Rivers of Gold

by Tracie Peterson

  His worried expression seemed to relax just a bit. “But I hear a kind of longing in your voice.”

  Miranda smiled. “Oh, Teddy. You truly have learned to listen and to care. It blesses my heart in a way that I can never quite explain. No, the longing I have is simply one to see my mother and father. I know my brother will journey home and they will all be reunited. I suppose I miss them more than I realized. Seeing Peter and Grace, and knowing they will be a part of that life—well, I can’t help but be reminded of my past.”

  “It’s probably good we’re having this discussion,” Teddy said. “I had wondered what you would like to do with our future.”

  “Whatever you want is fine with me. My life is with you, and I’m not sorry for that. I want to help you with your book, if you desire to continue working with it. I want to see your homeland and to know the things that were precious to you as a child. As long as you are by my side, I don’t care where we go or what we do. I only desire that we serve God as we do it.”

  “I am in complete agreement with that. The book, while important to me, is no longer my first priority. You are.”

  Miranda shook her head. “No, don’t put me there. Put God there. If God is your priority, then I know I will be cared for.”

  “Of course, He is above all,” Teddy agreed. “I just wanted you to know that I desire to make you happy.

  “Oh, but you have, Teddy. You have.” Miranda slid from the chair and knelt beside her husband. Embracing him tenderly, she kissed him gently upon the lips. “Since we’re here,” she murmured, “perhaps it would be most fitting if we were to pray together for guidance.”

  “I suppose,” Peter Colton began, “it shall be a long time before we see you again.” He had shared a luxurious dinner of baked chicken and wild rice with his wife and sister and brother-in-law. Although a cold rain pelted the glass of the hotel dining room in a steady pulsating beat, he felt warmer and more content than he had in months. Maybe even years.

  Teddy spoke up before Miranda could answer. “It might well be sooner than you think. Miranda and I have agreed that a trip to spend time with your mother and father would be good for both of us. I have work to complete here, but it’s nothing that can’t wait.”

  “Truly?” Grace questioned, leaning forward. “Will you travel with us?”

  “No,” Miranda said, looking with an endearing expression toward her husband. “We need a bit more time. Most likely we’d go to California in the spring.”

  “Oh, how exciting,” Grace said, reaching over to squeeze Peter’s hand. “Isn’t that wonderful!”

  “It is good news,” Peter agreed. He watched his sister, seeing in her a confidence and strength that he had not recognized before.

  “That’s not all,” Miranda said, her voice charged with energy. “After California, we’re going to travel across America and then on to England. Teddy wants to show me all the wonderful things about his homeland.”

  “It’s amazing what God has done in just a short while,” Peter declared. “I look at the man I was just two short years ago—even a year ago—and I’m overwhelmed. God’s hand was on me even then, but I couldn’t see the need for His guidance. I was certain I knew where I was headed and how to get there. It took Grace to show me where I was in error.”

  “And grace to bring you beyond those errors into forgiveness and new life,” Teddy said.

  Peter chuckled at his brother-in-law’s play on words. “Exactly,” he agreed. He turned to his sister. “You’ve picked a good man for yourself, Miranda. I could never have done as well for you.” Miranda beamed under his praise, and Peter knew just how important his words were to her.

  An hour later, Peter and Grace left Teddy and Miranda on the second floor of their hotel and walked to the third floor where Adrik and Karen were caring for their son.

  Knocking on the door, Peter and Grace were met by Leah Barringer’s animated smile. “Andy’s been trying to walk again!” she exclaimed.

  “How marvelous. He’s so early at this,” Grace said, taking her son in hand. Andy clapped his hands together, then smacked his hands up against his mother’s face. “You’d never guess he’d been sick so recently.”

  “Was the doctor ever able to tell you what was wrong?” Karen asked.

  “No,” Grace replied, hugging her son close. “I suppose it was just one of those things that we shall never understand.”

  “I think I understand it well enough,” Peter said, looking at his son in amazement. He still had a hard time believing he was a father. “Andy’s illness brought you all back to Dawson and to me.”

  “True enough,” Adrik admitted.

  “So when are you heading back to your claim?” Peter asked.

  Adrik looked to Karen then back to Peter and Grace. “Well, that’s what we needed to tell you. We’re leaving in the morning. We know you’re heading home soon, but we just can’t stay. It’s already been two weeks, and I’m sure Gump and Jacob are just about beside themselves.”

  “I understand. It looks to me like this town is emptying out rather quickly.”

  Adrik nodded. “That’s for sure. I’d say the heyday of gold in the Klondike is pretty much over. There will be those who stay on and make a living for themselves, but I don’t think you’ll see Dawson sporting a population of thirty or forty thousand ever again.”

  “The steamers on the Yukon reminded me of when we first came to Alaska,” Grace admitted. “They were so full of people a person could scarcely walk the deck.”

  “They’re all heading to Nome—that’s where the most recent gold strikes have been found. And once again they’re spinning stories of how a man can just pick the gold nuggets up off the ground. Never mind that they didn’t find that story to be true in Dawson. They’re just hungry for the gold.”

  “It’s so sad,” Karen spoke up. “So many people are struggling to find something they think will make them happy, and they don’t even realize that what’s missing in their life is Jesus.”

  Peter nodded. “That’s true. I know that for myself.” He smiled at Grace and hugged her close. “I’m going to miss our talks. You and Adrik have been good friends to us.”

  Karen moved closer and Peter saw her dab tears from her eyes. He thought of how little he had cared for her when they’d first met. She was too independent, and he felt she poorly influenced Grace. Now he admired her very much and felt proud to call her his friend.

  “You will always be welcome in our home,” Peter said.

  “And you in ours,” Adrik replied.

  Karen quickly agreed. “Oh yes. Do come back and see us. We plan to head to Dyea soon, but first we have to get Gump and Jacob and sell the claim.”

  “Jacob wants to get a job with your shipping company,” Leah threw in.

  “You tell him anytime he wants a job, it’s his,” Peter assured.

  Andy began to fuss and Grace shifted him in her arms. “I think it’s time we put this little fellow to bed.”

  “I suppose this is good-bye,” Karen said, coming to embrace Grace. “I can hardly bear it, but I know it’s for the best.” They hugged each other tightly, causing Andy to howl in protest.

  “Adrik, thank you. Thank you for caring for Grace when I was too blind and too selfish to do so myself.” Peter looked to the big man and smiled. “God knew exactly who to send into my life and into the lives of my loved ones. I’m proud to call you friend.”

  “That goes the same for me,” Adrik replied, clapping Peter on the back.

  The day of Peter, Grace, and Andy’s departure was a brilliant sunny autumn day. The crisp air felt exhilarating rather than cold, and Miranda was grateful for that as she prepared to bid her brother good-bye.

  “I’m so glad you and Grace are back together,” Miranda whispered as she hugged Peter’s neck.

  Peter pulled away and winked. “And I’m glad Teddy took you off my hands.”

  Miranda nudged him playfully. “You will have your hands plenty full with that boy
of yours. Just look at him. He’s all excited about the trip.”

  Their gazes went to the baby who squealed with delight at the sights and sounds of the steamer City of Topeka.

  “He will no doubt run me ragged, but what a pleasure,” Peter insisted.

  Miranda felt her longing for home rise with every minute that passed. When the final boarding call was given, Miranda went to Grace and embraced both her and the baby. She tried not to cry, but the tears came just the same. “I shall miss you so very much.”

  Grace nodded, tears forming in her eyes as well. “I could never have made it without you. When I thought I’d lost you on the lake, my heart nearly stopped. You have been closer and dearer than any sister.”

  “Oh, I will come for a visit as soon as I can,” Miranda promised. She kissed Grace’s cheek, then turned to do the same for Andy. “You be a good baby,” she admonished, rubbing his rosy cheek.

  Teddy came up behind her and put his arm around her. “We shall journey to see you soon,” he told Peter.

  “You do that. I know Mother will want to meet the man who has so clearly captured Miranda’s heart.”

  Miranda looked up to Teddy with her tear-filled eyes. “He has done exactly that,” she agreed. “He’s taken my heart captive, as well as my mind.” She looked to her brother. “I can speak more botanical Latin than a girl has a right to know.”

  They laughed and Teddy squeezed her close. “She makes a perfect assistant. But more than that, she makes a perfect wife.”

  “Then we are both truly blessed,” Peter said, “for I feel the same about Grace.”

  Teddy and Miranda watched the trio board the steamer and waited until the ship had begun its journey up river. After they docked they would catch the railroad, now completed to Bennett, and be home within a matter of weeks instead of months.

  “I know you will miss them, my dear,” Teddy said, turning Miranda to face him, “but I promise you, I will take you home to your family. Do you trust me to do that?”

  She nodded. “I trust you. I’m not unhappy, Teddy. Please understand that. I love you very dearly, and I am home wherever you are.”

  “Then I am doubly blessed, for I feel the same.”

  —[CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN ]—

  JACOB PACED THE confines of his cell while, outside, an icy rain pelted the town. He was worn and exhausted from his daily work on the city woodpile—punishment for all who were incarcerated. For over two weeks now he’d been jailed for something he didn’t do. No one would listen to him— not the officer who brought his meals, not the commissioner in charge, not even God. At least that’s how it felt to Jacob.

  He tried to pray, but he felt his words were bound up in anger and resentment. Why did you let this happen to me, God? he couldn’t help but ask. It became his focal question. Why? I liked that old man and enjoyed working with him. I would never do him harm. So why am I now being accused of his murder?

  He hated the Yukon. He hated everything the Yukon stood for. The greed. The lies. The gold. He wished fervently that his father had never brought him and Leah north. What good had it done any of them? His father was dead. He was in jail. And now Leah was alone.

  Once again, he’d failed his sister, and once again, God had failed him.

  Why?

  Pounding his fist against the wall, Jacob wanted to scream out that they were all mad. He felt as though the entire world had gone insane and only he remained knowing the real truth.

  He let exhaustion overcome him as he stretched out on his cot to stare up at the ceiling. Daily he heard the Mounties speak of the vast numbers leaving Dawson. The rats are deserting the ship, he thought. Leaving it for a more lucrative ship called Nome. Jacob shook his head, failing to understand any of it.

  Here he was, sixteen. He wouldn’t be seventeen until January of the new century. Would he even live to see it? Would they proclaim him guilty and end his life for the murder of Gumption Lindquist?

  “It’s not fair,” he muttered. “I thought when a person trusted God, if they did what they were supposed to, that God would keep them from harm—that bad things wouldn’t happen to them. But I’ve had nothing but trouble.”

  The first few days after they’d taken him into custody, Jacob figured everything would be resolved in a matter of hours. He figured that somehow Adrik would get wind of his incarceration and come to his aid. He’d even asked the Mounties to look Adrik up at the hospital, but he guessed no one had ever seen fit to do that.

  To say he was discouraged didn’t begin to reveal the scope of his emotions. The hopelessness that held Jacob captive seemed to breed other feelings that washed over him in waves. He was angry for the mistake—angry because no one believed him. He felt deeply grieved over Gump’s death, sorry that Gump would never see his farm in Kansas and never know if his parents were still living.

  Then there was the fear. Jacob hated being afraid most of all. What if no one ever came to his defense? What if the truth was never revealed and he remained in jail for the rest of his life?

  He thought of Leah and worried about her incessantly. She was so young, just fourteen. What would become of her? He knew Karen loved her and would see to her upbringing, but Leah would have no family of her own. If they killed Jacob as punishment for Gump, Leah would be completely orphaned. The thoughts kept whirling through his mind.

  Anger. Sorrow. Fear.

  They were Jacob’s cellmates—and they demanded their voice.

  Adrik stared at the notice on the door to his cabin and shook his head. “This says that the property has been confiscated and quartered off by the Northwest Mounted Police.”

  “Why would they do that?” Karen questioned.

  “I don’t know.”

  “Where’s Jacob and Mr. Gump?” Leah asked. She started to walk around to the backside of the cabin when one the Jones brothers hailed them.

  “Ivankov, where have you been?”

  “Jones,” Adrik acknowledged and nodded. “We’ve been to Dawson. Baby took sick. Didn’t Jacob or Gump tell you?”

  “They couldn’t very well do that, now, could they?”

  Adrik had no idea what the younger man was talking about. “Do you want to explain?”

  “You don’t know, do you?” The dark-haired man shoved his gloveless hands in his pockets. “That boy killed the old man.”

  “What?” Karen exclaimed, coming around Adrik to face the man. “What are you saying?”

  “I’m saying the Mounties took Jacob off to Dawson. He shot old Lindquist right through the heart. They figure he was after his gold.”

  “No! Not Jacob!” Leah cried. She rushed into Karen’s arms, looking up mournfully at Adrik. “Jacob wouldn’t kill Mr. Gump—they were good friends.”

  “Well, the old man is dead, nevertheless. Mounties took him away and posted the notice on the cabin. We’ve been keepin’ an eye on things ever since.”

  “I thank you for that,” Adrik replied. “How long ago did all this happen?”

  “Right after you headed out. I figured you might even learn about it while you were there. I’m supposin’ the Nugget carried the story.”

  “I’m afraid,” Adrik said, looking from Jones to the women, “we weren’t paying much attention to the events around us. Well, we’ll just have to gather our things and head back to town.”

  “Ain’t suppose to go through the door—it’s posted to stay out.”

  “I see that,” Adrik said. “We got some things we can gather from the cache, but our gold is hidden in the cabin and I’m not leaving here without it.”

  Jones nodded. “Seein’s how you’re the old man’s partner and all, I don’t see no harm in you takin’ your fair share. I’m sure no one will be the wiser for it. Sure ain’t my business.”

  “I’ll check in with the Mounties when I get to Dawson. Jacob’s going to need some help in clearing his name,” Adrik replied.

  “I don’t think you can clear the boy of something he did,” Jones said turning to go.
“I saw him myself—standing there with the rifle in his hands—looking all crazed. He said it were someone else, but I never did see nobody.” He then ambled off toward his own claim, as if not wanting to know or say anything more on the subject.

  Leah’s sobs tore into Adrik’s heart. “Don’t worry, sweetheart,” he said, reaching out to stroke her hair. “I’ll see that this gets figured out. We’ll get Jacob out of jail—you’ll see.”

  “Why did this happen?” Leah asked tearfully. “Poor Mr. Gump, he was afraid this land would kill him, and now it has. And poor Jacob. He must be so afraid.”

  Adrik looked into his wife’s eyes. He wished fervently that he knew what to say to comfort Leah, but nothing made sense. “I don’t know.”

  In a numbed state of shock, the trio worked to pack out what things they didn’t wish to leave behind. Adrik knew it would most likely cause problems with the police when they learned of his entry into the cabin, so he refused to let Karen or Leah go inside.

  “Better it fall on me than you two,” he told them. “Just tell me what you need for me to retrieve and I’ll do my best to find it.”

  Adrik stepped into the cabin and stared at the darkened shadows on the wall. He took enough time to light a lamp, dispelling the shadows, but to his horror, it revealed the bloody brown stain on the wooden floor. Gump had been so proud of that floor. He’d made it himself without much help from anyone else. He’d spent the winter months sanding it down to make it so smooth he could walk barefoot on it in the summer. Now his lifeblood stained the floor, forever marking it as a reminder of unfilled dreams.

  Adrik felt his eyes mist. He’d loved Gump like a father, and now the old man was gone. Gone before he could take back his gold and surprise his family. Gone before he could see his mother and buy her the white leather, gold-trimmed Bible she’d always wanted. Gone.

  “And that’s what I plan to be as well,” Adrik said, anger replacing his sorrow. “I’m taking my family and leaving this place. And if I never hear the word gold prior to stepping onto the golden streets of heaven, it’ll be just fine by me.”