Fast.
Emily caught his wrist.
“Daniel.”
His entire body was rigid.
Cyrus smiled faintly.
There it was.
He wanted a fight.
Emily understood.
“Do not give him what he came for.”
she whispered.
Daniel stopped.
Cyrus looked almost disappointed.
Emily faced him.
“My ability to carry a child has no bearing on whether Clara and Samuel are safe here.”
“Court may disagree.”
“Then court can hear me.”
Cyrus’s smile narrowed.
“You have spirit.”
“So did Abigail.”
Emily replied.
That erased his smile.
Clara looked at her.
Cyrus handed Daniel another paper.
“Hearing in Cheyenne.”
“Three weeks.”
He mounted.
Before leaving, he looked toward Clara.
“You should think carefully about where you belong.”
Clara stared.
“I have.”
Cyrus rode away.
Daniel crumpled the petition.
Emily took it from him and flattened it.
“We need that.”
“I’d rather burn it.”
“The judge will appreciate the original.”
Daniel looked toward road.
“He's not taking them.”
Emily studied his face.
“You don't know that.”
“I won't let him.”
“That isn't how law works.”
“Then law can learn.”
Emily almost smiled.
“Rancher logic.”
“Works on cattle.”
“Judges are harder.”
Clara stepped from porch.
“I have something.”
Daniel turned.
The girl looked terrified.
“What?”
Clara reached inside her coat lining.
Her fingers found a small tear.
She pulled out a folded envelope.
Emily stared.
The paper was worn from being hidden against fabric.
Daniel slowly took it.
The writing on front read:
DANIEL MERCER — ONLY IF NATHAN CANNOT DELIVER THIS HIMSELF.
Daniel stopped breathing.
“Your mother’s handwriting?”
Clara nodded.
“She gave it to Papa before she died.”
“She said Uncle Cyrus must never have it.”
Daniel looked at Clara.
“Why didn't you give it to me?”
Tears appeared in the girl's eyes.
“I didn't know if you were good.”
The answer hurt him.
Emily saw.
Daniel crouched.
“That’s fair.”
Clara stared.
“You're not angry?”
“No.”
“I would have hidden it too.”
Daniel opened the letter.
Three pages.
His eyes moved slowly.
Halfway down, his expression changed.
“What?”
Emily asked.
He handed her the second page.
Abigail’s handwriting was faint but readable.
Daniel,
Nathan believes Cyrus is trying to force him into signing the Elk Creek parcel into the Bell Timber partnership. Do not let him. The land came through Nathan’s mother, and by her will it belongs to Clara and Samuel equally when they reach adulthood. Nathan holds it only as trustee.
Emily looked up.