Chapter 9 - The Road to Prescott
They couldn't trust the evidence to ordinary couriers.
Elias, Naya, Thomas and Keme traveled together.
The journey changed them.
Keme taught Elias Apache words.
Mostly insults.
Naya refused to translate them accurately.
Thomas eventually confessed this, causing Elias to chase Keme halfway around camp while Naya laughed until tears filled her eyes.
Those moments mattered.
Because danger still followed them.
In Prescott, they met Judge Samuel Whitaker.
He examined the evidence for hours.
“This could expose half a dozen officials.”
“Can you protect the witnesses?” Elias asked.
“I can try.”
Naya disliked the answer.
“So no.”
Whitaker looked at her.
“So I need testimony in open court before anyone can make it disappear.”
A hearing was scheduled.
That night someone broke into their hotel.
Elias woke when the floorboard creaked.
He rolled aside as a man lunged.
Naya threw a water pitcher.
It shattered against the attacker's shoulder.
Thomas entered with a pistol.
The intruder escaped through the window.
But he'd left a message.
A single feather pinned to the wall with a knife.
Naya pulled it free.
“Not Apache.”
Elias examined it.
“Someone wants us blamed.”
The next morning newspapers reported that “hostile Indians” had attacked witnesses.
The conspiracy was fighting back.
Judge Whitaker warned them.
“If public opinion turns, facts may not matter.”
Naya stared at him.
“Then tell facts louder.”
Whitaker smiled.
“I think I like you.”
Elias muttered, “Get in line.”
Naya looked at him.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
The hearing began.
Thomas testified first.
Then Mateo.
Then Naya.
A lawyer tried to undermine her English.
“Do you understand the document you carried?”
Naya answered calmly.
“Yes.”
“Can you read every word?”
“No.”
“So you relied on what others told you?”
She looked directly at the judge.
“My father read it. Thomas read it. Elias read it. You read it.”
A few people laughed.
The lawyer flushed.
Naya continued.
“Words same no matter who mouth speaks them.”
Silence followed.
Her testimony became the center of the case.
By evening, warrants were issued for three officials.
But one man had disappeared.
Commissioner Harlan Voss.
And Thomas knew exactly where he would go.
Back to the valley.
Because beneath the disputed land wasn't merely water.
There was silver.
May you like
Enough silver to make men kill entire families.
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