Chapter 2 - Shadows in the Ledger
The kitchen lamp burned low, casting long, wavering shadows across the rough wooden table. Daniel set a steaming mug of tea beside Elena's hands. She hadn't touched it; she was staring blankly at the kerosene lamp, her fingers tracing the edge of the ceramic cup.
"He won't wait for a judge," Elena said quietly, her voice hoarse from fatigue. "Cole Benton doesn't work that way. If he brought the sheriff tomorrow, it's because he owns the sheriff, too."
"Maybe," Daniel acknowledged, pulling out a chair and sitting across from her. "But it buys us twelve hours. And twelve hours is enough time to look at what we're actually dealing with."
He reached into his shirt pocket and slid a small leather-bound book across the table—a ledger Elena had brought with her in the wagon.
Elena looked up, surprised. "Where did you get that?"
"It fell out of your trunk when we repaired the wheel. I put it on the shelf so it wouldn't get ruined." Daniel tapped the cover. "If you paid off those wages, there's a record of it somewhere. Even if Benton didn't sign the final release, a paper trail leaves marks."
Hesitantly, Elena opened the book. Yellowed pages filled with neat, cramped handwriting met their eyes. She began turning the pages, her finger stopping halfway down a page dated July.
"Right here," she whispered, pointing to an entry. "Thirty dollars delivered to his office for the apothecary bill in town. That cleared the last of my brother's debt."
Daniel leaned in closer, reading the entry and the corresponding signature of Benton's clerk. "That clerk—is he still working for him?"
"Tom Miller. He's decent, but he's terrified of Benton." Elena looked up at Daniel, her eyes wide with a sudden realization. "If Tom would testify that the ledger is accurate, the contract is void. But Tom won't talk unless he's away from the ranch. And getting to him is impossible."
"Nothing's impossible," Daniel said softly. "It just means a trip to town before sunrise."
Elena stiffened, alarm flashing across her face. "You can't go into town on my account. If Benton sees you asking around about his business, he'll bring half the county down on this ranch."
"I have business in town anyway," Daniel lied smoothly, offering a reassuring half-smile. "Feed store needs restocking. And I'd rather face Benton on neutral ground than waiting here for him to kick my front door in."
Elena searched his face, looking for any sign of hesitation or falsehood. Finding none, she swallowed hard, a mixture of guilt and profound gratitude settling in her chest.
"Be careful, Daniel," she murmured.
May you like
"Always am," he replied, standing up to check the latch on the front door. But as he looked out into the dark, empty yard, he knew tomorrow's trip to town would decide whether they stayed together or lost everything.
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