Read Online Ashes and Ice by Tracie Peterson - Free Book Online Page B

was a part of her that found his words intriguing, but there was a greater part of her that cautioned her to forget the scheme, to return to her faith and let God deal with the sordid details of her life.
    “I think we should move with caution and consideration,” she finally managed to say. “Paxton is revered in Skagway. People believe he’s quite beneficial to their community.” She remembered Adrik’s words as if he’d just spoken them. “We can’t just rush in with accusations and no way to prove his guilt.”
    “I don’t plan to rush in with accusations,” Peter said, meeting her gaze.
    Karen saw a coldness in his eyes that reminded her of Martin Paxton. The lifelessness of it frightened her. Perhaps she had said too much—encouraged too much.
    “Peter, this is very serious. You must remember Grace.”
    “Grace doesn’t care about me. She’s driven a wedge between me and my family. Taking care of Martin Paxton will return respect to me—at least in the eyes of my family.”
    “But it may destroy Grace’s trust, her feelings for you,” Karen countered.
    “Those feelings are already destroyed,” Peter said, refusing to look away. “Grace cares only for her God and nothing for me.”
    “I find that hard to believe. She’s loved you from almost the very first moment you met. I can’t believe she would put those feelings aside simply because you have differences of opinion where religion is concerned.”
    “Well, believe it.” He narrowed his eyes and his tone took on an accusing nature. “I suppose you will defend her now—take her side?”
    Karen realized that in order to see Paxton punished for what he’d done, she’d have to align herself with Peter. But in order to do that, she would have to put aside her friendship with Grace.
    But Grace wasn’t here. No one was here. Karen was left alone to fight her battles.
    I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee . The verse of Scripture seemed to speak from her soul, reminding her of God’s constant faithfulness.
    But if you truly cared , Karen thought, you’d never have allowed us to suffer so much . Her anger resurfaced as she thought of the fire and of her aunt’s death. She wanted revenge. She needed revenge.
    “Grace is wrong,” Karen finally said. She felt torn, as if she’d just put an end to something very special, but now that the words were out of her mouth, she couldn’t take them back. Worse still, she didn’t want to.

—[CHAPTER SEVEN]—
    ADRIK IVANKOV FOUND himself the voice of reason in a vast sea of gold-hungry travelers. The only trouble was, no one wanted a voice of reason. Gold fever made men do things they’d never otherwise consider. Adrik had seen grown men climb the trail with broken limbs and raging fevers. He’d also seen them die far from the goal that had brought them so far.
    For over a week, Adrik worked alongside his Tlingit friends to pack goods from the Scales up to the summit. The Scales were so named because it was there the packers reweighed the goods they were packing and increased their fees in accordance with the steep climb to the top of the Chilkoot Trail. Adrik found the extra money he earned transporting goods a much surer guarantee than looking for gold in the ground. He had saved an impressive amount of money, even while sharing much that he had with his friends and Tlingit relatives.
    Money wasn’t everything. In fact, Adrik had rarely even considered the stuff over the last week. His thoughts were more easily assigned to a pretty woman living in Dyea. Karen Pierce was more than just a pretty woman to him, however. She was the daughter of a man he greatly respected—a man whose death he felt somewhat responsible for.
    “We’re quitting,” Dyea Joe said, releasing the pack frame he used for carrying goods.
    The announcement didn’t surprise Adrik. For the last two days the sky had been devoid of clouds, and with the sun bearing down on them in its April splendor, a new problem had