Silas did not.
Men like Silas rarely recognized defeat until someone else declared it official.
He came to the ranch one final time in early spring.
Snow was melting.
The creek ran hard through the north valley.
Maeve was repairing harness near the barn when she saw him.
Callaway was farther uphill.
Silas rode alone.
That worried her more than if he had brought men.
“You should leave,” Maeve said.
Silas dismounted.
“You cost me a fortune.”
“I believe your father began that expense.”
“You think you won.”
“The court restored my title.”
“The railroad survey comes next month.”
“I know.”
“You’ll need someone who understands contracts.”
“I have Ruth.”
Silas laughed bitterly.
“You think Callaway will let you decide anything once you marry him?”
Maeve’s expression cooled.
“We are not married.”
“Not yet.”
“Still none of your concern.”
Silas stepped closer.
“You think he brought you here out of kindness?”
Maeve said nothing.
Silas smiled.
“He brought you because he needed your signature.”
Maeve’s pulse shifted.
“For what?”
Silas reached inside his coat.
Maeve’s hand moved toward the rifle leaning against the fence.
He noticed.
Slowly, he removed a folded paper.
“Ask him.”
He tossed it onto the ground.
Then mounted.
Callaway reached the yard moments later.
“What did he want?”
Maeve picked up the paper.
It was an old draft contract.
A proposed railroad easement.
Signed by Thomas Callaway.
Unsigned line beneath it.
Patrick Gallagher.
The payment listed was substantial.
But the clause below was more important.
If both owners signed, the railroad could seize a sixty-foot corridor through the ranch permanently.
Maeve looked at Callaway.
“Did you know about this?”
His face changed.
“Yes.”
Her stomach dropped.
Another secret.
Maeve laughed softly, almost in disbelief.
“Of course.”
“Maeve—”
“How many are left?”
“None.”
“You said that before.”
“I know.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because that contract expired twenty years ago.”
“That is not the point.”
“No.”
She turned away.
Callaway followed one step.
“Patrick refused to sign.”
“Why?”
“He believed the cut would destroy the spring feeding the north pasture.”
“And now?”
“The new survey follows almost the same route.”
Maeve looked back.
“You knew.”
“Yes.”
“And you still didn’t tell me.”
“I found the old contract after you arrived.”
“When?”
“Two weeks before Mercer came.”
Maeve closed her eyes.
Callaway cursed under his breath.
“I was going to tell you.”
“Stop saying that.”
He did.
Maeve faced him.