A Truth Revealed (The Heart of Cheyenne #3)

Chapter 24

24

“You ready for this?” Edward asked Will as they headed up the walkway to the Evans house.

“I am. I told Laura to go shopping with Mrs. Duffy and get the rest of the staff out of the house. I don’t want anyone at risk when you fellas arrest Evans.”

“Good idea. And I like that we waited for him to call the meeting with his lawyer. Now there will be no suspicion when I show up as your witness.”

“Good morning, Wilson,” Granite said, opening the door before they could even knock. “I was watching for you. My lawyer has already arrived and is waiting for us in my office.” He looked at Edward. “I know you, don’t I?”

“I’m Edward Vogel, a good friend of Will’s. You’ve seen me on many occasions,” Edward said, offering his hand.

Granite shook it and gave a nod before looking to Will for an explanation.

“Edward is going to be my witness. You said you’d had the lawyer draw up a standard will for me, leaving everything to Laura.”

“Yes, that’s right. I’m glad you thought of bringing a witness. I asked Grayson to stand with me. Come to my office.”

They followed him into the house and down the hall. Inside his office, Will noted Mr. Grayson standing by the bookcase while the lawyer sat behind Granite’s desk. It seemed odd that Granite Evans would have allowed the man that position of authority.

“Gentlemen,” the man said, getting to his feet.

“This is my lawyer, Herbert Damarus,” Granite said. “Herbert, this is my future son-in-law, Wilson Porter, and his witness.”

“Glad to meet you both,” Damarus said, reclaiming his chair. “Let’s get right to work. Mr. Evans has arranged a new testament for the distribution of his properties upon his death. He is leaving the entirety of his estate to his daughter, Laura Elizabeth Evans.”

Will smiled. “I didn’t know her middle name was Elizabeth.”

The lawyer frowned. “Hmm, yes. Well, it’s written here on the document.”

“It’s of no consequence at the moment,” Granite interrupted. “Please continue.”

“Mr. Evans has reviewed the will and agrees to the contents herein and will now sign the document before these witnesses.” The lawyer presented Granite with a pen and turned the paper to face him.

Granite signed the copies and turned with a smile to Will. “Now it’s your turn.”

Will stepped up, knowing what was expected of him. The lawyer handed him a single piece of paper to read over. It was a very simple document stating that upon his death, all of Will’s earthly goods would go to Laura Elizabeth Evans. He took up the pen and signed it quite willingly. No matter what, he wanted Laura taken care of.

“And sign this copy as well. One will be kept in your possession and one in mine.”

Will nodded and signed the additional page. He would take care of getting his own lawyer to manage it later.

“Now we will have the witnesses sign,” the lawyer instructed.

Once the signing was complete, Granite looked more than a little satisfied with the way things were going. He motioned Grayson to leave. The lawyer handed Will his copy of the will and then left Granite’s on the desk.

Evans ushered out the lawyer while Will folded the signed paper and put it in his pocket. He glanced over at Edward as the grandfather clock in the hall chimed the top of the hour.

Granite returned to the office all smiles. He went to his liquor cabinet and drew out three glasses. “I know it’s early, but we need to drink a toast.”

“I think we can forgo that,” Edward said.

There was a sound of someone in the hallway outside the door. Will hoped it was the Pinkertons as planned.

Granite gave it no notice. “It’s a celebration, Mr. Vogel. I’m welcoming Will into our family. Surely you can take a drink in support of such a wonderful occasion.”

“I’m afraid not, Mr. Evans. You see, I’m on the job, and you’re under arrest.”

Evans turned to look at Edward. “I don’t know what you’re playing at, but it’s an inappropriate joke.”

“I’m afraid it’s no joke, Mr. Evans. You’re under arrest for a long list of offenses, including a plot to assassinate Governor John A. Campbell.”

Just then, Gus and Bigs entered the room. Granite lost the look of concern. He turned back to the decanter of whiskey. “Well, I’m afraid that my offenses will have to wait. You see, my men here won’t allow you to drag me off to jail.”

“He’s right, you know,” Gus said, looking at Evans.

Granite took his glass and started to walk back to his desk. “Stop,” Edward demanded. “Don’t move.”

The order froze Granite temporarily. Will watched the situation play out as he stepped back against the bookcase. He had promised Edward and Gus that he’d get himself out of the way.

Granite motioned to his men. “Gus, Bigs, take this man out of here.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that,” Gus replied.

“You work for me. You’ll do what I say,” Evans commanded in a growl. He slammed his glass down on the desk. It shattered, spilling whiskey everywhere.

Gus stepped forward. “No, sir, I only pretended to work for you. Same with Bigs here. We’re actually employed by the Pinkerton Agency. We were sent to get the goods on you and see you arrested. President Grant has long had his eye on you, given your traitorous offenses against the government as well as numerous individuals.”

Granite’s mouth dropped open in stunned silence. He slowly shook his head, then fixed Will with a glaring look. “Are you in on this as well?”

“I’m not a lawman, if that’s what you mean,” Will replied. “But when I found out you arranged the stagecoach attack and were responsible for my mother and sister being killed, I asked to be around for your arrest.”

Evans looked back at Gus and Bigs. “And you ... you’re both Pinkertons? How in the world did I fail to know that?” He began to pace. “Wait a minute. You’ve both done things for me that were illegal. You’re just as guilty as I am. You’ve killed for me.”

“Never have,” Gus said. “We let you think we did. Those other stage and freight attacks we made were arranged with the people involved. As you know, by your own instruction, we were careful not to kill unless absolutely necessary. It was never necessary.”

Evans stopped and pointed a finger. “But your men killed. You ordered it done. Your cousins were involved.”

Gus chuckled. “My Pinkerton ‘cousins.’ There is a team of Pinkertons working with me, and while I call them cousins, we’re not related. We are like a brotherhood, however. And loyal to the end. Bigs and I served in the war. He saved my life, and I saved his. You don’t turn on a fellow when that’s in your history.”

Granite stood in silence. Will could see that he knew he’d been defeated. His gaze darted around the room as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his coat.

“I’ve seen trapped animals with the same look on their faces as you have now,” Gus said, moving toward him. “You’re trying to figure out how to get out of this fix, but you might as well give up. You’re gonna stand trial for a great many wrongs.”

Without warning, Granite pulled a small revolver from his pocket. A single shot rang out as Evans leveled his gun at the closest man, who just so happened to be Edward.

Granite stood for a moment, then clutched his chest where a crimson stain was spreading on his gray wool suit. He hadn’t even been able to get a shot off. Snyder was much too fast for him.

“I-I ... it was ... mine.”

Gus kept his gun trained on Evans as Edward went for ward to take the man’s revolver. When he did so, Granite Evans sank to the floor.

“It was mine,” Evans murmured again and fell over. He stared up at the ceiling. “God owed it to me. It was all ... mine.”

“I’ll carry him over to the hospital,” Bigs said.

“No need,” Gus replied. “He’s gone.”

Granite’s eyes were still open, but there was no life in them. Will thought of Laura and wondered how she would take the news. She had so wanted a close relationship with her father, and now that was impossible.

Will knew he had to find her and tell her what had happened. “I’m going to get Laura.” No one said a word to stop him.

He tried to remember if Laura had mentioned where she and Mrs. Duffy planned to go, but nothing came to mind. He went to a couple of the stores he’d seen Laura go to, but she wasn’t there. Then it dawned on him that perhaps she’d gone to Mrs. Duffy’s house. Laura had told him roughly where the place was, and since she’d driven them in her carriage, Will figured he’d be able to find her. It took some doing, but after about thirty minutes he found the place.

Mrs. Duffy came to the door. “Is it over?” she asked.

“In more ways than one,” Will replied in a hushed voice. “I need to see Laura.”

She pulled back quickly. “She’s right here.”

He came in and immediately spotted Laura. She had been sitting in a rocking chair and got to her feet. They locked gazes, and she bit her lower lip. Tears filled her eyes. She seemed to know without him saying a word that things had not gone well.

“He’s ... dead?” she asked.

Will nodded. “Yes. He pulled a gun on Edward, and Gus had to shoot him.”

She sat back down. “I feared that would be the outcome.”

Will came and knelt beside her. “I know. Your father wasn’t the kind of man to be hauled off to jail. I’m so sorry, Laura. I know what he meant to you and how much you loved him.”

“The man I loved ... didn’t exist.” She looked at Will. “I didn’t even know Granite Evans.”

Will pulled her into his arms, and she began to weep.