[Alaskan Quest 02] - Under the Northern Lights (17 page)

Helaina stirred and opened her eyes. ‘‘What’s wrong?’’

Leah shook her head. ‘‘Nothing. I just woke up and wondered how you were doing. It sounds as though the storm’s abated. Jayce and Jacob must be outside readying things for us to leave.’’

‘‘But if we go, we’ll lose track of Chase.’’

Leah squared her shoulders. ‘‘Haven’t you learned your lesson about that? What in the world possesses you to continue with such nonsense? Chase Kincaid is a dangerous man who wouldn’t think twice about killing you.’’

‘‘But he had every chance . . . and he did nothing,’’ Helaina said in a weak voice.

‘‘He did plenty.’’ The bitterness was evident in Leah’s reply.

‘‘So you’re awake,’’ Jacob declared as he entered the tent. He had a tin plate of steaming meat. ‘‘John’s enjoying the calm after the storm. He cooked this up for you.’’

‘‘Where’s Jayce?’’ Leah questioned, moving away from Helaina.

Jacob’s joyful expression contorted to a frown. ‘‘He said he left you a letter explaining.’’

‘‘Explaining what? What are you talking about?’’ Leah looked back to her pallet. Jayce’s things were gone, but a folded piece of paper was propped up against Leah’s mukluks.

The answers came to her without Jacob speaking a word or without opening the letter. Jayce had gone after his brother. Leah shook her head and yanked on her boots. ‘‘Fine. If this is the way it’s to be, I don’t know why I even bothered to marry him. It’s obvious that we are totally wrong for each other. He doesn’t trust me to know the truth of this situation, and he won’t listen to anything I have to say.’’

‘‘Maybe it’s more an issue of honor,’’ Jacob suggested. ‘‘He has a job to do—he’s pledged himself to do it.’’

‘‘She said the same thing,’’ Leah said, pointing her finger at Helaina. ‘‘But you don’t want her going out there after Chase. What’s the difference, Jacob?’’

‘‘The difference is, she’s a woman and she’s very sick. Jayce and Chase are brothers. You know how Jayce has suffered over his decision to go after Chase. It’s not easy for him.’’

‘‘It hasn’t been easy for me either,’’ Leah countered. ‘‘You probably just urged him on. That’s it, isn’t it? You wanted to keep Helaina safe, so you encouraged Jayce to get out there and capture Chase.’’

‘‘You’re talking crazy, Leah. No one has more influence over Jayce than you. You know very well that he’s struggled with his decision to get involved in this. You told me so yourself, and now you’re acting as though it’s the first time you’ve heard it.’’

‘‘I’m not the crazy one here. Crazy is going after a man who wishes to see you dead. A man who hates you so much he would stop at nothing to hurt you. Nothing.’’

‘‘That makes it all the more logical for Jayce to want to go after him. He can’t very well spend the rest of his life looking over his shoulder for Chase, now, can he? You’re being completely selfish about this, Leah.’’

Leah could hardly believe Jacob’s words. ‘‘You don’t understand any of this. You never will.’’ She pulled on her parka and stormed from the tent, ignoring Jacob’s comments and protests.

The sun shone in a washed-out manner against pale blue skies, but Leah hardly noticed. She looked across the small camp noting Jayce’s dog team and sled were gone.

He’s really gone. He’s left me to hunt down his brother—not even knowing
what Chase has done. Chase has taken my virtue, my purity, and now he
will take my husband as well
.

Leah actually tried to pray.
Please, God, keep Jayce from death
. The words seemed to echo in a hollow manner within her worried mind. She wanted to believe that God still cared—that He was truly faithful and knew exactly the wrongs that had befallen them. Leah wanted to trust that He was able to deliver her and Jayce from this nightmare, but it hurt so much. She felt betrayed— deserted. Her soul ached from trying to battle the demon that threatened to completely destroy her heart and mind.

She sunk to the ground. ‘‘Oh, God, help us. Help me.’’

Chapter Fifteen

J
ayce pushed north in the direction from which he’d seen Leah come. The snowfall had covered the trail, but he was certain that if he continued in this manner, he would find some sign of his brother. The crisp air stung his nostrils and ice formed on his mustache and beard. It was considerably colder than when they’d first started the journey. He wondered how long they’d actually been gone; he’d managed to lose track of the days in his worry over Leah.

Slowing the dogs, he tried to find some sign of the trail. There was nothing, even though this had looked to be a main thoroughfare, according to John. The snow had clearly buried the evidence, and the dogs were tired from battling the trail. Jayce knew it would be easier for them if he cut the trail for a while. Jacob had taught him this during one of the other storms.

Jayce halted the dogs and let them rest while he took up his snowshoes. It wouldn’t be easy to break the trail, but it would help the animals, and that was of the utmost importance.

‘‘Come on, boys,’’ he said, taking hold of the gangline. Jayce worked to clear a path wide enough for the dogs, all the while looking for any sign of his brother having passed this way.

He tried not to think of how angry Leah would be when she awoke and found him gone. After her comments the night before, Jayce knew there would be no reasoning with her. A weight settled over him. Marriage was hard work, and he and Leah had scarcely had time alone together since their wedding. Chase had come between them in so many ways.

‘‘All of my life you’ve caused me trouble,’’ Jayce declared, as if Chase could hear him. ‘‘All of my life you’ve tried to exact some kind of revenge on me, and none of it has ever made sense.’’

Eventually the snow evened out and Jayce could see that it wasn’t as deep. He took off his snowshoes and positioned himself behind the sled once again. The dogs were happy to have their head again. The lead dog, especially, seemed to have renewed energy for the day as he pulled eagerly against the weight.

The next morning Jayce felt his cause rather hopeless. There was no sign of Chase. Any tracks he might have left had been covered by the wind-driven snow. Jayce studied the landscape for any discrepancies and found none. He thought perhaps Chase had taken a different direction. If so, Jayce would be hard-pressed to figure out what direction he’d gone.

‘‘Lord, I need your guidance. I need to know where to go and how to find my brother.’’

Jayce continued to search the trail. There was an abundance of dwarfed birch and willows. Rounded tussocks, dangerous to the sleds when hidden in the snow, were barely visible in areas where the wind had drifted the snow. It was a lonely, desperate country.

Clouds moved in, subduing the light. Soon it would be night and another day would pass without Jayce having anything to show for it. He let his mind drift to Leah. He knew Jacob had promised to get her back to Last Chance. Jayce could only hope she’d been cooperative and sensible. He couldn’t endure it if she tried to come after him and got hurt.

Up ahead the trail seemed more notable. There looked to be signs of activity. There were numerous animal tracks. Snowshoe hare, fox, and even a wolf or two. Jayce felt for his sidearm. It might be nice to hunt something down for his supper. He didn’t relish the idea of eating smoked salmon and crackers once again.

Then he noted other tracks. They were human.

Chase.

Jayce didn’t dare even breathe the name lest it somehow jinx his search. Once again he halted the sled. Leaving the dogs anchored and resting, Jayce walked ahead, following the tracks. There seemed to be something wrong. The tracks were staggering first in one direction and then another. There was no real sense to their pattern. If they did belong to Chase, perhaps he’d grown ill or was hurt.

Glancing back, Jayce could see he was a considerable distance from the dogs. He didn’t like that idea and retraced his steps back to the sled. Once again he took hold of the gangline and led the dogs himself.

The dogs were agitated. They were good at sensing trouble, and Jayce couldn’t help but wonder if he was walking into an ambush. It would be like Chase to feign illness or some other trouble. Jayce pulled out his revolver just in case.

The tracks veered to the west. The path was more open here, but the tracks were just as strange. It almost seemed as if the one who’d made them had been dancing instead of walking. What could it mean?

Another ten yards and a stand of stunted spruce revealed that someone had taken refuge beside them. A blanket remained behind as evidence. Jayce anchored the dogs and went to retrieve the piece. He held it up against the dimming light and felt his breath catch. Blood!

Jayce looked around him, searching past the spruce and the other vegetation. Someone was injured. If not Chase, then someone else. Either way, they would clearly need some kind of care.

Jayce hurried back to the dogs and pulled the hook. ‘‘But what if it’s a trick?’’ he questioned. The lead dog cocked his head and gave a whine, as if to question Jayce in return. ‘‘What if Chase left this and it’s just animal blood?’’ His mind raced with questions. ‘‘But why would he do that? What would he hope to gain?’’

Jayce moved out with the dogs, still wondering at the situation. He felt his skin prickle. Every sound seemed magnified— every movement was suspect.

The path came to a creek. The ice looked solid enough, but just as Jayce was about to cross it, he noticed that there was a smaller trail that ran alongside the frozen water. For reasons that were beyond him, Jayce turned to follow the path. It wound back and forth as it followed the outline of the creek. Snow had drifted here and hid any tracks.

Jayce stopped the dogs and knelt several times to see if he could brush away the snow and spy any clues. There appeared to be nothing and he pressed forward cautiously. The dogs sensed his concern and began to whine. One of the swing dogs let out a mournful howl that caused Jayce to seriously consider turning back. Something just didn’t feel right.

When they rounded the next bend, Jayce spied something on the trail up ahead. He stopped and strained to see. It appeared rather furry. He thought of Leah’s wounded bear and drew a deep breath. Perhaps the thing had come here to die. Then again, maybe it wasn’t dead yet. Jayce gripped the rifle tighter and began to walk slowly forward.

As he drew closer, however, he could see it wasn’t an animal at all, but rather a man. Native, from the looks of his clothing.
But
it could be Chase,
he thought. He felt a catch in his throat. He held his breath. Was this a trap?

Halting the dogs, Jayce secured the sled, then gingerly made his way to the man on the ground. ‘‘God help me,’’ he murmured as he poked at the man with his toe. The man didn’t move.

Carefully, Jayce reached down and rolled the man over. He jumped back at the reflected image of his own face. Only this face had been cut—sliced several times by some sort of animal. The pattern suggested bear. Perhaps Leah’s rogue bear.

‘‘Chase, can you hear me?’’ Jayce leaned down to ascertain if his brother was yet alive. There was a faint heartbeat and shallow breathing. The man was barely alive.

Helaina’s recovery was slow but steady. Leah managed to secure healing herbs at the small village where Jacob had left Brownie. She faithfully tended Helaina, saying very little and offering nothing more than medical care.

‘‘You can’t just go on like this,’’ Helaina said that morning as they prepared to head out once again. Jacob and John were busy with the dogs, so she thought it the right time to speak to Leah.

Although Leah looked up from her packing, she said nothing. Her expression seemed to challenge Helaina to continue. ‘‘I know you’re angry at me, but if anyone has a right to be mad, it’s me.’’

‘‘And how do you figure that?’’ Leah was clearly intrigued.

‘‘We had Chase Kincaid at hand, and you let him get away. Now he’s off doing whatever he pleases.’’

‘‘It’s not enough that this obsession of yours has cost me everything I care about,’’ Leah said frankly. She stared hard at Helaina, and it was easy to see the disgust in her expression. ‘‘I wouldn’t even be here if it weren’t for you. You have no right to condemn my actions.’’

‘‘But you have the right to condemn mine? I hardly see where that is fair.’’

‘‘Nothing about this trip has been fair. Fair doesn’t even enter into the picture. You are a selfish, self-driven woman, Mrs. Beecham. Had you not had to have your revenge on the world for the loss of your husband and parents, you might have done the sensible thing and settled down to remarry and have a family.’’

‘‘This isn’t about my family,’’ Helaina retorted angrily.

‘‘No, but it is about mine,’’ Leah countered. She squared her shoulders and put her hands on her hips. She appeared to wait for Helaina to comment on this. Instead, Helaina refocused on Leah’s role.

‘‘You have to understand—by leaving Chase, you put us days behind in his capture. He might even escape all together. All you had to do, once he was drugged, was tie him up and throw him in the basket with me. It should have been fairly simple.’’

Leah looked at her oddly but said nothing. Helaina continued. ‘‘He’d be here now, on his way to justice, and your husband would be at your side. Do you not see how you are the cause of your own misery?’’

‘‘You are by far and away the most ruthless and uncompassionate woman I’ve ever known.’’ Helaina bristled at this but allowed Leah to continue. ‘‘Your own brother suffered because of you. You weren’t there when he discovered what you’d done. He was heartbroken to realize you would probably end up dead. How he must be suffering even now—not that you would care.’’

‘‘I care,’’ Helaina said, surprised at Leah’s words. She’d tried not to think of Stanley or how she’d disappointed him.

‘‘You care only so long as it doesn’t cost you anything—as long as you can get your own way in a matter.’’ Leah pulled her long dark hair over her shoulder and began to braid it in a furious manner. ‘‘You are a spoiled woman who is used to having her own way. You have a separate set of rules designed for yourself. The rest of us have to do your bidding or you use your rules against us.’’