Chapter 8 - The Truth About Olivia's FatherMargaret ordered everyone into the parlor.
Samuel kept his rifle hidden behind the chair.
Olivia stood beside Daniel.
Eleanor looked ready to attack.
Margaret remained calm.
“You have no idea what your father started,” she told Olivia.
“My father tried to expose you.”
“He betrayed us.”
“He was a doctor.”
“He was a fool.”
Olivia's fists tightened.
“What did you want from him?”
“Your father's bloodline.”
Samuel frowned.
Margaret looked at him.
“You still haven't understood.”
She pointed at Daniel.
“The Dawson family did not discover the mine.”
Samuel shook his head.
“No.”
“The Bennett family did.”
Olivia stared.
“My family?”
“Yes.”
Margaret stepped closer.
“Your father was descended from the original surveyor who mapped the entire mountain.”
“And the Dawsons?”
“His partners.”
Eleanor nodded slowly.
“My grandfather knew.”
Margaret smiled.
“And that's why your son matters.”
Samuel looked at Daniel.
Margaret continued.
“The mine was never legally owned by one family.”
“Then why does the deed name Daniel?”
“Because Daniel is the only child born from both bloodlines.”
Samuel's face changed.
“Eleanor.”
She nodded.
“Our marriage joined the two families.”
Margaret smiled.
“But Daniel's birth completed the claim.”
Olivia suddenly realized something.
“My father knew Daniel existed.”
Margaret nodded.
“He wanted to protect him.”
“So you killed him.”
“Yes.”
Samuel's rifle came up.
Margaret raised her pistol.
“You fire, Olivia dies.”
Samuel stopped.
Margaret smiled.
“Now we're thinking clearly.”
Olivia whispered:
“What do you want?”
“You.”
Olivia froze.
Margaret continued.
“You have something your father left behind.”
The ledger.
Olivia reached into her coat.
“I already gave you everything.”
“No.”
Margaret stared.
“You kept the final page.”
Olivia's face revealed nothing.
Margaret smiled.
“You have your father's cipher.”
Samuel looked at Olivia.
“What cipher?”
Olivia hesitated.
Then pulled a small brass key from a chain around her neck.
Margaret's eyes lit up.
“That.”
Samuel stepped closer.
“What's it open?”
Olivia whispered:
“The original mine vault.”
Margaret held out her hand.
“Give it to me.”
Olivia looked at Samuel.
Then at the children.
She placed the key in Margaret's palm.
Margaret smiled.
“Good girl.”
She turned.
Then Olivia spoke.
“You should check the key.”
Margaret frowned.
A click sounded.
The brass key split apart.
Inside was a small metal pin.
Olivia pressed it.
A hidden needle shot into Margaret's hand.
Margaret screamed.
Samuel lunged.
Eleanor fired.
Margaret fell.
The cabin erupted into chaos.
But she did not die.
She disappeared into the snow.
By morning, her men were gone.
The sheriff found her coat abandoned near the river.
No body.
Again.
Samuel returned to the cabin.
Olivia sat beside Daniel.
She looked exhausted.
Samuel sat beside her.
“Why didn't you tell me about the key?”
“Because I didn't trust anyone.”
“And now?”
She looked at him.
“I do.”
Samuel reached for her hand.
Olivia leaned toward him.
This time, neither stopped.
Their kiss was brief.
Gentle.
Almost afraid.
Then James came running into the room.
“Papa!”
Samuel pulled away.
“What happened?”
James pointed outside.
“There's a wagon.”
They rushed to the window.
A black wagon stood at the end of the road.
A white flag hung from it.
And beside the driver's seat sat Edward Whitmore.
Alive.
He lifted a hand.
Then mouthed four words.
I know where she is.
Samuel looked at Olivia.
“Who?”
Edward pointed toward the mountain.
Then toward Daniel.
And Olivia suddenly understood.
He wasn't talking about Margaret.
May you like
He was talking about someone else.
Someone Samuel thought was dead.
