Chapter 8 - A Message Sent to North Ridge
Elias spread the documents across the table.
Aayoka stood opposite him.
Thomas rested near the fire, his wounded arm bandaged.
“We give Crowe copies,” Aayoka said.
“He'll inspect them.”
“Not closely in the dark.”
“He'll bring men.”
“So do we.”
Elias looked at Thomas.
“Who?”
Thomas named six ranchers Crowe had cheated.
“Will they fight?”
“They'll testify.”
“That might be better.”
Aayoka nodded.
“Crowe expects violence.”
Elias looked at her.
“You're suggesting witnesses.”
“I am suggesting daylight.”
The plan formed.
Instead of meeting Crowe at night, they would send word agreeing to the exchange at dawn.
Meanwhile Thomas would contact the ranchers.
One would ride to the territorial judge.
If Crowe harmed Ruth publicly, he would expose himself.
If he accepted the false documents, they would buy time.
It was risky.
But less foolish than a gunfight.
At dawn, Elias rode to the mining camp.
Aayoka insisted on coming as far as the ridge.
“No farther.”
“I know.”
He looked at her.
There were a thousand things he wanted to say.
None felt sufficient.
Aayoka touched his hand.
“Come back.”
Two words.
Everything Elias had wanted nine months earlier.
“I will.”
Crowe waited below with four men.
Ruth sat on a crate, hands tied.
Sheriff Bell stood nearby.
Elias descended alone.
Crowe smiled.
“Finally learned cooperation.”
“No.”
Elias tossed the copied ledger.
Crowe caught it.
“Ruth first.”
Crowe examined several pages.
Then laughed.
“You think paper makes you powerful?”
“No.”
“What does?”
Elias looked toward the ridge.
“Witnesses.”
Six riders appeared.
Crowe's smile vanished.
Then another rider approached from Silver Creek.
Territorial Marshal Daniel Mercer.
Thomas had reached him faster than expected.
Crowe reached for his revolver.
Sheriff Bell drew first.
Not at Elias.
At Crowe.
“Don't.”
Everyone froze.
Crowe stared at him.
“You spineless—”
“Yes,” Bell said. “I was.”
He removed his badge.
“Not today.”
The marshal arrested Crowe.
Ruth was freed.
No heroic shootout.
No bodies in the dust.
Only evidence and frightened men finally deciding fear had cost enough.
But Crowe smiled while being handcuffed.
“You think this ends it?”
Elias said nothing.
Crowe looked toward Aayoka on the distant ridge.
“You still don't know why Samuel was really killed.”
Elias stepped closer.
“What are you talking about?”
Crowe laughed.
“Ask Bell who fired the shot.”
Elias turned.
May you like
Bell's face told him the answer would change everything.
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