Forever by Your Side (Willamette Brides #3) - Tracie Peterson Page 0,28

various workers. Berkshire, in turn, answered to Lakewood, who answered to someone else. We don’t know who that person is or even if that person is the top man, but there is reason to believe he is.”

“So the whiskey was brought by Berkshire’s men to the reservation, and they got the whiskey and guns from Nancy’s first husband, Albert Pritchard,” her father repeated, mulling this over. “How long do they believe this has been going on?”

“At least three years,” Connie replied. “Probably longer, but they have proof of that long.”

“We knew the men here were getting liquor,” Mama said, glancing at Connie’s father, “but we were never able to figure out how. I mean, to get that much liquor onto the reservation unnoticed would take quite a few people coordinating it.”

“And there were. Berkshire had a whole force of workers. At least thirty, at last count.”

“But I don’t understand why they think your mother and I are involved.” Her father sounded hurt—betrayed.

“They know you were unhappy with the transfer of preaching and teaching to the Catholic Church,” Connie offered. “I believe they thought this triggered you to want to get back at the government.”

“That transfer took place years ago.” Her father’s brown eyes darkened to nearly black. “I wasn’t happy to lose the job I felt God had called me to, but I wouldn’t do anything to harm these people. I’ve worked closely with Father Croquet over the years to help the Indians and was pleasantly surprised that he was so supportive of the Native people keeping their culture. It’s not his fault that the government has enforced rules about westernizing the Indians.” He paused. “I love these people, Connie. I would never do anything to hurt them.”

“I know. That’s why I’m determined to help Tom prove your innocence.” Connie reached over and gave her father’s arm a pat. “Papa, we know how much you love the people here. Tom and I will do all we can.”

Her mother hung her head. “I just can’t understand why they would accuse us without even coming to talk to us.”

Connie felt bad for them both. They were so secluded and hidden away from the games and nonsense that went on elsewhere. Until recently, they’d had no idea they were at the center of such a large conflict.

“Are other reservations involved?” Papa asked.

“Warm Springs and Siletz are a part of it too. The government thinks there may be others. The thought is that whoever has planned this wanted all the reservations to rise up at once. It will make for massive destruction and many lives lost. The ultimate goal is to cause such damage that the white population will demand the Indians be removed to an even more remote location. There was even talk about sending them to the new lands purchased in the far north.”

“Seward’s Folly,” Papa murmured.

“Yes. There are already Native people there, and it has been suggested that it might be a good place to put all of them.”

“Does no one understand or even care that each tribe has its own desired location?” Papa asked. “It’s been bad enough to see them separated from their original homelands and forced onto reservations, but the idea of completely removing them to some desolate region that they’re ill-prepared to deal with is appalling.”

“If we can stop the uprising from happening, there will be no reason to remove them.” Connie heard Tom and Clint talking as they came into the house and didn’t want to risk being overheard. She put her finger to her lips. “Hopefully Tom and I will get it all figured out. Things will be different.”

“Did I hear that something is different?” Clint asked as he and Tom came into the room.

Connie hoped that was all he’d overheard. “Yes. Things are so different here at the reservation. The storm really did a lot of damage. I’m surprised you haven’t done more to see it restored.”

Clint frowned and sat down at the table uninvited. “A person can only accomplish so much. Your father understands that. The Indian Legislature has done what it can to work with the people to restore the lumber mill, but it was in disrepair, and it will take money to get it working again. Unfortunately, none of the tribal people seem to want to put the time and effort into it.”

Connie remembered, years earlier, when the mill had worked perfectly and made a tidy profit. Unfortunately, the Indian agent at the time had violated the agreement and taken the