Everyone Ignored the Quiet Cook—Until a Mountain Man Asked About Her Cornbread
Chapter 7
They left at dawn.
The trail climbed steeply.
Clara’s hands became scratched by branches.
Elias walked ahead, clearing the path.
After three hours, they reached a narrow gorge.
Water rushed between the rocks.
At the far end stood a cave.
Elias entered first.
He examined the ground.
“Someone has been here.”
Clara’s heart raced.
They searched the walls.
Then Elias found a loose stone.
Behind it was a leather pouch.
Inside were documents.
Land deeds.
Names.
Dates.
Payments.
And one letter.
Clara opened it.
Her father’s handwriting.
Mercer is taking land from families who cannot read the legal language. He alters the boundary descriptions and bribes the clerk. I have copied the original records. If I disappear, these documents must reach the magistrate.
Clara began crying.
“He knew.”
Elias nodded.
“Your father knew he was in danger.”
“Why didn’t he run?”
“Because he believed the truth mattered more.”
Clara held the papers.
“Then we take them to the magistrate.”
Elias looked toward the cave entrance.
“No.”
She frowned.
“Why?”
“Because someone followed us.”
A gunshot echoed through the gorge.
The bullet struck stone.
Elias pulled Clara behind a rock.
“Stay down.”
Another shot.
He raised his flintlock.
Smoke filled the cave entrance.
The attackers shouted.
There were at least four.
Elias fired.
One man fell.
The others retreated.
Clara stared at him.
“Who are they?”
Elias reloaded.
“Mercer’s men.”
“Then they know.”
“Yes.”
“What do we do?”
He looked at the documents.
“We stop running.”
