“They wait.”
“I know.”
“Then?”
“If Crowe wants this to look like a war, two hundred riders entering town gives him the picture he needs.”
Joseph looked toward Elena.
She agreed.
“Send message to them.”
Tomas volunteered.
Joseph resisted.
Then accepted.
Most riders would remain hidden in the hills.
Ten elders and witnesses could come later under army escort.
Again, restraint cost pride.
That afternoon Caleb learned his ranch had burned almost completely.
Deputy Price received the report.
Barn survived.
Corral damaged.
House gone.
Tracks indicated several horses.
The story Crowe’s men spread:
Apache raiders burned it after abducting rancher Caleb Ward.
Caleb stood in the telegraph office reading a newspaper proof sheet already being prepared.
RANCH ATTACK SOUTH OF WILCOX — LOCAL STOCKMAN MISSING.
He laughed.
Elena watched.
“What?”
“I’m standing ten feet from the press.”
The editor, Nathan Cobb, looked uncomfortable.
“We got a statement.”
“From?”
“Crowe Freight.”
Caleb stared.
“You printed that I’m missing without checking whether I’m in your town.”
Cobb looked around.
“Well, you weren’t here when—”
“You didn’t look.”
Silence.
Caleb took the paper.
“Print correction.”
Cobb frowned.
“We print weekly.”
“Then ruin next week instead.”
Elena almost smiled.
Cobb looked toward her.
“Is this the woman?”
Caleb’s expression hardened.
“She has a name.”
Cobb grabbed pencil.
“Elena what?”
Elena said:
“Elena.”
“Family name?”
“No.”
He looked confused.
“That’s all?”
“That is enough.”
Cobb wrote.
Then asked:
“Were you part of the attack?”
Caleb stepped forward.
Elena stopped him with one look.
She answered:
“Yes.”
Cobb’s eyes widened.
Caleb stared at her.
Elena continued:
“I attacked his house by sleeping in bed while wounded.”
Henry Moss laughed from across the room.
Even Deputy Price smiled.
Cobb reddened.
“Not what I meant.”
“Ask better.”
He did.
Eventually.
By sunset, Deputy Marshal Samuel Reeves arrived.
A tall Black man in his forties wearing a dark coat and a silver star.
Half the town seemed surprised.
Reeves ignored that too.
He listened before speaking.
That made Caleb like him.
Elena told the warehouse story.
Joseph described the planned council.
Henry confirmed the telegram.
Price explained Pike’s behavior.
Caleb described finding Elena.
Reeves examined the documents without touching them more than necessary.
Then he asked:
“Where are the originals?”
Elena looked at Joseph.
Joseph answered:
“Some here.”
“Some?”
“We copied.”
“Where are copies?”
Joseph said nothing.
Reeves nodded.
“Good.”
Caleb smiled.
Reeves looked at him.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You expected me to complain?”
“A little.”
“Son, if armed men are chasing paper, the first rule is never let one fire destroy all the paper.”