Andrew worried about spilling the coffee as they made their way down the hall. The hardwood floors were covered with lovely carpet runners, and he had no desire to mar them with splashes of coffee.
“Slow down, or I’ll make a mess of things.”
Faith chuckled and slowed her step. “You are perfectly capable onboard theMorning Star, but less so on land, is that it?”
“Something like that.” He fought to keep the journals snug under his arm.
Faith knocked on the first door to the right, and Seth bid them enter.
Andrew shrugged as he approached the desk. “I’ve got my hands full, or I’d offer to shake yours in greeting.”
“No need. You’re a friend now, and we have no use for formalities,” Seth said, moving some papers from his desk. “Feel free to put your coffee here.”
“As I told you, Andrew has proof of his business dealings with Albert Pritchard,” Faith explained. “He’s hoping it will help in the investigation.”
“As Faith must have also toldyou, this is of the utmost secrecy,” Seth stressed. “We cannot let it get out. I chided her forconfiding in you, but I know you have proven yourself to be a man of honor.”
“I am that, and I know the value of keeping my mouth shut.”
Seth looked at Faith. “Why don’t you give us some time alone? We can go through the logs faster on our own.”
Faith’s expression betrayed her disappointment, but she nodded. “I’ll go help with supper. Andrew has agreed to join us.”
“Good. Then you’ll have time to visit with him later. In the meantime, we have much to discuss.” Seth got up and led her to the door.
After closing the door, Seth locked it, to Andrew’s surprise. He wasn’t about to question the other man, but his look must have betrayed his curiosity.
“I figure we’ll have fewer interruptions this way. The women here have a way of bringing you things they think you might need in order to figure out what’s going on. I’ve had sweaters and blankets brought to me, as well as various drinks and food.” He smiled as he crossed the room to put more wood on the fire. “They know now that I lock the door when speaking with others, so hopefully they won’t attempt it this time.” Seth rubbed his hands together and held them out to the fire. “I’ll be glad when this cold weather concludes. It seems nothing has been right since the big storm.”
“Indeed. The river is still full of obstacles despite the logging companies claiming all they can.” Andrew put the ship journals on the desk. “First of all, I want to assure you that I will guard this information and the secrecy of the investigation. I don’t think Faith would have ever said anything had she not been so upset.”
“I don’t really blame her,” Seth replied. He took a seat at the desk. “She has great trust in you. But a lot of lives depend onthis, and you know what Benjamin Franklin said about secrets. ‘Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.’”
Andrew picked up his coffee. “I think you’ll find I’m quite capable of keeping secrets. I have no intention of doing anything that helps Berkshire and Lakewood after the way they’ve treated Faith.”
“It is troubling. I plan to speak to John Lincoln, my law partner, and see if there is something we can do to help her.”
“I feel so bad for her. She loves medicine, and she’s good at it. I hate to think she would be refused her certificate just because someone like Lakewood forced the school to expel her.”
Seth crossed his arms. “This entire business of riling the Indians to war has caused men to forget themselves.”
“Is that the complete plan? Get the Indians and white people fighting one another? Then what?”
“I believe most of the men involved think it will be a short-lived war. Despite the fact that they are giving the Indians weapons and ammunition, I think they’re convinced that the government soldiers will be better warriors and therefore able to put an end to the Indians. On the other hand, they don’t realize the desperation of the tribes. There are people there who have never known anything but captivity on a reservation. They hear their grandparents and parents tell stories of the days when the tribes roamed free, and they want that for themselves. And frankly, I would want it too.”
Andrew couldn’t agree more. He thought of the stories his grandfather had told him. “White people won’t be happy until the Indians are dead and completely wiped off the earth.”
Seth gazed at him, the frown on his face making Andrew nervous that he had said too much, but then Seth nodded. “I know you’re right. I wish it weren’t that way, but even seeingwhat happened a few years ago with Chief Joseph and his Nez Perce proved that. The white settlers couldn’t have the land, so they felt compelled to just start killing—even pushing the Nez Perce off reservation land that should have been theirs.”
“If these men want Grand Ronde and Warm Springs, then they’ll no doubt find a way to get those reservation lands as well. They’ll find a way. I’ve no doubt about that.”
“Nor do I, but I intend to keep a war from starting—if at all possible. Men like Pritchard and Berkshire, however, are being controlled by someone much more powerful. Someone who has the money and ability to sway the government officials. We have to find him. It might even be a consortium of men.”
“I’m sure that’s possible. Starting wars isn’t cheap. Faith said that her aunt and uncle are missionaries to the Indians. Can they help?”
“They’re being accused of being at the very top of the conspiracy. They don’t realize this yet. It’s been kept quiet, because the people investigating are sure there is someone over them—someone who has instigated the entire thing. They’re afraid that Adam Browning, Faith and Nancy’s uncle, is in cahoots with this person. Frankly, like the girls, I don’t believe the Brownings are involved. I doubt they know anything about it. My money is on a government official being to blame. It’s impossible to know who to trust. When I was recruited to help, it was clear there were divisions even in the same department.”
Andrew put his coffee aside. “I hope these journals will help. They record each trip I made, what I was carrying, and where it was taken. It shows the individuals who owned the shipments as well, although I know that can be falsified.”
