Chapter 3 - The Man From Town

Elias Rourke was the wealthiest merchant in the settlement.

He owned the general store.

A freight company.

Two warehouses.

And, according to local gossip, enough influence to make the sheriff reconsider inconvenient facts.

Samuel had known him for years.

Rourke had always been polite.

Too polite, perhaps.

The next morning Samuel rode into town.

He carried the map beneath his coat.

Rourke greeted him with a smile.

"Samuel. I heard you had trouble."

"You heard quickly."

"I hear everything."

Samuel placed the map on the counter.

Rourke's eyes moved across it.

For half a second, his expression changed.

Then the smile returned.

"I don't understand."

"You know what this is."

"No."

"Your name is written here."

Rourke laughed.

"That isn't my handwriting."

Samuel leaned forward.

"But it's your name."

Rourke became serious.

"Samuel, Wade Mercer is a criminal. He could write anyone's name."

"Why is my well marked?"

"Because everybody knows about your well."

Samuel stared at him.

"Not everybody."

Rourke's silence lasted too long.

Then he said softly:

"You should sell."

Samuel folded the map.

"No."

"You don't understand the opportunity."

"I understand enough."

Rourke leaned closer.

"The railroad will eventually come through this territory."

Samuel knew that.

"What does that have to do with me?"

"Water."

Samuel's eyes narrowed.

Rourke continued.

"A railroad town requires water. Your land sits above one of the strongest underground sources in the valley."

"So you want my ranch."

"I want to make you wealthy."

Samuel stood.

"I'd rather remain poor."

Rourke's expression hardened.

"Be careful, Samuel."

Samuel left.

Outside, the sheriff waited.

Sheriff Thomas Bell approached.

"Rourke speak to you?"

"Yes."

"What did he say?"

Samuel looked at him.

"Do you already know?"

The sheriff hesitated.

"Know what?"

"That he wants my land."

Bell lowered his voice.

"Samuel, don't make accusations you can't prove."

Samuel studied him.

"Who is paying Mercer?"

Bell said nothing.

That was answer enough.

Samuel rode home.

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But he was not alone.

Someone followed him.