The Town Laughed at Her Empty Market Stall. One Lonely Cowboy Bought Everything
Chapter 9
The hearing was set for the first Monday of autumn.
Crowe arrived with lawyers and witnesses.
Anna arrived with Thomas.
The courthouse filled quickly.
Crowe smiled.
“You have no case.”
Anna placed the original ledger on the table.
His smile vanished.
The clerk examined it.
“This is genuine.”
Crowe stood.
“Forgery.”
Thomas stepped forward.
“We have witnesses.”
One after another, farmers testified.
Crowe’s false debts were exposed.
Then the magistrate interrupted.
“Enough.”
Thomas looked at him.
“Why?”
“The evidence is insufficient.”
Anna understood.
The magistrate was Crowe’s ally.
Crowe had bought him.
The hearing was dismissed.
Outside, Anna was furious.
“They’ll never listen.”
Thomas shook his head.
“Not here.”
“Then where?”
“At the river.”
She frowned.
“Why?”
“Because Crowe’s entire plan depends on the crossing.”
They rode there.
At sunset, they found stakes already driven into the ground.
A sign announced:
PRIVATE ROAD.
TOLL REQUIRED.
Anna stared.
“He started already.”
Thomas nodded.
Then they heard horses.
Crowe’s men.
Thomas reached for his pistol.
“Get behind me.”
Anna refused.
“No.”
He looked at her.
“I’m not leaving you.”
“And I’m not hiding behind you.”
For a moment, they stood together.
Then Thomas smiled.
“All right.”
