Margaret shook her head.
"My sister refused."
She paused.
"Two months later, somebody told her the creek crossing she'd used for thirty years was on company property."
Caleb's expression hardened.
Clara reached for her notebook.
"What crossing?"
Margaret described the location.
Clara wrote it down.
Then asked about the original deed.
The older woman frowned.
"I'd have to ask my sister."
Clara nodded.
"Would she let us see it?"
Margaret studied her.
For a moment, she looked toward Caleb.
Then back at Clara.
"I think she'd be glad somebody finally asked."
Sheriff Amos Boone was fifty-three, broad-faced, and permanently tired.
He had served the territory for more than a decade.
Before that, he'd worked cattle, hauled freight, and spent several years as a deputy in a rougher settlement farther south.
He knew most of the people in Willow Creek.
He also knew Caleb Hart.
Not merely by reputation.
They had ridden together when dangerous men needed bringing to court.
Amos trusted Caleb's judgment.
But he also understood that Caleb could become reckless when a matter touched his family's past.
The sheriff listened while Caleb described the riders.
He asked Clara about the threats.
Then examined the copied documents.
For nearly an hour, they discussed what had happened.
Amos made notes.
When Clara finished explaining the survey discrepancies, he leaned back.
"Miss Whitmore, I'm sorry about your father."
She nodded.
"Thank you."
He looked toward the map.
"These records may be important."
Her heart lifted.
Then he continued.
"But proving a boundary was falsified and proving someone committed murder are different matters."
Clara swallowed.
"I know."
The sheriff nodded.
"Good."
He turned toward Caleb.
"And you."
Caleb raised one eyebrow.
"Me?"
Amos pointed toward him.
"No chasing Crowe into the mountains."
Caleb sighed.
"Wasn't planning to."
The sheriff stared.
Caleb looked away.
Amos shook his head.
"I've heard that before."
Clara almost smiled.
Then Amos became serious.
"I'll speak with Crowe if I can locate him. If he threatened you or attempted to force entry, that needs addressing."
Caleb nodded.
"What about Voss?"
The sheriff sighed.
"That's where things become complicated."
Clara's expression tightened.
"Because he's wealthy?"
Amos looked toward her.
For a moment, he seemed surprised.
Then answered honestly.
"Because he's wealthy, represented by lawyers, and connected to men who hold office."
Clara felt her stomach sink.
He continued.