The Klondike Mysteries 4-Book Bundle. Vicki Delany

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СКАЧАТЬ don’t seem proper. I’d be proud to offer myself as your escort.”

      It’s never a bad move to play friendly with the local constabulary. I smiled, pulling demure from the depths of my repertoire. “That is most courteous of you, Sergeant. Of course you may see me home.” I linked my arm though his. His hefty frame shivered under my touch.

      We walked through the streets of Dawson in silence. On Front Street, most of the saloons and dance halls were still open, and light and laughter spilled through the doors. On the hillsides looking over the town and across the river, the occasional lamp illuminated a rough canvas tent. Beyond there was nothing but the dark, impenetrable wilderness, waiting patiently for the day when we would all of us pack up our liquor and mining implements and tents and shops and just leave.

      We arrived at Mrs. Mann’s boarding house, and I said my thank-yous and attempted to pull my arm from Sergeant Lancaster’s unyielding grip. I tugged harder. And harder. I am familiar with the softer parts of the male anatomy—beginning with the instep—but before I was forced to resort to violence, he realized that his grip on my arm was most unseemly, and he released me with a murmured apology and a shuffle of big-booted feet.

      “This seems like a respectable home.”

      “Did you think I would live someplace that wasn’t?” I said, too tired to want to continue playing. “Good night, Sergeant.”

      “One moment, please, Mrs. MacGillivray.” He grabbed my arm. He was very big, but mostly soft and flabby— muscle gone to fat. I stared at his hand, and he withdrew it immediately. He blushed, took a deep breath and forced himself to continue. I tried not to sigh too loudly. “There’s something I’d like to talk to you about, Mrs. MacGillivray. But not here, on the street. That don’t seem proper. May I come in for a moment?”

      “Most certainly not! Whatever are you thinking, Sergeant.” I love using propriety on the rare occasion that it suits me to do so. “I’d have to wake up my landlady to serve as a chaperone, and the dear woman deserves her rest.” Embarrassed apologies tripped over Lancaster’s tongue. Sweat dripped off his bald head, and he wiped it away with a shaking hand.

      “Good night, Sergeant.”

      “Mrs. MacGillivray,” he shouted so loudly that I was sure the wolves on the mountainsides could hear. “I can’t bear to see a lady as fine and as lovely as yourself cast adrift, alone in this harsh, godless world. And your son, such a fine young man, he’s in desperate need of the firm guidance of a father’s strict hand.”

      “What?” And then he dropped to his knees and proposed to make an honest woman of me.

      I opened the front door and crept into the house, kicking my shoes off as I walked down the hall to the back. Tomorrow I’d go in search of new ones: bugger the cost. I’d also wait until tomorrow to worry about Sergeant Lancaster’s unwelcome proposal.

      Angus was at the kitchen table, fully dressed, sound asleep with his head resting across his right arm. I leaned over and kissed his soft cheek. Not a trace of whiskers yet. Good.

      “My dear boy,” I whispered. I checked my watch. No point in putting him to bed: Mrs. Mann would be rattling pans, stoking the stove, and gathering up breakfast things in less than an hour. And then it would be time for Angus to head off to his job at the store. “Good night, my dearest.” I touched the tousled blond curls. He looked more like his father every day.

      I went to my room, trying not to make a sound and without lighting a lamp.

      Chapter Thirty-One

      Angus listened to his mother’s door closing, and the soft swish of fabric as her clothes dropped to the floor. Water splashed and bedsprings creaked and she sighed once, heavily. Then all fell quiet. Angus’s mother was a very sound sleeper. Bit of bad luck, her coming in on him like that. But tonight she’d got home later than usual, and Angus dared wait no longer. He’d been stuffing the last bit of food into his pack when he’d heard her footsteps on the path and her gentle voice talking to some man.

      He’d shoved the pack under the kitchen table before falling into a chair and pretending to be asleep. Only when he’d heard the door opening did he remember the note he’d left on the table for her to find in the morning. Fortunately, the house lights were all off, and in the gloom she hadn’t seen the paper.

      He gathered his pack and settled it over his shoulders. He tried to open the kitchen door quietly and winced as the hinges creaked. He slipped into the weak light of dawn. They’d be furious, for sure, his mother and Mr. Mann. But Angus couldn’t face another day in that store.

      The town that scarcely slept was stirring back to life as he walked through the streets. Shopkeepers, cooks and housewives were already going about their chores. Drunks staggered back to their lodgings and eager men marched through town heading for the gold fields.

      Angus arrived at the Fort Herchmer gates close to seven thirty and sat on a boulder to wait, not wanting to think about what would happen if he were too late or if plans had changed at the last minute. He mentally reviewed the contents of his pack—one change of clothes, a blanket, extra socks, bread and cheese, some cold meat and dried apples. He’d been careful to take no more food than he would have eaten had he stayed behind, although he couldn’t resist grabbing the tin of yesterday’s scones.

      Traffic to and from the fort was light at this time of day, and no one paid undue attention to the boy sitting off to one side.

      Angus didn’t have a watch, and he was beginning to fear that he’d missed his quarry, when at last he saw Constable Sterling approaching, leading a big white dog with a twosided pack draped across its back. The Mountie’s step was strong and determined: a man setting out on a long journey.

      Angus stood up and waited, his heart pounding and his hands sweating.

      Sterling’s eyes widened in surprise. “Morning, Angus. What brings you here, son?”

      “I’m ready to go with you, sir,” Angus shouted. He cleared his throat and tried to lower his voice. “To Bonanza Creek.”

      “What are you talking about? You can’t come with me. I’m on NWMP business.”

      “I know that, sir. I’ll keep you company.”

      “I don’t need company, Angus.”

      “I want to be in the Mounties, sir, just like you. You said you’d show me what policing’s like.”

      Sterling touched the big dog on the head, and it dropped to its haunches. “In a few more years, Angus. You’re still a boy. Give it time.”

      “What other chance will I have to go to the gold fields, sir? And to watch a real police investigation? I won’t get in the way. Really I won’t. I can help you.” Angus eyed the dog. “With your pack and things.”

      “Does your mother know you’re here?” “Yes, sir. She says it’s all right. She knows I want to be a Mountie some day.” He dug into his pocket. “Here’s a letter.” He handed the scrap of paper over.

      Sterling took it with a frown, smoothed out the wrinkles and read.

      Angus forced himself to keep breathing. The letter said that Angus was welcome to accompany Constable Sterling on his journey to Bonanza and Eldorado Creeks in the performance of his police duties. СКАЧАТЬ