Chapter 8 - THE TRIAL OF SAMUEL PIERCE
Samuel Pierce was arrested in April.
He had tried crossing south with cash and forged papers.
Harrow's testimony connected him to the payment made before the mine collapse.
The records connected him to fraudulent claims.
The strongest evidence came from a witness nobody expected.
Abigail's younger brother.
Nathan Pierce testified that he had heard Samuel and Harrow arguing in the barn the night before Elias died.
Harrow had said:
“The boy knows too much.”
Samuel answered:
“Then make sure the mountain keeps him.”
Nathan had been fourteen.
Terrified.
Silent.
Until now.
Abigail sat behind him in court.
When he finished, he looked at her.
“I'm sorry.”
She hugged him.
Immediately.
Some forgiveness takes years.
Some arrives because the person had been a child too.
Samuel watched.
His face showed nothing.
When Abigail testified, her father would not look at her.
She told the court everything.
Elias.
Pregnancy.
Threats.
The wagon.
The snow.
The blanket.
The letter.
Samuel's attorney asked:
“Miss Pierce, were you not angry with your father when you discovered your condition had disgraced your family?”
Abigail stared.
“My condition?”
“The pregnancy.”
“My sons?”
The attorney hesitated.
“Yes.”
She looked toward Daniel sitting in the back.
Then Ruth.
Then Margaret.
Then Samuel.
“My sons never disgraced anyone.”
The courtroom became silent.
“My father disgraced himself.”
Samuel finally looked at her.
Too late.
The jury convicted him on fraud, conspiracy, and charges connected to Elias's death.
Harrow received his own sentence.
No hanging.
No dramatic revenge.
Prison.
Loss of property.
Public truth.
Daniel asked Abigail afterward:
“Enough?”
She looked toward the courthouse.
“No.”
He waited.
“Nothing is enough.”
May you like
Then she looked at her sons.
“But it is finished.”
