Chapter 5 - The Price of a Name
Rosemary had never expected to see Mrs. Dobbins again.
Especially not in Montana.
Especially not with a bruise across her cheek and a gun pressed against her back.
Thomas saw Rosemary's reaction.
“You know her.”
“My landlady.”
Nathaniel cursed under his breath.
Clara entered the church.
Silas followed.
Mrs. Dobbins was pushed inside.
“Rosemary,” the older woman breathed.
Rosemary stepped forward.
Silas lifted his gun.
“That's far enough.”
Thomas moved slightly.
Silas aimed at him.
“I wouldn't.”
Clara looked around the church.
Sheriff Danner lowered his weapon.
Not because the danger had passed.
Because Clara was now in charge.
Thomas saw it.
“So Danner works for you.”
Clara smiled.
“Everyone works for someone.”
Rosemary looked at Mrs. Dobbins.
“Why are you here?”
Mrs. Dobbins's eyes filled.
“To fix what I did.”
Silas laughed.
“Bit late.”
Rosemary frowned.
“What did you do?”
Mrs. Dobbins looked ashamed.
“I gave them your letters.”
Rosemary felt as though the floor moved.
“What?”
“Not all.”
“How many?”
“The first three.”
“Why?”
“They paid me.”
Rosemary stared.
Mrs. Dobbins continued quickly.
“I thought it was harmless. They said they needed to verify your character.”
“Who said?”
“Nathaniel Price.”
Rosemary looked at Nathaniel.
He did not deny it.
Mrs. Dobbins sobbed.
“Then the fake letters started arriving. I realized something was wrong.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“I was afraid.”
“You let me board that train.”
“I tried to stop you.”
“No. You said Montana was dangerous.”
“I didn't know how much danger.”
Rosemary looked away.
The betrayal hurt differently because it came from someone familiar.
Clara walked toward the altar.
“This emotional reunion is touching.”
Thomas said, “What do you want?”
Clara looked at him.
“Your signature.”
“You already have several.”
“A real one.”
“Why?”
“Because Nathaniel made a mess.”
Nathaniel scoffed.
“I made your fortune possible.”
“You also kept evidence.”
Nathaniel went still.
Clara smiled.
“Yes. I know.”
She turned to Thomas.
“The transfer must be signed in front of witnesses.”
“And if I refuse?”
Clara looked toward Rosemary.
Thomas's expression changed.
“No.”
Clara's voice remained calm.
“You sign. Rosemary leaves Montana alive.”
Rosemary stepped forward.
“Don't.”
Thomas ignored her.
Clara continued.
“Mrs. Dobbins leaves too.”
“Silas?”
“He gets paid.”
“Danner?”
“Already has.”
Thomas looked around.
Clara had too many guns.
Rosemary knew what he was thinking.
He would sign.
Not because he cared about the money.
Because he thought it would save them.
Rosemary said, “Thomas.”
He looked at her.
“Don't.”
“It's land and shares.”
“It is your father's.”
“It isn't worth your life.”
“If you sign, they'll still kill us.”
Clara laughed softly.
Rosemary faced her.
“You can't let us leave.”
“Why not?”
“Because we know everything.”
Clara's smile disappeared.
“You need Thomas's real signature because the forged one won't survive a legal challenge.”
Silence.
Rosemary continued.
“You need witnesses.”
Clara's eyes narrowed.
“You need us alive until the transfer is filed.”
Thomas understood.
“So we have time.”
Silas raised his gun.
“Not much.”
Clara placed the contract on a table.
“Sign.”
Thomas approached.
Rosemary watched him.
He picked up the pen.
Then looked at Nathaniel.
“Witness?”
Nathaniel understood immediately.
“Yes.”
Clara frowned.
Thomas signed.
Or appeared to.
He deliberately dragged his hand across wet ink.
The signature smeared.
Silas cursed.
Thomas dropped the pen.
“My hand slipped.”
Clara slapped him.
Rosemary gasped.
Thomas did not react.
Clara shoved another sheet forward.
“Again.”
Thomas signed more slowly.
This time, Nathaniel signed as witness.
Sheriff Danner added his name.
Clara picked up the contract.
Satisfied.
Rosemary looked at Thomas.
He gave no sign.
But Nathaniel did.
A tiny nod.
Something had happened.
Clara ordered everyone outside.
“We're going to the filing office.”
“At night?” Rosemary asked.
“Special arrangement.”
Of course.
Corruption did not keep business hours.
They traveled in two wagons.
Thomas and Rosemary sat together.
Silas rode opposite them.
Mrs. Dobbins sat beside Nathaniel.
Clara traveled with Danner.
The streets were nearly empty.
Rosemary whispered, “What did you do?”
Thomas didn't move his lips.
“Signed Thomas Merton.”
“What?”
“Close enough in poor light.”
Rosemary nearly smiled.
Silas watched them.
“No talking.”
They reached the county office.
A clerk waited inside.
Clara handed him the contract.
The clerk frowned.
“This isn't valid.”
Clara's face changed.
“What?”
“Name mismatch.”
Silas looked at Thomas.
Thomas smiled.
Clara turned furious.
“You think this is clever?”
“No.”
Thomas stood.
“I think it bought five minutes.”
“For what?”
The church bell began ringing.
Not one bell.
Several.
Then shouting.
Men appeared outside.
Ranchers.
Merchants.
Rail workers.
Dozens.
Clara stared.
Thomas looked at Nathaniel.
Nathaniel smiled faintly.
Rosemary understood.
During the church confrontation, Nathaniel must have sent someone.
Or arranged something earlier.
The door opened.
Eli Dawson, Thomas's foreman, entered with six armed ranch hands.
“You took your time,” Thomas said.
Eli grinned.
“Road was bad.”
Silas raised his gun.
Twenty weapons aimed at him.
He lowered it.
Sheriff Danner reached for his revolver.
The county clerk stepped away.
“Don't.”
Danner looked around.
He was outnumbered.
Clara remained still.
Too still.
Rosemary saw her hand disappear inside her coat.
“Thomas!”
Clara pulled a pistol.
Rosemary shoved Thomas aside.
The shot exploded.
Pain ripped through Rosemary's shoulder.
She fell.
Thomas caught her before she struck the floor.
“Rosemary!”
Chaos erupted.
Silas ran.
Clara was tackled.
Danner tried for the door.
Rosemary heard shouting.
Then nothing except Thomas.
“Look at me.”
She opened her eyes.
“I am.”
“Stay awake.”
“You say that a lot.”
His face broke.
She had never seen him frightened like this.
“It hit your shoulder.”
“I know.”
“Doctor!”
Someone ran.
Rosemary gripped his coat.
“The contract.”
“Forget the contract.”
“Don't let them take it.”
“I don't care.”
“I do.”
Thomas leaned close.
“Why?”
“Because if we survive this, I don't want them stealing the future we nearly died for.”
Thomas's eyes filled.
He pressed his forehead briefly to hers.
“You're going to survive.”
“That's not a proposal.”
Despite everything, he laughed.
A broken sound.
“No.”
He squeezed her hand.
“I'll do better.”
Then a deputy shouted from the back room.
“Silas is gone!”
Thomas looked up.
“How?”
“Window!”
Eli ran outside.
Rosemary felt the doctor's hands on her shoulder.
Thomas stayed beside her.
Then Mrs. Dobbins screamed.
Everyone turned.
She stood beside an open filing cabinet.
A document was in her hand.
Her face had gone white.
“What is it?” Rosemary whispered.
Mrs. Dobbins looked at Thomas.
“This wasn't the only transfer.”
Thomas stood slowly.
Mrs. Dobbins handed him the page.
Thomas read.
Then stared at Nathaniel.
“What?”
Nathaniel stepped back.
Thomas held up the document.
“My ranch was sold yesterday.”
Rosemary's heart stopped.
Thomas looked at the buyer's name.
He read it aloud.
May you like
“Rosemary Caldwell.”
Every face in the room turned toward her.
