The Mountain Cowboy Appeared Once Every Winter—Until One Woman Followed Him Home
Chapter 3
Elias had ridden north before sunrise.
Anna knew the direction.
The mountain road was dangerous even in autumn.
In winter it was nearly impossible.
But Anna had grown up around horses.
She knew snow.
She knew rivers.
And she knew when a man was hiding something.
Before noon, she saddled her mare.
Thomas tried to stop her.
“You can’t go into those mountains.”
“I can.”
“You don’t even know where he lives.”
“I’ll find him.”
“Why?”
Anna tightened the saddle strap.
“Because Father told me to help him if he ever asked.”
Thomas stared.
“He asked?”
“No.”
“Then why go?”
Anna looked toward the white ridge.
“Because someone is looking for him.”
Thomas said nothing.
Anna rode north.
By sunset, Bellmere was far behind.
The road became a narrow trail between pine trees.
Snow reached her horse’s knees.
The wind grew sharper.
She almost turned back twice.
Then she saw something.
A dark shape beside a frozen stream.
A boot.
Anna dismounted.
It was Elias’s horse.
No rider.
She drew her pistol.
“Elias?”
No answer.
Then she heard a low groan.
She followed it behind a cluster of rocks.
Elias lay there.
His left shoulder was bleeding.
His horse had been tied nearby.
A broken branch lay beside him.
Anna dropped to her knees.
“What happened?”
“Go home.”
“You’re bleeding.”
“I’m aware.”
“Who did this?”
Elias looked at her.
His face hardened.
“You followed me.”
“Yes.”
“You shouldn’t have.”
“Neither should you have been attacked.”
He tried to stand.
His knees buckled.
Anna caught him.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Snow landed on his hair.
His breath came slowly.
Finally he whispered:
“There’s a cabin two miles north.”
“Can you ride?”
“No.”
“Then we’ll walk.”
He looked at her as if she had suggested carrying the mountain itself.
“You don’t understand.”
“Then explain.”
“I live alone.”
“I noticed.”
“I don’t want anyone knowing where.”
“Too late.”
His expression darkened.
“Why?”
Anna held his arm more firmly.
“Because my father’s account book was stolen last night.”
Elias froze.
“What book?”
“The one that had your name in it.”
The color drained from his face.
“What else did it contain?”
“I don’t know.”
He looked toward the southern trail.
Then toward the mountains.
“Mercer?”
Anna nodded.
Elias closed his eyes.
For the first time, Anna saw fear in him.
Not fear for himself.
Fear for what someone else might discover.
“What did my father know?” she asked.
Elias whispered:
“Too much.”
