Chapter 23 - The Valley
Months passed.
The railroad surveyors arrived.
They expected to find a valley controlled by Rourke.
Instead, they found independent ranchers.
A shared water system.
A community willing to negotiate.
The railroad offered Samuel money.
A great deal of it.
He refused exclusive control.
Instead, he negotiated a public water agreement.
The town grew.
Samuel's ranch survived.
The spring remained open.
And the six travelers returned.
This time, they were not starving.
They brought horses.
Tools.
Seeds.
They stayed for several days.
Red Willow smiled.
"You remembered us."
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Samuel laughed.
"You said I was not forgotten."
