Chapter 4 - The Shot Nobody Saw
Caleb was arrested before noon.
Hannah stood outside the jail while half the town watched.
Silas was alive.
Barely.
A bullet had entered below his shoulder.
He claimed Caleb had ambushed him beside the livery stable.
Three men claimed they had heard Caleb threaten him.
Nobody had actually seen the shooting.
It did not matter.
Caleb had motive.
Silas had accusations.
And Hannah had learned that truth and proof were very different things.
Sheriff Cole allowed her five minutes with Caleb.
“You didn't shoot him.”
“No.”
“I know.”
“Hannah, listen.”
“No. You listen. I'm getting you out.”
A faint smile touched his face.
“You sound terrifying.”
“Good.”
She went directly to Silas.
He lay in Doc Warren's back room.
“You.”
His voice was weak.
Hannah closed the door.
“You shot yourself.”
Silas laughed and immediately winced.
“You've gotten bold.”
“You framed Caleb.”
“Prove it.”
There it was.
The entire game.
Prove it.
Hannah stepped closer.
“You stole my land.”
“Prove it.”
“You forged my birth record.”
“Prove it.”
“You took Father's watch.”
Silas's smile faded.
“Pike had it.”
Hannah watched his eyes.
Silas knew.
Pike worked for him.
“Why?”
“Go home, Hannah.”
“Why did my parents have to die?”
Silas's face changed.
Not guilt.
Fear.
That frightened her more.
“You think I killed Thomas?”
“Did you?”
“No.”
She believed him.
And that terrified her.
“If not you, who?”
Silas looked toward the door.
Then whispered, “Your father found coal.”
“I know.”
Silas stared.
“You opened the box.”
“Yes.”
“Then Mercer has doomed you.”
Hannah leaned closer.
“Who killed them?”
Silas opened his mouth.
A crash sounded in the hallway.
Hannah turned.
When she looked back, Silas had gone pale.
A small red spot appeared on his chest.
Then another.
Blood.
The window behind him was broken.
Someone had fired from outside.
Hannah screamed.
Silas grabbed her wrist.
His final conscious words were barely audible.
“Black... horse...”
Then he collapsed.
The shooter escaped.
Silas survived again.
But now Hannah understood.
Someone wanted him silent.
Someone who had been part of this before Caleb ever entered her life.
Sheriff Cole released Caleb when Doc Warren confirmed Silas had been shot while Caleb remained locked in jail.
Pike disappeared that night.
His horse was found near the river.
No body.
The county assumed he fled.
Hannah did not.
In April, the snow melted.
Caleb and Hannah returned to her father's property.
The cabin was nearly collapsed.
Cottonwood Creek ran fast with spring water.
Caleb examined the western ridge.
“If the survey was right, this land could be worth thousands.”
“I don't care about the coal.”
“You should.”
“Why?”
“Because Silas cared. Pike cared. Somebody killed for it.”
They searched the cabin.
Nothing.
Then Hannah noticed markings cut into the fireplace stones.
Her father used to make the same mark inside books.
A small cross with one arm longer than the other.
Caleb removed the stone.
Behind it was a metal tube.
Inside was another survey.
Not the original.
A copy.
Hannah laughed through tears.
Her father had anticipated betrayal.
The survey named the company interested in purchasing mineral rights.
Northern Continental Development Company.
Caleb knew the name.
“Big money.”
At the bottom was a signature.
The company's territorial representative.
Edwin Voss.
Hannah froze.
“Who is he?”
Caleb looked at her.
“The richest man in three counties.”
More importantly, Voss had recently announced plans to run a railway spur through the valley.
If Hannah owned the mineral rights, Voss needed her agreement.
If Silas controlled them, Voss only needed Silas.
They rode home.
A black horse stood outside the ranch house.
Caleb drew his revolver.
The front door was open.
Inside sat Edwin Voss.
Perfect suit.
Silver hair.
Polished boots.
May you like
He smiled at Hannah.
On the table before him rested the wooden box that had been stolen from her bedroom.
