“No one questions Miss Hayes’s charitable intentions,” he said.
“But compassion must not blind us to propriety.”
Judge Bennett studied him.
“You believe the children are endangered?”
“Spiritually, certainly.”
“Physically?”
Vale paused.
“I believe instability creates danger.”
Ethan’s jaw tightened.
The judge turned to Clara.
“Miss Hayes, did Mr.
Cole hire you?”
Clara swallowed.
“Not initially.”
“Explain.”
She handed him the advertisement.
“I came because of this.”
The judge read it.
Ethan said, “I never placed it.”
Murmurs erupted.
Judge Bennett lifted one hand.
Silence returned.
“Who did?”
“No one knows,” Clara said.
For the first time, Reverend Vale shifted in his chair.
Clara noticed.
So did the judge.
The questioning continued.
Finally Judge Bennett leaned back.
“I wish to hear from the children.”
Ethan stood.
“Your Honor—”
“Only if they’re willing.”
Before anyone could decide, Lucy stood.
Her small knees trembled.
“Please don’t send Miss Clara away.”
Judge Bennett’s expression softened.
“Come here, child.”
Lucy approached.
“Why don’t you want Miss Clara to leave?”
“Because she makes the bad nights stop.”
The room went still.
Judge Bennett frowned.
“What bad nights?”
Lucy looked at Ethan.
Ethan looked confused.
Annie suddenly whispered—
“Lucy, no.”
Clara turned.
Annie’s face had gone white.
Judge Bennett leaned forward.
“What bad nights, Lucy?”
Lucy pointed.
Not at Clara.
Not at Ethan.
At Reverend Josiah Vale.
The entire room seemed to stop breathing.
Lucy’s voice shook.
“The nights he came to our house before Miss Clara came.”
Ethan shot to his feet.
“What?”
Vale stood too.
“This is absurd.”
Judge Bennett slammed his gavel.
“Sit down.”
Lucy began crying.
Clara went to her.
Judge Bennett spoke gently.
“What happened when Reverend Vale came?”
Lucy pressed her face against Clara’s skirt.
“He made Papa sign things.”
Ethan stared.
“I never—”
Annie suddenly stood.
“Papa didn’t know.”
Every eye turned toward her.
She was shaking violently.
“Annie?”
Ethan whispered.
“I let him inside.”
Ethan looked as though someone had struck him.
“Why?”
Annie’s tears fell.
“Because he said if I didn’t,
they would take Samuel and Lucy and Ben away.
”
A murmur rolled through the room.
Vale rose.
“Your Honor, these are traumatized children inventing—”
“Sit down, Reverend.”
Vale slowly lowered himself.
Annie continued.
“He came after Papa fell asleep.
Sometimes he brought papers.
He told me to take Papa’s hand and make marks.”
Ethan stared at her.
“You signed my name?”
Annie sobbed.
“He said we’d lose the ranch if I didn’t!”
Ethan rushed to her.
“No, sweetheart.
No.”
He knelt.
“You did nothing wrong.”
Samuel stood behind them.
His face was colorless.
Clara noticed his hands.
They were clenched so tightly his nails had drawn blood.
“Samuel?”
He stared at Reverend Vale.
Then, in a voice Clara had never heard from him—
cold, clear, adult with terror—
he said:
“He killed Mama.”
Chaos exploded.
People shouted.
Someone screamed.
Ethan froze.
Vale bolted toward the door.
The sheriff stepped directly into his path.
“Sit down.”
Vale looked around.
For the first time, the polished minister disappeared.
In his place stood a frightened old man.
“This is madness.”
Samuel began trembling.
Clara knelt beside him.
“You don’t have to say anything.”
“Yes.”
His eyes remained on Vale.
