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 7
Samuel explained everything.
Thomas Bennett had discovered that Crowe’s criminal network wasn’t limited to Red Hollow.
It reached beyond the state.
Bankers.
Judges.
Lawmen.
Politicians.
But Thomas had also discovered something worse.
One federal marshal had been secretly protecting Crowe.
The evidence was in the complete ledger.
That was why Thomas had never handed it over.
He didn’t know who he could trust.
Clara asked:
“Where is my father now?”
Samuel gave her a letter.
“He said you’d know where to find him.”
She opened it.
Inside was one sentence:
THE PLACE WHERE YOU LEARNED TO COUNT THE STARS.
Clara remembered.
When she was six, her father had taken her to an old observatory on the hill.
She knew where it was.
Elias stood.
“We leave tonight.”
Clara shook her head.
“No.”
He looked at her.
“I need to find him.”
“I know.”
“And you’re coming.”
“Of course.”
She looked at him.
“You could die.”
He smiled.
“I’ve been threatened with worse.”
At the observatory, they found Thomas’s horse.
But no Thomas.
Inside was a blood trail.
Clara followed it.
At the end of the room was a hidden compartment.
Inside:
A gun.
A wedding ring.
And a final note.
Clara recognized the handwriting.
Her father’s.
I am sorry, Clara.
Then footsteps sounded behind them.
Elias turned.
The sheriff stood in the doorway.
But this time, he wasn’t holding a gun.
He was bleeding.
“Run.”
Elias stared.
“Why?”
Mercer whispered:
“Crowe is coming.”
