Chapter 10 - The Confession Beside the River
Harland was alive.
He had attempted to flee toward Canada.
Federal marshals captured him with twelve thousand dollars and railway certificates hidden in his luggage.
The hearing continued.
Harland's records were seized.
They contained everything.
Payments from Voss.
Fraudulent deeds.
Bribes.
Orders involving Thomas Reed.
Even Warren's payments after Rebecca's death.
The case that had haunted Hannah's childhood began unraveling in public.
Silas admitted his crimes.
Forgery.
Fraud.
Conspiracy.
He also admitted taking Caleb's two hundred dollars.
“Why?” the investigator asked.
Silas looked at Hannah.
“Because I was greedy enough to want her land and scared enough to want her away from Voss.”
“Did you sell her?”
Silas swallowed.
“I spoke as if I did.”
Hannah felt every eye turn toward her.
Silas continued.
“And I'll regret that until I die.”
Caleb's marriage payment became important.
Was Hannah legally coerced?
The magistrate asked her directly.
“Mrs. Mercer, did Caleb Mercer purchase you?”
Hannah looked at Caleb.
Then at the courtroom.
“My uncle took his money.”
Whispers.
“But Caleb never treated that money as payment for me.”
“Did he compel you to marry him?”
“No.”
“Did he compel marital relations?”
Hannah's cheeks warmed.
“No.”
“Did he threaten you?”
“No.”
“Then why did you remain?”
Hannah looked toward Lucy, Samuel and Ben.
Then at Caleb.
“Because for the first time in my life, remaining somewhere was my choice.”
The courtroom became silent.
The magistrate upheld the marriage while also affirming Hannah's independent ownership of the Reed property.
Silas's guardianship was declared fraudulent.
Her father's deed was restored.
Judge Harland was indicted.
Pike faced attempted murder charges.
Warren faced prosecution for Rebecca's death.
It should have ended there.
But one question remained.
Who killed Voss?
The answer came from Silas.
He requested Hannah meet him before he was transferred to jail.
“I killed him.”
Hannah stared.
“But Warren said—”
“I was wounded earlier that evening.”
“You lied?”
“No. Someone shot me.”
“Who?”
“Voss.”
Silas explained.
He confronted Voss at the mine after Lucy's rescue.
Voss shot him.
Silas followed anyway.
At Cottonwood Creek, Voss confessed he had ordered Thomas's death.
He laughed about Rebecca.
Silas lost control.
He stabbed him.
“Why let us think someone framed you?”
“Because I was a coward one last time.”
Hannah closed her eyes.
Silas would go to prison.
Perhaps for years.
“I'm sorry.”
“For killing him?”
“For everything.”
Hannah stood.
“I hope someday I can forgive you.”
Silas nodded.
“That is more than I deserve.”
As Hannah reached the door, he called her name.
She turned.
Silas held something through the bars.
Her father's silver watch.
“I took it from Pike.”
Hannah accepted it.
Inside the cover, beneath Thomas's initials, was an inscription she had never noticed.
FOR HANNAH—SO SHE'LL KNOW HER TIME BELONGS TO HER.
Hannah began to cry.
Then Silas said, “There's one more thing your father left you.”
He told her where to find it.
Under the old Reed cabin floor.
Caleb and Hannah rode there before sunset.
They lifted the board.
Beneath it was a leather journal.
Hannah opened the final page.
May you like
A name appeared there.
Caleb Mercer.
