Rivers of Gold (37 page)

“That’s good thinking, Jacob,” Adrik said, slowing his pace to allow Jacob to pull up even with them. “Peter would make a good teacher. He’d be fair and honest, and those are traits you don’t always see in your authorities on earth.”

Jacob knew this to be true. He’d always admired the way Peter worked with Grace and Karen when the tent store had been a part of their lives. He didn’t understand what had happened between Peter and Grace in their marriage, but he figured it wasn’t his concern. He’d prayed for them both, however, as he had come to care about Grace as if she were family.

The foursome came to a stop on Second Avenue, as if the spot were some previously agreed upon destination. Adrik and Karen looked at Jacob as if searching for answers to unspoken questions. Jacob felt the need to continue.

“I want something better than what my pa had. He was a dreamer. Everything was always better one town over or at the next discovery of gold.” He pointed down the deserted street. “You couldn’t move along this street last year this time without running into someone or having to get out of somebody’s way. Now it’s almost worse off than when it started. That’s always the way it seems to be. I’ve seen dozens of towns just like it. Leah has, too.”

Leah nodded, as if to confirm his statement. Jacob reached over and gave one of her braids a playful tug. “I want something better. Something that offers more security to my family.” He grew rather sheepish and added, “And someday I want a family—a wife and children. But I want to give them a home where they can live and know that every day there will be food on the table and a roof over their heads. I don’t want them to worry about having to pack up their few belongings and head off to some new discovery of prosperity.”

“Sounds like you’ve given this a lot of thought,” Adrik said. “It also sounds like very wise planning.”

“I figure it fits with what God wants for me, as well.”

“Then God will point the way, Jacob,” Adrik assured. “You can be guaranteed He’ll show you the right direction.”

October brought more snow and the promise of a cold and tiresome winter. Already there was less and less sunlight. Karen looked out the window of their hotel room and wondered how soon they would be able to leave. She was anxious to be settled in Dyea. Especially now.

She put her hand to her abdomen and marveled at the knowledge that she was to have a child. She hadn’t told Adrik yet. She’d been waiting for a special moment. The baby, best as she could figure, would be born in May. It seemed a perfect month for a new life to come into the world. Even in the frozen north, new life could be found in May.

Karen thought of her mother and father and wished they could have lived to see her married to Adrik. They both had held him in such high regard, and Adrik had loved them even before Karen was a part of his life. Surely they looked down from heaven, happy for the union and proud of the choice she’d made.

She hoped they’d also be proud of her desire to pick up where they left off. After long hours of discussion with her husband, Karen felt confident that they were being called into ministry work with the Tlingit Indians. She particularly wanted to work with the children—teaching them everything she could so that they might be better equipped if and when they wanted to be a part of the White world.

“Well, it’s settled,” Adrik said, coming through the adjoining door to their sitting room. “Jacob is free to leave. The government released him.”

Karen looked at Adrik and saw the joy in his face. He had been so worried about Jacob. He loved him as much as a man could love a son, and this warmed her heart. She knew he would be a good father.

“You look very pleased to hear the news,” he said, sitting down to pull off his boots.

“I am. I’m also very pleased about the love you’ve shown Jacob and Leah. You have been so very good to both of them in the absence of their real father.”

“They’re easy to care about. Easy to love,” he said, putting his boots aside. He pulled out his pocket watch and checked the time. “I didn’t realize it was getting so late. The commissioner kept me even after announcing the news. He kept talking about the changes in the area.”

Karen smiled. “It’s no bother. I was too excited to sleep.”

“I can well imagine. Waiting for this news has stretched our patience. But now that we have it, we can go back to Dyea and build us a cabin. Or, from the sounds of it, take one that’s been deserted. I guess Dyea is hardly more than a few folks keepin’ company these days. Skagway’s suffering, too. I feel bad for the folks who poured so much time and effort, not to mention money, into building up those towns.”

Karen nodded and unfastened the tie on her robe. “So do you think we can leave Dawson right away?” She slipped out of the robe and carefully draped it across the end of the bed. Turning down the covers, she waited for Adrik’s answer, but none came.

She paused and looked back to see what had suddenly silenced him. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” he said, getting to his feet. “I was just watching you. You are the most beautiful woman in the world. I still can’t believe how blessed I am. I couldn’t be any happier.”

“Don’t count on that,” she murmured, getting into the bed. Her strawberry blond curls spilled out across the pillow as she leaned back. She watched her husband, memorizing each detail—his broad, strong shoulders, trim waist, and thick, muscular legs. He was a powerful man of great physical stamina. She wondered if they had sons if they would take after him. She smiled again at the thought of the child. How very blessed she was. God had given her the desires of her heart—so much more precious than rivers of gold or mountains that glittered with ore. A child!

Adrik quickly finished undressing and picked up the Bible on the stand beside the bed. It was their habit to read from the Word every night before retiring. He slid under the covers and eased back against the headboard of their bed.

“I have a request for tonight’s reading,” Karen said. She thought this the perfect way to break her news. “Read from the Psalms. Specifically Psalm 127.”

“All right,” he said, turning the lamp up a bit before flipping through the well-worn pages.

“Psalm 127,” he began. “ ‘Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.’ ”

He smiled over at her and Karen reached out to tenderly touch his bearded face. He continued reading. “ ‘It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.’ ”

Adrik grinned. “Now I see why you wanted me to read this. You’re hoping I’ll be quiet and let you go to sleep.”

Karen giggled. “Not at all. I quite like being in your company Mr. Ivankov.”

Adrik turned back to the Bible. “ ‘Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.’ ”

He looked at her quizzically. “That’s it. It’s a mighty short psalm.”

“Yes, but it says quite a bit.” She reached over and took the Bible from him and put it on the stand on her side of the bed.

“ ‘Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it,’ ” he murmured as Karen snuggled closer. “That’s good counsel.”

“Yes,” she said. She reached over and took hold of his hand. Drawing it over to her stomach, she added, “ ‘Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.’ ”

Adrik said nothing. Karen heard his breathing quicken, but still he said nothing. She looked at him and saw the disbelief in his expression. Smiling, she pressed closer and kissed his lips very tenderly. “We’re going to have a baby.”

“I can’t believe it,” he finally managed to say. “A baby.” The wonder of it all was written in his face as his expression changed from shock to acceptance.

“Yes, a baby,” Karen said excitedly. “The doctor believes it will come sometime in May.”

Adrik pulled her close, nearly knocking the wind from her as he squeezed her tight. As if realizing his strength, he quickly released her. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

“No, silly. You just surprised me.”

“I surprised you? You just about gave me heart failure with your little surprise.”

Karen frowned. “You aren’t pleased?” She hadn’t even thought he might not want to have children right away.

“Of course I’m pleased,” he said, sounding hurt that she would even suggest such a possibility.

Relief coursed through her body, and she settled down in his arms once more. “I’m glad you’re pleased. I’m so excited I can hardly bear it. It’s too wondrous.”

He drew her to him more gently this time. Stroking her long hair, he studied her face for a moment. “I’m so very blessed.”

She nodded, “We’re so very blessed.”

The next morning Adrik woke up before Karen. He watched her sleep for a long time, completely amazed at the news she’d given him the night before. He was going to be a father. The news was not what he had anticipated, and yet it was so completely perfect. He couldn’t imagine her not being pregnant—it seemed so right, so completely of God.

He had thought for a long time into the night about their future. About the plans he should make. He would get them back down to Dyea before the hard winter set in. He had friends there. Family too. He would see to it that they had a good home in which to raise their new child.

For as long as he could remember, Adrik had longed for a family of his own. He hadn’t figured any woman in her right mind would want to live the way he did, dealing with the people who were so very dear to him. He figured marriage would probably not be something he’d be blessed with. But God had proven him wrong. And now, God had given him a child.

Karen stirred and opened her eyes. She looked up sleepily and batted her eyelids several times as if trying to clear the haze.

“Good morning, love,” he whispered, leaning down to kiss her.

“Morning.” She yawned and shrugged her shoulders. “How did you sleep?”

“Like a man who’d just been told he’s going to be a father.”

She smiled. “That well, huh?”

“I just started thinking of all the things we’d have to do and sleep became an impossible task.”

Karen stretched and sat up. Adrik pulled her back against him, relishing the way she felt in his arms. “So what is it that you figure we need to do?” she asked.

“Well, first off, we need to get back to Dyea,” he began. “I want to secure a good place to live for the winter and make sure it’s big enough for all of us. I don’t know how much longer Jacob will be with us, but we’ll plan for him as well.”

“What else?”

“Well, we need to figure out what all you’ll need for the baby. I can make the cradle myself, but we’ll need to get some materials so you and Leah can start sewing up all those little doodads babies always need. We’ll send a letter to Peter, and he can bring a load up the next time he comes to Skagway.”

“That sounds wise. I’m glad you have this all figured out.”

Adrik laughed. “I haven’t had much of anything figured out since the day I first met you. But to tell you honestly, it doesn’t matter. I’m enjoying myself immensely.”

Laughing, Karen wriggled out of his arms and pulled on her robe. “You enjoy yourself far too much,” she teased.

“Well, I figure—”

The knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. Karen tied her sash and went to the door while Adrik jumped from the bed and pulled on his jeans.

“Who is it?” she called.

“Miranda.”

Karen glanced at Adrik. He nodded, then hurried to pull a shirt on over his long underwear.

Karen opened the door. “Good morning, Miranda. We slept a bit late. Hope you’ll pardon our appearance.”

“I’m sorry. I hadn’t intended to bother you this early, but a man is downstairs waiting to talk to Adrik. I told Teddy I’d come and get him.”

Adrik was surprised by the news. “I’ll get my boots on and be right down. Any idea what the man wants?”

“He said he could offer you transportation to Whitehorse.”