Chapter 6

Except for one critical detail.On Ethan's paper map, the area surrounding the blue spring was completely blank—marked only as "Unclaimed Granite Shale." But drawn across the bottom margin of the paper map, written in small, faded black ink strokes, was a signed affidavit:"I, Diego Cole, sworn surveyor for the New Mexico Territory, do hereby certify that the waters of the Northern Ridge Spring remain under perpetual covenant to the native inhabitants of the Valley, and shall never be sold, assigned, or transferred to any corporate entity."Signed: Diego Cole — November 14, 1872.Ethan stared at his father's signature, the breath catching in his throat.His father had not been a tool for the railroad company. He had been a man who used his official surveyor's quill to build an invisible shield around the valley's only permanent water source—a secret covenant written into the legal records twenty years ago to protect the people who lived there.Aiyana leaned closer to the paper, her dark eyes wide as she read the faded English script. Her breath caught softly, her anger melting into a sudden, profound shock."Your father..." Aiyana whispered, looking up at Ethan's face with a strange, searching light in her eyes. "Your father knew mine."Before Ethan could answer, a loud, raspy groan came from the bed near the fire.Kip sat up on his deer hides, his dark eyes open, his face pale and wet with sweat. He looked across the warm room, his gaze passing over Aiyana, over Elder Tahna, until his dark eyes locked squarely onto Ethan Cole's face.Kip’s throat worked violently as he reached out a trembling hand toward Ethan."Ethan..." Kip croaked, his voice barely a rasp. "Ethan... Cole..."Ethan stepped to the bedside, kneeling in the hides. "How do you know my name, son?"Kip swallowed hard, his fingers closing weakly around Ethan's canvas sleeve. "I... I was coming to your ranch... three days ago... before the company men shot me... Your father left... the second half of the covenant... in your stone chimney..."Aiyana dropped to her knees beside her brother, her hand covering his. "He was waiting for you, Ethan," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Why?"Before Ethan could answer, the sharp, frantic barking of the camp dogs erupted outside the lodge!A woman screamed in the storm, followed immediately by the loud, metallic CLACK-CLACK of lever-action rifles being racked in the cold night air!Through the cracks in the heavy oak door, bright yellow lantern light began to flash across the snowdrifts.The railroad men had arrived.

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