A Rancher Posed as a Drifter—A Widow Shared Her Last Bread Without Knowing His Secret
Chapter 6
The documents from the courthouse led Daniel to a small printing shop on the edge of town.
The printer was an old man named Samuel Pike.
When Daniel showed him the forged deeds, Pike became pale.
“I didn’t make these.”
“I know.”
“But I know who did.”
Daniel leaned forward.
“Who?”
Pike looked toward the window.
“Your brother.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“Are you certain?”
“I printed the original forms.”
“Why would Nathaniel need forged deeds?”
Pike swallowed.
“Because your father left something behind.”
“What?”
“A ledger.”
Daniel froze.
“What ledger?”
“Your father’s private account book.”
Pike reached beneath the counter.
He produced a small packet wrapped in cloth.
“Your father kept records of every transaction made through Blackthorn.”
Daniel opened it.
Names.
Dates.
Payments.
Land transfers.
Then he saw something that made his blood run cold.
Nathaniel’s name appeared beside payments made to a group of men known for intimidation and arson.
But there was more.
A final entry from his father:
If Daniel dies, Nathaniel will inherit everything.
Daniel stared at the words.
Pike whispered:
“Your father feared your brother.”
Daniel closed the ledger.
“Why didn’t he tell me?”
“He tried.”
“When?”
“The night before he died.”
Daniel’s eyes narrowed.
“What did he say?”
Pike hesitated.
“He said there was a secret room beneath Blackthorn.”
Daniel looked up.
“A secret room?”
“Your father kept something there.”
“What?”
“I don’t know.”
Daniel left immediately.
When he reached Eleanor’s farm, she knew from his expression that something had happened.
“What did you find?”
“My father had a secret room.”
“Where?”
“Blackthorn.”
“What’s inside?”
“I don’t know.”
Eleanor studied him.
“You’re afraid.”
Daniel gave a bitter smile.
“I’ve spent my life believing my greatest enemy was outside my family.”
“And now?”
“Now I think I was wrong.”
Eleanor placed her hand over his.
It was a small gesture.
Daniel looked down at it.
She slowly pulled away.
“I didn’t mean—”
“I know.”
Silence.
Then Thomas ran into the room.
“There are riders!”
Daniel immediately stood.
“How many?”
“Five.”
Daniel went to the window.
Five armed men approached.
One carried the silver hawk emblem.
Nathaniel’s guards.
Daniel reached for his pistol.
Eleanor stopped him.
“Don’t.”
“Why?”
“They’re watching.”
He looked at her.
“So?”
“So let them believe we’re frightened.”
She opened the door.
The men approached.
Their leader said:
“Lord Nathaniel requests the widow vacate this property by week’s end.”
Eleanor stepped forward.
“Tell Lord Nathaniel he can come ask me himself.”
The man smiled.
“He will.”
Then they left.
Daniel watched them ride away.
Eleanor closed the door.
“Now what?”
Daniel looked toward Blackthorn’s distant hills.
“Now we find the room.”
That night, they left after dark.
Daniel rode one horse.
Eleanor rode another.
Thomas stayed with a trusted neighbor.
The journey to Blackthorn took nearly two hours.
When they reached the estate, Daniel led Eleanor around the rear wall.
They entered through an old servants’ passage.
Inside the house, every candle had been extinguished.
Daniel whispered:
“My father told me never to enter the wine cellar.”
“Why?”
“I never asked.”
They descended.
Behind a row of old barrels, Daniel found a stone with a carved hawk.
He pressed it.
A section of wall shifted.
A hidden staircase appeared.
Eleanor looked at him.
“You weren’t lying.”
Daniel smiled.
“Not this time.”
They descended.
Neither noticed the figure standing in the darkness above them.
Nathaniel had been waiting.
