Rivers of Gold by Tracie Peterson Page A

before the doctor finished his examination. He looked awful.”
    Karen nodded. Adrik had told her on more than one occasion that he had seen Crispin drunk. The news positively broke Karen’s heart. Crispin had cared so very much for Miranda Colton, and he just couldn’t seem to let go of feeling responsible for her loss.
    “I hope he’s all right. Adrik should try to talk to him again.”
    “Leah did her best to reason with him. I figured if anyone had a chance of getting through to him, it would be her. But Crispin just bolted.”
    Karen watched as Grace gently lifted her son to her shoulder. Patting him firmly, she burped him, then looked questioningly at Karen. “Would you care to hold him?”
    The longing in Karen’s heart for a child surfaced all at once. “I would love to.” She reached out and took the baby in her arms. He was so small, yet so perfect.
    Andrew Colton looked up to Karen with wide blue eyes. His dark brown hair reminded Karen of Grace. “He favors you.”
    “He looks like Peter, too,” Grace assured. “I see it in his nose and mouth.” She lowered her face. “I’d give anything to have him here.”
    Karen cuddled the baby close and nodded. “I know you would. We’ll get word to him, one way or another. We’ll tell him about his son and we’ll pray that he comes.”
    Grace lifted her face. “But I want him to come for more than the baby’s sake. I want him to come because he’s come to love God and he knows what’s right. And I want him to come because he loves me.”
    Karen looked at Grace and saw the sadness in her expression. “I know he loves you.”
    Andrew closed his eyes while Karen gently rocked him in her arms. How wonderful he felt in her embrace. She couldn’t help but feel a touch of envy. Here Grace was years her junior and she was already a mother. Karen gently handed the sleeping boy back to his mother. She smiled with an assurance she didn’t feel. “I know we’ll find Peter, and I know he loves you.”
    “I just about have the flapjacks ready,” Leah called out.
    A rustling at the door flap and the stomping of boots brought the attention of all three women to the front of the tent.
    “You’d better throw some more of those on the stove,” Adrik Ivankov’s booming voice rang out.
    “Adrik!” Karen exclaimed and jumped to her feet. She threw herself into her husband’s ice-encrusted arms.
    Adrik hugged her tight and kissed her soundly. Karen thrilled to his touch, feeling a wave of longing rush over her. They’d had so little privacy since they got married. There was rarely any opportunity for intimacy between them.
    Jacob stumbled in behind Adrik. “I’m starving.”
    “You’re always starving,” Leah called out.
    Karen pulled away from her husband and laughed. “Oh, it’s so good to have you both back. I have wonderful news for you.”
    “We have some pretty good news ourselves,” Adrik said, pulling off his heavy coat.
    “Well, I can’t imagine it can top this,” Karen said, motioning to Grace. “Grace has a new son.”
    Adrik beamed a smile. “Congratulations, little mother.”
    Grace nodded. “Thank you. This is Andrew Michael Colton.” She held the sleeping baby up ever so slightly.
    “He’s a beaut,” Adrik declared.
    “Leah helped deliver him,” Karen told her husband. “Along with Crispin.”
    Adrik frowned. “Crispin?”
    “I found Crispin nearly passed out in the snow,” Leah said matter-of-factly. “I made him come back here with me.”
    “I would have paid good money to see that,” Adrik said, laughing.
    Jacob patted his sister on the shoulder. “She can be real pushy when she wants something.”
    “Well, in this case, I’m glad she was,” Grace added. “She sobered him up and he helped with delivering the baby.”
    “Where is he now?” Adrik asked, looking around the room.
    “He wouldn’t stay,” Leah replied. She turned her attention back to the stove. “I tried to talk to him, but he was just too