In the Land of the Long White Cloud

still caused him pain. His face was swollen, one eye was shut, and the cuts still wept.
    “Oh God, Ruben! Did my grandfather do that?” Fleurette wanted to embrace him, but Ruben pushed her away.
    “Careful,” he groaned. “My ribs…I don’t know if they’re broken or just bruised…either way, it hurts like hell.”
    Fleurette embraced him more gently. She lowered herself down beside him and laid his beaten face on her shoulder.
    “The devil take him!” she cursed. “I thought he didn’t kill anyone, but he almost succeeded with you.”
    Ruben shook his head. “It wasn’t Mr. Warden. It was my father. Although they almost went at it in perfect harmony. The two of them may be archenemies, but with regard to the two of us, they couldn’t agree more. I’m going away, Fleur. I can’t take it anymore.”
    Fleurette looked at him, stunned. “You’re going? You’re leaving me?”
    “Should I wait here for them to kill us both? We can’t keep meeting in secret forever—especially not with that little snitch you have in your house. It was Paul who sold us out, wasn’t it?”
    Fleur nodded. “And he’d do it again too. But you…you can’t leave without me. I’m coming!” She squared herself decisively and already seemed to be packing her bags in her mind. “You, wait here; I don’t need much. We can be off within the hour.”
    “Oh, Fleur, that won’t work. But I’m not leaving you either. I’ll think of you every minute, every second. I love you. But there’s no way I can take you with me to Otago.” Ruben stroked her awkwardly while Fleur thought feverishly. If she fled with him, they would have to ride at top speed, as Gerald would no doubt send a search party after them as soon as he noticed her absence. But there was no way Ruben could ride quickly in his current state…and what was he talking about Otago for?
    “I think you mean Dunedin?” she inquired, kissing his forehead.
    “I’ve changed my mind,” Ruben explained. “We always thought your grandfather would permit us to marry after I was an attorney. But after last night, it’s clear to me that he’ll never give us permission. If something is to come of us, I need to earn money. Not a little, but a fortune. And in Otago they’ve found gold.”
    “You want to try panning for gold?” Fleur asked, surprised. “But…who’s to say whether you’ll find any?”
    Deep down Ruben knew that was a good question since he didn’t have the slightest idea how to begin his quest. But, what the hell, others had managed it.
    “In the area around Queenstown, everyone finds gold,” he persisted. “There are nuggets as big as your fingernails.”
    “And they just litter the ground?” Fleurette asked skeptically. “Don’t you need a claim? Equipment? Do you have any money, Ruben?”
    Ruben nodded. “A little. I saved some. Uncle George paid me last year for helping out in his office and for interpreting with the Maori when Reti wasn’t available. It’s not a lot, of course.”
    “I don’t have anything,” Fleurette said, concerned. “Otherwise, I’d give it to you. But what about a horse? How do you intend to make it to Lake Wakatipu?”
    “I have my mother’s mule,” Ruben explained.
    Fleurette raised her eyes to heaven. “Nepumuk? You want to take Nepumuk over the mountains? How old is he now? Twenty-five? That’s impossible, Ruben. Take one of our horses!”
    “So your grandfather has me hunted down as a horse thief?” Ruben asked bitterly.
    Fleurette shook her head. “Take Minette. She’s little but strong. And she belongs to me. No one can stop me from lending her to you. But you have to take care of her, do you hear me? And you have to bring her back to me.”
    “You know I’ll come back just as soon as I can.” Ruben struggled to his feet and took Fleurette in his arms. She tasted his blood when he kissed her. “I’ll come for you. As…as surely as the sun will rise tomorrow. I’ll find gold, and then I’ll come for you. You do believe me, don’t you, Fleurette?”
    Fleurette nodded and returned his embrace as tenderly and carefully as she could. She did not doubt his love. If only she could be as sure of his future fortune.
    “I love you, and I’ll wait for you,” she said quietly.
    Ruben kissed her again. “I’ll have to be quick. There aren’t many gold seekers in Queenstown yet. It’s still something of a secret. So there should still be some good claims and plenty of gold