[Alaskan Quest 03] - Whispers of Winter (18 page)

Leah and Jayce’s room wasn’t much larger than the children’s room. There was a more substantial bed that had been designed by Adrik. The peeled-log frame offered a sturdy foundation, while the feather-stuffed mattress provided a comfortable night’s sleep. A large wooden dresser stood in one corner of the room, also compliments of Adrik. The house was a tight fit, but the snugness only added to the hominess.

Leah loved having the privacy it afforded as well. When they’d first arrived at the house Adrik had built for his wife and sons, it was clear that things would be quite crowded for a time. The land was plentiful, but the buildings were not. It took time to fell trees and put together structures. But the people were just as eager to help each other here as they had been in Last Chance. One day a group of men from the railroad and church had gathered and cut trees and notched logs for two small houses. They accomplished an incredible amount of work in the all-day extravaganza, and only later did Leah learn that all three men in her family had offered the men pay, but they’d have none of it. Their act of kindness touched her deeply.

Another obvious difference in Leah’s life was the development of the twins. They were rapidly changing in appearance and, where they had once looked very much like each other, now they were showing definite male and female qualities. Merry’s face seemed more delicate, her lips fuller, and the lashes that edged her eyes were longer and thicker than her brother’s. Wills developed a set to his face that reminded Leah of Jayce. He would often knit his brow together while considering some toy or other object of fascination. His nose appeared a little fuller, while his lips seemed thinner than Meredith’s.

There were also changes of personality. Merry, while still shy, had taken on a personality that reflected Leah’s quiet nature. Whenever Wills got into trouble, Merry was always there to smooth things over. When Leah was upset, Merry would often pat her mother’s leg as if to console her while gazing sympathetically and babbling incoherent words of encouragement.

Wills’ personality, on the other hand, reminded Leah so much of Jayce. His eyes were much darker blue than Merry’s glacier blue. He was fiercely independent and fearless. Even now as Leah watched them play, she worried incessantly about Wills getting too close to the stove. He seemed to have no concern about whether it would cause him harm or good. Wills saw everything as an adventure. Why should the stove be any different?

A knock on her door took Leah out of her reflective thoughts. “Wills, you stay away from the stove. That’s hot. It will hurt you.” Wills looked up, as if trying to ascertain the validity of his mother’s words.

Leah opened the door to find Karen and Helaina. Both held numerous evergreen boughs in their arms. “What a surprise. Looks like you two have been busy.” She stepped back to admit them in from the cold.

“It’s snowed another six inches,” Karen said. She shook the branches, then handed them to Leah. “We were gathering these to decorate for Christmas and thought you might like some too. With the babies toddling around, I wasn’t sure you’d have time to gather any for yourself.”

“That was very thoughtful.” Leah pressed her nose into the bundle. “Mmm, they smell so good.”

“I can’t believe Christmas is nearly here,” Helaina declared. She put her branches on the nearby table and leaned down to see what Wills was playing with. “What is that, Wills?”

He held the toy up and grinned. “Doggy nice.”

Helaina nodded. “It’s a very nice doggy indeed.”

“Baby!” Merry declared, holding out her doll from the other side of the room.

“Merry, what a pretty baby. Come show me.” Helaina continued to play with the children for a moment while Leah tried to decide where would be best to store the boughs. “If I don’t put them up, the children will surely destroy them.”

“Oh, I wanted to tell you,” Karen began, “I had three letters arrive today with the post. One was from Grace, another from Miranda, and the final one was from Ashlie.”

Leah loved to hear news—especially from loved ones far away. “I wish I could hear something from Last Chance. I probably won’t know how anyone is doing until spring, however. You know how impossible it is to send mail across the interior.”

“Yes. There were so many times I would have loved to have sent you letters and packages during the long winter.”

“Me too,” Leah said, easily remembering the isolation.

“So how is Grace?” Grace had once been Karen’s charge when they both lived in Chicago. Karen had loved being a governess to the wealthy girl. They’d both come north to Alaska when Grace had been determined to escape an arranged marriage. Then while in Alaska, Grace and Karen had both found true love and married. Karen had stayed, but Grace had gone to San Francisco to live with her husband and his family.

“They’re all very well. Grace is worried because her son talks continually about joining the army to fight in Europe.

Grace is heartsick over the thought that he might sneak off in the night and do something rash.”

“Hasn’t Peter tried to reason with him?”

“What’s a father to do?” Karen shook her head. “I’m sure Peter and Grace have both done their best to convince him to remain at home, but you know how headstrong children can be. Andrew is almost eighteen, and he’s confident he knows more than his parents. At least to hear Grace tell it.” “I’m sure,” Leah said with a nod. “What about the other children?”

“Well, let’s see. Jeremiah is fifteen and very much in love with the sea, just like his father. Belynn is twelve, and Grace says she plans to be married with six children by the time she’s twenty.”

Leah laughed and tried to imagine what life would be like for the twelve-year-old Belynn. Why, there were automobiles and airplanes, not to mention all kinds of machinery that helped with the everyday chores of life. Leah’s children might never know such luxury if they remained in the wilds. “And what about Miranda? Where will she and Teddy spend this Christmas?”

“Well, Teddy wanted to explore some islands off the coast of South America. They were actually in San Francisco with Peter and Grace when Miranda posted this letter, but she said they were southbound. It seems Teddy would like to write a book dealing with the flora and fauna of that area.”

Leah nodded, remembering quite well that Teddy Davenport had a passion for botany that was only preceded by his love for Miranda. “And what did Miranda’s brother think of that?”

“Peter was very happy to assist them. They will journey south on one of his ships, in fact. The Colton Shipping Company is quite expanded from what it used to be.”

“It’s too bad Peter’s mother and father didn’t live to see what a successful businessman Peter has become. I’m sure they would have been proud,” Leah said thoughtfully. “So you’ve saved the best for last. What does Ashlie have to say? Oh, where are my manners? I have some hot tea. Would either of you care for a cup?”

Helaina straightened and rubbed the small of her back through the thick parka. “I’d love some. I’m still a little chilled.”

“Me too. Tea sounds perfect.” Karen pulled her coat off and went to hang it by the door. “I hope I haven’t dripped water all over your floor.”

“It needed washing anyway. It’s very dirty you know,” Leah said, glancing down at the hard-packed dirt with a grin.

Karen chuckled. “You’ll have floors before you know it.

Adrik has been very concerned that you should be living without them, you know.”

“We’re fine. We’ve certainly had to deal with worse.” Leah poured her guests tea and brought the steaming mugs to the table. “You’ll have to forgive the cups, my good china is otherwise engaged.”

“Engaged where?” Helaina asked with a smile.

Leah shrugged and gave a girlish giggle. “I’m sure I don’t know since I haven’t any good china. But wherever it is, I’m sure it’s otherwise engaged.”

“You’ll remember I had some very pretty china when I first settled in Ketchikan with Adrik. He couldn’t even get his fingers around the cup handle. It was most amusing. What wasn’t as humorous was his penchant for dropping them. They were just too delicate and would slip right through his fingers. Mugs turned out to be much better for us.”

“I suppose that’s why I’ve never worried about china,” Leah said, shrugging. “I’m sure you must miss such things, however.” She looked to Helaina, remembering the grandeur her life had once known.

“There are times,” Helaina admitted, “when I miss some of the finery. But I love it here, and it’s senseless to have things that serve little or no purpose. Mugs are fine by me. What I miss is the convenience of things. Hot baths, large selections of scented soaps and such. It’s that kind of thing I miss.”

“I can remember Seattle well enough to know exactly how pleasant it was to have a bath anytime I wanted one,” Leah agreed. Seattle spurred on memories of Ashlie. “All right, tell us about your daughter.”

Helaina nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, please do. Is she happy? How’s school going?”

“She is happy,” Karen said with a bit of regret in her tone. “It’s not that I wouldn’t wish her so, but there’s that part of me that wouldn’t mind if she were unhappy enough to return home to me. I miss her so much.”

“I know you do,” Leah said, putting her hand on Karen’s arm. “I hope we might ease some of that longing by keeping you too preoccupied to miss her overly much.”

“It has been a pleasant diversion to have you so close— both of you. The boys are poor companions at times; I’m convinced that neither of them needs me. They want to be off hunting or exploring the minute their studies are concluded. They are not exactly conversationalists.” The three ladies laughed at this statement.

“Does Ashlie have plans to come home anytime soon?” Leah asked.

“No. She’s busy with church activities and, of course, her studies. Cousin Myrtle has definitely enjoyed her company as well. Ashlie tells in her letter that they attend many plays and parties. Ashlie has brought new life to my cousin, and for that I’m grateful. Myrtle was never blessed with children of her own, and having Ashlie has given her a great deal of pleasure. I’d beg Ashlie to return to us, but I know it would break Myrtle’s heart. Not to mention Ashlie, who would like to attend college. She’s been quite smitten with school and learning.”

There was a sad resignation in Karen’s voice that Leah couldn’t ignore. “It has been with no small amount of sacrifice on your part that Ashlie has enjoyed another kind of life. The world in Seattle is so very different from the one we know here.”

“I know that’s true. It was no easy feat to adjust to life in Alaska. When I came north with Grace, it was exciting to try something new, but where life in the south might allow for mere existence, Alaska demands much more. There is no mere ‘getting by’ up here. You will die if you don’t put a definite effort into survival.”

“That’s true,” Leah said, nodding, “but Ashlie knows about survival. She was born and raised here, and she’s nobody’s fool. Let her enjoy her time and see what life has to hold. She’s in good hands, and obviously she’s benefiting your cousin as well.”

Karen nodded. “To be sure. Still, she’s almost eighteen. I’ve already noted comments in her letters that mention young men who would like to be her suitor. So far she’s kept them all at arm’s length. She tells me she’s not been overly impressed with any of them. But I don’t try to fool myself. The day will come when that one man … that perfect man … will sweep her away.”

“Just like it happened to each of us,” Leah said with a smile. “Would you want anything less for her?”

Karen shook her head. “Of course not. I just … well … I worry that she’ll never come back to Alaska after that.”

“She’ll always come to wherever you are,” Leah encouraged. She gave Karen’s arm a squeeze and raised her gaze to see that the twins were still happily occupied with their toys. “So did any of the letters offer news of the war in Europe?”

“Only to say that things were continuing to drag on. It’s so sad. So many have died,” Karen spoke more quietly. It was almost as if she didn’t want the twins to overhear the bad news. “Things definitely do not look good for the Russian people. They’ve taken the czar and his family captive, and no one knows what will happen to them. And King George of England, who happens to be a relative—I believe a cousin perhaps to either the czar or his wife—refused to let the family come to England for asylum.”

Leah shook her head. “How awful to reject your own family. What kind of man does that when he knows it will no doubt bode poorly for the czar? I read in one of the old papers that the new government is not inclined to be sympathetic toward royalty.”

“I met a man who was closely affiliated with the czar and czarina,” Helaina joined in. “He was here seeking to find a place to hide the family should they be able to sneak out of Russia. He believes they will face death.”

“And still the King of England will not allow them refuge?” Leah questioned.

“Ashlie said in her letter that it seemed the government of England advised the king that it would be best to stay out of the situation. Apparently they feel there is little to be gained, and perhaps it would damage relationships with the new government and cause them to turn from the side of those fighting the Germans.”

“That’s so sad,” Leah said, shaking her head. “I hate war. I can’t imagine what the soldiers must have to endure. Just as bad, I can’t fathom what their families must have to bear here at home. The news is so long in coming and then you can only wonder at the accuracy.”

“The news is coming regularly in the States,” Karen said, staring at her mug. “But it seems the news is always bad.”

“Well, I for one have had enough sad talk,” Helaina said, putting her mug on the table. “I have some good news that I’d like to share. I was going to wait until later, but I want you both to be the first to know.” Leah and Karen both met her gaze. Helaina grinned. “I’m going to have a baby.”

Leah could hardly believe the words. Her brother was finally going to be a father. “Helaina, that’s wonderful!” She reached over to embrace her sister-in-law. “What did Jacob say? Oh, I can imagine he’s beside himself.”