“I’m Just A Hired Girl,” She Sobbed — But The Rancher’s Children Begged Her Not To Leave
Chapter 8
The little boy in the drawing was about four years old.
Dark hair.
Gray eyes.
A small scar above his eyebrow.
Mara looked at Samuel.
“Who is he?”
“I don’t know.”
But his voice said otherwise.
He turned the paper over.
Nothing.
Then he looked at the date.
The drawing had been made fifteen years earlier.
Claire had been pregnant with Ellie at that time.
Samuel shook his head.
“No.”
Mara waited.
“My wife couldn’t have had another child.”
“Maybe not.”
“Then whose is he?”
Samuel sat down.
“I don’t know.”
A car approached the house.
Both looked toward the window.
It was a sheriff’s cruiser.
Deputy Ben Carter stepped inside.
“Samuel.”
“Ben.”
Carter looked at Mara.
“We need to talk.”
“About?”
“The shooting.”
Samuel stiffened.
“What shooting?”
“The report from last night.”
Mara stepped forward.
“There was an intruder.”
Carter nodded.
“Caleb Reed?”
Samuel’s eyes narrowed.
“You know him?”
“I know the name.”
“Is he alive?”
Carter hesitated.
“Yes.”
Samuel stared.
“Then why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t know you were looking for him.”
Mara watched Carter carefully.
“Who reported the shooting?”
Carter looked at her.
“Anonymous call.”
“When?”
“Ten minutes after it happened.”
“From where?”
Carter didn’t answer.
Samuel stepped closer.
“Ben.”
Carter sighed.
“From the old cemetery.”
Samuel went still.
The cemetery was where Caleb had supposedly been buried.
Mara felt a chill.
“Someone wanted you to know Caleb is alive,” Carter said.
Samuel nodded slowly.
“Why?”
Carter looked toward the children upstairs.
“Because whoever is behind this wants you afraid.”
He handed Samuel an envelope.
“This was left at the station.”
Samuel opened it.
Inside was a key.
And a photograph.
The photograph showed a young boy standing beside a woman outside a small house.
Mara recognized the woman.
Claire.
The boy was the same child from the drawing.
Samuel sat heavily.
Carter whispered:
“Do you know him?”
Samuel shook his head.
“No.”
Mara looked closer.
The woman standing behind Claire was older.
Elegant.
The same woman from the family photograph.
Samuel’s mother.
Mara pointed.
“Your mother knew him.”
Samuel stared.
Then he noticed something else.
Written on the back:
Ask your wife who the boy’s father is.
Samuel looked at Mara.
“My wife is dead.”
“I know.”
“Then how am I supposed to ask her?”
Mara took the photograph.
There was something tucked behind it.
A small cassette tape.
Samuel stared.
“That’s impossible.”
“Why?”
“Claire recorded everything.”
Mara’s heart beat faster.
“Do you have a player?”
Samuel nodded.
They found an old tape recorder in the study.
He inserted the cassette.
Static filled the room.
Then Claire’s voice came through.
Soft.
Tired.
Afraid.
“Sam, if you’re hearing this, I’m already gone.”
Samuel closed his eyes.
Mara stood beside him.
Claire continued.
“I need you to listen carefully.”
A pause.
Then:
“Your brother Caleb did not die.”
Samuel opened his eyes.
“He came back because he wanted the ranch.”
The recording crackled.
“But he’s not the person you should fear.”
Mara leaned closer.
Claire’s voice dropped.
“Your mother is.”
The tape stopped.
