He Gave A Homeless Woman A Job — Months Later, She Saved His Ranch
Chapter 12
Samuel Hart listened.
He examined the papers.
He examined the black circle.
Then he looked at Mary.
“Where did you learn to read these marks?”
“My father.”
Hart leaned back.
“Your father was Elias Ellis?”
“Yes.”
“I knew him.”
Mary’s breath caught.
“You did?”
“Years ago.”
“What happened to him?”
Hart sighed.
“He sent me copies of these records.”
“Where are they?”
“I thought they were destroyed.”
Mary looked at Jonathan.
Hart continued.
“Your father was trying to expose a group buying land through forged claims.”
“Who led them?”
“We never knew.”
“Now we do.”
Hart examined the document.
“The land agent.”
“Yes.”
Hart shook his head.
“He is only the public face.”
Mary froze.
“Then who?”
Hart pointed to the black circle.
“The circle belonged to a private consortium.”
“Who?”
“Merchants. Lawyers. Landowners.”
“And Crane?”
“One of them.”
“Pike?”
“A servant.”
“Richard Vale?”
“A desperate man.”
Mary looked down.
“And Thomas?”
Hart was silent.
“Your husband was close to finding the leader.”
“Who?”
Hart opened a drawer.
He removed an old letter.
Mary recognized the handwriting immediately.
Thomas.
Her hands trembled.
She read it.
The letter said that the leader was a man known publicly as a philanthropist.
A respected figure.
Someone who helped churches.
Donated to poor families.
And owned large warehouses.
Jonathan read over her shoulder.
The name was Edmund Crane.
Mary stared.
“He knew.”
“Yes,” Hart said.
“And he killed my husband?”
“We don’t know.”
Mary folded the letter.
“I know enough.”
Hart shook his head.
“Don’t seek revenge.”
“I don’t want revenge.”
“What do you want?”
Mary looked at Jonathan.
“Justice.”
