[Alaskan Quest 02] - Under the Northern Lights (36 page)

‘‘I bring you food, Lay-Ya,’’ she called, giving a little wave.

‘‘That sounds wonderful.’’

Leah looked down at her babies. They nursed eagerly, seeming otherwise oblivious to Leah. Even Merry had closed her eyes as if relishing the moment.

If Jayce were here, it would be perfect,
Leah thought. She missed her husband more than she could say. She’d heard nothing since early July, when he’d managed to send a missive out from the Point Barrow area. At that time things were going well, but Latimore, it seemed, kept more and more to himself. Jacob had found himself responsible for encouraging the men and keeping morale high.

Jayce, on the other hand, had taken over meal preparations when the cook had fallen ill and had taken to his bed with a fever. As of the time Jayce sent the letter, the man had not yet recovered. Jayce encouraged Leah to pray for them, as the seas were rough and the farther north they went the more ice they would encounter. Leah tried not to think of the
Karluk
and other vessels that had been trapped in the ice only a few years earlier. Most of the crews had been lost to the elements and starvation. She couldn’t bring herself to even consider that the same thing could happen to her husband and brother.

A sound behind Leah caused her to stiffen. There was a rustling in the grass that wasn’t being made by the women she’d come with. With her children at her breast, Leah found it difficult to turn but strained to see what might be coming behind her.

Uff
.

The grunt sounded not but about ten feet from Leah. She froze. It was a mother bear with a cub that seemed intent on wandering ever so close to Leah and the twins. Uncertain how best to protect herself, Leah started to get up, then decided against it. She had both babies in her arms, and no doubt if she made a sudden move the mother bear would take this as a threat to her cub.

Dear God, help us. I don’t know what to do
. She didn’t even feel that she could call out to the women below for fear of further agitating the bear. The cub gave a whiny grunt and walked within two feet of Leah as he made a beeline for his mother.

Uff
.

A low growl followed, and Leah could see that the mother bear had flattened her ears. A sure sign she meant business. She watched Leah with determined intensity.

Leah closed her eyes. She had left her rifle with her other things near the place where Ayoona prepared lunch. It was foolish, she now realized, but she’d felt safe.

Father, you closed the mouths of the lions that threatened Daniel. Please
close the mouth of this bear
.

Wills, sensing Leah’s tension, stopped feeding and began to fuss. Leah felt frustrated, not knowing how best to help her son. If she moved, it might be seen as an aggressive act. Just then a loud boom resounded in the otherwise silent morning. Leah’s head shot up as she twisted around to see Ayoona, still shouldering the Winchester 45-90 that Leah had brought along for protection.

Behind her a dull thud sounded as the beast hit the ground. The cub went to his dead mother, while Leah moved quickly to get off the blanket with her babies.

Ayoona walked over to meet them. ‘‘Lay-Ya, you finish her. I take babies.’’

The old woman placed the rifle on the ground and reached out for the children. Oopick was immediately at her side to help.

‘‘Ayoona, you saved our lives.’’ Leah gasped the words, feeling herself near to tears. ‘‘I didn’t even know you could shoot.’’

The old woman shrugged. ‘‘John teach me. He say it might be useful.’’ Her old weathered face broke into a grin. ‘‘Guess he smarter than I figured.’’

Leah drew a ragged breath and picked up the gun. She looked up the hill, where the cub pawed at his dead mother and was beginning to raise a fuss. ‘‘I’ll have to kill him too,’’ she said, feeling overwhelmed by the entire matter. ‘‘He’ll die out here anyway if I don’t. I wish Jayce were here.’’

‘‘We have good meat,’’ Ayoona stated matter-of-factly. ‘‘And we get good hide. God has provided.’’

‘‘The skins will be yours—your reward.’’ She knew the old woman would cherish the grizzly hide.

With new resolve, Leah worked the lever of the rifle to eject the spent shell and went back to where the sow lay. Without giving it another thought, she fired another bullet into the head of the bear, then worked the lever again. She looked at the cub and felt immediate regret. Although this baby would grow up to be just as threatening as its mother, he was just a new addition to the world and quite precious.

Leah took hold of the lever and gave it no further consideration. By the time she’d finished killing the cub, all of the women had gathered not far behind.

‘‘Now we work,’’ Ayoona said, as though the day had suddenly turned perfect. ‘‘Leah, you rest. You do enough. Take care of your babies and shoot more bear if they come.’’ She handed the infant in her arms to Oopick and went for her knife.

Leah tried to relax as the women began to skin the bears. She’d nearly been killed—her babies too.
This country holds no mercy
for anyone—especially the young,
she thought as she watched the women butcher the cub.
It is a cruel and hard land. How can I raise my
babies here?
She shuddered and went quickly to her children. When Emma came back from the States, Leah would have to get her advice on raising infants in the Alaskan wilds. For now, she had already decided this would be the last time she brought the children with her on food-gathering excursions.

‘‘You’re to be married?’’ Helaina asked in surprise. A giddy Stanley—quite a departure from his usually serious demeanor— had arrived to pick her up at the train station that warm August day. When she questioned him, he’d explained his matrimonial plans.

‘‘I know it’s rather sudden. Perhaps even more so given that we plan to wed in just a few days.’’

‘‘Is there a problem . . . a reason that you must rush into marriage?’’ He took hold of her arm. ‘‘Just that we’re in love. She’s a marvelous woman. A widow with a young daughter. I shall have an instant family instead of just a wife. She’s very smart—you’ll like that about her. And she’s very beautiful.’’

They walked to where Stanley’s car awaited them. ‘‘Do you like it?’’

Helaina eyed the contraption. Already the noise of such things was annoying to her. ‘‘When did you learn how to drive?’’

‘‘Oh, earlier in the year. I just bought it last week, but I’m already proficient.’’

They were soon wending their way through the busy traffic of downtown. Dodging pedestrians seemed to be one of the bigger challenges. People seemed absolutely oblivious at times to the monstrosities that shared their streets. Helaina was still uncertain as to the value of such a machine. ‘‘I think I prefer a dogsled,’’ she said honestly. ‘‘In fact, I know I prefer less noise.’’

‘‘This is the way of the future, my dear sister. You used to see the necessity of such things. I remember your being quite enthused about a more rapid means of transportation. Then there was your argument about how automobiles wouldn’t leave behind droppings or kick at passing strangers.’’

‘‘I suppose I remember saying those things, but Alaska has changed me.’’ She looked at him and figured now would be as good a time as any to mention her plans. However, Stanley was not inclined to let go of his own interests.

‘‘I hope you don’t mind, but I thought we’d have lunch with Annabelle.’’ He grinned. ‘‘Don’t you just love that name?’’

‘‘You sound like a lovesick ninny to be sure,’’ Helaina laughed.

‘‘But I completely understand and would love to have dinner with your intended.’’

‘‘I’m glad you agree. We’re to meet at her father’s house in Georgetown. It’s not far from your townhouse. Annabelle moved there after her husband died. She was expecting little Edith when her husband caught the measles and passed on.’’

‘‘So how old is your Annabelle?’’

‘‘Twenty-two. Edith is now two years old and quite the handful. She adores me, though.’’ Stanley fairly glowed with pride.

‘‘I’m sure you’ll make a wonderful father.’’ Helaina could see how much her statement pleased him by the way his grin seemed to broaden and his eyes sparkled in delight. ‘‘They must both be very special. Where did you meet?’’

‘‘We met through her father, Erwin Taylor,’’ Stanley said, maneuvering the automobile through a particularly narrow side street. ‘‘He’s one of several aides to President Wilson. He made a good fortune for himself in land prospecting. He’s just gone abroad on government business, and it worries Annabelle sick, what with the war. He’s given us his blessing, however.’’

‘‘So when are you to marry?’’

‘‘On the tenth. I do hope you’ll be in town that long.’’

Helaina considered the timing. ‘‘Well, that’s just three days from now. I don’t see why it won’t work out. I should be on my way shortly after that, however.’’

‘‘Where are you bound this time? With a war in Europe I’m certain you aren’t heading there.’’

‘‘Actually, no. This may come as some surprise to you, but I’ve fallen in love as well.’’ Stanley turned in dumfounded silence. Helaina pointed to the road. ‘‘Stanley, you should watch where you’re going!’’

He looked back to the road but shook his head. ‘‘Who have you fallen in love with?’’

‘‘Jacob Barringer.’’

‘‘The Alaskan? Is that what this sudden sale of your New York estate is all about? Are you planning to move north?’’

She drew a deep breath and lifted her chin. ‘‘Yes, I am. I wanted to come here and say good-bye, but I also wanted to see if you would handle the sale of my townhouse. I can’t afford to wait around. The last ships to Nome will sail late this month, and I must be on one if I’m to get there before the ice makes it impossible.’’ ‘‘But this is all so fast.’’

‘‘No more sudden than your engagement,’’ she countered.

They passed through impressive gates and up a well-manicured drive that spoke of wealth and sophisticated taste. Helaina was impressed but forced her attention back to the conversation.

‘‘I love him, Stanley. I know it sounds crazy. I never thought of myself as a person who could live in the Alaskan wilderness, but I miss it almost as much as I miss Jacob.’’

‘‘But it’s so isolated,’’ Stanley said, bringing the car to a stop. ‘‘I nearly died worrying over you last winter. How will it be when I can only hear from you once or twice a year?’’

‘‘Now who’s not looking to the future? They are building a railroad to cross a good portion of the state from south to north. There is talk of air travel, and as that industry takes off, who knows what it will afford us? And with so many people moving to settle that territory, the government will continue to speed up the mail. You needn’t fear, Stanley. I’m sure we’ll be in touch.’’

‘‘But I . . . well . . . I thought you would be close at hand. I wanted you to be a part of our life here in Washington.’’

‘‘I’m not saying that I’ll never come back to visit. Goodness, I’m a wealthy woman—or did you forget?’’ She gave him a smile and reached out to pat his arm with her gloved hand. ‘‘Stanley, I need to go to him. He plans to return at the end of the month— September at the latest. I need to be there—to see if we have a future. If he doesn’t feel the same way, then I’ll be back. Probably to move in with you and your young bride.’’

He laughed and got out of the car. ‘‘Then perhaps I won’t sell the townhouse right away.’’

‘‘I think Latimore is wrong,’’ Jayce told Jacob as they settled into their cabin after supper. ‘‘He’s been frivolous with the supplies, and since the ice has slowed us considerably, I think we should talk to him about conservation.’’

Jacob had already been gravely concerned about the trip. They’d been able to deliver the Canadians, but the trip had taken much longer than Latimore had considered. They were now heading back to Nome, but it was late in the season and Jacob believed they were in serious danger.

‘‘Perhaps if we remind him of the
Karluk,
’’ Jayce added.

Jacob thought of that poor ship and the disaster that had ensued when they found themselves trapped in the ice some three years earlier. Many men had lived to tell about that adventure, but others had died. The last thing they needed was a repeat of such a tragedy.

‘‘I’m not sure reminders of anything would help. Latimore is, as Leah pointed out, a broken and defeated man. He has little will to live. I thought in all seriousness that this trip would give him a new direction—a desire to break the bonds of his grief. But if anything, I think it’s only worsened. I think he’s completely unconcerned with our situation.’’

‘‘The ice is thickening near the shores. Daily we’re moving farther from land, and you know that isn’t wise.’’

Jacob stretched out on his small bunk. ‘‘He thinks to follow the open lanes of water—believing that this will be our easiest passage home. He tells me the ship has a thick bow and will easily break the thinner ice, but I’m not sure how much the
Regina
can endure. She wasn’t created for this purpose.’’

Jayce sat on the edge of his bed and shook his head. ‘‘Jacob, I think we’re in serious trouble here. We have a dwindling amount of supplies; no dogs, should they be needed for land travel; and a crew that knows little of survival in the north.’’

‘‘Add to that a captain who would just as soon die as live,’’ Jacob threw in, ‘‘and it spells disaster for sure. I’ve been praying about it and have even tried to counsel Latimore. However, I’m inexperienced in such matters, according to our captain. He points out that he has successfully navigated the Arctic and dismisses me as if I were a whining boy.’’

The ship rammed hard, nearly knocking the men from their beds. Jacob shook his head. ‘‘We’ve hit ice again.’’

Jayce steadied himself. ‘‘I’ve got a bad feeling about this. I think I should have stayed home where I belonged.’’

Jacob laughed, but there was no joy in it. ‘‘Little late for that now.’’ He thought of his sister and the babies, but mostly he thought of Helaina Beecham. He wondered if he’d ever see her again.
I’m a fool,
he thought.
A fool for ever coming on this expedition
and a fool for letting her go. When we get back—if we get back—I’m going
to find her. She has to know how I feel
.