“Inside.”
he said.
Clara shook her head.
“Absolutely not.”
“Clara.”
“This is my house.”
Samuel nearly laughed despite danger.
“You and your father are impossible.”
“Probably hereditary.”
The lead rider stopped.
Middle-aged man.
Red beard.
Gray coat.
He looked at Samuel.
“There you are.”
Samuel stepped from the porch.
The man dismounted.
“We’ve been looking.”
“I noticed.”
The rider glanced toward Clara.
Then cabin.
“You hiding behind a woman now?”
Samuel’s expression hardened.
“No.”
“Then come away from the house.”
“Say what you came to say.”
The rider smiled.
“Mr. Vale wants the book.”
“I don’t have it.”
“He says otherwise.”
“I don’t care.”
Clara listened.
Book.
Ledger.
Samuel had called it a ledger.
Why book?
The rider stepped closer.
“You took it when you left.”
Samuel shook his head.
“No.”
Another rider said:
“Search the house.”
Samuel’s revolver cleared leather.
Instant.
“Try.”
Silence.
Clara’s heart pounded.
The lead rider raised both hands.
“Easy.”
Samuel did not lower the weapon.
The man’s eyes moved toward Clara.
“Lady, this man is a thief.”
Clara answered:
“He says you are.”
The rider laughed.
“Of course he does.”
Then looked at Samuel.
“We know you sent something north.”
Samuel’s face barely changed.
Clara saw enough.
He had sent something.
The rider continued:
“You should have kept running.”
Samuel said:
“You should leave.”
The man’s smile disappeared.
“Vale knows where this place is now.”
That was the threat.
Not today.
Later.
Clara understood.
Samuel understood more.
The rider mounted.
“Sunset tomorrow.”
“Bring the ledger to Cottonwood Crossing.”
“If you don’t, we come back.”
The men rode away.
Dust settled.
Samuel lowered his revolver.
Clara stared at him.
“What did you send north?”
He did not answer immediately.
“Samuel.”
He looked toward her father’s window.
Then at Clara.
“The ledger.”
Her face changed.
“You said you didn’t have it.”
“I lied.”
“Wonderful.”
“I had reasons.”
“You brought stolen evidence here?”
“No.”
“I sent it to Helena before I came back.”
Clara folded her arms.
“You are going to explain everything.”
Samuel sighed.
“Yes.”
“Now.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Inside, Samuel opened the lining of his saddlebag.
Removed folded papers.
Not the ledger.
Copies.
Names.