I used two of them. He goes to Durango himself, finds Cole at the freight depot, alive, still working the same route. Remembers Henry immediately. The Finnish carpenter, he says. Big man knew everything about wood.
He signs a full residency statement the same day. 3 years documented on the Durango Denver road. Previous territorial addresses, tax filings, all of it clean and airtight. Amos goes to the land office in person, speaks to the clerk in charge, confirms that the Whitmore registration is clean, and that Cole's statement eliminates the basis for Dunar's contest. He comes back with three things in his jacket.
Cole's signed statement, a written confirmation from the land office clerk, and witness statements from himself, Jesse, and Tommy. Each one dated, specific, describing what they saw and when. His own statement is three dense paragraphs in small, precise handwriting. Tommy's is a paragraph and a half and contains the line, "Most level corner joints I have seen on any first structure in this territory, built or bought." Clara reads it twice. Tommy insisted on including that, Amos says.
I know, she says. That is why I am not arguing about it. Dunar does not drop it. The letter from the territorial commissioner arrives in October. A formal land dispute hearing.
November 14th. Durango. Both parties expected to appear with documentation and representation. She writes to a lawyer named Garrett. The same afternoon.
A loan from Amos. Written documented real interest repayment schedule covers the fee. She makes him sign the paper herself. The weeks between the letter and the hearing are the hardest she has endured. Not physically, but in the sustained grinding way of someone who must hold a frightening situation in their mind continuously, while also maintaining the daily functions of survival.
She sews every evening, mending and tailoring work that has begun to come in from neighboring ranches as word spreads. She harvests the last of the garden, puts up preserves, prepares the cabin for winter. She studies territorial land law in the lamplight. After young Henry is asleep, she finds three points in Dunar's argument that have no statutory basis and writes them down with the relevant code sections beside them. She is going to walk into that hearing prepared in a way Dunar has not accounted for.
Cutters betting you won't come. Amos says he thinks the distance and the baby will keep you in Durango by letter. He's not expecting me to appear. Clara says, why does that matter? Because the commissioner will see me.