Men dragged Jacinto clear.
He pointed toward the flames.
“The fire wasn’t an accident!”
Everyone froze.
“What?”
Ethan asked.
Jacinto coughed violently.
“Oil.”
“Where?”
“Back wall.”
“Before the roof caught.”
His face was black with soot.
“Somebody poured lamp oil behind the hay.”
Ethan looked toward Magdalena.
The fire roared.
Magdalena remembered the poisoned lamb.
The blocked channel.
The cut fence.
This was no longer pressure.
Somebody was trying to destroy Castle Ridge.
The barn roof collapsed.
Ethan stood motionless.
Flames reflected in his eyes.
Magdalena grabbed his face with both hands.
“Look at me.”
He did.
“People first.”
His breathing was ragged.
“Count them.”
They counted.
Ranch hands.
Jacob.
Jacinto.
Cook’s helper.
Stable boy.
Everyone.
Livestock losses were smaller than feared.
One horse injured.
Two sheep missing.
No human deaths.
Magdalena repeated that until Ethan heard it.
The barn could be rebuilt.
Men could not.
At dawn, the ruins smoked.
Magdalena walked the perimeter.
She found an oil can.
Half melted.
Vale Supply stamp.
Too obvious.
She stared.
Ethan came beside her.
“Arthur.”
Magdalena shook her head.
“No.”
He looked furious.
“Again?”
“This is too easy.”
“His company tag inside the lamb.”
“His plate blocking the water.”
“His oil can at the fire.”
“Yes.”
“You think that clears him?”
“No.”
“I think somebody wants us to stop asking after we find the obvious answer.”
Ethan stared at the can.
Magdalena continued.
“If Arthur is doing this, he is either stupid enough to leave his name everywhere or confident enough that nobody can prove he personally touched anything.”
“Which?”
“I don't know.”
Jacob approached.
“Sheriff’s coming.”
Magdalena looked at him.
“Who sent?”
“I did.”
“When?”
“During the fire.”
“Good.”
Jacob hesitated.
Then:
“You think Vale?”
Ethan began to answer.
Magdalena interrupted.
“We think someone wanted the barn gone.”
Jacob looked at her strangely.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
He walked away.
Ethan noticed too.
“That was odd.”
“Yes.”
“Jacob?”
“I don't know.”
That afternoon, the sheriff examined the ruins.
Arthur arrived before he finished.
Also odd.
Very odd.
“How did you hear?”
Magdalena asked.
Arthur looked at her.
“Town talks.”
“The fire ended six hours ago.”
“My driver passed the ranch.”
“There hasn't been a Vale wagon on this road today.”
Arthur’s eyes sharpened.
Ethan stepped closer.
“Answer her.”
Arthur smiled coldly.
“Careful, Casteel.”
“No.”