Your father will tell you I abandoned you. He will tell you I chose money over family. Believe neither.
I chose to keep you alive.
Eliza could barely see through her tears.
Then she read the final paragraph.
There is one person I trust more than anyone in this world. His name is Gabriel Vale. If he finds you, trust him.
Eliza lowered the letter.
Gabriel stood in the doorway.
“She knew you would come.”
“Yes.”
“She knew everything?”
“Not everything.”
“What didn’t she know?”
Gabriel looked toward the horizon.
“That your father would betray her.”
Eliza looked down at the ledger.
“What do we do now?”
Gabriel answered quietly.
“Expose them.”
They rode back to Redemption.
The town had changed.
Men stood in the streets.
Sheriff’s deputies guarded every corner.
Blackwood had taken control.
The courthouse doors were locked.
The church was empty.
The saloon was packed with armed men.
Eliza understood.
“They know.”
Gabriel nodded.
“Then we go anyway.”
They entered the courthouse through the front doors.
Every gun in the room turned toward them.
Blackwood stood at the judge’s bench.
Eliza’s father stood beside him.
His face was bruised.
His eyes were empty.
Blackwood smiled.
“Gabriel.”
Gabriel’s hand rested near his gun.
“Blackwood.”
“Give me the ledger.”
Eliza stepped forward.
“No.”
Blackwood’s smile vanished.
“Eliza.”
She lifted the book.
“You wanted this?”
“Yes.”
“Then come get it.”
Blackwood drew his gun.
Gabriel moved.
So did six other men.
Gunfire exploded through the courthouse.
Eliza dropped behind the judge’s desk.
Wood splintered.
Glass shattered.
Someone screamed.
Gabriel fired twice.
One guard fell.
Another dropped his weapon.
Blackwood disappeared through the side door.
Eliza grabbed the ledger.
Her father stood frozen.
She looked at him.
He looked at her.
“Eliza.”
She almost didn’t recognize his voice.
“I was wrong.”
She said nothing.
“I was drunk.”
“That doesn’t excuse it.”
“I thought Blackwood would let you go.”
“You gambled me away.”
“I thought—”
“You didn’t think.”
Her father lowered his head.
“I loved you.”
Eliza’s eyes filled with tears.
“No.”
He looked up.
“You loved what I represented.”
She swallowed.
“Your daughter. Your property. Your second chance.”
She stepped closer.
“But you never loved me enough to protect me.”
He closed his eyes.
The words destroyed him.
Then Blackwood appeared behind him.
A gun pressed against his head.
“Enough.”
Eliza froze.
Blackwood smiled.
“Drop the ledger.”
Gabriel raised his weapon.
Blackwood fired.
The bullet struck Eliza’s father.
He collapsed.
“NO!”
Eliza ran toward him.
Gabriel fired.
Blackwood staggered.
He grabbed the doorframe.
Blood spread across his coat.
He looked at Eliza.
Then laughed.
“You still don’t understand.”
Eliza knelt beside her father.
“What?”
Blackwood smiled.
“Your father didn’t lose you.”
