October 29, 1915
"Wake up Emily,"
Emily Montgomery opened her eyes in the dim light in the corner of her dark bedroom. She saw her brother standing over her.
"Are you ready?" Miles asked.
Emily yawned. "Are you sure we should be doing this Miles?"
"Why shouldn't we?"
"Mama might catch us sneaking out."
"We'll be quick. We should just go see what's going on."
Emily got up and put her slippers on. "All right." She reluctantly agreed.
The two younger Montgomery offspring quietly stepped outside the house.
"To the mine." Miles whispered.
Emily shivered. She wasn't completely sure which it was from, the chilly autumn night air or the thought of hearing something potentially creepy at the mine.
"I don't know if we should Miles."
"Emily, it's October. There's no better time of the year to do something like this, especially since it's just a couple days until Halloween."
Emily sighed. She stayed right behind her brother.
Miles stood at the side of the mouth of the cave. Emily ran across the small gravel road to stand alongside her brother.
Emily gasped and reached for Miles' hand when the twosome heard a rustling noise in the cave. Miles gently covered her mouth so she wouldn't scream.
They were shocked to see local citizen, 30-year old Edward Smith quickly look side to side before running across the road. He got on a horse and rode west, presumably to his house just outside of town.
"Was that Mr. Smith?" Emily whispered.
"Yeah it was."
"He works for Mr. Coulter."
Miles nodded.
"Why would he run away like that?"
"Let's see what he stashed in there."
"No Miles, let's do it during the day. We can talk to Gabe, he's a Mountie. He'll know what to do."
Miles nodded, knowing his little sister was right. "All right." He replied.
"Let's get back before Mama and Gabe come looking for us." Emily gently pulled Miles' arm.
Miles didn't object and followed his sister.
They were relieved when they got back to find both their mother and older brother still asleep.
"Goodnight Miles." Emily whispered, hugging her brother before going down the hall to her room.
"Goodnight Emily."
October 30, 1915
The next morning, the Montgomery families, as well as nearly the whole population of Hope Valley and the surrounding countryside attended the small town church. Emily and Miles saw Edward Smith there as well as the other regular church attenders.
Pastor Frank's sermon just so happened to be on keeping others accountable.
"We need each other's help to stay on the right track. That's why God gave us each other. Our responsibility is this, if we see a brother or sister in Christ make a mistake, tell them. Gently confront them in private. There is a way to do this. Turn to Deuteronomy 19. I'm going to focus on verse 15 through the end of the chapter."
Pastor Frank read the verses aloud.
15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.
16 If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong;
17 Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the Lord, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days;
18 And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;
19 Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.
20 And those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you.
21 And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
Emily and Miles exchanged looks. They knew what they had to do that afternoon.
That afternoon, they went to Gabe.
"Gabe, is now an okay time to talk? Are you busy" Miles asked.
"Sure, Cassandra invited me to have supper with her family, but that's not for a few hours. What did you have on your mind Miles?"
"We saw something last night.. we need to tell you about it."
Gabe raised his eyebrows. "Go on."
