Not merely arrival.
“East.”
No one argued.
They turned.
Ash stayed straight.
By dawn Circle P passed them.
Lou saw the distant herd moving west toward the railroad.
Her chest hurt.
Emmett rode beside her.
She did not look at him.
“We lost.”
“No.”
“He’s ahead.”
“That isn’t the same.”
“You say irritating things.”
“Forty dollars.”
She laughed despite herself.
Then kept riding.
They reached Winnemucca late the next afternoon.
One day remained in the contract window.
Lou expected celebration.
Instead she found chaos.
Circle P cattle packed the receiving yards.
Railroad buyers arguing.
Inspectors moving through pens.
Ash stood beside the office furious.
Lou dismounted.
“What happened?”
Ash turned.
His face looked murderous.
“Stay out of it.”
That improved her mood immediately.
A livestock inspector approached Lou.
“Tarrant?”
“Yes.”
“Your four hundred?”
“Four hundred and three when we started.”
“How many lost?”
“Seven.”
His eyebrows rose.
“Only seven?”
“Six trail injuries, one snake.”
“Weight?”
“Should hold.”
He looked toward Circle P.
“They pushed theirs hard.”
Lou followed his gaze.
Several cattle limped.
Others looked drawn.
Too much distance.
Too little water.
Ash had arrived first.
But arrival was not acceptance.
The inspector continued.
“We found altered brands.”
Lou became still.
“On his cattle?”
“Twenty so far.”
Ash heard.
“You have no proof I altered anything!”
The inspector said, “I said altered. Didn’t say by who.”
Ash turned toward Emmett.
Recognition sharpened his expression.
“You.”
Emmett said nothing.
Ash walked closer.
“You told her.”
“Some.”
Ash laughed bitterly.
“Boy with a stolen conscience.”
Lou stepped between them.
Ash looked at her.
“You know he worked for me?”
“Yes.”
“You know what he did?”
“Yes.”
“Everything?”
Lou’s stomach tightened.
Emmett’s expression changed.
Ash smiled.
There it was.
One last knife.
“He didn’t tell you.”
Emmett said quietly, “Ash.”
“Tell her.”
Lou looked at Emmett.
“What?”
Ash answered.
“He didn’t just move brands.”
Emmett’s jaw tightened.
“He signed the shipping ledger.”
Lou went cold.
“That ledger made the stolen cattle look legal.”
Ash smiled.
“Your good man helped me sell them.”
Lou looked at Emmett.
He did not deny it.
The yard noise seemed distant.
“You said you helped once.”
“I did.”
“You said brands.”
“I should’ve said all of it.”
Ash laughed.
Lou wanted to hit him.
Instead she looked at Emmett.
“Why?”
His face held no defense.
“Because I was broke.”
Same answer.
Not enough.
He continued.
“And because I was a coward.”
Better.
“I signed one ledger. Then realized what I’d done.”