Rivers of Gold (32 page)

“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.”

Two hours later the cart was packed and the dogs were rested and ready to go again. Adrik knew if he never saw this land again, it would be perfectly fine with him. He longed for the simplicity of his life on the Alaskan coast.

They had what Adrik had been certain was several thousand dollars worth of dust and nuggets by now. As angry as the greed represented by the ore made Adrik, he knew he’d have to rely upon its bounty for a while longer. It was going to have to get them home and then some. They’d be able to buy the supplies they needed and the rest could be given away, as far as Adrik was concerned.

Adrik planned to send Gump’s half to his family in Kansas, but first he’d have to convince the Mounties that he had a right to the gold. That might not be so easy to do in light of what had happened.

Karen wanted only her family Bible and a few sentimental trinkets she’d collected along the way. Leah asked Adrik to get Jacob’s change of clothes and his winter boots, along with her things. He did this, wishing he’d been there for the boy when this tragedy had happened. There was no doubt in his mind of Jacob’s innocence. What there was doubt about was who had been responsible.

“You two are going to ride,” he said, lifting Leah into the cart. “I know it will be a tight fit, but we need to make good time. Jacob’s already been all this time without us and he must be feeling pretty frantic by now. I’ve packed the gold under everything, but you should be comfortable enough. I put some blankets, along with our clothes, down as a cushion.”

Karen and Leah nodded in understanding. “We’ll be fine,” Karen assured him. She let Adrik help her into the cart and smiled. “We’ve forgotten only one thing.”

Adrik looked back to the cabin, then to Karen. “What?”

“Prayer.”

Adrik knew she was right. He felt the warmth of God’s presence even in her words. They hadn’t thought to pray. They had waited until their fleshly needs were met—their criteria and agenda tended to—and then they had thought of prayer.

Adrik pulled off his hat, in spite of the fact that it had started to snow. Bowing his head, he started the prayer with an apology. “Lord, we’re sorry for thinking of you last. We know it isn’t the way we’re supposed to be. We let ourselves get caught up in the moment. We saw the problem, instead of the answer-giver. Forgive us.

“And Father, we ask that you would be with Jacob just now. Sustain his faith, Lord. This has to be a terrifying time for him. He’s probably confused and scared, and Lord, I just ask that you would strengthen him. Make your presence real in his life, and help us to help him. I don’t believe for one minute that he killed Gumption. I don’t know who would kill such a kind old man—but Lord, you know exactly who did the deed. Help us to find that man.

“Give us safe passage back to Dawson, and give us the strength and courage we’ll need to deal with the days to come. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

“Amen,” Karen murmured with Leah.

Adrik dusted the snow from his hair and put his cap back on. He stood on the ledge at the back of the cart and took up the harness reins. Pulling the brake, he whistled to the dogs. They sprang to attention, eager for the run. Adrik gave the reins a snap. “Hike!”

Jacob had never been so happy to see anyone in his life as he was to see Adrik and Karen.

“Where’s Leah? Is she all right?” he asked.

Karen and Adrik nodded in unison. “She’s just fine,” Karen said. “They wouldn’t let her come back here, however.”

“They almost wouldn’t allow Karen back here, but we wore them down,” Adrik said, giving the guard a playful nudge.

“You can have ten minutes,” the guard said as he pointed them to a small wooden table. He then turned to Jacob. “Don’t even think of trying anything.”

Jacob barely heard the man. He wanted only to hear Adrik tell him that he’d figured everything out and he would soon be set free. The trio sat down together while the guard watched on.

“You want to tell us what happened, son?” Adrik began.

“It was Cec Blackabee, Adrik. He showed up not long after you left. He didn’t even give Gump a chance. Gump opened the door and Cec fired his rifle. He might have only meant to scare him, but Gump must have seen the gun, ’cause best I can figure, he tried to close the door and got the bullet in the chest.”

“Then what happened, Jacob?” Karen asked softly. She reached out and touched his arm tenderly, motherly. He felt warmed by her presence.

“Gump fell over, and I charged for the man in the doorway. At first I didn’t know it was Cec, ’cause he stood outside in the shadows. I grabbed hold of the rifle, but not before he had a chance to cock it again. The gun went off as we wrestled. Finally, he pushed me back and cocked it again, and aimed it right for me. It was then that we heard someone coming. The distraction gave me a chance to try again to take the rifle from Cec.

“When Cec heard the neighbors coming, he ran. When everyone else showed up, there I was holding the gun, and they all presumed the worst.”

“What about Gump? Was he already dead?”

Jacob looked at the table remembering the horrible sight of Gump’s bloody shirt, his pale, wrinkled face, his eyes glazed over, but open. “They told me he died pretty much instantly. The bullet went right through his heart.”

“This is ridiculous,” Karen proclaimed. “If you told them this, why aren’t they listening? Why is he still sitting here in jail?” she asked Adrik.

“There were no witnesses who saw Cec leave,” Jacob said.

“No one?”

Jacob shook his head. “Everyone focused on me. I was the only one they thought about. Cec was able to slip away without any trouble.”

“I don’t understand, son,” Adrik said very softly. “Why would Cec Blackabee want to kill Gump?”

Jacob shrugged. It was a mystery to him as well. It was one thing to be a thief and cheat, but another to be a murderer. He’d known Cec to be underhanded at nearly every turn, but he didn’t seem like a murderer.

“I know he said something about scaring me into helping him. I suppose he figured if I wouldn’t help him for the money, I would do it if he threatened my life.”

“Look, we’re going to see this thing through until you’re proven innocent and set free.”

“I’d like to believe that.” Adrik’s words sounded good to Jacob, but promises weren’t going to turn the key on his cell.

“You must believe, Jacob. God has a plan for you, and I am certain it isn’t to leave you to rot away in a Yukon prison,” Karen told him. Her gaze met his and refused to let him go.

Jacob appreciated her strength. He thought it might well be his imagination, but he already felt more hopeful. It seemed just seeing them here, sharing his plight and knowing the circumstances, helped him to bear his burden.

“We’re going to leave now,” Adrik told Jacob. “I’m going to have a talk with the commissioner to see what can be done. Keep praying.”

“I’m trying, but God doesn’t appear to be listening.”

Adrik grinned. “That guard over there doesn’t appear to be listening either, but I know he is. And I know God is listening as well. You have to trust that, Jacob. Faith in times of plenty and peace isn’t really faith. It takes a trial like this to build faith that moves mountains. Just trust Him, Jacob.”

Jacob heard Adrik’s words and took them deep into his heart. A tiny flame sparked to life, spreading hope and courage throughout his weary limbs. “I’ll try,” Jacob said, knowing the alternative was unthinkable.

Jacob tried to sleep that night, but his mind came back to the words Adrik had given him. The counsel was wise, he knew that full well, but it was also hard to believe. Jacob felt done in. Trust and faith came hard in the shadow of a noose.

“I’m trying, Lord,” he whispered. “I don’t know if that’s enough or not. I guess if it’s not enough, then I need you to forgive me. And if it is enough, then I need you to help me. Either way,” he said, closing his eyes, “I need you.”

“I don’t care how many witnesses saw Jacob standing there with the gun after the shooting had already been done. I’m asking, did anyone see Jacob pull the trigger?”

The Mountie sitting across the desk from Adrik and Karen did not appear interested in their questions. “Sir, that’s really not a matter I can answer.”

“I believe, based on my knowledge of the boy and the relationship he had with the old man, that it would be impossible for Jacob Barringer to have killed Gump Lindquist,” Adrik declared.

“That’s all well and fine, but you must remember, we have a situation here that doesn’t always allow for the normal way of things. The gold rush has brought out the savage beast in many men.”

Adrik stared at the man’s balding head and then looked past him to the window. Outside snow was falling, reminding Adrik that the time was quickly passing and soon they’d be facing winter once again.

“I know who killed Gump,” Adrik finally stated. He looked back to the Mountie. He sat so completely regal in his stately uniform. The look on his face was fixed, almost stoic. He was a soldier through and through. “A man named Cec Blackabee killed him. Jacob was there and witnessed the entire thing.”

“Why would this man, whom no one saw, with the exception of Mr. Barringer, want to kill Mr. Lindquist?”

“For months we’ve been dealing with a thief and sneak,” Adrik replied. “We had a sled stolen and evidence of other attempts to break in. Then one night a commotion arose while Jacob was on guard duty. Cec Blackabee had come to ask Jacob to help him. It seems his partner ran off with his property, including the deed to a claim and a map. He asked about these things and admitted to having stolen our sled. He said the sled was taken from him by his wayward partner.”

“Not only that,” Karen piped up, “but a strange man appeared at our door some time back when the men were gone. He made me feel most uncomfortable and appeared to be up to no good.”

“Was this the same man who stole the sled and supposedly killed Mr. Lindquist?”