CHAPTER 70

CHAPTER 70

As Nathan made his way back to the city, he met Bill on the way. Together they went to the café, where a heavy atmosphere hung in the air. It was there that they discovered the devastating news: Elizabeth had disappeared.

Worry immediately set in and they began to consider where she might be. Abigail, who was in the café at the time, suggested that Elizabeth might have gone to school, as it was also a church...

- She might have gone there to have a moment alone with God. Sometimes God offers this kind of refuge, Abigail speculated.

Nathan nodded, acknowledging the possibility.

- We need to find her. I'll check the school, he decided promptly.

Abigail and Rose offered to go to the school, and they set off in search of Elizabeth.

As they discussed the next steps, the tense atmosphere in the café reflected everyone's concern about Elizabeth's disappearance. The hushed conversations and anxious glances indicated a collective desire for her to be found safely as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, Robert and Cody shared with Nathan and Bill the recent discoveries in the mine. One particular photo found among the finds upset Nathan.

- This isn't right, Nathan muttered, staring at the photo with a gloomy expression.

Bill held up a broken piece of buckle with the initials "JS", suggesting a possible connection. The mystery surrounding the buckle further increased the tension in the group.

Nathan noticed that Bill was miles away, lost in his ramblings...

- Bill! He called out to Nathan...

Bill shook his head... looked at Nathan and Robert and said:

- Come with me.

Robert and Cody looked at each other and together with Nathan, followed Bill, who was running to his office.

Bill started looking through folders, he threw everything on the floor or on the table. Nathan asked him what he was looking for, but he kept muttering, like an angry bear ...

- Can't that be it? I ...

- What happened, Bill? Nathan asked, already alarmed by the way Bill was reacting.

- Nathan! It can't be him ... him ... it can't be him?

- Him who? Cody asked.

Just then, Bill found some documents and, sniffling, said:

- Got it!

Nathan was holding his breath and saw Bill detailing Julio Spurlok, his cries for revenge before being transferred to prison.

Nathan knew many stories about Jack and Elizabeth, but knowing the danger she had been in with this man, and with a gun to her head, made Nathan's blood run cold... Thanks to Jack Thorton, he now had his beloved wife. And now his children were in danger and his wife missing.

- We need to find out what's going on, Nathan said, his determination unshakable.

Cody hurried to the mercantile and sent an urgent telegram to Hamilton, inquiring about the whereabouts of the prisoner Julio Spurlok. Within minutes, the answer came back: Julio had been killed in an escape almost a year ago. However, his brother, Charles Spurlok, had sworn revenge when he went to collect the body of the deceased.

As Cody descended the stairs of the mercantile, Opall came running up, clamoring for his attention.

- Cody! I think the note has something to do with our teacher's disappearance.

- Note?

- Yes, I found it and gave it to her early this morning.

Cody took Opall's hands in his and, looking into her eyes, asked her to tell him everything from the beginning, which she did.

Cody was listening, but he couldn't take his eyes off her.

"Those abandoned puppy dog eyes, they were so sweet, they'd be your undoing. "

He expressed his gratitude and set off quickly towards Judge Bill Avery's office, where he detailed everything that had happened. Together, they decided it would be prudent to go to Nathan's house, as Elizabeth might have left some clues related to the mysterious note.

Upon entering the room, Nathan was shocked to see everything turned upside down. His attention was immediately drawn to the silver box where he kept the spare gun, which was now empty. Only he and Elizabeth knew where it was hidden, which meant that his wife was armed. A feeling of apprehension settled over him as he considered what this might mean.

"But where did she go?"

On the bedroom floor, Nathan found the fallen note.

"Elizabeth Thorton... Your children are at the cabin 200 paces northwest of the lilac oak, come alone. Or you'll never see your children again. Don't delay or I'll play with that beautiful young woman. You'll pay me back for everything you and Jack Thorton have done. "

Nathan and Bill armed themselves, along with Cody and Robert, and set off in search of Elizabeth and the children. Initially, Nathan felt a mixture of anger and concern that his wife had not sought help. However, as they rode along, his heart began to calm down. He understood perfectly why Elizabeth had made this decision. The threat to his daughter's safety and innocence was something that would make any father's blood boil.

Nathan feared what might happen if they met. He knew Elizabeth's strong temper when she was angry, and he knew she would be able to confront danger with intense ferocity.

Meanwhile, Robert looked like he was about to explode with rage. His eyes burned with the flame of indignation at the threat to his beloved teacher and the children.

"How dare someone do that to their teacher?"

"How dare he touch little children?"

"How dare he threaten his beloved Allien, threaten her safety, and her body. "

He was determined: no one would dare hurt the people he loved; if necessary, he would take the law into his own hands.

Nathan felt a tightness in his chest. He knew he had to find Elizabeth and bring her home, no matter what.

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