Chapter Ten #3
Lars caught up to them just as Gunder followed Mr. Goodwin inside the cookshack, where miners were already gathering for dinner.
“Wait here,” Mr. Goodwin said to Gunder, then said something to Jed when he rushed out of the kitchen with a huge platter piled high with cornbread and set it on one of the tables.
The scent of the stew Jed had made for supper had smelled good earlier, but now the aroma left Gunder slightly queasy. Or maybe it was the thought of the missing ring and someone stealing the letters and the bell his father had made for Risa that upset his stomach.
Mr. Goodwin strode through the cookshack and went outside, ringing the triangle they kept there to signal mealtimes and emergencies.
Jed scurried back into the kitchen. Lars remained beside Gunder. Although Gunder was still plenty miffed at the man, he felt a certain comfort in his presence, knowing Lars would stand with him through anything.
Gunder realized then that Lars hadn’t said he would never give permission for Risa to marry him.
He’d said not yet. That meant there was hope.
Even if the ring didn’t turn up, as soon as Gunder saw Risa, he intended to tell her how he felt and ask her to wait for him.
To wait as long as it took to get her father’s permission for them to wed.
Slightly encouraged, Gunder straightened his shoulders and stood to his full over-six-foot height, crossing his arms over his chest as the last of the miners trailed inside for supper.
Lars gave him an almost imperceptible nod of approval before Gunder turned his focus on Mr. Goodwin as the man climbed on top of the nearest table.
“Gentlemen!” Mr. Goodwin shouted, drawing the gazes of everyone in the cookshack.
They all quieted and gave him their attention.
“When Gunder Birke returned from hauling a load of explosives this evening, it was to find someone had not only been in his tent and destroyed several things, but also stolen items. This camp can’t operate without trust. We have to depend on and trust each other for our safety every single day.
If one of you has turned into a thief and violated that trust, it’s time for you to move on.
Please do what is right and return what is stolen.
If you don’t want to face your guilt head-on, you may leave what you took here in the cookshack after supper.
If you’re gone in the morning, no charges will be pressed, but know you won’t ever be welcome at this mine or in Lovely again.
If you know who the guilty party is, come forward and help us.
What was taken from Gunder isn’t something easily replaced.
Please, think about how you’d feel if your tent were robbed and something precious to you were taken.
Know that we will get to the bottom of this matter, and the longer it takes, the worse it’s going to be for the offender.
If you come forward tonight, you can pack your things and leave quietly.
But starting tomorrow, if no one has stepped forward, I will tear this entire camp apart to find the thief. Understood?”
An unprecedented silence filled the cookshack.
Not even Jed made a noise from the kitchen.
The men nodded at Mr. Goodwin. His gaze slowly traveled from face to face, then he pointed to Gunder.
“If the thief hasn’t come forward by Monday, when we find him, I’ll personally hold him while Gunder pounds it into his head why stealing is wrong. ”
Shocked by Mr. Goodwin’s words, Gunder watched as the man jumped off the table and stormed toward the door.
He’d nearly reached it when it swung open, and Pastor Thomas rushed inside with Fred and the miner Lars had sent into Lovely.
The pastor spoke briefly with Mr. Goodwin, then hurried over to where Gunder remained standing by Lars.
“Gunder, I heard what happened and got a look in your tent. It’s terrible someone not only made such a mess and broke things, but also stole from you. I’ll be sure to mention something at the service in the morning. Someone from town might have seen or heard something.”
Gunder shook the pastor’s hand. “Thank you, sir. I just want my things back. They can’t be replaced.”
“We’ll do all we can, Gunder. Mrs. Baldwin said to tell you she set a place for you at the table and expects you to come for supper and stay in one of her rooms tonight.”
“She doesn’t need to do that,” Gunder said, although the thought of staying in his tent made his stomach churn.
“Perhaps not, but she wants to. Why don’t you and Lars both join me?” Pastor Thomas said, motioning toward the door.
“I should …” Gunder paused. He had no idea what he should or shouldn’t do at this point. If he weren’t at the cookshack, it was more likely whoever stole his things would come forward than if he were sitting here brooding and watching everyone with suspicion.
Lars put a hand on his shoulder and gave him a slight push forward. “That’s very kind of Mrs. Baldwin, and you, Pastor Thomas. Thank you.”
“Yes, thank you,” Gunder said woodenly.
“Then shall we go?” Pastor Thomas held his hand out toward the door.
Gunder followed the pastor, with Lars bringing up the rear.
They stopped at his tent and Gunder retrieved the jewelry pieces he’d been working on repairing, the tin from his hidey-hole, and his pack that he didn’t even recall tossing on the cot, then followed Lars and Pastor Thomas to the boardinghouse.
Up until that moment, Gunder hadn’t made the connection that the pastor lived at the boardinghouse, but it made sense since the church didn’t yet have a parsonage or living quarters connected to it.
Gunder had been in the boardinghouse several times, mostly when he’d returned early from Baker City and gone there to walk Risa home. Mrs. Baldwin was older, but energetic, and she was kind.
He’d barely stepped inside the door when the woman bustled toward him and engulfed him in a hug that smelled like the bread she’d clearly been baking, which was obvious from the yeasty aroma that filled the house and clung to her hair.
“Oh, Gunder, my dear. It’s a tragedy. How terrible they wrecked your belongings and stole from you.
” Mrs. Baldwin pulled back and took a handkerchief from her apron pocket, dabbing at her eyes.
“I insist you have dinner and stay the night. You’ve been so good to chop wood when I needed it or haul things for me. I’d be so pleased if you’d stay.”
Gunder didn’t know how he could refuse, and, truth be told, he didn’t really want to. The mine was the last place he wanted to be tonight. Lars would have let him stay at his place, but that didn’t seem much better than the mine at this point.
“I’m gonna run along, Mrs. Baldwin, but you keep a good eye on our boy,” Lars said, smiling at the woman, then giving Gunder’s shoulder a squeeze before he rushed back outside.
“Pastor Thomas, please show Gunder upstairs. We’ll put him in the room next to yours for tonight.” Mrs. Baldwin motioned to the stairs. “Both of you wash up, and then dinner will be on the table.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Baldwin,” Gunder said, bowing his head to her in gratitude. At the moment, he felt overwhelmed and was grateful when Pastor Thomas left him in a comfortable room upstairs.
Suddenly weary, Gunder set down his things and removed his coat and hat, along with his scarf. He walked over to the window and looked outside, able to see the lights at the mine in the distance. He returned downstairs and steeled himself to make his way through the meal.
As soon as it was polite to escape upstairs, Gunder readied for bed, then sat propped against the headboard in the dark, praying for Risa, his loved ones, and guidance for his future.