Chapter 6
The old prospector fell into his arms.
Blood stained his coat.
Matilda screamed.
They carried him inside.
A bullet had torn through his shoulder.
Jedodiah cleaned the wound while Matilda boiled water.
Silas drifted in and out of consciousness.
Near sunset, his eyes finally opened.
“Matilda.”
She hurried beside him.
“I'm here.”
His fingers closed weakly around her wrist.
“You shouldn't be.”
“What happened?”
Silas looked toward Jedodiah.
“They followed me.”
“Who?”
Silas swallowed painfully.
“Men Thatcher hired.”
Matilda stared.
“Abigail?”
“She knows I remember.”
“Remember what?”
Silas's eyes filled with fear.
“Your mother.”
Matilda stopped breathing.
“My mother?”
Silas nodded.
“I knew her.”
“That isn't possible. My mother lived in Missouri.”
“No.”
Silas struggled upright.
“No, girl.”
Jedodiah placed a hand against his chest.
“Easy.”
Silas ignored him.
“Your mother lived here.”
Matilda felt the room tilt.
“You're mistaken.”
“I ain't.”
He reached beneath his coat.
His trembling hand produced a small leather pouch.
“I've kept this twenty-three years.”
He handed it to Matilda.
Inside was a silver locket.
Her breath caught.
She knew it.
Her mother had worn an identical one until the day she died.
Matilda opened it.
One side contained the faded portrait of a beautiful young woman.
Her mother.
On the opposite side stood a man Matilda had never seen.
He wore an expensive suit.
“Who is he?”
Silas looked toward the window.
“Elias Harrow.”
Jedodiah stiffened.
Matilda noticed.
“You know that name?”
“Everybody does.”
Jedodiah's expression darkened.
“Harrow owned half the silver claims on Black Ridge.”
“Owned?” Matilda whispered.
Jedodiah nodded.
“Died twenty-three years ago.”
Silas shook his head.
“Murdered.”
The fire cracked loudly.
Matilda could barely speak.
“What does that have to do with me?”
Silas stared at her.
“Everything.”
He took a shaking breath.
“Elias Harrow was your father.”
Matilda stepped backward.
“No.”
“He loved your mother. Planned to marry her.”
“My father was Thomas Bell.”
“Thomas Bell raised you.”
Silas coughed.
Blood appeared at the corner of his mouth.
“But Harrow was your blood.”
Matilda's thoughts raced.
Her mother refusing to discuss Leadville.
The locket.
The strange sadness whenever Matilda asked about her father.
“Why would she lie?”
“Because Elias died three days before you were born.”
Matilda covered her mouth.
Silas continued.
“His partners claimed he died in an avalanche. Truth was, they killed him.”
“Why?”
“Because he'd found the richest silver vein anybody had ever seen.”
Jedodiah stood abruptly.