But why?
And why had Dr.
Vale documented them instead of removing them?
Rosalie turned another page.
Her father’s handwriting appeared.
If the Rooks discover what we found, the land will be worthless.
Rosalie went still.
She read the sentence again.
Then the next.
Keep the
family quiet.
Her stomach dropped.
This had never been about medicine.
It had been about land.
The northern ridge contained something valuable.
Something that powerful men wanted.
And Gideon’s family had discovered it.
Rosalie’s father had helped hide the truth.
For money.
They returned to the ranch after dark.
Gideon locked the door.
Rosalie couldn’t stop thinking about her father.
“He sold me to you.”
Gideon looked at her.
She wrote:
Why?
He stared at the notebook.
Then wrote:
He owed money.
To whom?
Gideon hesitated.
Then:
Vale.
Rosalie felt the room tilt.
“My father owed Dr.
