Chapter 3 - A Trap Set in Gold
Sarah stepped back, her face turning pale. "Arthur... I told you I would pay you at the end of the month when I finish the mending for the hotel."
"The hotel canceled your contract this morning," Arthur said with a cold, triumphant sneer. "And store credit is revoked. Pay the sixteen dollars now, or the deputies will seize your winter provisions and horse."
"She doesn't owe you a cent, Whitaker," Luke’s voice cut through the cold air like a rifle shot.
Luke stepped onto the porch, towering over Arthur Whitaker. He pulled two gold coins from his own pocket and slapped them into Arthur’s palm with enough force to make the merchant stumble back.
"There's twenty dollars," Luke said softly, his grey eyes flashing with lethal intent. "Keep the change. And if I see your face or your son's face on this property again, I won't use money to settle the score."
Arthur gripped the coins, his mouth twisting in fury. "You can't protect them forever, Callahan! Your father doesn't own this town!"
"Try me," Luke replied.
Arthur spat into the snow and motioned for the deputies to leave.
That evening, the annual Cedar Creek Winter Auction was held at the town hall. It was the biggest social event of the season, where wealthy ranchers and merchants bid on livestock, winter furs, and land grants.
Ellie arrived wearing her dark-blue dress, altered once more by her mother, but this time accompanied by Luke Callahan. When they walked through the double doors together, a hush fell over the crowd. Rebecca Hale stood near the refreshment table, her silver silk dress shimmering under the lantern light, her eyes burning with malice.
During the third round of bidding, Rebecca suddenly shrieked.
"My mother's diamond brooch!" Rebecca cried, holding her hands to her chest. "It's gone! Someone took it!"
Arthur Whitaker immediately stepped into the center of the hall. "Search the room! No one leaves!" He pointed a finger directly at Ellie. "Start with the Bennett girl! She was standing near the coat rack ten minutes ago!"
The room went dead silent. Ellie stood her ground, though her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "I didn't touch your brooch, Rebecca."
"Search her purse!" Thomas yelled from the crowd. "She came to the Copper Lantern with one dollar! She’s desperate!"
Before the town marshal could move, Luke stepped in front of Ellie.
"If anyone searches her, they search Rebecca's coat first," Luke said smoothly.
Rebecca turned pale. "What? Why my coat?"
"Because," Luke said, pulling a small velvet box from his own pocket, "I saw your brother slip it into your coat pocket right before you screamed. You left the box on the refreshment table."
Luke opened his hand. The empty velvet box sat in his palm.
The marshal walked over to Rebecca's hung velvet coat, reached into the pocket, and pulled out the flashing diamond brooch.
May you like
Gasps erupted across the room. Rebecca burst into hysterical tears and ran out the back door, while Thomas turned crimson and tried to blend into the crowd.
Grant Callahan stood up from his front-row seat, looking at Arthur Whitaker with pure disgust. "It seems the Whitakers and Hales have a habit of bearing false witness against honest people. Marshal, I think it's time we audit the store ledgers in this town."
