At the time, she had believed it contained final instructions concerning her journey.
But during the train ride, she had noticed unfamiliar legal language near the bottom.
Language concerning property.
She hurried toward the trunk.
Opened it.
Lifted out the folded cloth beneath the pot.
And found the letter.
She unfolded it.
Read the first paragraph.
Then the second.
Her hands began trembling.
There were signatures.
Her brother's.
Caleb Ryland's.
And a clause concerning Whispering Pines Ranch.
It was not simply a marriage arrangement.
It was an agreement to create a legal dispute that would pressure Elias into selling his northern river pasture.
Her brother had been promised money if the dispute succeeded.
Lara stared at the page.
Her own brother had sold her humiliation for a share of somebody else's land.
Outside, Caleb continued threatening Elias.
Lara folded the paper.
Then straightened her shoulders.
For most of her life, she had been expected to remain quiet while others decided her value.
Not anymore.
She walked toward the door.
Chapter 4: The Letter That Changed Everything
Elias heard the door open behind him.
He turned.
Lara stepped onto the porch.
Snow swirled around her skirt.
She carried the folded document in one hand.
Caleb's smile widened.
“Well, there's our lovely bride.”
Lara ignored him.
She looked at Elias.
“May I speak?”
Elias's expression softened.
“Of course.”
She handed him the document.
“I believe this belongs to your enemy.”
Caleb's smile disappeared.
Elias unfolded the paper.
As he read, his eyes narrowed.
He recognized his ranch's legal description.
The northern boundary.
The river crossing.
The agreement concerning the disputed marriage arrangement.
Then he saw the signatures.
Caleb Ryland.
Thomas Higgins.
His jaw tightened.
He looked toward the man on horseback.
“Where did you get this?”
Lara answered before Caleb could speak.
“My brother gave it to me.”
Caleb sat straighter.
“That paper is private.”
Lara raised her chin.
“Apparently I wasn't supposed to read it.”
Elias turned another page.
The agreement contained a payment schedule.
Thomas would receive five hundred dollars when Lara departed Boston.
Another five hundred when she arrived in Deadwood.
And a final sum if Elias agreed to sell the disputed river land under pressure.
Elias looked up.
“You paid her brother to send her here.”
Caleb shrugged.
“People make arrangements.”
“You forged my name.”
“That's your accusation.”
“You intended to use her to force a sale.”
Caleb's expression hardened.
“Careful, Montgomery.”
Lara stepped forward.
“Why?”
Both men looked at her.
She held her voice steady.