Rivers of Gold (22 page)

“But …”

He held up his hand. “Please. I didn’t know it, or I would have brought him back here and opened the door for the happy reunion. I ran into the man, quite literally, in the mercantile. He said he was looking for a sled, and I told him I had one. He was with a young boy of about sixteen or seventeen.”

“Jacob Barringer,” Miranda filled in.

“I suppose so. You see, I didn’t pay either one of them much attention. Mr. Ivankov talked of his need for the sled and how he was moving his group to one of the creek claim sites. I didn’t listen closely enough for the name to register.”

“Oh, Teddy, how could you be so unthinking? You had to know I was looking for friends in those circumstances.”

His expression contorted in misery. “I know. I’ve asked myself that at least a thousand times since you spoke his name at the hospital and I realized where I’d heard it.”

“But that was over two weeks ago, Teddy. You’ve known all this time and still said nothing?” Miranda struggled to keep her temper. “Why? You knew how very much I wanted to find him—to find all of them. Why would you do something so selfish?”

“Because I didn’t want to lose you,” Teddy suddenly blurted out.

Miranda sat back stunned. “What?”

“You heard me. I didn’t wish to lose your company. Don’t you see, Miranda? I’ve fallen in love with you.”

She felt her breathing quicken to the raging pace of her pulse. “You love me?”

He came to where she sat and got down on one knee. “I love you with all my heart. And the thought of losing you— of having to let you go—nearly breaks me.”

Her heart softened toward him. It had never been her nature to hold grudges, and her anger fled in the light of his devotion. She loved him, as well. She’d known it for some time. His love of God made him perfect in her eyes. How could she not forgive him?

“Oh, Teddy, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have lost my temper.”

“I’m the one who is apologizing. Please forgive me. I promise to be more sensitive to your needs. I promise to listen more clearly and to give you all my attention. Please, just please say you’ll marry me.”

“Marry you?” Her voice left her as her breath caught in her throat. He was proposing marriage!

“I’ll make you a good husband. I promise that with God’s help, I’ll be everything you need me to be.”

“Oh, Teddy.” She felt tears come to her eyes. “I …”

“FIRE!”

The shouts rang clear from the lobby. Teddy jumped to his feet just as the cook burst in on them. “Boss, the whole town’s on fire!”

Adrik and Jacob had grown restless waiting for spring thaw. The gravel that Gump had dug up prior to their arrival beckoned them for sluicing and exploration. Adrik knew they couldn’t wash the solution in water, as they had to fight the frozen creek just to get enough water to drink and wash with. But Adrik had another plan.

Taking a pick, he worked loose a chunk of gravel and frozen muck and brought it into the cabin. Diligently he and Jacob worked at thawing the mass by putting it in a wash pan near the fireplace. From time to time, one of them would turn the pan to offer heat to the various sides of the pan and, little by little, the mass thawed.

“You beat ’em all, Adrik. Yes, by golly. You beat ’em all.”

Picking through the rock and mud, Adrik took Gump’s good-natured teasing in stride. He knew Gump was just as interested in what he might find as everyone else. A few flakes of gold encouraged Adrik to keep at it. Gump had said there was enough gold on the claim to keep him comfortable, but they all needed a really strong show of color. And in the twinkling of an eye, that was exactly what they got.

“Gold!” Adrik declared and jumped to his feet. He held up a nugget the size of a peanut. “Look what I’ve found!”

Gump limped across the room. His leg had healed, but he still walked with a bit of difficulty. “Are you sure there? It could be fool’s gold.”

“No, this is the real thing!” Adrik dropped the rock in Gump’s hand.

“Ja, it’s the real thing all righty.”

Karen and Grace moved in closer, while Leah played with Andy. “Is it true?” Karen asked. “Have we struck pay dirt?”

“I think it would be safe to say we’re getting closer,” Adrik replied, pulling Karen against him in a tight embrace. “I think once the warm weather comes, we’re going to strike it rich.”

“Ja ha!” Gump let out a yell, then quieted quickly. “No sense in lettin’ the whole vorld know just yet.”

Adrik shook his head and laughed. He’d never seen the old man so happy. “We’re going to make it,” he told Gump and the others. “We’re going to find the gold!”

—[CHAPTER TWENTY]—

“OH, TEDDY, this is just awful,” Miranda declared, looking at the charred remainders of Front Street. The town had suffered cruelly, the fire razing much of the business district, as well as Paradise Alley.

“What in the world could have happened to the firefighting equipment?” Teddy questioned, not really expecting an answer.

“I’ll tell you what happened, mister,” a complete stranger interrupted. “The fire department was on strike for more pay. They didn’t keep the water heated so when the people tried to use the hoses, it froze in the lines before it could even come out the nozzle. Those hoses burst quicker than a spoiled melon. It’s the firemen’s fault so many folks are out of business.”

“Do you have any room at the hotel, Teddy?” Miranda asked as her gaze followed hundreds of people who were wandering up and down the street in a daze.

“We have some room, but not nearly enough. We’ll do what we can, however. Let’s get the word out that we’re open to take in those without homes. Let them come and share whatever we can offer.”

Miranda smiled. “I’ll start spreading the word.”

From the looks of the crowd that had gathered outside the hotel doorway, Miranda figured the news had traveled rapidly among the citizens of Dawson. Tired and completely worn by the evening’s events, Miranda worked until the wee hours of the morning to ensure that everyone at least had a place on the floor to throw down a blanket.

“Come on,” Teddy said, pulling her away from the front desk. “We’re going to have to get some rest.”

“How can we?” Miranda questioned. “There are still so many people outside.”

“The hotel staff can take care of them. You’ve done enough for one night.”

“It seems like an entire week has passed instead of one night. If it wasn’t for the heavy smell of smoke on the air, I would think it had.”

Teddy smiled. “A good night’s sleep will help a great deal. Once you are able to rest in your own bed …”

“But I can’t,” Miranda interrupted. “I gave my room to a group of women. I believe there are seven to be exact.”

“Seven women are going to sleep in that small room?”

Miranda nodded. “I think they’re used to a lot worse.”

Teddy seemed to understand. “The soiled doves, eh?”

Miranda smiled. “I knew you’d understand.”

“As long as they don’t try to conduct business in my establishment. But the real concern, of course, is what you are to do now. I suppose you can sleep in my room, and I can try to find a place elsewhere.”

“I had one of the girls move my things into your room, but I don’t have to sleep there. I just didn’t want to lose track of my belongings.”

“If we were married, this wouldn’t be a problem at all,” Teddy said, a rye smile on his lips.

“Yes, well, we aren’t married, and so it presents a problem,” Miranda said, feeling the heat come to her cheeks.

“Do you trust me to remedy the situation?”

“What do you mean?”

Teddy shrugged. “Well, I could secure a license and see to our marriage—if you only give me a yes to my proposal.”

“What about the sleeping arrangements now?” Miranda asked with a grin.

“I’ll take a spot on the floor in the office, but only if you agree to my proposal.”

“And if I don’t?” She was amused with his teasing tone.

“Then you’ll soon learn what it is to sleep eight women to a bed.”

Miranda laughed. “Oh, Teddy, you are such a dear.”

“Is that a yes?”

She leaned into his arms and wrapped him in her embrace. “Yes. Yes, I will marry you, Thomas Davenport.”

“I knew I could wear you down with my genteel charm.”

“Actually, I was pretty sure I would marry you that morning you overflowed the pan of oatmeal back at the cabin. I figured anyone that needy …”

“Oh, hush,” he said, silencing her with a kiss.

Miranda cherished the moment, wanting nothing more than to go on holding him for a long, long time. She had found the love of her life, even with his absentminded ways. He was hers, and that was all that mattered.

Teddy and Miranda married in a simple ceremony on the fifth of May. By that time tents had sprung up all along Front Street, even while the blackened debris remained to be hauled away. The saloons and gambling halls were the first to be back in business, with the scarlet women following right behind.

Miranda marveled at the transformation, but no more than she did at the transformation in her own life and that of her husband’s demeanor. The once shy, soft-spoken Teddy seemed to take on a manly pride about him. He strutted proudly with Miranda on his arm, never failing to introduce her as his new bride.

For Miranda, the joy of her new marriage was almost more than she could put into words. And she had tried. Writing to her mother and father, she had sought to explain her feelings and decision. She knew Peter would be livid that she’d not consulted him prior to speaking her vows, but she was a grown woman in her majority, and she’d been through enough adventure over the last year to know her heart and mind on the matter.

“Can you take this over to the charity hospital?” Teddy asked as he finished wrapping a bundle of labeled herbs.

Miranda looked up from her letter and nodded. “Of course.”

“You might delay in case the doctor has another list. Tell him I will do what I can to secure whatever he needs to help the burn victims.”

“It was good of you to help arrange the charity hospital,” she said, coming to her husband’s side. Kissing him lightly atop his head, she was unprepared for his sudden embrace. He pulled her onto his lap and kissed her passionately upon her mouth.

“I still can’t believe you’re my wife. The most beautiful woman in all the world and she belongs to me!” He kissed her again, this time a bit more ardently.

Miranda wrapped her arms around Teddy’s neck and gave herself over to the emotions that welled up inside her every time he touched her. How she loved this man!

“Ah, you’d better take this and go,” Teddy said, pulling away rather suddenly. He nearly pushed Miranda from his lap and then handed her the package. “If you don’t go right now, it might very well be hours before I’m prepared to let you leave.”

Miranda giggled. “Whatever you say, Teddy dear.”

She was still grinning when she descended the stairs, package in hand. She had never known such happiness.
Oh, Father God, you are so good to me. You have blessed me beyond all my expectations and dreams. Thank you for helping me choose this godly man for a husband. Now I can truly thank you for allowing the storm upon Laberge and for my accident. If not for that, I might never have met Teddy
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