Quinn threw up his hands. "You're both crazy. But hell, I'm already unemployed. Might as well go all in."
"I'll come with you to Kuruk's camp. Having an ex-marshal along might help convince him you're serious."
That afternoon, the three of us rode north toward the tribal hunting grounds. We moved quickly but carefully, watching for army patrols. Hollis would have scouts out by now, looking for any excuse to escalate. We reached the boundary stones at sunset.
Takala dismounted and called out in Apache, her voice carrying across the snowy expanse. For several minutes, nothing happened. Then figures emerged from the trees. Mounted warriors forming a loose ring around us.
Chaska rode forward, his face grave. "You should not have come here. The army is preparing to attack. My father is gathering all our people to prepare for war."
"That's why we're here," I said. "We need to stop it."
"How? Will you hold back the tide with your hands?"
"If I have to. But I'm hoping your father has a better idea."
Chaska studied me for a long moment, then nodded. "Follow me. But do not expect him to listen."
"He is tired of white man's promises."
We followed him through the woods to a hidden valley where the Apache had made camp. Dozens of lodges stood among the trees, smoke rising from cooking fires. Women worked at various tasks while children played in the snow. Warriors sharpened weapons and checked their horses.
It looked like any other camp preparing for winter, except everyone was preparing for war. Kuruk emerged from the largest lodge. His face showed no surprise at seeing us, only a kind of weary resignation. "Silas Garrett."
"You come with your woman and the broken marshal. This must be important."
"It is. Hollis is planning to attack. He burned the Morrison ranch himself and blamed your people."
"He's using it to justify war."
"I know this. Chaska told me. It changes nothing."
"The white men believe what they want to believe. If not the Morrison ranch, then something else. They have always wanted our land. Now they have their excuse."
"But what if they didn't believe it? What if you came to Silver Ridge under a flag of truce, spoke to the people directly, showed them you want peace?"
Kuruk's laugh was bitter. "They would shoot me before I spoke three words."
"Not if I'm standing with you. Not if Quinn is there as witness. Not if enough people see it happening that Hollis can't just make you disappear."
"You ask me to walk into the wolf's den and trust that the wolves will suddenly become sheep."