She Arrived as a Mail-Order Bride—Before She Could Leave, a Cowboy Said, “She’s Mine.”
Chapter 8
Eleanor reached the county seat before midnight.
The sheriff’s office was dark.
She pounded on the door.
“Open!”
No answer.
Again.
“Please!”
Finally a lamp appeared.
Sheriff Mason opened the door.
His face fell when he saw her.
“Mrs. Hart?”
“Samuel was attacked.”
“Where?”
She explained.
Mason immediately gathered two deputies.
They rode toward the creek.
Eleanor refused to remain behind.
At dawn, they found Samuel alive.
Bruised.
Bloodied.
But standing.
Two of Carter’s men were tied beside the oak.
The others had fled.
Samuel saw Eleanor.
He walked toward her.
She ran.
His arms closed around her.
For a moment neither spoke.
Then he whispered,
“You came back.”
“I told you I would.”
Sheriff Mason examined the stone marker.
Then the survey.
His expression changed.
“This is enough to reopen the land dispute.”
Samuel looked relieved.
“Can Carter still seize the property?”
“Not today.”
They returned to town.
The hearing began before noon.
Henry Carter arrived with lawyers and documents.
He looked confident.
Until Sheriff Mason placed the original survey on the table.
Carter’s face changed.
“Where did you get that?”
“From Reverend Hale.”
Carter stood.
“That man is senile.”
“Perhaps.”
Mason pointed to the stone boundary record.
“But stone isn’t.”
Carter looked at Eleanor.
“You have no idea what you’re doing.”
She stood.
“I know my father.”
“He was a thief.”
“He was murdered.”
The room fell silent.
Carter’s expression tightened.
“You cannot prove that.”
“No.”
Eleanor held up the letters.
“But I can prove you lied about his land.”
Carter’s lawyer objected.
The judge allowed the evidence.
One document became two.
Two became six.
Then came Reverend Hale’s testimony.
He was old, but his voice remained clear.
He described the original survey.
He described Carter’s father.
He described the forged transfer.
Then another man entered the courtroom.
Thomas Carter.
Henry’s brother.
Henry turned pale.
Thomas looked at him.
“I was there.”
Henry whispered,
“Thomas.”
“I watched them move the boundary stones.”
The courtroom erupted.
Thomas continued.
“I signed the false document because Henry threatened my wife.”
Henry lunged toward him.
The sheriff restrained him.
The hearing lasted until evening.
By sunset, Henry Carter’s claim was suspended.
His land dealings were ordered investigated.
Samuel’s property was protected.
Eleanor’s father’s land was recognized.
But when they left the courthouse, Samuel looked troubled.
“What?”
Eleanor asked.
“There is still something missing.”
“What?”
“The reason your father died.”
Eleanor’s heart sank.
Thomas Carter had admitted the land fraud.
But he had not explained what happened on the road.
Then Thomas approached them.
“I know.”
Samuel turned.
“Know what?”
Thomas looked at Eleanor.
“I know who killed your father.”
She stopped breathing.
“Who?”
Thomas looked toward Henry’s carriage.
Then he whispered,
“Not Henry.”
