Chapter 5 - Clem Hutchkins Came Back
The old mill stood beside a frozen river.
Silas approached from the west.
Amos from the south.
Eda entered openly.
Alone.
At least that was what Clem believed.
“You came.”
His voice echoed through the ruined building.
Eda saw Clara tied to a chair.
Alive.
Bruised, exhausted, terrified—but alive.
Clem emerged.
“You always were the troublesome one.”
Eda kept her hands visible.
“Let her go.”
Clem laughed.
“Where are the papers?”
“Safe.”
“Where?”
“Let Clara go.”
“You're bargaining?”
“Yes.”
Clem approached.
“You were worth one dollar.”
Eda stared into his eyes.
“No. That's what Silas paid to stop you.”
Clem's smile disappeared.
Outside, Silas moved between trees.
Inside the mill, Pearl and Ruth crawled beneath a broken loading platform.
Mabel waited near the rear door.
Lena and Susanna had horses ready.
Joelle remained with Amos.
Every woman had a role.
Nobody was property.
Nobody was helpless.
Clem reached for Eda.
She stepped backward.
“Don't.”
“You think Boon made you brave?”
“No.”
Her voice steadied.
“We made each other brave.”
A board creaked.
Clem turned.
That was enough.
Eda rushed toward Clara.
Silas entered through the side door.
Clem drew his revolver.
Amos shouted.
Chaos followed.
No dramatic gunfight.
No heroic slaughter.
Just frightened people moving quickly.
A shot struck a beam.
Dust fell.
Ruth cut Clara's ropes.
Pearl kicked Clem's dropped weapon beneath machinery.
Silas tackled him.
Clem struck Silas hard.
Eda grabbed a wooden lever and slammed it downward, releasing an old grain gate between Clem and the exit.
Amos reached him seconds later.
This time he used irons personally.
Clem stared at Eda.
“You think this ends anything?”
She breathed heavily.
“No.”
He smiled.
“Good.”
That answer bothered her.
They rescued Clara.
But Clem's confidence remained.
Why?
Because he wasn't the leader.
On the ride back, Clara finally revealed the truth.
“Clem works for someone.”
“Who?” Silas asked.
Clara trembled.
“A man everyone trusts.”
Amos looked at her.
“Name him.”
Clara whispered it.
The sheriff's face went white.
Silas stared.
Eda felt her stomach turn.
Because the man Clara named controlled the courthouse.
Judge Nathaniel Harland.
The very judge they had intended to trust with the evidence.
And he was expected in town within days.
May you like
They had been preparing to deliver their proof directly into the hands of the man running the entire operation.
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