The Mountain Cowboy Appeared Once Every Winter—Until One Woman Followed Him Home
Chapter 8
They followed the attackers into the forest.
One trail led toward an abandoned mill.
Inside they found blood.
And a saddle.
Elias examined it.
“This belongs to Mercer’s man.”
Anna found a folded paper beneath the saddle.
It contained a list.
Names.
Land parcels.
Amounts.
And beside several names:
“Paid to Magistrate.”
Anna’s face hardened.
“We have them.”
Elias nodded.
“Not enough.”
“Why?”
“They’ll deny it.”
“Then we’ll find something they can’t deny.”
They searched the mill.
Behind a rotten wall, Anna discovered a wooden box.
Inside were stamped seals.
Blank land contracts.
And several letters.
One carried the magistrate’s signature.
Another contained instructions from Mercer.
Anna read aloud:
“Once Whitmore’s daughter is removed, the store and adjoining land may be acquired without resistance.”
Her voice stopped.
Elias took the letter.
“Removed?”
Anna swallowed.
“They planned to kill me.”
Elias’s face went cold.
“We leave tonight.”
“No.”
“Anna.”
“No.”
She stepped closer.
“If we run, Mercer wins.”
“He will kill you.”
“Then help me stop him.”
Elias stared at her.
“You don’t understand what you’re asking.”
“I do.”
“No.”
He slammed his fist against the wall.
“I spent seven years keeping you away from this.”
“And I spent seven years not knowing why.”
He looked at her.
She stepped closer.
“If my father trusted you, I do too.”
His expression softened.
“Don’t say that.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t know how to hear it.”
Anna reached for his hand.
“I think you do.”
Neither moved.
Then Elias whispered:
“I’ve loved you since before I had the right to.”
Anna’s breath caught.
“Seven years?”
“Yes.”
“And you never said anything?”
“Your father asked me to protect you.”
“He didn’t ask you to forget yourself.”
Elias looked at her.
She kissed him.
It was brief.
Almost frightened.
But neither regretted it.
