A creek bend below a steep bank.
A large boulder marked with an old chisel cut.
And the remains of a timber crossing.
Clara identified two landmarks immediately.
Mallory confirmed their locations.
Then they began measuring.
The work was slow.
Cold fingers made precise handling difficult.
Snow concealed parts of the terrain.
And several older descriptions relied on landmarks that had changed over time.
But by midafternoon, they had established a consistent line.
The newer company's map placed the original marker near a lower slope.
The old field books placed it farther north, near the creek.
Caleb knew the location.
He had ridden past it years earlier.
He led them toward a cluster of trees above the water.
There, beside a large rock, lay a mound of earth and frozen debris.
Clara stopped.
Her heart began pounding.
The location matched her father's calculations.
Mallory examined the ground.
Then looked toward the older field book.
"Possible."
He asked for shovels.
The deputies began carefully clearing snow.
Clara watched.
Caleb stood beside her.
For nearly half an hour, they worked.
Then one shovel struck something hard.
A dull sound.
Not ordinary loose stone.
Mallory knelt.
Brushed away snow.
Then carefully removed frozen earth from the object beneath.
A flat-topped stone emerged.
Its surface bore weathered markings.
Clara stopped breathing.
Mallory studied it.
Then asked for his notebook.
He compared the visible marks with the original description.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then looked up.
"Well."
Clara's heart pounded.
He pointed toward the stone.
"These markings correspond with the older field notes."
She covered her mouth.
Caleb stepped closer.
Mallory continued.
"We'll need a complete examination and verification against official records, but this may be the original reference marker."
Clara began crying.
Not loudly.
Just a sudden rush of tears she couldn't stop.
For months, she'd carried her father's work across the country.
Endured threats.
Questioned herself.
And wondered whether she was chasing an answer that no longer existed.
Now part of the evidence stood beneath her feet.
Caleb placed one arm around her shoulders.
She leaned against him.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Mallory examined the side of the stone.
His expression changed.
"Interesting."
Caleb looked up.
"What?"
The surveyor pointed toward a smaller marking beneath the weathered inscription.
Two letters.
TH.
Caleb went still.
He knelt beside the stone.
For a moment, he stared.
Then slowly reached toward the letters.