Chapter 10 - The Night of Fire
Flames climbed the unfinished wall.
"Martha!"
Elias lifted her.
Smoke filled the shelter.
Mercer's men had thrown burning oil against the timber.
The same weapon used against Anna.
Against Elias's old home.
Not again.
He carried Martha through the rear opening toward the river.
Gunfire cracked.
Elias shielded her with his body.
They reached the bank.
Another contraction hit.
Martha screamed.
"I can't run."
"You don't have to."
Elias drew his revolver.
Mercer approached through smoke.
"Should've left."
Elias aimed.
Mercer aimed back.
Then a rifle fired from the ridge.
Mercer's gun flew from his hand.
Samuel.
Behind him rode Judge Vale and federal deputies.
Ben had reached a relay station.
Samuel had found help.
Mercer's men scattered.
Deputies surrounded them.
Mercer ran.
Elias chased him.
Then Martha screamed his name.
He stopped.
Mercer disappeared into the trees.
Elias chose Martha.
He ran back.
A woman deputy named Ruth Carver had accompanied Vale.
She had delivered babies before.
"Get blankets."
Elias obeyed.
"Water."
He obeyed.
"Stop looking terrified."
"I can't."
Martha laughed and screamed simultaneously.
Sunrise touched the mountains.
Then a new cry rose beside the river.
Small.
Fierce.
Alive.
Ruth smiled.
"A girl."
Martha sobbed.
Elias dropped to his knees.
The baby was tiny.
But breathing.
Martha held her against her chest.
"Rose."
Elias looked at her.
"Rose Daniel Whitcomb."
Martha kissed her daughter's forehead.
Elias turned away to wipe his eyes.
Martha saw.
"Come here."
He did.
She placed Rose carefully in his arms.
The mountain man who had faced gunfire without blinking looked terrified of a six-pound infant.
"Support her head."
"I am."
"You're holding her like dynamite."
"She feels more dangerous."
Martha laughed.
Rose opened her eyes.
Elias stared.
"Hello, Rose."
The tenderness in his voice made Martha's heart ache.
Judge Vale approached later.
Mercer's forged claim had been invalidated.
Coyle's records proved Martha's land was legally hers.
"You can build here," Vale said.
Martha looked at the burned shelter.
"I intend to."
Mercer remained missing.
But now federal warrants covered three territories.
Coyle's trial began weeks later.
Martha was unable to attend.
Crane testified.
Clara testified.
Samuel testified.
Anna submitted sworn evidence.
Everett Coyle was convicted of conspiracy, land fraud, kidnapping, and multiple related crimes.
Daniel's murder charge was harder.
Crane could prove poisoning.
But not who switched the bottle.
Then a letter arrived.
Coyle wanted to speak to Martha.
Elias objected.
Martha went anyway.
Rose was six weeks old.
Elias traveled with her.
At the territorial jail, Coyle looked diminished.
No ranch.
No army.
No polished coat.
Just a prisoner.
"Why did you ask for me?"
Coyle smiled weakly.
"Because Mercer killed your husband."
Martha stopped.
"On your orders?"
"No."
"Why should I believe you?"
"Because Mercer became ambitious."
Coyle leaned closer.
"Daniel knew something about him."
"What?"
"Something even I didn't know."
Martha's pulse quickened.
"What?"
Coyle laughed.
"Ask Mercer."
"He's gone."
"No."
Coyle's smile returned.
"He's close."
Elias stepped forward.
"Where?"
Coyle looked at him.
"You still haven't figured it out?"
"Figured out what?"
"Why Mercer wanted the Whitcomb claim."
Martha frowned.
"It was part of your freight corridor."
"Mine?"
Coyle laughed again.
"That land was never for me."
Martha felt cold.
"Then who?"
"Mercer."
"Why?"
Coyle leaned back.
"Because before your husband called himself Daniel Whitcomb, he had another name."
Martha's world tilted.
"No."
Coyle watched her carefully.
"Your husband and Silas Mercer weren't strangers."
Elias's hand tightened.
May you like
Coyle delivered the final words quietly.
"They were brothers."
