Read Online [Yukon Quest 01] - Treasures Of The North by Tracie Peterson - Free Book Online

in a rhythm. Hoe a patch, pick out the rocks. Hoe a patch, pick out the rocks.
    ‘‘Granny!’’ Bill called, jumping off the rickety buckboard.
    The old woman looked up and put her hand to her head to shield her eyes from the sun. Lacking the funds and not caring one whit about convention, Granny saved her only straw bonnet for Sundays and church. Because of this, her skin was leathery and brown from the harsh Colorado sun.
    ‘‘Bill? Bill Barringer?’’ she questioned, limping forward in an awkward manner. No doubt her rheumatism was taking its toll, Bill surmised.
    ‘‘It’s me,’’ he called and went forward to greet her.
    The old woman hugged him with an impressive grip. ‘‘So you’ve come back down out of the clouds.’’
    ‘‘I have, Granny, but only for the moment.’’ He grinned. ‘‘I was wonderin’ if you could put me and the kids up for a few days?’’
    Granny looked past him to the wagon. ‘‘Where’s Patience?’’
    Bill looked to the ground. ‘‘Uh, Granny, she passed on.’’
    The old woman looked up and nodded. ‘‘The mountains are hard on folks, and your little Patience wasn’t much more than a mite. How’d it happen?’’
    ‘‘She was trying to deliver a baby. Midwife said she was too small.’’
    Again Granny nodded. ‘‘Just a mite. Just a mite. Well, God rest her soul.’’
    Bill fumbled for the words. ‘‘I’m . . . well . . . I mean, the children and me—’’
    ‘‘No nevermind about explaining. You just bring down your things and come inside. Old Granny will fix you up with something to eat, and then we can discuss your plans.’’
    Two hours and a full belly later, Bill found Jacob and Leah stretched out asleep on Granny’s bed. He closed the door so as not to disturb them, then went to join Granny for another cup of coffee.
    ‘‘Heard about gold in the Yukon,’’ he said, as if Granny had asked him where he was headed. ‘‘Nuggets as big as a man’s head. Just lyin’ around for the takin’.’’
    ‘‘It always is, isn’t it?’’ Granny asked in a knowing tone. She looked at him with steely blue eyes that seemed to bore right through him. ‘‘Have you heard tell yet of a gold rush where the nuggets weren’t as big as your head? What would the attraction be otherwise?’’
    Bill shrugged. ‘‘I saw the newspaper. They had a picture and everything. Two boats, one in Seattle and one in San Francisco, and both of them loaded down with gold.’’
    ‘‘Until you see it firsthand,’’ Granny suggested, ‘‘it’s still just a rumor.’’
    ‘‘No, Granny, these aren’t just rumors. The papers wouldn’t have run the story otherwise.’’
    She laughed. ‘‘Put a lot of stock in papers, do you, boy?’’
    ‘‘Not near as much as in pictures,’’ Bill admitted. ‘‘I saw the pictures. I’m tellin’ you, Granny, there’s gold in the Yukon.’’
    ‘‘Bah! Who needs it? Better to do a decent day’s job and be paid a decent wage.’’
    ‘‘Well, that’s why I’m here,’’ he said, finishing off the coffee. ‘‘I plan to get me enough for the trip north, anyhow.’’
    ‘‘What about them young’uns?’’
    ‘‘They’re coming with me. They’ll enjoy the adventure.’’
    ‘‘What about schoolin’? Their ma, as I recall, held a high opinion of schoolin’.’’
    Bill nodded. ‘‘Yes, she did. I’m certain there are schools up north. We’re not the only civilized folks in the world, after all.’’
    Granny went to the cupboard and took out a big yellow bowl. She went to the counter and put a smaller, red bowl heaping with green beans inside the first bowl. Bringing both to the table, she sat down and began to snap beans. ‘‘So what kind of work you thinkin’ to find here?’’
    ‘‘Whatever makes me fast money. I can still deal a pretty fair game of cards,’’ Bill said with a smile. ‘‘You know how it goes, Granny.’’
    ‘‘Indeed I do,’’ she answered. ‘‘I remember