Chapter 9 - THE CHILD THEY TRIED TO ERASE
Samuel felt the world narrow.
Laya was gone.
Again.
The little girl who had finally begun speaking.
The child who had trusted him enough to fall asleep in his arms.
Taken.
He grabbed Martha's shoulders.
“Which way?”
She pointed toward the northern road.
“A carriage.”
“How many?”
“Two men. Mrs. Peton.”
Samuel turned toward his horse.
Eleanor caught his arm.
“Samuel.”
He looked at her.
His face was pale.
“We need a plan.”
“They have my daughter.”
Eleanor's eyes filled.
“I know.”
He swallowed.
“She'll think I abandoned her.”
Eleanor stepped closer.
“Then we bring her home.”
They followed the carriage tracks north.
Past the abandoned quarry.
Through a narrow canyon.
Toward Voss's private mining property.
The tracks disappeared near an old supply shed.
Samuel dismounted.
He heard voices.
Then a child crying.
His heart stopped.
Laya.
Inside the shed, Mrs. Peton stood beside a locked storage room.
Henry Voss was speaking to Sheriff Reed.
“The child signs nothing,” Reed said.
Voss laughed.
“She's three. Her guardian signs.”
Mrs. Peton shifted nervously.
“And who will that be?”
Voss smiled.
“Me.”
Samuel felt rage rise through him.
They hadn't taken Laya because they hated her.
They had taken her because she was valuable.
Her inheritance.
Her land.
Her father's name.
Eleanor touched Samuel's arm.
“Wait.”
He looked at her.
She pointed toward the rear entrance.
One of the ranch hands moved silently around the building.
The other remained near the horses.
Samuel took a breath.
Then stepped into the doorway.
“Let her go.”
Everyone turned.
Voss smiled.
“Bennett.”
Samuel's voice was steady.
“This ends now.”
Sheriff Reed reached for his revolver.
Samuel raised his rifle.
“Don't.”
The room froze.
Voss laughed.
“You think you can win?”
Samuel stared.
“I think you've underestimated how many people are tired of being afraid of you.”
At that moment, Joseph Finch appeared behind him.
With the magistrate.
And six armed ranchers.
Voss's smile vanished.
The magistrate stepped forward.
“Henry Voss, you are under arrest pending investigation into fraud, kidnapping, and conspiracy.”
Reed laughed bitterly.
“You have no authority here.”
The magistrate looked at him.
“Then perhaps the federal marshal waiting outside does.”
Reed went pale.
Samuel moved toward the storage room.
He opened the door.
Laya sat on the floor.
Her little dress was dirty.
Her face streaked with tears.
She looked up.
For one terrible moment, she didn't move.
Then she whispered:
“Sam?”
Samuel dropped to his knees.
“I'm here, sweetheart.”
She ran into his arms.
He held her tightly.
“I've got you.”
She sobbed against his chest.
“Don't go.”
Samuel closed his eyes.
May you like
“Never without telling you.”
And for the first time, Laya Grace Morrison cried without trying to hide it.
