“What happened?”
“Greed.”
Mara pushed one stone toward Caleb.
“Your grandfather broke the agreement.”
Caleb looked at it.
“What did he do?”
“He forged a treaty.”
Raven answered.
“The treaty claimed our people had surrendered the valley.”
“But they hadn't.”
“No.”
Caleb stared at the stone.
“Why didn't anyone challenge it?”
“Because the original treaty disappeared.”
“Where?”
Raven looked at him.
“Your father found it.”
Caleb understood.
“And that's why he died.”
Red Elk nodded.
“The document is still hidden.”
“Where?”
Mara said:
“Under the church.”
Caleb looked toward Raven.
“So the map leads to the original treaty.”
“Yes.”
“And whoever finds it controls the valley.”
“Not exactly,” Red Elk said.
Caleb frowned.
“The treaty proves ownership.”
“It proves something more important.”
“What?”
Red Elk's voice became solemn.
“It proves that the land was never legally transferred.”
Caleb suddenly understood the danger.
If the original treaty surfaced, every modern land claim could be challenged.
The ranchers.
The mining companies.
The railroad.
The banks.
Everything built on the valley's stolen water rights could collapse.
That was why men were willing to kill for it.
Red Elk leaned closer.
“There is a man coming.”
“Who?”
“Elias Crowe.”
Caleb knew the name.
Crowe was a wealthy businessman who had been buying ranches throughout the territory.
He was known for being ruthless.
Red Elk continued.
“He will arrive tomorrow.”
“How do you know?”
“He already sent a letter.”
“What did it say?”
Red Elk looked toward Raven.
“He said the valley belongs to him.”
The wedding was supposed to be a ceremony of protection.
Instead, it became a declaration of war.
At sunset, the entire settlement gathered near the fire.
Raven wore a white dress.
There was no veil.
Her hair was braided with silver ornaments.
Caleb wore his best black coat.
He felt ridiculous.
He also felt strangely calm.
Red Elk stood between them.
“You don't have to do this.”
Raven looked at Caleb.
“I know.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Because if I don't, they will come for you.”
Caleb smiled faintly.
“They already came for me.”
Raven lowered her eyes.
“I don't want you to die because of me.”
Caleb whispered:
“I'm beginning to think you aren't the dangerous one.”
She smiled.
It was the first genuine smile he had seen from her.
Red Elk raised his hands.
Then the sound of gunfire erupted from the hills.
Everyone turned.
Riders appeared in the distance.
Dozens of them.
Elias Crowe had arrived.
He rode at the front.
He wore a gray coat and a black hat.
He stopped outside the firelight.
“Red Elk!”
The chief stepped forward.
Crowe shouted:
“Give me the girl!”
Raven's face went pale.
Caleb stepped in front of her.
Crowe laughed.
“So the Mercer boy finally came home.”
Caleb stared.
“How do you know me?”
“I knew your father.”
“You knew him?”
“I killed him.”
Silence.
Raven gasped.
Caleb's hand went to his revolver.
Crowe smiled.
“You wanted the truth.”
Caleb drew.
Crowe's men raised their rifles.
Red Elk shouted:
“Lower your weapons!”
Nobody listened.
Crowe pointed at Caleb.
“Your father discovered the treaty.”
Caleb's voice shook.
“And you killed him.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he refused to sell it.”
“To you?”
Crowe nodded.
“He believed land belonged to people.”
Caleb stared.
“And my grandfather?”
“Your grandfather hired me.”
Caleb felt the last piece fall into place.
Crowe smiled.
“He paid me to silence your father.”
Raven stepped forward.
“Liar.”
Crowe looked at her.
“You were there.”
“I saw your face.”
“You were a child.”
“I remember.”
Crowe laughed.
“You remember what they told you.”
Raven's eyes hardened.
“No.”
She reached beneath her dress.
She pulled out a small metal object.
A pocket watch.
Caleb recognized it immediately.
His father's watch.
Crowe's smile disappeared.
Raven opened it.
Inside was a tiny piece of paper.
Caleb stared.
“What is that?”
Raven answered:
“Your father's final message.”
She unfolded it.
There were only six words.