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else to find diamonds by now.”
    Mr. Harper shrugged. “So we’re the first.”
    “I hope this isn’t a hoax like that one in Colorado a few years back,” the older man said. “Those men are serving lengthy sentences in federal prison.”
    “It’s no hoax, Mr. Kelly,” Mr. Harper said. “One of our miners found these by accident, and we were keeping it quiet until you confirmed that these are genuine diamonds.”
    When Mr. Kelly opened his valise, Annabelle understood why he’d held such a death-grip on it all the way from Tyndall. Stacks of currency filled the case, and some paperwork rested on top of the money. Mr. Kelly removed the papers and handed them to Mr. Harper.
    “Twenty-thousand is my offer for the mine. I assume you have full Power of Attorney to make the transaction.”
    The younger man took an envelope from the saddlebag. “Here’s the owner’s signature, signed and notarized.”
    Mr. Kelly examined the paper. “It seems to be proper and legal.”
    He handed the paper back to Mr. Harper who stuffed it into the envelope and put it back in the saddlebag.
    “Then all that’s left is to sign the deed,” the older man said. “I drew this up based on the map that I received in the mail and on previous surveys I had of that property, so please understand that your signature makes you liable if the official surveys show any discrepancies.”
    Mr. Harper scrawled his name on the paper and moved all of the money from Mr. Kelly’s valise to the saddlebag. Mr. Kelly dropped the pouch of diamonds and the signed deed back into his valise, closed and locked it.
    “It will take a few months for me to arrange for the mining equipment,” he said. “That should give your people plenty of time to vacate the mine.”
    They shook hands, and Mr. Harper took a gold watch from his pocket to check the time. He extinguished the lamp, and Annabelle heard their footsteps leaving the bathhouse in different directions.
    She expelled the breath she’d been holding. Diamonds , she thought. And a king’s ransom paid for them . It was little wonder that her Aunt Julia had become a rich woman in this vast and remote land. She sat up in the tub and finished washing before the water turned cold. What an odd place to choose for a meeting ? Then again, when that much money and diamonds were changing hands, discretion would be of the utmost importance. Still , she had a feeling that there was something not quite right about the whole business.
     
    * * *
     
    Morning came much too soon, considering that she’d spent the night tossing and turning, pondering what she’d witnessed the previous night. When she heard the bell ringing, she dressed quickly and went downstairs to breakfast.
    “Where is Mr. Kelly?” she asked Daisy.
    “His room was empty this morning,” she said. “And the bed was made as if he hadn’t slept in it. Perhaps, he rose early and went for a walk.”
    After eating, Annabelle gathered her things and went out to the stagecoach. Four new traveling companions greeted her—a young couple named Hannah and Joshua Parsons and their twin boys. But where was Mr. Kelly ? She heard the driver say to his partner that he couldn’t hold the stage any longer waiting for the man. He climbed into his seat, and gave the horses the command to move out. They didn’t get far before Daisy ran from the inn screaming.
    “Help! Come quick,” she called out.
    Annabelle heard the driver yell, “Whoa!” The stagecoach jerked to a stop. He climbed down out of his seat and followed Daisy back into the inn along with two of the stable hands.
    “I wonder what’s wrong,” Hannah asked.
    “I hope she’s not gone into labor,” Annabelle said. “From what I gathered last night, she’s the stage driver’s wife.”
    A few moments later, the driver and one of the stable hands came out of the inn. Annabelle watched the stable hand saddle a horse and ride off. Daisy came out next, and while clearly distraught, she didn’t