“Vale wants everything destroyed.”
Caleb looked at Clara.
She understood.
They had finally found the truth.
And now someone was coming to bury it with them.
Caleb and Clara escaped through a narrow passage that opened behind the ridge.
By the time they reached the ranch, smoke was already rising.
The barn was burning.
Caleb spurred his horse forward.
“Stay here!”
Clara ignored him.
She jumped down and ran toward the flames.
“Caleb!”
He grabbed her arm.
“It's too dangerous.”
“My horse is inside.”
He looked at the barn.
Flames had reached the roof.
Without another word, Caleb ran inside.
Smoke filled the building.
He heard frightened animals.
He opened the first stall.
Then another.
The horses bolted into the yard.
He found Clara's horse last.
The animal kicked wildly.
Caleb grabbed the reins.
“Easy!”
The horse followed him.
They escaped seconds before part of the roof collapsed.
Outside, Clara was waiting.
She threw her arms around the horse.
Then looked at Caleb.
“You could have died.”
“So could you.”
“I wasn't inside.”
“You would have been if I hadn't stopped you.”
She looked angry.
Then frightened.
Then relieved.
“You're impossible.”
“So I've been told.”
Behind them, the barn collapsed.
Caleb watched the flames.
“This wasn't about the barn.”
“No.”
“They were looking for something.”
“The map.”
They returned to the house.
Clara opened the old chest she had brought from her family.
Inside was a second collection of documents.
Caleb had not seen them before.
“What are those?”
“My father's papers.”
“Why didn't you show me?”
“Because I didn't know which ones mattered.”
Together they spread them across the floor.
There were land agreements.
Bank records.
Water surveys.
Letters.
And one document that made Caleb stop breathing.
It was a transfer agreement.
The eastern valley had never legally belonged to Gideon Vale.
It had been placed in a community trust by Nathaniel Morgan and Samuel Whitaker.
The trust included land belonging to several families.
Vale had forged documents to acquire it.
Caleb stared.
“If this is real…”
“He could lose everything.”
Clara nodded.
“But we need proof.”
“Where is the original?”
“My father hid it.”
“Where?”
She looked toward the mountains.
“He left a clue.”
The clue led them to an abandoned church twelve miles north.
They arrived at midnight.
Inside the ruined building, Clara found a loose floorboard.
Beneath it was a metal tube.
Inside the tube was the original trust agreement.
Caleb laughed.
For the first time in days, he felt hope.
Then a gunshot shattered the window.
They dropped.
Another shot struck the wall.
Outside, riders surrounded the church.
Gideon Vale stepped into the moonlight.
“Caleb Morgan!”
Caleb shouted back.
“What do you want?”
“The document.”
“You've already stolen enough.”
Vale laughed.
“You're beginning to sound like your father.”
Caleb tightened his grip on the revolver.
“My father knew you.”
“Your father knew too much.”
Clara whispered, “Don't provoke him.”
Vale called again.
“Your bride understands this better than you do.”
Caleb glanced at Clara.
Vale continued.
“She came here for revenge.”
Clara's face went pale.
“Don't listen to him.”
But Vale had already begun revealing what Caleb feared.
“Her father didn't disappear because of me.”
Caleb froze.
“Then who?”
“Your father.”
Silence.
Vale smiled.
“Ask Clara what Samuel Whitaker discovered about Nathaniel Morgan.”
Caleb turned toward her.
“Is it true?”
Clara's eyes filled with tears.
“No.”
“Then tell me.”
“I don't know.”
Vale laughed.
“You see? She knows enough to lie.”
Caleb hated the uncertainty.
But he knew one thing.
If he surrendered the document, Vale would destroy it.
If he stayed, people could die.
Then Clara reached for his hand.
“Caleb.”
He looked at her.
“I don't need you to trust me blindly.”
She squeezed his hand.
“I need you to choose what kind of man you want to be.”
Caleb understood.
He opened the church door.