Emily agreed.
Cyrus claimed stray cattle crossed naturally.
Sheriff did not believe him but lacked proof.
Then one of Cyrus’s hired men came secretly at night.
Name was Wesley Dunn.
Twenty-two.
Terrified.
He stood outside kitchen door.
“I cut the fence.”
Daniel rose halfway from chair.
Emily pushed him back.
Wesley continued.
“Mr. Bell told me.”
“Why tell us?”
“Because he said cows would be kept safe.”
“Then he sold eight.”
Daniel’s face darkened.
“Where?”
“Territory buyer near Casper.”
“Do you have proof?”
Wesley held out receipt.
Cyrus had signed.
That was enough.
The guardianship hearing arrived with Cyrus already under investigation for cattle theft.
He still came.
Of course he did.
The courthouse was packed.
People loved family disputes almost as much as land disputes.
This one had both.
Emily sat beside Daniel at front.
He still used one crutch.
Clara and Samuel sat behind them with Reverend Poole.
Cyrus sat across aisle with attorney.
Judge Horace Whitman was sixty-seven and looked permanently disappointed by humanity.
He read documents for fifteen minutes.
Then removed spectacles.
“Mr. Bell.”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
“You seek guardianship of Clara Cole and Samuel Cole.”
“Yes.”
“On what basis?”
“I am their paternal uncle.”
“Their maternal uncle is seated opposite.”
“Yes.”
Cyrus looked toward Daniel.
“He is financially unstable.”
“Recently married.”
“Injured.”
“And his wife has no demonstrated ability to provide a proper household for children.”
Emily felt Daniel’s anger beside her.
Judge looked at Cyrus.
“What constitutes demonstrated ability?”
Cyrus’s attorney stood.
“If I may.”
Judge nodded.
The attorney spoke smoothly.
“Mrs. Mercer has never raised children.”
“She has been married less than two months.”
“By her own medical admission, she cannot bear children.”
A murmur moved through room.
Judge Whitman’s face hardened.
“What relevance does the last point have?”
The attorney hesitated.
“Experience with maternal responsibilities—”
“Counsel.”
Judge leaned forward.
“I asked relevance.”
The attorney swallowed.
“It speaks to absence of prior maternal experience.”
Judge looked toward Emily.
“Mrs. Mercer taught school?”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
“For how long?”
“Four years.”
“How many children?”
“Between eleven and seventeen depending on season.”
“Any die?”
The courtroom went silent.
Emily blinked.
“No.”
“Then you have managed a room full of children more successfully than many parents I have encountered.”
A few people laughed.
Judge struck gavel lightly.
“Quiet.”
Cyrus looked furious.
The hearing continued.
Daniel’s debts.
Explained.