None of it belonged to Pike.
It belongs to you.
Everything I did at the end was to make certain of that.
Forgive me if you can.
Daniel.
Lydia folded forward over the table and wept.
Silas remained across the room.
He did not touch her.
Not until she held out one shaking hand.
Then he crossed the room.
And Lydia collapsed against him.
The knocking came just after midnight.
Three heavy blows.
Silas woke instantly.
Lydia sat upright.
“Who—”
He lifted one finger.
Quiet.
Another knock.
“Croft!”
Silas reached for his rifle.
Lydia knew that voice.
Gideon Pike.
Her blood turned to ice.
Silas opened the door only a crack.
Pike stood outside beneath a fur-lined coat.
Two armed men waited behind him.
A fourth man held a lantern.
Sheriff Amos Creed.
Pike smiled.
“Evening, Croft.”
“Road’s closed.”
“Apparently not.”
“What do you want?”
“Mrs.
Marsh.”
Lydia stepped into view before Silas could stop her.
Pike’s smile widened.
“There she is.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Collecting a debt.”
“I owe you nothing.”
“Your husband owed me considerably.”
“My husband wrote otherwise.”
For the first time, Pike’s smile vanished.
Silas glanced at her.
Pike said quietly, “Did he?”
Lydia realized her mistake.
Pike knew about the letter now.
Silas opened the door another inch.
“You should leave.”
Sheriff Creed rested one hand on his revolver.
“Careful.”
Silas’s voice became frighteningly calm.
“You first.”
Pike raised a document.
“I hold legal claim to Daniel Marsh’s remaining property.
Including anything transferred into his wife’s possession within twelve months of his death.”
Lydia frowned.
“What property?”
Pike smiled again.
“That, Mrs.
Marsh, is precisely why I came.”
Silas’s face changed.
Only slightly.
But Lydia saw it.
Pike did too.
His expression brightened.
“Well,” he murmured.
“So Croft knows.”
Lydia turned.
“Knows what?”
Silas didn’t answer.
Pike laughed.
“You poor woman.”
“Shut your mouth,” Silas said.
“Your husband never told her?”
Silas raised the rifle.
Pike stepped backward.
“We’ll return at daylight.”
“Bring more men.”
“Oh, I intend to.”
Pike looked directly at Lydia.
“And Mrs.
Marsh?”
She stared at him.
“Ask your mountain man what’s underneath his cabin.”
Then they disappeared into the snow.
Lydia waited until they were gone.
Then she turned toward Silas.
“What is underneath this cabin?”
Silas closed the door.
“Lydia—”
“Do not lie to me again.”
He looked exhausted.
“Silver.”
She stared.
“What?”
“A vein runs beneath most of this ridge.”
“How much?”
“Enough.”
“Enough for what?”
Silas hesitated.
“Enough that Pike has killed men trying to own it.”
The world suddenly seemed absurd.
“You own a silver mine?”
“No.”
“Then who does?”
Silas met her eyes.
And said nothing.
Lydia understood.
Her knees nearly failed.
“No.”
Silas caught her arm.
She pulled away.
“No.”
“Daniel bought the claims two years ago.”
“With what money?”
