Chapter 6 - The Last Debt
Justin had six men saddled within minutes.
Clara tried to join them.
“No.”
Her eyes flashed.
“Don't start.”
“He wants you too.”
“He already took me once.”
“Exactly.”
“And I survived.”
Justin stared at her.
Clara stepped closer.
“Elizabeth is my mother's best friend. She's part of why I'm alive. You're not leaving me behind.”
Justin knew arguing would waste time.
“Stay beside me.”
“Fine.”
They tracked the horse west.
Near the old church, they found Elizabeth's scarf.
Then a note.
COME ALONE, ABERNATHY.
Justin crumpled it.
Clara read over his shoulder.
“Obviously you're not doing that.”
“He has my mother.”
“And he wants you too.”
Justin looked toward the hills.
Nathan Vale had lost land.
Money.
Reputation.
Possibly his freedom.
He had nothing left except revenge.
Caleb found wagon tracks heading toward the abandoned Vale mine.
They approached after dark.
Justin left most men behind.
Clara refused.
Caleb refused too.
The three entered through an old service tunnel.
Voices echoed.
They found Elizabeth tied to a chair in the main chamber.
Vale stood beside her with a revolver.
“Justin.”
Justin raised his hands.
“Let her go.”
Vale smiled.
“You brought the cook.”
Clara stepped forward.
“My name is Clara.”
“Your father ruined my family.”
“My father was your brother.”
“Exactly.”
“And he hurt my mother.”
Vale's face hardened.
“Sarah lied.”
Elizabeth spoke.
“No, she didn't.”
Vale struck the chair with his hand.
“Quiet.”
Justin moved.
Vale aimed the gun at Elizabeth.
“Another step.”
Justin stopped.
“What do you want?”
“My land.”
“You mean stolen land.”
“My family worked it.”
“Then you should have bought it.”
Vale laughed bitterly.
“You really think you're better than Walter.”
“No.”
Justin's answer surprised him.
“I think I have the chance to be better than what he taught me.”
Vale stared.
Justin continued.
“You do too.”
“Spare me.”
“You can walk out.”
“To prison?”
“Maybe.”
“That's your mercy?”
“It's more than you gave my mother.”
Vale's hand trembled.
Clara noticed.
So did Justin.
Elizabeth suddenly kicked backward.
The chair struck Vale.
His gun fired into the ceiling.
Justin lunged.
They crashed to the ground.
Vale fought desperately.
Justin was stronger.
He pinned him.
Vale reached for the fallen gun.
Clara kicked it away.
Caleb rushed in.
Within seconds, Vale was restrained.
Justin stood over him.
Vale spat blood.
“Do it.”
Justin knew what he meant.
Kill him.
Become Walter.
Justin stepped away.
“No.”
Vale laughed.
“Weak.”
Justin looked at his mother.
“No. Finished.”
The sheriff took Vale into custody.
Charges followed for kidnapping, attempted murder, arson, and destruction of records.
Justin never attended the trial.
He didn't need to watch Nathan lose everything.
Winter arrived.
Elizabeth moved into a small cottage on the ranch.
Not the main house.
She said Justin deserved space.
They ate supper together twice a week.
Sometimes conversations were warm.
Sometimes painful.
Both were honest.
Clara transformed the ranch kitchen.
She hired two widows from families Walter had cheated.
Justin created a fund for former owners who preferred compensation over restored acreage.
The ranch became smaller.
It also became profitable in a way Walter never understood.
People wanted to work with a man who kept his word.
One snowy evening, Justin entered the kitchen.
Clara was making stew.
He leaned against the door.
“You know, this dish has caused an unreasonable amount of trouble.”
“Stop eating it.”
“Absolutely not.”
She laughed.
Justin walked toward her.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You're staring.”
“I own half this kitchen.”
“For one dollar.”
“Best dollar you ever made.”
Clara handed him a spoon.
“Taste.”
He did.
Justin frowned.
“What?”
“Needs nutmeg.”
Clara gasped.
“You take that back.”
He grinned.
She hit his arm.
Justin caught her hand.
Then reached into his pocket.
Clara froze.
“Justin?”
He lowered himself onto one knee.
Her eyes widened.
“Don't.”
His face fell.
“No, I mean don't make some ridiculous speech.”
Justin laughed.
“I had one.”
“Was it terrible?”
“Probably.”
“Then skip it.”
He held up the ring.
“Marry me.”
Clara covered her mouth.
“Yes.”
Justin stood.
She kissed him.
A crash sounded outside.
Both turned.
Justin instinctively moved in front of her.
The back door stood open.
Snow blew inside.
On the floor lay an envelope.
Justin picked it up.
His name was written on the front.
The handwriting was unfamiliar.
Inside was one final document.
An original statement signed by Walter Abernathy days before his death.
Justin read the first paragraph.
His expression changed.
“What is it?” Clara asked.
Justin kept reading.
Walter confessed to the land fraud.
But that wasn't what made Justin's hands shake.
At the bottom was a final sentence:
“Elizabeth never knew the whole truth about the night she fled.”
Clara looked toward the open door.
Footprints led away through the snow.
Justin turned the page.
There was another name beneath his father's signature.
May you like
A witness.
Sarah Whitmore.
