A knock sounded on his office door. “Come in,” he said.

Milton Elliott, Samuel Abercrombie’s attorney, entered. “Got a minute, McDougall?”

Mac grimaced internally, though he rose to shake the man’s hand. It couldn’t be good news that Samuel’s attorney had come to call. He waved Elliott to a seat across from him.

Elliott settled himself in the chair. “As you might suspect from my presence here, Mr. Abercrombie is not happy.”

“I met with both Samuel and Zeke Pershing last week,” Mac said. “You’d given me leave to negotiate directly with Abercrombie, and I thought we worked out an arrangement to both parties’ satisfaction.”

The attorney cleared his throat. “My client has had second thoughts.”

Mac swore. “And why is that?”

Elliott sounded apologetic as he explained. “The creek between their properties—”

“You mean, the creek that migrated onto Zeke Pershing’s land,” Mac said, wanting to keep the record straight. “We diverted a portion of the water onto your client’s field.”

“Yes, yes, that creek.” Elliott coughed. “It seems the creek is drying up.”

“Creeks tend to do that in mid-summer,” Mac said.

“My client doesn’t think he will get enough water for his fields under the arrangement you proposed.”

“The arrangement I proposed?” Mac exploded. “Your client proposed it. Your client agreed to it. You mean to tell me he now intends to renege?”

“Well—” Elliott cleared his throat again.

“Zeke Pershing has been more than fair in offering to divert water from the creek back onto Mr. Abercrombie’s land. Given Mr. Abercrombie’s age, Mr. Pershing and his brothers provided the labor to dig the ditch and the pond to hold the runoff. I don’t know what more Zeke can do.” Mac grew more incensed at Samuel’s obstinance.

“He told me to pursue the case against Mr. Pershing.” At least Elliott had the grace to look sheepish. “I will ask the judge to reverse his stay.”

“We’ll see about that.” Mac stood. “I will make one more attempt to bring Samuel Abercrombie to reason, based on my longstanding acquaintance with him. If I am not successful, then Mr. Pershing will counterclaim against Mr. Abercrombie for trespass. Abercrombie has been seen many times taking water from the creek, even though it now runs through Zeke Pershing’s land. That’s why Zeke dug the ditch and pond. But this is the last civil recourse I shall offer before pursuing Mr. Pershing’s legal rights.”

Elliott nodded. “I understand.”

The next morning, Mac rode out to Zeke Pershing’s claim and found his friend mending harnesses in the barn. “Thought you’d be out taking more land from Abercrombie,” Mac said, with a grin.

Zeke snorted. “That old coot wouldn’t do as he ought on the ditch, despite our agreement. His attorney—that Mr. Elliott—was here overseeing the digging, and still old Samuel didn’t follow through.”

“Did Samuel say whether he would pursue the lawsuit?”

Zeke shook his head. “Elliott didn’t seem to want no part of it. Told Samuel so in front of me. But Abercrombie’s likely to look for another lawyer.”

“Elliott’s changed his spots, it seems. He came to see me yesterday. Says Abercrombie has authorized him to move ahead with the case.”

“Damn.” Zeke swore a long string of stronger oaths.

“I agree,” Mac said. “I’ll go see Samuel. Maybe I can calm him down.”

“Last time I talked to him, Abercrombie said a man named Johnson was asking questions in these parts.”

A cold sweat touched Mac’s neck, despite the warm day. “What kind of questions?”

“About Jenny. And Will. Your family’s past.”

Zeke knew Jenny’s full history, so Mac spoke openly. “Did Johnson tell Abercrombie I’m not Will’s father?”

“I don’t know.” Zeke shrugged. “I didn’t want to get into it with Samuel. I was mad enough at him already. No need to start blatherin’ when I wasn’t thinkin’ straight.”

Mac clapped Zeke on the back. “Good man. Don’t tell Abercrombie anything. I’ll go talk to him now, find out what he heard directly. But I don’t want him to try to put two and two together.”

Mac rode to Abercrombie’s claim. Samuel was chopping kindling in the heat of the day. Mac took off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves. “Got another hatchet?” he asked.

Samuel gestured with his thumb.

Mac picked up a hatchet with a scarred wooden handle and started chopping alongside the older man. “Zeke says you weren’t happy with the ditch.”

“No water flowin’ to my land.”

“What’d your lawyer say?”

“You musta paid him off.” Abercrombie glared at Mac. “You got the money to do so. But he agreed to pursue my case in court.”

Mac shook his head. “I didn’t pay anyone. I only got involved to help you and Zeke work things out.”

“Then you left town to go after your runaway. Left us in the lurch. Made me spend money on Elliott, weasel though he be.”

“Daniel and I had to look for our boys in Eugene. And once the water flows again, the ditch will provide you with your share from the creek.” Mac kept chopping. He figured his labor would soothe Abercrombie eventually.

After a while, Abercrombie raised the topic Mac sought to hear about. “Man come around askin’ ’bout you and Miz Jenny.” The old man squinted and crossed his arms across his beefy chest. “Name of Jacob Johnson. What’s that all about?”

“What did he say?” Mac asked, continuing to chop.

“Said he knew you back in Missouri. Said he was closer to Miz Jenny ’n he had a right to be.” Abercrombie spat his tobacco juice across the yard. “Though he didn’t say it quite so politely.”

Mac stopped chopping at that and eyed Abercrombie. “You’ve known Jenny for years. Have you ever known her to behave inappropriately?”

Abercrombie spat again. “I like Miz Jenny. Always have. She’s a good woman. But a man wouldn’t talk that way about her without some reason.”

“No reason,” Mac said, picking up another piece of wood. “No damn reason at all.” He turned to Abercrombie. “If you see him again, I hope you tell him so. Meanwhile, let’s get your woodpile stocked.”

They chopped the rest of the wood in silence.