The Town’s Most Feared Gunslinger Risked His Life to Save a New Waitress From Outlaws — Until a Secret From Twelve Years Ago Revealed That Her Missing Father and His Missing Brother Had Vanished on the Same Night
Chapter 2
That night, Clara couldn’t sleep.
She sat beside the window while her mother folded clothes.
“Mother?”
“Yes?”
“Do you remember the symbol Father used?”
Her mother’s hands stopped.
“What symbol?”
“The crow.”
Silence.
Then her mother slowly looked up.
“You shouldn’t talk about that.”
“Why?”
“Because your father is dead.”
Clara stared at her.
“You always say that.”
“Because it’s true.”
“Then why are you afraid?”
Her mother said nothing.
A knock came at the door.
Three slow knocks.
Clara stood.
Her mother grabbed her arm.
“Don’t.”
The knocking came again.
A man’s voice followed.
“Mrs. Bennett.”
Her mother went pale.
She whispered:
“Don’t open it.”
Clara looked through the curtain.
A stranger stood outside.
He wore a black coat.
His face was hidden beneath a hat.
But in his hand was an old photograph.
Clara could see it clearly.
A younger version of her father.
Thomas Bennett.
Beside him stood Elias Boone.
And a third man.
Silas Crowe.
Clara’s heart stopped.
She opened the door.
The stranger looked at her.
“You’re Clara.”
“Who are you?”
He handed her the photograph.
“Someone who knew your father.”
She looked at the back.
Six words had been written there:
SHE MUST NEVER KNOW THE TRUTH.
Clara looked up.
“What truth?”
The stranger smiled.
“Ask Elias Boone.”
Then he walked away.
Clara ran after him.
The street was empty.
Only hoofprints remained.
The next afternoon, Elias entered the restaurant.
Clara placed coffee in front of him.
She didn’t smile.
“You knew my father.”
Elias froze.
“Who told you?”
She put the photograph on the table.
He stared at it.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
“Answer me.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Your father worked with my brother.”
“What happened to them?”
Elias looked toward the window.
“My brother died.”
“And my father?”
“I don’t know.”
Clara leaned closer.
“You do know something.”
Elias finally looked at her.
“Your father didn’t abandon you.”
She swallowed.
“Then why did he disappear?”
Before Elias could answer, a gunshot exploded outside.
The restaurant window shattered.
Clara screamed.
Elias pulled her to the floor.
A second bullet struck the wall above them.
Elias drew his revolver.
He looked through the broken window.
Nothing.
Then he noticed something.
A black crow feather lying on the street.
Elias’s face hardened.
“Crowe.”
