Harrow’s expression barely changed.
Enough.
“You also know about the ledger.”
No answer.
“And the original map.”
Harrow looked toward the pasture.
“Every land system in this territory is imperfect.”
“Imperfect.”
“Yes.”
“Six hundred dollars to move Red Willow is imperfection?”
Harrow looked at him.
“You think your hands are clean?”
“No.”
That answer stopped him.
Elias continued.
“My name is on the false survey.”
“Exactly.”
“I’ll testify to that.”
Harrow laughed.
“You’ll destroy yourself.”
“Maybe.”
“You could lose this ranch.”
“Maybe.”
“Your reputation.”
“Already poor.”
“Freedom.”
That was more serious.
Elias’s witness signature could expose him to fraud allegations.
He had considered it.
Harrow saw.
“There.”
He leaned forward.
“You did not verify the line.”
“No.”
“You accepted pay.”
“Yes.”
“You signed.”
“Yes.”
“So when prosecutors ask whether you participated, what do you say?”
“Yes.”
Harrow stared.
Elias’s voice remained steady.
“I participated.”
The sentence felt strange.
Lighter than expected.
Not because guilt disappeared.
Because hiding it did.
Harrow’s expression hardened.
“You think confession makes you noble?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“Useful.”
Harrow stood.
“You always were sentimental.”
“I worked for you.”
“You were hungry.”
“Yes.”
“I gave you opportunity.”
“Yes.”
“And this is how you repay me.”
Elias almost laughed.
“There it is.”
“What?”
“You think wages bought the future.”
Harrow stared.
Elias continued.
“Mine. Daniel’s. Everybody’s.”
Harrow stepped closer.
“I built this valley.”
“No.”
Elias looked toward the dry hills.
“You bought enough paper to convince yourself you did.”
Harrow’s face changed.
For one second Elias saw the man behind reputation.
Not fearless.
Terrified of losing control over the story of himself.
“You should take my offer.”
“What offer?”
“Thirty thousand dollars.”
Elias laughed.
“You haven’t made it yet.”
“I just did.”
“For?”
“Your ranch.”
“This is worth twelve.”
“I know.”
“And the testimony?”
Harrow smiled.
“Take your wife’s old dream and go somewhere green.”
Elias stopped.
Harrow noticed.
“Miriam wanted Oregon, didn’t she?”
Elias’s blood went cold.
“How do you know that?”
Harrow smiled.
“Everyone knew Miriam talked too much.”
Elias stepped forward.
“What did you know about my wife?”
Harrow realized the mistake.
Too late.
“Miriam?”
“Yes.”
“Nothing relevant.”
“You knew she wanted Oregon.”