A Widowed Rancher Stopped for a Mother and Daughter in the Rain… She Said ‘Stay Back or I’ll Shoot
Chapter 11
The group reached the county seat two days later.
The traveling judge had arrived.
Mercer had arrived too.
He stood inside the courthouse in a fine coat.
Beside him stood the county magistrate.
Thomas entered carrying the black ledger.
The room fell silent.
Mercer’s face changed.
“Where did you find that?”
Thomas placed it on the table.
“Under your warehouse.”
Mercer smiled.
“You broke into private property.”
“You stole half a valley.”
The magistrate struck the table.
“Enough.”
Sarah stepped forward.
“My sister died because of those papers.”
The magistrate looked at her.
“Do you have proof?”
Sarah opened the iron box.
“Yes.”
One document after another was placed before the judge.
Original deeds.
Forged copies.
Witness statements.
Payments.
Names.
The judge examined them carefully.
Then he looked at Mercer.
“Mr. Mercer, these documents require explanation.”
Mercer remained calm.
“These are fabricated.”
The old registrar entered.
“I can verify them.”
The room erupted.
Mercer turned.
“You?”
The registrar’s voice shook.
“Yes.”
He confessed everything.
He explained the altered records.
The false seals.
The payments.
The threats.
The judge listened.
Then Thomas’s father entered.
Mercer went pale.
“You.”
The old man said nothing.
The judge recognized him.
“You were reported dead.”
“I was hiding.”
“Why?”
“To stay alive long enough to testify.”
Mercer looked around.
Then he smiled.
“You think this ends with me?”
The judge frowned.
Mercer continued.
“You don’t understand how many people are involved.”
The room went quiet.
He was right.
The ledger contained names throughout the region.
But the judge did not dismiss the case.
Instead, he ordered the documents sealed.
Mercer was arrested.
The magistrate was removed from the proceedings.
Nathan Crowe was captured before sunset.
The farmers waited outside.
Thomas walked out.
Sarah stood beneath the courthouse steps.
Lucy was beside her.
She looked at Thomas.
“Did we win?”
Thomas smiled.
“Not yet.”
Sarah looked at him.
“But we’re still here.”
“That counts.”
Thomas reached for her hand.
She let him.
