Gideon sent a trusted neighbor toward Cedar Hollow with copies of the most important documents, asking him to deliver them to a territorial attorney who had previously represented ranchers in land disputes.
He also sent word to Deputy Samuel Pierce, a young lawman with a reputation for refusing favors from wealthy cattle brokers.
Gideon had little reason to trust the sheriff's office as a whole.
The sheriff depended heavily on the town's powerful businessmen for political support.
But Pierce had once helped Gideon recover stolen horses without demanding payment.
He was careful.
Fair.
And willing to ask questions.
Gideon wanted him informed before anyone disappeared into the northern mountains.
Elena prepared provisions.
Bread.
Dried meat.
Water.
Coffee.
And enough blankets to help a cold or injured traveler.
She also prepared a second packet of documents.
Not originals.
Copies.
Then placed them inside a flour sack marked with the bakery's ordinary delivery stamp.
Gideon watched.
“What are you doing?”
She smiled.
“Making certain that if somebody searches our personal bags, they don't find everything.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“That's clever.”
Elena grinned.
“Women who manage supply deliveries learn a few things.”
He laughed.
Then she became serious.
“I'm not hiding the fact that we have records from the authorities. I'm simply protecting the copies until they can be delivered safely.”
Gideon nodded.
“Agreed.”
By noon, they were ready.
The wagon had been checked.
The horses rested.
And the weather had improved enough that the main northern freight road could be traveled cautiously.
Elena climbed aboard using the broad platform Gideon provided.
He made certain she was comfortable.
Then settled beside her.
For several miles, neither spoke much.
The road climbed through pine forests.
Snow lay deep along the shadows.
Occasionally they passed abandoned cattle fences or weathered signs marking old grazing boundaries.
Elena studied the landscape.
She understood why Gideon loved the mountains.
They were severe.
Beautiful.
And indifferent to the judgments of Cedar Hollow.
After nearly two hours, they reached the frozen creek.
A narrow wooden bridge crossed the water.
Beyond it stood an old freight marker bearing the faded emblem of Rusk's northern operation.
Gideon stopped.
He studied the buildings.
A small stable.
A weathered warehouse.
Two cabins.
And a larger structure whose roof sagged beneath the snow.
Crow's Landing.
Elena felt her heart pounding.
“Is this it?”
He nodded.
“Yes.”
No smoke rose from the chimneys.
No horses stood outside.
The place looked abandoned.
But Gideon noticed fresh tracks near the northern warehouse.