Chapter 4 - THE MAN WHO CAME UP THE MOUNTAIN
Daniel Shaw arrived two days later.
He did not come alone.
Henry watched from the tree line as three riders climbed the lower trail.
Daniel wore a city coat.
Too thin for the cold.
Black hat.
One hand wrapped around the saddle horn like he distrusted the horse.
Behind him rode a deputy Henry recognized from Hamilton.
Elias Trent.
The third man was Caleb Voss.
That name made Henry’s stomach tighten.
Caleb owned timber concessions east of the ridge.
For two years he had tried to buy Henry’s land.
Henry had refused.
Apparently Clara’s brother had found local help.
Henry returned to the cabin.
“Three riders.”
Clara stood near the stove.
Her face had regained some color.
“Daniel?”
“Yes.”
“Anyone else?”
“Deputy Trent.”
Her fear became visible.
Henry continued.
“And Caleb Voss.”
“Who?”
“Timber man.”
“What does he have to do with Daniel?”
“That is what bothers me.”
Daniel reached the cabin twenty minutes later.
Henry opened the door before he could knock.
Daniel stared.
“You Mercer?”
“Yes.”
His eyes moved past Henry.
“Clara.”
She stepped into view.
Daniel smiled.
Henry immediately hated him.
Not because the smile was cruel.
Because it was familiar.
The smile of a man who expected the world to believe him.
“There you are.”
Clara’s shoulders stiffened.
“Go home.”
Daniel sighed.
“You see?”
He looked toward Deputy Trent.
“This is what I described.”
Trent removed his gloves.
“Mrs. Mercer, your brother says you left Chicago with money belonging to your family.”
“I inherited it.”
Daniel laughed.
“Our aunt’s estate was meant for both of us.”
“No.”
Clara produced the paper.
“I have the document.”
Daniel barely looked.
“Forgery.”
Henry’s patience shortened.
Trent said:
“I’m not here to arrest anyone.”
“Good,” Henry replied.
“I’m here to settle questions before they become legal problems.”
Caleb Voss smiled from behind them.
“Civilized.”
Henry stared.
“Why are you here, Voss?”
“Business.”
“With my wife’s brother?”
Daniel answered.
“Mr. Voss was kind enough to help me find you.”
Clara’s eyes narrowed.
“How?”
Caleb shrugged.
“Matrimonial agencies keep records.”
Henry understood.
“You bought the address.”
“Information has value.”
Something cold moved through Henry.
Clara looked at Voss.
“What do you want?”
“Your husband’s ridge.”
Henry laughed.
“No.”
Voss’s smile disappeared.
“That answer may change.”
“Hasn’t yet.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“Clara, come down the mountain. We’ll settle the inheritance.”
“No.”
“You’re sick.”
“No.”
“You always were difficult.”
Henry moved slightly.
Clara touched his arm.
Not to seek protection.
To stop him.
She looked at Daniel.
“You hit me.”
Deputy Trent’s face changed.
Daniel laughed.
“That?”
Clara’s voice strengthened.
“You broke my ribs.”
“You fell.”
“You locked me in the apartment for two days.”
“You were hysterical.”
Henry’s hands curled.
Daniel saw.
His confidence wavered.
Then Caleb said:
“Domestic matters are irrelevant.”
Clara turned.
“They are not irrelevant to me.”
Voss smiled thinly.
“Mrs. Mercer, perhaps not. But the land is what matters here.”
“What about it?”
He pulled a document from his coat.
A survey.
Henry recognized the shape immediately.
His western boundary.
Voss pointed.
“Your homestead claim overlaps a timber concession issued last year.”
“It doesn’t.”
“This survey says otherwise.”
“It’s false.”
Deputy Trent took it.
“County seal.”
Henry stared.
He had filed his claim six years earlier.
No overlap.
Unless someone changed the record.
Voss continued:
“If Mercer loses title to the ridge, the cabin sits on disputed property.”
Clara went still.
Daniel smiled.
“There’s no reason for my sister to stay in a house that isn’t yours.”
Henry finally understood the partnership.
Daniel wanted Clara.
Voss wanted land.
Each helped the other.
Clara asked:
“What happens if Henry sells?”
Voss smiled.
“Problem disappears.”
“For how much?”
“Three thousand.”
Henry almost laughed.
The ridge timber alone was worth ten.
“I told you no.”
Voss looked toward Clara.
“Your wife may have a different opinion now.”
Henry’s gaze moved to her.
He said nothing.
Important.
Her choice.
Clara looked at Voss.
“No.”
Daniel’s face hardened.
“Clara.”
“No.”
“You’ve been here three weeks.”
“Yes.”
“You don’t even know this man.”
Clara glanced at Henry.
Then back.
“I know he asks before touching me.”
Daniel flinched.
“I know he gives me choices.”
Her voice shook, but she continued.
“I know he does not tell me pain is my fault.”
Henry stopped breathing.
“And I know I would rather freeze on this mountain than go anywhere with you.”
Daniel’s face changed.
The mask slipped.
“You ungrateful little—”
Henry moved.
One step.
Enough.
Daniel stopped.
Deputy Trent put a hand on his arm.
“Careful.”
Voss sighed.
“This has become emotional.”
Henry looked at him.
“You came to a man’s home with a forged claim and an abusive brother. Emotion was likely.”
Trent frowned at the survey.
“Forged?”
“Yes.”
“Can you prove it?”
“My original filing is in Missoula.”
Voss smiled.
“Then perhaps you should go get it.”
Henry understood the trap immediately.
Leave the cabin.
Leave Clara.
Voss wanted him off the ridge.
“I’ll send someone.”
“Road’s closed.”
“Then we wait.”
Voss looked around.
“Winter is long.”
Clara went white.
Henry noticed.
That phrase.
Daniel’s phrase.
But Voss said it.
Clara did too.
Her eyes narrowed.
“You wrote the note.”
Voss smiled.
Daniel looked confused.
“What note?”
Interesting.
Voss had been at the cabin before Daniel arrived.
Henry stared.
“You came during the storm.”
Voss shrugged.
“I inspect property I intend to acquire.”
“My property.”
“For now.”
He mounted his horse.
“Seven days, Mercer.”
“For what?”
“Sell.”
Henry said nothing.
“After that, I file the boundary challenge.”
“And if you lose?”
Voss smiled.
“I rarely do.”
The men rode away.
Clara closed the door.
Then locked it.
Henry watched her.
“Daniel didn’t write the first note.”
“No.”
“Voss did.”
“Yes.”
“Why use Daniel’s words?”
She frowned.
“He must have told him.”
“Or they’ve been corresponding longer than you knew.”
Clara looked sick.
Henry moved toward her.
Stopped before touching.
She closed the distance herself.
Pressed her forehead against his chest.
For one second, he didn’t move.
Then put his arms around her.
Clara whispered:
“I brought this here.”
“No.”
“They followed me.”
“Voss wanted this land before you.”
“Daniel gave him leverage.”
“That’s on Daniel.”
She closed her eyes.
“You make guilt sound very inconvenient.”
“It usually is.”
She laughed once against his coat.
Then lifted her face.
“What do we do?”
Henry looked toward the ridge.
“Prove my claim.”
“How?”
“My original survey marker.”
“Where?”
“North boundary.”
Her expression changed.
“You said avalanche country.”
“Yes.”
“In winter?”
“Yes.”
“Absolutely not.”
He almost smiled.
“Now who’s controlling?”
“I’m being rational.”
“So am I.”
“No, you’re being Montana.”
“Sometimes same thing.”
She stared.
Then sighed.
“When do we leave?”
“You don’t.”
“Henry.”
He knew that tone now.
He corrected.
“When do we leave?”
“Better.”
At dawn the next morning, they packed snowshoes, rope, food, rifle, compass, and the old survey map.
The north marker sat seven miles through broken timber.
Henry expected the journey to test Clara.
Instead, three miles out, she stopped.
“What?”
She pointed behind them.
A line of smoke rose from the direction of the cabin.
Too dark.
Too thick.
May you like
Henry’s blood turned cold.
Their cabin was burning.
