“I Thought Nobody Would Come,” She Said. The Cowboy Had Ridden All Night to Find Her
Chapter 4
They spent the night searching through Clara’s father’s old papers.
Samuel read every receipt.
Every letter.
Every land survey.
Every account.
Clara remembered where most of the papers had been kept.
Her father had been careful.
He had trusted very few people.
By the third hour, they discovered something strange.
The debt had indeed been paid.
But the receipt was not registered.
The reason was written in a note at the bottom.
Payment received. Formal release to follow.
Samuel frowned.
“Your father paid your uncle.”
“Yes.”
“But the release was never recorded.”
“Could my uncle have hidden it?”
“He could have.”
Clara looked frightened.
“If we show this to the magistrate, will it be enough?”
“Perhaps.”
“Perhaps?”
“Your uncle may claim your father’s payment was only partial.”
“He can’t.”
“People who steal property rarely admit they are stealing it.”
Samuel folded the receipt.
“We need proof from the person who received the money.”
Clara looked at him.
“My uncle.”
“Yes.”
“He will never confess.”
“No.”
“Then what do we do?”
Samuel looked at the marriage contract.
“We stop the wedding.”
Clara stared at him.
“My uncle says it is tomorrow.”
“Then tomorrow we make sure it doesn’t happen.”
“How?”
Samuel hesitated.
Then he remembered something.
“Your father kept a ledger.”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“He said it was in the old mill.”
Samuel stood.
“Then we go there.”
“In this rain?”
“Yes.”
“You have ridden all night.”
“I’ve ridden farther.”
“You can barely stand.”
Samuel smiled.
“Then I’ll fall from my feet instead of my horse.”
Clara almost laughed.
It was the first time she had smiled that night.
They took two lanterns.
Samuel carried a flintlock pistol beneath his coat.
Clara carried the keys.
The old mill stood half a mile from the farmhouse.
They walked through the rain.
The river beside them was swollen.
When they reached the mill, Clara unlocked the door.
Inside smelled of flour, damp wood, and old grain.
Samuel held the lantern high.
“Where would your father hide something important?”
Clara looked around.
“He used to say the best hiding place was where nobody wanted to look.”
Samuel smiled.
“Then we start with the mill.”
