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Simon came from the front room, where he’d been waiting for word since bringing Eden back from Marmee’s ranch. He joined the others as Whit removed his hat.

The five returning men were soaked and muddy, but all were on their feet.

Eden gripped the notebook. “Jesse heard you ride in. He’s asking after Bass.”

“I’m here,” Bass said. His gaze went to the sickroom door.

“Before you go in,” Whit said, “we have something he ought to know.”

Nate emerged from the hall, pulling on his coat. “Is anyone hurt?”

“Ranger caught a branch across his face,” Whit said. “The rest of us are sound.”

Nate directed Ranger to a chair. Carolina appeared with a clean cloth, but Eden scarcely noticed. She wanted the answer she had promised Jesse.

“We found horses at the south crossing,” Whit said. “A dozen had been driven down from the old Chapman road. Three men were waiting to take them west.”

“Did you catch them?”

“All three. They’re in jail.”

Bass stripped off his gloves. “Two horses had their brands altered. Others answer to stock reported missing north of Grand Platte.”

“Crowley?” Eden asked.

Whit shook his head. “Not among them. Neither was Rusk.”

Her first rush of relief faltered.

Whit took a folded sheet from inside his damp coat and spread it on the table. “We found this tucked in a saddlebag. Payment figures, dates, and a rough drawing of the crossing. The old Chapman road is marked clearly enough.”

Eden bent over the page. “Does it name Rusk?”

“Initials and amounts,” Whit said. “It’s not enough to hang a charge on him, but it is enough to keep asking questions.”

“And Sam?”

“Samuel Pike,” Marshal Davis said. “One prisoner claims Pike was coming to inspect the route once Rusk had secured it. Another says Pike handles the buyers. Neither will tell us where he is.”

They had suspected Pike. Now someone in the operation had named him.

“Then Jesse was right,” Eden said.

“About the crossing,” Whit answered. “About men working together. We’ve caught the hands but not the men giving orders.”

Whit tapped the map. “Rusk wants that crossing because a man who controls it can move horses along the old mill road without passing through the main ranch. The stolen stock tells us why he’s so determined to have it. If Pike is arranging the buyers, there’s money enough in the business to make all three men dangerous.”

Bass picked up his hat. “I want Jesse to hear it from me.”

Eden stepped aside. “He asked for the truth. Start by letting him see you.”

Bass gave her a weary nod and entered the sickroom.

Jesse spoke before his brother reached the bed. “You take the long way home?”

“Road was wet.”

“You’re dripping on Nate’s floor.”