The commander nodded.
“But there's more.”
He handed Ethan another document.
Crowe had been purchasing land around the valley illegally.
Not just theirs.
Several ranches.
Several farms.
Entire settlements.
If exposed, his entire operation could collapse.
They had enough evidence.
But they needed to get it to the territorial court.
Crowe knew that too.
Before they could leave Fort Mercer, word arrived.
Crowe had attacked the valley.
Keona had been wounded.
The families were trapped.
Ethan stood immediately.
“We go back.”
The commander warned him.
“Crowe has nearly sixty armed men.”
Ethan looked at Rosa.
She was already standing.
Mara grabbed her rifle.
Elena secured the documents.
The commander sighed.
“Then take soldiers.”
Ethan shook his head.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because if soldiers arrive, Crowe will claim the whole thing is an armed uprising.”
The commander understood.
“You want witnesses.”
“I want people from every settlement to see what happened.”
Elena nodded.
“We can bring the documents.”
Mara added,
“And the families can testify.”
The commander looked at them.
“You are going to court.”
Ethan smiled.
“After we survive tonight.”
They rode back.
This time, they were not alone.
Ranchers came.
Farmers came.
Travelers.
Traders.
People who had suffered under Crowe's expansion.
By the time they reached Dry River, more than a hundred riders were gathered.
Crowe saw them from the ridge.
His expression changed.
He had expected frightened families.
Instead, he found an entire community.
Keona stood despite his injuries.
“You came back,” he said.
Ethan dismounted.
“I told you I would.”
Rosa walked toward her father.
Keona looked at her wounded shoulder.
“Are you hurt?”
“Only a little.”
He looked at Ethan.
“Did you protect her?”
Rosa answered before Ethan could.
“She protected him.”
Keona laughed.
“That sounds like my daughter.”
Crowe rode forward.
“You think numbers will save you?”
Elena held up the documents.
“No.”
She looked toward the riders.
“Truth will.”
Crowe laughed.
“You think anyone cares about papers?”
The territorial commander appeared behind the crowd.
“I do.”
Crowe's face went pale.
The commander dismounted.
“You are under investigation.”
Crowe reached for his gun.
Mara raised hers.
“Don't.”
Crowe froze.
For the first time, he looked afraid.
The commander ordered him to surrender.
Crowe refused.
His men hesitated.
Then one lowered his rifle.
Another followed.
Then another.
Within minutes, the force Crowe had built through fear was gone.
His own men had abandoned him.
He was arrested.
The valley was safe.
But Ethan's story did not end there.
The court proceedings lasted months.
The fraudulent land claims were overturned.
The surrounding communities retained access to the water.
Crowe lost much of his property.
And Ethan returned to his ranch.
He expected life to become quiet.
It didn't.
Because Rosa came with him.
At first, she stayed only to help with the horses.
Then she stayed to help with the cattle.
Then she stayed because she liked the view from the porch.