Cyrus Bell.
Cyrus Bell Arrives During the Montana Blizzard
Gideon immediately extinguished one lamp.
“Does Bell know I’m here?”
“I don’t know.”
“Don’t mention me.”
Maylin frowned.
“You are giving orders inside my house?”
“I’m trying to keep your daughters alive.”
That ended the argument.
Gideon disappeared into the storage room.
Maylin opened the front door.
Cyrus Bell stood outside with Sheriff Collier and another armed man.
Bell wore a fine gray coat trimmed in black fur.
“Merry Christmas, Mrs. Harrow.”
“What do you want?”
“Concern brought me.”
“In this storm?”
Bell smiled.
“One of my men saw wagon tracks.”
His eyes moved past her.
He noticed the strong fire.
The food.
The coffee.
His smile faded slightly.
“You seem to have experienced a change in fortune.”
“A traveler stopped.”
“What traveler?”
“I didn’t ask his name.”
Sheriff Collier stepped forward.
“You should have.”
He removed a piece of paper.
A wanted notice.
Maylin looked down.
A drawing showed Gideon’s face.
The words beneath it made her blood run cold.
GIDEON VALE — WANTED FOR ROBBERY, ESCAPE FROM TERRITORIAL CUSTODY, AND QUESTIONING IN CONNECTION WITH THE DEATH OF DANIEL HARROW.
Bell watched Maylin carefully.
“Seen him?”
She forced her expression to remain blank.
“No.”
“Certain?”
“Yes.”
Bell smiled again.
Then his gaze settled on the foreclosure notice.
“There is another reason I came.”
Maylin waited.
“I am still willing to forgive your entire debt.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“In exchange for what?”
“The northern forty acres.”
Now she understood everything.
The spring.
“You told me that land was worthless.”
“Property values change.”
“In eight days?”
Bell’s expression hardened.
“Accept the offer.”
“No.”
His eyes became cold.
“You should think about your daughters before making emotional decisions.”
Maylin stepped closer.
“I am.”
Then she closed the door.
Gideon emerged.
Maylin immediately pointed Daniel’s revolver at him.
“You are wanted in connection with my husband’s death.”
“Yes.”
“You escaped prison.”
“Yes.”
“You robbed people.”
“Yes.”
“You lied to me.”
“Yes.”
“Then leave.”
Gideon did not argue.
He removed his revolver.
Placed it on the table.
Then his knife.
Then another small pistol.
Finally, he reached inside his coat.
He removed something silver.
Maylin stopped breathing.
Daniel’s wedding ring.
“You had this.”
“Yes.”
“You took it from him?”
“He gave it to me.”
“Why?”
“Because Bell would search Daniel’s body. Daniel wanted Bell to believe I had taken everything important.”
Maylin stared at him.
“Where is the evidence?”
Gideon answered:
“Buried beneath Daniel’s coffin.”
The Christmas Night Journey to Daniel’s Grave
Maylin stared at him in disbelief.
“Daniel told you to bury it there?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Bell would never expect a grieving widow to disturb her husband’s grave.”
