His mother had died five years earlier.
She had never mentioned another woman.
She had never mentioned Black Mesa.
She had never mentioned Red Elk.
She had never mentioned that Caleb's father had apparently traveled hundreds of miles to find the chief's daughter.
“What happened to her?”
Red Elk looked toward a large wooden lodge.
“She is here.”
Caleb's heart began beating faster.
“Alive?”
“Yes.”
“What's her name?”
Red Elk didn't answer.
Instead, he said:
“Tonight, you will meet her.”
That evening, Caleb was given a room inside the chief's lodge.
It was modest.
A bed.
A table.
A fireplace.
A small window overlooking the valley.
He sat alone for nearly an hour.
Then Red Elk entered.
He carried two cups of coffee.
He placed one beside Caleb.
“Your father stayed in this room.”
Caleb stared at the walls.
“When?”
“The winter before you were born.”
Caleb slowly stood.
“You're telling me my father came here before I was born?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't my mother tell me?”
“Fear.”
“Fear of what?”
Red Elk sat down.
“Your father was supposed to take my daughter away.”
Caleb stared at him.
“What stopped him?”
“His family.”
“My grandfather?”
Red Elk nodded.
“Your grandfather wanted your father to marry a wealthy rancher's daughter.”
Caleb laughed bitterly.
“My grandfather never liked my mother.”
“I know.”
“How?”
“Because he told me.”
Caleb felt as if the floor had shifted beneath him.
“What happened?”
Red Elk looked toward the fire.
“Your father chose your mother.”
“And your daughter?”
Red Elk's voice became quiet.
“She disappeared.”
Caleb's stomach tightened.
“Where?”
“No one knew.”
“You said she's here.”
“She returned three years ago.”
“Why didn't she contact my father?”
“He was dead.”
Caleb looked away.
He had spent twenty-two years believing his father had died accidentally.
Now every memory of his childhood seemed uncertain.
Red Elk stood.
“There is something you must understand.”
“What?”
“My daughter is in danger.”
Caleb frowned.
“What does that have to do with me?”
Red Elk looked directly into his eyes.
“Everything.”
Before Caleb could respond, a woman entered the room.
She wore a dark blue dress.
A red scarf covered the lower half of her face.
Her black hair fell over her shoulders.
She stopped several feet away.
Caleb couldn't see her eyes clearly.
But something about her presence felt familiar.
Red Elk looked at her.
Then at Caleb.
“This is my daughter.”
The woman remained silent.
Caleb stood.
“What's your name?”
She looked at him.
“Raven.”
The single word sent a strange chill through him.
He didn't know why.
But he had heard that voice before.
Somewhere.
Long ago.
Raven turned toward her father.
“You told him?”
“Yes.”
“You shouldn't have.”
“I had no choice.”
She looked at Caleb again.
Then Red Elk said something Caleb never expected to hear.
“Tomorrow, you will marry her.”
Caleb laughed.
He thought it was a joke.
Neither of them smiled.
His laughter faded.
“You're serious.”
“Yes.”
Caleb stared at Raven.
Then at Red Elk.
“I've known her for thirty seconds.”
“That is enough.”
“No.”
Red Elk's expression hardened.
“You misunderstand.”
“I don't think I do.”
“My daughter needs protection.”
“Then hire guards.”
“She doesn't need guards.”
“What does she need?”
Red Elk looked at him.
“A husband.”
Caleb stood.
“You've lost your mind.”
Raven finally spoke.
“I agree.”
Her father ignored her.
“There are men coming for her.”
“Who?”
“The same men who followed you.”
Caleb looked toward the window.
“What do they want?”
Red Elk answered:
“The valley.”
“And your daughter?”
“She is the only person who can stop them from taking it.”
Caleb frowned.
“How?”
Red Elk walked toward the door.
“Marry her, and you will learn.”
Then he left.
Caleb stared after him.
Raven remained.
After a moment, she pulled down her scarf.
Caleb looked at her face.
And the world stopped.
He knew her.
Not from the valley.
Not from his childhood.
From a photograph.
A photograph his mother had kept hidden in an old wooden box.