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.
It gave Addie a certainty that she needed to get out of town as soon as possible. The funeral for Sam had been short and simple the day before. Afterward, Mr. Lundstrom had quietly bought the Gold Palace from her. She’d practically given it away, knowing that she had more than enough gold to see her through the rest of her life if she was careful. Her one provision was that each of the girls who had worked for Sam be given some money and set free. If they chose to stay in that lifestyle, Lundstrom would deal with them honestly. He agreed. That gave Addie great comfort.
She and Millie had hit upon a plan. Because she was still quite small, they figured she could pass as a boy. A down on his luck boy who had gone to the Yukon hoping to find a fortune and instead found hunger and homelessness like so many.