“I’m Just A Hired Girl,” She Sobbed — But The Rancher’s Children Begged Her Not To Leave
Chapter 7
They rushed to the window.
The black pickup disappeared down the road.
Samuel tried the door.
Locked.
Mara searched the walls.
“There’s another exit.”
“How do you know?”
“Old bunkhouses usually had two.”
She found a narrow door behind a cabinet.
They escaped through it.
The snow had begun falling again.
Samuel looked at the tire tracks.
“Someone knew we were coming.”
Mara nodded.
“And they knew what we were looking for.”
They returned to the house.
The children were still asleep.
Samuel locked the door.
Mara spread the photographs and papers across the kitchen table.
“Your father was paying someone.”
“Walter.”
“Maybe.”
Samuel pointed to the dates.
“These payments started before Claire died.”
Mara looked at him.
“You said your wife asked you not to investigate.”
“She did.”
“Why?”
“I thought she was protecting the family.”
“Maybe she was protecting you.”
Samuel went silent.
Mara turned another page.
A name appeared.
Evelyn Reed.
Samuel’s mother.
“Your mother was involved.”
“No.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I know my mother.”
“You thought your brother was dead.”
Samuel looked away.
Mara softened.
“You’ve spent twenty years believing things people told you.”
His eyes met hers.
“And you’re suggesting I stop.”
“Yes.”
A small voice came from the stairs.
“Are you fighting?”
They turned.
Ellie stood there.
Mara smiled.
“No.”
“You look like you’re fighting.”
Samuel sighed.
“We’re trying to figure something out.”
“Can I help?”
“No.”
Ellie crossed her arms.
“You always say no.”
Samuel almost smiled.
Mara laughed softly.
For a moment, the house felt normal.
Then Noah appeared.
He was carrying a wooden box.
“Look what I found.”
Samuel stared.
“Where did you get that?”
“Under Grandma’s bed.”
Mara opened it.
Inside were letters.
Dozens of them.
Most were old.
Some had never been opened.
Samuel recognized Claire’s handwriting immediately.
He picked one up.
His hands shook.
“Why were these hidden?”
Mara opened another.
It contained a photograph of Claire and Caleb.
On the back:
He came back.
Samuel’s face went white.
“What?”
Mara looked at him.
“Caleb came back before Claire died.”
Samuel sat down.
He read another letter.
Then another.
His breathing grew heavier.
Mara watched him.
“What do they say?”
He didn’t answer.
“Samuel.”
He handed her one.
Mara read.
Claire had written:
I know what Caleb is doing. I know what your mother did. I know what Walter has been paid to hide. But the children are still too young. If I tell Sam now, they will come after him.
Mara’s eyes widened.
Another sentence followed.
There is one person Caleb is afraid of.
The letter ended there.
Samuel looked at Mara.
“Who?”
She shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
Then a piece of paper fell from the envelope.
It was a child’s drawing.
Three people standing beside the ranch house.
Samuel.
Claire.
And a little boy.
On the back, Claire had written:
This is the son you never knew you had.
Samuel stopped breathing.
Mara looked at the drawing.
Then at him.
“Samuel…”
He whispered:
“That’s impossible.”
