Lila saw his face in profile.
Similar to Cole.
Narrower.
Cleaner.
But unmistakably related.
Elias Bennett.
Alive.
Cole began to move.
Lila grabbed his sleeve.
“No.”
He looked at her.
“Not yet.”
His jaw clenched.
She held on.
For one terrible second she thought he would ignore her.
Then he stopped.
Trust.
Again.
They listened from distance.
Could not hear words.
But saw Earl hand over papers.
Harker hand over cash.
Elias point toward Bennett Ranch.
Then gesture toward the north ridge.
Daniel whispered:
“Water.”
Cole understood.
The north ridge controlled access to three major winter wells.
If sabotaged during dry season, cattle loss could cripple Bennett Ranch.
Murder was only part of the plan.
Destroy herd.
Kill Cole.
Reclaim weakened estate.
They needed stronger evidence.
The next morning they went to Sheriff Nathaniel Price.
Price was honest enough.
But cautious.
He listened.
Harvey testified.
Bathhouse examined.
Evidence of deliberate tampering.
Missing cattle records.
Still, Elias himself had not been tied directly beyond Harvey’s hearsay and the meeting.
Sheriff could question.
Not arrest for murder attempt yet.
Cole hated that.
Lila understood.
The law required patience.
So did traps.
They created one.
A false announcement spread through town.
Cole Bennett would travel to Fort Worth for four days to negotiate railway rights.
Bennett Ranch would be under Daniel’s authority.
Cole actually stayed hidden in an old hunting cabin two miles north.
Lila remained in the main house.
He hated that.
She insisted.
“If they think you’re gone, they act.”
“If they think you care about me, they may use you.”
Lila looked at him.
“They already know.”
Cole’s face tightened.
“That is why you should leave.”
“No.”
“Lila.”
“Cole.”
“You imitate me badly.”
“I learned from the source.”
He almost smiled.
Then kissed her forehead.
“Lock your door.”
“I will.”
“And keep Daniel close.”
“Yes.”
“And if anything feels wrong—”
“I send signal.”
“Yes.”
She touched his hand.
“You cannot protect me from every possibility.”
“I know.”
“That bothers you.”
“More than I expected.”
Lila smiled softly.
“Good.”
“Why good?”
“Means I’m not imagining us.”
Cole looked at her for a long time.
“No.”
“You’re not.”
The attack came the second night.
Not against Lila.
Against the cattle.
Fire erupted near the north hay sheds shortly after midnight.
Men ran.
Buckets.
Horses screaming.
Smoke.
Daniel led crews.
Lila stood at the kitchen window.
Then remembered something.
Distraction.
She ran toward Cole’s study.
The safe.
Railway papers.
Inheritance documents.
If Elias wanted control, fire might not be the objective.
The study door stood open.
Someone was inside.
Earl.
He froze when he saw her.
Lila stopped.
“Mrs. Dawson.”
“You’re in Cole’s office.”
“Fire.”
“Yes.”
“You should be outside.”
“So should you.”