[Song of Alaska 02] - Morning's Refrain (26 page)

“So what will you do?”

He stopped and looked at his father. “That’s why I came to talk to you. I’m not sure what direction to take. I still want to have my own business, but I don’t want to cause problems for Mr. Belikov or for Yuri.”

“Perhaps Yuri’s jealous, Dalton. You got the girl and a fortune. Maybe he’s afraid it will change you.”

“But he’s the one who has changed,” Dalton countered. “Not only that, but it started before Phoebe ever arrived. I can see that now.”

“You could come to work with me for a time,” Father offered. “It might give you a chance to clear your mind. On the other hand, maybe it’s time for you to make your own plans.”

“What do you mean?”

Two men moved past them carrying a door. “We hang now, yes?” one of them said to Kjell.

“Yes. Go ahead. I’ll come check it when you’re finished.” The men nodded and moved on. Kjell turned back to Dalton. “It’s nearly October. You could set up your own small place. I could help you build it. You wouldn’t have the wherewithal to build the bigger boats, but maybe you could start small. Spend the winter building some skiffs or prams. Folks are always needing them around here.”

“I don’t have nearly all the equipment I’d need,” Dalton told him. “I’d have to order up stuff from Seattle.”

“Or go there yourself and get it,” Father replied. “You might find the time by yourself will help you to see things straight.”

“I suppose you’re right, but having just come home, Mother won’t be happy to see me go again.”

Father brushed some sawdust from his trousers. “Your mother will understand. Besides, she has your sisters to keep her busy.”

Dalton grinned. “That’s a full-time job, to be sure.” He looked at the house his father had been working on. “It looks good.”

“We’re finishing up today,” he replied. “It’s for the judge.”

“Sitka has come a long way. We’ve got judges and a new U.S. marshal due any day. All sorts of law and order,” Dalton mused.

“Just like a regular civilized town.”

“It’s an exciting time. And just think, you get to start a business right in the midst of it all.” Father got up and stretched. “Well, it’s back to work for me. Are you heading home?”

“I wouldn’t mind sticking around and helping you, if you don’t mind.”

Father laughed. “The more the merrier.”

Phoebe sat down with her parents at the kitchen table. With her brothers off to school, she felt it was important to gain a full understanding of what was going on. Apparently there had been a discussion last night, and it had been determined that for the sake of the governor’s desire to seek a higher office in the years to come, her father would sever their working relationship.

“He didn’t ask me to do so,” Father explained. “It’s just that I can never tell when the past will rear its ugly head and expose me. It isn’t fair to Lyman.”

“But Lyman promised to stand by you,” Phoebe’s mother said, shaking her head. “How could he just let you go?”

“Like I said, he didn’t want to.” Phoebe watched her father stare sadly into his coffee cup. He seemed so lost—so confused.

“What will we do, Father?” She was terrified of the answer, but she had to ask the question.

“I don’t know. My entire life has revolved around banking or politics. Now I cannot embrace either one.”

Mother dabbed a handkerchief to her eyes. “It’s so unfair. Why should we bear the marks of your father’s misdeeds?”

“I’ve brought this shame on my family,” Phoebe’s father said, shaking his head. “I must be the one to deliver us from it.”

“If I may be so bold, it seems God is the one who will do that, Father.” Phoebe offered him a smile. “I don’t know how or when, but God is faithful.”

“God has deserted me,” her father replied. “No, I should have borne evidence against my father at the trial. Had I made a better stand against what he did, people would not question my involvement. They wouldn’t believe me to still hold the money my father swindled from them and the bank.” He got to his feet. “My mind is made up.”

“On what?” Phoebe’s mother asked.

“I will go to California. You will remain here while I seek employment and a means to support this family. I will take the money we’ve managed to put aside and find us a small house. Once things are settled, I will send for you. It shouldn’t be more than a few weeks. Lyman assured me he would see to your expenses during that time.”

“You’ve already discussed this with Lyman?” Her mother’s tone was edged with hysteria. “Why did you not discuss this with me first?”

“You always knew it was a possibility. I needed to make plans and have them in place before trying to explain them to anyone else.”

Phoebe felt sick inside. Her father planned to move the family to California. What would it mean for her? She looked at her mother and felt awash in guilt.
Here I am worrying about what I will have
to face, while poor Mother is enduring such a nightmare.

“Mother, it may well be the only way. We will be fine. We have supplies once again for the candles, and we can support ourselves adequately for that short amount of time.”

“I must go make arrangements. I might have to enlist the help of the navy to assist with my departure.” Her father squared his shoulders and looked at his wife. “I am sorry, Bethel. This was not the life I planned for you and the children.” He glanced at Phoebe and murmured, “I’m so sorry.”

The house seemed horribly empty after he’d gone. Phoebe and her mother remained at the table, sitting in silence for some time. Phoebe longed to find Dalton and throw herself into his arms.

She wanted his comfort and assurance that everything would be all right.

“I want to talk to Dalton and explain what has happened,”

Phoebe finally said.

“What does it matter now? We are ruined, just the same.”

“Dalton won’t care. His family is full of scandal and difficulties.

He will not hold such a thing against Father or our family.”

Her mother began to cry in earnest. “It’s so unfair. Your father is a good man. All he needed was a chance. I don’t blame Lyman— he has big aspirations. He might one day be president. Your father has known he would be a liability for Lyman, but we had hoped time and a reputation of doing good would resolve the matter. And now . . . now, even God has left us without hope or comfort.”

“But, Mother, that is impossible. The Bible says otherwise. I memorized a verse while working with Zee and Mrs. Lindquist. It says in the book of John, ‘I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.’ Jesus was talking to His disciples about the fact that He would leave them and return to heaven. He promised they wouldn’t be left alone. Lydia—Mrs. Lindquist—says we can trust God to never leave us alone. He has promised, and His promises are unbreakable.”

Mother looked at Phoebe with tearstained cheeks. “I can scarcely believe that. I’m not sure I have the strength to endure.”

“You don’t have to rely on your own strength, Mother. Jesus will give you His, and He will see us through this.” Phoebe reached out and took hold of her mother’s hands. “You have only to trust Him for this.”

For a moment, her mother said nothing; then she nodded. “I know you are right. I’m just so afraid of what this will mean for us.”

“I have a confidence, Mother, that we will all be all right. I cannot say why, except that over these past weeks, I have learned so much about the character of God. He is faithful and worthy of our trust. He loves us, and that love is unconditional.” Phoebe squeezed her mother’s hands before releasing them.

“I’m going to go see if Dalton will stop by here after he finishes his work. I think the sooner I explain matters—and what this might mean for our family—the better.”

Chapter 20

P
hoebe didn’t have to go in search of Dalton, however. He came to her. Seeing the troubled look on his face, she quickly agreed to go for a ride when he announced that he’d driven the wagon.

“I was hoping to see you. I had planned to walk down to the boat shop earlier, but time got away from me.”

Dalton helped her into her coat. “I wouldn’t have been there anyway. That’s part of the reason I want to talk to you.”

She looked at him oddly. “Is something wrong?”

“Yes and no. I’ll explain it on our way.”

Her mother had taken herself to bed and Phoebe hadn’t seen her father since earlier that day, so there was no one to tell that she was leaving. Deciding to leave a short note of explanation, Phoebe positioned it in the kitchen near the stove. She had already prepared a stew for the evening meal, and no doubt her brothers would soon return to eat. Hopefully, they would see the note and let her parents know where she had gone.

“I’m ready now,” Phoebe declared as she returned from the kitchen.

Dalton led the way and helped her into the wagon. Phoebe lowered her face and smiled at the sensation of his touch. She wanted nothing more than to scoot very close to him as he joined her on the seat, but propriety would never allow for such a thing.

“So why were you not at the shop today?” she asked.

Dalton moved the horses down the road before answering. “I lost my job.”

Phoebe looked at him in disbelief. “Why?”

“Yuri. He’s upset because . . . well, he knows how I feel about you. I think there’s something else going on with him, but he won’t talk to me.”

Phoebe felt an odd sensation sweep through her at Dalton’s declaration of having feelings for her. She wanted to hear more but knew it was best to wait for him to explain.

“I had offered to buy into Mr. Belikov’s business,” Dalton continued. “I love building boats, and I knew he was giving thought to leaving Sitka. I thought maybe it would be a good thing. Yuri and I could go on working together as we always have.”

“Yuri doesn’t plan to return to Russia with his family?” she asked.

Dalton shook his head. “He has always said he would remain here.” He let out a heavy sigh. “Yuri is angry, though. He didn’t want to share the business with me. He didn’t even want me working there any longer, and his father felt he had no choice in the matter.”

“What will you do?” Phoebe thought of her father also losing his position.

“That’s why I wanted to talk to you.” Dalton slowed the horses as they headed away from town. “I know Yuri mentioned that I have an inheritance. I had wanted to tell you about it myself, but it’s of no matter now. The reason I bring it up is that I plan to take some of that money and build my own business. I will continue to build boats on my own, and with any luck, maybe I’ll be able to hire someone who already has the necessary skills.”

Dalton brought the wagon to a halt and set the brake. For several moments he was silent, and then to her further amazement, Dalton reached out to take hold of her hand.

Phoebe trembled from head to toe. She glanced up into his face, unable to speak. Dalton watched her with such intensity that she found it impossible to look away.

“I need to go to Vancouver or Seattle for the supplies I need. I didn’t want to leave without letting you know—I’ve always regretted how I left the last time.”

“You . . . you certainly didn’t owe me an explanation.” She fought to keep her voice steady.

“But I want you to have one,” he assured. “It’s important to me.” He rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand. “Phoebe, I want you to wait for me.”

Her eyes widened. “Wait for you?”

“Yes. I don’t want you to court Yuri or anyone else while I’m gone. Would you do that for me?”

She nodded, knowing full well she had no intention of courting anyone else. “But you have to know something first,” she said. Licking her bottom lip, Phoebe tried to think how best to phrase her confession.

“My family . . . my father . . .” She sighed. “I hinted at this the other day when you explained your past. There is a scandal in our family, as well. You might not want to get to know me better if you know the truth about it.”

“You can’t believe that would be true.”

Phoebe offered a weak smile. “I don’t . . . not really. But something has happened and everyone will soon know about it. My father lost his position with Governor Knapp. Actually, he resigned.”