Chapter 12 - The Assassin in the SnowTheir marriage had become a countdown, and the first attempt came before sunset.
The first snow arrived early.
Black Ridge disappeared beneath white.
Gerard became restless.
He checked the perimeter.
Blocked trails.
Reset traps.
Ariel watched from the cabin.
"You're expecting someone."
"I am."
"Briggs?"
"Someone worse."
That evening, the front door opened.
Ariel screamed.
Gerard spun.
No one was there.
Only a small wooden box sat on the porch.
Gerard approached carefully.
A note was attached.
FOR THE BRIDE.
Ariel stopped him.
"Don't touch it."
He looked at her.
"Good."
He used a stick to move it.
The box exploded.
The blast knocked Ariel backward.
Gerard shielded her.
When the smoke cleared, blood ran from his shoulder.
Ariel grabbed him.
"You're hurt."
"I'm fine."
"No."
She touched his face.
"You never say anything else."
He smiled.
Then they heard horses.
Three riders.
Gerard took his rifle.
The fight began.
One assassin reached the cabin.
Ariel grabbed a fireplace poker.
He attacked.
She struck his wrist.
His gun dropped.
She kicked it away.
The man stared at her.
"You shouldn't be here."
She answered:
"I live here."
He laughed.
"You won't for long."
Gerard arrived.
The man raised his hands.
"Wait."
Gerard aimed.
"Who sent you?"
The assassin smiled.
"Your wife knows."
Ariel froze.
"What?"
The assassin looked at her.
"Ask her about the letter from Philadelphia."
Then he bit down.
Gerard lunged.
Too late.
The man collapsed.
Poison.
Ariel stood frozen.
"What letter?"
Gerard looked at her.
"What letter?"
She remembered.
A letter Arthur had sent months before her journey.
One she had forgotten.
She ran upstairs.
Her old satchel was still there.
Inside was a folded envelope.
She opened it.
The handwriting wasn't Arthur's.
It read:
Dear Miss Baker,
Do not marry Arthur Pendleton.
Do not travel west.
He is not the man you think he is.
At the bottom was a name.
Gerard Jimenez.
Ariel stared.
Gerard entered.
She turned toward him.
"You knew someone tried to warn me."
"I didn't."
"The letter has your name."
He took it.
His expression changed.
"I've never seen this."
"Then who wrote it?"
He looked at the signature.
His face went pale.
"My sister."
Ariel stared.
"You said you had no siblings."
Gerard looked toward the mountain.
"I believed she was dead."
The cabin door slammed.
Ruby entered.
Her face was white.
"She's alive."
Gerard looked at her.
"Who?"
Ruby whispered:
"Your sister."
May you like
She looked at Ariel.
"And Briggs has her."
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