Chapter Seven
William stirred first. Ana’s breaths were slow and even beside him, her chest rising and falling with the rhythm of deep sleep. He watched her for a moment, tracing the soft curve of her cheek with his eyes before the weight of reality pressed upon his conscience.
With reluctance stitched into every motion, he slipped from the warmth of the bed. Ana murmured something indecipherable, shifting slightly, and then settled again. He dressed quickly, his mind preoccupied by the events of the night before.
As Ana’s consciousness slowly surfaced, she found herself alone in bed. A sigh escaped her lips, and she willed her limbs to move. She dressed in silence, hiding a yawn behind her hand. It was late morning, but it felt as if she’d only slept for an hour or two.
Together, they walked through town. The sheriff’s office loomed ahead, a stoic structure that bore witness to the town’s trials and tribulations. The door creaked open, and they stepped inside.
Sheriff Dawson was an older man who really shouldn’t have still been in office. He looked up from his paperwork, his eyes weary yet vigilant. “Morning, Dr. Mercer, Mrs. Mercer,” he greeted, tipping his hat.
“Morning, Sheriff. What news do we have?” William’s voice was steady but tinged with the fatigue of the long night.
“Samuel sang like a canary at the crack of dawn,” the sheriff said, leaning back in his chair with the creak of aged wood. “Claims he was hired by John Thompson himself to make a mess of those mines.”
Ana felt a chill despite the sun beginning to warm the paneled walls. John Thompson was whom they’d suspected all along, and she was glad that he was found out for the rat he was. “Both in custody?” she asked.
“Locked them both up myself. Can’t say it was a pleasure, but justice has a way of coming ‘round,” the sheriff replied, scratching at the stubble on his jaw. His gaze lingered on the couple, recognizing the exhaustion that clung to them.
“Thank you, Sheriff. We’ll let you get on with your work,” William said, placing a gentle hand on Ana’s shoulder, and guiding her toward the exit.
*****
THAT EVENING, THEYwalked to Rosie and Charles’s modest home. The scent of roasted meat wafted through the air. William ushered Ana up the wooden steps.
“Smells like heaven after a day like today,” Ana murmured. They’d had a light lunch, knowing they would be dining with her sisters that evening.
William nodded.
They entered the dining room, greeted by the gentle clatter of cutlery and subdued conversation. Izzy sat beside her husband, poised as ever. Rosie and Charles shared a look, an unspoken understanding passing between them.
“Evening, Ana, William,” Charles greeted, rising to offer a firm handshake.
“Evening,” William replied, accepting the gesture and taking his place at the table.
Supper unfolded with a tender simplicity, each dish a labor of love from Rosie’s skilled hands.
“Justice will find its way here soon,” William said softly, breaking the silence that had fallen over the table. “A judge is coming. Two weeks, and we’ll see this matter put to rest.”
Rosie nodded, her gaze steady. “We’ve been through so much already. We’ll make it through this as well.”
Ana listened, her fork tracing patterns in the remains of her meal, her thoughts adrift on the tide of implications. The trial would change things, for better or worse, and she felt the stirrings of apprehension for what lay beyond the gavel’s final decree.
“Let’s enjoy our time together now,” Isabelle suggested. “For all we know, moments like these are the true treasures of life.”
Her words, though meant to comfort, hung heavy in the room.
Rosie passed the platter of roasted chicken, the scent of herbs mingling with the warm, yeasty aroma of freshly baked bread. The glow from the oil lamp cast a soft light over the faces gathered around the table, and for a moment, it was easy to forget the events that had occurred.
“Never thought I’d be able to sleep without one eye open again,” Charles mused, his fork pausing mid-air. “Feels like we’ve been living under a shadow for so long.”
Ana watched as her sisters nodded in agreement, the relief evident in their weary smiles. They all loved their new town, and they were glad it was safe.
“Hard to imagine just days ago we were all so on edge,” Izzy said, her voice barely above a whisper. She looked around the table, her eyes seeking confirmation of this new reality.
The conversation ebbed and flowed with the rhythm of clinking silverware and the occasional laughter. Ana felt the weight of the past months lift slightly with each story told.
As the meal drew to a close, Rosie’s brow furrowed in contemplation. She set down her napkin and met Ana’s gaze. “But why? Why would anyone want to rid us of the mines? It’s our lifeline, after all.”
