[Alaskan Quest 03] - Whispers of Winter (16 page)

Helaina looked at Jacob as though he hung the moon and the stars. Leah looked to Jayce, who was waiting to officially hand Helaina over to Jacob, already missing his absence at her side.

“Helaina, do you love the Lord and have you taken Jesus as your Savior?”

“I have.”

He smiled and turned to Jacob. “And Jacob, do you love the Lord and have you taken Jesus as your Savior?”

“Yes, sir.” The catch in Jacob’s voice made him sound like a teenager again instead of a man in his thirties.

“Who gives this woman?”

“We do,” Jayce replied. “I and her other friends.”

Bjorn nodded and Jayce extended Helaina’s arm to Jacob.

“Take good care of her,” he admonished in a fatherly way.

Jacob nodded with a grin. “You know I will. I’ve waited a lifetime for her.”

Jayce stepped back to join Leah. He slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. Leah smiled up at him, sensing his happiness.

The ceremony was short and simple. They exchanged their promises of love and support, then Jacob surprised them all by producing a small gold band. Leah recognized it as having been their mother’s. Jacob had tried to give it to her on one occasion, but Leah knew that their mother had wanted him to save it for his bride.

As he slipped the ring on Helaina’s finger, Leah couldn’t help but sniff back tears. Their mother would be so proud. Their papa too. Leah liked to believe they were watching from heaven and knew they would surely approve of this union.

“You may kiss your bride, Jacob. You are man and wife,” Bjorn announced.

Jacob pulled Helaina into his arms and gave her a brief but sufficient kiss. Cheers broke out among those in the room as Leah’s gaze settled on her brother. They had always been so very close. They had taken care of each other when no one else was there for them. They had endured great difficulty in just getting to Alaska, but also in living there. The land was hard and difficult, but the rewards had been so great. Leah couldn’t help but wonder what the future held now. Would they all go their separate ways? Would God see fit to keep them all together?

“I want to congratulate you both,” Adrik said, coming to give Jacob a bear hug. He turned to Helaina. “Do I get to kiss the bride?”

She nodded and seemed delighted to be embraced into the family in this way. Karen, too, came and offered her a kiss and a blessing. “May God richly bless your marriage. May you always remember Him first in all that you do, and may your love endure the tests of time.”

“Thank you,” Helaina said, embracing Karen. “I feel so very blessed.”

Leah came forward and hugged Helaina. “You are truly my sister now. I’ve always wanted a sister.”

Helaina laughed and tightened her embrace. “I have, too, and now God has answered that prayer as well.”

Jayce swept Helaina into a hug as Leah turned to her brother. They just looked at each other for a moment, and in Jacob’s eyes, Leah saw the passage of two decades of time.

Jacob sensed it as well.

“When we first came north, I cursed it,” he admitted. “I saw very little good here. You know that.”

“I do. I felt the same way,” Leah admitted.

“But now I see so clearly the hand of God in all the choices—good and bad. It amazes me how God could take even my rebellious choices and work them together for good.”

“I know. I was thinking much the same. You were always there for me.”

Jacob held her close for a moment. “I love you, Leah. No man could ask for a better sister.”

Leah stepped back as he released her. “And no woman could ask for a better brother.”

Helaina looked down at her finger and could scarcely believe she was finally married. Her dreams of having Jacob for a husband had come true. She thought only momentarily of Robert and of the beautiful diamond and sapphire ring he had given her on their wedding day.
He would be happy for me,
she thought.
He would tell me it was about time I stopped grieving him and moved forward with my life
.

She smiled to herself as she compared her old life to the new one. Things would never be the same—but then again, she didn’t want them to be.

“Well, you can party all night if you want to,” Jayce finally announced, “but Leah and I are going to take our leave. I haven’t seen this woman in over a year, and … well … let’s leave it at that.”

Adrik laughed and pulled Karen toward their room. “We’ll say good night as well. It’ll be good to see you all at breakfast.”

“Late breakfast,” Jacob called back as he pulled Helaina close. He stunned her by lifting her in his arms. “A very, very late breakfast.”

They all laughed at this, but no one protested the idea.

Helaina felt rather embarrassed by Jacob’s grandiose gesture, but at the same time she relished it and snuggled down in his arms. She sighed contentedly.

“I feel the same way,” Jacob said as he carried her to their inne.

“I’m just amazed that it’s finally happened. I’m so happy … so blessed,” she whispered. “I love you so very much, Jacob.”

“And I love you, Mrs. Barringer.”

The next morning Helaina awoke with a start. For just a moment she couldn’t remember where she was, and when she found Jacob sleeping beside her, it startled her even more. Then the memories of the night before flooded her mind. She moved closer to Jacob for warmth and smiled as his arms closed around her and pulled her near.

“Good morning,” he said, his voice low. “How did you sleep?”

“Like a dream. In fact, I woke up thinking maybe I had dreamed it all. I’m glad to know that this is very much real.”

He laughed. “I hope all of your dreams are just as sweet.”

He kissed her passionately and Helaina forgot about dreams and nightmares. Suddenly there was only Jacob. And Jacob was truly enough.

When they showed up an hour later for breakfast at Jayce and Leah’s, they found themselves the objects of teasing.

“It’s nearly lunchtime,” Adrik said, looking at his pocket watch.

“It’s been light for hours,” Karen agreed.

“It’s always light for hours during Alaskan summer,” Jacob replied, not willing to let them get the better of him.

Leah brought their plates from the back of the stove. “We’ve been keeping this warm for you. Pay them no attention. They’re old married folk who’ve grown quite bored with one another.” She laughed as she gave Adrik and Karen a wink.

“My mama and papa aren’t old,” Christopher protested.

Leah gave his cheek a rub. “No, they really aren’t. I was just teasing them.”

Oliver had long since eaten his breakfast and was ready for adventure. “Kimik said we could hunt with him today. Can we?” he asked as Christopher nodded hopefully.

“I don’t see why not,” Adrik replied. “It seems like it will be a great time for you boys. Just make sure you do everything he says, and stay right with the party. This place isn’t like home. You don’t know the trails, and fog could come in and you’d be lost.”

“We’ll stay with him, I promise. I’ll keep a good eye on Christopher too.”

“But you’re not my pa,” the boy reminded his brother. “So you can’t tell me what to do.”

“Kimik isn’t your pa either,” Adrik countered, “but if you aren’t willing to take instruction and correction from him, you’d best stay here with me.”

Christopher grew very serious. “I promise I’ll be good. I’ll do what he tells me to do.”

“All right, then. You boys head on over. I’m sure Kimik is more than ready to leave.”

Leah put the twins on the floor to play as she began to clear away the breakfast dishes. Helaina dug into the food Leah had given her and thought nothing had ever tasted so good. She felt ravenous as she bit into the caribou sausage.

“I hope you’re up for a bit of discussion,” Adrik began. “There’s something I’ve been wanting to talk to all four of you about.”

“If it’s one of Adrik’s plans,” Jacob said, leaning back with coffee cup in hand, “we’d better hold on to our seats.”

Adrik exchanged a quick glance with Karen and laughed. “You’re right on that count. I suppose my ideas can be a bit bold at times.”

“Why don’t you tell us what you have in mind?” Leah prompted.

Adrik folded his hands together and looked at each of them before he spoke. “I’d like you all to consider coming back with us.”

“To Ketchikan?” Leah questioned.

“No, to Seward. Well, to Ship Creek, really—though they’re starting to call it Anchorage now.”

Helaina felt Jacob’s interest even before he spoke. “For what purpose?”

“Well, that’s what I want to talk to all of you about. Are you game to listen?”

Chapter Fourteen

T
he situation is this,” Adrik continued. “The railroad is going in all the way to Fairbanks, and the place is hopping with activity. I’ve been hired by the railroad to hunt and bring in game for the men to eat. It’s a whole lot cheaper to hire me than to bring food up from the States, after all. The only problem is, I’m just one man and, frankly, the number of workers is growing every day. They estimate some four thousand workers now. I don’t think the territory will stay unsettled for long.”

Jacob shrugged. “We’ve seen people come and go with the gold strikes. Alaska requires a special kind of person to stay.”

“Jacob’s right. It’s going to take more than a few thousand men to settle this place and make the world take notice,” Jayce said.

“But it’s a start. The railroad adds a sense of settlement and permanency that will draw people to come and stay.”

“So you’re proposing we work for the railroad?” Jacob asked.

“No, I’m proposing we work for ourselves,” Adrik replied. “Look, we can team up—maybe even add another couple of men I trust and form our own corporation of sorts. You wouldn’t believe the number of times I’ve been hired just to lead city folks out hunting wild game. Most want the thrill of bear or moose, some just want to enjoy whatever comes their way, so that’s an entire different aspect to how we can make a living. Initially, we could contract with the railroad to provide a particular amount of meat per week and split the funds between us.”

Jacob rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Where would we live?”

“The Ship Creek area. That’s a good place to headquarter. The railroad from Seward has just connected to that place and is headed on out to Palmer and Wasilla. If things continue this way, we might see completion in another couple of years. Of course, we have to get through those mountains up north, and that will be no easy feat.”

“And do you plan to move north with the railroad?” Jacob asked Adrik.

Adrik looked to Karen and shrugged. “We’re trying to be open to where the Lord would take us. We’ve found there’s plenty of work to do in the area, but we also miss our home in Ketchikan. We’ll just have to see where the Lord wants us.”

“Not only that,” Karen began, “Seward is a year-round harbor. We can get a steady supply of goods whenever we need them. Well, at least a decent supply,” she added with a smile. “There are good doctors, plans for a hospital in Ship Creek, as well as a power plant and electricity.”

“That would be incredible,” Leah said, shaking her head. “I remember how wonderful it was when we were in Seattle.” “Not only that, but they’re laying water pipes that will bring water right into the house,” Adrik added.

“It’s like we said,” Karen continued. “The area offers many benefits that can’t be had in the more isolated parts of Alaska. And there would be no winter isolation due to ship traffic being halting because of frozen harbors.”

“That would definitely be a benefit,” Leah admitted. She hated to say it, but having children gave her a much different perspective on where to live. “Still, I’m happy to live wherever Jayce wants to be. I know he’ll provide for us and that we’ll be well protected in his care. So long as my family is with me or close by, I’ll be content.”

She looked to Jayce and could see he was strongly considering the possibility. “I believe it’s definitely something to think about,” he said.

Jacob looked to Helaina. “What about you? What do you think of this wild scheme of Adrik’s?”

“I feel the same as Leah. I had to wait all this time to get you. I don’t really care where we live so long as we aren’t long separated.”