[Yukon Quest 01] - Treasures Of The North

by Tracie Peterson

  ‘‘This news will come as a surprise,’’ he said, pausing to wait for Doris to join them. The older woman closed the door to the living quarters and positioned herself beside Karen.

  ‘‘What is this about, Captain Colton?’’ Doris questioned.

  Grace looked at Karen, who remained somber-faced. She merely shrugged as if to say she was as confused as Grace about the urgency of the situation.

  The sleigh bells over the front door jingled as two broad-shouldered men entered one after the other.

  ‘‘I’m sorry, but we’ve not yet opened for business,’’ Karen told them.

  The first man held the door while his companion moved to one side to admit yet a third man. Grace felt the blood drain from her head as she met the smug expression of Martin Paxton.

  ‘‘Good morning, my dear,’’ he said, not even having the decency to call her Miss Hawkins. ‘‘It would seem you’re a bit remiss in remembering dates of importance. I’ve come to remind you that you missed our wedding day. It was good of Captain Colton to find you so that we might correct the matter.’’

  Grace looked to Peter who was already shaking his head. ‘‘No, Grace,’’ he whispered.

  ‘‘You?’’ she could barely speak. He knew how terrified she was of this man. How could Peter have brought him to her doorstep?

  ‘‘Grace, don’t listen to him,’’ Peter begged. ‘‘Listen to me. . . .’’

  But hearing him was impossible as the room went black and she fainted dead away.

  Peter caught Grace as her knees gave way. Pulling her into his arms, he easily lifted her and held her tight.

  ‘‘How could you?’’ Karen declared, accusing Peter.

  ‘‘I didn’t,’’ he growled out. ‘‘This is what I came to tell you.’’

  ‘‘Of course,’’ she said snidely. ‘‘How dim-witted do you suppose us to be?’’

  ‘‘I suppose you all to be very dim-witted,’’ Paxton declared, pulling off gray gloves. ‘‘Did you truly think to defy me? I’ve met over lunch with men more powerful than you could ever imagine, only to drive them to their knees before supper. Surely you didn’t believe yourself a match for me.’’

  He sneered at Karen as he sized her up. Doris stepped closer in an attempt to offer Karen protection. As if the women no longer concerned him, Paxton turned to Peter. ‘‘Your father will be proud of you, Captain. We were just discussing you over breakfast and I told him I could see that you were a man of action.’’

  ‘‘Not any action that will lend itself to you marrying Miss Hawkins,’’ Peter replied. ‘‘I came here to warn her, not to serve your purposes.’’

  ‘‘Do say! With the interest you took in my plans for marriage, I would have thought you to feel otherwise. Well, it really doesn’t matter, does it?’’ Paxton replied.

  ‘‘I believe it does. Miss Hawkins told me of your cruelty to her. I could scarcely believe it when I learned you were the same man my father so highly esteemed. Nevertheless, as I listened to you discuss the matter of marriage with my sister, I realized that Grace had to be telling the truth about you.’’

  ‘‘Grace, is it? I suppose you’ve taken quite a fancy to my bride.’’ He raised his brow and slapped his gloves into his hat and handed it to the man on his left. ‘‘I do hope you haven’t ruined her for me.’’

  ‘‘Why you—’’ Peter started to charge forward, but with Grace in his arms, it would have been impossible to fight. The two men on either side of Paxton closed ranks at the perceived threat.

  Karen rushed forward to take hold of Grace. ‘‘Give her to me,’’ she told Peter. ‘‘You’ve done this to her. You’ve ruined her life by bringing this monster here.’’

  Peter turned to Karen. ‘‘No. I didn’t. I came to warn her. I came to take her away.’’

  ‘‘That won’t be necessary. I have plans for her.’’ All eyes turned to Paxton as he added, ‘‘Long-overdue plans.’’

  ‘‘I won’t allow it,’’ Peter replied. Grace stirred in his arms, moaning softly as she struggled to regain consciousness.

  ‘‘You have no choice,’’ Paxton stated without emotion. He pulled a folded paper from his pocket. ‘‘Grace is my ward. She is not yet twenty-one, and you’ll find here that I have guardianship of her and her father’s blessing for marriage.’’

  Grace rallied about this time and looked up at Peter with a hazy expression that suggested she’d forgotten the circumstance that had put her in his arms.

  ‘‘What? Why are you . . .’’ She looked over her shoulder at Karen and then seemed to remember all at once.

  ‘‘Put me down,’’ she said, barely whispering.

  Peter did as she said but held on to her arm. ‘‘Are you certain you can stand?’’

  She looked at him, as though uncertain whose side he was on. ‘‘Did you bring him here?’’

  ‘‘No. I promise you, I didn’t. He’s a friend of my father’s and arrived in Skagway on Summer Song. I found out he was the man you had run away from when he told us of how he’d come to find his fiance e.’’

  Paxton interrupted. ‘‘This is all rather boring to me. I have other things to see to.’’

  ‘‘Then why don’t you leave,’’ Karen more demanded than questioned.

  ‘‘Yes, go,’’ Doris added.

  ‘‘I have come for my bride. She is my legal charge.’’

  ‘‘I’ll be twenty-one in five days,’’ she said, looking up to meet Paxton’s eyes.

  ‘‘That might be. However, you’ll be my wife before the day is out,’’ he replied.

  ‘‘Never!’’ Grace declared with surprising strength. ‘‘I will not marry you. You have no say over me now.’’

  ‘‘I have every say. Your father gave me the legal guardianship of you before he died.’’

  Grace blanched and leaned heavily into Peter’s side as though she might faint again. ‘‘My father . . . is dead?’’

  Paxton cocked his head to one side and appeared thoughtful. ‘‘Oh, that’s right. You probably hadn’t heard. Since you ran away and left your family, you weren’t there when he grew ill.’’

  ‘‘What of my mother? Have you killed her too?’’

  ‘‘Tsk, tsk,’’ he replied, smiling. ‘‘I’ve killed no one—yet. Although watching the way in which Captain Colton handles you makes me wonder if there might not be a reason to consider such things.’’

  ‘‘Your papers and pretense of law won’t wash up here, Paxton. Grace is not obligated to you in any way.’’

  ‘‘Even if those papers are real,’’ Karen added, ‘‘which I highly suspect they are not.’’

  ‘‘Well, it really doesn’t matter what you think, Miss Pierce. I’ve no doubt you’ve played an ample role in depriving me of my wife. But that is about to end. Mr. Roberts and Mr. Tavis here are going to watch over my little bride while I go finish up the arrangements for our marriage. The wedding is to take place at two o’clock in Skagway.’’ He turned to first one man and then the other. ‘‘See that she is there well in advance.’’ They nodded.

  ‘‘I won’t allow this mockery to take place,’’ Peter declared. Grace was clinging to him like a drowning woman and he felt empowered by her action. No matter what she thought of him, she clearly felt safer with him than with Paxton.

  ‘‘You had better reconsider your part in this, Captain. I have a new agreement with your father that extends to most all of his holdings. Holdings that I believe you have some part in. Should you insist on interfering in a matter that is clearly none of your concern, I will be forced to deal rather harshly with you.’’

  ‘‘I know all about your new dealings,’’ Peter countered. ‘‘I saw the contracts prior to leaving San Francisco.’’

  Paxton smiled. ‘‘I said that I have a new agreement.’’

  Peter tightened his grip on Grace. What had his father done now? He forced his voice to remain even. ‘‘What of your lifelong friendship with my father? What of the fact that he was the only
friend your mother had when everyone else deserted her?’’ Paxton appeared most uncomfortable at this and it fueled Peter’s anger. ‘‘That’s right, Father told us many stories about her and about you.’’

  ‘‘Then he no doubt told you of Mr. Hawkins’ adulterous affair with my mother. The years of suffering and anguish he left her in once he threw her away like so much used trash.’’

  Grace began to sob softly and Peter wrapped his arm around her shoulder and drew her close.

  ‘‘Get out of here,’’ Karen said, moving forward. Neither Paxton nor his bodyguards moved a muscle. She raised her hand as if to strike Paxton, but he grabbed her wrist in such a lightning-quick move that even Peter was surprised.

  ‘‘You might do well to ask your little Grace what happens when women slap me.’’

  ‘‘I don’t have to ask. I saw what you did to her. I dressed her wounds in the aftermath.’’

  He chuckled as though Karen had brought to mind a pleasant memory. Releasing her, he pushed her away and refolded the paper in his hand. He tucked it carefully inside his coat pocket, then motioned to the man who held his hat. Taking his gloves, Paxton pulled them on in a methodic, slow manner as he addressed them collectively.

  ‘‘You are all welcome to witness our marriage, but I will not allow for any nonsense. The law is clearly on my side.’’ He looked up at Peter and added, ‘‘And if you don’t wish to see Colton Shipping lost to your family, I would suggest you cooperate and mind your own business. After all, that is what this is all about. Business. Grace Hawkins is my business . . . mine alone.’’

  29

  —[ CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE ]—

  THE WORLD SEEMED TO SPIN around Grace as Peter led her back to the privacy of her living quarters. Jacob and Leah had come to stand in the doorway and had apparently overheard the entire conversation.

  ‘‘That man isn’t going to take Grace away, is he?’’ Leah questioned.

  ‘‘Not if I can help it,’’ Peter replied.

  ‘‘I’ll help you too,’’ Jacob stated, sounding years beyond his age.

  Grace felt a heaviness in her heart as she took a seat at the table. ‘‘I can’t allow any of you to get involved. I don’t want you getting hurt, and I know this man well enough to know that he would do anything to have his way.’’

  Karen joined her and patted her hand. ‘‘Don’t fret, Grace. This battle isn’t over. We’ll find a way to defeat Paxton.’’

  Grace shook her head. Why couldn’t they understand? She sighed. ‘‘He has already ruined my family and killed my father. Oh, my poor mother. How she must grieve.’’ Tears came unbidden. ‘‘She adored my father. They were always very close.

  At least until this. If what Mr. Paxton said is true, and if he shared the news of my father’s indiscretion with my mother, then I’m certain her heart is broken.’’

  ‘‘Grace, none of this is your fault. You couldn’t marry that man under any circumstance. He wants only to cause pain and suffering. What do you suppose he had planned by marrying you?’’ Karen questioned. ‘‘You are nothing more than an extension of his revenge.’’

  ‘‘It doesn’t matter. If I’d remained in Chicago and married him last summer, my father might still be alive.’’ She looked up to see her dear friends gathered around the table—watching her as if they were servants awaiting instruction.

  ‘‘You’ve all been so good to help me, but the time has come for me to face facts. I have no choice.’’

  ‘‘That’s not true,’’ Peter said. ‘‘You have many choices.’’

  ‘‘You don’t understand. He’ll destroy you too,’’ Grace replied, her once brave tone dissolving into complete resignation. ‘‘You heard what he said. He has some sort of agreement with your father. If you interfere, he’ll destroy you and your family. I can’t live with that on my shoulders.’’

  ‘‘I don’t care what Paxton threatens. I only care that you are safe. It won’t be your responsibility—it will be mine.’’

  Grace looked deep into Peter’s eyes. How she loved this man. God help her, but she loved him more with every word that came from his mouth.

  ‘‘So what are we to do?’’ Karen questioned.

  ‘‘I have a plan,’’ Peter replied, ‘‘but it will require all of you helping. With Paxton’s bodyguards standing by to deliver Grace to Paxton for the wedding, we’re going to have to act fast.’’

  ‘‘No! I won’t let you do this. You’ll only be hurt!’’ Grace declared, getting to her feet. ‘‘I have no choice. I will marry Mr. Paxton.’’

  ‘‘No,’’ Peter said, coming to stand beside her. ‘‘You can’t marry Paxton if you’re already married to me.’’

  ‘‘What a perfect solution,’’ Doris said innocently before anyone could comment. ‘‘You two have been sweet on each other since our first meeting. This would solve the matter once and for all.’’

  Grace kept her gaze fixed on Peter, her voice low and intent. ‘‘You can’t do that. Paxton will destroy your family. I won’t be responsible for that.’’

  ‘‘That’s exactly what I told you,’’ Peter said, taking hold of her hand. ‘‘You won’t be responsible. I can handle the likes of Paxton. You leave him to me. The real problem is going to be getting you out of here. Paxton is waiting for a bride.’’

  Doris chuckled. ‘‘Too bad we don’t have my young actress friends.’’

  Karen smiled and then laughed. ‘‘But perhaps we have someone just as helpful.’’

  She pulled Leah with her and positioned the girl alongside Grace. ‘‘With a heavy veil, Leah could easily pass for Grace.’’

  ‘‘It’s true,’’ Doris replied, nodding. ‘‘They are very nearly the same height. We have that heavy lace tablecloth I brought with us from Chicago. I could fashion it into a veil for Leah to wear. No one would be the wiser.’’

  ‘‘Unless they insist on checking her out,’’ Peter replied. ‘‘Of course, if we delay things until the last minute, perhaps they would be less likely to worry about it. They’d see a bride and figure Grace to be cooperating.’’

  ‘‘But that still doesn’t explain how we can get you and Grace to a preacher and then safely out of Paxton’s hands,’’ Karen said, looking to Peter for an answer.

  Grace felt helpless to comment. They seemed to have taken the matter entirely out of her hands. A million thoughts danced in her head. Peter was offering to marry her. He had proposed to make her his bride and to take her away from Paxton, even if it caused his own ventures to be threatened. Surely he loved her!

  But what of their differing views on God? She didn’t wish to go against the Bible, what she knew God intended for her. Yet what else could she do? Surely God understood her dilemma.

  ‘‘We could disguise Grace,’’ Peter finally said. ‘‘If we’re disguising Leah, why not disguise Grace as well?’’

  ‘‘But if we make Grace over to be Leah, the men will see her and easily recognize that we’ve switched them around.’’

  ‘‘True,’’ Peter agreed. ‘‘However, if we dress Grace as Jacob, smear a bit of dirt on her face and tuck her hair up under a cap such as Jacob has taken to wearing, they just might not give it much consideration. I could make like Jacob was joining me on the ship for our departure. Once they figure out what has happened, I’ll already be steaming toward Seattle.’’

  ‘‘What a splendid idea!’’ Karen declared. ‘‘I believe it will work. Now what of arranging your marriage?’’ She paced a bit. ‘‘I just wish my father were here. He could marry you in a minute.’’

  Doris smiled. ‘‘I’ll go run for the pastor. I’ll tell those ninnies outside that Grace is in need of godly counsel. We can bring Pastor Clark here, have him marry Grace and Peter, then leave with us as the wedding party heads to Skagway. With so many people to keep track of, Paxton’s hoodlums are certain to be confused.’’

  ‘‘Of course!’’ Karen exclaimed excitedly. ‘‘Their focus will be on our poor, veiled Leah.’’ S
he turned to the child. ‘‘Do you suppose you could do this?’’

  Leah laughed. ‘‘I think it sounds like great fun! An adventure!’’

  Karen nodded. ‘‘Do you suppose you could cry or at least sound like you were crying? Nothing is more certain to irritate a man than a woman’s tears. If you were wailing and crying, they might hold themselves at a distance, leaving me to tend to you.’’

  Leah instantly began to sob and wail as though her heart were breaking.

  ‘‘That’s very good,’’ Doris said, nodding enthusiastically. ‘‘You are a natural actress.’’

  Leah halted her sobs and smiled. ‘‘I’m glad to help Grace. I’m just sorry she has to go away.’’

  ‘‘I’ll bring her back when it’s safe,’’ Peter stated. ‘‘She can visit you from time to time when I make trips to deliver goods.’’

  Grace couldn’t believe what she was hearing. They were planning out her wedding, and Peter talked like they were already well on their way to a life of normalcy and pleasure.Was this an indication of God’s blessing?

  ‘‘All we need is five days,’’ Grace reminded the group. She wanted very much to know that Peter was marrying her because he loved her and not because of a misplaced sense of duty. ‘‘You really don’t need to give up your life, Captain.’’ She walked away, and Peter looked to each of them. ‘‘I appreciate what you’re planning on my behalf, but I can’t put your lives in danger.’’

  ‘‘Would you all give me a moment alone with Grace?’’ Peter asked.

  Everyone nodded and Doris even decided that she would go for the preacher, just in case the plans came together. One by one, they filed into the store while Peter closed the door behind them.

  ‘‘Grace, I want you to listen to me. This is a reasonable way to take care of the matter. Your friends want to keep you safe—so do I.’’

  Grace looked to the floor, suddenly unable to meet his gaze. ‘‘I won’t be safe until Paxton is either satisfied or dead.’’

  ‘‘Would you rather I kill the man instead of marry you?’’