But now there were signs he might still be alive.
Hannah looked at him.
“Where?”
Eli shook his head.
“I don't know.”
Then he handed her a map.
“There are land parcels marked here.”
“What are they?”
“Properties Samuel recovered secretly.”
“For whom?”
“For you.”
Hannah stared.
“Why me?”
“Because the original registry proves they belong to families who lost them.”
She looked at the map.
“Where is the registry?”
Eli answered:
“That's what we need to find.”
Saint Agnes
They returned to Saint Agnes Mission.
Mercy was still there.
Hannah searched the mare again.
Nothing.
Then she remembered Samuel's favorite saying.
Never trust a lock when a living creature can remember.
She examined Mercy's hooves.
One horseshoe was unusually thick.
Cole pried it apart.
A brass key fell into Hannah's hand.
Eli laughed.
“Samuel.”
“What does it open?”
They searched the ruined chapel.
Nothing.
Then Mercy turned toward the altar.
Hannah followed.
Under the altar was a stone lock.
The brass key fit perfectly.
A hidden compartment opened.
Inside was an iron box.
Hannah opened it.
The registry.
The original documents.
The true Circle records.
Everything Victor had feared.
Everything Nathaniel had wanted.
Everything Samuel had spent years hiding.
Hannah turned the first page.
Seven names appeared.
One was Samuel Whitmore.
She stared.
“He was there.”
Eli nodded.
“He helped create it.”
Cole said nothing.
Hannah read further.
The early pages showed a noble purpose.
Land protection.
Mutual defense.
Aid for families.
Then the records changed.
Money.
Bribes.
Stolen property.
Violence.
Samuel's name appeared less frequently.
Eventually, it disappeared.
“He left,” Eli said.
“But he signed the beginning.”
“Yes.”
Hannah closed her eyes.
She wanted her father to be simple.
Good or bad.
Hero or villain.
Instead, he was human.
He had made choices.
Some right.
Some wrong.
Then she found the envelope.
Her name.
She opened it.
My dearest girl.
If you are reading this, I failed to keep you outside the war that began before you were born.
Your blood does not decide who you become.
Nathaniel Langley was your father by birth.
He was not your father in any other way.
I was.
Hannah cried.
Cole stood beside her.
She leaned against him.
Only slightly.
The letter continued.
Trust Mercy.
Trust Eli if he lives.
And if a man named Cole Mercer ever finds you, tell him his brother kept his promise.
Cole's face changed.
“What promise?”
Eli answered.
“To protect Elizabeth's child.”
Hannah looked at Cole.
“Your brother knew me.”
“Yes.”
“And you didn't.”
“I didn't know who you were.”
She closed the letter.
Outside, a horse whinnied.
Cole extinguished the lantern.
Footsteps approached.
The Man Who Returned
Victor Langley entered alone.
He was bleeding.
His coat was torn.
His face was pale.
Cole aimed his rifle.
“Stop.”
Victor stopped.
Hannah stepped forward.
“You knew.”
“Yes.”
“All of it?”