"I really love this time of year," Lydia said. She and Zcrelda were working together to prepare the garden soil. "Everything seems so alive and fresh."
"Spring goes rather quickly up here," Zerelda explained, "hut if you are wise and willing to work, you can use the lengthening hours of sunshine and grow a wealth of food. Then later in the summer, all the berries will ripen and we'll go picking. That's always fun but dangerous, too. The bears like to gather them, as well. The two most important things about berry picking arc to remember you aren't alone out there, and never pick any white berry. White berries are always poisonous."
Lydia nodded. "I'll remember." Then she frowned. "Well, at least I hope I will. I've probably said that about other things and now I can't remember them at all."
"Maybe in time you will," her aunt encouraged. "The doctor said it wasn't impossible. He's seen folks recover their memories after enduring trauma. He's hopeful for you."
IF God is all-powerful, Zerelda, why doesn't He give me back my memories?"
The question took the older woman by surprise. Lydia could see that she wanted to speak on the matter but hesitated. Finally Zerelda leaned on her hoe and answered.
"I suppose there are always things we want to ask of God. Why does He seem to tarry when people are sick? Why does He seem to favor one people and not another? Why does He allow had weather, evil, and death? I don't pretend to have the answers, Liddic. I do believe, however, that He has the power to make all things yield to His authority, and one day He will do just that."
"And until then I will just have to content myself with starting over," Lydia said with a sigh. She had known this was the direction her aunt would take. "I want to have faith to trust Him-hut it's so hard. Kjell told me the other day that it's best to put things behind us. He reminded me of that verse in Philippians 3 where it says, 'But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which arc behind, and reaching forth unto those things which arc before.' I've read that passage in the Bible over and over."
"So much so that you've memorized it," Zerelda declared. "See there, you're filling your mind with things that will help you over and over." She smiled. "Dwelling on God's Word is wonderful. It's an important part of our inheritance."
The last word permeated Lydia 's thoughts. Inheritance. Something about that was important to her but what?
"Inheritance," she murmured.
Zerelda was already hack to work and looked up. "What was that?"
"Inheritance," she said again. "For some reason that word seems important to me." Lydia closed her eyes as if that might help her to recall the meaning. "Why would I think this?"
"Ah… well… perhaps because your father left you an inheritance. That's how you came to live here. You took some of that money and moved to Alaska."
Lydia opened her eyes and considered Zerelda's explanation. She tried to put a memory with it, but nothing came to mind. "Was my father a wealthy man?"
"Yes. I suppose he was. He was a prudent businessman and knew how to practice restraint when it came to spending. I believe he thought it important to leave you with something."
"Did I live with my father?" Lydia asked, leaning on her hoe again. You said that I'm twenty-nine. Was I a spinster living under my father's care? Had I decided to stay with him and take care of him after my mother died?" But the moment the words left her mouth, she noticed an ache settle in behind her eyes. She rubbed her forehead. "Never mind. I need to take a walk. I can't bear this right now."
"Pitkae and Nicoli have brought us a new order of logs like you asked, and Captain Briar is here to see you," Joshua declared.
Kjell looked up from the log he'd been peeling. He hadn't seen or heard much from the army officials since they'd decided to close Lydia 's case. Putting aside the spud bar he used for stripping the bark from the logs, Kjell went to the office to see what the man wanted.
"Captain, I didn't expect to see you here," Kjell said as he extended his hand.
"I know." Briar shook his hand. "But something has developed in your case."
A rush of fear washed over Kjell. "What is it?"
"We found loann Sidorov. He's alive."
"And the baby?" he asked hesitantly.
"We haven't found him," the captain replied. But we may know where he is."
"Tell me everything."
The captain gave a hint of a grin. "We thought you might like to come over and he in on the interrogation."
"loann is here?" Kjell asked in disbelief.
"Yes. They arrested him in Wrangle; then one of the men realized who he was when he recognized his name. They contacted us, and we had him brought here."
Kjell was already heading for the door. "Let's not waste time."
It wasn't a far walk to where they were holding loann, but Kjell thought it seemed like miles. Questions flashed through his mind as he joined several other men at a large table. Within moments, loann Sidorov was brought in. They had shackled his arms and legs, making his ability to walk more strained.
Ioann had lost a great deal of weight. His once-muscular body seemed almost skeletal, and his expression was void of emotion. Meeting Kjell's gaze, Ioann didn't so much as blink.
The desire to beat the man to a pulp nearly sent Kjell flying across the room. He wanted to punish this man for what he'd done. Kjell gripped the seat of the wooden chair, however, and stayed in place. It was all he could do to concentrate on what was being said.
"Mr. Sidorov, as we have already explained, you are here to answer questions regarding an attack last February on Mrs. Lydia Lindquist and her aunt, Zerelda Rockford, as well as the subsequent kidnapping of Dalton Lindquist."
Kjell watched the man carefully.
"I'll talk," loann said, "but only to help myself. I want to go home to Russia. Otherwise, I will not talk."
"You'll talk all right," Kjell said in a threatening manner. He narrowed his eyes. "I'11 see to that."
It was the first time Ioann showed any emotion. Fear clearly marked his expression as he turned to Captain Briar again. "If you let him harm me, I will never tell you anything."
Briar looked at Kjell. "I would suggest you let us handle the investigation. We extended this courtesy to you because you are known to he a man capable of great control. Can you adhere to our rules?"
Nodding, Kjell forced himself to ease hack in the chair. "I can and will."
"Very well." Captain Briar motioned to the man at his left and received a stack of papers. "The only arrangement we can offer, Mr. Sidorov, is this: If you will tell us everything you know, we will spare your life. If you refuse, we will hold a trial and then carry out the sentence immediately."
"That's hardly fair," Ioann said. "I want to return to Russia. I cannot do that in prison."
"You should have thought of that before breaking the law." Captain Briar fixed his stern, unyielding eyes on the man. "I have already discussed this with you. We have enough evidence to tie you to the crime. We know you were involved, and now all that is left to do is find you guilty and hang you."
Kjell watched Ioann wrestle with his options. It was obvious that he knew he was defeated. There was no other chance to save his life. Clenching his jaw tightly, Kjell pierced the man with his angry glare.
"All right. I do this thing," loann agreed. He looked in defeat at the captain. "What do you want to know?"
The captain led the man hack in time to the days just before the attack. "We want to know why you and your brother participated in such a heinous act."
Ioann began to detail how Marston Gray had come to them after learning they'd been fired by Kjell.
"First he came to us because he heard we knew Nell and held him a grudge. He was angry with him, too. He said Kjcll had threatened him and that he wanted revenge. So he paid Anatolli and me to burn down the sawmill. Of course we tried, but the fire was put out before it got too bad."
"What about Aakashook and Keegaa'n?" Kjell asked.
"I didn't kill them. Anatolli did."
Kjell shook his head. "That's easy to say now. Your brother is dead and can't dispute you."
"It is true. They saw us lighting the fire. Anatolli told me to finish up and he would deal with them. He took them away, and I did not sec what he did to them. He told me later he had killed them."
"Did he say where he had taken them?" the captain asked.
Ioann shook his head. "He said very little. He was not happy to have done such a thing."
"Then he shouldn't have done it," Kjell muttered. Captain Briar fixed him with a stare. Kjell drew a deep breath and swallowed his rage. He wasn't helping matters.
"We did not see Mr. Gray for a long time, but when he found us again, he said he would pay us a lot of money for helping him reclaim what belonged to him. He wanted us to take the baby and bring it to him on the far side of the island.
"It was raining hard, and the storm was very bad," Ioann continued. "We barely got our boat to shore when the worst of it hit. Anatolli told me to let him go first. He was bigger and thought this would scare the women-make them… cooperate."
"But they didn't, did they?"
Ioann shuddered. "No. When we came in the older woman shot at us. Anatolli knocked the gun from her hand. She was not seeing me, as I was behind her. When Anatolli went up the stairs, I hit her hard over the head. I did not want to kill her, or I could have shot her."
"Why didn't you want to kill her? You were there to do just that, were you not?" Captain Briar asked.
"I was not there to kill. I wanted to help Anatolli get the baby so that we would get the money. Mr. Gray promised us a thousand dollars."
"And you believed him?" Briar questioned in disbelief.
"We did. He had a great deal of money"
"What happened next?"
Ioann frowned. "After I hit the woman, I saw the blood and got scared. I told Anatolli to hurry and get the child. I thought I had killed the woman, and I wanted to run before someone found out. I heard some gunfire from upstairs and knew Anatolli had probably killed Mrs. Lindquist. He came down with a hag of things and the baby wrapped up in some blankets. He told me the baby's mother was dead, and we left."
Kjell found himself gripping the sides of the chair even tighter. The man spoke of his actions as though they'd been nothing more than accounts of a day spent fishing. How could he he so callous in regard to human life?
"Where did you go?" the captain asked.
"Back to the boat. The storm was had, though. We had much trouble and only got a little ways at a time. Anatolli finally decided it was too much, and we put to shore and walked instead. We knew it would he only a short time before Kjell would get home, and we had to get to the cabin where we had promised Gray to meet."
"We found your cabin. We also found the body of your brother not far from it, as well as debris. What happened?"
Ioann frowned. "Mr. Gray shot Anatolli and would have shot me, but I ran. He tried to find me, but I hid very well."
Briar leaned toward the man. "And what of the baby?"
"Gray took him. He always planned to take him hack to where he lived. He had a boat and supplies waiting to take him south. He knew the mail ship would come that way, and he would board it and go home."
"And you are certain the baby was alive?"
"Yes. Gray wouldn't harm him. He seemed quite pleased to have him."
Briar looked to Kjell. "I suppose it's time to send the authorities to find Marston Gray"
"It was time for that months ago," Kjell said, not even attempting to hide his ire with the man. "I told you that Gray was behind this and that he would have the child if at all possible." He got to his feet. "Now it's time to get my son hack."
Lydia found herself humming a song and wondered how she knew it. It was a lovely melody soft and sweet, gentle like a lullaby She couldn't help but wonder who had taught her the song and whether or not she could play it on the violin.
A glance across the room drew her attention to the idle case. She hadn't tried in a long time to play the instrument. The few times she had attempted it, the only sounds she could draw from the strings reminded her of screeching jays.
She heard the wagon approach and knew that Kjell was home. After checking on supper, Lydia pulled off her apron and went to greet him. Lydia waved at her husband, but he barely acknowledged her. His mind was clearly preoccupied. She could see that much.
Making her way hack to the corral, Lydia watched as Kjell unharnessed the horses. He hadn't yet realized she was there. His hands went quickly to the work at hand, but Lydia could see that he was muttering the entire time.
"Is something wrong, Kjell?" she asked.
He startled, which in turn caused the draft horse to sidestep and knock him against the rail fence. Lydia gasped and covered her mouth to keep from crying out. If Kjell was injured, it would he her fault.
The horse calmed as Kjell spoke soothingly. He nudged the beast hack and slipped from between him and the fence. Kjell offered her a smile. "I'm all right. Really"
Lydia waited in silence while he finished with the horses. Kjell led the animals to their stalls and gave them ample food and water before coming to join her. He tried to make light of the situation, but Lydia knew he was concerned about something else.
"I'm sorry to have spoken out like that," Lydia said.
He put his arms around her. "It's all right. My mind wasn't on my work as it should have been." Pulling her close, he kissed her and buried his face against her hair for a moment. "I missed you today."
Lydia thought there was almost a sound of desperation in his voice. "Kjell, what's wrong?"
He pulled hack and looked at her. "Why do you ask?"
"You aren't yourself. I can see that much for myself."
Offering her a smile, he reached up and smoothed hack her hair. "It was just a very busy day."
She stepped hack and frowned. "You're lying to me. I asked you not to keep the truth from me, but I can see that you are."
His expression changed. "Liddie, please listen to me. I want to tell you everything, but I just don't know what it might mean to your getting well."
"I am well. My memories are the only thing missing, and maybe if you and Zerelda would he honest with me, my memory would come back."
He studied the ground for several minutes. Lydia thought to leave, but something kept her fixed to the spot. "Why won't you just tell me? I'm stronger now," she told him. "I can deal with whatever it is."
The silence stretched between them and when Kjell did finally look up, Lydia saw there were tears in his eyes. Panic spread through her like a wildfire. What was he upset about? What was so troubling that he would cry?
She stepped hack another pace. Maybe she didn't want to know the truth. Maybe she should leave well enough alone.
Kjcll seemed to sense her fear. " Lydia, please just trust me a little longer. It's not all had-in fact, it might well he something very good."
Nodding, Lydia wrapped her arms to her body. She felt so alone, but there seemed no other choice. "All right, I'll trust you."