“I’m Just A Hired Girl,” She Sobbed — But The Rancher’s Children Begged Her Not To Leave
Chapter 9
Nobody spoke.
Samuel stared at the recorder.
Then he laughed once.
It wasn’t amusement.
It was disbelief.
“My mother died twelve years ago.”
Mara looked at him.
“Then who is behind all this?”
Samuel didn’t answer.
Deputy Carter stood.
“I should go.”
Samuel looked at him.
“Ben.”
“What?”
“Do you know anything about my mother?”
Carter hesitated.
“Not officially.”
“Unofficially?”
“She had connections.”
“What kind?”
Carter looked at Mara.
“Political.”
Samuel’s expression darkened.
“Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
“Because your mother was very good at making people stay quiet.”
Carter left.
Mara watched the road until the cruiser disappeared.
Then Samuel turned toward her.
“You should take the children and leave.”
“No.”
“Mara.”
“No.”
“You’ve seen too much.”
“That is exactly why I’m staying.”
He stared at her.
“You’re not afraid?”
“I am.”
“Then why stay?”
Mara looked upstairs.
“Because Ellie cried when I packed.”
Samuel looked away.
“And Noah asked if I could sleep in their room.”
“He does that.”
“Because he’s afraid.”
Samuel nodded.
Mara stepped closer.
“They lost their mother. They don’t need to lose another person.”
Samuel’s eyes softened.
“You’re not their mother.”
“I know.”
“But they love you.”
Mara looked down.
“So do I.”
The words escaped before she could stop them.
Samuel stared at her.
Mara’s face flushed.
“I mean—I love them.”
“I know.”
Neither moved.
Then Samuel reached for the tape.
“We need to find the original.”
“The original what?”
“Claire recorded more than one.”
“How do you know?”
He turned the recorder over.
A handwritten label was hidden underneath.
Tape 7 of 9.
Mara’s eyes widened.
“Where are the others?”
Samuel thought.
“My mother kept a safe.”
“Where?”
“In the house.”
“We searched the house.”
“No.”
He looked toward the fireplace.
“There was one place we didn’t search.”
Behind an old painting was a metal safe.
Samuel entered a code.
Nothing.
He tried another.
Nothing.
Mara noticed the photograph of Claire on the mantel.
She remembered something.
“The children.”
“What?”
“Their birthdays.”
Samuel frowned.
“Why?”
“Your wife may have used something personal.”
He tried Ellie’s birth date.
The safe clicked.
Inside were eight cassette tapes.
And one envelope.
Samuel opened it.
A birth certificate fell onto the floor.
Mara picked it up.
The child’s name was:
Lucas Reed.
Father:
Samuel Reed.
Mother:
Claire Reed.
Samuel stared.
“No.”
Mara looked at him.
“You have a son.”
Samuel shook his head.
“I never knew.”
The room seemed to shrink.
“He’s alive?”
Mara turned the certificate over.
A handwritten address was written on the back.
Samuel read it.
His face changed.
It was only fifty miles away.
A small ranch outside Helena.
Before they could move, the telephone rang.
Samuel answered.
A man’s voice whispered:
“You finally found out.”
Samuel froze.
“Who is this?”
The caller laughed.
“Your son.”
