Tracie Peterson - Dawns Prelude

She read through the letter again, noting the date had been nearly a month earlier. So they had known about her all this time. Known where she was and that she carried their father's baby. No doubt they had plotted and planned how to come to her how to force her return.

But why? Why should they care so much where I live or what I do? Why do the)- need nme to return to Kansas Cite?

Sad news of the Tlingit boys' death came a few days later. The bodies of the brothers had been found by a local fisherman, who stated it looked as if the boys had both been beaten and strangled. Kjell didn't take the news well. Now he was certain that the boys were innocent in setting the fire. But they had probably witnessed the real culprit.

"I'm heading over to Swan Lake to help cut ice," Joshua announced. "You'll let me know if there's any work to he had here, wont you?"

Kjell nodded. "If the weather stays decent, we'll go cut some trees at the beginning of next week."

"Good. I'd much rather log than deal with the ice." Joshua paused by the door. He seemed hesitant to speak. "Kjell, there's something you ought to know. I saw the Sidorovs earlier today. I think they're staying at the Double-Decker."

Kjell looked at the man for a moment. The place he spoke of was known to house anywhere from one hundred to two hundred destitute Russians at any given time. The people there were good about hiding their own, if the need arose.

"You're sure

Joshua nodded. "I just wondered if maybe they had something to do with the fire-maybe even with the deaths of the boys. You know they treated them poorly. If they had snuck in here to set the place on the fire and the boys saw them, it wouldn't have gone well."

"No, I'm sure you're right." Kjell hadn't considered the Sidorovs as suspects, however. He had treated them fairly, and they really had no reason to turn against him.

"Well, I just thought you should know, boss."

Kjell didn't bother to correct the younger man for his choice of title. "Thanks, Joshua."

"I see no real reason to pay you in full," Marston told the Sidorov brothers. "You didn't accomplish the job I paid you to do."

Anatolli leaned in, nose to nose with Marston. You refuse to pay us?"

Marston could see that the man hoped to intimidate him, but he was unconcerned. The Sidorovs had come recommended to him as two men who often spoke of their hatred for Kjell Lindquist. That was the only reason they were useful to Marston.

He narrowed his eyes. "Don't think to try and scare me; it won't work. Don't forget: I know what you did to those boys."

The younger man hacked up a pace, while his brother came to stand beside him. "We did the job," Ioann stated. "It is no fault of ours that the firemen were able to control it. As for the boys-they were nothing. No one cares that they are gone, because they were only Tlingit."

He eyed Marston as if sizing him up. Marston considered that the two men were larger than he was and could definitely take him in a fight. However, he had something they didn't: a quick mind. The brothers were more brawn than brains, and Marston intended to use that to his advantage.

"I am not a man who is easily intimidated," Marston said, crossing his arms against his chest. "And I have no intention of going back on my agreement with you. However, I don't like to pay for sloppy work. There may be jobs for you in the future with me jobs that will pay you far more money than you can imagine-but only if you can actually prove your capabilities."

His statement about money caught their attention, just as Marston had known it would. The brothers exchanged a conspiratorial look, and Anatolli shrugged. "We did as we were instructed. We could have set a better fire had the boys not interfered. We didn't know they were still around they surprised us, and we had to do what we could to get rid of them before someone found out what we were doing."

Marston nodded. "Perhaps I have been too hard on you. You make a good point." He pulled out some cash and handed it over to Anatolli. "I will give you this now, but you will need to prove yourselves to me."

"What must we do?" Ioann asked.

Smiling, Marston knew he had regained their cooperation. "I will be in touch. In a few days, I will explain everything, but for now I have to make a few plans."

He waited until the Sidorov brothers had gone their way before pulling on his coat and heading to the Russian Teahouse, where he'd made a habit of taking his midday meals. Marston was more than a little aware of the people surrounding him. He had made it his business to carefully watch the transactions of the people in this little town. Observation and attention to detail had benefited him on more than one occasion, and he had no reason to believe his time in Sitka would prove to be any different.

On the brief space of boardwalk just ahead of him, Marston spied Lydia 's aunt. He had introduced himself to the woman once before and knew she had no liking of him. Still, Marston had not yet had the opportunity to speak to her at any great length. Perhaps he could enlist her help for the right incentive.

"Good day to you, Miss Rockford," he said, coming alongside the older woman.

Zerelda peered at the man for a moment before recognition dawned. "What do you want?"

He laughed. "You are one to get right to the heart of a matter. I like that. I wonder if you might join me. I was just going to take lunch."

"I have no desire to share the company of someone who would cause my niece harm."

"Rut that is where you are wrong, Miss Rockford." He smiled at the plain-looking woman. No doubt she was unused to the attention and favors of men-at least men of means and attractive appearance. Maybe he could woo her. "I really have been misunderstood in this entire situation. I would like the chance to explain."

"Go ahead."

"It's cold out here. Won't you reconsider?"

Zerelda shook her head. "If you have something to say, say it here."

Marston wanted to slap the woman. "Very well. You should know that I only came here with the greatest concerns for Lydia and the baby. The Grays have always looked out for their own, and the child she carries is my brother or sister."

"I suppose the abuse she endured for twelve years was your father's way of showing that concern and care. I cannot accept that anything has ever been done by your family in Lydia 's best interest."

"You can think what you will, but there is something Lydia and you should know. My brother and I will not allow this child to he raised in such an uncivilized part of the world. The child's welfare and education must he considered. Of course, should the baby he a girl, the education won't be such a concern, but should it he a boy, then his upbringing will need to be overseen by men."

Zerelda shifted the basket she carried to her left arm. "I believe I've heard enough to know that you hold no real consideration for Lydia. Therefore, I have no desire to listen to anything more."

Marston stepped closer. "I want you to understand one thing, Miss Rockford. I am a powerful man with many friends. I won't stand by and allow Lydia to ruin the life of my father's child."

"Arc you threatening to take the baby from her?" Zerelda asked. "Because if you are, you should know that Lydia has a great many friends here, none of whom will allow you to bully and impose your will upon her."

"I'm not threatening anyone. I have the ability to work through the legal systems of this land. I have judges and lawyers who owe me many favors. It shouldn't be that hard to convince them that Lydia is not of sound mind. After all, she came here in a delicate condition-risking not only her life, but that of the baby" He noted Zerelda's obvious discomfort. She knew his words held merit. Lydia 's stories over the years were bound to have given her an understanding of the power the Gray men possessed and the force of their will.