Chapter 19 - The Survivor
Tomas led them into the mountains.
They reached an isolated cabin.
Inside lived an old man.
Nia stopped breathing.
"Mateo."
The man slowly turned.
Her father was alive.
Older.
Weakened.
But alive.
Nia rushed to him.
Elias remained at the doorway.
Mateo looked at him.
"You are Thomas's son."
Elias nodded.
Mateo smiled sadly.
"Your father kept his promise."
"What promise?"
"That he would protect my daughter."
Elias looked at Nia.
Mateo explained everything.
He had survived the attack twenty-five years earlier.
Thomas had helped him escape.
Together they planned to expose the conspiracy.
But they discovered Colonel Whitcomb was involved.
They realized the government would bury the evidence.
So Thomas separated the records.
One part went to the bank.
One to the courthouse.
One remained hidden beneath the ranch.
Mateo kept the final witness list.
Nia asked:
"Why didn't you come back?"
"Because they were watching."
"Who?"
"Everyone."
Mateo looked at Elias.
"Your uncle betrayed us."
"I know."
"But he regretted it."
Elias said:
"He wrote a confession."
Mateo nodded.
"He was frightened."
Then Mateo revealed the final truth.
Thomas had not died naturally.
He had been murdered.
Elias's face hardened.
"By whom?"
Mateo looked toward the window.
"Silas Vane's father."
Elias whispered:
"Samuel."
"He ordered it."
"But Samuel is dead."
Mateo nodded.
"His son inherited more than his money."
Nia asked:
"Why is Vane still hunting us?"
Mateo looked at the ledger.
"Because your father's death wasn't the end."
He pointed to one name.
Colonel Whitcomb.
"He is still alive."
Elias stared.
"And he knows everything."
Mateo's voice dropped.
"He knows you have the ledger."
Outside, horses approached.
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Mateo looked toward the door.
"They've found us."
