Golden Torment

by Janelle Taylor

  Her father…could she even think of Ben Weathers as Jake Hammond? Jake knew her identity. He couldn’t even offer her a few crumbs of affection and loyalty, for he apparently had none for her.

  My father…My own flesh and blood…How could you do this to me a second time? I will never forgive you! As for you, Landis Jurrell, did you have to use my love and steal my innocence to further your causes? Like two rotten peas in the same pod, both men were so much alike! Users! Takers! Deceivers! Betrayers! Self-centered monsters!

  At last, she lifted her impenetrable gaze to look at the bewildered Thomas. “As far as I’m concerned, my father is dead; I’ll not search for him again.”

  “Would you like to leave your address with me, just in case we locate him and he wants to get in touch with you?” Bill kindly offered.

  She declined. “I don’t want anyone to know where I’ll be. When you close my file, just note Kathryn Hammond also mysteriously disappeared.”

  Bill observed her closely at the use of her name. This vivacious and spunky girl had changed greatly and Landis Jurrell was partly responsible. Annoying guilt chewed at Bill. Yet, his hands were bound by duty. He knew what her erroneous assumptions were doing to her. “I’m sorry, Kathy. I wish I could say or do something to ease your pain and sadness. I can’t.”

  “I know, sir,” she concurred.

  “What about Landis? Your marriage?” he speculated softly.

  “There’s nothing to keep me here,” she remarked dejectedly. She handed him a sealed envelope and asked him to give it to Landis after her departure. Once the pain was gone, she would be fine. She had never felt this confident or resilient, so pleased with her talents and courage—yet so utterly miserable and lost.

  Kathy left with Jack. They travelled a few hours, then camped. Tuesday, they would be in Skagway. She prayed a ship would enable her to sail Wednesday. She would pack, then hopefully sell her cabin to Dray as an investment. She would say her farewells to her friends, then leave this land of golden torment.

  After extracting another vow of silence from Jack at their campsite, she revealed her meeting with Thomas and the truth about Clinton Marlowe. Jack couldn’t believe her stunning news. It enlightened him to many episodes, but infuriatingly clouded others. He couldn’t summon any logical debates to her conclusions, and it didn’t help the truth when Jack readily concurred with Kathy.

  Jack was troubled by the anguish in her eyes and voice. He was aware of her soft weeping several times during the night. When he could bear her pain no longer, he placed his sleeping bag next to hers. He pulled her into his arms to comfort her. His solace was in knowing she possessed the courage, intelligence, and stamina to conquer this bitter defeat and to succeed in her new life. She cried until exhaustion claimed her. By two o’clock Tuesday afternoon, they were approaching Skagway…Kathy looked up at Jack and smiled sadly; there was indeed a large steamer anchored in the Lynn Canal…

  “Don’t leave so soon, Kathy,” Harriet pleaded with her young friend when they reunited. “You’ve been gone off and on for months. We’ve missed you terribly. Stay just another week,” she coaxed, afraid to ask about Landis.

  Other friends added their pleas to Harriet’s. “I’ve stayed too long. I’m leaving in the morning,” she said with finality. Fortunately, all kept silent about Landis, knowing by now it had been a mock union and must be over. Kathy feared everyone except her had known the truth all along…

  Kathy talked with Dray and made a deal on her cabin. Kathy and Jack embraced. She cried and hugged him fiercely, thanking him for all he had done for her. Jack promised to look her up when he returned to America that summer. She waved as he left, tears still clouding her eyes, sensing they would never meet again. She had been tempted to give Jack her mother’s locket as a keepsake, then concluded it was best if they both let their bittersweet pasts die.

  Later, Harriet had some time alone with Kathy and tried to convince her to stay in Alaska. Kathy revealed Slavin’s brutal attack and release, then added another piece of information to justify her departure: the robbery and suspicions at Soapy’s. “As you all know, he isn’t a man to have as an enemy.”

  Kathy noted glimmers of comprehension in Harriet’s eyes. “It’s finally over now; it’s time for me to go home.” Kathy related her plans to become a concert pianist and revealed her numerous experiences in Dawson. She left out the truth about her father and her false love to spare both needless anguish.

  “What about Landis, Kathy? Does he know about the files and your departure? What about your marriage? Your father?”

  “It’s over, Harriet; everything. It was only a necessary charade.”

  “Are you sure, Kathy?” Harriet persisted doubtfully.

  “Yes,” Kathy vowed sincerely. Tears filled her eyes; she inhaled raggedly. Agony knifed her vulnerable heart.

  “You’ve really had it rough here, haven’t you?” Harriet asked, but Kathy was staring unseeingly out the window. Harriet shook her head sadly. There was nothing to say or do for this tragic girl, so she went to her cabin and family.

  A terrible thunderstorm savaged Skagway as Kathy completed her packing. She reflected on the farewell supper in Moore’s tent, needing to keep her thoughts from other topics. Soapy’s papers would tell Landis his cover was blown; he would be safe. Everything was ready except for a bag in which her last items would be placed. Her nightgown was lying on the bed; her clothes for the voyage were across a chair. Strangely, she almost hated to leave Skagway. She was taking a last journey around her cabin when a knock sounded at the door.

  She went to it and asked who was calling. The thunder boomed loudly, denying all except one muffled name: Jack. She flung the door open and stepped aside to allow his quick entry from the torrent of rain. She closed the door and turned to see why he had returned.

  A wet hand clamped tightly over her mouth and a rainsoaked man pinned her against the door. Her heart raced wildly in panic. Her eyes widened in terror as they stared into those satanic green ones. Her world reeled madly as he malevolently hissed, “I don’t think you’ll be leaving by ship, Kathy. Soapy and I have some unfinished business with you. After I told him a few facts, he decided he had judged you innocent too quickly. He wants to see you before you join a girl named Michelle.” Marc Slavin laughed cruelly as she fainted.

  Shortly before noon that next day, Landis pounded insistently on Kathy’s door. When she didn’t answer, he tried the latch. It was unlocked, so he opened it and glanced inside. The cabin was deserted and chilled. He didn’t step inside, denying him a glimpse of the havoc behind the slightly ajar door or a view of her bags at the end of the bed. He closed the door and leaned against it. His gaze reluctantly turned toward the deserted canal.

  He stood transfixed. There was nothing he could do now. What a damn fool he had been! He had lost the only woman he had ever loved or wanted. Even if he went after her, she would cover her tracks to prevent any of them from finding her.

  Perhaps if he hadn’t stopped at Log Cabin to avoid the storm, he could have gotten here in time to stop her departure. He had recklessly assumed he could outdistance her and Jack. Damn, how she must be suffering! he thought in agony. Never had he felt so frustrated and helpless in his entire life.

  She had risked her life to clear her name with him. Bill had been caught up in a dispute over a gold-claim after Kathy’s departure; Bill hadn’t realized Jake Hammond’s file had been tampered with until he pulled it out to show to Clint. Then Landis was furious with Bill for letting Kathy leave.

  Thinking about Ben/Jake, Landis knew Kathy would never forgive either of them. She surely believed he had known the truth about Jake all along! If she hadn’t stolen his papers from Soapy, he would have charged Jake with their theft! But Ben hadn’t acted the least suspicious since Landis realized his identity. Evidently Jake didn’t know about his hiding place, else Ben would have confessed himself after reading that real marriage document left as a test! Where was Ben? Ben hadn’t been home since
his visit to Dawson. If Ben had confided to Kathy, she wouldn’t be running away!

  Jake had revealed honest affection and concern for her. What had Jake been feeling and thinking during her stay with them, knowing he wasn’t Landis Jurrell? Did Jake think he was cruelly using Kat? Perhaps Jake had hoped Clint would take the responsibility for his vulnerable daughter.

  A mortal grief tormented Landis, for she was as lost to him as through death. He fearfully wondered if she would really marry another man, thinking herself free. After knowing her and loving her, he couldn’t imagine life without her. He loved her and needed her. He had discovered his golden dream, to have it become his tarnished torment.

  I love you, Kat Marlowe, he miserably thought. What have I done to you? To us? God help me, to myself?

  “Landis! Where’s Kathy?” Harriet asked in concern.

  Landis’s startled expression levelled on Harriet’s flushed face. “She’s gone home; I was too late to stop her,” he somberly stated, anguish undisguised in his face and voice. “The ship’s sailed. She’ll make certain I can’t find her. Why didn’t she give me time to explain?”

  Harriet gaped at him in confusion. “She’s not with you? Then where is she?” she shouted in panic.

  He stated in anguish, “She’s gone. The ship left this morning!”

  “That’s what I mean; Kathy didn’t get on it! Her cabin’s a wreck; her bags are still in there! Nobody’s seen her since last night. I’ve questioned everyone; I’ve looked everywhere. Something’s wrong, Landis; she’s vanished,” she concluded aloud in dread.

  Landis straightened, coming to full alert. “What do you mean, she’s vanished? She didn’t get on a ship?” His heart began to thud wildly.

  “No. We’ve been looking for her all morning. I’m worried. When I saw you standing here, I thought you had something to do with her disappearance. If you know where she is, tell me,” she pleaded.

  “Her cabin’s unlocked,” Landis remarked, his keen mind working swiftly. Unlocked? Strange. “Maybe she was hiding from me; maybe she missed the ship; maybe she even changed her mind,” he anxiously speculated.

  He opened the door and entered. It was then that he saw the concealed bags and her gown. From the looks of the mussed bed, she hadn’t slept there. His frantic gaze swept the entire cabin. The floor was still damp and muddy in several places. The table had been shoved against the corner cabinets; a chair was overturned. Landis went over to the table. He leaned over and picked up a torn sheet. It didn’t take a Mounty to realize strips had been torn from one end, strips for bindings…He bent over again to retrieve a piece of cloth, a pocket from her flannel shirt, probably torn away during a fierce struggle. As he hunkered down to check out another clue, he asked, “Where’s Jack?”

  “He left yesterday right after he delivered Kathy.”

  Landis touched his finger to the damp spot on the wooden floor. He raised his shaking hand to stare at the crimson stain, sheer terror washing over him. He held the finger up as he spoke one word, “Blood.”

  “Smith?” Harriet said in gnawing fear. “Or Slavin?”

  Landis appeared deceptively calm. But Harriet saw the deadly lights glowing in his eyes. “I’ll kill him,” he stated with cold and ominous assurance. “By God, I’ll kill him!” he thundered in unleashed rage. He tested other semicongealed spots of brownish red to assess the length of their presence on the floor: hours old, he concluded in fear.

  Harriet nearly went to pieces as she imagined what either man would do to Kathy. “What if she’s already dead?” the panicky words escaped.

  Landis closed his eyes, trying to shut out the mental vision of his love’s broken and bruised body at the foot of some precipitous cliff. Had Smith followed her to Log Cabin and put two and two together? Had he kidnapped her to torture the truth from those sweet lips? Landis couldn’t forget Smith’s allusions to an impending trade and visit. “I’m going after her, Mrs. Pullen. If he’s harmed one hair on that golden head, I’ll carve him to pieces!” He needed clear wits. Did Smith have her? Was he waiting for him to come and bargain for her life?

  Suddenly Harriet brightened with hope. “Jack was heading inland to make certain no one followed her until she could leave. Maybe he’ll see them!” But it was a vast and hazardous territory, and Jack was ailing.

  Within twenty minutes on this eventful Wednesday, Landis had enlisted Dray’s help and the two desperate men were heading toward Dawson, by way of the Mounty headquarters and Landis’s cabin…

  Twenty-Seven

  At Log Cabin, Landis and Dray borrowed two roans, the melting snows making it possible to cover the trails on horseback. They raced out for Whitehorse, their speed and intent urgent. They left the animals with a friend there, then took a boat. The Yukon was still treacherously icy in many places, but it was imperative to get to Dawson before Smith could harm Kathy. Both men were banking on Smith’s insistence on seeing her before killing her, or on trading Kathy for Landis’s cooperation.

  Strong, agile, skillful, and determined, the two men battled the raging waters to rescue Kathy. They beached near Landis’s cabin. Dray anxiously remained with the boat, while Landis rushed to his cabin to fetch Ben. They might need an extra man along to assist against Soapy and his cohorts.

  Ben was startled wl en Landis stormed in, glaring coldly. Before Ben could question his fury, Landis shouted, “There’s no time for talk, Jake Hammond. Kathy’s been kidnapped. Smith will kill her if we don’t get there in time to stop him. If you care anything about her, I’ll need your help up there. You coming? Or do you still deny your daughter in this moment of need?”

  Ben warily studied him. Was this some trick? Landis sneered, “You traitorous bastard! If she dies, we’re both to blame!”

  Landis stalked into his room. He jerked open his closet and kicked in the secret panel to the back. He grabbed his Mounty uniform and struggled into it, hands trembling with tension and fear as he snatched a hidden paper. He strapped on his service revolver and seized a rifle. He just might need some convincing authority in Dawson…

  Watching Landis desperately toss his cover aside, Ben realized he wasn’t playing a game. Landis rushed past him and left. Ben yanked the door open and shouted at his retreating back. “Hold up, Sergeant Marlowe; I’m coming with you!” He hurried to his room and grabbed his mackinaw and gun, then hurried to Landis’s side.

  “How could we do this to her?” he sadly murmured. “God, how I love her, Ben; or should I say, Jake? If anything happens to her…”

  “I know you won’t believe this, but I was going after her this week. My work’s over. I love her and need her. She’s all wrong about me and what happened. I didn’t desert them; Dory left me for another man. She swore Kathy was his child. One look at her and I knew what Dory had done. I tried to tell Kathy the truth, but I couldn’t. Even if I had, she wouldn’t have believed me. My mission here isn’t detrimental, Clint.”

  Clint stared at him. “Let’s go. We can talk later.”

  They headed back to where Dray was nervously pacing. He stared at the crimson jacket, blue pants, and low-brimmed hat. He shouted in befuddlement, “You can’t impersonate a Mounty!”

  “I’m not, Dray. The name’s Sergeant Clinton Marlowe of the North-West Mounted Police. I’m on assignment here from the McKenzie Territory.”

  “Jake Hammond of the United States War Department,” Jake introduced himself. “Kathy’s father, also on secret assignment here.”

  Dray gaped at them. “You’re both phonies?” he accused.

  “Let’s go! We’re wasting valuable time!” Clint ordered.

  They jumped into the boat and pushed it into the turbulent river. Soon, they were docking where the Yukon merged with the Klondike at Dawson. They wasted no time getting to Soapy’s saloon. The men who knew Clint as Landis Jurrell, stared, thinking he had joined the Mounties, wondering about his wife. Clint nodded and spoke, never hesitating in his tracks. When Luther tried to halt him from heading down the pri
vate hallway, Clint forcefully shoved him aside and sneered, “Get out of my way, you scum!”

  Without knocking, Clint barged into Smith’s office, along with Jake and Dray. Smith looked up, paling at the sight which greeted his wide eyes. “What’s the meaning of this!” he shouted timorously.

  “You know why we’re here, Smith. Where is she?” Clint snarled, his gaze piercing, his stance intimidating.

  “I have no idea where Kathy is,” Smith shot back before thinking.

  “I’ll kill you if you’ve harmed her,” Clint vowed with deadly confidence. “I’ll ask one more time, where is she?” His towering frame was rage-taut.

  Smith fused livid with anger. He stiffened. “I don’t know.”

  Jake raced around the desk and yanked him to his feet. “I’ll kill you if you don’t speak up, you worm!” he added his threat to Clint’s.

  “Just who do you think you are to threaten me, Ben Weathers?” Smith scoffed, trying to hide his fear of these furious men.

  “I’m Jake Hammond, Kathryn’s father,” he replied coldly.

  “You?” Smith shrieked in utter surprise.

  “That’s right. Where’s my daughter?” Jake demanded.

  “I haven’t seen her since she left!” Smith answered honestly.

  “Who’s got her? Where? Speak, man, before I strangle you!”

  Clint stormed around the desk and seized him from Jake’s grasp. He shook him by the shoulders and snarled, “I’m warning you, Smith!”

  “I don’t have her! Damn you, Marlowe, I haven’t seen her!”

  Clint grinned tauntingly at his slip. Smith appeared flustered and frightened. Clint roughly shoved him into his chair and tied him to it. He withdrew his hunting knife and toyed with the blade as he warned, “You have one minute to answer. I know about your plans for us. Ill kill you first.”

  When Smith opened his mouth to shout for help, Clint slammed his fist across his jaw. Jake grabbed his hair and yanked his head backwards, warning, “Speak, man, before we slit your throat!”