Cowboy Found a Widow and Her Son Sleeping in His Stable. He Made One Quiet Decision
Chapter 6
The next morning, Caleb rode alone into Grey Hollow.
He needed supplies.
He also needed information.
At the general store, conversations stopped when he entered.
The shopkeeper looked nervous.
“You shouldn’t be here.”
“Why?”
“Boone’s men are asking questions.”
Caleb leaned closer.
“What kind?”
“About you.”
Caleb bought flour, coffee, ammunition, and medicine.
Then he asked:
“Who still stands against Boone?”
The shopkeeper looked toward the window.
“No one.”
Caleb left.
But outside, someone grabbed his arm.
It was Reverend Thomas Hale, the old church preacher.
“Your brother was a good man.”
Caleb stared at him.
“You knew?”
The reverend nodded.
“I knew Thomas Whitmore too.”
“What happened to him?”
“I don’t know.”
“You’re lying.”
The reverend sighed.
“Your brother came to me the night before he died.”
Caleb froze.
“What did he say?”
“He said Silas had discovered the ledgers were missing.”
“Who took them?”
“Your brother.”
Caleb’s fists tightened.
“Why didn’t you tell anyone?”
“Because my daughter was threatened.”
The reverend looked ashamed.
“Silas said he’d kill her.”
Caleb lowered his voice.
“What did Eli hide?”
The reverend looked around.
“Something in the church.”
“We already found the ledgers.”
“Then you found the wrong place.”
Caleb’s eyes narrowed.
The reverend handed him a small iron key.
“Your brother said you’d know what it opened.”
Caleb recognized it immediately.
His father’s old gun safe.
The one he had not opened in fifteen years.
That evening, Caleb returned to the cabin.
Anna was waiting.
“You found something.”
“Yes.”
He placed the key on the table.
Anna stared at it.
“Where did you get that?”
“From Reverend Hale.”
Her face went pale.
“My husband had one just like it.”
Caleb looked at her.
“Then we open the safe.”
