She looked down.
Then whispered, "Mama said other women wouldn't like me."
I closed my eyes briefly.
There was so much fear packed into those few words.
I took a breath.
"Annie, sometimes grown-ups say things because they're angry or frightened."
She looked toward me.
"Does that make them true?"
"No."
Her expression softened.
I continued.
"You don't have to decide what to think about me today."
She nodded.
"But I want you to know you're welcome here."
She looked toward the fire.
Then asked, "Can I call you Rose?"
I smiled.
"Of course."
She considered.
Then whispered, "I like that name."
I laughed softly.
"So do I."
The child smiled for the first time without fear.
And in that moment, I made a quiet promise to myself.
Whatever happened in the mine, whatever secrets William's first wife carried, and whatever difficult decisions lay ahead, I would not allow Annie to become a prize fought over by adults.
She was a child.
Not property.
Not leverage.
Not a key to hidden silver.
A child.
And she deserved a life larger than the secrets surrounding her.
By late afternoon, the search team arrived.
Four experienced mountain workers.
A local physician.
Two deputies.
And the sheriff.
William helped them examine the original mine plans.
The entrance behind the pantry was opened carefully after the men inspected the supporting timbers.
A cold draft rolled into the kitchen.
It smelled of wet stone, earth, and old iron.
I stood beside Annie while they worked.
She clutched my hand.
William approached.
He looked exhausted.
"Rose."
I turned.
"Yes?"
"They're going in."
I nodded.
"Be careful."
He glanced toward the passage.
"I have to help."
My stomach tightened.
"William."
He took my hands.
"I know the first section."
I searched his face.
"You don't know what's changed beneath there."
He nodded.
"That's why the others are leading."
I swallowed.
He leaned down.
Kissed my forehead.
Then whispered, "I love you."
I closed my eyes.
"I love you too."
Annie stepped closer.
"Papa?"
He knelt.
She wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Come back."
William's face tightened.
He kissed her hair.
"I will do everything I can to come home."
She nodded.
He stood.
Then disappeared into the dark passage with the search team.
For the next two hours, I remained in the kitchen.
I prepared coffee.
Heated broth.
Collected blankets.
And tried not to imagine what might be waiting beneath the earth.
Annie sat beside the stove.
She drew small pictures on scraps of paper.
A horse.
A cabin.
A little girl.