Page 50 of Ghost
“How far does this springrun?” he asked.
“It’s never been fullymapped, but I’m guessing thousands of acres of land are fed by it,”Bryan answered.
“What are you thinking?”Ghost asked Ray.
“It’s only a thought, butwhat’s more important than crude oil in Texas?”
“Water,” Brick answered.“Shit.”
“We need to have Spencerdig into the records on these freshwater springs because whoevercontrols the water controls the county. Has anyone ever come roundwanting to buy this parcel of land?” Ray asked.
“Yeah, a few over theyears,” Isaish said. “But we sent them packing. Our land’s not forsale.”
“Do you have any records ofthose offers?” Brick asked.
“Well, Bryan’s grandmotherkept pretty strict ranch records over the years. God rest her soul.Especially after Bryan’s dad and mom passed.”
“I’m sorry about theirpassing,” Ghost said.
“It was a long time ago,but thank you. Bryan was nine years old at the time, andthankfully, he and his grandmother stayed home from the auctionthat one time or the whole family would have been wiped out. As itwas, they passed, and I was left in my wheelchair.”
Brick turned to look at Ray. They wereon the same page.
“I’m sorry to bring up badmemories, but may I ask what happened?” Ray asked.
“We were on our way backfrom the livestock auction, and I was asleep in the backseat of thetruck, so I can only tell you what the authorities told us after Iwoke up in the hospital. They said it was a drunk driver. Hecrossed the line and hit our truck and trailer head-on.”
“Did they identify theother driver?” Brick asked.
“I don’t remember. At thetime, we had other priorities.”
“Of course,” Raysaid.
“Here we are,” Bryan saidas he pulled the truck to a stop. “Tell me straight, what are youthinking?”
“It’s conjecture at themoment, but we’re starting to realize that those buying up all theland in certain areas of Marshall have a master plan, and those whodidn’t sell willingly—” Ray stopped short of making the fullaccusation, not wanting to hurt Bryan and hisgrandfather.
Bryan took over. “Wereeliminated.”
“Shit,” Isaiah growled.“You think the accident wasn’t an accident?’
“Let’s go have a lookaround the spring,” Brick said, his voice solemn. “When we returnto the ranch house, we’d appreciate seeing thoserecords.”
“I’ll call Kyle and havehim start digging them out of the office,” Bryan said while pickingup his phone. “Wait, do you think my family is still indanger?”
“It’d be the last mistakethey ever made,” Shaw growled.
They searched around the entrance tothe spring and found new tracks made within the last twoweeks.
“What’s that?” Isaiah saidfrom his wheelchair.
“Where?” Rayasked.
Isaiah pointed. “There.”
Ray caught the glint of somethingshiny in the sunlight and went to investigate.
“Well, what do we havehere?” Shaw said as he came to stand beside Ray.