“Twenty-eight thousand dollars.”
Cobb froze.
Crowd murmured.
Sadie continued.
“That’s what railroad offered, correct?”
Someone shouted:
“You said four!”
Cobb raised hands.
“Initial figures changed.”
Clara stepped forward.
“No.”
“They didn’t.”
She held certified letters.
“The railroad offered twenty-eight thousand plus timber compensation before the wedding.”
Crowd erupted.
Cobb’s composure cracked.
“You have no authority here.”
Clara smiled.
“I’m attorney licensed in Montana Territory.”
“I assure you, I have enough.”
Sadie looked at townspeople.
“For ten years I was told my father left debts.”
“He left land.”
“Six hundred forty acres across Miller Pass.”
Another murmur.
Cobb said:
“Land was encumbered.”
Clara answered:
“Not according to land office.”
Cobb turned on her.
“Stay out.”
Sadie stepped between them.
“No.”
“You stay.”
Cobb looked at Sadie as though seeing adult woman for first time.
She continued.
“You filed papers claiming you didn’t know where I was.”
“I slept fifty yards from your office.”
“You forged my name.”
“I signed nothing.”
Cobb’s face changed.
There.
Fear.
He said:
“Careful.”
Sadie laughed.
“For what?”
“You’ve benefited from this town.”
“Have I?”
“We fed you.”
“I worked for every plate.”
“We housed you.”
“I scrubbed every room.”
“You think surviving here cost you nothing?”
“I think you made me grateful for crumbs while hiding what was mine.”
People shifted.
Mrs. Palmer stepped forward.
“Sadie.”
Her voice broke.
“I’m sorry.”
Sadie looked.
Mrs. Palmer cried.
“He told me you had no estate.”
“I believed.”
“Then when Lucien came asking…”
“You lied to him.”
“I was afraid Cobb would close boardinghouse.”
Sadie’s anger softened into grief.
Not forgiveness.
Not yet.
Cobb seized moment.
“You see?”
“Everyone did what was needed to keep this town alive.”
Lucien finally spoke.
“No.”
His voice carried.
“You did what kept you in control.”
Cobb glared.
Lucien stepped beside Sadie.
Not ahead.
Beside.
Cobb pointed.
“You’re no hero.”
“I know.”
“You demanded her.”
“I did.”
“You took her.”
“I did.”
Sadie looked at Lucien.
He did not hide.
Cobb laughed.
“Then stop pretending.”
Lucien said:
“I told you she had to agree freely.”
“You told me she was ready.”
Cobb’s face tightened.
Lucien continued.
“At church, I knew you lied.”
“Yet married her.”
“Yes.”
“And I regret not stopping.”
The crowd quieted.
Sadie had not expected public confession.
Lucien looked at her.
“I told myself getting you away mattered more than asking again.”