She Asked the Gunsmith to Wed Her Before Her Uncle Sold Her Land — “I’ll Want to Court You After,” the Gunsmith Said
Chapter 8
Pike was found two days later.
He had fled north.
Samuel and Margaret followed.
The journey took them through forests and small settlements.
They traveled by horse during the day.
At night, they slept in inns or farmhouses that offered a spare room.
Their strange marriage became less strange with every mile.
They began to learn each other’s habits.
Margaret discovered Samuel drank his coffee without sugar.
Samuel discovered Margaret talked in her sleep.
She discovered he sang badly when repairing firearms.
He discovered she could beat him at cards.
One evening, beside a campfire, Margaret asked:
“Do you regret marrying me?”
Samuel looked surprised.
“No.”
“Not even once?”
“No.”
“Even though I proposed?”
“I rather enjoyed that.”
She smiled.
“I was desperate.”
“You still chose me.”
“I trusted you.”
Samuel looked into the fire.
“That means more.”
Margaret moved closer.
“You said you loved me.”
“Yes.”
“I think I am beginning to understand why.”
He looked at her.
“Only beginning?”
She smiled.
“I said I would court you.”
He laughed.
“Fair enough.”
The next morning, they found Pike at a roadside inn.
He attempted to escape.
Samuel caught him.
Pike confessed.
Crowe had paid him to forge the deed.
Thomas had supplied the family seal.
But Pike revealed something worse.
Crowe intended to claim not only the Vale estate.
He intended to seize three neighboring farms.
The forged deed was only the beginning.
If he succeeded, he would control nearly the entire river road.
Samuel looked at Margaret.
“This is bigger than your uncle.”
“Yes.”
“Your father may have known.”
Margaret frowned.
“What makes you think that?”
“Look at the original deed.”
Samuel pointed to a handwritten note in the margin.
Her father’s initials.
A warning.
If the eastern farms are ever threatened, find the old survey beneath the millstone.
Margaret stared.
“The old mill.”
They returned immediately.
