“I’m sure this storm caused a lot of damage to the reservations, even if no one is talking about it. Grand Ronde is sure to have suffered, since they’re not far from the coast. I want to help them.”
“As do we, but Lakewood is ruthless. I don’t want you to get hurt,” Seth replied, looking grave.
Faith sat back and put her plate on the small side table. “I think the time has come for you to explain everything to me. I know bits and pieces of what’s going on, but I think I need a clearer picture in order to better understand how to deal with this matter.”
Nancy and Seth exchanged a look, and Nancy shrugged. “I think you should tell her everything. Faith can keep a secret.”
“It’s imperative that you say nothing about this to anyone. Secrecy is still very much needed in order to get to the bottom of who is actually controlling this situation.” Seth crossed his legs as he stretched them toward the fire. “And there is still so much we don’t know.”
“I promise I will say nothing.”
Seth nodded and began to explain. “As you know, Nancy’s husband Albert was involved in secreting shipments of weapons and whiskey to the Indians. I was approached by the government to come to Portland and investigate. Of course, by the time I did, Albert was dead. He had fallen or was pushed into the Willamette. We now believe he was murdered before he reached the water, but we have no way of knowing who killed him. We suspect Berkshire or one of his rowdies but are still uncertain and have no proof whatsoever.”
“Right. That much I already understood.”
Seth continued. “We didn’t know if Nancy was involved, so when I realized she was my old childhood friend, I managed to get her lawyer to let me come onboard and help with her late husband’s estate.”
“But you didn’t tell Nancy what you were really doing.”
Nancy answered before Seth could. “No, he didn’t.”
Seth smiled. “It didn’t take long before I confided in her.” He reached over and squeezed his wife’s hand. “However, we had Berkshire to contend with, and he wouldn’t leave Nancy alone. We’ve since learned that he wanted to convince her to marry him so that he might have access to her money. Berkshire plays at being well off, but in fact he has very little, and Nancy’s money would have allowed him to step into the society of hiscronies like Lakewood without fear of being realized for what he really was.”
“Do you honestly think Lakewood doesn’t know about Berkshire’s lack of money?” Faith asked. “I mean, it seems to me that Lakewood is the kind of man who knows the details of every man’s fortune—or lack thereof.”
“I’m sure you’re right,” Seth agreed. “The thing is, Lakewood and his associates have been helping fund the weapons and whiskey and probably a lot of other things, but the government knows there are other men who are in charge of all this.”
Faith nodded. “They suspect Uncle Adam and Aunt Mercy as being at the top of the plot.”
Nancy shook her head. “Can you even imagine?”
“They can’t be serious.” Faith looked at Seth. “How can they possibly believe that two people who have spent their lives among the Indians and working with them as advocates could be responsible for pushing for insurrection?”
“I suppose the thought is that because the tribes have been treated unfairly, your aunt and uncle are encouraging them to rise up to demand fair treatment. And while they could be suggesting this for the betterment of the tribes, someone else may well have it in mind to cause them harm. The government believes that whoever is involved is also a part of the plot to see the reservation lands decreased and given over or sold to white settlers who have come to this state demanding farmland.”
“If they took a good look at the bulk of those reservation lands, they wouldn’t be quite so eager.” Faith picked up her plate. “This is madness.”
“Yes, but we cannot say anything about it to our family,” Nancy declared. Her expression was grave. “The only reason we’re telling you is so you won’t be harmed by Lakewood. Steeraway from him and don’t allow your actions at school to enrage him.”
“I won’t stop our plans. He won’t scare us off. We already discussed that this evening. We’re going to move the fundraiser to one of the churches and proceed. There’s very little he can do to any of us.”
“Don’t say that.” Nancy looked to Seth. “Convince her.”
Seth nodded. “Faith, these men have worked a long time at this. It’s not the first plot they’ve had, and it won’t be the last. Don’t put yourself in harm’s way. Maybe delay your gathering for a few months. Let things calm down, and see if the government can’t get to the bottom of their investigation first. Then you can do all you want to benefit the Indians.”
“By then they may have died from lack of proper medical supplies. The government doesn’t provide them with what they need. You know that. Aunt Mercy and Uncle Adam have tried for years to get the government to do better. You know they would never harm the Indians or work against them.”
“I do,” Nancy replied. “But I also know these men are dangerous. I believe, as Seth does, that they killed Albert. God alone knows who else they might have killed. I don’t want them to have any reason to put you on that list.”
“Looks like you’ve got enough wood here to build a log cabin,” Andrew said as he came upon Seth chopping wood behind the boardinghouse.
Seth took a break from chopping. “We might as well. We aren’t lacking for firewood.”
Andrew smiled. “We’ve got more than enough for theMorning Startoo. This storm provided plenty of fuel to get us through,at least. I have stockpiles here, in Vancouver, Astoria, and all points in between.”
Seth smiled and pulled a handkerchief from his pocket. “It’s been a lot of work, to be sure. I’m not sure how all this wood will ever be processed, but it’s employed quite an army of men.”
“To be sure.”
