“Where?”
“My father's papers mention a bank.”
“Which bank?”
“First Territorial Bank.”
“Cheyenne.”
“Yes.”
Silas folded the map.
“We leave at dawn.”
Eleanor nodded.
“You're coming?”
He looked at her.
“You started this.”
She smiled.
“You're welcome.”
They reached Cheyenne two days later.
The city felt enormous to Eleanor after Creed Ranch.
Buildings stood shoulder to shoulder.
Wagons crowded the streets.
Merchants shouted.
Horses stamped.
Railroad whistles sounded in the distance.
Silas looked uncomfortable.
“You hate cities,” Eleanor said.
“I don't hate them.”
“You look like you're planning an escape.”
“I prefer open country.”
“You prefer silence.”
“Yes.”
“You also prefer being alone.”
He looked at her.
“Not anymore.”
The words came quietly.
Eleanor's heart beat faster.
He seemed to realize what he had said.
Neither spoke for several moments.
Then she smiled.
“Progress.”
They found the bank records.
But the clerk refused to release them.
“Private records,” he said.
Silas leaned over the counter.
“These concern fraud.”
“Then bring a court order.”
Eleanor placed a document on the desk.
“My father's estate.”
The clerk looked at it.
Then looked at her.
“You are Eleanor Vale?”
“Yes.”
He swallowed.
“Wait here.”
He disappeared into a back office.
Silas looked at her.
“You knew that would work.”
“I hoped.”
“You're becoming more troublesome.”
“I thought you liked troublesome.”
“I didn't say that.”
“You're beginning to.”
The clerk returned with a ledger.
He opened it.
The records showed payments from Gideon Shaw to a man named Thomas Bell.
Bell had been the clerk responsible for recording cattle transfers.
Silas's eyes narrowed.
“Where is Bell?”
The clerk hesitated.
“Dead.”
“When?”
“Three months ago.”
“How?”
“Gunshot.”
Silas looked at Eleanor.
She went pale.
The clerk continued.
“Sheriff called it robbery.”
Silas closed the ledger.
“It wasn't.”
“No,” Eleanor whispered.
They left the bank.
Outside, Silas stopped beneath the awning.
“Your father knew.”
“Yes.”
“And Bell knew.”
“Yes.”
“And both are dead.”
“Yes.”
He looked at her.
“Eleanor.”
She met his eyes.
“I know.”
“You should leave.”
“No.”
“You don't understand.”
“I understand perfectly.”
“This is bigger than cattle.”