He remembered something that Karak often said: western women had too much power.

CLIVE EDGAR VISITED RAM AND KARAK the next week, and they sat near the back porch, just like the old days, except that Hitchcock was with them. They had just finished another lettuce harvest; it had done well. The Anglos were jovial, easy.

“Mr. Hitchcock and I were considering what to do now.” Sitting next to the vice president, Clive had become something that he had not been before. “You boys are fine farmers and all. We don’t want to lose you.” He stretched his arms behind him, cradling his head in his hands. Ram saw the revolver that Clive’s father-in-law had given him years before, lodged in a holster by his left arm. Clive had shown it to them on the day he announced his engagement. Pearl inlays in the grip, his initials engraved on the barrel. For years, Clive had not carried it, saying that it was too fancy.

Ram and Karak were quiet. Hitchcock was observing them. He was a handsome man. Tall, slim-hipped, a straight nose, long and delicate fingers. A smattering of gray on his temples. Light blue eyes. He walked with a limp from an unknown injury. He used a cane with a silver duck’s head handle. The limp, the cane, the handle, all added to his dignity. Everyone at the table knew that the Punjabis’ lease would run out in three months. The time to make decisions was now.

“How about we just keep the terms of our contract?” Clive said.

“Without a paper lease?” Karak asked. They had never had a paper lease with Eggenberger, but they had signed one with Consolidated on the very first day.

“We’ll just run our operation like we’ve always run it,” Hitchcock said. His voice was smooth, cultured. “County won’t know. Attorney general won’t know. Lettuce market is so high now.”

No one asked the obvious question. What if the contract wasn’t honored? The entire enterprise would be against the law.

“We’ve trusted each other for years, haven’t we?” Clive offered. “Done business on a handshake?”

“We think. We think on it, Clive,” Ram said, before Karak could say yes.

Hitchcock and Clive climbed back into Hitchcock’s car and Clive tilted his head out the window. Clive and Karak exchanged a glance. Ram felt them united against him.

Later, Ram found Karak out in the field, repairing a leak in the main irrigation ditch. He had flooded the small canal and was lifting soil from the trench to fortify its wall. He did not turn, even though Ram called his name as he approached. “I don’t trust Clive,” Ram said sharply. He had brought along a shovel but did not stoop to help.