“My Father Sent Me In My Sister’s Place,” She Said… “Get In The Wagon,” Was His Reply
Chapter 7
They rode to the old chapel the next morning.
It stood on Hart land.
Or what remained of it.
The building was abandoned.
Samuel found the graveyard.
Eliza found the stone.
Beneath it was a small iron box.
Inside were papers.
Land deeds.
Bank records.
Letters.
And a photograph.
Samuel picked it up.
His father stood beside Eliza’s mother.
They were young.
Happy.
And standing beside them was another man.
Silas Whitlock.
Samuel turned the photograph over.
A date.
Then a sentence.
The night everything changed.
Eliza found another letter.
Her mother’s handwriting trembled across the page.
She had not stolen anything.
Whitlock had forged the records.
When she discovered it, he threatened her.
Henry helped her escape.
But Henry could not expose Whitlock without risking Samuel’s life.
Because Whitlock had threatened to kill Henry’s newborn son.
Samuel lowered the letter.
“That was me.”
Eliza touched his arm.
“He protected you.”
Samuel shook his head.
“He protected all of us.”
A sound came from outside.
Horse hooves.
Many.
Samuel looked toward the window.
Whitlock had found them.
He grabbed the box.
“Run.”
