The man's face suddenly became animated. "Haven't you heard? That pretty little woman they had working for them up and disappeared night before last. Collins had half the town looking for her."

Noah stood suddenly, numb with disbelief. "What else do you know about this?"

The man shrugged. "I don't know much else." He was about to turn away when Noah reached his arm across the bar and seized him around the collar. Hauling him halfway over the bar to glare into his face, with teeth gritted, he demanded in low, commanding tones, "Tell me what else you know. Anything."

The man's face became red as he wheezed. "OK, OK, just put me down. I a I can't breathe."

Noah dropped him abruptly, and the man collapsed to the bar. He quickly backed away out of Noah's reach. Holding his own throat and taking deep swallows of air, he hurriedly explained, "Collins came through here about ten yesterday morning asking if I knew anything about Miss Smith. I didn't know a thing. Then he asked about some other fellow who had talked to her at the post. I'll tell you, I was glad to say I didn't know him. With the look in Will's eye, he was after blood. Anyway, the only thing I really know is that the girl has been gone two days, no one knows where. Speculation has it that it must have something to do with this character who paid her a visit."

Noah scowled and shoved his hands into his pockets to keep them still. Piercing the man with his eyes, he asked. "You're sure you don't know this man's name? Sure you don't know anything else?"

The man backed away even further. "I'm sure. Hey, what's your name, mister? If Will comes back through here, I'll tell him you pa.s.sed by."

Noah's squinted. "You do that. Tell him Noah Wesley is looking for him."

He saw the man's face whiten as he nodded, but bravery or stupidity must have goaded him on, since he had the nerve to ask. "Aren't you the fellow that lives up on Mt. Juneau? I heard you broke in the Indians around here some years ago. I'm real honored to meet you. Those dirty thieves haven't been near the trouble they could have been for this town if it hadn't been for you."

Noah scowled. "I didn't *break them in,' as you put it, by thinking of them as dirty thieves. They're men and they've known how to survive in this wilderness a lot longer then we have. They deserve our respect." Noah turned away with barely concealed disgust and strode heavily from the room.

Out in the open air, his heart sank. G.o.d, where is she?

Elizabeth, his Elizabeth, was gone. Something bad had happened to her, and he hadn't arrived soon enough to help. He could barely contain his feelings of frustration and anger.

Suddenly, a great gust of wind swept through the street. A williwaw, Noah thought, grasping the saloon's spindly column with one hand and his hat with the other as the force of the sixty-mile-an-hour wind roared its insistence. He remembered holding Elizabeth in another such wind, breathing in her hair and not wanting to let go even after the wind had died down.

This wind pushed at him, making it nearly impossible to walk toward the trading post and seeming alive with evil intent. It was as if it wanted to stop him from finding her. He didn't know if he was imagining it or not, but he a.s.serted out loud anyway, "You'll not have her." The gale pushed even harder and then, as he stood his ground, it gradually, slowly lessened. His resolve solidified within him, and he felt his spirit rise up for a fight.

January 10, 1890 Dear Mrs. Rhodes, While working at the orphanage I found several answers. It appears that Elizabeth was here and has been here for some years. I regret that I was unable to find her sooner as she was recently adopted. I have not, as yet, been able to find out the name of the adoptive parents but will keep trying. The orphanage is very tight-lipped and rather mean-spirited. I was nearly caught going through their files but managed to hide behind a tall potted plant undetected. While I was in hiding, a woman, the birth mother I believe, came in and demanded information about her child. The superintendent was at first most unpleasant, but suddenly had a change of heart as the woman slid a thick stack of bills across his desk (several leaves were in the way, but I'm almost certain). Your presence here may turn the tide a with some monetary a.s.sistance, of course. Could you come to Illinois and a.s.sist me?

We are so close, ma'am. I can feel that she is nearby.

I remain your devoted servant.

Sincerely yours, Jeremiah Hoglesby.

Private Detective for Hire.

Twelve.

With a mighty push, Noah plowed his weight into the plank door of the post, shattering the wood. Reaching inside, he unhooked the latch and shoved the door open. That's when he heard the m.u.f.fled sounds coming from upstairs. Taking up the lantern, he flew up the stairs and into the bedroom. Cara lay curled up on the bed, on her side, writhing with pain and clutching her extended abdomen. Noah rushed to her side and knelt down. Touching her shoulder gently, he said, "Cara, it's me, Noah. What is it? Is the baby coming?"

Cara grasped his hand tightly, squeezed with ferocious strength for a few minutes and gasped for breath. When the spasm finally subsided, she gave him a weak smile. "Thank G.o.d you're here. Will left yesterday to look for Elizabeth. She's gone. Oh Noah, I didn't know what to do. I let her leave. She was so frightened and nothing I said convinced her to confide in me."

"We'll talk about Elizabeth later. Why didn't you go for help when the pains started? Why did you latch the door?"

"I felt tired and thought I would take a nap. I didn't want any customers, so I latched the door. The pains came on so suddenly. And it's earlya"I didn't believe it was the real thing at first. I tried once to get downstairs, but when I nearly fell a I was frightened. I was going to try again, but then I heard the door a oh a oh a here it comes again."

Noah lent his hand as Cara tensed on the bed. Her head tossed back and forth and her whole body strained, her back arching, then curling inward. Noah only stared, not knowing what to do to help. Awkwardly he reached out and smoothed her sweat-pasted hair back from her brow. "You're doing fine, Cara," he heard himself say and could only credit any sense he had to watching his father help in the birthing of a foal. His father had always tried to keep the animals as calm as possible.

Finally, she relaxed and lay back weakly.

"Elizabeth. Dear G.o.d a"

"Don't talk," he said gently. "I'll get the details about Elizabeth later. Would you like a drink of water?"

She smiled weakly. "Yes, and a doctor. But I'm afraid there won't be time, and I'm too terrified for you to leave me." She took a deep breath. "Noah, you wouldn't mind delivering a baby, would you?"

Noah felt his throat constrict, but when he looked into her wide, frightened eyes, he gave her his most confident smile. "I'd be honored to be the first to see Will's child. But I'll probably be able to round up a doctor without leaving you. There is bound to be someone milling around outside. And if not, we'll do fine on our own. You just rest in between the pains. I'll go downstairs and gather some supplies and see if I can find a messenger." Seeing the panic in her eyes, he quickly added, "I won't leave, I promise. If you need me, just call."

She nodded, the lines of her face suddenly lax. Her eyelids dropped shut. Noah rose from the bed and headed downstairs for supplies. What supplies he needed, he wasn't sure, but he seemed to remember something about boiling water a He went first to the mangled door, shoved it open, and searched up and down the streets surrounding the post. He saw a boy of about ten, and Noah called out to him. Reaching into his pocket, he took out a coin and handed it to the lad, saying, "Run and get one of the town doctors. Mrs. Collins is having her baby. The boy looked momentarily bewildered, and Noah forced down the urge to shake him awake. "Check their lodgings and the saloons and be quick about it. Spread the worda"someone will know where they are."

The boy nodded and seemed to understand because he latched firmly onto the coin and took off, his feet flying out behind him. Noah returned to the store, thinking he had done the best he could. As he heard the gasps coming from upstairs, he searched his dim memory of birthing babies and hurried to gather a few items. Blast it, he wished Will were here. There were very few reasons that would take Will away from the post and his very pregnant wife. He knew it was his friendship and not only concern for Elizabeth that had done it, and he was humbled by his friend's loyalty. He only hoped he could be so n.o.ble in this task before him.

After some searching he found clean clothes, a porcelain bowl, and string and scissors to tie the cord with. He filled the bowl with fresh water, stirred up the fire, and put a pot of water on to boil to sterilize the tools.

His expression was carefully light, but his heart was in his throat as he reentered the bedroom. Taking a rag, he did the one thing he remembered overhearing his mother say had gotten her through her labors. He tied it on the post near Cara's head and knotted the free end into a fat knot. This he handed to her and directed her to grasp it when the pains came.

The next hours crept by as though dragging heavy irons. Noah was forced to stand by, feeling utterly helpless, as his best friend's wife struggled to bring forth new life. She tried to be brave. She tried to quiet her groans, but the pain was stronger than her will, and by the end she was screeching and yelling at him as if he were the vilest creature on earth. Noah was glad Will wasn't there to hear the new endearments his sweet wife, now turned she-devil, was ascribing to him.

He was starting to worry that the boy he'd sent in search of a doctor hadn't understood his instructions. Someone should have come to help them by now. The room was hot and stuffy and the afternoon sun was fading to a hazy twilight. Just as he was about to go back outside to elicit more help, Cara, during a brief lull in the pains, said groggily, "I hope the boy finds Doc Sanders, Noah. The other doctor, Clem Barker, probably left for the Klondike. And if not, I don't know that I would want him anyway." She started to sniff. "He doesn't wash his hands often enough to suit me, and a and he's creepy." As another pain came on, she started to cry in earnest, "Noah, I've changed my mind. I can't do this. I don't want to have this baby. Stop the pain. You have to stop the pain."

He'd never seen her look so sure of anything.

Noah looked frantically around in desperation. There was only two ways he knew of to lessen pain, knock her out with a left hook to the chin, or give her some whiskey. The first was unthinkable, though he didn't think she'd object at this point, and the second, well, he would just pray the liquor wouldn't harm the baby. She had to have something.

He went downstairs, straight to the bottle Will kept in the cupboard, and poured a stout gla.s.sful. He stared at the bottle for a moment, wondering if it was the right thing to do, then shrugged. If nothing else, it would ease her suffering and let her relax some. He needed her to stay awake, thougha"he couldn't possibly do this alone.

It took several gulps of the fiery liquid before Cara seemed to relax a little. Noah's tense muscles eased somewhat in relief too. It was such a long struggle, this bringing forth new life. He hadn't realized the full strain of labor until now. It was a wonder women lived through it time and again.

Then, as the sun was setting beyond the edge of the horizon in a brilliant array of pinks and purples, a sudden change came over Cara. With renewed energy, she began to pull her chest toward her knees and push. Noah positioned himself between her legs with a sheet covering most of her and waited. Her whole body heaved with the pressure of pushing the head out. After three hard pushes he saw a dark head of hair, another push and out slid, straight into his big hands, a tiny baby girl.

Noah gasped, wonder and surprise filling him. She was so small a so perfect a a tiny breathing human. It was like nothing he had ever imagined experiencing. As he watched, the baby screwed up her face and let out a tiny cry.

He just stood there, afraid to move. Red and slightly wrinkled with lots of dark hair like her father, she moved in his hands, turning her head toward him. He was spellbound, so caught up in the moment that he didn't remember Cara's presence until she said in a tired but happy voice, "Let me see my baby."

Noah quickly cut and tied the cord. He cleaned the baby with hands that felt too large and clumsy and wrapped her in a soft blanket. He would never forget the look on Cara's face as he placed the baby in the crook of Cara's arm.

Noah was momentarily nonplused when he saw Cara lifting off the blanket. Then he realized he'd forgotten to tell her the s.e.x. "A girl, Cara. You did real good."

Cara smiled at him with tears in her eyes and said, "She's so beautiful, isn't she Noah?" At his nod, she said, "Thank you. I don't think I could have done it without you."

Embarra.s.sed, Noah turned away to clean up. He laid a fresh bowl of warm water and a cloth on the table for Cara to use and a fresh nightgown. "I'll just go downstairs for a bit. You call when you want me to put the baby in her cradle, OK?"

Cara nodded. "Thank you."

Noah, arms laden with dirty linen and other supplies, was walking down the stairs when he heard what was left of the door sc.r.a.pe open and excited voices filter up the stairs. He quickly lowered the bundle and met the stare of a plump, chattering woman. Will and Jacko were right behind her. "Good heavens, are we too late?" the woman asked.

Noah smiled and looked at Will. "Why don't you congratulate me, Will, I just delivered my first baby." He'd never seen Will's face so white. He didn't even comment on the busted door.

"Is Cara OK? Is the baby OK? What happened?" He was halfway up the stairs when he turned back around to stare at Noah incredulously. "You delivered the baby?"

"Everyone's fine. Go and see for yourself," Noah said with a laugh.

The matronly woman took the dirty clothes and said, "I'm Mrs. Woolsey. I run a bakery two streets down. When that boy couldn't find a doctor, he came to me. I'm sorry I didn't get here in time, Mr. Wesley, but it looks like you did just fine."

"We did our best. I'm sure Cara will appreciate your help though. She's worn out. Thank you for coming." He said it with such relief that the older woman laughed. She patted him on the shoulder and said, "You look worn out yourself, young man. Go have yourself a rest, and I'll take over from here."

Noah turned toward Jacko as soon as the woman went up the stairs.

Jacko shook his head. "Sorry, but we haven't found Elizabeth."

"Where have you two been?"

"I showed up at the post just as Will was leaving to search for her, so I went with him. He thought she would go to Sitka, to catch the next steamer out of Alaska, but we must have been wrong. The next ship isn't scheduled to leave for two more days, and we checked all the pa.s.sengers to make sure she wasn't using a different name. We scoured that town, Noah. She wasn't there."

"You went to Sitka? I could have told you she wouldn't be there. If she's gone anywhere, it's to the gold fields in Dawson City. Why didn't you come for me?" Noah was pacing up and down the length of the post in agitation.

"I would have gone for you next," Will said as he walked down the stairs with the baby in his arms. "At the time, I thought if I could catch her before she got aboard a steamer to Seattle, it would save us a lot of time and effort." He looked down tenderly at the baby in his arms and wiggled the finger his daughter was clutching. "As it turns out, it doesn't matter. If she has gone to the Klondike, as you say, I would have wasted as much time coming after you as I did going to Sitka. Besides," he said, smiling warmly at his friend, "I think you make a better midwife than I do. Cara said you probably saved her life, or at least her sanity. Noah, I a" He paused a moment, his eyes sheening over, making both Noah and Jacko gape at him. "I can't thank you enough."

Noah ran a hand through his hair and mumbled. "I didn't do much. Cara did all the work. I'm just relieved they're both OK. I feel terrible that you had to leave Cara here alone."

Will stopped at the bottom of the stairs and asked in his usual direct manner, "What are you going to do, Noah?"

"I have to go after her. I have to find out what she is running from."

Will walked gingerly to the rocker, sat, and smiled down at the baby. Looking back up at Noah, he asked, "Are you sure she would go to the Klondike?"

"I'm sure. Cara mentioned that a man from the Hawk Eye Saloon came to the post saying Elizabeth had been there asking for Charlie McKay. He and a steamer full of men left for the Klondike the next day. Combine that with the fact that she gets gold fever as bad as anyone I've ever seen, and I'm sure. The question is, why so suddenly? I really thought I had her convinced to prospect my land with me."

"I don't know why, but I know it has something to do with that fella she talked to the day before she left. Cara tried to pry it out of her, but Elizabeth wouldn't say a word." Will frowned and looked Noah in the eye. "Whatever it is, it's bound to be ugly. Are you sure you don't want to just wash your hands of the whole affair?"

Noah shook his head. "I can't." He sighed and looked into the fire. "Sometimes I wish I could, but I won't give up on her. This man, what did he look like?"

Will shrugged, "I suppose some would think him handsome. He was well-dressed and clean-shaven, with black hair and fair skin a" He frowned. "Now that I think of it, he looked a little like Elizabeth. I wouldn't guess it by the way he was staring at her, but it's possible he's a relative."

"How was he looking at her?" Noah asked sharply.

"Like he'd like to have her for dinner a hungry."

Noah turned away in disgust and anger. "If we know where she went, then there's a good chance he does too. I have to get to her before he does."

Will nodded. "If that's the case, you'd better start packing. She has a two-day lead on you as it is. The next steamer doesn't leave for a week. Are you going to wait for it, or should we hire someone to take you up to Skagway?"

Jacko cut in. "I'd go with you, buddy, but I'm due back in Seattle this week. I could postpone it a"

"That's OK, Jacko." Noah knew Jacko and Will would support any decision he made, but it was good to hear them voice it. "I think I can manage alone, but if you know where I can borrow a good canoe a"

Jacko laughed and Will replied, "Don't be stubborn Noah, you'd lose precious time and energy canoeing to Skagway. I'll find you a little steamboat. I have enough folks around here who owe me, and you're not unheard of in these parts. It shouldn't be too hard to scrounge up a boat."

Noah nodded. "OK, I'll take the boat."

He walked over to Will and held out his hands for the baby. Balancing her carefully, he cradled her in his arms, staring at the tiny, unspoiled potential of a new human, thinking how lucky she was to have a wonderful mother and a daddy who was already blindsided with love for her. What kind of woman would Elizabeth be if she'd had all that? He didn't know and, really, didn't care, because he simply loved her and he thought that she had begun to love him too. It would take more than a man from her past to stop him from finding her and winning her and bringing her home.

April 27, 1890 Dear Mrs. Rhodes, Your lack of presence here leaves me with little choice but to keep researching on my own. Thus far, I have not been able to obtain the name of the adoptive family. I received the letter you sent regarding the reward. It is quite generous. While this approach may work, I wonder if you couldn't make the trip?

I remain your devoted servant.

Sincerely yours, Jeremiah Hoglesby.

Private Detective for Hire.

Thirteen.

The chilly breeze that blew off the ice-laden water of the Gastineau Channel stung her cheeks as Elizabeth leaned against the railing of the river steamer The Stars and Stripes. Dark forests pa.s.sed by, stark against the white backdrop of the mountains. Everything was so startlingly contrasted here, the colors of the land and the water vivid and opposing, as if they were competing to see which one could outshine the other.

Turning from the natural resplendence, Elizabeth's eyes swept over the pa.s.sengers on deck. She saw two of her party, the twins, playing a game of poker around an overturned wooden crate. She had hoped the pair wouldn't get themselves into trouble but was convinced they wouldn't smell danger if it sat down in front of them, which looked to be the case now. Her gaze shifted to the dark-haired man sitting between them. He had the slow, lazy smile of a professional gambler, complete with thin mustache and cigar clamped between his teeth. With a sigh, she turned from the brilliant view of the ice-strewn water and strolled over to the boys.

Tilting her head to one side, she fluttered her lashes and drawled in her best southern imitation, "Now boys, I just know one of you promised to escort me around the deck. Why, I feel just perfectly silly standing here all by myself." She let her gaze slide to the man in black and saw him staring thoughtfully at her. He winked. Turning her attention quickly back to the twins, she said, "Come on, fess up, which one of you promised? Ya'll know I can't tell you apart."

She waited patiently, eyebrows raised, hands on her hips, tapping one foot, while they looked stupidly at each other. When Josh started sputtering, she held up a hand and puckered her mouth. "Now I know you're real involved in this here card game, but boys," she leaned down and whispered, "I'm getting stares, if you know what I mean. Standing around all alone and all." She almost grinned at their sudden scramble to rise. "Since you can't decide which one, why don't you both join me?" They looked uncertainly at the other players. Elizabeth turned back to the gambler and dimpled. "I'm sure you'll spare these gentlemen from the game? I am in such dire need of their a.s.sistance."

He placed his fingers on the brim of his black hat and drawled mockingly, "Of course, ma'am, I'm sure I'll sleep better tonight knowing you are in such a capable hands."

"Thank you, sir," she replied tartly. Like most gamblers, he was too sharp for his own good. He may have seen through her ploy, but more importantly, the twins hadn't. Men didn't like to be rescued by a woman. They would be appalled if they knew she had likely just kept them from losing all their supply money. She'd seen more than her share of eager, green miners lose everything before they ever saw the gold fields, and these boys were like ripe berries to a marauding bear. She'd have to keep her eye on them. Aside from their puzzling over her sudden accent, they were thrilled to be in demand. Being the only woman within miles did have a few advantages. Grasping each by an arm, she strolled them a safe distance away to the railing.

As the three stood on the deck, Elizabeth watched the twins as they were courted into awe by the scenery. Nearly everyone aboard was out enjoying the view. The air was misty and she could hear the groaning of the ice. Occasionally in the distance an oversized hunk would break away from a glacier and slide into the water, causing a monumental splash and cascade of snow. It looked too beautiful to be dangerous, but Elizabeth knew better and shivered, remembering her own near-death at the hands of the elements.

As the mist cleared and they moved away from the trees, all on deck collectively inhaled as a mighty glacier rose into the pale blue sky. She had never seen anything like it. It was fantastic a and blindingly white. The glare hurt her eyes. She lifted her hand in reflex, as did many of the others, but to no avail. Relief could only be gained by turning away, and yet she couldn't bear to miss it.

Charlie joined them at the rail just as Ben, one of the twins, was excitedly pointing out a herd of Dall sheep on a slope in the distance. Seconds later, another crowd on the other side of the boat proclaimed their awe as a humpback whale rose twisting from the water. The splash and spray that followed was all Elizabeth could see.

"Pretty easy trip so far, eh boys?" Charlie eyed Elizabeth shrewdly for a moment and touched the brim of his tan slouch hat. "Ma'am."