Chapter 3 - The Woman in the Photograph
Caleb reached the door first.
He pressed one hand against it before the marshal could enter.
“Show me the order.”
A paper slid through the narrow opening.
Caleb read it once.
Then again.
Maggie watched his face darken.
“Is it real?”
“Yes.”
Lily clung to Maggie.
The marshal spoke from outside.
“Mr. Reed, I don’t want trouble.”
“You brought trouble with you.”
“I brought a court directive.”
“Signed by which judge?”
“Judge Harlan.”
Caleb laughed without humor.
“Shaw bought Harlan years ago.”
The marshal lowered his voice.
“I know what people say.”
“Then don’t pretend this is justice.”
Maggie walked closer.
“Can they take her immediately?”
Caleb handed her the order.
She read enough to understand.
Everett had filed himself as Lily’s surviving biological father.
He alleged unlawful withholding of his child.
He alleged Caleb had no blood relation.
Both were technically true.
Nothing in the order mentioned Rebecca’s fears.
Nothing mentioned the unsigned guardianship petition.
Nothing mentioned eleven years of intimidation.
Maggie looked toward the window.
Everett waited near the fence with two men.
He had planned this carefully.
The marshal spoke again.
“I can give you ten minutes.”
Caleb’s eyes sharpened.
“Why?”
“Because I rode here slowly.”
That answer told Maggie more than words should.
The marshal didn’t like Everett either.
Caleb nodded once.
“Ten.”
He shut the door.
Everything moved quickly.
“Eli.”
The boy appeared at the stairs.
“Take Ruth and the others through the pantry door. Go to the spring house.”
“What about Lily?”
“She stays with Maggie.”
Eli’s face crumpled.
“No.”
“Son.”
“We don’t leave her.”
Caleb put both hands on Eli’s shoulders.
“Listen to me. Your job is to protect your brothers and sisters. That is what I need from you.”
Eli looked toward Lily.
She was crying silently now.
He walked to her and hugged her.
One by one the children did the same.
Maggie understood with painful clarity that whatever legal papers said, Lily was their sister.
Blood had nothing to do with it.
When the six left through the rear, Caleb turned to Maggie.
“You’re taking Lily.”
“Where?”
“Old line shack north of the creek.”
“And you?”
“I stay here.”
“No.”
“Maggie.”
“If Everett knows the marshal is coming, he’ll know you might run.”
“Exactly.”
“You mean to distract him.”
“Yes.”
“That could get you killed.”
Caleb gave her a look that said he knew.
Maggie’s anger returned.
“You don’t get to make that decision alone.”
“I made it six years ago.”
“For Rebecca?”
“For Lily.”
She looked at the child.
Then at him.
“What happened to my sister?”
He hesitated.
Maggie stepped closer.
“If I am carrying Lily into hiding, I deserve the truth.”
Caleb looked at the clock.
Eight minutes.
“Rebecca left the ranch after Everett found her.”
“You let her go?”
“She insisted.”
“Why?”
“She thought he would leave Lily alone if she drew him away.”
Maggie closed her eyes.
That sounded exactly like Rebecca.
Brave.
Impulsive.
Infuriating.
“What happened?”
“I followed her.”
“And?”
“I found her horse at the bottom of Miller’s ravine.”
Maggie swallowed.
“Her body?”
“No.”
Maggie’s eyes opened.
“What?”
Caleb’s voice went quiet.
“We never found Rebecca.”
The world shifted again.
“But you said she was dead.”
“I believe she is.”
“You believe?”
“The ravine was flooded. There was blood on the saddle. Her coat was caught on a branch downstream.”
“That is not a body.”
“No.”
“You let me grieve her twice in one day without knowing?”
Caleb’s face tightened.
“I was trying to protect you.”
“Stop saying that!”
Lily flinched.
Maggie immediately softened.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart.”
Caleb lowered his voice.
“Rebecca vanished six years ago. Everett returned east. Eleanor and I raised Lily as ours.”
“Does Lily know?”
“No.”
“Does Everett know there was no body?”
“Yes.”
Maggie stared at the order.
“Then why wait six years?”
“That’s what frightens me.”
A knock.
Five minutes.
Caleb moved to the desk.
He handed Maggie a small leather pouch.
“Money.”
She refused.
He pushed it into her hand.
“Take it.”
Then a key.
“What’s this?”
“Line shack.”
Then another folded paper.
“Land deed.”
Maggie frowned.
“Why?”
“Because half of Reed Hollow isn’t mine.”
She stared.
“Whose is it?”
“Lily’s.”
The answer came like a gunshot.
“Rebecca owned half this ranch?”
“No. Eleanor did.”
Maggie looked confused.
Caleb continued.
“Eleanor had no living siblings. Before she died, she transferred her half to Lily.”
“Why?”
“Because she knew Everett would eventually come.”
Maggie suddenly understood.
“This isn’t only about the child.”
“No.”
“Everett wants the land.”
“Yes.”
Reed Hollow had water.
Everyone knew that.
A year earlier, surveyors had discovered a reliable underground spring beneath the northern acreage.
In dry country, water was worth more than gold.
Everett didn’t just want his daughter.
He wanted control of her inheritance.
Maggie’s fear turned to rage.
“How much does he know?”
“Enough.”
The marshal knocked again.
“Two minutes.”
Caleb took Lily’s face in his hands.
“Listen to me, little bird.”
She started sobbing.
“No.”
“You go with Maggie.”
“No, Papa.”
“I will come for you.”
“Promise?”
Caleb hesitated only a fraction.
Maggie saw it.
So did Lily.
“Promise.”
He kissed her forehead.
Maggie took Lily’s hand.
They slipped through the pantry.
Outside, the six other children were waiting by the spring house despite Caleb’s instruction.
Eli shook his head.
“We all go.”
There was no time to argue.
Maggie led seven children through the cottonwoods toward the creek.
Behind them, the cabin door opened.
She heard Everett’s voice.
Then Caleb’s.
Then the marshal.
They reached the old line shack twenty minutes later.
Maggie locked the door.
The structure contained one cot, a stove, two blankets, canned beans, and dust.
“Is Papa coming?” Annie asked.
“Yes.”
Maggie hoped it wasn’t a lie.
As darkness approached, she read Rebecca’s letters.
Not all.
She couldn’t.
Every page hurt.
Rebecca wrote about Lily’s first tooth.
About hiding from Everett.
About missing home.
About regret.
One line appeared again and again.
Tell Maggie I am sorry.
Maggie cried silently so the children wouldn’t see.
Lily sat beside her.
“Was my mama nice?”
Maggie wiped her face.
“She was impossible.”
Lily looked worried.
Maggie smiled through tears.
“And funny. And brave. And she sang badly.”
Lily giggled.
It was the first good sound of the day.
Then hoofbeats approached.
Everyone froze.
Eli grabbed the fireplace poker.
Maggie blew out the lamp.
The horse stopped outside.
A shadow crossed the window.
Three knocks.
Maggie’s heart hammered.
“Who is it?”
No answer.
She took Caleb’s spare revolver from the shelf.
She had never fired one.
The door opened a crack.
A woman stood outside.
Older.
Thin.
Dark hair streaked with gray.
She looked directly at Maggie.
The revolver fell from Maggie’s hand.
The woman whispered one word.
“Maggie.”
Lily stood behind her.
The woman saw the child.
May you like
Her knees nearly gave way.
And Maggie realized the dead woman in Caleb’s story had just come home.
