She Asked the Gunsmith to Wed Her Before Her Uncle Sold Her Land — “I’ll Want to Court You After,” the Gunsmith Said
Chapter 9
The abandoned mill stood beside the river.
Its wheel had stopped years ago.
Samuel and Margaret searched beneath the great stone foundation.
At last they found a metal box.
Inside was an old survey.
It showed the river road.
Three farms.
A ferry crossing.
And a large tract of woodland.
Margaret’s father had marked each property.
Beside them he had written:
These lands must remain in the hands of their rightful families.
There was also a list of names.
Crowe’s.
Thomas’s.
Pike’s.
And several others.
Margaret sat down.
“My father knew.”
Samuel nodded.
“He knew someone wanted the land.”
“But why didn’t he tell me?”
“Maybe he thought you were safer not knowing.”
She looked at him.
“Or maybe he was already being watched.”
They searched further.
A second box contained letters.
One was addressed to the magistrate.
It had never been delivered.
Margaret opened it.
Her father’s letter explained that Crowe had been buying debts and pressuring landowners.
The Vale estate was the final piece.
If Crowe gained control of the river road, he could influence every shipment moving inland.
Samuel folded the letter.
“We need to take this to Bell.”
A sound came from the woods.
Horse hooves.
Samuel looked toward the window.
Men were approaching.
“Again?”
Margaret smiled bitterly.
“They must be getting tired.”
Samuel checked his pistol.
“They are not here to negotiate.”
The men surrounded the mill.
Crowe’s voice came through the doorway.
“Samuel!”
Samuel stepped forward.
“What?”
“Give me the survey.”
“No.”
“You cannot stop me.”
Margaret appeared beside Samuel.
“Yes, we can.”
Crowe laughed.
“You think a marriage gives you power?”
Margaret raised the original deed.
“No.”
She held up the letter.
“The truth does.”
Crowe’s expression changed.
He understood.
Samuel whispered:
“Now.”
They ran through the rear door.
The men followed.
Samuel and Margaret reached the river.
There was nowhere to go.
Then Margaret pointed.
The old mill wheel.
It had created a narrow passage beneath the building.
They crawled through.
Crowe’s men stopped at the entrance.
Samuel and Margaret emerged on the opposite side.
They ran to their horses.
By sunset, they were halfway back to Ashford.
But Crowe had one final weapon.
He had taken Thomas.
