“I’m Just A Hired Girl,” She Sobbed — But The Rancher’s Children Begged Her Not To Leave
Chapter 3
That night, Samuel locked every door in the house.
Mara noticed.
He also checked the windows twice.
The children noticed too.
“Are we in trouble?” Noah asked at dinner.
“No.”
Samuel’s answer came too quickly.
Ellie looked at Mara.
Mara looked back.
They both knew he was lying.
Dinner was quiet.
Mara served beef stew, fresh bread, and potatoes.
Samuel barely touched his plate.
When the children finished, Mara sent them upstairs.
She began collecting dishes.
Samuel remained seated.
“You should leave tomorrow morning.”
Mara stopped.
“Because of the photograph?”
“Because this isn’t safe.”
“You think someone is trying to hurt you?”
“I think someone wants this ranch.”
“That doesn’t explain why your dead brother is in a photograph with your wife.”
Samuel looked at her.
“I told you not to get involved.”
“And I’m telling you I already am.”
His eyes narrowed.
“How?”
Mara placed the dishes down.
“Because your children are involved.”
He looked toward the staircase.
Mara continued.
“They think I’m their mother.”
Samuel’s face tightened.
“They’ve never called you that.”
“They don’t have to.”
Silence.
Then footsteps sounded upstairs.
A small voice called:
“Mara?”
She turned.
Ellie stood halfway down the stairs.
She was holding a framed photograph.
“Look what I found.”
Samuel stood immediately.
“Where did you get that?”
“In your room.”
His expression darkened.
“Give it to me.”
Ellie hugged it.
“Why?”
“Because I said so.”
She backed away.
Mara stepped between them.
“Samuel.”
He stopped.
Ellie looked frightened.
Mara crouched beside her.
“Come on.”
Ellie handed her the frame.
Mara looked at it.
It was a photograph of Samuel and Claire standing outside the ranch house.
Claire was pregnant.
Beside her stood another woman.
Older.
Elegant.
Mara didn’t recognize her.
But on the back was a handwritten note.
The children must never know what happened that winter.
Mara’s stomach tightened.
Samuel took the photograph.
“Where did you find this?”
“Inside the drawer.”
He looked at Mara.
“This isn’t your business.”
“Then why does it keep finding me?”
Samuel said nothing.
Mara stared at the photograph.
“Who is the woman?”
He hesitated.
“My mother.”
“She’s still alive?”
“No.”
“Then why would she write that?”
Samuel’s face hardened.
“Because she knew what my brother had done.”
Mara waited.
He didn’t continue.
“Samuel.”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
He turned away.
Then the house lights went out.
The children screamed upstairs.
Samuel immediately grabbed a flashlight.
Mara ran toward the stairs.
A loud crash came from the study.
Samuel stopped.
Someone was inside.
He whispered:
“Get the children into the bathroom.”
“What?”
“Now.”
Mara ran upstairs.
She gathered Ellie and Noah.
Then they heard footsteps below.
Slow.
Heavy.
Moving across the floor.
Mara held both children against her.
The footsteps stopped.
A door opened.
Then a man’s voice came from downstairs.
“Samuel.”
Samuel answered.
“Who are you?”
A low laugh echoed through the house.
“You know exactly who I am.”
Mara looked at the children.
Ellie’s face was buried against her shoulder.
Then came the sound of something breaking.
A gunshot followed.
