"I know."
"Why?"
The older warrior closed his eyes briefly.
"Because I was supposed to tell you that."
Elias felt the blood drain from his face.
He stepped forward.
"You helped them."
Two Feathers said nothing.
Elias seized the front of his buckskin shirt.
"You helped those men take my wife!"
Several warriors turned.
Iron Elk approached immediately.
"What is happening?"
Elias looked at the chief.
"Ask him."
Two Feathers lowered his eyes.
Iron Elk followed Elias's gaze to the blue ribbon.
Recognition appeared.
Then anger.
"What have you done?"
Two Feathers's expression changed.
For a moment, he looked as though he might refuse to answer.
Then he whispered, "Crane has my sister's children."
Iron Elk went still.
Elias loosened his grip.
Two Feathers continued.
"They were taken near the southern trading road four days ago."
The chief stared.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because Crane sent word that if I warned anyone, the children would disappear before anyone could reach them."
Elias felt his anger falter.
Only slightly.
He remembered Ren being dragged from their shelter.
The sound of her scream.
The pain in his ribs.
The rider carrying her into the darkness.
He wanted to strike the man standing before him.
But he also heard the terror beneath Two Feathers's voice.
"How many children?" Elias asked.
"Two."
"How old?"
"Nine and twelve."
Elias swallowed.
Two Feathers looked directly at him.
"Crane ordered me to provide fresh horses near the eastern ridge. He said the strangers would only delay the marriage until a survey agreement was signed."
Iron Elk's face darkened.
"And you believed him?"
The older warrior shook his head.
"No."
The admission surprised them.
He continued.
"I knew he was lying."
"Then why did you help?" Elias demanded.
Two Feathers looked toward the family shelters.
"Because he told me the children would die if I refused."
For a moment, silence settled between them.
Then Elias pointed toward the ribbon.
"And that?"
Two Feathers reached for it.
He untied the strip.
"Ren dropped it near the horse enclosure while she was speaking with her cousin yesterday. I found it after Crane's messenger arrived."
He looked toward the dark ridge.
"I tied it here to remind myself of what I was helping destroy."
Elias stared.
The explanation did not erase what had happened.
But it gave the blue ribbon a meaning he had not expected.
Iron Elk stepped forward.
"Where did they take her?"
Two Feathers looked at him.
"Not the lower crossing."
"Then where?"
"Through the dry canyon behind Hawk's Tooth."
A warrior nearby cursed.
The route was narrow, dangerous, and almost invisible after dark.
Two Feathers continued.
"There is an old freight station near the abandoned silver works. Crane has been using it to store supplies."
Elias looked toward the mountains.
"How long to reach it?"
"Four hours by the high trail. Longer through the wash."
Elias immediately turned toward Copper.
Two Feathers caught his arm.