The Town Laughed at Her Empty Market Stall. One Lonely Cowboy Bought Everything
Chapter 8
The ledger revealed everything.
Crowe had purchased debts from desperate farmers.
Then altered the amounts.
Added interest.
Forged signatures.
And used those debts to seize property.
Anna’s father’s land was the largest piece.
The river crossing made it valuable.
But there was more.
Crowe intended to build a private toll road.
Every wagon traveling west would have to pay him.
The road would make him richer than any merchant in the county.
Anna closed the ledger.
“People will lose everything.”
Thomas nodded.
“We need witnesses.”
“Who?”
“Everyone Crowe cheated.”
They spent the next month traveling from farm to farm.
Old farmers.
Widows.
Millers.
Blacksmiths.
Each carried a story.
Each carried proof.
Soon Anna’s kitchen table was covered with papers.
Thomas watched her work.
“You’ve changed.”
She looked up.
“How?”
“You don’t lower your eyes anymore.”
She smiled.
“Neither do you.”
He looked away.
Anna noticed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You were about to say something.”
“I was.”
“What?”
He hesitated.
“I don’t like seeing you frightened.”
Anna softened.
“I am frightened.”
“I know.”
“But I’m more frightened of losing my home.”
Thomas nodded.
“I won’t let that happen.”
She looked at him.
“Why?”
He answered quietly:
“Because I know what it feels like.”
