded.
"One that ends this before the investigation reaches Washington."
Outside, thunder rumbled across the desert.
And somewhere in the hidden canyon, two hundred riders were gathering—not because they wanted a war, but because they had learned that men with guns were coming for their families.
The first warning arrived on a Wednesday morning.
A boy no older than thirteen rode into the hidden canyon on a sweating pony, his face covered in dust and his hands shaking around the reins.
Salina was preparing to leave for the southern lookout when she heard the commotion.
She hurried toward the entrance.
The boy nearly fell from his horse.
"Soldiers," he gasped.
Salina caught his arm.
"Where?"
"Near Eagle Pass."
"How many?"
The boy swallowed.
"More than eighty. Two supply wagons. A mountain gun."
Salina felt her stomach tighten.
"Who leads them?"
"Major Fenwick."
She looked toward Tomas's shelter.
Within minutes, the community leaders had gathered.
Benjamin Vale was summoned from the southern trail, where he had been escorting witnesses toward Tucson.
Eleanor arrived shortly afterward.
She had returned from San Rosario the previous evening, exhausted but determined to remain until Nantan recovered.
When she heard the news, her face went pale.
"Fenwick is coming here?"
Vale nodded.
"Apparently."
"Does he have legal authority?"
"He's claiming to investigate the attacks on the freight stations."
Salina crossed her arms.
"Attacks his own associates helped arrange."
"That's what we believe," Vale replied. "But the soldiers following him may not know."
Tomas looked toward the mountains.
"Then we must make certain they understand before anyone fires."
A messenger was sent immediately.
He carried copies of the evidence and a written request for Fenwick to halt his approach while the accusations were reviewed.
By sunset, the messenger returned.
His horse was exhausted.
His face was grim.
"Fenwick refused."
Tomas closed his eyes.
"What did he say?"
The messenger hesitated.
Then answered.
"He said the settlement must surrender its weapons and all men accused of assisting attacks on the railroad."
Salina stared.
"Which men?"
"He gave no names."
Vale swore quietly.
Eleanor looked toward him.
"What does that mean?"
"It means Fenwick has deliberately made a demand he knows cannot be fairly answered."
She felt cold.
"So he wants an excuse."
Vale nodded.
"Yes."
That evening, Tomas addressed the assembled families.
He did not speak of glory.
He did not promise victory.
He reminded them that the safety of children and elders came first, that defending their community did not require giving Fenwick the confrontation he wanted, and that every possible avenue for negotiation should remain open.
Scouts watched the approaches.
Families prepared to move toward safer ground if necessary.
Several riders were dispatched to neighboring communities with warnings.
Salina coordinated the messengers, while Nantan, still recovering, helped identify routes that would allow families to leave without entering the soldiers' line of advance.
Eleanor listened as the plan took shape.
Then she stood.
"I have an idea."
Tomas looked at her.
"You have had many ideas lately, Eleanor Whitmore."
A few people smiled.
She stepped forward.
"Fenwick expects an armed enemy. That's what Harrow needs him to find."
Vale nodded.
"Yes."
"Then we should give the soldiers something else to see."
Salina frowned.
"What?"
"Witnesses."
Eleanor looked around the gathering.
"Not only men with rifles. Families. Ranchers. Merchants. People from San Rosario who know what Harrow did. A lawyer. A doctor. Someone who can identify the documents and explain why Fenwick's accusations are being investigated."
Vale studied her.
"You want to confront the soldiers publicly."
"I want their men to hear the truth before anyone orders them to shoot."
Salina shook her head.
"That may not stop Fenwick."
"No," Eleanor admitted. "But it may stop enough people from following him blindly."
Silence settled over the group.
Then Tomas nodded slowly.
"There is wisdom in refusing to let our enemies decide what others see."
The following morning, riders traveled south carrying invitations and warnings.
Samuel Bennett came from San Rosario with two assistants and certified copies of the available records.
Doctor Mercer prepared to testify about Nantan's injuries.
Several independent ranchers volunteered to attend.
A newspaper editor named Abigail Foster agreed to witness the encounter, though she insisted on bringing her own notebook and making no promises about what she would write.
An official observer from outside Fenwick's command was requested through Vale's contacts.
Not everyone could arrive in time.
But enough people came to change the situation.
By Friday afternoon, more than forty civilians had gathered near the mouth of Willow Creek Canyon.
Some were ranchers.
Others merchants.
Several were relatives of men whose property had been seized under questionable documents.
There were also representatives selected by the Apache families, including Tomas and Salina.
Nantan insisted on attending despite his wound.
Doctor Mercer protested loudly.
"You can barely sit in a saddle."
"Then I will not sit in a saddle."
"Wonderful. You've discovered walking."
Nantan smiled.
"I will travel in the wagon."
Mercer threw up his hands.
"Surrounded by lunatics."
Eleanor laughed.
But as the sun began to set, laughter disappeared.
Dust rose on the eastern road.
The soldiers were coming.
Fenwick arrived at the head of a long column.
He was a broad-shouldered man with a carefully trimmed mustache and a polished uniform.
His expression hardened when he saw the gathering.
He had expected armed resistance.
Instead, he found civilians, witnesses, an attorney, a former officer, and representatives of the community he had been ordered to confront.
He reined in his horse.
"What is the meaning of this?"
Benjamin Vale stepped forward.
"Major Fenwick."
The officer stared.
"Vale?"
"Good afternoon."
"What are you doing here?"
"Observing."
Fenwick's face reddened.
"You have no authority to interfere with a military operation."
Vale remained calm.
"Then you should have no objection to explaining the purpose of that operation."
Fenwick looked toward the gathered civilians.
"These people are obstructing an investigation."
Samuel Bennett stepped forward.
"No one is obstructing your investigation, Major. We are requesting clarification of the charges and the legal basis for your demands."
Fenwick's eyes narrowed.
"And you are?"
"Samuel Bennett, attorney."
The major looked irritated.
"I don't have time for courtroom speeches."