“I’m Just A Hired Girl,” She Sobbed — But The Rancher’s Children Begged Her Not To Leave
Chapter 6
His name was Walter Haines.
Mara had met him once.
He had shaken her hand at the county fair and asked if she was “the new housekeeper.”
Now he walked into Samuel’s kitchen without knocking.
“You’re trespassing,” Samuel said.
Walter smiled.
“Technically, this property belongs to the bank.”
“No, it doesn’t.”
“We’ll settle that in court.”
“You don’t have the authority to enter my home.”
Walter glanced at Mara.
“Perhaps your employee can explain it to you.”
Mara stiffened.
Samuel stepped forward.
“Don’t talk to her.”
Walter smiled.
“You’re protective of her.”
“Get out.”
Walter placed a folder on the table.
“Final notice.”
Samuel didn’t touch it.
“I’m not signing.”
“You don’t have a choice.”
Mara looked at the folder.
“Why are you in such a hurry?”
Walter turned toward her.
“Excuse me?”
“The foreclosure is scheduled for thirty days.”
“Yes.”
“But you’re here now.”
He said nothing.
“Why?”
Samuel looked at her.
Walter’s smile disappeared.
“You’re a housekeeper.”
Mara didn’t blink.
“And you’re a banker.”
“Yes.”
“Then you know the difference between a legal foreclosure and a seizure.”
Walter’s expression hardened.
Samuel looked at her with surprise.
Walter stepped closer.
“You’ve been reading documents that aren’t yours.”
“I can read.”
“You should be careful.”
Mara felt Samuel move beside her.
Walter lowered his voice.
“People who interfere in matters beyond their position tend to regret it.”
Mara looked at him.
“Is that a threat?”
Walter smiled again.
“No.”
He picked up his folder.
“It’s advice.”
The men left.
Samuel waited until the SUVs disappeared.
Then he looked at Mara.
“Where did you learn to read legal documents?”
She shrugged.
“My mother was a paralegal.”
“Was?”
“She died when I was nineteen.”
Samuel softened.
“I didn’t know.”
“You never asked.”
He looked down.
“That seems to be a habit of mine.”
For the first time, Mara smiled.
It disappeared quickly.
“I think Walter knows about the trust.”
Samuel nodded.
“And if he does?”
“Then he knows the foreclosure can be challenged.”
“Unless he has another document.”
Mara remembered the photograph.
“The letter.”
“What letter?”
“The one from your mother.”
Samuel frowned.
“The note on the photograph.”
“No. Another one.”
Mara suddenly remembered the bank notice.
There had been an attachment.
A scanned letter from Claire.
She had barely noticed it.
Samuel grabbed the foreclosure packet.
They searched.
Nothing.
Then Mara saw something.
A crease in the back cover.
She peeled it open.
A folded piece of paper slid onto the table.
Samuel stared at it.
His wife’s handwriting.
He picked it up with shaking hands.
The letter contained only one sentence.
Sam, if Blackridge ever comes for the ranch, don’t fight them in court. Find the girl who works in the old bunkhouse. She knows where your father hid the truth.
Mara looked up.
“The old bunkhouse?”
Samuel’s face had gone pale.
“There hasn’t been anyone living there in years.”
“Apparently there was.”
They went outside.
The bunkhouse sat beyond the cattle pens, half buried in snow.
The door was locked.
Samuel tried his key.
It didn’t fit.
Mara noticed a small metal box nailed beneath the window.
Inside was another key.
They opened the door.
Dust filled the air.
Old furniture stood beneath sheets.
Then Mara saw the wall.
Someone had written names across it.
Dates.
Payments.
Property numbers.
At the bottom was a single name.
Walter Haines.
Samuel stared.
Mara moved closer.
Beside his name was a number.
Then another.
Then another.
“Payments,” she whispered.
Samuel’s voice was barely audible.
“Bribes.”
A floorboard creaked behind them.
They turned.
No one was there.
Then the door slammed shut.
And from outside came the sound of a vehicle starting.
