Chapter 3 - The Man Who Entered at Night
Hannah searched the room.
The window was open.
Snow had blown across the floor.
Caleb climbed through it and found tracks.
One man.
Large boots.
He had come from behind the house and left toward the creek.
Caleb saddled his horse.
Hannah caught his arm.
“I'm coming.”
“No.”
“You said I choose.”
He stared at her.
She held his gaze.
Five minutes later they were riding.
The tracks followed Cottonwood Creek.
Then vanished where running water cut through the ice.
Caleb dismounted.
“Smart.”
“Silas?”
“Maybe.”
Hannah noticed something caught on a branch.
Blue wool.
Deputy Pike's coat was blue.
They returned without the box.
But Hannah had removed one item the night before.
Her father's letter.
It remained inside her dress.
The deed was gone.
The survey was gone.
The judge's envelope was gone.
Silas had what he wanted.
Or believed he did.
Caleb sent a telegram to Miles City requesting copies of the land records.
The answer came two days later.
RECORDS DESTROYED IN OFFICE FIRE. NO DUPLICATES KNOWN.
Hannah read it twice.
“Convenient.”
“Very.”
Caleb studied her.
“You're changing.”
“What do you mean?”
“The girl on Silas's porch looked afraid to breathe.”
“I still am.”
“Could've fooled me.”
She almost smiled.
Then Ben became ill.
A fever.
Hannah stayed beside him all night.
At dawn, Caleb found her asleep in a chair with Ben's hand wrapped around one finger.
He covered her with a blanket.
Hannah woke.
Their eyes met.
For a moment neither moved.
Something quiet passed between them.
Something Hannah was not ready to name.
By March, Ben recovered.
Lucy began calling Hannah “Han.”
Samuel finally allowed her to help with his arithmetic.
And Caleb began leaving a second cup of coffee beside her each morning without asking.
Their marriage existed legally after Caleb filed the papers.
But in the house, they remained two people learning trust.
Then Silas came to church.
He sat behind Hannah.
During the hymn, he whispered, “Your father wasn't the saint you think.”
She kept singing.
“You want the truth?”
She turned one page.
Silas leaned closer.
“Ask Mercer what happened the night your parents died.”
Hannah stopped singing.
Caleb noticed.
Outside, she confronted him.
“What happened the night my parents died?”
Caleb's face drained.
That was enough.
“You know.”
“Hannah—”
“You knew.”
“I know part of it.”
“Tell me.”
Caleb looked toward the children.
“Not here.”
They rode home in silence.
After supper, Caleb took her into the barn.
“Your parents didn't die from an accident.”
Hannah stared.
She had been told their wagon overturned near the Yellowstone River.
“Then how?”
“Your father was found beside the wagon. Your mother was still alive.”
Hannah's knees weakened.
Caleb caught her elbow.
She pulled away.
“Don't.”
He released her immediately.
“My wife Rebecca was there.”
“Why?”
“She and your mother were friends.”
Hannah's eyes filled.
“Nobody told me.”
“Silas told everyone Rebecca arrived afterward.”
“But?”
“Rebecca believed the wagon had been tampered with.”
Hannah stared.
“The axle pin had been cut.”
The barn seemed to tilt.
“Who did it?”
“We never proved it.”
“Silas?”
“I don't know.”
“You suspect him.”
Caleb said nothing.
That was an answer.
Hannah turned away.
Then she remembered the pocket watch.
It had been inside the stolen box.
Her father's watch.
She had seen another like it recently.
Where?
Church.
Deputy Pike.
A silver chain hanging from his vest.
Her heart began pounding.
“Caleb.”
He looked up.
“I think Pike has my father's watch.”
They rode to town the next morning.
Pike was absent.
His office was unlocked.
Caleb told Hannah to remain outside.
She ignored him.
Inside, they found no watch.
But Hannah noticed ash in the stove.
Fresh ash.
She used the poker.
A corner of heavy paper remained unburned.
A seal was visible.
Territorial Land Office.
Caleb lifted it.
Then footsteps sounded outside.
Pike entered.
His hand went to his revolver.
“What exactly are you two doing?”
Caleb stood.
“Looking for stolen property.”
Pike smiled.
“You mean property that belongs to Silas?”
Hannah saw the silver chain.
“There.”
Pike looked down.
Too late.
Hannah grabbed it.
The watch came free.
She opened the cover.
Inside were engraved initials.
T.R.
Thomas Reed.
Nobody moved.
Pike's smile vanished.
Caleb stepped forward.
“Where did you get that?”
Pike reached for his gun.
Then another voice came from the doorway.
“Don't.”
Sheriff Nathan Cole stood there.
His revolver was already drawn.
Pike slowly raised his hands.
Hannah thought it was over.
Then Sheriff Cole looked directly at her.
“Mrs. Mercer, you need to come with me.”
“Why?”
Cole's expression was grim.
“Because Silas Reed was found shot an hour ago.”
May you like
He paused.
“And three witnesses say your husband did it.”
