Inside was another wrapping.
Waxed cloth.
Carefully folded.
And beneath that, several sheets of yellowed paper.
The edges were damaged, but most of the writing remained clear.
The first document was a survey.
Thomas Whitlock's name appeared near the bottom.
Beside it were the names of witnesses, including Iron Elk and Ren's grandmother.
The map showed the river's actual course, seasonal channels, springs, existing settlements, farming areas, and long-established travel routes.
The second document was a statement describing deliberate changes made to the official survey.
It named Silas Crane.
It described his attempts to remove references to Apache occupation and use of the river valley.
And it identified several officials and contractors who had been offered payments to approve the altered map.
The third was a personal letter.
Elias recognized his father's handwriting immediately.
His hands began trembling.
Ren stood beside him.
He unfolded the page.
The opening words nearly stopped his heart.
My dear Elias,
If this reaches you, I hope you are old enough to understand why I could not come home when I promised.
Elias pressed his lips together.
For a moment, the words blurred.
Ren gently touched his back.
He took a breath.
Then continued reading.
I did not leave because I stopped loving you.
I left believing I could finish one honest piece of work and return with enough money to buy us a little land of our own.
I was wrong about how simple that would be.
I found people here who were being cheated by men who called their homes empty land. I could not draw a false map and then look you in the eye when I returned.
I have made mistakes in my life, son. More than you know. But I hope one day you will understand why I could not make this one.
Elias lowered his head.
Ren waited.
He continued.
If I cannot return, do not spend your life searching for reasons to blame yourself.
You were the finest thing that ever happened to me.
I remember the morning you broke my watch. You cried because you believed I would be angry.
I was never angry.
I kept the broken crystal because the watch mattered less to me than the boy who carried it.
Find a place where you can live honestly.
Build something useful.
And if you meet someone who loves you, do not make her wait for happiness because you are afraid of losing it.
Your father.
Thomas Whitlock.
Elias stood perfectly still.
The wind moved gently through the rocks.
Below them, water spilled into the shallow basin.
For a long moment, he could not speak.
Then his knees weakened.
He sat on a nearby stone.
Ren knelt beside him.
He looked at her.
"My whole life..."
His voice broke.
"I thought he wanted something better than us."
Ren took his hand.
Elias looked back at the letter.
"He was trying to build something better for us."
Tears rolled down his face.