“Yes.”
The reverend closed his eyes.
“Then perhaps we can finally bury our dead in peace.”
Nora dismounted.
“Not yet. We need someone from outside this county to examine these records. Briggs has spent years controlling the local authorities.”
Amos nodded.
“The nearest federal marshal is stationed in Denver.”
“Then we send for him.”
The reverend turned toward the church.
“I'll prepare a telegram.”
Nora looked at Rusk.
“Where is Sheriff Briggs?”
Amos's expression darkened.
“Locked in the jail. Two miners are guarding him.”
“Then make sure no one touches him. He needs to stand trial.”
Rusk laughed bitterly.
“You think a trial will change anything?”
Nora faced him.
“It will change what people remember.”
He stared at her.
She continued.
“My father was called a liar. Elias was called a thief. The men who died in the mine were called cowards who ran away from their families. You made sure the victims carried the blame for what you did.”
Her voice trembled, but she did not look away.
“That ends now.”
For the first time, Rusk had no answer.
That evening, Luke stood beside Elias's bed while Dr. Whitcomb changed the bandages around his brother's leg.
Elias had been sleeping for hours.
His face looked less strained, though the shadows beneath his eyes remained.
Luke watched the doctor carefully.
“Will he recover?”
The doctor tied the bandage.
“Physically, he has a chance. But it will take time.”
Luke nodded.
“I can give him time.”
The doctor studied him.
“You'll need to give him patience, too.”
Luke looked at his brother.
“I've got plenty of that.”
Dr. Whitcomb packed his instruments.
“Then you're already ahead of most men.”
After the doctor left, Elias opened his eyes.
“Luke?”
Luke moved closer.
“I'm here.”
“Did Nora come back?”
Luke smiled.
“She did.”
“Is she safe?”
“Yes.”
Elias relaxed against the pillow.
For a moment, they sat in silence.
Then Elias said, “I thought you hated me.”
Luke stared at him.
“What?”
“I thought you believed the sheriff. I thought you believed I'd stolen the money and run away.”
Luke shook his head.
“I never believed that.”
Elias looked at the ceiling.
“Then why didn't you find me?”
The question was not angry.
That made it worse.
Luke pulled a chair closer to the bed.
“I searched for you every day for the first year. I followed every rumor, hired men, rode through the mountains. I even went to New Mexico.”
Elias turned his head.
“I didn't know.”
“I know.”
Luke swallowed.
“I should have searched the mine.”
Elias closed his eyes.
“You couldn't have known.”
“I should have known.”
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Elias reached out and caught Luke's hand.
“You came when it mattered.”
Luke bowed his head.
“I should have come sooner.”
Elias squeezed his fingers.
“Then stay now.”
Luke nodded.
“I will.”
Outside, snow began falling again.
But inside the church, the fire burned steadily, and for the first time in three years, the Harper brothers slept beneath the same roof.
Two days later, a federal marshal arrived from Denver.
His name was Jonathan Reeves, a tall, silver-haired man with a reputation for patience and an intolerance for corruption.
He brought two deputies and a clerk to examine the records.
The town gathered in the church as the ledger was opened.
Page after page revealed payments to officials, forged land deeds, and shipments of gold that had never appeared on the company's official books.
There were also records of the miners who had died in the collapse.
Seven names.
Seven men whose families had been told they had abandoned their jobs.
Seven men whose deaths had been hidden to protect a fortune.
Nora stood beside the table while the marshal read the entries.
When he reached Samuel Carter's name, he paused.
“This indicates your father was offered money to remain silent.”
Nora nodded.
“He refused.”
The marshal looked at her.
“And for that, he was killed.”
“Yes.”
The marshal closed the ledger.
“Miss Carter, your father's records will be included in the federal investigation. I cannot promise you justice will come quickly, but I can promise the evidence will not disappear.”
Nora lowered her eyes.
“Thank you.”