"St. Joseph agent confirms your baggage checked April second and ticket issued for the April third westbound."
Anna's knees nearly weakened.
Price continued.
"Conductor recognized the name after being shown the travel ledger. Says you remained aboard through Junction City."
Thomas smiled for the first time that morning.
"So she was hundreds of miles west before Whitmore says the money disappeared."
"Yes."
Price removed another telegram.
"And there's more."
Anna stared.
"Mr. Whitmore's father has apparently discovered certain irregularities in his son's accounts."
Her breath caught.
"What kind?"
"Agent didn't specify."
Thomas looked at Anna.
"We send a telegram."
They did.
Not to Charles.
To his father, Josiah Whitmore.
The message was simple.
Anna Miller possesses account notes belonging to her late father indicating uncredited payments to Whitmore Mercantile. Charles Whitmore has accused her of theft dated after her documented departure from St. Joseph. Request independent review of Miller account and missing mercantile funds.
Thomas paid for the telegram.
Anna protested.
He wrote the amount into a small notebook.
"Loan."
She looked at him.
He understood her now.
"Repay whenever you choose."
Anna nodded.
"Thank you."
The reply took almost a full day.
It came the following afternoon.
Josiah Whitmore was traveling west.
So was a St. Joseph bank representative.
Charles disappeared from the Willow Creek hotel that same morning.
Deputy Harris found his room empty.
His rented buggy had been returned.
For several hours nobody knew where he had gone.
Then Lily failed to come home.
Anna noticed first.
Lily usually returned from Mrs. Dalton's house by four when she spent afternoons there.
At half past four, there was no sign of her.
Thomas walked to the road.
Nothing.
By five, his face had changed.
He saddled a horse.
Anna's stomach twisted.
"Thomas."
"Stay here."
"No."
"Anna."
"If Charles is nearby."
Thomas stopped.
Neither needed to finish.
Mrs. Dalton arrived on horseback fifteen minutes later.
"Lily left my house at three forty with Jasper."
Thomas's face went white.
"Alone?"
"It's less than half a mile."
"She knows not to."
"She said you told her she could walk home with Jasper."
"I did not."
Mrs. Dalton's expression changed.
Someone had lied to Lily.
Thomas mounted.
Anna grabbed his saddle strap.
"I'm coming."
"No."
"If Charles took her because of me."
"That's exactly why you're staying."
"Thomas."
His fear exploded.
"I cannot search for Lily while wondering where you are too."
Anna stepped back.
He regretted the sharpness instantly.
But she understood.
Mrs. Dalton stayed with Anna.
Thomas and the ranch hands rode along the road toward Willow Creek.
Dusk approached.
Anna stood on the porch listening for anything.
A horse.
A shout.
Jasper's bark.
Nothing.
Then, almost an hour later, Jasper appeared from the cottonwoods south of the ranch.
Mud covered his legs.
His leash dragged behind him.
Anna ran.
"Jasper!"
The dog turned immediately and barked.
Once.
Then ran back toward the trees.
Anna's heart slammed.