The river

In the sweltering heat of a Tucson summer, a sharply dressed yet restless engineer steps into the polished office of a railroad titan. K.C. Rickard has traded coal‑shoveling in Wyoming for a coveted position with the Overland Pacific, and his immaculate attire immediately draws the curious eyes of seasoned clerks. As he waits for the elusive Tod Marshall, he reflects on the abrupt career leap that has placed him at the heart of Arizona’s most powerful network of railroads and politics.

The summons hints at a daring scheme to divert a great western river—a project that once failed under the name of a familiar rival, Tom Hardin. Rickard senses that his new role may entangle him in rivalries, corporate ambitions, and personal histories that reach back to his own past. As the city bustles beneath the awnings, he wonders whether the river will become his salvation or his greatest obstacle.