Evelyn opened it.
The drawing showed Willow Creek's original boundaries, including the western pasture granted to Caleb.
But another line crossed the lower valley.
A route proposed for the Mountain Western Railroad.
Evelyn frowned.
“Why is this here?”
Caleb looked toward the map.
“Victor's been negotiating with railroad investors.”
She stared.
“For our land?”
He nodded.
“Part of it.”
Her eyes widened.
Then she looked toward the date on the survey.
It was old.
Older than her father's death.
Evelyn examined the annotations.
One note identified a spring-fed water source near the proposed route.
Another described access to a narrow pass through the mountains.
She looked up sharply.
“Caleb, this isn't merely grazing land.”
He frowned.
She continued.
“It's the shortest practical route through the lower valley.”
Caleb nodded slowly.
“Yes.”
Evelyn looked toward the original deed.
Then toward the railroad survey.
For a moment, she felt sick.
Victor hadn't simply taken her father's ranch because he wanted more cattle.
He wanted control over the valley.
And if the railroad company acquired the route, he could make a fortune from land that had never belonged to him.
The first person Evelyn wanted to contact was her father's former attorney.
His name was Amos Whitcomb.
He'd practiced in Granite Falls for almost thirty years and had once handled Henry's land purchases.
But Victor had told Evelyn that Whitcomb retired before the foreclosure.
Caleb remembered seeing the old attorney in town only months earlier.
That gave them hope.
They arranged a visit.
Because Evelyn needed suitable transport, Caleb prepared the wide freight wagon and made the journey as comfortable as the rough road allowed. She brought her own cushioned seat and arranged for the stablehands to help position the wagon's supports securely.
Caleb didn't attempt to make decisions over her head.
He asked what she needed.
She told him.
And together they planned.
The trip took most of the day.
By the time they reached Granite Falls, Evelyn was exhausted.
But she refused to return without speaking to Whitcomb.
His office stood above a dry-goods store.
The stairs were narrow.
The building had no suitable access for her.
When Caleb saw the entrance, his expression darkened.
Evelyn noticed.
“Don't start pulling the building apart.”
He looked toward her.