They ran.
Snow began falling again.
They reached a ridge overlooking the valley.
Anna stopped.
“Look.”
Below stood twenty riders.
At their center was Sheriff Caleb Morgan.
Samuel stared.
Anna whispered:
“My father.”
The sheriff looked up.
Even from that distance, Samuel could see him smiling.
Then he raised one hand.
Every rider drew a weapon.
Anna whispered:
“They know we're here.”
Samuel looked at her.
“Then we stop running.”
The Sheriff's Truth
They returned to town through an abandoned cattle trail.
By nightfall, Samuel and Anna reached the sheriff's office.
The front door was unlocked.
Inside, Sheriff Morgan sat behind his desk.
He looked exhausted.
“Close the door,” he said.
Anna raised her pistol.
“You killed Daniel.”
Morgan looked at his daughter.
“No.”
“Then tell us the truth.”
He sighed.
“I was ordered to.”
Samuel stepped forward.
“By whom?”
“Judge Vane.”
Samuel's eyes narrowed.
“Vane died three years ago.”
Morgan laughed bitterly.
“No.”
“What?”
“That's another lie.”
He opened a drawer.
Inside were photographs.
Judge Elias Vane.
Alive.
Thomas Crowe.
Alive.
And Samuel's father.
Harlan Reed.
Alive.
Samuel stared.
“Where is my father?”
Morgan whispered:
“Under the courthouse.”
Anna looked shocked.
“The courthouse?”
Morgan nodded.
“The Iron Circle has been operating beneath Cold Creek for twenty years.”
Samuel felt something cold move through him.
“Why?”
“Control.”
“Of what?”
“Everything.”
Morgan stood.
“Land. Banks. Courts. Elections. Cattle. Water.”
“And people.”
“Yes.”
Samuel looked at him.
“Why are you telling us this?”
Morgan reached into his pocket.
He removed a key.
“Because I'm tired.”
Anna stared.
“Tired of what?”
“Being afraid.”
He handed the key to Samuel.
“Under the courthouse.”
Then the door exploded.
Gunfire filled the room.
Morgan fell.
Anna screamed.
Samuel dragged her behind the desk.
Men poured through the windows.
He fired.
One.
Two.
Three.
Then silence.
Samuel looked toward Morgan.
The sheriff was dying.
Anna knelt beside him.
“Father.”
Morgan struggled to speak.
“Your brother…”
Anna leaned closer.
“Daniel…”
“He's…”
Blood filled his mouth.
“Alive.”
Then he died.
Samuel looked at the key.
He understood.
They had one chance.
They crossed the street toward the courthouse.
The building stood dark beneath the moon.
Samuel inserted the key into a hidden lock beneath the judge's desk.
A section of floor opened.
Stairs descended.
Anna followed.
Below was a massive chamber.
Tables covered with maps.
Boxes of documents.
Weapons.
And dozens of portraits.
At the center stood three men.
Judge Vane.
Thomas Crowe.
And Harlan Reed.
Samuel stopped.
His father looked exactly as he had twenty years earlier.
Older, but alive.
Harlan smiled.
“Hello, son.”
Samuel raised his revolver.
Anna grabbed his arm.
“No.”
Harlan laughed.
“You see?”
He looked at Anna.
“This is why Daniel failed.”
Samuel's voice was low.
“What did you do to him?”
“Nothing.”
“Where is he?”
Harlan smiled.
“You'll see.”
A door opened behind them.
Daniel Reed stepped into the room.
Samuel's gun lowered.
His brother looked older.
Thinner.
His hair had turned gray.
But it was him.
Daniel stared at Samuel.