“I’d like to see those records.” John’s voice was calm but firm.
Thank God for her brother-in-law. “Yes, please let us see those records.” For some reason, she smiled.
“I’m losing my patience.” The ever-proper Mr. Reynolds looked as if he might explode at any moment. He pointed his hat in the direction of the judge, who still sat in his chair watching the discussion. “I interrupted Judge Beck’s very busy schedule and asked him to come out here so that youcould understand the seriousness of the situation. Now I’m on my way back into town to see if I can purchase this deed from the man and help you save the farm. The least you could do is offer up your appreciation to me for bringing the matter to your attention.”
John stepped forward and put a hand on Judas’s shoulder. “While we appreciate you coming out, you still haven’t shown us any proof that the deed you’re holding hasn’t been forged.”
Judas stepped out of John’s grasp and pointed to his partner in crime. “You missed the part where the judge verified it’s legitimate.”
“Oh?” John turned toward Mr. Beck. “Is that so?”
Beck looked back and forth, but something in his eyes was squirrelly. “Um ... yes.”
Whitney almost laughed at his meek tone.
“I see. Well, in that case, we will come into town and investigate this ourselves. If anyone is going to buy the deed to the land—it will be us.Ifyour claims are found to be true.”
She and her sisters would need to grab Granddad’s letter immediately and find where he’d stashed everything. If it took every penny they had to buy the farm to make it legitimate, they would. She was about to say as much when John raised a hand. She clamped her mouth shut.
“Are they true, Judge?”
The man hemmed and hawed and cleared his throat. “I wouldn’t be here if they weren’t.”
Judas took a step even closer until he was nearly toe-to-toe with John. “Oh, they are true. And you’re going to need my help.”
John didn’t flinch. In fact ... he smiled.
Judas spun and looked to her. “Miss Powell, if you would accompany me outside, there is something I need to discuss with you.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” John crossed his arms over his chest.
Whitney placed a hand on her brother-in-law’s arm. “It’s fine.” No, it wasn’t, but she had to do something to get Reynolds away from the farm.
“I’d best head back to town. I have several things to attend to.” Judge Beck stood and walked toward the door, looking over his shoulder as if afraid they’d set the dogs on him.
Which wasn’t a bad idea...
John touched her elbow. “Do you need me?”
Whitney looked to Judas, whose face held a smile that sent chills down her arms. “No. I can handle this.”
“All right, but I can’t say that I like it.” John released her, and she led Judas to the door. “I’ll be right here.” The words he pointed to Judas. The glares between the two men could start a war.
Once outside, Judas watched the judge ride away and then turned to her. He inched closer to her, and his voice was low. “It would be in your best interest to cooperate, Whitney. Things could get ugly. For your whole family. You can’t risk losing the farm and you know it.”
With her arms tight across her chest, she shook her head at him. How had they ever thought this man honorable? “God has this under control. We will be fine. Granddad would never have purchased this property if there was another claim to it, and you know it.”
In an instant, he grabbed her arms. “I’m not going to play any more games. You’re going to marry me, and you’re going to do soimmediately. If you don’t, then I’ll see that you andyour family are left with nothing. I’ll destroy Daniel’s family and that goody-goody doctor as well.”
The venom is his voice sounded like it sprang from the depths of hell.
“Let go of me, Judas.”
When her voice cracked, he smiled. “Good. It’s about time you realized you need to be afraid of me.” He pulled her even closer. “Now, let’s get this straight. You will meet me tomorrow at noon at my office. Ready and willing to marry me. If you don’t ... well, people you care about will die. Plain and simple.” He put his face up to hers until their noses touched. “I’m going to enjoy this. And so are you.”
He released her and slapped his hat on his head. He got on his horse and looked down at her with a sneer.
“Tomorrow. At noon.”
