Their silent presence increased Leahâs anxiety.
She leaned over and asked Cecil softly, âDo you know any of them?â
âTwo. Neither were friends.â
Leah closed her eyes in reaction.
All other questions were set aside as the judge entered the room. His name was Andrew Moss. He was a big man. His flaring white moustache coupled with the large build made him resemble a walrus. Everyone stood at the request of the bailiff, and when the judge sat, they all retook their seats.
The judge looked up and said, âWould the representatives of the Montague estate please stand.â
Cecil and Leah rose to their feet.
The judge appeared surprised. Leah wondered if heâd dismiss the case solely based on his response to their color. She knew he could. In many areas of the country, members of the race were unable to have their day in court due to the legal shackles of Jim Crow. Testifying against Whites was forbidden as was being able to sue. Because of the times, this judge had every right to void the estate altogether if he wished on the grounds that she, as a Black woman had no rights to inherit. If he did, sheâd have very little recourse. Monty, what have you gotten me into?
He scrutinized Cecil first, then the veiled Leah. âWhereâs your counsel?â
Cecil said, âWe havenât had time to engage anyone, your honor. We just learned of the suit yesterday.â
âI see.â The judge scanned the documents before him. âIt says here that this judgment was rendered more than thirty years ago, but that the estate was only attached three weeks ago because Mr. Montague couldnât be found.â
Cecil raised an eyebrow. âI was unaware of the judgment, sir.â
âAre you Louis Montague?â
âNo. Mr. Montague passed away recently. Iâm Cecil Lee, his former business agent, and this is his widow, Mrs. Leah Montague.â
The judgeâs attention shifted to the veiled Leah. âSorry for your loss, maâam.â
âThank you, your honor.â
âWell, Mr. Lee, those gentlemen over there represent folks who say you and your boss left them high and dry thirty years ago. Say you left unpaid bills, swindled them in a fraudulent stock scheme, and slunk out of Colorado in the middle of night so you wouldnât have to pay the piper.â
Cecil stiffened. âNot true. We prided ourselves on settling our debts, sir. Any losses these gentlemen may have incurred were also incurred by my employer, and we didnât sneak away in the middle of the night.â
From behind them one of the men interrupted in an impatient voice. âYour honor, this is all irrelevant. The judgment has already been rendered in a Colorado court of law. The estate should be made to pay.â
Leah forced herself to breathe slowly.
The judge then asked Cecil, âDid Mr. Montague leave a will, Mr. Lee?â
Cecil nodded. âHe did, Your Honor. Mrs. Montague is the sole heir.â
âDid you bring the papers with you?â
âNo, sir. Theyâre in a bank vault back East.â
The judge took a moment to peruse more of the documents before him. âAccording to what the plaintiffs have discovered the estateâs worth about seventy-five thousand dollars in land and cash. That sound correct to you?â
âYes sir, it does.â
âWell, the judgment owed is ninety-thousand. How do you propose to pay the other fifteen thousand, maâam?â
Leahâs world began to spin. Not only had she just forfeited seventy-five thousand dollars, she now owed fifteen thousand dollars more! She had no proposal; she couldnât even think. âIâd like to have a few days to talk with Mr. Lee about my options, if I may.â
One of the men drawled amusedly, âPay up or go to jail, those are your options honey.â
Chuckling could be heard. Leahâs jaw tightened.
The judge snapped. âYou will show respect,