KAREN WASN’T SURE what she’d expected of Skagway, but what she got wasn’t exactly what she’d hoped for. Rough-looking buildings in various stages of construction were few and far between. Tents were the mainstay and were erected in a marginal semblance of order, some with signs declaring them to be hotels, restaurants, or shops. The streets themselves were in no better shape. It looked as if the people upon arriving in Skagway had literally had to hack their way through the forest. In many places, tree stumps were still standing in the middle of what appeared to be the planned roadway, and there was absolutely no consideration of a boardwalk for the pedestrians who crowded the streets.
The place was even more primitive than Karen had imagined. Somehow she had believed the place would have been settled by their arrival. She knew from her mother’s letters that there was very little in the way of an established town, but given the stampede north and the modern innovations for settlement, Karen had honestly expected something more established.
Staring at the activity down the main street of Skagway, Karen felt like crying. Disappointment had washed over her from the moment the ferryman helped her to transfer to an awaiting path of tidal mud, and it was certainly no better now that the freighters had delivered their trunks and crates of supplies.
‘‘Where do you want this stuff, ma’am?’’ a bearded man called down from his wagon.
‘‘Goodness,’’ Doris answered before Karen could think to reply, ‘‘where should we have it taken?’’
The man shrugged. ‘‘Ain’t a hotel room open in town, and I don’t see a tent here amongst your goods. What’d you ladies think you were comin’ to? A tea party?’’
Karen resented the man’s flippant attitude almost as much as her own disappointment. ‘‘We have come to be with my father, if you must know.’’ She stood with her hands on her hips, hoping the stance looked intimidating.
‘‘Well, he don’t appear to be here. Probably already hiked over the pass,’’ the man suggested.
‘‘He’s a missions worker with the Tlingit Indians,’’ Karen informed him. ‘‘He was here long before the fuss over gold, and he’ll be here long after the others have gone. Yourself included.’’
‘‘Feisty thing, ain’t she?’’ the man said, looking to Doris. ‘‘Feisty is good up here, but it still don’t tell me where you need these things taken.’’
Doris nodded. ‘‘I’m sorry, young man. I’m not at all familiar with where my brother is staying. I believe he’s often in Dyea, but the ship wasn’t headed to that harbor.’’
‘‘Iffen you’re headed Dyea way, you’d do best to have me take this to the flatboats on the river side of town. It’s just down that road over yonder,’’ the man said and pointed at a muddy path barely wide enough for the passage of a single wagon. ‘‘The best way to get this load to Dyea would be by having it floated over. You can ride as well.’’ He tucked his thumbs into his suspenders and added, ‘‘And I’ve got a friend who runs some boats. He’ll give you a fair price.’’
‘‘That would be a first,’’ Karen replied.
The man laughed, seeming unconcerned with her comment. ‘‘Take it or leave it, but iffen you want Dyea, that’s my advice.’’
‘‘Well, I trust you to know what’s best,’’ Doris said. ‘‘Should we walk or ride with you?’’
‘‘Ain’t room but for one or two of you,’’ he said. ‘‘ ’Course, that feisty redhead could probably put us all to shame. She’s probably got more energy than these old nags.’’
Karen felt her cheeks redden. ‘‘I’d rather walk than ride with such an ill-mannered man.’’
‘‘I’ll walk with Karen,’’ Grace suggested. ‘‘Why don’t you go ahead and ride, Aunt Doris? You can arrange everything ahead of time, and when we arrive you can tell us all about it.’’
Doris nodded. ‘‘I believe that would be most advisable.’’
The teamster reached down to hoist the older woman up. Seeing this, Karen hurried to her aunt’s aid and helped her from below. Together, they soon had Doris settled on the wood seat beside the driver.
‘‘You gals just stick to the road. It goes straight away to where ya need to be. Just follow us.’’
Karen nodded, uncertain as to what they were getting themselves into. For all she knew the man could be leading them off to their demise. Bill Barringer and his children, Jacob and Leah, came upon Karen and Grace just as the wagon pulled off. Each of the trio was heavily laden with backpacks and cases.
‘‘You’re the ladies from the boat,’’ Leah said, smiling at Karen. ‘‘I remember you ’cause I liked your pretty hair.’’
Karen’s anger eased a bit, but her fears mounted ever higher as the wagon moved off down the road. Please help us, Lord, she prayed before turning her smile on Leah Barringer.
‘‘I remember you too. I wish I had time to chat, but we have to follow that wagon. We’ve a boat to catch that will take us to Dyea.’’
‘‘That’s where we’re headed too,’’ Bill replied. ‘‘Might we walk with you?’’
Karen looked to Grace and nodded. ‘‘I think that would be very nice. In fact, I would call it answered prayer. I’m not sure either Miss Hawkins or myself expected to be quite so liberated upon our arrival to Alaska.’’
Mr. Barringer smiled from behind his beard and mustache. Karen thought him a sad sort of figure given his recent loss, but he always seemed to have a smile and warm word for his children. She had heard him one night when they had been gathered at the rail of the ship. He had promised them that God would make a way for their steps. That God knew what was best for their lives and that He honored a man who was willing to put his plans into action, counting on God for direction. Karen had thought it wise enough counsel, even while questioning the sanity of a man who would bring his children into such a chaotic environment.
‘‘Mr. Barringer, isn’t it?’’ she asked, not wanting to appear too forward.
‘‘Yes,’’ he replied. ‘‘But call me Bill. Mister hardly seems well-suited to this place.’’
‘‘Perhaps that’s all the more reason we should stand on formality,’’ Karen replied.
‘‘No, I like the idea of going by our first names,’’ Grace interjected, surprising Karen. She smiled at Bill. ‘‘I’m Grace Hawkins, Bill. You feel free to call me by my given name.’’
‘‘Grace is a pretty name,’’ Leah remarked. Jacob, however, remained sullen and silent.
‘‘Very well,’’ Karen said, giving in. ‘‘My name is Karen.’’
‘‘I like that name too,’’ Leah said.
Karen couldn’t help but be taken with the girl. She appeared so friendly and outward in her manner. She seemed needy for attention from other women. And why not? Karen thought. Her mother had just died and she was at a most precarious age.
‘‘I think we’d better put our best foot forward,’’ Karen said, watching the wagon disappear around the bend. ‘‘I wouldn’t want my aunt to have to be alone for very long.’’ Bill nodded and the group proceeded after the wagon.
Karen found the mud impossible to navigate. Her boots were hopelessly ruined and she only had two other pairs of shoes to use after these were spent. Perhaps her first purchase would have to be a sturdier pair of hiking boots.
We’ve been quite silly, she thought as they walked in silence. They’d purchased a variety of things—blankets, heavier clothing, gloves and such, prior to leaving Seattle, but there were so many things coming to mind that they were without. Good quantities of soap, for instance, and of course decent boots and heavy woolen hose.
‘‘We used to live in Colorado,’’ Leah said rather suddenly. ‘‘It kind of looked like this, only maybe not as much water.’’
‘‘Definitely not as much water,’’ Bill replied.
‘‘We lived in Chicago,’’ Karen told the little girl. ‘‘And we had plenty of water, but no trees like these and no mountains. My, but I really have enjoyed the sight of these mountains.’’
‘‘Mama used to say mountains gave her hope for life’s problems.’’
Karen smiled. ‘‘Why is that, Leah?’’
‘‘ ’Cause they have an uphill climb on one side and a downward slide on the other. No matter what kind of problem you have, Mama used to say you could always count on there being a downhill side eventually.’’
Karen saw Jacob’s jaw clench tight at the mention of his mother. He looked away and acted disinterested, but Karen could tell he was hanging on his sister’s every word. Bill Barringer, on the other hand, seemed to drift into a world of his own thought. From the way his eyes glazed over at the mere mention of his dead wife, Karen figured him to be pushing the thoughts of her aside. It was funny how everyone dealt with grief in their own way.
‘‘So, Leah,’’ Karen said, realizing that sharing conversation was much preferable to the silence, ‘‘tell me about Colorado.’’
‘‘Oh, we were mining there. Pa used to have a lot of money in silver, but then it went bust.’’
Karen nodded. ‘‘I remember there were many problems with silver and a great many people lost their fortunes.’’
‘‘Yup, our pa was one of them. So we stayed in Colorado and moved from our nice house and went to live in Devil’s Creek. But there wasn’t much there,’’ she said rather sadly. ‘‘Our mama’s buried there now, but someday we’re going back to put a nice headstone on her grave. Pa said we could after we strike it rich.’’
Karen smiled, but inside she felt a deep sense of sorrow for the child. To live on such hopes and dreams seemed almost cruel. But living with no hope would be even more cruel, and so she said nothing.
‘‘What did you do in Chicago?’’ Leah asked. ‘‘Why’d you come to look for gold?’’
Karen wondered how much they should share of their lives. After all, the fewer who knew of Grace’s predicament, the better.
‘‘I didn’t come to look for gold,’’ Karen replied. ‘‘I came to look for my father.’’
‘‘Your father?’’
‘‘Yes. He’s a missionary up here—somewhere. He works with the Indians.’’
‘‘I didn’t know there were Indians up here,’’ Leah said, her eyes growing wide. ‘‘Are they the killing kind?’’
Karen shook her head. ‘‘I don’t think they’ll mean us any harm. My father and mother lived here quite comfortably and never knew harm by the Tlingit.’’
‘‘Klink-it?’’ Leah questioned, trying the word. ‘‘Is that what the tribe is called?’’
‘‘Very good,’’ Karen answered with a smile. ‘‘I’ll bet you were a top student in school.’’
‘‘Used to be. I liked learning, but it’s been a while since I got a chance to study.’’
Karen realized that the girl’s father probably held little interest in his children’s education. Conversations from the ship came back to remind her that he figured Leah to marry well and never need an education.
‘‘I was Grace’s teacher, so maybe when you’re around in Dyea, you could come and study with me sometime.’’
Leah’s entire face lit up. ‘‘I’d like that a whole lot. Do you think I could do that, Pa?’’ she asked, hurrying to keep step with her father. ‘‘Could I go and learn from Miss Karen?’’
Bill and Jacob had remained silent as they plodded the trail in front of the women. At his daughter’s question, however, Bill Barringer slowed a bit and looked down.
‘‘Don’t know where we’ll be or what we’ll be doing, princess. If we’re around Dyea for a spell, you could sure enough go see Miss Karen from time to time.’’
‘‘Oh, thank you, Pa!’’ Leah squealed in delight. She threw a look back at Karen that suggested she’d just been given a very precious gift.
They concluded their walk at the edge of a small boat dock. The teamster and Aunt Doris were already haggling prices for transportation, and Karen knew without a doubt her worldly wise aunt would never let anyone get the best of her if she had any say in the matter. Aunt Doris finally extended her arm and shook hands with a man they’d never before laid eyes on. Apparently he was the one who would take them to Dyea.
‘‘Well, I arranged passage and transportation for our goods. The bad part is, it’s going to take several hours before our turn comes up,’’ Doris announced as she rejoined the group.
‘‘I’d best go see what I can do about getting us passage,’’ Bill mumbled before heading off in the direction Doris had just come from. Leah and Jacob seemed indifferent to the matter. Leah was already captivated by some strange tracks she’d found in the mud, and Jacob was staring off toward the mountains, as if to size up the challenge.
‘‘I suppose if we must wait,’’ Karen said, looking around her, ‘‘we should at least find some comfortable place in which to do so.’’
‘‘Doesn’t appear to be much available,’’ Doris replied.
Grace surprised them all. ‘‘Why don’t we just have them unload our things by the dock, and we can set up a little resting area.’’
Karen looked at the younger woman with a smile. ‘‘You’re turning out to be more innovative than I would have given you credit for.’’
Grace laughed, appearing freer than Karen had ever known her to be. ‘‘I had a good teacher.’’
The change in Grace was startling. Karen couldn’t help but wonder what had brought it about. There was that irritating matter of Peter Colton and his obvious interest, but it seemed that something more profound should account for this new side of Grace.
As the women went to work to arrange their trunks and crates in such a manner as to have a place to sit comfortably and rest, Karen couldn’t help but tease Grace.
‘‘You are different. I surmise that the mountain air has brought about a change in your personality.’’
Grace took off her jacket and tossed it aside. ‘‘No, I think it’s the liberty this place suggests. What freedom! Have you ever seen the likes?’’
Karen was enthralled. ‘‘What are you talking about?’’
‘‘This!’’ Grace exclaimed, waving her arms. ‘‘All of this. Look at the people here. Why, they come and go, dress in such a variety of fashion that no one pretends to know what is acceptable and what is not. You have men speaking to women and all go by a first-name basis. It seems that someone threw away the rules to proper society, and I’m surprised to say I like it.’’ Her face took on an expression that suggested a pranksterish schoolgirl had replaced the prim and proper Chicago socialite.
‘‘I would have never expected this,’’ Karen replied. ‘‘Your mother would be horrified.’’ She laughed, but there was a certain amount of uneasiness that came with it. Had she unwittingly awakened a behavior in Grace that would have been better left at rest?
‘‘Stop worrying,’’ Grace said, sitting down atop her trunk. ‘‘I haven’t lost my mind. I won’t go off embarrassing you by frequenting the wrong places.’’
Karen sat down beside her while Doris busied herself with accounting for her latest crocheting project. ‘‘I’m not worried about having you embarrass me,’’ Karen said, studying Grace very closely. ‘‘I just don’t know what to think. When we left Chicago you were a frightened girl who was running away to put a nightmarish arrangement behind you. In Seattle, I found you ever the peacemaker, intervening when things were uncomfortable and certain to become unpleasant. On the ship. . . well, on the ship I saw you practically blossom overnight under Captain Colton’s appreciative eye, and now here we are in Skagway and you are bold and radiant with joy, and I really don’t know what to make of it.’’
Grace laughed and patted Karen’s hand. ‘‘I was afraid. For a very long time I’ve been afraid. I don’t even know that I can tell you why, but I felt that the only safe place for me was in the confines of four walls. Four very familiar walls. But spending time away from home, seeing new people, experiencing new lands. . . why, it’s all enough to fuel my bravery and give me hope.’’
‘‘And were you so very hopeless before?’’
Grace sobered and nodded. ‘‘You know I was. I was so dependent upon you for hope and faith. I trusted God, but not enough. I prayed and pleaded my case, then cowered in the corner as if He’d never heard my words.’’
‘‘I suppose I was also at fault in that,’’ Karen replied, knowing that she had never pushed Grace to be too independent for fear she might not need her governess-friend anymore.
‘‘Not at all. You taught me all manner of things in which to find strength,’’ Grace replied. ‘‘And God was at the very top of the list. I feel as if this trip has been my coming of age. I’ve opened my eyes to see the life around me and to realize for the first time that there is so much more than my own little world. I want to experience it all. I want to learn how to work with my hands and to cook and clean. I want to sew and see something take shape, something more important than a cloth for the table.’’ Her words were spoken softly but with such great excitement that Karen couldn’t help but get caught up.
‘‘Good thing I came along, then,’’ she told Grace with a grin.
‘‘Why do you say that?’’ Grace asked, then quickly added, ‘‘Of course I’m glad you are here and know that none of this would have been possible had you not taken the first step in our escape.’’
‘‘I say it because I’ve taught you many useless things throughout your childhood. Things your mother thought befitting a socialite’s daughter. But now perhaps you would like to learn more beneficial skills. Between Aunt Doris and I we can surely teach you how to cook and sew. And maybe, once we find my father, you can learn a great deal more.’’
‘‘I’d like that very much,’’ Grace replied. Then holding up her feet she wrinkled her nose. ‘‘I’d like it even more if we could find some of those thick-soled boots like the men are wearing.’’
Karen laughed. ‘‘Me too. Who would have ever thought that the most enviable possession would be a pair of ugly old leather boots?’’
‘‘Hello, ladies.’’
Grace quickly put her feet down, and Karen knew without looking that Captain Colton had joined them.
‘‘Why, Captain, how is it that you are here and your ship is out there?’’ Karen questioned, pointing toward the general area of the harbor. ‘‘We presumed you’d be gone by now.’’
‘‘I had some things to arrange,’’ he replied without the slightest hint of irritation in her manner. ‘‘What of you, ladies? Why do I find you here?’’
‘‘We were discussing boots and waiting for our turn to be taken to Dyea,’’ Grace offered.
‘‘Boots?’’
Grace laughed and Karen watched as Colton’s face lit up at the sight. ‘‘Yes, boots. Thick leather boots that do not fall apart in the mud,’’ Grace proclaimed. ‘‘We were rather remiss in our preparations for Skagway.’’ She lifted one foot and revealed her mud-soaked shoe.
‘‘That will never do,’’ Peter replied. ‘‘You must all give me your sizes and let me see what is to be done.’’
‘‘Why would you spend your time in such a manner?’’ Karen questioned. She knew the answer but also knew Colton would never admit to it.
‘‘Wet feet are a danger to survival. Being a schoolteacher, I would have presumed you to know such things,’’ Peter said rather sarcastically. ‘‘But with Skagway given over to such rowdy dealings, I would much rather you allow me to go in search of proper footwear while you are safely awaiting your passage to Dyea.’’
‘‘Hello, Captain,’’ Doris said as she joined the party. Her crocheting was neatly tucked in the crook of her arm. ‘‘Are you bound for Dyea?’’
Peter smiled and gave Doris a little bow. ‘‘No, Miss Pierce, I came for another purpose. But when I found your party here, I couldn’t help but stop. I worried that perhaps something was wrong.’’
‘‘Only in the sense of there being no hotels and that passage to our destination should take so long.’’
‘‘No hotels?’’ Peter questioned. ‘‘But I thought you were joining up with the younger Miss Pierce’s father.’’
‘‘We will join up when we can find him,’’ Doris replied. ‘‘He’s a missionary in this area, but there’s no telling exactly where he is. At times he lived beyond the mountains and north toward where everyone is fussing to be. Other times he lived near Dyea.’’
Peter frowned and Karen could see he was not at all pleased. ‘‘So you are to be three women alone?’’
‘‘It would appear that way,’’ Doris replied. ‘‘But fret not, Captain. We will find some nook or cranny in which to stay.’’
‘‘Have you a tent?’’
‘‘No, but perhaps we can buy one,’’ Doris said, looking to Grace and Karen as if to ascertain their thoughts on the matter.
Before either could reply, Peter interjected, ‘‘I have a tent for you. I also have a proposition that until this moment seemed not at all reasonable. Now, however, I wonder if you might not find it to your liking.’’
‘‘Tell us,’’ Grace said enthusiastically.
Karen was more hesitant. ‘‘Remember, Grace, not all suggestions are necessarily beneficial ones.’’ She watched Colton carefully, hoping he might betray some sign of his secret thoughts. Thoughts he might be unwilling to reveal. But to her amazement, he quite openly shared them.
‘‘I believe this idea would benefit us both. I wonder if you ladies would have an interest in keeping a shop.’’
‘‘A shop? What kind of shop?’’ Doris questioned.
‘‘A dry goods—a supply store for miners and stampeders.’’
‘‘And who would set up this shop?’’ Karen questioned.
‘‘I would. I see the immense profitability in transporting goods as well as people to this region. With you ladies running the store, I would never fear being cheated.’’
‘‘It wouldn’t work,’’ Karen replied without waiting for anyone else. ‘‘We have to find my father, and that will take time and effort.’’
‘‘But a store, Miss Pierce, would allow you to meet many people without the need to frequent places maybe better left untraveled.’’
‘‘But we will be in Dyea, not Skagway where the harbor is better.’’
‘‘They are working on the harbor in Dyea, and while it isn’t ideal, it’s quite possible to put in and transfer the goods to barges. A store would give you an opportunity to make friendships and get to know the sourdoughs from the area.’’
‘‘Sourdoughs?’’ Karen questioned.
Peter nodded. ‘‘Those more grizzled veterans who’ve been here more than a few months.’’
Grace reached out to touch Karen’s arm. ‘‘I, for one, would like to consider this idea.’’
Karen felt a strange sense of being overruled. Especially when Doris nodded her enthusiasm. ‘‘Why, of course,’’ she replied. ‘‘It would present a perfect solution. But wherever would you find a building for such an operation?’’
‘‘The tent,’’ Peter replied. ‘‘I have a tent among my goods that’s big enough to house a circus, or nearly so.’’ He grinned and Karen turned away, feeling he was somehow mocking her.
‘‘You could live in part of the tent,’’ he continued, ‘‘and sell out of the other part. I could see to it that you have provisions for such a thing when I return on my next trip. I should be back here in a fortnight. In the meanwhile, you’d have no goods to sell. We could merely arrange for the tent to be put up on an acceptable site, and you could live there and even seek out Miss Pierce’s father while awaiting my return.’’
‘‘I think it sounds wonderful,’’ Grace replied, getting to her feet. ‘‘Then if Karen and Doris wish to join up with Mr. Pierce, I might even choose to stay on and run the store on my own.’’
Karen turned around and looked hard at Grace. She was definitely not the same young woman. ‘‘Perhaps we’re being hasty here.’’
‘‘Well, you’ll have a good two weeks to consider it,’’ Peter replied. ‘‘For now, I’ll arrange to have the tent put up and secured for your living. I can even supply you with a camp kit and three cots.’’
‘‘Wonderful!’’ Doris exclaimed. ‘‘Ask and it shall be given.’’
‘‘But you didn’t ask me for a thing,’’ Peter said, laughing.
‘‘No, but I did ask God,’’ Doris replied.
Grace laughed. ‘‘As did I.’’
Karen was the only one who said nothing. Somehow she just couldn’t look at Peter Colton as a blessing. He seemed much more to be a thorn in the side. A handsome thorn, but a thorn nevertheless.