Chapter 9 - The Judge at Mercer Ranch
The envelope contained Thomas Reed's original complaint.
It accused Voss.
And Judge Harland.
Thomas had discovered Harland approved fraudulent land transfers in exchange for railway shares.
Rebecca intercepted the letter before it reached Harland.
That decision had saved the evidence.
Perhaps it had also doomed her.
Silas confessed everything he knew.
He had been greedy.
Weak.
Jealous of Thomas.
But when Voss asked him to help kill his brother, Silas refused.
Voss did it anyway.
For fourteen years Silas carried the guilt of having helped make it possible.
Hannah listened.
“I can't forgive you because you're sorry.”
“I know.”
“But you'll testify.”
“Yes.”
“Even if you go to prison?”
“Yes.”
For once Silas sounded like her father's brother.
Judge Harland arrived the next morning with four armed men.
He claimed he was there to execute a territorial order seizing disputed documents.
Sheriff Cole blocked the porch.
“Show me the order.”
Harland did.
Cole examined it.
“This isn't valid.”
“I am the judge.”
“That's exactly the problem.”
Harland's expression hardened.
Then Hannah stepped outside holding copies of every document.
“You can't bury this anymore.”
Harland looked at her.
“You're a confused young woman manipulated by a husband who purchased you.”
Hannah almost smiled.
Months earlier those words would have crushed her.
Now they sounded pathetic.
“Then you won't mind me speaking at the hearing.”
Harland's eyes told her everything.
He minded.
Very much.
The armed men moved.
Caleb stepped beside Hannah.
Silas appeared behind them.
Then wagons approached.
Neighbors.
Dozens.
Word had spread.
People who had lost property to Voss.
Families whose barns burned.
Widows whose husbands died in unexplained accidents.
They filled the road.
Harland saw them.
For the first time, he looked afraid.
He left without the papers.
The hearing was moved after Sheriff Cole telegraphed territorial authorities.
A federal investigator was coming from Helena.
Hannah finally had something she had never possessed.
Witnesses.
Evidence.
A voice.
But Harland still had one weapon.
Rumor.
Newspapers printed lurid stories about “Mercer's Purchased Virgin.”
Some claimed Hannah had invented everything to seize valuable coal property.
Others called Caleb a fortune hunter.
Hannah cried when she read them.
Caleb burned the newspaper.
“Don't.”
“Why?”
“Because someday I want to remember exactly what they said before they learned the truth.”
Caleb smiled.
“Remind me never to make you angry.”
“You already bought me.”
“I've regretted the price ever since.”
She stared.
He panicked.
“I meant—”
Hannah laughed.
He laughed too.
Then grew serious.
“I want to ask you something after this is over.”
“What?”
“After.”
“Caleb.”
“After.”
She knew.
Or hoped she knew.
The hearing began June 17.
The courthouse overflowed.
Pike was brought in chains.
Warren testified.
Silas testified.
Caleb testified.
Then Hannah took the stand.
Before she could swear the oath, the federal investigator entered carrying a telegram.
He handed it to Sheriff Cole.
Cole read it.
His face changed.
“What?”
The sheriff looked at Hannah.
“Judge Harland disappeared last night.”
May you like
Then he looked toward the courthouse doors.
“And somebody just found him.”
