There was a pause.
Then he shouted, “You'll receive it soon enough.”
Eleanor looked toward Caleb.
She could see the strain in his jaw.
The men outside knew about the marriage.
They knew Caleb's name.
And they had come prepared to intimidate them.
She took a breath.
“Mr. Vane, if you have court documents, identify the issuing court and the judge.”
For several seconds, no one answered.
Then another man shouted.
“Lady, just come outside!”
Eleanor closed her eyes.
She'd heard that tone many times.
The sudden shift from legal language to orders when questions became inconvenient.
She looked toward the door.
“I'm not leaving with armed strangers in the middle of a blizzard.”
Vane laughed.
“Then your husband can explain why he's harboring stolen property.”
Caleb went still.
Eleanor looked toward him.
“What property?”
The man outside answered before Caleb could speak.
“Survey records belonging to the Whitmore company.”
Caleb's expression hardened.
Eleanor felt the pieces of the story shifting into place.
They hadn't come merely because Solomon wanted control of her finances.
They wanted the documents.
And they believed Caleb had them.
She looked toward the cedar table.
The map remained spread beneath the lamps.
For a moment, she considered hiding it.
Then she remembered something her father used to say.
Important documents are safest when more than one person knows they exist.
She turned toward Caleb.
“Are these the only copies?”
He hesitated.
“No.”
She felt some relief.
“Where are the others?”
He looked toward the staircase.
“My father distributed records before he died.”
Eleanor stared.
“To whom?”
Caleb swallowed.
“A minister. A former mining clerk. And an old friend who lives south of the valley.”
She nodded slowly.
That changed the situation.
Destroying one map wouldn't erase everything.
The men outside might not know that.
Eleanor took a breath.
“Then we don't need to risk our lives defending a chest.”
Caleb looked toward her.
His expression softened.
“No.”
Another violent knock shook the door.
Vane shouted.
“MERCER! LAST WARNING!”
Caleb glanced toward the rifle.
Then toward Eleanor.
“I'll tell them to leave.”
She nodded.
He raised his voice.
“You have no permission to enter. Return to town.”
The man laughed.
“Not without the woman.”
Eleanor stepped closer to the wall.
“Mr. Vane, I'm here voluntarily. I married Caleb Mercer today by my own choice.”
Silence.
Then Vane said something she didn't expect.