‘‘I seriously doubt there is anything you could say or do to cause such a reaction, Mr. Paxton.’’
‘‘We shall see.’’
Peter Colton was almost relieved to find his ship delayed in leaving Skagway’s harbor. A heavy fog was moving in, making it an easy decision to remain where they were. Besides, his conscience was eating him alive and he knew that if he didn’t find a way to apologize to Grace, he’d never be able to sleep through the night. It wasn’t that he thought her beliefs to be right, but he hated to leave with hard feelings between them. Perhaps with a little more effort he could help her to see that he had done nothing but benefit his family. That his ability to reason through difficult decisions and issues made him an asset to those who loved and needed him.
After seeing to his ship and men, Peter made his way to the shores of Dyea once again. A cold, heavy rain began to fall before they actually made it to land, and within moments Peter was drenched to the bone. Sloshing through the muddy streets, Peter felt only moderate relief when the tent store came into sight. No doubt there would be little privacy to discuss what was on his mind, but it didn’t matter. If need be, he’d wait for a time when he could speak to Grace alone, but either way, he would plead his case once again. Shivering from the cold, icy rain, Peter forced his frozen fingers to work at untying the flap of the tent. It seemed to afford a poor method of security, but within moments he found himself face-to-face with Karen Pierce and a very ominous-looking Winchester rifle.
‘‘Oh, it’s you,’’ she said, almost sounding disappointed.
‘‘You were expecting someone else?’’ he questioned.
‘‘We weren’t expecting anyone, hence the reception.’’ She put the rifle aside and reached out to help him with his coat. ‘‘You’d better get out of those wet clothes or you’ll catch pneumonia. Aunt Doris!’’ she called.
Doris appeared from behind the canvas partition they’d affixed between the store and living quarters. ‘‘Oh my,’’ she said, noting Peter’s appearance. ‘‘Whatever made you brave this weather, Captain?’’
‘‘My departure has been delayed by the storm, and I thought . . . well, that is to say . . . I needed to speak with Grace,’’ he said, ignoring Karen’s raised brow.
‘‘Well, perhaps we should get you into something dry first,’’ Doris replied. ‘‘There are some of those apronless overalls you brought up to sell to the miners, as well as a few of those chambray shirts. You should just help yourself and let us get you warmed up. Karen, go bring a blanket for the captain.’’
With a nod, Karen retrieved the Winchester and went into the other section of the tent. Peter, meanwhile, made a forage through the table of goods and found a pair of pants and shirt that would fit him.
‘‘Can’t do much about those boots. Boots sell out about as fast as you bring in a load. You can see for yourself the ones you brought us earlier today are already gone.’’ The older woman seemed to size up the situation while Peter glanced at the shelves behind her. ‘‘We can set them by the stove and hope they dry out. The way this storm looks,’’ Doris continued, ‘‘you might as well just stay the night. Won’t be much of a chance for you to get back to your ship without risking great harm.’’
‘‘That would hardly be fitting,’’ Peter said, surprised to find the very proper spinster suggesting such a thing.
‘‘Pshaw,’’ the woman replied. ‘‘There isn’t a bed available in town. You might as well take one of your own cots and bed down here. It wouldn’t be the first time we had a man under our roof for the night.’’
‘‘Oh?’’
She smiled. ‘‘Am I scandalizing you, Captain Colton?’’
Peter nodded and grinned. ‘‘I believe you are.’’
‘‘Don’t let it bother you. I was just referring to Mr. BARRINGER and his children. Someone ran off with his tent last week, and we had him here overnight before he headed out once again to help up at the Scales.’’
‘‘Did he find who had taken his tent?’’
‘‘No, but I pity the man when they do. Thieves aren’t well received up here. Last week I saw a group of self-appointed officials drive a man out of Dyea with nothing more than the clothes on his back, and all because he attempted to steal a man’s rifle.’’
‘‘Is that why Miss Pierce met me at the door with a loaded Winchester?’’
Doris chuckled. ‘‘We learned early on how to fend for ourselves, Captain. We don’t take chances when we hear someone breaking in to steal your goods.’’
‘‘Has that happened before?’’ he questioned.
‘‘Oh, once or twice, but we always get the drop on them.’’
Peter shook his head. He’d had no idea of what these women were up against. How could he even suggest they continue working in such an arrangement? The dangers might well be too great. On the other hand, he couldn’t very well pack everything up and take it back now. The profits had done wonders for his family. He’d been able to pay back many of the debts they owed, and soon they would be back on their feet, maybe even able to completely overhaul their ships.
‘‘Hello,’’ Grace said, emerging from the back of the tent. She held the blanket that Karen had gone to fetch, and Peter couldn’t help but wonder if Karen had thrust the duty off on Grace, or if Grace had volunteered.
‘‘Leave the blanket and let the captain change,’’ Doris instructed. ‘‘Afterward, you can talk by the fire. This young man is going to be in a bad way if he doesn’t get warm soon.’’ Grace nodded and placed the blanket on the back of a nearby chair. Smiling over her shoulder, she and Doris exited the room to give Peter some much-needed privacy.
Peter quickly changed his clothes and used some of the rope he’d crated in earlier in the day to assemble a clothesline to hang his wet things from. With this accomplished, he pulled the blanket around his shoulders and picked up his soggy boots.
Entering the living quarters of the tent, Peter was rather surprised at how cozy they’d made it. A large crate made a decent table, while overhead they’d managed to rig two hooks from which to hang lanterns. In the corner on cots made up with heavy wool blankets, the Barringer children were caught up reading, with Karen sitting between them to help whenever needed. Doris had built up a fire in the stove, and Grace waited with a cup of hot coffee.
‘‘I should get soaked more often,’’ he said, smiling.
‘‘Sit here, Captain,’’ Doris replied, offering a chair by the stove. Without any further comment, she went back to her sewing.
Peter did as he was instructed, positioning the boots close to the stove. Grace moved forward and took the chair beside him. She extended the cup of coffee almost timidly.
‘‘Are you still mad at me?’’ she questioned.
Peter shook his head. ‘‘I wasn’t mad. I was more . . . well . . . frustrated and maybe a bit . . .’’ He looked around to see if the others were occupied with their own business, then lowered his voice. ‘‘I guess I was hurt.’’
‘‘Because of what I said?’’
‘‘You made me out to be some sort of ogre,’’ he said, warming his hands around the tin coffee cup.
‘‘I didn’t mean to make you sound that way,’’ Grace replied. She kept her voice low, almost hushed, and Peter found that he had to lean close in order to hear her. ‘‘I would like you to better understand what I was trying to say.’’
‘‘I felt the same way, but you go first and then maybe I can explain.’’
Grace glanced upward and met his eyes. ‘‘I meant no disrespect to you regarding your position with your family. I am certain you are a tremendous help to them in times both good and bad. But people will always fail. We are, after all, human. Our choices are not always the wisest, and often we misunderstand what the most appropriate response should be to any given problem.’’
‘‘Granted,’’ he said, nodding. ‘‘People do fail, but we must listen to the counsel of those who are wiser. Surely even your Bible would suppor
t this.’’
Grace nodded. ‘‘The Bible indeed tells us to seek wisdom, but God’s wisdom—not people’s. God’s job is His own.’’
‘‘Meaning what?’’
She blushed and looked away. ‘‘Meaning that you should not attempt to take that position in the life of your family. Otherwise, what happens when you fail them?’’
‘‘I won’t fail them,’’ he replied indignantly.
‘‘Everyone fails,’’ Grace replied without a hint of apology. ‘‘God is the only one who never fails. You have put yourself in the position to be a god to your family. You ask them to seek you for their counsel and direction. You would preorder their steps, but God has already seen to that task. I fear your family might suffer far more than they would ever need to suffer if you continue to fight God for first place in their lives.’’
‘‘This is a ridiculous conversation,’’ he said, taking a long drink of the coffee. How could she say these things? Did she not realize how ludicrous she sounded? He pictured his sister looking up at him with great adoration. Miranda would never say such silly things. Yet there was a peaceful, purposeful manner about Grace. She wasn’t ranting and raving at him like a lunatic. She was simply and calmly explaining her beliefs. Her calm only served to unnerve him all the more.
‘‘I don’t see this as a ridiculous conversation,’’ Grace finally said. ‘‘One of these days, I fear something will happen. Your family will seek you for help—for their salvation—and you will fail them. When that happens, I can’t help but wonder what will happen to their vision of God. Or for that matter, their elevated vision of you.’’
20
—[ CHAPTER TWENTY ]—
WITH WINTER COMING on in the northern territories, Peter was certain the demand for passage north would slow. He didn’t find this to be the case, however. So despite the opportunity to service paying customers in Seattle, Peter made the decision to return to San Francisco. He needed to see his family, especially in light of everything Grace had said. For weeks her statements had lingered in his thoughts, and there was no way to exorcise the torment without spending time with those who loved and understood him.
But now, hours after enjoying a delicious meal prepared by his mother and sister, Peter was rather stunned to hear his father’s comments on the past few months. Having suffered a knee injury during one of his trips, Ephraim Colton had turned Summer Song over to his first mate and made the decision to spend time at home recuperating.
‘‘Why didn’t you tell me about this?’’ Peter questioned as his father limped across the room to pour himself a glass of brandy.
He raised the bottle toward his son, but Peter only shook his head. ‘‘I can’t believe you’d keep this from me. You’re injured, and Summer Song is running without you.’’
‘‘My men are good men,’’ his father replied. ‘‘I trust them to do a proper job. They’re running Mr. Paxton’s goods and show true enthusiasm for their duties. Oh, we’ve lost a man here or there to the gold rush—I’d imagine you have as well.’’
Peter nodded, not wishing to remember that he’d lost an even dozen over the past few months. Replacing the men lasted only as long as it took for the next surge of excitement over gold to build and then some of the men again would go. He’d found that the best replacements were those who had already tried their hand at mining for gold and had come back discouraged and broke.
‘‘I always believed you’d discuss such an important issue with me,’’ Peter replied. ‘‘I’ve contacted you with each of my trips into Seattle and you’ve never mentioned the need for me to come home.’’
‘‘Because there was no need,’’ Ephraim assured him. ‘‘I’m on the mend and within a short time I’ll be back on my feet and firmly planted on Summer Song. In fact, I’ve invited your mother and sister to journey north with me and see the country for themselves.’’
‘‘What!’’
His father threw him a surprised look, one that seemed to border on concern. ‘‘Do you perceive a problem?’’
Peter shook his head. ‘‘No, not necessarily. I mean . . .’’ He turned away to pace the short distance in front of the fireplace. How could he explain that his father’s ability to handle matters in his absence was causing him to feel rather misplaced?
‘‘Wonderful,’’ his father said, not giving Peter a chance to continue. ‘‘Your mother is quite excited about the prospects of seeing Alaska, as is Miranda. Both find the idea of an adventure to be something quite appealing.’’
Peter thought of Grace’s words and tried not to feel the sting of their truth in the wake of his father’s decisions. His family had once consulted him about everything, and Peter had liked it like that. Perhaps he need only stir the pot with ideas of his own in order to get back some of that control.
‘‘I believe we should build a store for ourselves, Father,’’ he began. Ephraim looked at him quizzically but said nothing. ‘‘I know I haven’t said much to you on the issue, but I set up business in Dyea with three women to keep the store in my absence. They sell goods out of a large tent, but with winter approaching I know they’re concerned about the need for something more structured. I believe we could put a store together and allow them to live in the back portion or even upstairs. They could continue to sell goods and we would net a tidy profit.’’
‘‘What of Mr. Paxton? He’s been most generous and I wouldn’t wish to offend him. Especially now.’’
‘‘I doubt Mr. Paxton would be that affected,’’ Peter replied. ‘‘His store is in Skagway and Dyea is several miles away. Both harbors have gold rushers pouring in, and both have the potential for plenty of customers and business.’’ Peter paused, as if suddenly hearing his father’s words. ‘‘What do you mean, ‘Especially now’?’’
Ephraim tossed back his brandy and wiped his blond beard. ‘‘Well, that’s the surprise I’ve been waiting to tell you about. Mr. Paxton has invested a good deal of money in Colton Shipping. We’re to receive a new steamer next spring, and if business continues well we can have that paid off and perhaps even purchase another before summer is out.’’
‘‘Wait a minute,’’ Peter said, coming to where his father stood. ‘‘What are you saying? Have you signed some form of agreement with Martin Paxton?’’
‘‘I have.’’
Peter felt as if he’d been punched in the gut. ‘‘What kind of agreement? Why didn’t you wait to consult me about this?’’
His father eyed him rather intently. ‘‘Son, I appreciate the things you’ve done to keep this business up and running, but Martin Paxton is a longtime friend and astute businessman. I trust his word in matters such as this.’’
‘‘But I wasn’t even consulted.’’ Peter knew he sounded like a whiny child, but in truth, his feelings were hurt. What was it Grace had said about his family replacing him?
‘‘Son, this is still a family business. I didn’t mean to leave you out of the discussion, but the matter needed a rapid decision. Mr. Paxton came to me—’’
‘‘He was here?’’
Ephraim nodded. ‘‘He arrived by train nearly a week ago. He left just yesterday. Sudden business, something to do with a search he’d been involved with.’’
‘‘May I at least read the papers you signed?’’
‘‘Of course, my boy.’’ Ephraim moved to the secretary and opened a drawer. ‘‘You’ll find a most generous offer. Mr. Paxton has done right by this family for years.’’ He held the papers out to his son.
Peter would not find any relief in his father’s words until he saw the papers for himself. Taking them up, he immediately began to search for any complications or problems. The investment was most generous, and Paxton himself was taking on the responsibility of securing the new steamer.
‘‘What’s this clause?’’ Peter questioned, coming to a statement regarding grounds for dissolving the agreement. ‘‘This makes it sound as if Paxton is a partner rather than a mere investor.’’
/> ‘‘Well, where the new ship is concerned, he will be a partner. He will be part owner until my debt is repaid. Surely you do not expect the man to put up his hard-earned money without any collateral to support his investment?’’
Peter shook his head. ‘‘No, but neither did I expect you to take on a new partner without consulting your old partner first.’’
‘‘Son, you are still in full control of Merry Maid and a full partner in Colton Shipping. I would have consulted you had this been an arrangement that would have threatened that partnership. Consider this a separate arrangement. Paxton and I are partnered in this new ship alone.’’
Peter handed back the papers, feeling completely at a loss. His father had made what appeared to be a very sound business decision without seeking Peter’s help.
‘‘You ask them to seek you for their counsel and direction. You would preorder their steps, but God has already seen to that task.’’ Grace’s words rang clear in his memory. He could see her sweet face fixed intently on him, her warm brown eyes watching his every expression as if to read his mind. Was this God’s preorder for his family? Had God tired of Peter’s interference?
Peter shook his head and turned to bid his father goodnight. He didn’t believe God worked that way. The God of the universe surely had more on his mind than to worry over whether or not Peter Colton worked overly hard to have a position of importance in the life of his family.
‘‘I’ll see you at breakfast, Father,’’ he said, suddenly feeling very tired. ‘‘We can discuss the idea of a store in Dyea then, if you feel up to it.’’
‘‘I shall look forward to it,’’ Ephraim assured his son.
Bill knew that with the months quickly giving way to winter, he’d have no chance of getting to Dawson City before spring. Rumor held that it was far easier to get over the Chilkoot Pass on a stairway of ice and snow, but he wasn’t convinced this would be true. He’d been packing supplies for weeks, and with each step up the mountain, he reminded himself that soon he’d be seeing to his own goods and his own way.
[Yukon Quest 01] - Treasures Of The North Page 19