Chapter 9 - Judgment DayThey were marched out of Black Hollow at sunrise.
Sadie walked beside Gideon.
Her hands were bound.
Harlan was injured.
Clara was silent.
Colonel Mercer led twenty men down the mountain.
Judd was nowhere to be seen.
That frightened Sadie more than if he had been there.
Judd always had another plan.
By noon, they reached Mercer Ridge.
The ranch looked different.
More armed men.
More horses.
More wagons.
The whole place had become a fortress.
Sadie stared at the barn where she had nearly died.
Gideon followed her gaze.
“Don't look.”
“Why?”
“Because he wants you to remember.”
They were taken into the main house.
The dining room had been turned into a courtroom.
The county judge sat at the head of the table.
The sheriff beside him.
And three men Sadie recognized from the ledger.
Officials.
Witnesses.
Crooks.
All wearing serious faces.
Colonel Mercer stood before them.
“This is a legal matter.”
Sadie laughed.
“A legal matter?”
The judge slammed his hand against the table.
“Mrs. Bennett.”
Sadie looked at him.
“You forged evidence.”
He stiffened.
“You'll show respect.”
“You took Judd's money.”
Silence.
The sheriff looked away.
Gideon smiled.
“You're terrible at lying.”
The sheriff grabbed his gun.
Colonel Mercer stopped him.
“Enough.”
He turned to Sadie.
“Sign the transfer.”
“No.”
“You will.”
“No.”
He walked toward her.
“You know how many people have died over that land?”
“Yes.”
“And you know how many more will die?”
Sadie lifted her chin.
“Still no.”
He smiled.
Then the door opened.
Judd walked in.
Sadie's stomach dropped.
He was pale.
Blood soaked his shirt.
But he was smiling.
“Miss me?”
Gideon stepped forward.
Judd pointed a gun at him.
“Don't.”
Sadie stared.
“You survived.”
“Unfortunately for you.”
Judd walked toward her.
“You made me chase you through a blizzard.”
“You deserve worse.”
He smiled.
“I'll admit something.”
“What?”
“You surprised me.”
Sadie almost laughed.
“That's all?”
“No.”
Judd leaned closer.
“I was surprised by Gideon.”
Gideon stared at him.
Judd's expression hardened.
“He was supposed to die eight years ago.”
Sadie looked at Gideon.
“What?”
Judd laughed.
“You didn't tell her?”
Gideon said nothing.
“What is he talking about?”
Judd answered for him.
“Gideon was the guide who led my men to Harlan.”
Gideon's face changed.
Sadie stepped away from him.
“No.”
Judd continued.
“He helped us find Black Hollow.”
Gideon finally spoke.
“I was forced.”
“You were paid.”
“No.”
Judd smiled.
“Tell her.”
Sadie looked at Gideon.
“Is it true?”
Gideon closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
The word shattered her.
“How could you?”
“I thought I was saving Harlan.”
“You helped them.”
“I didn't know what they were doing.”
“You knew enough.”
Gideon stepped toward her.
“Sadie.”
She backed away.
“Don't.”
Judd smiled.
“See?”
He turned toward the judge.
“She won't trust him now.”
Sadie looked around the room.
The judge.
The sheriff.
Judd.
Mercer.
Gideon.
Everyone had lied.
Everyone had hidden something.
Then she realized something else.
The black ledger.
She still had it.
Hidden inside her coat.
And one page was missing.
The page she had torn earlier.
The one containing Judd's signature.
She touched her pocket.
Still there.
Judd was speaking.
She stopped listening.
Her mind moved.
The courtroom was full of enemies.
But they had made one mistake.
They had brought her here alive.
They had gathered in one room.
And they had put every stolen secret into one place.
She looked at the chandelier above them.
Then at the fireplace.
Then at the oil lamp beside the curtains.
An idea formed.
A dangerous one.
A desperate one.
She caught Gideon's eye.
He understood something in her expression.
“Sadie,” he whispered.
She shook her head.
Then she deliberately knocked the lamp to the floor.
Fire exploded across the curtains.
Everyone screamed.
Smoke filled the room.
Gideon moved.
So did Harlan.
Clara fired.
The sheriff fell.
Chaos erupted.
Sadie grabbed the judge's papers.
Judd lunged for her.
She struck him with the ledger.
He stumbled.
Then a gunshot cracked.
Judd froze.
A dark stain spread across his chest.
He looked behind him.
Colonel Mercer held the gun.
Judd whispered:
“You son of a—”
He collapsed.
Mercer looked at Sadie.
“You really are your mother's daughter.”
He raised the gun.
Then Gideon stepped between them.
“Move.”
“No.”
“You'll die.”
“Then I die standing.”
Mercer fired.
Gideon fell.
Sadie screamed.
And outside, church bells began ringing.
One.
Two.
Three.
Dozens of riders appeared through the smoke.
The doors burst open.
Federal marshals stormed inside.
At the front was a woman in a dark blue coat.
She held up a badge.
“Colonel Nathaniel Mercer.”
The colonel froze.
“You are under arrest.”
Sadie stared.
“Who are you?”
The woman looked at her.
Then at the documents in Sadie's hands.
“My name is Agent Eleanor Grant.”
She smiled faintly.
“And your father sent me a letter six months ago.”
Sadie's heart stopped.
“My father?”
“Yes.”
Grant lowered her voice.
“He told me that when you found the evidence, I should come.”
Sadie looked toward Gideon.
He was on the floor.
Blood beneath him.
No movement.
She dropped the papers.
“Gideon.”
Grant grabbed her arm.
“Wait.”
Sadie looked at her.
“He's dead.”
“No.”
The agent pointed.
Gideon's fingers had moved.
Once.
Then twice.
Sadie ran to him.
He opened his eyes.
“You're terrible at following orders.”
She laughed through her tears.
“You're terrible at dying.”
He smiled.
Then his expression changed.
“Sadie.”
“What?”
“There’s one problem.”
“What?”
He looked toward the burned courtroom.
“Judd.”
“He's dead.”
Gideon shook his head.
“No.”
Sadie froze.
“The body…”
“Wasn't his.”
Outside, a horse suddenly bolted into the snow.
And mounted on it was the man Sadie had watched fall.
May you like
Judd Mercer.
Alive.
