Chapter 6: External Suspicion

The ranch settled into a routine of prosperity and quiet diligence, but the Territory outside remained volatile and suspicious. Steward knew his highly unusual domestic arrangement—a wealthy rancher suddenly raising two Native American girls as daughters, rather than indentured servants—was a subject of gossip. He just hadn’t expected the confrontation to arrive so quickly, or so directly.

It was a week after Elara (13) had finally managed to tack ‘Silas’ without assistance. A rider appeared on the canyon road in the late afternoon, kicking up a rooster tail of dust. It wasn’t one of Steward’s regular hands or suppliers.

The man was Jedediah Shaw, a rancher who owned a smaller, harder piece of land on the eastern edge of Steward’s property. Shaw was known for his sharp tongue, his avarice, and his tendency to follow the law only as far as it benefited him. He disliked Steward’s success and possessed the kind of deep-seated racial prejudice common in the Territory.

Shaw reined in his horse by the main corral, looking pointedly at Elara and Miya. The girls, who had been practicing their ciphering skills by tallying feed sacks in the barn doorway, froze immediately. Miya instinctively retreated behind Elara.

“Grainger!” Shaw called out, dismounting with a stiff grunt. “Heard you were back from Tucson with a couple of additions. Thought I’d ride over and see if you needed any advice on managing the help.”

Steward stepped out onto the porch, his hand resting casually on the rail, his posture radiating quiet authority. He didn’t invite Shaw closer. “They are not help, Shaw. They are family. And I manage my own affairs.”