The traitor found them the next afternoon.
His name was Daniel Crow.
Mara recognized him first.
They were riding through a cedar basin when she suddenly drew her rifle.
A lone horseman approached with both hands visible.
“Mara!” he shouted.
She did not lower the weapon.
“Daniel?”
Elias moved beside her.
The young man appeared exhausted. Blood darkened his forehead.
“Do not shoot.”
Mara dismounted.
Daniel nearly fell from his horse.
She caught him.
“What happened?”
“They attacked the camp.”
Mara went rigid.
“When?”
“After sunrise.”
“How many?”
“Rourke sent men. They fired from the ridge. No one was killed, but two were wounded.”
Elias felt sick.
“The incident,” he said.
Daniel nodded.
“They want retaliation.”
Mara grabbed Daniel’s coat.
“Nita?”
“Alive.”
“My mother?”
“Alive.”
Her shoulders sagged.
Only slightly.
Then Daniel looked at Elias.
“They took the papers.”
Elias froze.
“What?”
“Copies.”
“What copies?”
Daniel looked ashamed.
“I told Nita to make copies of everything before you left.”
Mara stared.
“You knew?”
“I suspected something might happen.”
“You did not tell us?”
“I was trying to protect the evidence.”
Daniel looked away.
“They forced me to show them where the copies were.”
Mara’s voice became dangerously quiet.
“Forced?”
Daniel did not answer.
Elias understood first.
“You told them.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
Mara stepped backward.
“Why?”
“My brother is in prison in Brennan.”
“You betrayed the council for him?”
“They said they would release him!”
“They are liars!”
“I know that now!”
Mara struck him.
Not hard enough to knock him down.
Hard enough to make the meaning clear.
Daniel accepted it.
“They’re going to Fort Brennan,” he said. “Rourke too. He knows about Judge Hollis.”
Elias turned toward the mountains.
“How far ahead?”
“Four hours.”
“We’ll never beat them on horses.”
Daniel shook his head.
“There is another way.”
Mara laughed bitterly.
“You have given enough directions.”
“I deserve that.”
“Yes.”
“But listen.”
He pointed north.
“The mining company built a supply rail spur last year. It runs through Coldwater Cut. There is a maintenance engine near the old quarry.”
Elias frowned.
“You know how to operate it?”
Daniel looked at him.
“No.”
Mara looked at Elias.
He smiled faintly.
“My father worked rail before ranching.”
She stared.
“You know?”
“A little.”
“That is not confidence.”
“It’s honesty.”
Daniel said, “If the engine still runs, you can reach Brennan before midnight.”
Mara mounted.
Elias looked at her.
“You trust him?”
“No.”
Daniel lowered his head.
Mara continued.
“But I trust that he hates himself right now.”
She kicked the gray mare forward.
“That may be enough.”
