Chapter 16
“She sent it twelve years ago.”
Matilda stared.
“Mother knew you were alive?”
“Yes.”
Everything inside her shifted again.
“Why didn't she tell me?”
Elias handed her the letter.
Matilda read silently.
Elias, if there is any love left in you for me, do not come.
Matilda has finally built a life untouched by Black Ridge.
Thomas failed me in many ways, but he has loved her.
Do not punish her for our mistakes.
Matilda shut her eyes.
Her mother had chosen silence.
Not because the truth didn't matter.
Because Matilda did.
Tears slipped down her cheeks.
Jedodiah quietly stood beside her.
Not touching.
Simply near.
It helped.
A bell rang outside.
Then another.
The town alarm.
Jedodiah stepped to the window.
“What now?”
People were running toward Main Street.
Smoke rose near the boarding house.
Matilda's heart sank.
“The Prospector's Rest.”
They rushed outside.
Flames crawled along the rear wall.
Abigail stood in the street shouting orders.
Sheriff Hollis was beside her.
But when Abigail saw Elias Harrow, all color left her face.
“You.”
Elias walked toward her.
The entire street went quiet.
“Disappointed?”
Abigail recovered quickly.
She pointed at Matilda.
“Sheriff! Arrest that woman!”
Hollis hesitated.
Too many eyes were watching.
“For what?”
Abigail stared.
“For Silas Reed's m/u/rder!”
A murmur moved through the crowd.
Matilda stepped forward.
“Then explain why your hired men were the ones who followed him onto Black Ridge.”
Abigail laughed.
“Ridiculous.”
Elias held up the ledger.
“Would you like me to read the names?”
Abigail's face tightened.
Judge Mercer appeared from across the street.
“Sheriff, confiscate that.”
Elias turned toward him.
“Ah.”
The crowd noticed.
Judge Mercer stopped.
Elias smiled.
“Afraid your name is inside?”
The judge barked, “This man is a fraud!”
An old prospector shouted, “That's Elias Harrow!”
Another voice joined.
“I worked his claim in '54!”
Then another.
“My father knew him!”
The street erupted.
For decades, Abigail's family had controlled what people whispered.
Now those whispers became voices.
Sheriff Hollis stepped backward.
Judge Mercer hissed, “Do something.”
Hollis looked at the crowd.
Then at Abigail.
Then at Elias.
“No.”
Mercer stared.
“What?”
“I said no.”
For the first time, Abigail looked frightened.
Matilda understood why.
Power only worked while everyone agreed to believe in it.
And belief was breaking.
Then a horse thundered into town.
A rider leaned low over the saddle.
He stopped before the boarding house.
The man was thin, gray-haired, and exhausted.