The Mountain Cowboy Appeared Once Every Winter—Until One Woman Followed Him Home
Chapter 10
Mercer fled toward the courthouse.
The magistrate waited there.
Together they planned to destroy the remaining records.
But they did not know Anna had already copied them.
Elias and the minister arrived with the townspeople.
Mercer stepped outside.
“You have no authority.”
The minister held up the original deed.
“The people do.”
The magistrate laughed.
“This is nonsense.”
Then an old farmer stepped forward.
He placed his land receipt on the courthouse steps.
“My land.”
Another followed.
“Mine.”
Another.
“Mine.”
Soon the steps were covered in papers.
Mercer looked around.
For the first time, he was alone.
Then a rider arrived from the eastern settlement.
He carried a sealed letter from the colonial authority.
The letter ordered an investigation into unlawful land seizures in Bellmere.
Mercer’s face went pale.
The magistrate attempted to leave.
Elias stopped him.
“You’re staying.”
The magistrate looked toward Mercer.
Mercer whispered:
“You promised me.”
The magistrate answered:
“I promised myself.”
He abandoned Mercer.
Mercer reached for his pistol.
Elias moved faster.
He knocked the weapon from Mercer’s hand.
The two men faced each other.
“You should have stayed in the mountains,” Mercer said.
Elias shook his head.
“No.”
“Why?”
Elias looked at Anna.
“Because she followed me home.”
Mercer was arrested.
The magistrate was arrested.
Their men fled.
The investigation lasted months.
But Bellmere’s stolen lands were gradually returned.
