She Came to Claim Her Grandfather’s Ranch With Two Children — The Poor Rancher Offered Them a Home
Chapter 3
The courthouse smelled of dust, ink, and damp wood.
Elias and Anna arrived before noon.
The clerk barely looked at them.
“We’re looking for records concerning Samuel Whitaker’s ranch.”
The clerk frowned.
“Whitaker property?”
“Yes.”
He searched the ledgers.
“Sold in 1778.”
“To whom?”
“Thomas Boone.”
Elias stiffened.
“My grandfather?”
The clerk nodded.
“Paid in full.”
Anna stepped closer.
“Where is the original sale?”
The clerk hesitated.
“Records were damaged.”
“Damaged how?”
“Fire.”
“When?”
“Years ago.”
Elias looked at Anna.
“Convenient.”
The clerk glared at him.
“That’s the record.”
Anna noticed another ledger.
“What’s that?”
“Tax register.”
She opened it.
Samuel Whitaker’s name appeared.
But the dates continued long after the supposed sale.
Anna pointed.
“If he sold the ranch, why did he keep paying taxes?”
The clerk went silent.
Elias leaned over the desk.
“Who filed the sale?”
“Thomas Boone.”
“My grandfather?”
“Yes.”
“Was Samuel present?”
The clerk shook his head.
“No.”
“Witnesses?”
“One.”
“Who?”
The clerk swallowed.
“Jonathan Crowe.”
Elias felt his stomach tighten.
“Silas Crowe’s father?”
“Yes.”
Anna closed the ledger.
“So the man who claims this land today is descended from the only witness to the sale.”
Elias nodded.
“That’s what it looks like.”
The clerk became nervous.
“You should leave.”
“Why?”
He lowered his voice.
“Because asking questions about old land disputes has caused trouble before.”
Outside the courthouse, Anna stopped.
“Are you frightened?”
Elias looked at her.
“Yes.”
She seemed surprised.
He continued:
“But not of Crowe.”
“What, then?”
“Of what we’ll find.”
They returned to the ranch after sunset.
Matthew was sitting beside the stable.
He ran toward them.
“Mother!”
Anna knelt.
“What happened?”
“Mr. Crowe’s men came.”
Elias’s expression hardened.
“Where?”
Matthew pointed.
“They looked in the barn.”
“Did they hurt you?”
“No.”
Elias entered the barn.
Nothing seemed disturbed.
Then he saw something on the floor.
A broken wooden box.
Inside was an old bundle of letters.
Anna recognized the handwriting.
“My grandfather.”
Elias opened the first letter.
Thomas, if you receive this, I have been forced to leave the valley.
The second line made his blood run cold.
Do not trust Jonathan Crowe.
Anna covered her mouth.
They read the letter together.
Samuel explained that Crowe had attempted to force him to sell the ranch.
When he refused, Crowe threatened his family.
Samuel wrote that he had temporarily left the valley to protect his daughter.
But there was no mention of selling the property.
At the bottom, he wrote:
I will return when it is safe.
He never did.
Anna’s eyes filled with tears.
“My mother always said he abandoned us.”
Elias shook his head.
“He didn’t.”
He opened another letter.
This one was addressed to Elias’s grandfather.
Thomas, I trust you. Keep the ranch safe until I return.
Elias stared at the words.
“My grandfather didn’t buy this land.”
Anna whispered:
“He was protecting it.”
A noise came from outside.
Elias grabbed the lantern.
A shadow moved past the window.
Then the cabin door slammed open.
Three armed men entered.
And the man in front carried Silas Crowe’s silver-handled cane.
