Gideon dismounted.
He approached cautiously along the stable bank.
Lydia remained beside the horses.
She watched him examine the broken timbers.
Then he stopped.
He crouched.
Looked closely at one beam.
And shook his head.
"Lydia."
She stepped closer, remaining well away from the water.
"What?"
He pointed toward a damaged joint.
"That wasn't just worn."
She looked.
The timber had been deliberately weakened.
Fresh tool marks were visible near the break.
Lydia felt cold.
"Someone did this?"
Gideon stood.
"I can't say who. But somebody worked on that support recently."
The roar of water grew louder.
A section of the bank crumbled into the current.
Gideon stepped back immediately.
"Stay away from the edge."
Lydia obeyed.
Then she looked toward the old channel.
Something about the layout seemed familiar.
She had studied Elias's map for weeks.
The lines were beginning to make sense to her.
The upper diversion.
The lower crossing.
The old timber road.
She looked toward the hillside.
"Gideon."
He turned.
"Yes?"
"The secondary channel."
"What about it?"
"Where does it lead?"
"Behind the western ridge, then back toward the lower river."
"Is it blocked completely?"
He studied it.
"Looks that way."
Lydia looked toward the map case attached to June's saddle.
"Can we compare it with Elias's drawing?"
Gideon stared at her.
Then nodded.
She retrieved the copy of the survey map.
Carefully unfolded it on a flat rock.
The wind tugged at the paper.
Gideon held one corner.
Lydia traced the old secondary channel.
"Here."
He leaned closer.
She pointed toward a narrow line.
"Elias marked a stone culvert below the timber road."
Gideon studied the map.
Then looked toward the hillside.
"That's been buried for years."
"Could it still carry water?"
"Maybe."
She looked toward the creek.
"If the lower families are in danger, shouldn't somebody check whether that old passage can help?"
Gideon studied the map again.
Then nodded.
"It's worth looking at."
He looked toward the horses.
"We need help. This isn't work for two people."
Lydia nodded.
"I'll ride to the lower crossing and send word."
Gideon hesitated.
She looked at him.
"I know the trail. June knows it too."
He studied her face.
Then nodded.
"Stay on high ground. Don't cross moving water."
"I won't."
She folded the map carefully.
Then mounted June.
For a moment, she looked down at Gideon.
His beard was damp from the mist.