Remember me, p.1
Remember Me, page 1
Books by Tracie Peterson
PICTURES OF THE HEART
Remember Me
LOVE ON THE SANTA FE
Along the Rio Grande
Beyond the Desert Sands
Under the Starry Skies
LADIES OF THE LAKE
Destined for You
Forever My Own
Waiting on Love
WILLAMETTE BRIDES
Secrets of My Heart
The Way of Love
Forever by Your Side
THE TREASURES OF NOME*
Forever Hidden
Endless Mercy
Ever Constant
BROOKSTONE BRIDES
When You Are Near
Wherever You Go
What Comes My Way
GOLDEN GATE SECRETS
In Places Hidden
In Dreams Forgotten
In Times Gone By
HEART OF THE FRONTIER
Treasured Grace
Beloved Hope
Cherished Mercy
THE HEART OF ALASKA*
In the Shadow of Denali
Out of the Ashes
Under the Midnight Sun
SAPPHIRE BRIDES
A Treasure Concealed
A Beauty Refined
A Love Transformed
BRIDES OF SEATTLE
Steadfast Heart
Refining Fire
Love Everlasting
LONE STAR BRIDES
A Sensible Arrangement
A Moment in Time
A Matter of Heart
LAND OF SHINING WATER
The Icecutter’s Daughter
The Quarryman’s Bride
The Miner’s Lady
Beyond the Silence*
Serving Up Love**
*with Kimberley Woodhouse
**with Karen Witemeyer, Regina Jennings, and Jen Turano
For a complete list of Tracie’s books, visit traciepeterson.com.
© 2023 by Peterson Ink, Inc.
Published by Bethany House Publishers
Minneapolis, Minnesota
www.bethanyhouse.com
Bethany House Publishers is a division of
Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan
www.bakerpublishinggroup.com
Ebook edition created 2023
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
ISBN 978-1-4934-4058-0
Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.
This is a work of historical reconstruction; the appearances of certain historical figures are therefore inevitable. All other characters, however, are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Cover design by LOOK Design Studio
Cover model by Alexey Kazantsev / Trevillion Images
Baker Publishing Group publications use paper produced from sustainable forestry practices and post-consumer waste whenever possible.
Contents
Cover
Half Title Page
Books by Tracie Peterson
Title Page
Copyright Page
Prologue
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3
4
5
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12
13
14
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17
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20
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About the Author
Back Ads
Cover Flaps
Back Cover
Prologue
DAWSON CITY, YUKON
JUNE 1902
Adeline Byrant, or rather Moerman, since she’d been forced to marry Sam Moerman last year, tried her best to sleep. It was the wee hours of the night—her birthday, or it had been the day before. There had been a big party for her, and Sam had presented her with a gold-nugget necklace worth a fortune. She had felt the entire atmosphere of the party turn dangerous and threatening when Sam put that piece around her neck.
“You’re the most beautiful woman in Dawson City, Addie. You deserve to be covered in jewels,” Sam had whispered in her ear.
Addie had felt the weight of the necklace. It was like a chain that bound her to a life she despised. She wanted to say as much, but Sam had been mostly good to her, and she didn’t want to cause a scene.
She touched the place on her neck where the gold piece had lain. It was safely put away for the time being, but she knew Sam would expect her to wear it. She heard someone say it was worth one hundred thousand dollars, but she couldn’t believe that. How could any one thing be worth that much money? Addie rolled over and tried again to get comfortable.
Thankfully, Sam had still not come to bed. Probably working downstairs at the Moerman Gold Palace, which included a gambling hall, saloon, and brothel. Unfortunately, Addie’s suite of rooms was on the second floor, with many of the brothel rooms just down the hall, and the noise seemed to never die down.
She punched the pillow and flipped onto her left side. She had lived in the Yukon since her father and brothers dragged her north in 1898 during the gold rush. She’d been just fifteen years old and had no say over the matter. Just as she’d had no say in marrying Moerman. She supposed it could be much worse. When her brothers sold her to Moerman after the death of their father, they had tortured her, telling her she would have to work as a lady of ill-repute. Barely eighteen, Addie had tried desperately to find a way out of Dawson City, but she had no money, and even her best friend, Millie Stanford, couldn’t help.
But thankfully Sam was more impressed with her cooking skills and had bought her mainly to keep her baking and serving up meals for the gambling hall. Addie hadn’t minded that, except she wasn’t paid . . . at least not regularly. From time to time, Sam took pity on her lack of decent shoes or clothes and gave her money to buy herself what she needed. He was better to her than her brothers were. It wasn’t long, however, before he took advantage of her situation and forced her to be his mistress as well as his cook. Addie reluctantly gave in, knowing there was no one who could stop it from happening, and maybe as Sam’s woman, she wouldn’t have to endure being passed around to the customers. At least that had turned out as she’d hoped. In time, Sam married her, although to this day Addie wasn’t exactly sure why. Maybe he was afraid of losing her to another man. Maybe he honestly cared about her reputation. It seemed unlikely, still . . . who could say?
As Mrs. Moerman, she had protection from the men who showed up begging to have her as their partner for the hour. Sam made it very clear that his wife was not for rent and that one of the other girls would have to do. But now, even a year later, Addie was still propositioned by strangers.
She gave a sigh and rolled onto her back, staring at the ceiling. Despite the hour, dim light filtered in from behind black curtains. Midnight sun was what they called it, but Addie had never quite gotten used to a sun that never really set in the summer.
She thought of when she’d first arrived in Dawson City and met the charming seventeen-year-old Isaac Hanson. They used to take long walks around Dawson. They would inevitably lose track of time, and Addie would get in trouble for showing up at home near midnight. It had been love at first sight, and in truth, Isaac was the only man Addie would ever love. When he left the Yukon for college, Isaac promised her he would find her again no matter where she went. He gave her a small tintype picture of himself, and on the back, he scratched out the words Remember Me.
Addie knew she would always remember him, even after being forced to marry Sam. Poor Sam. He knew she didn’t love him and never would.
Addie pulled the cover over her head and closed her eyes. She fell asleep almost immediately. Thoughts of Isaac put them together in her dream. They were walking along the river, talking about their future. Isaac had just said something when Addie felt her body being shaken awake. She opened her eyes and blinked hard. A lamp on the table had been lit, and Millie Stanford was beside her bed.
“Addie, wake up. Something happened.”
“Millie, what in the world are you doing here?” Addie rubbed her eyes. “What time is it?”
“Nearly five. Look, Sam’s been shot. There was a fight.” She paused as if perplexed.
Addie sat up. “What is it? Just tell me.”
“Sam’s dead.”
Addie was fully awake now. She threw back the covers. “Let me get dressed.”
She slipped into a navy blue skirt and gray blouse. Millie helped her do up the buttons in the back.
“Who did it—Hiram? Shep?” She named her brothers as prime suspects due to their well-known hatred of Moerman. They had once worked for him and been good friends, but after selling Addie to Sam, they thought they were due much more than Sam was willing to give. It made them enemies.
“No, it was a stranger in from the outer regions. I don’t know anything else. Jack was . . . visiting me, and we both heard the shots, so he dressed in his uniform and went downstai
“Thank you. I appreciate that it was you and not someone else.” Millie had been the only person to make her life bearable when Addie was forced to change her living arrangements. Millie worked at the saloon and brothel, and Jack, one of the local policemen, was quite fond of her. He often commented about buying out her contract, and Addie had assured Millie that when the time was right, she would see to it that Sam did the right thing. Now he was dead.
Addie ran the brush through her long brown hair and tied it back with a ribbon. “I suppose I’m ready.” She headed for the door with Millie right behind her.
By the time Addie reached the gambling hall’s large open room, quite the crowd had gathered. She spied her brothers standing off to one side, and Jack and another policeman were standing near a blackjack table with the stranger.
Sam’s body lay in a pool of blood on the floor near the door. No one had even bothered to cover him. Addie steeled herself and went to Jack.
“Addie,” he said, nodding. “Sure sorry about this.”
“Thanks for sending Millie. What happened?”
“This guy said he was being cheated. Pulled a gun and threatened Sam, who happened to be dealing. Sam told him to put the gun away and leave. But he didn’t, so Sam started for the door and was nearly there, as you can see, when the man told him he wasn’t going to be cheated and shot him in the back.”
“He cheated me. I know how to play blackjack, and he cheated me. Dealt off the bottom for himself.”
Sam’s right-hand man, Bud, came to Addie. “Sure sorry about this, Mrs. Moerman. What do you need me to do?”
“Get Sam to the undertaker and have Joe clean up the mess.” She spoke with the calm of someone who had done this before, when in truth she had never had to deal with anyone’s death. Sam always managed the fights and killings. Dawson City was a dangerous town—especially when the Moerman Gold Palace was involved.
It was nearly eight in the morning before everything had been tended to. People were coming and going throughout the morning, but Addie remained to oversee the entire matter. Unfortunately, Addie’s brothers, Hiram and Shep, stuck to the place like glue. They kept their distance, seeming to understand that she was in no mood to deal with them, but nevertheless they stayed around.
“Everybody needs to go home. I need sleep,” she announced. But it wasn’t to be. Mr. Lundstrom walked through the doors. He was a middle-aged man who handled legal matters for Sam.
“Mrs. Moerman, I’m mighty sorry to hear about what happened.”
“Well, it’s the nature of the business, isn’t it?” She fixed him with a stern look. “Sam always said he’d probably die dealing cards.”
“Yes, well, I know it’s all just happened, but we will need to discuss Sam’s arrangements.”
Addie was more than a little aware of her brothers moving closer. It reminded her of wolves sneaking in for the kill. She ignored them. “The only thing I need to know right this minute is if he had arrangements for his funeral.”
The man considered the question for a moment. “Yes, I believe he did. If I recall, he has had a plot at the cemetery for some time. Thankfully, it’s June and the ground isn’t frozen.”
“Yes, that is good. Whatever arrangements he wanted, Mr. Lundstrom, would you please see to them and then let me know when the funeral will be?”
“Of course.” The man gave her a sympathetic nod. “You have my deepest condolences, Mrs. Moerman. If it’s of any comfort, Sam left everything to you.”
It wasn’t a comfort at all. The only thing Addie wanted was to be free of Sam and Dawson City. Now this man was telling her she was the owner of a gambling hall and brothel.
“Mr. Lundstrom, would you find me a buyer for the Gold Palace?” This brought Hiram to her side. Shep followed. Addie continued to ignore them. “I want to sell out.”
Mr. Lundstrom looked confused for a moment, then seemed to understand. “Yes, I suppose it would be difficult for a widow to run such a place.”
“She’s got me and Shep to help her. She don’t need to be selling. Besides, she’s our responsibility now. We’re her brothers.” Hiram put his hand on Addie.
She gave him a sharp elbow in the gut. “You are nothing to me, Hiram. I am the widow of the man you sold me to. Nothing more.”
Hiram growled and took hold of her. His hand tightened around her upper arm in a most painful grip. “You got no say in this. You’re our property.”
“I’m afraid you’re wrong,” Mr. Lundstrom interjected. “Mrs. Moerman is no one’s property. She is her own authority and her husband set her up to be well served. She’ll have plenty of money to see to her needs.”
Addie jerked away from her big brother. “You had your chance. You sold me once, but you’ll never do it again.” She gave Mr. Lundstrom a nod. “I’ll be waiting to hear from you regarding the funeral.”
She turned and swept past her brothers. She had nearly reached the stairs when Hiram’s voice boomed out. “This ain’t over, Addie. You owe us.”
“That’s right, Addie,” Shep chimed in. “You got more than enough, and we got nothing.”
Addie fought against making a scene and calling them both out on their lack of concern for her welfare. They sold her into slavery as sure as Joseph in the Bible was sold by his brothers. She just kept walking up the steps with Millie close behind.
The minute she reached her room, Addie hurried inside and motioned for Millie to follow. “Close the door and lock it,” Addie said, moving to open the drapes. “I can hardly believe those two. They think I’ll come back to them as if I have no ability to see to myself.”
“They’re very dangerous, Addie. They won’t stop until they have their way.”
Addie turned and met Millie’s worried expression. “That’s why you’re going to help me get out of Dawson City without them knowing.”
“How will we do that?”
“I’m not entirely sure, but I think we can figure out a plan.” Addie went to the small writing desk and drew out a key. “I’ve saved up gold and jewelry—gifts from Sam. With that, plus what I’ll inherit from him, I have more than enough to get out of here.”
Addie went to the armoire in the corner and unlocked the bottom drawer. She drew out a heavy lockbox and placed it on the bed. She took another key, which she’d hung on the back of the armoire, and unlocked the box.
Millie moved closer to see the contents. “Oh goodness!”
Inside was a variety of jewelry and gold nuggets. She had several bags of gold dust, but perhaps most impressive was the gold-nugget necklace she’d taken off just a few hours ago.
“That necklace is really something.” Millie lifted it from the box. “Heavy too.”
“Yes.” Addie studied the piece as Millie turned it one way and then another. A heavy gold chain had been used for the base of the necklace, and from that hung the gold nuggets in various sizes, starting small near the clasp and gradually increasing in size until the center, where a large teardrop-shaped nugget marked the middle of the necklace. It was a ghastly thing as far as Addie was concerned.
Millie carefully put the necklace back in the box. “Oh, Addie, surely we can get you out of Dawson with all of this.”
“I know Bud and Joe will help me. Even if Mr. Lundstrom doesn’t manage to sell the Gold Palace, it won’t matter. Dawson City is losing people every day. Surely I can just slip away with those folks and start anew somewhere else.”
She paused and took hold of Millie’s hand. “I’m setting you free, cancelling your contract. Tomorrow, I’ll go through Sam’s papers and set everyone free. If they want to renew a contract with the new owner that will be up to them, but I will see that they have their freedom and some cash to leave this place.”
“Oh, Addie, that will cost a lot.”
“All of this gold cost someone a lot in either work or their very life. I want to do whatever good I can.” She put a bag of gold dust into Millie’s hands. “Tell Jack this is for the two of you. But I’m going to need your help first. I can’t trust anyone else.”
Three days later, Addie had a plan. Hiram and Shep had tried to force her to meet with them more than once. The armed guards for the Gold Palace refused them entry as Addie had ordered, which only served to make them all the madder. Hiram stood in the street yelling up at her window for nearly fifteen minutes, making it clear that he wasn’t about to drop the matter.
