Orphaned and Broke, She Took Over a Deserted Ranch for FREE—What She Found in the Well Changed Everything
Chapter 5
Hannah drove six hours to the town named in the records.
She found nothing at first.
Then she noticed an old repair shop.
The owner was an elderly man named Sam Pierce.
When Hannah showed him her father’s photograph, he stared.
“I know this man.”
Hannah’s heart nearly stopped.
“When?”
“Years ago.”
“What’s his name?”
The old man looked surprised.
“Daniel Carter.”
Hannah nodded.
“That was his name.”
Sam shook his head.
“No.”
“What do you mean?”
“He called himself John Miller.”
“Why?”
“Because people were looking for him.”
“Who?”
Sam hesitated.
“Victor Kane.”
Hannah felt cold.
“Did my father know him?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“They worked together.”
“Doing what?”
“Water surveys.”
Hannah sat down.
Her father had been a surveyor?
Sam laughed.
“He was good.”
“Where is he now?”
Sam looked away.
“He left.”
“When?”
“Three years ago.”
“Where?”
“No idea.”
Hannah showed him the ranch map.
“Did he ever mention Red Willow?”
Sam’s expression changed.
“Yes.”
“What did he say?”
“He said the water would eventually matter.”
Hannah’s heart raced.
“Did he know my aunt?”
“Very well.”
“Did he know about the chamber?”
Sam smiled.
“He helped build it.”
Hannah stared.
Her father had helped hide the records.
Then why disappear?
Sam explained.
Daniel had discovered that Thomas was selling information to Kane.
He confronted him.
Thomas threatened Margaret.
Daniel decided the only way to protect the family was to disappear.
“He staged his own death?”
Sam shook his head.
“No.”
“He was attacked.”
Hannah froze.
“By whom?”
“We never found out.”
“Then how do you know he’s alive?”
Sam pointed to a stack of letters.
“He sent these.”
Hannah opened them.
All were from her father.
The latest was dated only seven months earlier.
She read:
Hannah,
If you’ve found Red Willow, don’t trust the map.
Trust the water.
The second sentence made her stop.
And if Thomas tells you I am dead, don’t believe him.
Hannah looked up.
Sam said quietly:
“Your father believed Thomas would eventually come for the ranch.”
Hannah returned home the next morning.
Thomas was waiting.
“What happened to your father?” he asked.
Hannah froze.
“How did you know I was looking?”
“You’re not exactly subtle.”
She smiled.
“I’ve been reading old records.”
Thomas looked nervous.
“What records?”
“Red Willow.”
His expression hardened.
“You should stay out of things you don’t understand.”
“Do you understand them?”
“Yes.”
“Then tell me.”
He looked at the ranch.
“Sell it.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re being manipulated.”
“By whom?”
“Everyone.”
Hannah stared.
“Are you included?”
Thomas said nothing.
That was enough.
He turned to leave.
Hannah called:
“Did my father die?”
Thomas stopped.
He did not turn around.
“No.”
Hannah’s heart raced.
“What happened to him?”
Thomas finally looked back.
“He found something.”
“What?”
“The truth.”
Then he drove away.
Hannah stood in the yard.
Her uncle had just admitted her father was alive.
But before she could process it, an SUV stopped at the gate.
Victor Kane stepped out.
He smiled.
“Ms. Carter.”
Hannah stared.
“What do you want?”
Victor looked toward the well.
“The same thing your aunt was protecting.”
