Chapter 20
He removed his hat.
“She's right.”
Abigail snapped, “Sit down.”
He didn't.
Another man stood.
Then another.
The shame on their faces surprised Matilda.
The first miner said, “I laughed.”
His voice cracked.
“I watched her get slapped and did nothing.”
He looked at Matilda.
“I'm sorry.”
Matilda did not immediately forgive him.
But she nodded.
That was enough.
Then the front doors opened.
Sheriff Hollis entered.
Abigail smiled.
“Finally.”
Hollis walked toward Matilda.
“Miss Harrow.”
Matilda stiffened.
He removed his badge.
Then placed it on the table.
Abigail's smile disappeared.
“What are you doing?”
Hollis looked at her.
“For twelve years, your family has told me who to investigate and who to ignore.”
His voice shook.
“I told myself I was keeping peace.”
He looked at Matilda.
“I was keeping comfortable.”
Then he pulled a ledger from beneath his coat.
“I took this from Judge Mercer's office.”
Elias stepped forward.
“What is it?”
“Payments.”
The dining room erupted in murmurs.
Hollis opened it.
“Mercer. Voss. Abigail. County officials. Territorial agents.”
Abigail lunged.
Jedodiah stepped between them.
She stopped instantly.
Hollis continued.
“There is enough here to bring federal investigators.”
Abigail laughed bitterly.
“And you think they'll care about some fat cook?”
Matilda looked at her.
“No.”
Then she smiled.
“But they might care about stolen federal rail land.”
Abigail's face changed.
Hollis looked surprised.
Matilda held up one of Elias's maps.
“I spent last night reading.”
Jedodiah grinned.
Elias looked proud.
Matilda continued.
“Three parcels your father took were part of a federal survey.”
Thomas understood first.
“That puts it outside Mercer’s jurisdiction.”
“Exactly.”
Abigail's confidence cracked.
For the first time, Matilda saw panic.
Then the rear door burst open.
A boy rushed inside.
“Fire!”
Everyone turned.
“Where?”
“The ridge!”
They ran outside.
Smoke rose from Black Ridge.
Not from Jedodiah's cabin.
From the old Harrow mine.
Elias went white.
“The vault.”
Jedodiah looked at him.
“They're burning the evidence.”
Abigail smiled.
Too late, Matilda understood.
The confrontation had been a distraction.
Jedodiah mounted the nearest horse.
Matilda grabbed another saddle.
“You're not going.”
She stared at him.
“Try stopping me.”
His mouth twitched.
“Was hoping you'd say that.”
They raced toward Black Ridge.
By the time they reached the old mine road, smoke rolled across the snow.
Several men were fleeing downhill.
Jedodiah recognized one.
“Voss's men.”
They reached the mine entrance.
Flames licked along timber supports.
Elias arrived behind them.