Chapter 14 - The Foreman’s Last Threat
Harlan asked to speak with Mara.
She refused twice.
The third time, she agreed.
Not alone.
Marshal Reeves stood outside the cell.
Elias waited across the office.
Harlan looked smaller behind bars.
Mara noticed and disliked the satisfaction that gave her.
“You wanted me?”
Harlan leaned forward.
“Creed kept letters.”
“What letters?”
“From Thomas.”
Mara's heart shifted.
“What?”
“He wrote you.”
“When?”
“The night Creed took him.”
Mara gripped the bars.
“Where?”
“Creed kept them because he thought they might mention the ledger.”
“Where are they?”
Harlan smiled.
“Get me a deal.”
Mara stepped back.
“No.”
“You want your husband's last words?”
“Yes.”
“Then help me.”
“No.”
His smile vanished.
“You haven't changed.”
Mara stared at him.
“No. You simply can't hurt me anymore.”
She turned.
Harlan called after her.
“There's one in the chapel!”
She stopped.
“The old ranch chapel.”
Elias stood.
Harlan continued.
“Behind the altar.”
Mara and Reeves searched that afternoon.
Behind a loose stone they found an envelope.
MARA written across it.
Her hands trembled.
She opened it alone.
Thomas had known he might not return.
He told her where copies were hidden.
He told her not to surrender the spring.
Then came the sentence that broke her.
If I don't come home, don't make my death the place where your life ends.
Mara read it again.
And again.
That evening she handed the letter to Elias.
He read the sentence.
Then looked at her.
“Thomas sounds smarter than me.”
Mara smiled through tears.
“He was.”
“I'm offended.”
“You'll survive.”
Elias returned the letter.
She didn't take it immediately.
“You should listen to him too.”
“It's addressed to you.”
“The advice isn't.”
Elias stared at the page.
Don't make my death the place where your life ends.
For six years, that was exactly what Elias had done.
The dead had not asked him to.
He had chosen it.
May you like
And for the first time, he understood that letting go of guilt did not mean forgetting them.
It meant allowing their memory to become something other than punishment.
