“Yes.”
“I’m not saying arrest him.”
“I’m saying watch.”
Ethan hated it.
But agreed.
They watched.
Jacob did nothing suspicious.
Three days.
Then four.
On the fifth, he rode out after midnight.
Ethan and Magdalena followed at a distance.
Magdalena insisted.
Ethan objected.
She won.
Jacob rode to an abandoned line shack two miles east.
Another rider waited.
Arthur Vale.
Ethan reached for his gun.
Magdalena grabbed his wrist.
“Listen.”
They moved closer.
Voices carried through broken boards.
Arthur:
“You were supposed to scare him.”
Jacob:
“You told me no one gets hurt.”
Ethan’s face went white.
Magdalena held his arm.
Arthur said:
“The ranch should have been sold after the cattle.”
“You kept dragging it out.”
Jacob:
“I did what you asked.”
“I changed the feed.”
“Blocked the ditch.”
“Cut the fence.”
“The barn wasn't me.”
Magdalena stopped breathing.
Arthur’s voice sharpened.
“I know.”
“Then who?”
Silence.
Magdalena and Ethan exchanged a look.
Someone else had set the fire.
Arthur continued.
“You're done.”
Jacob:
“You owe me.”
“I owe you nothing.”
“You promised my son’s debt would disappear.”
“There it was.”
Blackmail.
Jacob had sabotaged the ranch.
Not for greed.
For his son.
Still betrayal.
Then Arthur said something worse.
“The fire means someone else understands the land is worth more than cattle.”
Jacob:
“What does that mean?”
“You don't need to know.”
Arthur left first.
Ethan waited until the horse vanished.
Then stepped inside.
Jacob turned.
His face collapsed.
“Ethan.”
Ethan’s hand remained near his gun.
Magdalena entered behind him.
Jacob looked at her.
Understanding.
“You followed.”
“Yes.”
Ethan’s voice was barely controlled.
“Why?”
Jacob sat.
“My boy.”
“What about him?”
“Gambling.”
“Debt.”
“Vale bought it.”
“How much?”
“Eight hundred.”
Ethan stared.
“You could have asked me.”
“I knew the ranch was failing.”
“You burned feed.”
“I did not burn the barn.”
“You poisoned my cattle.”
“Only enough to make some sick.”
“One died.”
Jacob’s eyes lowered.
“I know.”
Ethan looked like he had been struck.
The man he trusted most after his father.
Magdalena stepped closer.
“What did Arthur want?”
“To force sale.”
“Why?”
“Mining, I assumed.”
“Did he ever mention water?”
“No.”
“North Hill?”
“Only said keep the old line blocked.”
Magdalena’s eyes narrowed.
“Who blocked it originally?”
Jacob looked up.
“Vale's father.”
Ethan froze.