“Nobody.”
She pointed toward his chest.
“You look sad there.”
Caleb stared into the fire.
“Eliza.”
“Your wife?”
He nodded.
“She died.”
“How?”
“Fever.”
“Were you there?”
“Yes.”
“Did you save her?”
Caleb swallowed.
“No.”
Lily thought about that.
“Then you know how it feels when somebody doesn't come back.”
Caleb looked at her.
“Yes.”
Lily moved closer.
“Then help us.”
He didn't hesitate.
“I will.”
The next morning, they returned to town.
Caleb walked into the Lucky Star.
Silas Vane was behind the bar.
Sheriff Holt sat at a table.
Boone Clegg stood near the door.
Three dangerous men.
One room.
Caleb took the empty seat at the bar.
“Whiskey.”
Vane poured.
“You're spending time with Bell's children.”
“They need help.”
“They're not your concern.”
“Maybe.”
Vane smiled.
“You should leave Mercy Creek.”
Caleb took a sip.
“Why?”
“Because people who interfere with other people's affairs don't last.”
Caleb placed the glass down.
“Did you kill Elias Bell?”
The room became silent.
Vane's smile vanished.
Sheriff Holt stood.
“You accusing me of murder?”
“I'm asking a question.”
“You're finished here.”
Caleb looked at Holt.
“I don't think so.”
Boone stepped closer.
Caleb noticed the silver tooth.
“You've got a problem,” Boone said.
“No.”
Caleb smiled.
“I've got questions.”
He stood.
“I'll be back.”
As he walked outside, he heard Vane say:
“Find out where those girls are staying.”
Caleb stopped.
That was the moment he realized the danger had changed.
The men weren't interested in him.
They were interested in Lily and June.
And whatever their mother had hidden, they were willing to kill to recover it.
Caleb returned to the farmhouse before sunset.
Lily was waiting.
“You went to see them.”
“Yes.”
“Did they lie?”
“Yes.”
“How do you know?”
Caleb smiled faintly.
“Because liars usually talk too much.”
Lily nodded seriously.
That evening, Mae Dawson came to the farmhouse.
She carried food.
And fear.
“I shouldn't be here,” she whispered.
Caleb closed the door.
“Then why are you?”
“Because I was there the night Clara disappeared.”
Lily ran toward her.
“You knew Mama!”
Mae's eyes filled with tears.
“Yes.”
“Where is she?”
Mae couldn't answer.
Lily grabbed her dress.
“Where is she?”
Mae looked at Caleb.
Then back at the child.
“They took her.”
“Who?”
“Vane.”
Caleb's jaw tightened.
“Where?”
“The old silver mine.”
Lily's face went white.
“Is she alive?”
Mae nodded.
“She was when I heard them talking last.”
Caleb moved immediately.
“We're going.”
Mae grabbed his arm.
“Not tonight.”
“Why?”
“Holt knows the mine.”
“And?”
“He'll be waiting.”
Mae revealed the rest.
Elias Bell had discovered that Vane was acquiring land through forged debts.
Ranchers who refused to sell suddenly faced accusations.
Sheriff Holt would arrest them.
Their properties would be seized.
Vane would purchase them cheaply.
Some owners disappeared.
Others died in suspicious accidents.
Elias had collected evidence.
Clara had hidden it.
Then Vane discovered the existence of the evidence.
He killed Elias.
He took Clara.
But he never found the records.
Because Clara had hidden them beneath the farmhouse.
Caleb finally understood the blue floorboard.
He looked at Lily.
“Your mother protected you by making sure nobody knew where the evidence was.”
Lily nodded.
“She said secrets can keep people alive.”
Caleb knelt.
“She's right.”
Together, they lifted the board.
Beneath it was a metal box.
Inside were deeds.
Letters.
Maps.
And a ledger.
Caleb opened it.
Names.
Dates.
Payments.
Land transfers.
Threats.
Murder.
Everything was there.
Mae began to cry.
“He'll kill anyone who sees this.”
Caleb closed the ledger.
“Not if we get it to the federal marshal.”
“There isn't one nearby.”
“There will be.”
Mae shook her head.
“The telegraph office is controlled by Holt's cousin.”
“Then we'll find another route.”
But someone had already noticed them.
Outside, a horse moved through the darkness.
Caleb extinguished the lamp.
Everyone froze.
A voice came from the yard.
“Rourke.”
Boone.
Caleb looked toward the girls.