Her stomach turned.
“The hem.”
“Possibly.”
“What is inside it?”
“I hoped your mother had gotten rid of it.”
“Harlan!”
“I don’t know exactly.”
Another voice sounded outside.
“Creek, open the door!”
Harlan gripped the rifle.
Josephine stared at him.
“You brought me here knowing men would follow?”
“No.”
“You expected this?”
“I expected them eventually.”
“You married me because of them?”
“Partly.”
The word hit harder than she expected.
Josephine felt humiliation rise.
Of course.
Not desire.
Not companionship.
Not even pity.
She was some piece of a mystery.
A package that needed moving.
“I see.”
Harlan read her expression.
“No, you don’t.”
The door shook violently.
Harlan looked toward it.
Then back to her.
“We don’t have time to have this conversation properly.”
Josephine wrapped the robe more tightly around herself.
“That seems to be a habit with men today.”
His eyes sharpened.
She expected anger.
Instead he nodded.
“You’re right.”
That almost hurt more.
Outside, a man shouted.
“We have legal business with the woman!”
Harlan called through the door.
“State it.”
A different voice answered.
“My name is Everett Pike.”
Josephine knew the name.
Her heart lurched.
Everett Pike had visited her father twice after her mother died.
Railroad money.
Land speculation.
Expensive coat.
Cold smile.
He always treated Josephine politely.
Too politely.
“I represent interests connected to Mrs. Miriam Vale’s estate.”
Josephine stepped toward Harlan.
“My mother?”
Harlan raised one hand without looking at her.
Pike continued.
“Your new wife possesses property belonging to that estate.”
Harlan’s voice was flat.
“She possesses whatever belongs to her.”
“We’re prepared to settle this peacefully.”
“You rode into a blizzard with armed men.”
A pause.
Then Pike laughed.
“You always did enjoy making things difficult.”
Harlan’s expression changed again.
Recognition.
Old hatred.
Josephine stared at him.
“You know him too.”
Harlan did not answer.
Pike shouted, “Send Josephine out with the wedding dress.”
Her blood turned cold.
They knew.
Harlan looked at her.
Josephine whispered, “How?”
“That’s what I’d like to know.”
Pike struck the door again.
“Ten seconds, Creek!”
Harlan stepped closer to Josephine.
“If that dress contains what I think it does, your mother died protecting it.”
Josephine’s eyes burned.
“You told me you didn’t know.”
“I don’t know what she hid.”
“But you know why.”
Harlan’s jaw flexed.
“Yes.”
“What happened to my mother?”
The silence answered before he did.
Josephine’s voice broke.
“She fell from a carriage.”
“No.”
The word was quiet.
Josephine stared.
Harlan continued.
“She was pushed.”