But another family already held legal ownership of much of the property. Mercer's father had destroyed records and created false claims to take control. There was only one document that could expose the theft. An old land deed. Mercer believed the document was still hidden somewhere near the spring.
Ethan suddenly understood why the wooden marker had seemed familiar. He asked Mercer why he cared so much about an old piece of paper. Mercer answered that the deed could destroy everything his family had built. Ethan realized the document might also explain why his own family name had disappeared from local land records. His grandfather had once told him stories about land that had been taken from their family.
Ethan had always believed those stories were nothing more than old memories. Now he wondered if they were true. Mercer ordered his men to search the valley. Ethan knew they were getting closer to the hidden spring. He needed to buy time.
He deliberately gave Mercer a false location and claimed the deed was buried near an abandoned stone tower. Mercer believed him. Several men rode toward the tower. But one of Mercer's men stayed behind. He was watching Ethan closely.
Suddenly, the man pulled a knife and demanded the truth. Ethan fought back. The struggle knocked both men to the ground. Ethan managed to break free, but before he could escape, Mercer returned. Mercer pointed his gun at him.
"You should have stayed out of this," he said. Then a sharp whistle echoed through the valley. Red Hawk and his warriors appeared along the ridge. Mercer's men looked around in panic. The Apache had surrounded the camp.
Ethan smiled. His plan had worked, but Mercer was not ready to surrender. He grabbed the old deed from one of his men and held it against his chest. "If you want this," Mercer shouted, "you will have to come and take it. " Red Hawk stepped forward. Ethan looked at the document and suddenly realized that this old piece of paper might reveal more than Mercer's crime.
It might reveal who truly owned the land Ethan had been searching for all his life. Mercer stood surrounded by Apache warriors, clutching the old land deed against his chest. His men had lost their advantage and several had already dropped their weapons. Yet Mercer still believed he could escape with a document that had protected his family for decades. Red Hawk stepped forward and demanded that Mercer surrender.
Mercer refused. He tried to run toward his horse, but Ethan tackled him before he could reach it. The deed fell into the dirt. Ethan picked it up carefully. For several seconds, he simply stared at the faded paper.