Chapter 7 - The Sheriff’s Choice
Sheriff Bell came to the ranch the next morning.
Samuel showed him the altered document.
Bell's face tightened.
"Where did you get this?"
"It was in my house."
Bell studied the writing.
"You should take this to a lawyer."
"Which lawyer?"
Bell didn't answer.
Samuel knew why.
Every lawyer in the territory had business with Rourke.
Finally Bell said:
"Samuel, leave."
"Leave my ranch?"
"Temporarily."
"Why?"
"Because Mercer won't stop."
Samuel looked toward the horizon.
"You're telling me to surrender."
"I'm telling you to survive."
Samuel's voice hardened.
"Then arrest Mercer."
Bell looked away.
"I don't have enough men."
"Then arrest Rourke."
Bell said nothing.
Samuel understood.
The sheriff was afraid.
Perhaps not of Mercer.
Of someone above Mercer.
Bell left.
That afternoon, Samuel discovered another horse track near his eastern pasture.
Someone had been measuring the ground.
And this time, Samuel found a metal stake driven into the earth.
Stamped into it were two letters:
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E.R.
Elias Rourke.
