—[CHAPTER SIXTEEN]—

FOR MIRANDA AND GRACE, their last order of business in Skagway was to bid farewell to Ephraim and Amelia Colton. Miranda and Amelia cried, as did Grace, but the Coltons were not in the leastwise worried about their daughter and daughter-in-law. Their renewed faith in God had given them hope for Miranda and Grace and for Peter’s repentance and return.

Miranda left her mother with the promise that she would write often and bring home a fortune. Grace kissed her mother-in-law and pressed half the money she’d managed to secure from the sale of her jewelry into her hand.

“Tell no one,” she whispered. “God has provided it, and I must share it with you. But I wouldn’t want Mr. Paxton to get wind of this.”

Amelia said nothing. She didn’t even look at the money in her hand. She simply pressed a kiss upon her daughter-inlaw’s cheek and smiled.

With Amelia and Ephraim steaming off for San Francisco, Miranda and Grace took their things and, with Adrik’s help, moved into Karen’s hotel room at the Gold Nugget. The plans were set to leave early the following morning. Grace felt a certain amount of relief in the rapid pacing Karen encouraged. She in no way wanted Martin Paxton to catch wind of what they were about. She would much rather he assume she was hiding out or sulking somewhere than to imagine her daring to head north with the stampede to the Klondike.

Karen’s pacing would also help her to conceal another situation. Grace was now certain that she was with child. Any extra time spent in Dyea or Skagway might well reveal this secret, and Grace did not wish to be left behind. She knew the trek north would be a risk to her unborn baby, but she felt confident that God had directed her this way for a reason.

She had labored long and hard with her decision of where she might go. She didn’t feel right going back to San Francisco, and at the same time her mother’s attitude concerned her and left Grace with little desire to join her in Wyoming. Then there was the whole idea of leaving the northern territories and Peter. She had no idea where he was or what he was doing. She longed to tell him about the baby and felt confident that it would impact his feelings toward her. But on the other hand, did she want his heart changed only because of the child she would bear?

After the Gold Nugget supper crowd had cleared out, Karen and Adrik gathered everyone for a flurry of planning for the next day’s departure. Grace got a chance to better know Adrik Ivankov and thought it rather amusing to see how much he and Karen doted upon each other. Funnier still was the way they refused to give in to their feelings and made pretenses at just being friends.

“The first part of the journey isn’t the hardest,” Adrik told them, stretching out a handmade map. “The trail has been forged—at least better than it used to be. They’ve even laid corduroy roads here and there.”

“Corduroy?” Miranda questioned.

Adrik smiled and explained. “The ground up here is a bit of a problem. Winter is actually the best time to pass through a great deal of it. Come thaw, the ground in a lot of places turns all boggy and wet. It makes the simplest of travel a real nightmare. So some have taken to putting down tree trunks—side by side. They cut logs or take up fallen branches, so long as they’re thick enough, then strip them and cut them down to size. Some have tried to charge a toll for passing on these roads, but the gold rushers got impatient with that idea and pretty much just pushed their way on through.”

“I see,” Miranda replied. Then, leaning toward Grace, she added, “I sure have a great deal to learn.”

“Well, Mr. Ivankov is the man to learn it from,” Leah Barringer threw in. “He’s taught us a whole lot, and he saved our lives.”

Grace easily recognized the younger girl’s glowing admiration for Adrik. If Karen wasn’t careful, Leah would make herself competition for the man’s affections. Although Grace doubted Adrik would consider anyone but Karen. It was nice to see that her mentor had found true love, even if she did deny it to herself and everyone around her.

“The important thing is that we pack only the essentials and outfit ourselves appropriately. None of those flimsy satin dancing slippers for this hike,” he said good-naturedly. “Only sturdy boots, and pack an extra pair. This won’t be easy. Spirits and soles will wear out before you know it.”

Grace tried not to worry about the journey ahead, refusing to be left behind. When they were well away from any chance of sending her back to Skagway, she would tell them about the baby.

A baby! Just the thought completely consumed Grace’s senses. How could this be? How, in the midst of such anger and confrontation, had a baby been conceived? God’s plan for her life certainly seemed to differ from the plan Grace had thought up for herself.

She was happy about the baby, though, despite her sorrow over her current marital situation. She was glad to have some small reminder of her love for Peter. It was so hard to think of him hating her. Hating God. She mourned that thought more than his absence. If he didn’t want her for a wife, she could deal with that. Her heart felt completely broken, but it was her own fault. She should never have married him—not with him so adamantly against having faith in Jesus. No, what truly pained her was that Peter should so completely alienate himself from God. God would not be mocked. Grace knew this full well, and she did not want to see Peter suffer because of his decision.

Please be merciful with him, she prayed. Please guard Peter, Lord, and help him to see the truth about you.

Grace scarcely heard the discussion around the table. She was lost in thoughts of Peter and the baby and had very nearly decided to go upstairs to rest when Martin Paxton came through the doors of the otherwise silent dining room.

“I’ve been looking for you, Mrs. Colton. I want to speak to you . . . now.”

Everyone at the table looked up in unison. Grace stood, but Karen reached out to touch her arm. “You don’t have to give him the time of day, Grace.”

“What do you want?” she asked softly. She hoped he didn’t find their little gathering too suspicious and quickly added, “We were just about to retire for the evening. Perhaps we could speak another time—say, next week.”

Martin Paxton leered and folded his arms casually against his chest. “Next week won’t work. I think it’s time we discussed your answer.”

A wave of nausea threatened Grace’s resolve. “My answer?”

“Leave her alone,” Karen demanded. “She wants nothing to do with you.”

Adrik stood as if to challenge Paxton’s claim. He said nothing, but Grace could see the protective nature of his stance. The last thing she wanted was a showdown in front of Leah and Adrik, not to mention Miranda.

“I’ll talk with you,” she finally said, getting to her feet. “But only if Karen is with me.”

“I want to see you privately.”

“I think you heard the lady’s conditions on the matter,” Adrik said, stepping next to Grace.

Paxton seemed to size up the situation before relenting. “Very well. Let’s find a quiet corner.”

Grace nodded. “Karen, where is that little office where I first met you upon my return to Dyea?”

“Right this way,” Karen said, leading them across the room. “It’s well within earshot of Adrik should the need arise.” She looked at Paxton with great defiance—challenging him to comment on her words. He did not.

Karen and Grace went into the office first, with Paxton close on their heels. Karen protectively put her arm around Grace’s shoulders for support. Grace felt blessed to have her friend so close at hand. If Paxton should have demanded she speak to him alone, she would have had little choice but to refuse him. Perhaps this way, she could resolve the past and put an end to his demands.

“Have you determined to divorce your husband and marry me?” Paxton asked without delay. He eyed Grace in the same cold, calculated manner as before.

She could very nearly feel his hot breath upon her neck—his hands upon her body. Shuddering, she shook her head. Very softly, almost inaudibly, she replied, “If my husband wishes to put an end to our marriage, he will have to do so on his own. I will not divorce him. It is against my beliefs.”

“I see.” Paxton reached into his pocket and produced a cigar. He toyed with it a moment, then pinched off the end and procured a match from his vest pocket. Striking the match, he lit the cigar, his gaze never leaving Grace. He puffed silently, staring at her as if deciding what to say next.

Praying silently, Grace knew she had to stand up to Paxton. She wouldn’t tell him of her plans, but neither would she cower. God was on her side. There was nothing Paxton could do to further harm her.

“I don’t believe you do see,” Grace said, straightening her shoulders a bit. “I am a married woman. I am very much in love with my husband, and in spite of your actions to harm him and his family, I will support him and help them through.”

“I saw for myself that the youngest of the Colton clan stayed behind at your side. She’s a pretty woman.”

“Leave Miranda out of this,” Grace said firmly. “If you have some sort of vendetta against me, then hear me now. I am not afraid of you. I have a source of strength and power that you cannot even begin to understand. You are lost and alone inside the pits of evil that you’ve dug for yourself.” Her chin raised ever so slightly, her confidence in God fueling her bravery. “You are not a threat to me, and I would thank you to give up this nonsense.”

Paxton moved toward her. “Let me show you just how evil I can be.” He grinned at Karen and tossed the cigar onto the paper-strewn desk. “Funny how easily things catch fire up here.”

Grace saw Karen’s face flush as she rushed to the desk to make certain the cigar caused no damage. Meanwhile, Paxton pressed toward Grace.

“You belong to me, Grace. Your father gave you to me, and I intend to have you.”

Karen looked up and opened her mouth. Grace could only presume she meant to call for Adrik Ivankov, but Grace decided on another course of action.

“In the name of Jesus, I command you to leave me.”

Paxton stopped and looked at her as if in disbelief. “I beg your pardon?”

Karen moved toward the door shaking her head. “I’ll get Adrik.”

Grace never faltered. She stood her ground, feeling a legion of angels as her protectors. “In the name of Jesus, I command you to leave me.”

“Do you really expect that nonsense to mean anything to me?” Paxton questioned.

Karen stopped, seeming to forget about Adrik. She watched Grace with as much intensity as Paxton, but Grace could not give her attention to her friend.

“Jesus gave His children authority over the devil. And while you may not exactly be the devil himself, you are about his work. Therefore, I command you, out in the name of Jesus.”

Paxton’s expression changed to one Grace had never witnessed. Confusion. He looked at her and seemed to lean forward as though he might still advance, but his feet seemed nailed to the floor.

“Your faith and your God mean nothing to me,” he said. He growled as if fighting some unseen assailant. His hands were raised as if to take hold of her or at least strike her, but he made no move to complete such tasks.

Grace felt awash with peace. There was no fear. It was as if all of heaven battled for her and she had only to stand and await the outcome. The faithfulness of God had been proven over and over to her, but never so dearly as in that moment.

“You’re going to regret this,” Paxton said. “You think you’ve already paid for trying to dupe me, but I’ve got news for you. This isn’t over. It’s just begun. You haven’t yet tasted my wrath.”

“Nor will I,” Grace said, putting her hands to her hips. “I am no threat to you, Mr. Paxton. I have no interest in you and no desire for anything you might offer. I ran from you twice, taking matters into my own hands. I’m not running anymore. I’m standing here face-to-face with you. I’m here to tell you that my God is more powerful than you could ever imagine. I’m here to tell you that you have no power over me—no rights whatsoever to me. You have only accomplished what you have thus far because God has allowed it and my own hand has often even encouraged it. Well, that is done.”

“None of this is done,” Paxton said, his eyes narrowing. “It isn’t done until I say it is done.”

Grace said nothing more. There was no need. She could see that she’d shaken the man. He didn’t understand this new manner of business, but Grace did. Grace remembered a sermon she’d heard not but a month ago. A sermon that talked of how God’s children need not live in fear. That Satan was the one responsible for stirring fear and worry through his lies and doubts, and that God’s children had power they’d never even begun to tap into. Well, she was staking her claim on that power here and now. She had to. For her sake and for Peter’s, not to mention their unborn child.

Walking past Paxton without fear, Grace turned at the door. “Mr. Paxton, if you would spend half as much time in pursuing God as you have pursuing me, you would understand where my strength comes from.”

She left him standing there, eyes burning and jaw fixed. His surprise was no less evident, however, than Karen’s. Her friend stood with mouth agape, eyes wide and full of wonder. Grace knew Karen had been struggling with God’s sovereignty and love. She could only hope that this demonstration of God’s power to keep evil at bay would help to strengthen Karen’s walk of faith.

Karen watched in disbelief as Martin Paxton stormed from the hotel. She followed him in silence to the open front door and watched as he joined in with the throngs of lost souls who headed to the gambling halls and saloons.

Quietly she closed the door and looked up the steps as if expecting Grace to still be standing there. She’d never witnessed anything such as what Grace had just done. The confidence and power that seemed to exude from her friend were impressive, to say the least. Where had she acquired such faith? To face evil, not but a few feet away, and refuse to back down because of the power of God—it was inspiring.

Shaking, Karen hugged her arms to her body and shook her head. It was nothing short of miraculous. Miraculous . . . and perhaps even terrifying.