The Mountain Cowboy Appeared Once Every Winter—Until One Woman Followed Him Home
Chapter 9
They returned to Bellmere secretly.
Anna took the documents to the chapel.
The minister was one of the few men Mercer had not bought.
He read the papers.
Then he locked the chapel door.
“These could expose him.”
“Will you testify?”
The minister hesitated.
Then nodded.
“Yes.”
One by one, others came forward.
A widow.
A farmer.
A blacksmith.
A miller.
They brought receipts.
Letters.
Old deeds.
Stories.
For the first time, Bellmere began to understand how large Mercer’s scheme was.
But Mercer learned about the meeting.
He sent men to the chapel.
Elias saw them coming.
“Run.”
The people scattered through the back door.
Elias stayed behind.
He stood beneath the chapel bell.
Four men entered.
The first raised a pistol.
Elias fired.
The man fell.
Another rushed him.
They fought in the snow.
Anna watched from behind the stone wall.
Elias was struck across the face.
He fell.
The attacker raised a pistol.
Anna fired.
Her shot struck the man’s shoulder.
He dropped the weapon.
Elias looked at her.
“You just saved my life.”
“You taught me to shoot.”
“I regret that.”
“You shouldn’t.”
He smiled.
Then the chapel bell rang.
The minister had pulled the rope.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Across Bellmere, doors opened.
People stepped outside.
The sound carried through the snow.
A warning.
A summons.
A declaration that Bellmere would no longer remain silent.
