"You know," she whispered, "this is a terrible plan."
"Any better ideas?"
"No."
They removed a roof panel.
Inside was Vane's office.
They dropped down.
Mara searched the desk.
Ethan opened drawers.
Then he found a locked iron box.
He broke it open.
Inside were contracts.
Payments.
Bribes.
Land transfers.
And a signed agreement between Vane and the railroad.
The railroad would purchase Dry River only after the company secured the water rights.
There was also a letter.
Ethan read it.
His face went pale.
It mentioned Samuel Cole.
Vane had ordered Mercer to "make the old man understand that accidents happen."
Ethan clenched the paper.
Mara put a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't."
"I want to kill him."
"I know."
"And he deserves it."
"I know."
"But?"
"Father would want you to bring him to justice."
Ethan closed his eyes.
She was right.
They took the documents.
Then the door opened.
Silas Vane stood there.
Behind him were six armed men.
Vane smiled.
"I was beginning to wonder when you'd come."
Ethan raised his gun.
Vane shook his head.
"Don't."
The room became silent.
Then Mercer appeared behind Vane.
He had somehow escaped.
And he was holding a rifle.
"Drop the gun, Vane."
Vane slowly turned.
"You."
Mercer looked at him.
"I should have killed you years ago."
Vane's face hardened.
"You were nothing before I found you."
Mercer replied:
"And I was nothing because of you."
A shot rang out.
Vane fell.
But he wasn't dead.
Mercer had shot his shoulder.
The other men lowered their weapons.
Ethan stepped forward.
"It's over."
Vane looked at the documents.
"No."
Ethan held them up.
"It is."
The Last Ride to Dry River
The railroad survey team arrived at sunrise.
So did the territorial marshal.
The evidence was presented.
The false lease was exposed.
The bribed officials were named.
The railroad contract proved the motive.
Most importantly, the old survey established that Dry River was never legally owned by Frontier Water and Cattle Company.
Silas Vane was arrested.
Caleb Mercer testified.
Several company riders surrendered.
But one problem remained.
Vane had already ordered his remaining men to seize the spring.
They had thirty riders.
Tomas had fewer than fifteen.
Ethan had eight.
The railroad surveyors were caught between them.
The valley became a battlefield.
Ethan rode beside Tomas.
"How many?"
Tomas counted the ridge.
"Twenty-eight."
Ethan nodded.
"Then we make them think there are fifty."
Tomas smiled.
"How?"
Ethan pointed toward the hills.
"Fire."
They gathered dry brush along the ridges.
At sunset, they lit small fires.
Smoke rose into the sky.
From a distance, it looked like a large force had surrounded the valley.
The company men hesitated.
Then they charged.
Gunfire echoed across Dry River.
Ethan stayed low.
He didn't want a massacre.
He wanted them to surrender.
But the company riders kept advancing.
Tomas fired from behind a stone wall.
Mara covered the southern ridge.
The railroad surveyors took shelter beneath their wagons.
Ethan saw a group of riders approaching the spring.
He mounted Boone.
"Stay here!"
Tomas shouted:
"Where are you going?"
"The water."
Ethan rode straight toward them.
Bullets struck the ground around him.
Boone ran faster.
Ethan jumped from the saddle and landed behind a rock.
He fired twice.
One rider dropped his rifle.
Another raised his hands.
"Don't shoot!"
Ethan shouted:
"Tell the others!"
The man stood.
"We surrender!"
One by one, the remaining riders lowered their weapons.
The battle ended almost as quickly as it had begun.
Silence returned.
Only the spring continued flowing.
Tomas walked toward Ethan.
"You saved the valley."
Ethan shook his head.
"We saved it."
Tomas smiled.
"That is better."
The territorial marshal arrived later that evening.
He looked over the surrendered men.
Then he looked at the spring.
"Who owns this water?"