William Colton was on his way to deliver a couple mares to market when a woman approached him. She told him she needed to get to Saint's Landing. To get there, Colton had to go across the desert for two days. He didn't want to take her because it would be too dangerous, but she insisted, begged, and pleaded. He finally gave in, and discovered that she was also taking something else with her - a small elm tree. While traveling across the desert, the two came upon two men who were obviously interested in his two mares. They kindly offered to take the horses to market for Colton and bring him back the money. Colton told them no thanks, and they rode away. But Colton had a suspicion he hadn't seen the last of them.
—Michelle