Silence dropped over the yard. For one brief instant, Rafe stopped smiling altogether. That sounds dangerously close to an accusation. I haven't accused you of anything, Rhett said. I'm only telling you what I found.
Grant extended the document again. The offer will remain open for a limited time. No, one word. Flat. Final.
Rafe held Rhett's gaze. October is still a long way off. Get off my land. Rafe climbed back into the carriage without another word. This time the horses left faster.
Nia watched until the carriage disappeared beyond the ridge. He'll come back. I know. And next time he won't bring only papers. Rhett looked at her.
Then next time we'll be ready. At first light the following morning, Holt Ranch received another visitor. No one had invited him. Owen Keiel arrived on a gray horse with a county badge pinned to his coat and a notebook tucked beneath one arm. He was not the sheriff, but he worked close enough to the law that the wrong answers to his questions could cost a man his land.
Rhett met him in the yard. I received a complaint concerning unlawful diversion of water. Owen said, "The claim is that your work at Cedar Ridge is damaging neighboring properties. Clay Boon stopped tightening a saddle cinch from the kitchen doorway. Nia felt the pieces slide into place.
Rafe Crow had not returned with another threat. He had sent the county instead. We didn't divert anything. Rhett said we removed an old fence. I'll still need to inspect the site.
Rhett's jaw tightened. I don't like it, but I've got nothing to hide. Owen opened his notebook. Who filed the complaint? Red asked.
I'm not permitted to disclose that. Rafe Crow. Owen neither confirmed the name nor denied it. Nia understood immediately what Rafe was hoping for. If Rhett handled the conversation alone, Rafe would get exactly the picture he wanted.
A furious rancher standing before a county official who would write down every angry word. Nia stepped forward. I can explain what happened. Owen looked at her with the faint surprise of a man who had not expected a young Apache woman to enter the discussion. And you are?
Nia. I was there when we pulled the posts. Inside the kitchen, she spread the ranch map across the table. She pointed to Cedar Ridge, the slope of the ground, and the line where the old fence had stood. The water course existed before those posts did.