Rivers of Gold

by Tracie Peterson

  Leah Barringer ran across the room and threw herself into Jacob’s arms. “Oh, I thought they’d never let me in here,” she cried.

  “I can’t believe they did,” Jacob replied, holding her away from him enough to get a good look. “Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine, but you look terrible.”

  He laughed. It felt good to laugh. “I’m fine. I’m working hard, but it’s not too bad.”

  “Working? What are you doing?”

  “I’m cutting wood for the city. That’s how they keep the prisoners busy around here, and sometimes it’s how they sentence guilty folks. They end up cutting wood for so many weeks or months.”

  “How awful,” Leah said, glancing down to see the irons on Jacob’s ankles. “Are they afraid you’ll run away?”

  Jacob shrugged, trying to keep things light. He could see the fear in Leah’s expression and wanted to put her mind at ease. “They do this to everyone when they bring them out of their cell.”

  “Oh,” Leah said, seeming to calm with his response.

  “I’ll give you two a moment alone,” Mr. Kinkade said, then went to speak with the guard.

  “Leah, I want you to promise me that no matter what happens, you’ll stay with Karen and Adrik and grow up sensible.”

  “I promise. But what about you?”

  “It doesn’t much matter at this point. I can’t free myself. I can’t leave the jail and go find Cec. If I could, I would.”

  “Adrik’s looking for him,” Leah replied. “He’ll find him.” Jacob reached out and pushed one of his sister’s braids back over her shoulder. She was growing up so fast, she hardly resembled the youngster she once had been. Soon she’d have beaus and then a husband and children. He wanted a better life for her. Better than their mother had known. Better than they had known.

  “I’m sure if anyone can find Cec, Adrik’s the man. Just don’t go getting your hopes up. Cec may be far from here by now.”

  “You have to have faith, Jacob.” Leah’s expression grew quite serious. “We have to trust God, even though it seems like He doesn’t care. He’s always out there—watching us and dealing with us. He hasn’t left us, even if we don’t understand why these things are going on.”

  “Sounds like you’ve thought this through,” Jacob said.

  “I have. I wasn’t very happy when this all started, but while I’m still not happy with the way things are, I know God is in control of everything.”

  Leah’s words were exactly what Jacob needed. He needed to know she believed in him—trusted him and loved him. But he also needed to hear her declare her faith. Somehow, for whatever reason, he felt as if he were sustained because of her faith.

  “Karen and I have been praying. We know God has everything in His hand. He sees us and loves us, and He’s not going to let you be falsely charged.”

  It warmed Jacob’s heart to know that without even having to ask, Leah knew he wasn’t capable of murdering Gump. He hugged her close. “Thank you. Thank you for coming here and thank you for believing in me.”

  Leah stepped back. “How could I not?” She smiled. “I have to go now, but just you wait. You’ll see. We’ll find that horrible Mr. Blackabee, and you’ll be set free.” She hugged him tight. “I love you, Jacob.”

  Her words broke through the wall Jacob had put around his heart. Holding her close, he countered her words with his own declaration. “I love you, too.”

  Long after she’d gone and Jacob was back to work on the woodpile, her words stayed with him. They gave him a rhythm to work with. “You’ll be—set free. You’ll be—set free.” He lifted the axe and brought it down in an imagined beat. Then a verse from the Bible came to him. Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

  “They’ll know the truth,” Jacob said bringing the ax down hard. “and I will be set free.”

  “I think trying to find Cec Blackabee will be rather like hunting for the proverbial needle in a haystack,” Karen declared as she, Leah, and Adrik sat keeping company with Miranda and Teddy.

  The night had grown late, but while Teddy would have just as soon gone to bed, he knew his new friends needed to discuss their strategies. He wanted to help as best he could, but nothing seemed reasonable.

  “The man could well be back down toward Whitehorse by now,” Teddy reasoned.

  “I thought of that already,” Adrik declared. “I gave his description to the Mounties and told them all about Cec’s saloon in Whitehorse. Someone there is bound to know him and should be able to keep an eye open for him. But I really don’t think he would have left this area. He desperately wants those missing papers. They mean a lot of money to him—at least that’s how I figure it.”

  “And you say,” Teddy began, “that the man figured them to be on the sled I sold to you?”

  “That was his way of thinking. Why he figures that, I can’t really say. He told Jacob that his partner had robbed him. He said the sled and sled box were a part of that thievery and that the sled box contained his documents.”

  “I say, why wouldn’t the partner just keep the documents? Better yet, why not sell them to some poor unsuspecting fool.”

  “Well, as best as Jacob and I could figure out, the papers were hidden and the man wouldn’t necessarily have known he had them.”

  “I see. Well, that does change things a bit.”

  “But if the man stole the sled, wouldn’t he have found what he was looking for?” Miranda questioned.

  “Well, apparently he thought the papers would be in the sled box,” Adrik said. “But we’d taken the sled box inside and made a baby bed for Andy. It was a pretty nice box, simple, but nice. We put a well-worn crate in the sled for carrying supplies and tools. Cec probably didn’t pay any attention when he took the sled. Once he got away and realized the box wasn’t the same one, he had to figure on a way to get the box back.”

  “Well, now we have to figure a way to get Cec back,” Karen said. “And we’ve got to do it soon.”

  —[CHAPTER TWENTY NINE]—

  MIRANDA CURLED UP against Teddy’s warm body and sighed. It was so very nice to have a husband to sleep alongside, especially when the weather turned cold. Her mind raced with thoughts. Even though she knew she’d be better off to fall asleep, she couldn’t stop thinking about poor Jacob Barringer. She wished fervently there was something she could do for the boy, but she knew that, besides praying, she had no means with which to help him.

  It seemed so little, and yet, she knew prayer was the ultimate weapon of a Christian warrior. She thought of all the times when she’d been truly afraid, and then remembered how God had soothed and calmed her. She prayed He would do that now for Jacob.

  I’m sure he’s not guilty, she thought. He’s too sweet a boy. He just couldn’t have killed anyone.

  Miranda was just about to drift off to sleep when her attention was caught by a noise coming from the other room. Since marrying Teddy, they’d turned the other room into a large sitting room and work area. Teddy’s tables and shelves consumed one end of the room, while the other end was used to receive guests.

  The creaking sounded again, and this time Miranda sat straight up. She noticed a light threading through the space at the bottom of the door.

  Slipping from the bed and pulling on her robe, she thought only to crack the door a bit to look out into the sitting room, but when she touched the knob, Miranda was no longer convinced she was doing the best thing.

  She started to turn back when the sound of glass breaking caught her attention. Without thinking, Miranda threw open the door, hoping to scare the burglar into making a run for it.

  “Teddy, wake up! We’re being robbed!” she screamed. Stepping into the sitting room, she screamed again. “Teddy, there’s a man in here!”

  And indeed there was. The man quickly covered the distance that separated him from Miranda and clamped his hand over her mouth.

  “Shut up. Do you want to wake up the whole hotel?”

 
She would have told him that she had exactly that in mind, but his foul-smelling hand made it impossible. Struggling against the man, Miranda tried to free herself. She pushed against him with all her strength, but it was to no avail. He held her fast in a steel-like grip.

  That was how Teddy found them. Miranda saw his expression change from one of confusion, to anger.

  “Let her go!” he declared, charging forth with uncharacteristic boldness.

  “Stay back, mister. I’ve got a knife and I ain’t afraid to use it.”

  Teddy halted at this news. “Please don’t hurt her. You can take whatever you want. Just let her go.”

  “Look, mister, I don’t know who you are, but you have my property and I want it back,” the man said, pulling Miranda backward. The man turned her toward the work tables. “Where is it?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Teddy said, moving very slowly to cross the room in front of them. “Please just let her go and tell me what this is about.”

  The man suddenly grabbed hold of Miranda’s wrist and yanked her around, throwing her off-balance. She landed at his feet in a resounding thud.

  She looked up at the wiry man. He was older than she’d expected. From his grip on her, Miranda had presumed him to be young. Instead, his face was weathered and wrinkled and his black hair was liberally sprinkled with gray, especially at the temples. He had a scar along his jaw, just under his chin. She might never have noticed it had she not been sitting at his feet.

  “Please, tell me what you’re looking for,” Teddy said.

  “You bought a sled from my partner. He stole it from me and also took some other things that didn’t belong to him, including a sled box. I want it back.”

  “I don’t have them,” Teddy said. “I sold them.”

  Miranda realized that this had to be Cec Blackabee. She tried to scoot away from the man, but he stomped his muddy boot down on her robe. The foul odor told her mud wasn’t the only thing he’d collected along the way.

  “Stay put,” he ordered. He turned back to Teddy. “I know you sold them. I followed the man you sold ’em to.”

  Miranda looked to her husband and realized by his expression that he, too, knew the truth of who this man was. He silenced her with the tiniest shake of his head.

  “If you know this, then you know also that I do not have what you’re looking for,” Teddy declared.

  “I think you’re wrong, mister. I reclaimed that sled of mine—took it back from the man you sold it to. The sled box with my things was missin’.”

  “I’m sorry. What does this have to do with me? I sold the man both the sled and the sled box.”

  “I saw the sled box. It weren’t the same one you were sold.”

  Miranda saw Teddy stiffen at this. “How would you know what the man sold me? You weren’t there. He could have disposed of the item you’re speaking of.”

  Cec nodded. “I suppose he could have, but I don’t think he did. I think you’ve got it.”

  Teddy’s expression changed at this. “Describe the box.”

  Cec shrugged. “It was about two foot deep and about a foot and a half wide. It was made out of good wood and painted white.”

  Teddy nodded. “Yes, I do remember it.” He looked to Miranda as if to apologize.

  She saw the misery in his expression and wished she could somehow comfort him. “Where is it, Teddy?” she asked softly.

  “Back at the cabin.”

  “Where?” Cec questioned.

  “A cabin I use that’s out south of Dawson.”

  “Take me there.”

  Teddy shook his head. “It’s a three-day trip and I have no transportation. The weather is bad, and we’d no doubt have a difficult time of it.”

  “I don’t care. I can get us some horses,” Cec said, scratching his chin. “The lady’ll have to ride double with me.”

  “I say, why not just leave her here,” Teddy suggested. “She can’t help in this—she doesn’t even know about the box.”

  Cec shook his head. “I don’t think so. The minute you and me head out, she’d be over there telling it all to the Mounties.”

  “What if I gave you my word?” Miranda questioned. “I promise to stay right here in the hotel.” She knew she could keep that promise and still go to Adrik for help.

  “You must think me a fool,” Cec answered. “Now you’re both wearin’ on my patience. Let’s go.”

  “Look, we have to put on our street clothes. It’s much too cold to travel in nightclothes,” Miranda declared.

  The man looked at her for a moment then turned his gaze to Teddy. He studied Teddy for several seconds. Miranda couldn’t imagine what he must be thinking. The hard set of his jaw told her that he wasn’t at all pleased with the delay, but he understood the logic of her statement. They couldn’t very well go parading out into the night dressed as they were. If nothing else, the very sight of them would be sure to attract unwanted attention.

  “All right. You go first,” he finally told Miranda. “Get your clothes on—and no funny business or I’ll cut him to ribbons. He can show us the way in pain, just as sure as he can without it.”

  Miranda nodded. “I promise I won’t do anything but get dressed.”

  “We will need a few supplies,” Teddy told Cec as Miranda got to her feet. “If you don’t mind, I’ll collect some of these herbs to take along. They’re good for tea and medicines. You never know, the snow could come upon us, and we could find ourselves in grave danger.”

  “Take ’em if you like,” Cec said without concern.

  Miranda paused at the door, fixing her gaze on Teddy. She couldn’t imagine why he wanted to take his herbs. Trembling, she reached for the door.

  Once inside their bedroom, Miranda hurried to dress. She felt a foreboding creep over her. What if Cec killed them after he got what he wanted? She glanced at the hall door and thought about running to Adrik for help. They were just two doors down.

  But if I don’t hurry, Cec might hurt Teddy, and I could never forgive myself if that happened.

  Miranda tried to figure out how best to dress. She knew it would be cold and possibly rainy. She layered her body in a variety of woolen stockings, petticoats, and even a pair of boy’s trousers she’d used on the hike north. Finally, she topped the outfit with a heavy wool skirt and long-sleeved blouse. Her hands shook so badly that she had difficulty buttoning the blouse.

  “ ‘The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?’ ” She murmured the verse from Psalms, praying it would give her comfort and calm her nervousness.

  Haphazardly, she knotted her hair at the nape of her neck, then took up a jacket and pulled it on over her blouse. Glancing around the room, she quickly retrieved her coat and gloves. She hurried back into the workroom to find Teddy bundling up the last of the things he wanted to take.

  “I’m ready,” she said in shaky voice.

  Teddy crossed the room and handed her the bundle. “I shall be only a moment.”

  True to his word, Teddy reappeared within minutes. Miranda could see that he, too, had dressed in his warmest clothes. “All right, let us be about this, then,” he said, looking harshly at Cec. “I would like to appeal once more to your sense of decency. Please allow my wife to stay here.”

  “Get movin’,” Cec said, pointing them to the door. “I got me a gun as well as a knife, and I’ll use either one.” He patted his pocket as if to emphasize the presence of his weapons.

  Miranda opened the door and peered into the hall, hoping perhaps someone would be taking a middle-of-the-night stroll. The hall was empty, however, and the hotel was silent.

  Cec grabbed hold of Miranda’s elbow. “You go first, mister. That way if you try anything funny, I’ll see it. I’ll also have your woman.”

  Teddy’s gaze met Miranda’s once again. She saw the love he held for her in his expression. She knew he would die for her if necessary. He nodded slo
wly and headed out into the hall.

  Miranda felt her courage giving way. She realized her only chance to alert someone would be to raise a ruckus in the hall. But what if no one heard her? She would only manage to irritate Cec and maybe even cause them to be killed. She saw Karen and Adrik’s room door as they moved down the hall. If only Adrik could know what was happening. She made a quick decision.

  “Ow!” she cried, and fell against the door to Adrik and Karen’s room. Her impact made a terrible noise.

  “What’s wrong with you, fool woman?” Cec growled low. He yanked her back upright.

  “I just twisted my ankle,” Miranda offered apologetically.

  Teddy turned, looking fearful. “What’s wrong?” he asked quietly.

  “Your woman took a wrong step,” Cec replied, then grabbing Miranda, he thrust her forward again. “Don’t let it happen again, missy.”

  “I’m sorry,” Miranda said, not meaning it at all.

  Adrik couldn’t imagine who was coming to call in the middle of the night. He threw back the covers, disturbing Karen’s sleep.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked groggily.

  “I don’t know—probably nothing more than a drunk wandering down the hall to his room,” Adrik replied. “Go back to sleep.” He went to the door. Throwing it open, he started to protest the interruption but found no one there.

  It was just as he’d suspected. Probably nothing more than someone staggering down the hall in a state of inebriation. As he started to close the door, however, something came over him, and he paused. Stepping forward, he looked toward Teddy and Miranda’s room. No one was there and the door was closed. He shrugged and glanced down the hall in the opposite direction.

  He caught only the briefest glimpse of a woman and man, but he was almost certain it was Miranda, and he was even more certain that the man with her was Cec Blackabee.

  —[CHAPTER THIRTY]—

  ONCE THEY WERE outside, Cec Blackabee led Miranda and Teddy around behind the hotel and down the alleyway. From out of the shadows, a thin, tall man appeared.