Before Evelyn inherited.
Clara closed ledger.
“You understand what this means?”
“He stole my father’s payment.”
“Potentially embezzled.”
“Falsified lien status.”
“Potentially.”
“Stop saying potentially.”
“I am examiner.”
“I enjoy words like potentially until court.”
Evelyn almost laughed.
“What happens?”
“I send injunction request to district judge.”
“Freeze foreclosure.”
“Begin audit.”
“Crowell?”
“Do not warn.”
“He already knows I’m here.”
Clara’s face sharpened.
“How?”
“Probably telegram.”
They both looked toward window.
Clara moved fast.
By evening she had sealed copies.
An order drafted.
But one problem remained.
The district judge was in Virginia City.
Could take days.
Clara sent telegraph.
Evelyn returned to hotel.
At midnight, someone tried entering her room.
The lock held.
Evelyn woke instantly.
A second push.
She grabbed fireplace poker.
“Who is it?”
Silence.
Then footsteps.
She opened only after hallway quiet.
A scrap of paper lay under door.
GO HOME IF YOU WANT TO KEEP IT.
Evelyn stared.
Then laughed.
Low.
Angry.
Whoever wrote had misunderstood her.
Threatening Hart Ranch only gave her direction.
At dawn she went back Clara.
“I’m going home.”
Clara frowned.
“Safer here.”
“My ranch auction is in twenty-six days.”
“Not tomorrow.”
“Cattle need me.”
“And Jonah is jailed.”
Clara’s eyes narrowed.
“You care about him.”
Evelyn bristled.
“He is witness.”
“Of course.”
“Do not.”
Clara smiled.
“I said nothing.”
The district judge telegraphed temporary stay two days later.
By then Evelyn was halfway home.
When she reached Bitter Creek, bank doors were closed despite midday.
A federal? Territorial marshal stood outside with county deputies.
Crowd filled street.
Evelyn pushed through.
Sheriff Mason saw.
“Miss Hart.”
“Where Jonah?”
“Still jail.”
“Why?”
“Separate warrant.”
“Crowell?”
“Gone.”
Her stomach dropped.
“What?”
“He left last night.”
“Where?”
“Unknown.”
Evelyn looked toward bank.
“Money?”
“Books seized.”
“Clara coming.”
Sheriff nodded.
Then lowered voice.
“There’s something else.”
“What?”
“Your barn.”
Evelyn froze.
“Tell.”
“A fire.”
World stopped.
“When?”
“Last night.”
“Gideon Webb saw flames.”
“They got livestock out.”
“How bad?”