Proof.
I grab the top few pages and fold them into my purse. My hands are shaking so badly they sound like thunder. Taking one last look toward the hall, I then walk fast, steady, not running until the door shuts behind me and I'm in my car.
The second the door locks, I lose it. Gripping the steering wheel, I try to breathe through the wave that crashes over me. Fear, anger, and panic.
They're going after him.
The man who's done nothing but protect that land. The man who looks at me like I'm something worth saving. I drive away from the building and pull into the park by the lake. Then I pull my phone from my bag and hit Asher's name before I can think better of it.
He answers on the second ring, voice warm and steady. "Hey, sweetheart."
I swallow hard. "Asher. You need to listen."
The tone in my voice changes him instantly. "What's wrong?"
"They're drilling." My voice cracks on the word. "They're doing it right now. No permits. No paperwork. They're using the neighboring ranches to test the soil for yours. I heard them talking, Asher. They have maps, and they think they can go around you."
"Where are you?"
"In my car. At the waterfront park parking lot."
"Stay there."
"No," I say. "I'm coming to you."
"Kassi, it's safer—"
I hang up before he can finish. My hands won't stop shaking as I start the engine. I don't even remember half of the drive.
By the time I turn down the gravel lane toward the ranch, my breath is ragged, and my vision blurs with tears I can't seem to blink away.
Asher steps off the porch before I've even come to a stop.
I slam the door and run straight for him, with the papers clutched in my hand like a lifeline.
He meets me halfway, catches me by the shoulders. "What happened?"
I shove the papers against his chest. "Proof. I have proof."
He looks down, flips through the first few pages, and his jaw tightens. "Where did you get these?"
"At the office. They were talking about Silver Cattle—about you. How they're planning to drill illegally. They already have rigs running. They think they can hit your land through the mineral line."
His eyes flash with something dark and hot. "You sure?"
"I heard it," I whisper. "They said the ranch name. I saw the maps. They—" My throat closes.
He's quiet for a long second, then he takes the papers from me, folds them once, and slides them into his back pocket as if he's afraid they might burn.
"Thank you for coming to me," he says, voice low.
"I had to," I say. "I couldn't just sit there and let them—"
He steps closer before I can finish, one hand coming up to cup the side of my face. His palm is rough and warm, steady where I'm shaking.
"You did exactly right," he says. "You did perfectly."
I try to hold it together, but the adrenaline catches up all at once, and the tears I've been holding back spill free. "They're going to ruin everything. I can't let that happen to you."