West was rather sudden," Angela said. "This isn't just a visit, Mr. Goodman. I intend to make my home here. I'm staying up at the mine, in Father's cabin."
"And who is this young man?" Goodman asked, sizing Rafe up with a critical eye.
"I'm Rafe Gentry, sir. Angela's husband," Rafe answered.
Goodman's eyes widened. "Simon never mentioned that his daughter was married."
"He didn't know," Angela replied. "What can you tell me about Father's holdings?" she asked, adroitly changing the subject. "Your letter hinted that my inheritance was quite substantial."
"There is over fifty thousand dollars in the bank in your name. All you have to do is claim it. Baxter Brady came around after Simon's death and told me the mine was played out, and that he had already notified you in writing about it. He said he offered to buy you out. I was waiting for directions from you on how to proceed."
Clearly stunned, Angela gasped. "Father left that much?"
Rafe was impressed, but he had other things on his mind. "Do you know for a fact that the mine is played out, Mr. Goodman?"
"I'm no miner, Mr. Gentry. I had no reason to doubt Baxter. Do you know something I don't?"
Rafe and Angela exchanged speaking glances. "Nothing we can prove, sir. What can you tell us about Simon Abbot's death?"
"About as much as anyone else. His wagon went off the cliff. Baxter found him. He told the sheriff that the wagon's axle snapped, sending Simon plunging over the cliff. If it's any consolation, I made sure Simon's funeral was a grand affair. He had many friends in the area and they all came to bid him a final farewell."
"Where is he buried?" Angela asked.
"In the cemetery at the edge of town. It's a pleasant spot. I'm sure you'll approve."
"Thank you for providing Father with a proper burial. Is there anything special I need to do to withdraw funds from Father's account?"
"Just a note from me. The account is in your name as well as your father's. His will clearly stated that you were to inherit his entire estate, both funds and property. You should encounter no problems."
"Thank you again. If you'd be so good as to write the note, I'll be on my way."
"Of course." He dipped a pen in an inkwell and scribbled a brief note. "If there is anything I can do for you, don't hesitate to ask." He folded the note and handed it to her. "Please accept my congratulations on your marriage. I wish you and Mr. Gentry happiness."
Rafe offered his hand. "Please call me Rafe."
"Very well, Rafe. Are you a miner?"
"No. After returning from the war, my brothers and I tried to make a success of the family farm in Kansas. Two years of drought wiped us out. Much obliged for your help, sir. We'll certainly call on you if we have need of your services."
"Fifty thousand dollars," Angela said on a shaky sigh as they left the lawyer's office. "That's a lot of money. No wonder Anson was so determined to marry me."
"I'm not sure either Chandler or Dexter knows about the money," Rafe mused. "They may have guessed but they had no way of knowing the exact amount your father left in your name."
"Thank God for that. Let's go to the bank. I want to withdraw some cash for my immediate needs."
"I realize I have no business telling you what to do, but if I were you I'd wire the assayer's office in Denver and hire an expert to come down and check out the mine. I wouldn't take Baxter's word about the condition of the mine as gospel."
Angela beamed her approval. "That's a wonderful idea! Would you take care of it while I make myself known at the bank?"
Rafe nodded. "I'll meet you at the bank after I've sent the telegram."
The first thing Rafe saw when he walked into the telegraph office was the wanted poster identifying the Gentry brothers as bank robbers with a five hundred reward on each of the their heads. The picture alone would hardly
"And who is this young man?" Goodman asked, sizing Rafe up with a critical eye.
"I'm Rafe Gentry, sir. Angela's husband," Rafe answered.
Goodman's eyes widened. "Simon never mentioned that his daughter was married."
"He didn't know," Angela replied. "What can you tell me about Father's holdings?" she asked, adroitly changing the subject. "Your letter hinted that my inheritance was quite substantial."
"There is over fifty thousand dollars in the bank in your name. All you have to do is claim it. Baxter Brady came around after Simon's death and told me the mine was played out, and that he had already notified you in writing about it. He said he offered to buy you out. I was waiting for directions from you on how to proceed."
Clearly stunned, Angela gasped. "Father left that much?"
Rafe was impressed, but he had other things on his mind. "Do you know for a fact that the mine is played out, Mr. Goodman?"
"I'm no miner, Mr. Gentry. I had no reason to doubt Baxter. Do you know something I don't?"
Rafe and Angela exchanged speaking glances. "Nothing we can prove, sir. What can you tell us about Simon Abbot's death?"
"About as much as anyone else. His wagon went off the cliff. Baxter found him. He told the sheriff that the wagon's axle snapped, sending Simon plunging over the cliff. If it's any consolation, I made sure Simon's funeral was a grand affair. He had many friends in the area and they all came to bid him a final farewell."
"Where is he buried?" Angela asked.
"In the cemetery at the edge of town. It's a pleasant spot. I'm sure you'll approve."
"Thank you for providing Father with a proper burial. Is there anything special I need to do to withdraw funds from Father's account?"
"Just a note from me. The account is in your name as well as your father's. His will clearly stated that you were to inherit his entire estate, both funds and property. You should encounter no problems."
"Thank you again. If you'd be so good as to write the note, I'll be on my way."
"Of course." He dipped a pen in an inkwell and scribbled a brief note. "If there is anything I can do for you, don't hesitate to ask." He folded the note and handed it to her. "Please accept my congratulations on your marriage. I wish you and Mr. Gentry happiness."
Rafe offered his hand. "Please call me Rafe."
"Very well, Rafe. Are you a miner?"
"No. After returning from the war, my brothers and I tried to make a success of the family farm in Kansas. Two years of drought wiped us out. Much obliged for your help, sir. We'll certainly call on you if we have need of your services."
"Fifty thousand dollars," Angela said on a shaky sigh as they left the lawyer's office. "That's a lot of money. No wonder Anson was so determined to marry me."
"I'm not sure either Chandler or Dexter knows about the money," Rafe mused. "They may have guessed but they had no way of knowing the exact amount your father left in your name."
"Thank God for that. Let's go to the bank. I want to withdraw some cash for my immediate needs."
"I realize I have no business telling you what to do, but if I were you I'd wire the assayer's office in Denver and hire an expert to come down and check out the mine. I wouldn't take Baxter's word about the condition of the mine as gospel."
Angela beamed her approval. "That's a wonderful idea! Would you take care of it while I make myself known at the bank?"
Rafe nodded. "I'll meet you at the bank after I've sent the telegram."
The first thing Rafe saw when he walked into the telegraph office was the wanted poster identifying the Gentry brothers as bank robbers with a five hundred reward on each of the their heads. The picture alone would hardly
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