Gypsy - Lesley Pearse [136]
‘Do you think Jack will talk him round?’ Sam asked Beth.
Beth shook her head. She had observed this gold madness for so long that she had come to the conclusion it was terminal. Most of the people who arrived here had no idea how far it was to Dawson City — they imagined it was a short stroll up a couple of hills. Few realized how cold and treacherous it was on the mountains, and a great many of the people who had set off last autumn on both the White Pass and the Chilkoot Pass had been forced to turn back and wait till spring.
But the Chilkoot Indians, who were accustomed to using this trail, had reported that many of those who didn’t return had perished up there. The flesh had been picked clean from their bodies by birds and other scavengers.
‘Maybe the only solution is to put his wife and the two remaining children on the boat alone,’ Beth said sadly. ‘I believe they have family in Portland who will nurse them back to health. That is, if they don’t die before a ship comes in.’
‘Are you afraid of going up the Pass?’ Sam asked curiously.
‘Yes,’ she admitted. ‘But we’ve come this far, we’d always regret it if we didn’t go the rest of the way.’
‘It won’t be the same without Theo.’
‘No, it won’t,’ Beth sighed. ‘It will be easier.’
Sam was silent for some time, staring at the fire with blank eyes. Beth knew that both he and Jack missed Theo for his imaginative ideas and the fun he could create. They had admitted that they’d known for some time about Dolly, and had hoped Beth’s night with Jefferson would bring him sharply back to heel.
But however much they liked him and thought of him almost as a brother, their primary loyalty was to Beth. So they hadn’t tried to talk to him, and he in turn hadn’t gone looking for them.
‘What about Soapy?’ Sam asked, breaking the silence. ‘Do you have feelings for him?’
‘Lustful ones, perhaps.’ Beth giggled. ‘But it’s been a week now and he hasn’t made any move to see me again. I guess now he’s heard Theo’s out of the picture, I don’t look quite so attractive.’
Sam half smiled. ‘Maybe that’s just as well, sis, he’s a dangerous man. I like him well enough, but he’s more slippery than an eel. If just half the stories about him are true, there’s still enough to put the wind up anyone. You’ll find the right man one day, someone who is worthy of you.’
Beth reached forward and ruffled his thick blond beard. ‘We’ve come a long way, haven’t we? I doubt the Langworthys would recognize us now. Not just the way we look, but how we’ve changed inside. Imagine us trying to have tonight’s conversation when we were back in Liverpool! Remember what Mama said about passion? I had no idea what that was then.’
‘Nor did I.’ Sam smirked. ‘That was one of the best discoveries.’
They both laughed and went on to talk about how good it was to be away from the restrictions they’d grown up with, and that they were friends, as well as brother and sister.
‘Has there ever been a woman you didn’t want to say goodbye to?’ Beth asked.
‘It would be quicker to list those I was glad to,’ Sam joked. ‘I always seem to meet someone there’s a real spark with just as we’re moving on. Take that small redhead who helps her mother make pies down on Main Street!’
‘Sarah?’ Beth had spoken to the girl many times. She was very proper, never went into the saloon or encouraged any of the men’s advances. But she had a feisty air about her and she was very pretty.
‘Yes, Sarah from Idaho. I really like her, she’s got that kind of—’ He broke off suddenly at the sound of gunfire. ‘That’s close by,’ he exclaimed, shrugging off the quilt and getting to his feet.
Gunfire was commonplace, just as brawls in the streets and saloons were. But it wasn’t usual to hear it in this part of town.
‘Don’t go out, Sam,’ Beth begged him. ‘You know what it’s like when a few of them are drunk and riled up. You could end up among them and get hurt.’
He hesitated. ‘I’ll just look out