Clara closed her eyes.
She thought of Ethan.
The creek.
His kiss.
For the record, I was going to say yes.
Her chest hurt.
A knock came.
Gideon’s voice.
“It’s time.”
The sanctuary went silent when Clara entered.
Gideon stood near the altar.
Sheriff Pike stood near the side door.
Daniel sat in the front pew wearing shackles.
Clara’s heart broke when she saw him.
Her father tried to stand.
Pike pushed him down.
Gideon held the papers.
“Before the ceremony,” he said, “we will settle the property matter.”
The minister looked uncomfortable.
“I was under the impression—”
“This will take a moment.”
Gideon placed the contract on a small table.
Clara approached.
Daniel shook his head.
“Don’t.”
Gideon looked at him.
“You should be grateful.”
Daniel spat at his boots.
A murmur spread through the church.
Gideon wiped his shoe.
“Charming.”
He handed Clara a pen.
“Sign.”
She stared at the line.
Once she signed, the Harmon creek belonged to Rourke.
Callaway cattle would lose water.
Three neighboring ranches would follow.
Clara thought of Ethan.
Then Daniel.
Her hand shook.
“Sign.”
The church doors opened.
Sunlight poured inside.
Everyone turned.
Ethan Callaway stood in the doorway.
Dust covered his clothes.
A bruise darkened his jaw.
Clara dropped the pen.
Gideon’s expression hardened.
“You should be dead.”
Ethan walked down the aisle.
“That seems to be a common mistake in my family.”
Gideon went pale.
Behind Ethan came a white-haired old man.
Clara gasped.
“Mr. Briggs?”
Daniel began laughing.
Not quietly.
A deep, astonished laugh filled with twenty years of relief.
Sheriff Pike reached for his gun.
Ethan stopped.
“I wouldn’t.”
Pike looked behind him.
Three men entered.
One wore a United States marshal’s badge.
Another carried a leather case.
The third was the federal land examiner from Denver.
Gideon stepped backward.
“What is this?”
The old man walked forward.
His bruised face was visible to everyone.
He removed his hat.
“My name is Thomas Callaway.”
The church exploded in whispers.
Clara stared at Ethan.
Ethan’s eyes remained fixed on Gideon.
Daniel stood despite his chains.
Thomas faced Sheriff Pike.
“You have Daniel Harmon under arrest for my murder.”
Pike’s mouth opened.
Thomas smiled.
“As you can see, he did a poor job.”
Laughter burst from somewhere in the church.
Even the minister covered his mouth.
Gideon suddenly moved toward the side door.
The marshal blocked him.
“Stay where you are.”
Gideon stopped.
Thomas placed an old folded document on the table.
“Original federal land patent. Filed thirty-one years ago.”
The examiner opened it.
Thomas continued.
“The Harmon spring belongs entirely to the Harmon property. Silas Rourke altered the county copy.”
“Liar,” Gideon said.
The examiner produced another paper.
“We have the original Denver ledger.”
Gideon’s face changed.
Ethan stepped closer.
“Your father bribed Clerk Benton.”
The examiner nodded.
“Benton confessed before his death. His son retained the letter.”
Gideon looked around.
For the first time in his life, there was nowhere to buy, threaten, or bargain his way out.
Sheriff Pike quietly moved toward the door.
The marshal looked at him.
“You too.”
Pike stopped.
Gideon turned on Clara.
“You knew.”
She looked at Ethan.
“No.”