Samuel didn't answer.
Three days later, the northern fence was cut.
Then two cattle disappeared.
Then the barn caught fire.
The fire was discovered by Daniel.
He woke screaming.
Samuel and the boys ran outside.
Flames were already climbing the wooden walls.
Clara grabbed buckets.
"Water!"
Everyone moved.
Even Noah carried a tiny tin cup.
The fire was finally contained.
The barn was badly damaged.
Samuel stood staring at the blackened beams.
His hands trembled.
Clara touched his arm.
"Are you hurt?"
"No."
"Then we'll rebuild."
He looked at her.
"With what?"
She didn't answer immediately.
Then she looked toward the six boys.
"We have six strong sons."
Samuel nodded.
"And one stubborn wife."
He almost smiled.
"One very stubborn wife."
They rebuilt the barn.
But the attacks continued.
A mysterious buyer offered Samuel money for the ranch.
Samuel refused.
Then the bank sent a notice.
The ranch had three months to repay its outstanding debt.
Clara read the paper.
"How much?"
Samuel told her.
She went silent.
"That's impossible."
"I know."
"No."
"What?"
"You've decided it's impossible."
"It is."
"Then we'll find another way."
Samuel shook his head.
"There isn't one."
Clara looked at him.
"Why did you marry me?"
He stared at her.
"I needed help."
"No."
He frowned.
"You needed someone who would surrender."
Samuel's expression changed.
"Clara."
"I came here because I thought I had no choices. But now I see something you don't."
"What?"
"You still have a choice."
Samuel looked toward the boys.
"What choice?"
"Fight."
The next morning Clara went to town.
She visited every shop.
She asked about prices.
She studied the market.
She learned that dried beans sold for almost twice as much in the neighboring county.
The ranch already had enough land to grow them.
They only needed water.
Then she remembered something.
An abandoned irrigation ditch behind the northern hill.
Her father had once taught her that old farms often held clues about water.
She took Daniel and Isaac to investigate.
They found it.
A buried stone channel.
Samuel dismissed it as useless.
Clara disagreed.
They spent two weeks clearing it.
Then rain came.
Not much.
But enough.
Water rushed through the old channel.
The boys cheered.
Samuel stood in the rain, stunned.
Clara laughed.
"We found our answer."
"No," he said.
"We did."
That season, the Hayes ranch planted beans, corn, potatoes, and squash.
They sold the first harvest in Mercy Ridge.
Then the neighboring towns.
By winter, the debt was reduced.
But Victor Bell wasn't finished.
He had expected Samuel to fail.
Instead, the Hayes ranch was becoming profitable.
One evening, Victor arrived with two men.
He demanded Samuel sell.
Samuel refused.
Victor threatened legal action.
Clara stepped forward.
"You've threatened us before."
Victor looked at her.
"You should know better than to interfere in men's business."
Clara smiled.
"My mistake."
Victor relaxed.
Then she continued.
"I thought this was business."
His smile vanished.
She handed him a document.
"These are copies of every property record, water agreement, and debt payment we've made."
Victor's face changed.
"You can't—"
"Yes, I can."
She stepped closer.
"And if anyone damages this ranch again, the sheriff will receive copies of everything."
Victor stared at her.
Samuel looked at Clara with something close to admiration.
Victor left.
That night, Samuel stood beside her on the porch.
"You frightened him."
"Good."
"Where did you learn all that?"
"My father."
"He was a lawyer?"
"No."
"What was he?"
"A farmer."
Samuel laughed.
"Of course."
She smiled.
Months passed.
The boys changed.
Daniel began studying accounting.
Matthew opened a small kitchen garden.
Isaac trained horses.
Caleb became skilled at carpentry.