Millionaire Cowboy Heard Them Laugh at Widow’s Old Dress—His Next Move Silenced Everyone
Chapter 9
Margaret noticed the change in him.
Silas stopped sleeping properly.
He spent hours examining account books.
He sent riders to Philadelphia.
He searched old correspondence.
Finally, he found the connection.
One of his banking partners had transferred money to Edmund Voss for years.
But there was more.
The payments began before Thomas Hale died.
Margaret read the ledger.
“How much?”
Silas answered.
“Enough to buy half the county.”
She looked at him.
“Why would your banker help Voss?”
“Because Voss has been buying land with money he didn’t earn.”
“And your money?”
Silas nodded.
“My money helped him.”
Margaret stared.
Silas closed the ledger.
“I didn’t know.”
“I know.”
He looked at her.
“You believe me?”
“Yes.”
That simple answer struck him harder than any accusation could have.
Silas had expected anger.
Instead, Margaret trusted him.
He reached across the table.
His hand rested beside hers.
She looked at it.
Then placed her fingers over his.
Neither moved.
Daniel appeared in the doorway.
“Are you getting married?”
Margaret pulled her hand away.
Silas nearly choked.
“Daniel.”
The boy shrugged.
“You look at each other the way my father looked at Mother.”
Margaret’s cheeks flushed.
Silas smiled.
“Go to bed.”
Daniel disappeared.
Margaret laughed softly.
For the first time since Thomas died, she laughed without feeling guilty.
Silas watched her.
He realized something frightening.
He had begun to care for her.
Not because she needed protection.
Not because Thomas had asked him to help.
Because he loved the woman sitting across from him.
And that made everything more dangerous.
