Chapter 10 - The Trial at MidnightBriggs wanted a widow, but Ariel walked into the courtroom as a wife.
The courthouse filled before midnight.
Briggs wanted witnesses.
He wanted spectacle.
He wanted the town frightened enough to accept whatever verdict he gave them.
Ariel entered wearing the same dress she had worn when she arrived in Bitter Creek.
Dust covered the hem.
The lace was torn.
But the wedding ring on her finger gleamed.
Gerard walked beside her.
The crowd gasped.
Someone shouted:
"The Mountain Devil!"
A woman crossed herself.
Briggs stood behind the judge's desk.
"Gerard Jimenez is a convicted murderer."
Ariel answered:
"Convicted by a corrupt sheriff."
Murmurs spread.
Briggs slammed his hand down.
"This isn't your courtroom."
Ariel looked at the judge.
"No."
She held up the register.
"But it is his."
The judge stared.
Briggs moved toward her.
"That document is stolen."
"The clerk signed it."
"The clerk is dead."
Ariel froze.
Briggs smiled.
"Convenient, isn't it?"
Gerard stepped forward.
"Enough."
Briggs pointed at him.
"You are a murderer."
"No."
Gerard's voice echoed through the room.
"I am the man you tried to hang because you wanted my land."
The crowd went silent.
Briggs drew his revolver.
The judge shouted:
"Put that weapon away!"
Briggs obeyed.
Slowly.
Ariel took a breath.
She had one chance.
"Bring the evidence."
Arthur emerged from the back row.
The crowd erupted.
Briggs stumbled backward.
"You're dead."
Arthur smiled.
"So are many of the men whose claims you stole."
He placed the ledger on the judge's desk.
"Read it."
The judge opened it.
His face changed page by page.
Payments.
Names.
Land transfers.
Murder orders.
Then he reached the final page.
His eyes widened.
"Where did you get this?"
Arthur pointed at Gerard.
"From the underground station beneath Black Ridge."
Briggs shouted:
"Lies!"
Arthur opened his coat.
"Federal commission."
The room exploded.
Deputies drew weapons.
Briggs reached for his gun.
Gerard tackled him.
They crashed through a table.
Ariel grabbed the ledger.
The judge shouted for order.
Then the courthouse windows shattered.
Men outside opened fire.
Arthur pushed Ariel behind a wall.
"Get down!"
"Who are they?"
"Railroad men."
Briggs laughed from the floor.
"You still don't understand."
Ariel looked at him.
"What?"
He smiled.
"Even if you arrest me, the land doesn't belong to Gerard."
Gerard froze.
Briggs looked at Ariel.
"It belongs to you."
She stared.
"What?"
"Arthur made sure of that."
Everyone turned toward Arthur.
He said nothing.
Briggs laughed.
"You married the Mountain Devil for his land."
He looked at Ariel.
"But your husband doesn't own Black Ridge."
Ariel's heart pounded.
"Who does?"
Briggs's smile became cruel.
"You do."
And then he pulled the courthouse lantern from the table.
May you like
He threw it onto the floor.
Fire erupted.
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