The Mystery of the Moonlight Murder (9 page)

“We know he had at least two arguments with Mr. Schneider in the past, going by what Sergeant English said,” John stated. “Did you know about these, Summer?”

Summer nodded. “My father, he told me. One was a couple months ago, one just a while ago.”

“What was it all about?” Elmer asked curiously.

“It was about not liking him because he is not white,” said Summer quietly. “That's the way Mr. Schneider treated my father.”

“Then why did he go back to Mr. Schneider's?” John tried to ask sensitively. “Why did he think it would be any different?” Summer shrugged as her horse stepped over a gopher hole.

“I think my father wants to give everyone a chance. It's hard for him to understand why Mr. Schneider did not like him, just because he is Cree.”

John understood what discrimination felt like, but in a different way. Sometimes the other children at school—the ones with English, Irish, and Scottish last names—made fun of his last name. ‘Diefenbaker' reflected a German heritage and the name looked and sounded differently from his peers' family names. He also remembered the discrimination his black friends faced in Ontario when he was younger. Although he didn't remember all of the details, he remembered feeling a sense of unfairness on their behalf.

“The police have your father's necklace, found near the area where Mr. Schneider was…where everything happened,” John said, not feeling like stating the obvious. “But I guess he could have lost it the last time he visited the Schneider farm to make a trade,” John thought out loud.

Summer immediately agreed. “Yes, that is what must have happened.”

“Did he tell you anything in particular that was said during the arguments, just in case there is some kind of clue we might have missed?” asked John.

“Clue?” asked Summer, not understanding.

“Yes, a clue is a helpful detail of some kind that might lead to a mystery being solved. It's like when police look for clues

to solve a crime,” John explained.

Summer shook her head and seemed downcast that she couldn't help more.

John continued to recap what they knew. “That's okay, Summer. There's more that we have to think about.”

“Like what?” she asked.

“Like what happened to your father's pelts?” John asked, confused.

“Yes, how did Mr. Schneider find those?” Elmer questioned.

“It doesn't make any sense.”

“Because he took them from us,” said Summer accusingly. “Then he sold them and took our money.”

John reined Skipper back a little, since the horse was starting to pull ahead too far. “Actually, all that we know for sure is that Mr. Schneider had your father's pelts and then he sold them. What we don't know is whether or not he took them. Plus we know that the Schneiders owed a lot of money to Mr. Taggart's general store.”

“What? How do you know that?” Elmer asked.

John felt more like a detective now. “While you and Summer were looking around the store, I overheard Father and Mr. Taggart talking. Mr. Taggart mentioned that the Schneiders had a big debt with him and that he hoped Mrs. Schneider would be able to pay it off.”

Elmer seemed excited now. “But then that means Mr. Schn-

eider had a… a… what do the police call it, John?”

“A motive.”

“Yes, he had a motive then, a reason for stealing the pelts!” said Elmer excitedly. “I agree with Summer. I think he did do it and you just helped prove it.”

John wondered. “True, it does show he needed the money. It just doesn't seem like something Mr. Schneider would do, though.”

John didn't say anything for a little while as the horses walked dutifully toward the homestead across the open prairies. Summer and Elmer fell silent, too, not wanting to break his train of thought. He had a new question for Summer.

“Did your father talk about the argument he had with Mr. Schneider in Borden? The police say they have witnesses who saw them arguing loudly and your father tried to take the pelts from his hands.”

She shook her head. “No, he did not want to talk about it with me. I think he felt sad that all his work was wasted. He is a proud man and I think this was hard for him.”

John straightened his back on Skipper and thought for a moment. “So, from the police's angle, they should realize both your father and Mr. Schneider needed money, then. I wonder if they know about the debt Mr. Schneider owed to Mr. Taggart at the store?”

“Good idea, John,” said Elmer. “We should tell them!”

John wanted to move onto a new angle now and didn't reply to his brother.

“Summer, where did your father keep the pelts that were taken?”

“In our shed, behind the house. Father works to clean them and prepares them outside. Then, when they have been dried, he always puts them on a table in our shed.”

“Was it locked?” asked John.

“No. We never lock it,” she replied plainly. “We have not had anything stolen before.”

“But still,” said John, recapping, “that means Mr. Schneider would have had to travel five miles to the reservation, and for what reason? Could he have known there were pelts there to steal? I doubt it,” said John, answering his own question. “And, he would have been recognized right away. He would have stood out.”

“But then why would he bother going at all? Why would he take the time to travel there?” Elmer asked. “Exactly,” said John. “Maybe he didn't.”

“But if he did not take them,” said Summer, confused, “how did he get my father's pelts?”

John looked at Summer and Elmer. “That's what we need to figure out.”

Chapter 10
Undercurrents

Rushing through Canada's Rocky Mountains, the powerful North Saskatchewan River flows easterly across Alberta and Saskatchewan before emptying into Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba. Many years ago European explorers traversed its swiftmoving waters, looking for what they had not yet discovered and driven by what might be found. The river was still being used as a means of transportation for individuals and traders, just as the fur traders had done a hundred years earlier in the early 1800s. Many newcomer families and businesses established themselves along the shores of the river, where tiny villages and bustling towns formed into thriving prairie settlements.

At the sight of the majestic waterway, John, Elmer, and Summer pushed all thoughts of Chief Five Hawks and André Dumont from their minds. Each of them was eager to experience the refreshing coolness of the wide, swift river that carved through the thirsty fields.

John felt anxious as the three tied their horses to trees on the edge of the forest. All of the horses had already drunk their fill from the river and now they seemed content to stand in the shade.

Even the sight of so many trees in one area was a thrilling sight given their own land was fairly treeless back on the homestead. John wished he had time to explore the forest but the truth was he was nervous about even taking the time for a quick swim. It had always been more difficult for John to relax and have fun. He just seemed to be a natural worrier. In contrast, Elmer and Summer ran, splashing right into the river with their clothes on. No one was wearing shoes in the heat of summer and they knew their clothes would dry off as they galloped back to the homestead on their horses.

“Come on in, John!” Elmer yelled. “This is fantastic!” Summer was already taking long, powerful strokes and when she surfaced she pointed to the middle of the river.

“Don't go there,” she said. “See how the current moves the water? It's different there. It pulls the body, like this,” she said, simulating someone being pulled under. She did it in such a funny and dramatic way she had Elmer in stitches and John laughing, too, as he slowly waded in.

Soon the anxiousness John was feeling evaporated and he began to enjoy the clean, bracing water that washed away his obligations. Even though he and Elmer were not great swim-

mers, it felt like they were able to fully enjoy themselves as they swam and floated in various spots along the river. “Be careful…the current,” Summer reminded them. “We will,” said John, as the brothers tried to push each other underneath the water, showing off in front of Summer. Soon, the boys found themselves in a full-fledged, water-based wrestling match. At one point, John was able to pick up Elmer, since the water made him lighter and more buoyant as part of his play-fighting. John staggered slightly from the weight of his brother. Before John could fix his footing, Elmer laughingly shifted his weight. As he escaped his older brother's grip, John felt himself stumbling backwards into the quick-flowing centre of the river.

He felt himself go under the water for a moment and thought it was just the momentum from wrestling with Elmer. As he pushed to break through to the surface again, he was only able to do this for a second as a strange, more powerful pull yanked him under the surface and then pushed him down the river with great force. It was a power like nothing John had ever experienced before.

As the river moved him around like a rag doll, carrying him farther along the middle of its wide girth, it would occasionally grant him a moment's frantic breath as he was yanked up and down, above and below the churning water. John was terrified and could no longer see where he had just been swimming.

Before he went under again he could hear the frantic screams of Summer and Elmer, who were running along the river bank, trying to keep up with him. When he bobbed up again, John felt he was imagining things. Each time he was pulled under the water then spit up again, he saw a different scene as the dominance of the river carried him along. At one point, with the bright sun and water in his eyes, he imagined he saw the shape of a man on a horse galloping beside him.

***

André Dumont listened again, stopping his powerful horse. Yes, there was no doubt that the voices he had been listening to had changed to screams. He impelled his large bronco to race toward the sound, the new pace exhilarating for the strong steed.

The forest path was a blur of greens and browns as horse and rider tore past the trees and the canopy of shade, into the strong light and beside a wide section of the river. To his left he quickly took in three horses standing by the edge of the forest near the river—a Pinto, and a light and darker brown pair of broncos. Farther down the river he could make out two children, a boy and a girl, running alongside the water, screaming. He clenched the sides of his horse firmly, demanding more speed as he moved faster toward them, his eyes scanning the

currents of the river. Then he saw the bobbing head of another child, a boy, and directed his horse to run as close to the side of the river as possible. As soon as the horse drew past the flailing boy, Dumont slowed his stallion slightly and leaned sharply toward the river and jumped.

John didn't know what had grabbed him by the shirt, but he had no strength to resist. He could vaguely hear a voice, telling him that everything was fine and not to struggle. John was tired enough to be calm, and could feel himself being moved along on his back, his eyes squeezed shut because of the sun. Then John felt strong arms pull him out of the river and onto dry land where he was placed gently on the warm grass. He felt so thankful that the ground wasn't moving or pushing him anywhere he didn't want to go. He loved it for its stillness.

The same hands that had dragged him now forced him onto his side, as water spewed out of his mouth and he could hear the voice of his brother and Summer, sounding worried and anxious. He could hear a man's voice, too, asking him to look at him, asking him to respond to his question. What was the question? It was so difficult to focus. “John Diefenbaker, can you hear me?”

John slowly opened his eyes for the first time with full consciousness, staring up at a concerned-looking André Dumont. Elmer and Summer were leaning over him too, asking similar questions.

“I hate swimming,” John finally said.

Elmer and Summer cheered and hugged him and Dumont offered him a hand to help him to his feet. John then lapsed into a coughing fit as his lungs forced out the remaining water.

The Métis man looked down at John with his blazing eyes from his full height, wiping his wet hair down so it was slicked back on his head. “This is a powerful river. You were very lucky,” said André.

John nodded. “Thank you very much, Mr. Dumont. I don't know what happened.”

“We were play wrestling and we got too close to the current and then…then all of a sudden you were gone,” said Elmer, hanging his head. “I thought you were going to die.”

John shook his head and assured his brother he was going to make it.

Elmer and Summer turned towards André. “Thank you for saving John,” Summer said respectfully. “Oh, you're cut…on your arm,” she said, pointing.

“It's nothing,” dismissed André. “I did it on a rock when I jumped in. I'm sure it will heal just fine.”

Summer offered him some of the ointment she had in her bag but he declined politely.

“If you are all well now, I shall take my leave.”

John, Elmer, and Summer all thanked him.

John had a hundred questions for him as he watched, yet

there was only one thing that came out as André began to walk away.

“We saw you with Chief Five Hawks!” John blurted.

André stopped and slowly turned on his horse.

“What you saw was a meeting for freedom, for fairness. These are words Prime Minister Laurier knows nothing about, sitting in his tower in Ottawa,” André said, bitterness creeping into his voice.

When he only heard silence, André spoke again.

“You will benefit in the end, all of you. I recall our last conversation, John Diefenbaker. Tell me, do you think the Cree are treated fairly…or the Métis?”

“Well, n-no,” began John.

“Do you think it was fair to the Métis in the Battle of Batoche when they captured Louis Riel and drove my uncle into hiding in Montana? “But…”

“And do you think it was fair that Poundmaker and Big Bear, two of the finest Cree leaders ever, were sentenced to prison terms when their main crime was starving at the hands of a government that could not care less?”

“No, but that was more than twenty years ago and…”

“Then what about right now, right here, John? Do you think it was fair that River's Voice had all thirty of his fox and beaver pelts stolen from his own shed, only to find out they're in som-

eone else's barn? And then he gets accused of murdering the thief?”

“No, but…” started John.

“But what?” challenged André, slowly aiming the nose of his horse toward John, Summer and Elmer. John remained silent.

“History lives, John. What you saw on the reservation was leadership in action. Compassion. There's change in the air. I hope you will be a part of it. Now go home and get some rest.” The well-toned bronco nodded its head a few times as if to indicate his impatience. André tipped his hat toward them, turned, and rode his horse deeply into the nearby woods. He was then out of sight, but not out of mind, of John, Elmer, and Summer.

***

They discussed what to tell Father and Mother on the way home. Elmer felt they should only mention having seen André Dumont at the reservation and admit to taking a quick dip in the river. John weighed everything in his mind. He considered Elmer's idea but his stomach immediately began to feel wracked with guilt at leaving out the major detail of almost drowning, and being saved by André. On the other hand, he would probably be grounded, forced to stay on the homestead for at

least a week, if he told them everything. He likely would not even be allowed to ride Skipper. And then how would he help Summer's father?

“I think the bigger picture is to be able to help Summer's father,” said John in conclusion. “So we should go with Elmer's idea…for now.”

“Yes!” said Elmer, stabbing his fist into the air from atop Blue. The horse sighed as if annoyed from too much excitement.

“I said for now, Elmer. I don't feel right about not telling Father and Mother everything eventually. We need our freedom now in case we get some more clues to investigate,” John explained. “We only have four days, remember, before…” John's voice trailed off.

“Before my father is sent to trial,” Summer finished. “You can say, John. I know what will happen.”

“I just have a feeling we're going to figure this out,” said John. “Don't give up, Summer. We haven't.”

***

“You did what? Did I just hear you say you went swimming… in the North Saskatchewan?” William asked in disbelief.

John nodded. Elmer and Summer were slightly behind John, looking at the ground.

Their clothes had essentially dried off from the long ride back, but it was still obvious from their wretched state they had been drenched in water.

“It's my fault. I was the one who made the decision,” said John. “I wasn't thinking.”

“You're darn right you weren't thinking. I have half a mind to ground you for the rest of the summer for a stunt like that.” Mary looked equally livid but bit her tongue while William spoke.

“As the eldest, you should have known better, John. The trip for you to Langham tomorrow is cancelled…”

“But …”

“Don't interrupt!” William said forcefully.

John knew his father was very angry because it was rare that he had ever seen him this upset. However, John was even more upset with himself. He should have known better and his parents were only concerned for their children's safety.

“You will stay home tomorrow and get some extra work done with me,” said William, “while Elmer and Summer can go with Mary to help out.”

“But you're both expected to do your share,” he added, as Elmer and Summer nodded in agreement swiftly.