Chapter 12 - A Marriage Put on Trial
Dr. Reeves was arrested before noon the next day.
The storm delayed formal charges, but not his fear.
He talked.
Not immediately.
Men like Reeves rarely confessed because conscience awoke.
They confessed because consequences did.
Sheriff Pike placed the medicine bottle on the table.
Reeves went white.
“I didn’t kill him.”
Caleb stood behind Eleanor.
Nobody moved.
Pike said, “Then explain.”
Reeves swallowed.
“Isaac had chest pain.”
“Cole examined him two days earlier.”
“I know.”
“Said he was healthy.”
“Heart conditions can change.”
“Digitalis?”
Reeves looked toward the floor.
“I gave a standard dose.”
“Then why did you hide the bottle?”
“I didn’t.”
“Ames had it.”
That shattered him.
Reeves sat.
“Ames said Isaac had been difficult.”
Caleb’s voice was low.
“What does that mean?”
Reeves would not look at him.
“He said the old man needed to be calm.”
Eleanor felt sick.
Pike leaned closer.
“What did you give Isaac?”
“A larger dose.”
“How large?”
Silence.
“Doctor.”
“Too large.”
Caleb’s breath changed.
Eleanor reached backward.
Found his hand.
Held it.
Reeves spoke quickly.
“I didn’t intend to kill him. I thought it would weaken him. Make him confused. Ames said he only needed Isaac unable to testify for a few days.”
“A few days?” Caleb said.
Reeves flinched.
“His heart reacted badly.”
“And Rutherford?”
“Didn’t know.”
Eleanor studied him.
“How can you be certain?”
“Because when Isaac collapsed, Rutherford panicked. He wanted me to save him.”
Caleb closed his eyes.
Truth was rarely clean enough to satisfy anger.
Rutherford had helped create the circumstances.
He had hidden evidence afterward.
But he had not ordered Isaac’s poisoning.
Walter Ames had.
Why?
Pike learned the answer.
Ames owned secret shares in Consolidated Mining.
If North Slope transferred, he would profit enormously.
Rutherford had been greedy.
Ames had been desperate.
Together, they had created the opportunity.
Only one had crossed the final line.
The criminal investigation changed everything.
So Eleanor assumed the spring inheritance review would be canceled.
She was wrong.
Attorney Ames’s removal did not invalidate Isaac Morgan’s will.
The estate court appointed another representative.
Mrs. Abigail Cross.
She arrived in Silver Hollow eleven days before the deadline.
Sixty.
Sharp-eyed.
Unimpressed by everyone.
Eleanor liked her immediately.
Mrs. Cross reviewed the entire case.
Then said something unexpected.
“The marriage still requires determination.”
Caleb stared.
“After all this?”
“Mr. Morgan, criminal conduct surrounding your father’s death does not automatically void legal provisions he created earlier.”
“The will was his.”
“Yes.”
“And the marriage clause?”
“Appears genuine.”
Eleanor understood.
“So Rutherford’s challenge continues.”
“His petition does.”
“He may be charged.”
“Probably.”
“But the petition survives?”
“Law is irritating that way.”
Eleanor smiled.
“I like you.”
“I’ve been warned that is temporary.”
The formal review began in the county courthouse.
Silver Hollow filled every seat.
Eleanor sat beside Caleb.
Rutherford sat across the aisle.
He looked older.
Ames was absent.
In custody.
The board asked questions.
How had Caleb and Eleanor met?
Why did they marry?
Where did they live?
Who managed household expenses?
Did they intend to remain married?
That last question changed the room.
Caleb looked at Eleanor.
Mrs. Cross noticed.
“So?”
Caleb answered.
“Yes.”
Eleanor’s heart stopped.
Mrs. Cross turned to her.
“Mrs. Morgan?”
Eleanor could not lie.
“Yes.”
A murmur moved through the room.
Rutherford’s attorney stood.
“The original marriage was nevertheless financial.”
Eleanor looked at him.
“So are many farms.”
Laughter broke out.
Mrs. Cross struck the table.
“Order.”
The attorney continued.
“Mrs. Morgan received fifty dollars to enter the marriage.”
“Yes.”
“And expects another two hundred?”
“Yes.”
“So she was paid.”
“For fulfilling a contract.”
“You were paid to become a wife.”
“I was compensated for moving to an isolated mountain, maintaining a household, and remaining there until March.”
“Do wives usually require contracts?”
Eleanor looked at Caleb.
Then back.
“Perhaps more should.”
More laughter.
Even Mrs. Cross struggled.
The attorney changed tactics.
“Did you love Mr. Morgan when you married him?”
“No.”
“Did he love you?”
“No.”
“So the marriage was false.”
Eleanor leaned forward.
“No.”
“Explain.”
“We did exactly what the law defines as marriage. We obtained a license. We entered willingly. We established a household. We shared responsibilities. We protected each other’s interests.”
She paused.
“Love came later.”
The courthouse went silent.
Caleb stared at her.
Eleanor’s face warmed.
There.
Said.
Publicly.
No taking it back.
The attorney blinked.
Rutherford looked down.
Mrs. Cross asked, “Mr. Morgan, is that true?”
Caleb’s eyes never left Eleanor.
“Yes.”
“Which part?”
“All of it.”
The review continued.
Tom Mercer testified that Rutherford had pressured Lily.
Lily’s written statement from Denver was entered.
Margaret testified Eleanor had not returned to live at the tavern.
Miller confirmed regular purchases made for two people.
Deputy Harris confirmed Eleanor had refused opportunities to leave.
Then Rutherford himself stood.
His lawyer advised against it.
He ignored him.
Mrs. Cross asked, “Do you maintain this marriage is fraudulent?”
Rutherford looked at Caleb.
Then Eleanor.
“No.”
A whisper swept through the courtroom.
His lawyer closed his eyes.
Rutherford continued.
“I believed it was when I filed the petition.”
“What changed?”
“I watched them.”
Caleb frowned.
Rutherford gave a tired smile.
“I know what an arrangement looks like. I’ve spent half my life inside arrangements.”
His gaze moved to Eleanor.
“That woman could have taken my money and left.”
“What money?” Mrs. Cross asked.
Rutherford hesitated.
Eleanor almost laughed.
“Ten thousand dollars.”
The courtroom erupted.
Mrs. Cross demanded silence.
“You offered Mrs. Morgan ten thousand dollars to leave?”
“Yes.”
“Did she?”
Rutherford looked at Eleanor.
“No.”
“Why?”
“You’ll need to ask her.”
Mrs. Cross did.
Eleanor answered simply.
“Because I didn’t want to.”
Caleb’s hand found hers beneath the table.
Rutherford withdrew his petition.
But another obstacle remained.
Consolidated Mining had filed a separate claim arguing Isaac’s will required the marriage to survive until the exact review date.
The date was March 20.
Today was March 9.
Eleven days.
Mrs. Cross closed the hearing.
“The household determination remains provisional until March twentieth.”
Outside, reporters waited.
Caleb shielded Eleanor from questions.
They reached the alley.
She stopped.
“Caleb.”
“Yes?”
“You said yes.”
“To what?”
“Remaining married.”
He looked at her.
“So did you.”
“I know.”
He stepped closer.
“Do you regret it?”
“No.”
“Neither do I.”
For the first time since the contract began, March no longer felt like an ending.
Then Sheriff Pike emerged from the courthouse.
His expression destroyed the moment.
“Rutherford’s gone.”
Caleb frowned.
“Gone where?”
“Nobody knows.”
“What happened?”
“He was supposed to report for questioning about Ames.”
Eleanor looked toward the street.
His horse was missing.
His hotel room empty.
And on the bed, Pike had found a map.
North Slope.
One location circled in red.
May you like
The abandoned eastern mine.
Whatever Rutherford wanted there, he was willing to risk everything to reach it before they did.
