“My mother taught me to look for the weakest seam.”
They stepped outside.
For one glorious moment, Amily thought they had succeeded.
Then a familiar voice spoke from behind the woodpile.
“Well, well.”
Her blood turned cold.
Gideon Pike stood near the northern fence.
His broken nose was bruised and swollen.
A heavy coat covered his shoulders.
And a revolver rested in his hand.
Beside him stood Orrin Shaw, the third rider from the stagecoach attack.
Pike smiled cruelly.
“Look what the storm dragged back.”
Harlon stepped slightly in front of Amily.
Pike noticed the metal case.
His expression changed.
“There it is.”
Amily gripped the handle.
He pointed his revolver toward the ground near their feet.
“Hand it over.”
Harlon remained calm.
“Put the gun away.”
Pike laughed.
“You don't give orders here, Boone.”
Harlon's eyes hardened.
“Neither do you.”
For several seconds, the men stared at each other.
Then Pike looked toward Amily.
“Give me the case, sweetheart. Save yourself trouble.”
She felt fear surge through her.
But this time, she wasn't standing beside a stagecoach with no idea what the men wanted.
She knew.
And the knowledge gave her something she'd lacked before.
A reason to stand her ground.
She looked directly into his eyes.
“No.”
Pike's smile vanished.
“What?”
Amily lifted her chin.
“I said no.”
He stepped forward.
Harlon's body tightened.
Pike pointed toward him.
“Don't.”
Amily took one slow breath.
Then asked something that surprised both men.
“Does Silas Vale know you've been lying to him?”
Pike frowned.
“What?”
She glanced toward the house.
“The documents are gone.”
He stared at the case.
“Then what's that?”
Amily smiled coldly.
“My mother's sewing box.”
For a moment, Pike looked confused.
Then angry.
“You expect me to believe that?”
She shrugged.
“Believe whatever you like.”
Harlon glanced toward her.
He understood immediately.
She was buying time.
The real documents were inside the metal case, but Pike had never seen them.
And from the house behind them came the sound of workers shouting about missing materials and unexpected damage to the old walls.
Amily raised her voice.
“Perhaps you'd like to explain to your supervisor why you're threatening a woman on land your company doesn't lawfully own.”
Several workmen turned toward the sound.
Pike's expression changed.
He looked toward the house.
Amily continued loudly.