Rivers of Gold (35 page)

“Where’s that?”

“Three days out. You got the horses?”

“Yeah, but I don’t got no three days worth of supplies,” the thin man answered.

Cec growled, then turned to Teddy. “You got any supplies for the road?”

Teddy shook his head. Miranda hoped it would persuade Cec to forget about the journey.

“We’ll just have to steal ’em,” Cec told his partner.

The man shrugged. “Guess we can break into the dry goods store. Nobody is gonna be there at this hour.”

“I wish you wouldn’t,” Teddy said. “It’s bad enough what you’re doing with us, but if you continue adding to your illegal activities—”

“I don’t want to hear it,” Cec told him, moving closer to Teddy. “I’ve killed when it was necessary. Stealing ain’t that much of a bother for me.”

Miranda couldn’t see well in the dark, but she could sense the tension in Teddy. She longed to assure him that everything would be all right—that God would protect them—but she wasn’t all that convinced herself. Her faith felt terribly immature at the moment. It was easy to quote the Bible verse that God was her light and salvation—that He was her strength. But putting it into practice was very difficult.

Cec and the man called Mitch conversed in low whispers for a minute or two before pushing Miranda and Teddy in a direction away from the hotel. Miranda struggled to keep from tripping over her skirts as Cec forced her to move faster and faster. When they reached the end of the alley, Mitch disappeared momentarily, then just as quickly reappeared with three horses.

Miranda knew horses were at a premium in this country. No doubt they’d been brought north on one of the summer steamers, but now that the weather was turning colder she wondered how convenient it would be to keep them. Poor beasts. They would no doubt suffer as most animals did in the frozen north.

“Get up there,” Cec commanded Miranda.

She looked to the horse and back to Cec. In the darkness she knew he couldn’t see her confusion, so she spoke. “How?”

“What do you mean, how?”

“I mean, I don’t know how to mount the horse. I’ve not ridden a horse before.”

“Well, if that don’t beat all,” Cec said. “Put your foot in my hand and take hold of the horn. Pull yourself up and over and I’ll boost you up there at the same time.”

Miranda had no idea whether she was doing it right or not, but she put her boot foot in Cec’s folded hands and grabbed hold of the saddle as best she could. Pulling herself up, she nearly flew over the other side of the horse as Cec gave a mighty push.

He grabbed hold of her leg and steadied her, as Miranda fought to balance herself atop the horse. Once she was settled, Cec took up the reins from Mitch. Pulling something from his pocket, he motioned to Teddy. “Walk ahead of the horse. I’ll be right behind you. We’ll go to the end of the block and around the dry goods store.”

Miranda gripped the horn of the saddle for all she was worth. Terrified beyond words, she could only pray in silence.

Once they’d arrived at their destination, Cec surprised Miranda by handing her not only the reins to her horse, but the other two as well. “I’ve got a gun on your husband. He’s coming with me and Mitch. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll keep quiet and hold these horses right here.”

“But I don’t know anything about horses,” Miranda protested.

“Keep your voice down,” Cec demanded. “Ain’t nothing for you to know. Just sit still and hold the reins. If the animal starts moving around, pull back on the reins. He’ll stop quick enough.”

Miranda trembled as she took up the reins in one hand and clung desperately to the saddle horn with the other. She feared for Teddy’s life, anxious that he might try to do something foolish in order to keep her from having to make the journey.

It seemed to take forever for the men to break into the back of the store and return, arms laden with supplies. Miranda knew in truth it was only minutes, but her heart was pounding like a kettledrum and her rapid, shallow breathing made her light-headed. She tried to calm herself—to pray— to focus on anything other than what was happening.

Cec hoisted himself up behind her and pulled her back against him. Taking the other horses’ reins from her, he tossed them to Mitch. “You go ahead and lead the way, mister,” he said as Mitch handed reins over to Teddy. “Just remember, I’ve got your woman back here. Any stupid moves and I’ll cut her.”

“Don’t hurt her. I’m not going to do anything other than what you direct me to do.”

“Keep it that way,” Cec demanded.

Teddy knew the way to the cabin, even in the dark, but what had him worried was where they might take refuge along the way. There were a few claim cabins here and there, but his own place was well away from most of the hubbub of the gold rush. Not that there hadn’t been folks trying to find gold on the property around his place. But so far, he’d not heard of any great finds.

God was faithful to provide, in spite of Teddy’s worries. By nightfall the next day, they’d managed to find an abandoned cabin on Baker Creek. The second night, they found a lean-to off the Indian River. Both nights Cec kept Teddy from Miranda, reminding him as they went to sleep for a few hours that he had the knife close at hand, should Teddy try anything at all.

The third day out it started to snow, and the snow quickly built into blizzardlike conditions. Teddy feared he’d never be able to make his way to the right path, but God was faithful, even in that. The snow lightened and the winds calmed, and as quickly as the blizzard had threatened, it departed. Teddy silently praised God for the blessing.

Glancing over his shoulder, however, he could see that Miranda was nearly done in. He felt bad for her, knowing how sore and stiff she must be from the ride. The first night she’d barely been able to walk when they’d dismounted, and by morning she was so stiff that Cec had to lift her to the saddle. Teddy resented the man touching Miranda, yet there wasn’t anything to be done about it. He had a plan, but it would have to wait until they were in the cabin.

“There it is!” Teddy called back to the men. “That cabin tucked in the trees over there.” He urged his horse forward, grateful the journey had come to an end. But even as he thanked God for a safe trip, Teddy began to fear what the men would do to him and Miranda once they had what they wanted.

Jumping from the horse, Teddy didn’t concern himself with the others. He had a plan, and in order for it to work, he had to make certain that things came together. Rushing into the cabin, he went immediately to the stove, took up kindling and matches, and started a fire. He no sooner had that going when Cec came into the cabin, pushing Miranda ahead of him.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Cec bellowed.

“I’m getting a fire going. She’s half frozen,” Teddy said, pointing to his wife. “I’m half frozen. I think some tea would do us all good.” He added small sticks to the fire and watched as the flames greedily claimed the offering. Next he put in split strips of dried logs left over from the previous winter.

Miranda sunk onto the small bed and rubbed her arms vigorously. Teddy worried about her health, fearing the cold and continuous riding would be her undoing. Checking the fire again, Teddy was satisfied that it was going strong. He added a few more pieces of wood, then took up a bucket and, without waiting for Cec to comment, went out of the cabin.

Since it hadn’t been cold for too long, he figured the creek would still be free flowing, but if not, there was the snow. Breaking through a thin crust of ice, Teddy filled the bucket and hurried back to the cabin. He hated to think of Miranda alone with Cec and Mitch. The two were the lowest kind of scum, and Teddy could only pray that God would deliver them before Cec could hurt them.

“Here’s the water,” Teddy said, entering the cabin as though they were all good friends.

“Look, I don’t care about the water,” Cec said angrily. “I want that box.”

“I understand,” Teddy declared, “but the tea is important.” He poured the water into a pan and put it on top of the stove. Then, pulling a bundle from his coat, Teddy unwrapped the herbs he’d brought along with him.

“I ain’t standing around while you play host,” Cec declared.

Teddy measured out a portion of mandrake root and sprinkled it into the water. He could only pray that the amount was sufficient.

“I said, I want that box,” Cec said, coming forward to take hold of Teddy’s arm. “Let your woman fix tea, if that’s what you want, but you get that box for me.”

Teddy nodded. “Very well. Miranda, would you finish preparing the
Mandragora officinarum
tea?”

Miranda’s brows raised in surprise, and Teddy knew instantly that she understood what he’d done. She nodded, getting to her feet slowly.

“Now, where is my box?”

“I believe,” Teddy said, glancing around the room, “that I must have locked it in the cache outside. Let me check the other room, however. No sense in going back outside if the box is in the other room.”

“Get to it, then.”

Teddy saw Miranda take her place at the stove. She picked up the small bottle and studied the label as if to assure herself that she’d heard him right. “Darling, feel free to offer our guests tea after it has a chance to boil a minute.”

Miranda nodded in understanding.

Teddy checked the bedroom knowing full well the box wouldn’t be found there. He was buying time. Time to let the mandrake tea get hot. Time to see both men rendered unconscious.

Teddy made a pretense of digging through things, pushing blankets and boxes aside. Cec looked into the room about the time Teddy decided he’d done as much as he could. “It’s not here,” he declared. “Guess we’ll have to take the ladder and climb to the cache.”

“Hurry up! I’ve waited long enough.”

“I’ll only be a minute,” Teddy said, seeing that Miranda was preparing to pour the tea. He took up a ladder that was stored by the front door. It was a simple homemade contraption that Little Charley had put together for him when he’d built the cache. “You go ahead and have some tea.”

“I don’t want tea,” Cec fairly roared. “I want that box and I want it now. Mitch, you stay with the girl. I’m going with him.”

Miranda was just handing Mitch a mug of tea when Cec made this announcement. Teddy saw her worried look. He knew she was thinking the same thing he was. If Cec went with him, then he’d return to find his partner unconscious and there would no doubt be a problem. Instead of worrying about it, however, Teddy ushered Cec quickly out the door. Mandrake worked fast, and if the man fell unconscious, Teddy wanted Cec completely removed from the scene.

—[CHAPTER THIRTY ONE]—

MIRANDA WATCHED in wonder as Mitch slumped to the table. She felt a sense of relief as he appeared to sink into a deep sleep. She looked at the tea and smiled. Teddy had thought of everything. What a brilliant scheme.

Looking to the door, however, she frowned. Cec Blackabee would return with Teddy and see the man sleeping and know that something was up. She wondered what she could do. Perhaps she could drag the man to the back room and hide him. But though the man was thin, Miranda could clearly see that wouldn’t work. She was tired and hungry from their journey. Cec hadn’t figured it important to feed her much or see to it that she rested. Now, with complete exhaustion washing over her, Miranda knew she could easily fall asleep without the aid of the mandrake tea.

Still, sleep wasn’t an option at this point. She had to think, and think fast. The cache wasn’t that far away, and once Teddy retrieved the box, Cec would march him back into the cabin, and then he would see Mitch and demand answers.

Spying the cast-iron skillet, Miranda decided her course of action. She picked up the skillet and went to stand beside the door. When Teddy came back, he’d no doubt be in the lead. She would wait until he passed by her, and then she’d club Cec over the head.

The thought turned her stomach. Miranda tried not to think of the graphic scene of Cec’s head wounded by her hand. She cringed. Could she really hit him? Her hand began to tremble.
God, please help me
.

The door opened and Miranda held her breath. She raised the skillet over her head and closed her eyes for a split second. Letting her breath out slowly, she waited.

“Move!”

She heard the demand but startled at the sound of her husband’s voice. She waited and stared in wonder as Cec Blackabee entered the room first. He carried the white box in front of him and Teddy followed. Then to her surprise, Adrik Ivankov came in behind them both.

“Thank you, Father,” she whispered.

All three men turned to see her standing, poised and ready to strike. Smiling, she lowered the skillet. “I thought maybe I could hit him over the head,” she explained to her husband.

Teddy went to the table where Mitch had passed out. He felt his neck and nodded. “He’s still alive. At the rate Mr. Blackabee was rushing me, I couldn’t be sure that I’d put in the right amount of mandrake.”

“Look here,” Cec said in protest, “I got a lot at stake here.”

“So does Jacob Barringer,” Adrik said without feeling.

“That’s right,” Miranda threw in. “You’re letting a boy take the blame for a murder you committed.”

“Nobody can prove I did it,” Cec said smiling. “Now maybe if you were to let me take my box and go …”

Teddy shook his head. “Put the box down.” He went to the back room and returned with rope. “Adrik, would you mind doing the honors? I’m afraid my knot tying isn’t all it should be.”

Miranda watched the big, burly man smile. “I’d be pleased to help out.” He took up the rope and fairly knocked the box from Cec’s hands. “Thought he told you to put that down.”

“You both can be rich if you help me,” Cec said, even as Adrik bound his hands.

“What’s in that box that makes you willing to kill?” Teddy questioned. He lifted the white box and looked it over. Miranda edged closer to see if there was anything special about the piece. Teddy looked up and caught her gaze. “Are you all right?” he asked softly.

“I will be,” she assured him. Her heart swelled with love for her husband. He’d been so brave and bold. She would never have imagined the quiet, mild-mannered botanist she loved would dream up serving mandrake tea.