“We could offer to pay off the debt. Maybe all Judas wants is the money.” Even as the words left Whitney’s mouth, she knew it wouldn’t work. Not after his shady offer to help Martinifshe agreed to marry him. For some reason, Judas was usingheras a pawn ... but to what end?
The outside door shut, and heavy footsteps approached. John peeked into the kitchen. “Just wanted to let you ladies know that Reynolds and Judge Beck rode up. I need to wash up before I can see them.”
“Rode?”
“Yep. They both came out on horses. Now I better go change before the whole kitchen smells like manure.” John leaned in and kissed his wife.
Knock, knock, knock.
With each thud, Whitney wanted to throttle someone.Lord, get a hold of my temper. Please.
“I’ll go let them in.” Maddy pasted on a smile. “Whit ... no spitting. Promise?”
“I make no guarantees.” At least her sister had broken the tension ... it helped to laugh, even if it was halfhearted.
“I’ll make some tea real quick and be out to join you in a jiffy.” Havyn scooted toward the stove.
“All right.” With a deep breath, Whitney squared her shoulders and sent another prayer for control to heaven and then walked toward the parlor.
Maddy offered the men seats and asked them about the weather.
“Good afternoon, gentlemen. To what do we owe this pleasure?” If Judas could be an actor, then so could she.
“I’m afraid I’m the bearer of some bad news.” Judas appeared to be broken over the matter, but Whitney now knew better. It was all an act.
“Go on.” Whitney took her seat.
“It seems another party has come forward with a deed for your land and is claiming ownership.”
Whatdid he say? “You mean ...thisland?” She pointed to the floor.
Maddy surged to her feet. “Excuse me for a moment.” She came by Whitney and whispered into her ear. “I’m going to get the men.”
She gave a slight nod and narrowed her eyes at Judas. “You can’t be serious. Our grandfather purchased this land more than a decade ago.”
“Sadly, I am quite serious.” Judas pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and laid it on the table in front of the settee. “Here’s the deed, which I asked Judge Beck to investigate.” He turned to the judge.
“It’s legitimate.” The man’s mustache twitched as he nodded.
She took a long glance at each of the men before her, then reached for the deed and read it. It looked like any other deed. Clearly, the man had paid someone off. Well, he wasn’t going to get away with it. She had no qualms confronting the man for his deceit all these years. “Wehave the deed for this land, so this must be a forgery. It’s fake.” Just like the men before her. She handed it back.
Judas came out of his chair, his face red, his eyes wild. “Don’t you see the situation here? You could lose your farm.”
A wave of calm flowed through her. “Our fate is in God’shands, and I don’t believe He’d let us lose the farm or be swindled by a tyrant.” She couldn’t help throwing in the last part.God, please help me keep my temper in check. But You know I want to throttle him.
“Lose the farm?” John’s voice came from the doorway, then he strode over. “What is going on?”
“It seems Mr. Reynolds and the judge have come to inform us of a deed that hasmysteriouslycome forward, showing that someone else owns our land.” Whitney couldn’t help the sarcasm. But at least she wasn’t losing her temper.
“Oh? I’d like to see this so-called deed.” John held out his hand.
The paper was handed to him, and he studied it. “This must be a fake. I’ve seen the real deed.”
“It’s not a fake.” Judas’s face became a deeper shade of crimson as he lifted his chin. “The man staked a claim, even had a small shed he’d built on the property and lived in. That makes it a homestead with improvements.”
Ha! Caught in his own lies. “There was no shed on the property here. Nor was there any evidence that anyone hadeverlived on this land.” She knew the facts.
“It doesn’t matter.” Judas lifted his chin, his eyes mere slits. “The records show that there was.”
