Father.
Mother.
Gideon.
The past.
All of them seemed suddenly unfamiliar.
Then Nayeli noticed another document.
A recent one.
Only six months old.
The handwriting was weaker but unmistakably Jonathan's.
TAKODA,
IF CALEB STILL RIDES THE CHESTNUT DESCENDED FROM MARA'S LINE, THERE MAY STILL BE A WAY TO BRING HIM TO YOU WITHOUT RUSK KNOWING.
Caleb stared.
"Samson."
Chief Takoda nodded.
Caleb's horse had not wandered accidentally.
Someone had deliberately frightened the animal onto an old route horses from Jonathan's breeding line had been trained to follow decades earlier.
Samson had returned to Red Mesa.
Someone had intercepted him and attached the box.
"But who?"
A rifle shot cracked outside.
Everyone dropped.
One of Takoda's warriors shouted.
Riders surrounded the ruins.
Caleb crawled toward the doorway.
At least twelve armed men.
Then a familiar voice called from outside.
"Caleb!"
Caleb's blood went cold.
Gideon Rusk rode into view.
He was sixty-two now, neatly dressed despite the dust, with silver hair and the calm expression Caleb had trusted since childhood.
"Come outside," Gideon called.
"I don't want anyone hurt."
Caleb stepped into the open.
Nayeli grabbed his arm.
He gently pulled free.
Gideon smiled when he saw him.
"There you are."
Caleb held up the photograph.
"You knew."
Gideon's smile disappeared.
"About what?"
"My father."
Silence.
Caleb laughed once.
"You stood beside me at his funeral."
"Caleb."
"You put your hand on my shoulder."
Gideon looked toward Takoda.
"This man has filled your head with old stories."
"My father's letters are downstairs."
That changed everything.
Gideon stared at the hidden doorway.
Then Caleb understood.
Gideon had not followed him because he cared where Caleb went.
He wanted the records.
"You didn't know where they were."
Gideon said nothing.
"My horse led me to something you've been searching for eighteen years."
One of Gideon's men shifted nervously.
Caleb continued.
"You thought my father took the evidence with him."
Gideon's face hardened.
"He should have destroyed it."
"So it's true."
Gideon sighed.
"What is true is that your father was a fool."
Chief Takoda stepped forward.
"You were his friend."
"I was everyone's friend when friendship was useful."