Chapter 3 - The Man Who Knew Her Father
The stranger was Sheriff Nathan Dalton.
Catherine had known him since childhood.
But she'd never heard him use the word murder.
"My father died from fever."
Dalton removed his hat.
"No, Catherine."
The room seemed to tilt.
Dalton explained that three years earlier, her father's physician had suspected poisoning.
But her father refused an investigation.
He made Dalton promise not to tell Catherine unless someone came searching for the hidden survey.
"Why?"
"Because he was protecting you."
"From whom?"
Dalton looked at the ledger.
"Samuel."
Catherine stepped backward.
"No."
"Your father discovered Samuel had been secretly borrowing against land he didn't own. When he confronted him, they fought."
"Samuel killed him?"
"I didn't say that."
"Then who did?"
Dalton looked uncomfortable.
"That's what your father wouldn't tell me."
Catherine opened the second envelope.
Inside was another letter.
This one contained only six lines.
Samuel threatened me.
But Samuel is not the man I fear.
The silver drew someone else here.
Someone I trusted.
If anything happens to me, find the original survey marker.
It contains his name.
Catherine looked at Elias.
"North ridge."
They left before sunrise.
Dalton remained behind to secure the cabin.
Elias rode beside Catherine through the pines.
Her shoulder hurt, but she refused to stop.
By midday they reached the lightning-split cedar.
Beyond it, the terrain became steep.
Elias found old trail marks carved into trees.
Three scratches.
They followed them.
Near sunset they discovered a collapsed survey shack.
Inside was an iron marker driven into stone.
Catherine knelt.
Letters had been carved beneath years of rust.
Elias cleaned the surface.
A name emerged.
JONATHAN VALE.
Catherine frowned.
"I don't know him."
Elias did.
His expression changed instantly.
"You know that name."
He stood.
"We need to leave."
"Who is he?"
"Someone who should never know you've found this."
A rifle clicked behind them.
Elias stopped.
May you like
A voice came from the doorway.
"Too late."
