Northern Lights Trilogy

by Lisa Tawn Bergren

  “Four, at least,” Karl responded. “I’ve seen your work along the Northern Pacific. Our paths, surprisingly, have not crossed, although your reputation and expertise have not escaped me.”

  “Yes, well, apparently my reputation and expertise are not enough for Trent Storm.”

  “Oh?”

  “He saw fit to sever our business relationship this afternoon.”

  “Ah,” said Karl, understanding at once why Tora was less than her normal self. “And your personal relationship?”

  “It was dead long ago. I had a schoolgirl’s dream of what it could be. Trent let life interfere.”

  “Life?” Karl asked carefully.

  Tora glanced at him sharply. “Yes. I told him the truth, and he could not handle it.”

  “About your daughter.”

  “Yes. He just cast me away like so much riffraff.” She pulled a handkerchief from somewhere in the folds of her dress and dabbed at her eyes. “Can you imagine?”

  Karl fought a smile. Here was the Tora Anders he remembered, manipulative to the end. “I can,” he said softly. “You must have hurt him deeply. What was it?”

  Tora sniffed, as if offended, then sagged a bit. “Well, to secure a job with Storm Enterprises I had to present myself as a woman with no ties. Free to do as they bid. As Trent bid.”

  “No ties. No child?”

  “As well as other things.”

  Karl let her comment slide. “I see. So he just found out about your baby?”

  “Yes. I do not see what difference it makes! She isn’t a part of my life. He would have no responsibility for her!”

  “Perhaps that is just what he wanted.”

  Tora laughed, laughed as if it was a tremendous relief to do so, then soon sobered. “You think Trent wants a family?”

  “I know few men who don’t. Maybe he was simply waiting all these years for you to be honest with him, to show him who you really are, rather than who you want to be.”

  Tora rose, color flaming on her cheeks. “Who are you to presume to judge me? You know nothing of who I am, let alone who I will be.”

  Karl stood beside her, sensing their time together was already at an end. He silently lamented not having the chance to sip lemonade, to catch up with a woman who shared some of his history. He laughed at himself. He was apparently so lonely that he even felt led to reach out to Tora Anders! “I beg to differ, Tora. I know who you are. I’ve known you all your life.” He brushed a tendril of dark hair from her eyes as she shied away, clearly irritated at his overly familiar gesture. “On the other hand, I do not know who you will be.”

  “Oh. And who are you now, Karl Martensen? Still the philanderer in sad pursuit of my married sister?”

  Karl winced at the truth of her comment and forced himself to stare back into her eyes. “I made a fool of myself and wasted some of the best friendships I ever made. I made a mistake and then I walked away before apologizing. Are you letting Trent do the same?” Bile rose in his throat. How long would he be haunted by past sins? He seemed unable to recapture any sense of peace in his life. Even Tora could see it, use it.

  She ignored his question. “I think you should go.”

  “I will.” He turned to depart, then looked back at her. “What will you do?”

  “I’ll be fine,” she said, as if miffed that he dared question her. “I have investments, and ideas of my own about what to do along the railroad.”

  “You intend to compete with Trent?”

  “Did I say that? I said I had plans of my own.” She smiled in feline fashion, and Karl knew that it was exactly what she was scheming.

  “Trent would be furious. Believe me, you don’t want an enemy like him on the line.”

  “Like Hall?” she baited him, reminding Karl of his infamous past employer.

  “You’ll note that I found it prudent to develop my own business along the Northern Pacific, rather than the Great Northern. Villard has gone broke again,” he said, referring to the chief financier behind the Northern Pacific, “so who knows what will transpire along this route. It might be wise to consider moving, and for reasons beyond Trent.”

  “And leave all this?” she asked, her eyebrows raised in surprise. “Never. Helena is my home, and a perfect base of operations along the Northern Pacific.”

  Karl cocked one eyebrow and pursed his lips. “It is your decision, obviously. I’m simply saying it’s always wise to diversify.” He turned to go and was at the gate when she called out to him, her tone hesitant.

  “Karl! Tell me … have you heard from my sister or Peder?”

  He gave her a small smile. “Not for years. Peder and I had a parting of the ways. Last I heard, they had built a second home in Seattle. Running lumber from the Washington Territory back east. You should write. I bet Elsa would appreciate hearing from you.”

  Tora sniffed and shrugged her shoulders a bit. “Perhaps. I have heard of things more crazy than that.”

  “Good-bye, Tora.”

  “Karl,” she responded with a stiff nod. He closed the gate behind him and strode down the dusty street, the long dusk of northern nights holding firmly to the light around him. And suddenly, it was as clear as day to him that Tora Anders was only as lost as he was in the world.

  Still feeling listless and at odds the next evening, Trent forced himself to rise from his bed and dress for his dinner with Karl Martensen and Bradford Bresley. He had actually slept through the hot summer afternoon, something he had not done since he was a child. But he had had little choice. The weariness overcame him and sleep came as a blessed relief. Now, drowsy, he buttoned his shirt and tucked it into his trousers as he gazed at his image in the mirror.

  He was not unattractive, he decided, looking at one side of his face and then the other. The years had left him with deepening lines about the mouth and eyes and graying hair, but there was no sign of jowls or a paunch about his waist. He could have had his pick of women in the years since his beloved wife had died. Why had it been Tora Anders who stole his heart?

  He regretted his decision to cut her off from Storm Enterprises—she had done a fine job in setting up the last sixteen roadhouses. But how could he go on loving, let alone working with, a dishonest woman? A woman who would desert her own child? Who knew when her questionable morals would end up affecting his business? No, it was time that Tora Anders was on her own to prove just what she was made of.

  Shaking his head as if to remove thoughts of her, he donned a bowler hat and left the hot room. Downstairs it was cooler, and he greeted Karl and Brad in the lobby. In minutes, they were seated in the hotel dining room, menus in their hands, and shortly thereafter, the waiter came and retrieved their orders.

  “Saw John Hall last week,” Trent said casually, studying Karl carefully. He knew little of what had happened between the men other than that Karl had broken off his engagement to Hall’s daughter, Alicia, and had left John’s employ at the same time. He had long suspected John of unscrupulous business dealings, and had since cut off his own relations with the man.

  “You did?” Karl asked with an upraised brow. “I try not to.”

  “As do I,” Bradford put in.

  “How do you manage?” Trent asked. “This is a big territory, but John Hall is everywhere.”

  “We’ve met up a few times, but I always try to steer clear. I have found that there are some battles worth waging, and others best avoided. Besides, I like to think that time and distance heal many wounds. It’s been four years since I broke my engagement with Alicia, and Hall, apparently, has bigger fish to fry. I think he’d just as soon not see me either.”

  Trent nodded. “I would not want to wage war with Hall—I think you are prudent. But do not ever think that John Hall will forget; he has the memory of an elephant and a dark side once encountered. I’ve met many a man who was broken by him. I’m glad you escaped unharmed.”

  “Yes, sir,” Bradford said. “That’s why I recruited him as my business partner. Prudent and fast
as a hare,” he chuckled, bringing the other two into his laughter. “And we’ve done well for ourselves. Despite a few losses to Hall, as you said, this is a big territory. Everywhere we look these days, we see new opportunities. Perhaps Storm Enterprises would like to hear about a few of our ideas.”

  Trent looked from Bradford to Karl and smiled. He was approached weekly to help finance new “opportunities.” But there was something about these two young men he liked. He immediately trusted them. And after his last exchange with Tora, he felt like a hungry trout ready to pounce on a fat worm. This was just what he needed, the chance to jump into something with both feet, the opportunity to feel genuinely good about something. And these men were good at heart—he could sense it in his gut.

  “Gentlemen,” he said, “I’m interested. Tell me what you have seen, and what you would like to do.”

  two

  July 1886

  Even weeks after their hasty departure from Honolulu, Elsa could not get Mason Dutton out of her mind. As Kristian napped, she took her accustomed position over the captain’s cabin and began sketching his face in the merchant window, hoping to eradicate his image once and for all. For Elsa, there was something about getting an image on paper that allowed her to move on to other ideas, thoughts, images. She had been avoiding drawing his haunting image, fearing what Peder would say, when genius struck.

  What if, for the New York Times, she wrote of her initial encounter with Mason, and then their brief encounter in Hawaii? She’d always heard the pen was mightier than the sword. Perhaps some American diplomat would read of their plight and investigate. Who knew? Mason might be an impostor or might have been wrongly awarded a British military position, his government not aware that they employed a pirate. Imagine! A pirate in His Majesty’s Royal Navy! Why, they’d be appalled, and likely grateful to the American who uncovered such an unsavory scheme.

  With a smile on her face that melted away the worry lines in her forehead for the first time in weeks, Elsa sketched madly, recreating the man’s image as she’d seen it in the store window in uniform, as she originally saw him in street clothes, and in profile. The detail she could conjure up surprised even Elsa, for it had been years since their first encounter, and their meeting in Honolulu was brief and distant. But his eyes, his cold, penetrating eyes, had pierced her soul and made her tremble if she thought too much about them. He was clearly a man with a vendetta. And Elsa had to strike first.

  When Kristian awoke, Elsa climbed downstairs and comforted her sleepy, grumpy tot with a quick cuddle and a story. Then she walked hand in hand with him, leading her son to Cook, who usually looked after him for an hour or so before beginning dinner preparations. She smiled at Peder as she exited the galley, proud of her handsome husband at the wheel shouting orders to the crew to raise more sails to take advantage of the trade winds.

  Memories of departing Hawaii at a mad pace clouded her vision. The crew had stared at Peder in wonder as he ordered all aboard within the hour, those not reporting left behind. Afterward, they were even more surprised as their captain ordered all sails set in dangerous winds. Why, they had nearly capsized in Peder’s effort to put miles between Mason and his family. For the first time in a long while, Elsa was genuinely afraid. Because Peder was frightened. She ducked into their cabin before Peder could detect any change in her mood. He had said little to her about Mason, dismissing the suggestion that they report him to the authorities, claiming that they’d never see him again anyway. Elsa decided he was unnerved by the uniform, unsure what power Mason might wield now, and what he could use that power to do to an innocent man. No, best to steer clear of him entirely, he obviously thought. Elsa disagreed. She would see to it that Mason was dealt with from afar, accomplishing both their purposes.

  But first, she would tell a tale that would thrill her Victorian audiences at home, longing for adventure from their armchairs by cozy fires, and indignant that such an animal might endanger their beloved Heroine of the Horn. Her editor, Alexander Martin, would be thrilled.

  She was just finishing her tale, written in her personal style—as if to family instead of the thousands of Times readers—when Peder came in, pulling off his cap. His hair was longer and had a delightful wave to it that Elsa found wonderful. Many mornings as he slept, she would pull a curl from his temple until it was straight and then smile as it coiled back into place. His cheeks were ruddy from the wind, his skin tanned a golden brown. All in all, she thought herself very fortunate, for her husband was not only attractive but affectionate as well. After six years of marriage, they were more in love than ever.

  Elsa started chattering about her afternoon, the weather, Cook’s plans for supper, anything as she quickly shoved her just-dry sheets of paper under a nautical map book. Peder took off his coat and hung it beside his hat on the rack by the door and turned to his wife, watching her carefully. “And when I heard Cook planned to serve us salt beef again, I felt I simply had to put my foot down,” she continued, a bit unnerved beneath his stare. “After all, we’re but a week from Japan, and it’s high time we had some decent food. What is he waiting for? Oh, I cannot wait for a crisp piece of celery, a nice beefsteak, or some wonderful, juicy fruits, just picked!”

  Peder sat down on the settee and continued staring at her, a small grin on his face. “What is it, Elsa?”

  “What?”

  “What is eating at you?”

  “I don’t know of what you speak.”

  “You do. You always get chatty when you don’t want to dwell on something … or talk about something.” At that thought, his eyes narrowed a bit. “Tell me.”

  Elsa squirmed, irritated at how well he knew her. Desperately, she cast about for something to say. She rose and walked to the window, her hand trailing on the desk to buy her time, as if she were contemplating what to say. “I have been thinking.”

  “That is obvious. Of what, love?”

  Outside the window, Cook turned the corner with Kristian in hand. Elsa smiled. “I would so dearly like another child.” It was true; another child had been on her mind for months. There would be time enough to tell Peder of her article for the Times, she rationalized.

  Peder chuckled lowly and rose to embrace her from behind. “It has not been for lack of trying,” he said in her ear, and Elsa felt herself blush. “But I will see what I can do.”

  Elsa turned in his arms to kiss him soundly before Cook tapped on the door. “I do love you, Peder Ramstad,” she said, hoping her eyes conveyed all the passion she felt for this man.

  “And I you,” he said softly, bending to give her another quick kiss as the knock sounded at the door.

  From the other side they could hear Kristian yelling, “Mama! Papa! Are you in there?” They laughed together as Peder opened the door and their child ran in for a hug as if they had been away for weeks.

  An hour later, the Ramstads sat down at their dinner table with Riley. Cook entered, glanced meaningfully at Elsa, then nodded at Peder. “Stewed chicken,” he announced curtly.

  “That smells delightful, Cook,” Elsa enthused, stowing a small smile as he haughtily exited the room for the remaining side dishes.

  “I’ll say,” Riley agreed, in his thick Cockney accent. “Had me fill of salt beef ’bout a week ago. It will be all right to be ashore this time.”

  “I’d like to make better time lightering the case oil than last time,” Peder said, referring to discharging their load of kerosene.

  “Good luck, Cap’n. Japan is notorious for their slowness.”

  “I just don’t understand it. How can we load twenty thousand cases in three days, and it takes them twenty days to unload it? Are they lazy?”

  “Not as I understand it, Cap’n. Just cautious.”

  Peder grumbled as they passed the chicken. “It still grates on me. An idle ship is a ship not making money.”

  “You’ll be busy with customs, paperwork, and the agents, anyway. You should take advantage of the time—take the missus and Kristian ou
t on a holiday. Enjoy yourself.”

  “Let’s pray!” Kristian said, folding his hands and looking at everyone else expectantly.

  Elsa smiled and Riley said, “The little mite’s on the right track, I’d say.”

  “Good idea, son,” Peder said, and proceeded to give thanks for the food.

  “Amen!” Kristian echoed the adults, clearly as proud of himself as they were.

  As they began to eat, Elsa ventured, “It would be lovely to see some of the sights, Peder. I’ve been reading Keeling’s guide, and he describes some wonderful excursions.”

  “Perhaps,” Peder said noncommittally. “As Riley said, I’ll have my hands full for some days with the ship’s business.”

  “I do wish you would hire an agent for some of that work sometimes,” Elsa said.

  “And hand off five percent of my profit?” Peder shook his head.

  “Ramstad Yard is doing fine. Why not enjoy some of the exotic ports we visit? And your family? It would be good for Kristian to see them too.”

  “We will see.”

  His tone irritated Elsa. “You will see to our business, husband, as always. But I will see to our son and myself. I want to at least see greater Yokohama. It sounds too delightful to pass up.”

  Peder looked up at her sharply, his fork poised in mid-bite. “You will not go alone.”

  Riley shifted in his chair. Elsa willed herself not to do the same under Peder’s gaze. She hated when he took the captain’s tone with her. “I will hire a guide.”

  Peder continued to stare at her. “We will see. I am uncomfortable thinking whom you might meet.”

  Elsa frowned, confused. “The Japanese are purported to be some of the most respectable, genteel people on earth.”

  “No. I am uncomfortable with whom you might meet.” The repetition of his sentence finally caught her attention.

  “Surely, you don’t believe that Mason Dutton—”

  “Would follow us here? Why not? I—”

  “Mason Dutton!” Riley exploded. “Where did you see that scum o’ the earth?”

  “Hawaii,” Peder said briefly.