Keona almost smiled.
“You already did.”
Ethan followed.
The camp was larger than he expected.
Families were gathered around several fires.
Children ran between shelters.
Women prepared food.
Horses were tied beneath the trees.
But beneath the ordinary rhythm of camp life, Ethan sensed tension.
Too many men were armed.
Too many horses were already saddled.
Too many people kept looking toward the northern ridge.
Something had happened.
Or something was coming.
Keona led Ethan toward a large fire.
Three women were sitting there.
The first rose immediately.
She was tall, with dark braided hair and a calm expression.
Her name was Mara.
She was Keona's eldest daughter.
The second woman sat beside the fire reading a folded document.
Her name was Elena.
She was quieter, thoughtful, and carried herself with the confidence of someone accustomed to making difficult decisions.
The third was younger.
She had a mischievous expression and was repairing a leather bridle.
Her name was Rosa.
She looked at Ethan for several seconds.
Then she said,
“So you're the cowboy.”
Ethan looked at Keona.
“What cowboy?”
“The one who brought my family food.”
“I suppose.”
Rosa smiled.
“You look less impressive than I imagined.”
Ethan laughed.
“That makes two of us.”
Mara frowned.
“Rosa.”
“What?”
“You could at least pretend to be polite.”
“I am being polite.”
Ethan sat down.
For the first time in days, he felt warmth.
Keona handed him a cup of coffee.
Ethan drank.
Then he noticed the document Elena was holding.
“What is that?”
Elena folded it.
“A land claim.”
“Whose?”
“A man named Gideon Crowe.”
Ethan's expression changed.
He knew that name.
Crowe owned several ranches in the territory.
He was wealthy.
Powerful.
And notorious for acquiring land through questionable contracts.
“What does he want here?”
Keona answered.
“The valley.”
Ethan looked around.
“Why?”
“Water.”
Keona pointed toward the river.
“The spring feeds three settlements. Crowe wants control of it.”
Elena unfolded the document.
“He claims the land was legally transferred to his company six months ago.”
Ethan examined the paper.
“Six months ago?”
“Yes.”
“There was no survey.”
“There was no sale.”
Ethan looked at her.
“Then how does he claim ownership?”
“That is the problem.”
Elena's voice was quiet.
“The document is forged.”
A cold wind passed through the camp.
Ethan looked toward the mountains.
“How many men does he have?”
“Enough.”
“That isn't a number.”
“Forty, perhaps fifty.”
Ethan frowned.
Keona watched him.
“You should leave before they come.”
Ethan stared at him.
“Why?”
“Because this is not your fight.”
Ethan looked toward the children.
Then toward Copper, whose distant whinny could be heard beyond the trees.
“You're right.”
Keona nodded.
“I know.”
Ethan stood.
“I'll leave in the morning.”
Rosa looked at him.
“Of course.”
Something about her tone irritated him.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You clearly meant something.”
Rosa shrugged.
“I thought you were different.”
“Different from what?”
“From every other man who sees trouble and rides away.”