He had made copies of important pages by hand over the years, but the originals remained invaluable.
They couldn't risk bringing every piece of evidence into danger.
So Harlon had arranged for Ruth to carry a sealed packet containing certain records to a trusted attorney in Silverpine.
If something happened to them, the documents would not disappear with them.
Amily appreciated the precaution.
She had no intention of letting Silas Vale destroy the only record of her family's history.
The western trail was narrow.
Snow covered the rocks.
The horses moved cautiously beneath tall pines while the mountains rose around them like enormous walls.
For the first hour, they spoke little.
Amily concentrated on her horse.
Harlon rode slightly ahead, studying the trail.
But when they reached a sheltered ridge overlooking the valley, he stopped.
“Look.”
Amily turned.
Far below, Silverpine lay beneath a blanket of snow.
Wooden rooftops clustered along a narrow main street.
Smoke rose from chimneys.
The church steeple stood near the center of town.
Beyond it, the Blackstone Mining Company's industrial buildings stretched along the creek.
Even at that distance, Amily could see the tall smokestack above the ore-processing works.
Harlon pointed toward the western slope.
“Bellwether Meadow.”
Amily followed his gesture.
A broad valley lay beyond the timber.
Near its center stood the remains of an old farmhouse.
Several dark wagons were gathered along the road.
Men moved between them.
And beside the house, stacks of lumber and equipment suggested that work was already underway.
Amily's stomach tightened.
“They're there.”
Harlon nodded.
“Yes.”
She looked toward him.
“Can we reach the house before they destroy it?”
He studied the sky.
Then the trail.
“We'll have to avoid the main road.”
He pointed toward a narrow ravine.
“There's an old drainage crossing behind the northern pasture. My father used it during the original survey.”
Amily frowned.
“Is it safe?”
“If the snow holds and we take our time.”
She nodded.
“Then let's go.”
They descended slowly.
At one point, Amily's horse hesitated before a narrow section of trail.
The ground dropped steeply to one side.
She felt fear rise.
Harlon turned.
“Easy.”
She gripped the reins.
“I'm trying.”
He approached calmly.
“Look at me.”
She did.
He pointed toward the path.
“Keep your weight balanced. Let the horse find its footing.”
Amily swallowed.
Then nodded.