Chapter 12 - Leanne’s Own Buried Grief
They saved the horses.
Barely.
The new barn burned to its frame.
Arthur stood in the snow watching flames consume timber.
But this time he did not collapse.
Leanne was beside him.
Ghost stood nearby, trembling.
Arthur put one hand against the mare’s neck.
The past had returned.
But Arthur was not the same man.
At dawn they found tracks.
Two riders.
One horse had a distinctive broken shoe.
Jedidiah recognized the print.
Sheriff Dunn’s horse.
They now had evidence connecting Dunn directly to intimidation.
But Leanne carried another secret.
Thomas had mailed her a second letter before his death.
She had never opened it.
Fear had prevented her.
Arthur sat beside her while she finally broke the seal.
Thomas wrote that he had copied Vane’s railroad accounts.
He had hidden the copies in a station locker in Red Creek.
He included the number.
If those records still existed, they could prove the entire conspiracy.
But Red Creek was two days away in good weather.
In winter, perhaps four.
Arthur prepared to leave alone.
Leanne packed her bag.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“You’re staying.”
Leanne looked at him.
Arthur sighed.
“I suppose arguing is pointless.”
“Very.”
For the first time in years, Arthur smiled.
A real smile.
Leanne stared.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
But she smiled too.
The next morning they rode toward Red Creek.
May you like
Neither knew Silas Vane’s men were already following them.
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