He understood enough to become terrified.
"Devil's Wash," he whispered.
Corvin frowned.
"What is there?"
"Everything."
"What does that mean?"
The man looked at Tazhaa.
Then at Corvin.
"Vance keeps the records there."
Corvin's eyes narrowed.
"What records?"
"The land deeds."
Tazhaa stepped closer.
The man continued.
"Names. Payments. Judges. Marshals. Soldiers."
Corvin felt his stomach tighten.
"Who does Vance pay?"
The man laughed bitterly.
"Everyone who matters."
Then he looked toward the east.
"And Captain Thorne."
Corvin knew that name.
Marcus Thorne commanded cavalry from Fort Bowie.
He had also been involved in several violent raids against Apache communities.
If Thorne was taking money from Vance, then the problem was larger than a ranch.
Much larger.
Corvin turned to Tazhaa.
"We need those records."
She nodded.
"Why?"
"Because without proof, Vance will claim we attacked him."
Tazhaa looked toward the mountains.
"And with proof?"
"With proof, we can destroy his empire."
She smiled.
"Then we ride."
They left at sunrise.
Corvin carried his Winchester.
Tazhaa carried a bow and rifle.
Three Apache scouts followed them.
They rode through the desert toward Devil's Wash.
But halfway there, they found something unexpected.
A wagon.
Abandoned.
Inside were iron boxes.
Corvin opened the first.
Gold.
The second.
Land deeds.
The third contained letters.
One was addressed to Captain Marcus Thorne.
Corvin unfolded it.
The first sentence was enough.
When Torne is dead, Cold Springs will belong to us.
Corvin looked at Tazhaa.
"We have him."
Tazhaa looked at the horizon.
"No."
She pointed east.
"They know we have it."
A distant rifle shot cracked across the valley.
Someone had seen them.
The hunt had begun.
They reached Devil's Wash shortly before sunset.
The place was a maze of red stone, narrow trails, and hidden caves.
Corvin dismounted.
"This is where Vance keeps his records?"
Tazhaa nodded.
They searched for nearly an hour.
Then one of the scouts found a concealed entrance beneath a shelf of rock.
Inside was a small underground chamber.
Iron boxes lined the walls.
Corvin opened them one by one.
Money.
Maps.
Contracts.
Letters.
Receipts.
Names.
He spread the papers across the stone floor.
The evidence was overwhelming.
Harlan Vance had spent years buying officials.
Judges.
Sheriffs.
Land clerks.
Military officers.
He had arranged false surveys.
He had forged land claims.
He had hired armed men to intimidate independent ranchers.
But one discovery frightened Corvin more than the rest.
A map.
It showed every major water source in the region.
Every spring.
Every well.
Every river crossing.
Each was marked with a red circle.
Cold Springs was marked twice.
Corvin stared at it.
"They weren't just trying to buy my ranch."
Tazhaa nodded.
"They wanted every drop."
"And your people?"
"They wanted us blamed for the violence."
Corvin looked at her.
"Why?"
"Because war creates empty land."
The words stayed with him.
Then they heard horses.
Lots of horses.
Corvin moved toward the entrance.
Tazhaa grabbed his arm.
"Not that way."
She pointed toward another passage.
They moved deeper into the cave.
Outside, voices echoed.
Harlan Vance himself entered the chamber.
Corvin recognized him immediately.
He was dressed in an expensive coat, wearing polished boots and a silver watch.
He did not look like a killer.
That was what made him dangerous.
His voice echoed through the cave.
"Find them."
Men spread out.
Corvin and Tazhaa remained hidden.
Vance walked toward the iron boxes.
He opened one.
Then another.
He stopped.
The records were gone.
His expression changed.
"Find Torne."
Corvin heard him clearly.
"Bring me the rancher alive."
A second voice asked, "And the Apache woman?"
Vance answered without hesitation.
"Kill her."
Tazhaa's hand tightened around her rifle.
Corvin touched her shoulder.
Wait.
They remained hidden.
Vance continued.
"If Thorne arrives tomorrow, he must find Torne dead and the Apache responsible."
Corvin understood the plan.
Vance would murder him.
Then blame Tazhaa.
Then send Captain Thorne to "restore order."
That would give Vance legal control over the valley.
Corvin whispered:
"We need to leave."
Tazhaa nodded.
They moved through the rear passage.
But before they escaped, Corvin returned to the chamber.