Annabelle seemed to sense the change in his mood. She reached out and touched him lightly on the arm. “I’m not going to abandon you, Joseph. My father has asked me to be of assistance until Nugget is properly settled.”
A sly smile stole across her face. “In truth, I’ve come to love that little scamp, and I don’t think I could leave until your family’s affairs are in order. And I do hope you’d allow me to write.”
Joseph nodded, willing himself to find a way to speak. In her grief, he’d caught the unspoken story of the sacrifices she’d made. The things she’d given up for her father’s ministry. Here she was, sacrificing one more thing. While he could tell by the light in her eyes that she didn’t view her time with Nugget as a sacrifice, he couldn’t ask her to do it any longer than she had to.
Annabelle Lassiter was an amazing woman, and she deserved to have a life of her own. Lord, he prayed, help me set Annabelle free.
Joseph already knew that he had to find the silver as quickly as possible, but knowing that one more life hung in the balance made it all the more urgent.
He bade Annabelle goodbye, then climbed onto the horse Slade had waiting. Hopefully they’d find silver today.
Slade had taken a look at the clouds moving over the mountains and declared that the storm would go around the area. He had been partially right.
They came to a narrow ridge, and looking across the valley, he could see the rain fall on Leadville. Glorious. The valley was packed with houses and other buildings. He could see why some of the townspeople still grumbled about wanting to make Leadville the state capitol. The city boasted growth that he hadn’t seen the likes of anywhere near home.
“Your pa’s mining claim should be just over the next ridge,” Slade shouted back at him.
Once they crossed the ridge, Slade pulled out a map, then pointed at an outcropping of rocks. “That’s it. This claim used to belong to Slim Deckert, but then he lost it in a card game to your pa. Slim thought it was a great joke he’d pulled over on Bad Billy, since none of his crews had found anything other than pyrite.”
Joseph picked up a shiny rock. “I take it this is pyrite.”
“Yep. No offense, but your pa was known for being a fool. There’s sayings about suckers here in Leadville, and your pa could be described by just about every one of them.”
He knew Slade was being honest, and with the anger he had against his pa, he hadn’t expected the words to sting so much. It was bad enough having the foul deed that had come to light, but it seemed like there was a never-ending string of missteps that had him wondering how such a miscreant could have fathered him.
What a tragic end. Though fitting, for all the foolishness his pa had done. Living a fool, dying a fool.
“Doesn’t look like there’s anything here.” Slade rubbed his jaw and looked at Joseph. “Frank says you still have family back home. Why don’t you sell the claim, take the money and go home? I’m sure there’s some wide-eyed sucker that’ll buy it. We’ve enough land brokers in town who’ll gladly do the job for you. In fact, I can recommend a guy.”
Suckers. If Slade hadn’t used that word, he might have thought about the idea. But how could he live with himself, knowing that to provide for his family, he’d just done to another what had been done to them? Sold them down the river on a raft made of false dreams. No, he had to see this through.
“There’s evidence that my pa found silver. He sent money regularly.”
Slade snorted. “Gambling, probably. He’s been kicked out of every saloon in town dozens of times. Everyone knew he didn’t mean no harm, which is why they let him back in, but...” He gave Joseph a look of pity. “Everyone wins at the tables now and again. That’s how they keep you coming back. Which is why it’d be best if you just went on your way.”
Maybe Joseph was being a paranoid, but it seemed like Slade was in an awful big hurry to get rid of him. The man’s demeanor was pleasant enough, but there was something about his words...
“What’s it to you if I stay or go?”
Slade shook his head. “None of my business. Just figuring with your family and all, you’d want to be with them.”
The easy answer did little to ease the prickle on the back of Joseph’s neck. Still, what could he say to contradict a man who had been nothing but helpful?
“What do you make of the attacks on Annabelle and Nugget?”
Slade eyed him intently. “I’m not convinced Bad Billy found silver. But I do think he was into something. Whatever you’ve been digging into is making people nervous. If there’s something going on, I want to stop it before anyone else gets hurt.”
It wasn’t the first time he’d heard hints of his pa’s less than honest dealings. Which made him consider Slade’s idea of going to one of the local land agents and selling his pa’s claims. But how could he, in good conscience, have potential buyers be swindled? And, if something illegal was going on with his pa’s claims, would it put those people in danger? As much as Annabelle thought he and everyone else ignored her warnings about chasing after silver, he wasn’t going to sell someone else on a false dream.
Mary would tell him that he was overthinking the situation. Too bad she wasn’t here to talk to him and give him advice. What would be best for everyone?
He looked around the site, wishing it were as simple as a sign saying Silver Here.
If his pa had been killed, why here? Was the chasm a convenient place to dump a body, or did it signify something more?
Joseph
