He moved closer to Clara.
For several seconds, the air seemed to tighten around them.
Then Briggs spoke quietly.
"Mr. Hart, you don't want to involve yourself in matters you don't understand."
Caleb's expression became cold.
"I understand enough."
Briggs raised one eyebrow.
"Oh?"
Caleb looked toward the marker.
Then back at him.
"My brother died here."
The smile vanished from Briggs's face.
For one brief moment, something unmistakable crossed his eyes.
Recognition.
Fear.
Then calculation.
He recovered quickly.
"Terrible accident."
Caleb took one step forward.
Briggs didn't move.
The mountain man's voice was low.
"Was it?"
For several seconds, they stared at one another.
Then Briggs looked toward Sheriff Boone.
"You're allowing this man to threaten me?"
Boone remained calm.
"Mr. Hart asked a question."
Briggs's jaw tightened.
He glanced toward the marker again.
Then said something that made Clara's blood run cold.
"You should've left that stone buried."
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Mallory looked up sharply.
"Why?"
Briggs froze.
The question had trapped him.
He looked toward the older surveyor.
"What?"
Mallory adjusted his spectacles.
"Why should we have left a potentially original survey monument buried?"
Briggs stared.
For several seconds, he seemed unable to find an answer.
Then he stepped backward.
"Because you're interfering with company operations."
Boone looked toward the deputies.
Then toward Briggs.
"Mr. Briggs, I suggest you leave the site undisturbed while the review continues."
Briggs's face hardened.
He looked toward Caleb.
Then Clara.
For a moment, Clara thought he might order Crowe to seize her.
Instead, the man smiled.
A cold smile.
"Of course."
He tipped his hat.
"Wouldn't dream of interfering with the law."
Then he turned toward the horses.
Crowe hesitated.
Briggs gave him a sharp look.
The three men mounted.
Before riding away, Briggs turned one last time.
"Miss Whitmore."
Clara looked up.
He smiled thinly.
"Your father should've understood that some discoveries aren't worth the price."
Caleb moved.
But Clara caught his arm.
He stopped.
For a moment, his entire body trembled with anger.
Then he looked toward her.
She shook her head.
Not because she was frightened of what Briggs deserved.
Because she knew that an impulsive confrontation could destroy everything they had worked to establish.