Opening: Day 14

Word Count: 84,004

Summary of Events:
Chapter 27:
Keiller waited for Geoffrey to arrive at the stage depot to try catching him again, and — thanks to Cyril — ended up having to chase Geoffrey around Coyoteville for a long time and have a shootout before finally capturing him.
Chapter 28:
Sophia noticed Keiller's horse was out of water and so watered him, although feeling a funny pain. Keiller got a confession out of Geoffrey and was offered a place in the Emerald Hills Logging Company by Egbert and Mrs. Wylie.

Excerpt of the Day:
"Getting to her feet, Sophia tried pacing, but that didn't help the pain either; it was jus as useless as the squirming. Sophia brushed tears out of her eyes; then Sophia noticed a warmth between her legs.
Looking down, Sophia's eyes went wide. What was wrong with her? Was she losing control? Sophia ran to the back door and threw on a coat as she hurried outside, but she halted midway between the cabin and the outhouse.
It wasn't right. This wasn't right at all. Something bad; something horribly bad was happening. Sophia stood still, a feeling of terrified horror washing over her. She wanted to burst into tears, she wanted to run away, she wanted to get away from all of this, she wanted to wake up from this nightmare, she wanted to die.
Sophia didn't bother stopping the tears as they came and poured down her cheeks; this was terrifying. She didn't know what to do, but she knew she wasn't going to get Mr. Bartlett. She had no idea where to find him and she didn't want anyone to know she was here.
Turning back to the house, Sophia ran inside and threw off her coat. She didn't know what to do. Finally Sophia went into the bedroom, laid down on the bed, and sobbed. It was all wrong; horribly, egregiously wrong.
The worst part was that Sophia was alone. She had no idea when Mr. Bartlett would be coming back — it probably depended on whether he decided to go out drinking or not — not like he would be able to provide much help either.
This was it. This was the end surely. There would be no help or hope for her sisters; she wouldn't be able to even tell Mr. Bartlett about them. She was positive that she was going to die. She was alone; what else would happen?
Sophia wanted her parents, she wanted her brothers, her sisters; she wanted life to never have changed that summer that she was nine. She wished that none of this had ever happened. If it would never have happened then this wouldn't be happening.
Either that, or if they hadn't all been spared, it would've been better if they all would've been taken instead. The fact that a fragment remained while a portion died was unfair, it wasn't right, and it'd caused all of this.
A shot of pain tore through Sophia and she shrieked into the pillow. She was alone, and she was dying, she was sure. There was no way her sisters would ever know what had happened to her, and they would be left alone forever, without anyone to help them, without anyone to save them.
Sophia couldn't imagine a worse end. She should've spoken sooner; she should've told Mr. Bartlett every time she'd had a chance. But she'd remained silent, and now her secrets would die with her."