Chapter 4 - The Letter From a Dead ManArthur had lied to Ariel, but his final letter contained a secret no one was supposed to know.
They ran.
Gerard led them through the narrow tunnel while Ruby followed.
Ariel's skirts snagged on nails and broken timber.
She kept the letter clenched in her fist.
She needed answers.
But every answer seemed to open three more questions.
Why had Arthur brought her here?
Why had Gerard agreed so quickly?
And what did Briggs fear so desperately?
They emerged inside an abandoned mining shed outside town.
Gerard pushed open the door.
Cold night air rushed over Ariel's face.
"Where are we?"
"Two miles west of Bitter Creek."
Ruby pointed toward the mountains.
"Your valley is that way."
Gerard frowned.
"Why are you helping us?"
Ruby smiled sadly.
"Because Arthur once saved my life."
Ariel looked at her.
"What did he do?"
"He didn't sell me to Briggs."
That answer told Ariel enough.
They rode through the darkness.
Gerard gave Ariel the only horse.
He walked beside it despite his wound.
She protested.
"You're bleeding."
"I've had worse."
"You nearly died."
"That's becoming a habit."
She glanced at him.
"Do you always joke when you're about to die?"
"No."
"When do you?"
"When I'm nervous."
Ariel looked at him in disbelief.
"You don't seem nervous."
"I'm terrified."
That stopped her.
"Of what?"
Gerard looked toward her.
"That you'll regret marrying me."
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Ariel looked away.
"I'm more afraid of what happens if I hadn't."
They reached Black Ridge shortly before dawn.
The valley was beautiful.
Not the lush green land Arthur had promised her.
But beautiful nonetheless.
Dark pine forests rolled across the slopes.
A silver creek cut through the valley.
Wild horses grazed near the water.
The cabin sat beneath a cliff.
It was sturdy.
Small.
Private.
Gerard opened the door.
Ariel stepped inside.
Everything was orderly.
A rifle above the fireplace.
A table.
A bed.
A few books.
No signs of wealth.
No signs of a gold mine.
"Where is all the gold?"
Gerard looked amused.
"You married me for gold?"
"I married you because I was trying not to become Sheriff Briggs's property."
"Good answer."
He walked to the fireplace.
He moved a stone.
A hidden compartment opened.
Inside was a metal box.
Ariel approached.
Gerard unlocked it.
Inside were documents.
Maps.
Photographs.
And dozens of letters.
One bore Arthur's handwriting.
Ariel's stomach dropped.
"What was he doing here?"
Gerard pulled out a map.
"Arthur came to Black Ridge eighteen months ago."
"Why?"
"Mining."
"Then why write me?"
"He needed your signature."
"My signature?"
"Arthur claimed he was your future husband."
Ariel's face went white.
"What did I sign?"
Gerard looked at her.
"You haven't signed anything."
"Arthur sent me documents."
"And?"
"I refused most of them."
Gerard closed his eyes briefly.
"Good."
"What?"
"Because one of those documents would've transferred your future inheritance rights to Briggs."
Ariel stared at him.
"My inheritance?"
"Arthur wasn't supposed to die yet."
"Then why was he killed?"
Gerard looked toward the window.
"Because he tried to betray Briggs."
Ariel folded her arms.
"You know too much."
"Yes."
"How?"
"Because my father was one of the original surveyors of Black Ridge."
"You never told me about your father."
"He died when I was sixteen."
"What happened?"
Briggs appeared in the doorway.
A gun in his hand.
Ariel froze.
"Gerard," she whispered.
Too late.
Briggs smiled.
"I've been waiting for you two to come home."
Behind him stood six armed men.
And in the center was Deputy Carson.
Ariel's face fell.
Carson slowly removed his hat.
"Sorry, Mrs. Jimenez."
He looked at her wedding ring.
"You won't be needing that much longer."
Gerard moved in front of Ariel.
Briggs laughed.
"You really think a marriage certificate protects her?"
He raised the pistol.
"No."
Ariel heard the floorboard creak beneath her foot.
Something was hidden underneath.
She remembered Gerard's words.
The real Black Ridge wasn't gold.
It was evidence.
And now Briggs had walked straight into it.
Ariel deliberately dropped Arthur's letter.
As Briggs bent to look at it, she kicked the loose floorboard.
A hidden lever snapped upward.
The cabin walls exploded open.
Gunfire thundered.
May you like
Everyone screamed.
And the entire floor collapsed beneath them.
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