[Alaskan Quest 03] - Whispers of Winter (2 page)

Looking at the twins, Leah couldn’t imagine that anything so perfect might be the result of a hideous rape. There was simply too much joy and love to be had from these precious gifts from God. She sighed, unable to free herself from the memories of Jayce’s brother Chase. The man had ruined her life in so many ways…. But despite his assault on her and his subsequent death, Leah fought to retain a hopeful future for her children. She couldn’t let Chase’s destruction perpetuate.

Leah pushed the memories of bad times aside and lifted her naked children. “Here we go. It’s time for our bath.” Her singsong voice suggested a great outing was upon them. And for the Kincaid twins, such a thing could be said. They loved their bath time, and Leah enjoyed it as well, finding a certain comfort in the morning ritual.

Placing each child in the water, she laughed as they adjusted to their new surroundings and began to splash and play. Merry was far and away the more shy of the two, but she seemed to find her own measure of bravery here in the water. Wills, always the adventurer, sometimes stuck his face right down into the water only to pop back up as if surprised that he couldn’t breathe in the liquid.

Leah let them play until the water began to cool off. She then took soap and quickly bathed each one. With the bath ritual drawing to a close, Leah wrapped the babies in warm towels that she’d kept on the back of the stove. It was just then that Helaina Beecham appeared.

“It’s a glorious day,” she announced. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see the ice completely melt or drift out to sea.”

Leah secured diapers on her babies, then began the arduous task of dressing them. “I hope you’re right. The sooner the ice clears, the sooner help can be had for Jacob and Jayce.”

Helaina pulled off a thick woolen hat and pushed back loose strands of blond hair. “I’d like to get to Nome and see if Stanley has sent any further word.” She had been a good source of encouragement to Leah.

Helaina’s brother had been faithfully helping the women get any available information on the
Regina
. Unfortunately, there hadn’t been much the Washington, D.C., Pinkerton agent could offer. No one could travel north, and after a winter of waiting and praying, Helaina and Leah had reached the end of their patience.

“I would have suggested John could take you down, but we’ve just had bad news,” Leah said, remembering her friend’s death. “Ayoona passed away in the night.”

Helaina’s expression turned to one of disbelief. “I just talked to her yesterday. She showed me how to clean and cook a goose.”

“I know, but she’s gone.” Leah tried not to cry in front of the children. The twins weren’t quite a year old, and anytime Leah cried, they were very sensitive to their mother and began to cry too. Leah often had to save her tears of despair for the dead of night when the household was asleep.

Helaina took a cup and poured herself some hot coffee. “I can’t believe she’s gone.” Sitting down at the kitchen table, she shook her head, then took a long sip.

“Oopick was just here. I told her I would help prepare the body if you could watch the twins. If you don’t have time, however, I could ask Sigrid. There’s no school today, so she won’t be busy teaching.”

“Nonsense. I can watch them. Besides, Emma will probably want her sister with her. Won’t they also help with the body?” She pushed her coffee aside as Leah got to her feet.

“I suppose so.” Leah finished with the children, then handed Wills to Helaina. “Please hold on to him while I secure Merry. They seem to be everywhere at once these days.”

“Come see Auntie Helaina,” she coaxed, and Wills eagerly launched himself into Helaina’s arms. She had become a special member of the family to Leah’s twins. To Leah too.

It was hard to believe that this woman Leah had once hated had become so important to her now. Leah honestly loved Helaina. The woman had spent tireless hours helping to gather wood off the beaches, caring for Jacob’s dogs, and working at the small store Leah ran from her old inne not twenty yards away.

Leah placed Meredith into a crudely constructed baby chair, then scooted her to the table. Next was Wills’ turn, but he was so intrigued with pulling Helaina’s hair from its pins that he had nearly forgotten his hunger.

“Come along, son. You can charm the lady another time.”

Helaina chuckled and reached again for her steaming mug. “I’d say he’ll be charming all the ladies one day. He’s quite the handsome young man.”

Leah took a dish towel and tied her son in place. She’d learned the hard way that if she didn’t secure the children in such a manner, they were only too happy to climb out.

“I have oatmeal on the stove for their breakfast. There’s canned milk, too, and a precious little bit of sugar.”

“I’ll see to it,” Helaina said, getting to her feet. She pulled off her coat and hung it on a peg by the door. “I think I’m finally warmed up enough to function.”

“How did you sleep?” Leah watched her friend for any negative reaction. Helaina had just taken to sleeping in Leah and Jacob’s old home the last few days.

“At first I was a bit unnerved. I kept thinking about that first summer I spent here, when you and Jayce were in Ketchikan. I hated it then. I was sure the house would cave in or that some animal would tunnel its way through the dirt and sod. But this time … well … it just made me feel closer to Jacob.”

Leah felt sorry for Helaina. The woman had given up everything in the States, her home, her career helping Stanley catch criminals for the Pinkertons, even her social life—and all to pin her hopes on a man that might or might not return her affections. But Leah was almost certain he would return them, otherwise she would never have encouraged Helaina.

“I’m glad it had that effect,” Leah said as she pulled on her parka. “Soon enough it will flood out, but until then you might as well enjoy the privacy.”

“I lived in it all summer, even when it was flooded,” Helaina said, laughing. “The villagers thought I was crazy. I think I might have been at that, but the prospect of living in a tent in a land full of bears and other wildlife hardly appealed. I slept on the table.”

Leah laughed. “Well, you won’t need to do that this time.

When the ground starts to thaw, just come back here. You know you’re welcome.”

“I do, but I also want to help you with the store. I have the inventory complete, and by tomorrow I should be able to finish the list of who owes how much.”

Leah smiled. “I knew you’d be quite efficient. Jacob always admired that about you.”

“Well, let’s pray my efficiency will help get them home safely. As soon as we finish with Ayoona’s funeral, I want to find a way to get to Nome. Even if I have to hike there by myself.”

“You won’t have to. I’ll go before I send you out there blind to the trail.” Leah headed for the door as Helaina pulled bowls down from the cupboard, and after a quick glance at her children, she walked to Ayoona’s.

The day was beautiful, just as Helaina had said. The crystal blue sky was cloudless, and in the distance she could make out definite signs of spring.

“Lord, please let us find the men. Let us find Jacob and Jayce and the others. Please bring them home safely.”

She couldn’t count the times she’d prayed these same words over and over. She had never felt more helpless than when she’d realized last winter that she could do nothing to help her husband and brother. The winter had seemed to last forever, with one storm after another leaving them more and more isolated. With each blizzard, each stormy day, Leah thought of the men and wondered if they were enduring similar hardship.

Leah tried hard not to get discouraged, but it hurt to be without the people she loved most in all of the world. Jacob had been her mainstay through the years—especially when Jayce had refused her love long ago. But now that she and Jayce were married, Leah had quickly turned her focus on her husband. Jayce was the love of her life—her hope for the future—her heart’s desire. If she lost him now, Leah wasn’t sure what she’d do. If she lost them both … well … she couldn’t even let her mind consider such a possibility.

Helaina had been an amazing tower of strength throughout the winter. When despair threatened and discouragement whispered in Leah’s ear, it was Helaina and her faith in God that strengthened them both. Helaina hadn’t always cared about what God wanted. After years of doing things on her own—relying on self-knowledge and preservation to see things through—Helaina had come to experience the same emptiness as others without God. Leah had known that the answer to her misery would be Jesus, but Leah also knew that until Helaina found such a thing for herself, it would do no good to force the issue.

So that was why it was a special joy to reflect on Helaina’s love and consistent reading of the Bible. Many had been the night that Helaina had read from the Scriptures while winds raged outside and the twins howled inside. Leah and Helaina had discussed passages at length, sometimes even taking notes in order to ask Bjorn Kjellmann on a later date. He had laughed the first time they’d come to him with a list of questions, but after laboring over that same list and searching to give answers, Bjorn stopped laughing. He now said they were the iron sharpening iron—the students who caused the teacher to search deeper.

But Leah knew that book learning and heart understanding were two different things. She tried not to worry about the situation anymore than she needed to, but at times like this, she felt rather hopeless.

Her dear friend and mentor had gone home to be with the Lord.

Her brother was lost somewhere in the frozen Arctic.

And her husband might very well never return home.

Chapter Two

J
acob Barringer looked out across the frozen waters of the Arctic. There was no real sign that spring breakup was upon them, but in his heart he felt certain it was coming. He could almost feel it in his bones. The winter was over—at least technically speaking.

He thought about all they’d gone through. He and the rest of the crew of the
Regina
had been fortunate to find the missing ammunition for the 30–30, as well as another rifle and pistol. A supply of medicines meant for the Canadian scientists they’d taken north had been located, and Dr. Ripley had been delighted. It had given them all hope for survival. Now that the winter was over, the men were anxious to get home. Tempers were flaring, and Jacob was worried about how they would endure much longer.

“What do you see?” Jayce Kincaid asked as he joined his brother-in-law.

“Nothing that wasn’t there yesterday,” Jacob admitted. “I know the thaw is coming, though. By my calculations it’s got to be near the end of May. It won’t take long for the ice to break free once things start warming up. I’ve seen mornings back home where we woke up with the ice and by evening it was gone. Once the ice is gone, the searchers will come.”

“At least the ice had made the seal hunting easier.”

“True. We’ve eaten pretty well thanks to that.”

Jayce shook his head. “We’ve eaten well because you’ve taught us how to survive up here. Most of these men had no idea how to live in this cold, much less thrive. And with no help or encouragement from Captain Latimore … well, let’s just say the responsibility has fallen hard on your shoulders.”

“Yours too. The men look to you just as readily as they look to me. Once we landed on this island, you were the one who taught them how to build those snow-block houses.”

“Only because I learned it from you,” Jayce said with a laugh. He gazed out to the ocean and sobered. “I know they’re out there, rescuers … Leah.” He sighed heavily. “I know they are, but what I can’t figure is if they know we’re here.”

Jacob nodded. “I’m hoping they’ll remember the
Karluk
and figure the current might have taken us in the same direction. We’ll be all right if they consider that. At least they’ll close in on us.”

“I pray you’re right.”

————

The next morning around five, Jacob awoke to storm clouds gathering on the horizon. The men went about camp, tying down the things they’d managed to secure from the
Regina
. Jacob had helped direct the evacuation of the ship when the ice broke her apart. For weeks they had lived with nothing but several feet of ice between them and the Arctic waters. They were definitely blessed to have found land—even if it was desolate.

“Looks like a snow coming in,” Jacob told one of the men. He pointed to a stack of cut driftwood. “Better get some of that inside. No telling how bad or how long this one’s going to last.”

“Latimore’s missing,” Jayce said as he came up behind Jacob.

“Missing?”

“No one’s seen him since last night. When Bristol woke up this morning, he realized Latimore hadn’t called him for his watch.”

Jacob considered the situation for a moment. “Bristol was scheduled to take the four-o’clock watch, correct?”

Jayce nodded. “I looked around and found tracks that headed off toward the west along the beach. I’m thinking Latimore might have gone off that direction. Maybe he heard or saw something that caught his attention.”

With continual daylight upon them, Jacob knew it should be easy enough to find the man if they spread out and searched. “We should be able to locate him if we split up. Gather the men, and we’ll do what we can. He may have become confused or snow-blind.”

Jayce quickly retrieved the men. They had long ago turned to Jacob as their leader, especially given Latimore’s despondency toward life and his crew. “Look, it seems the captain disappeared last night. We don’t know if he saw something that took him from his post or if he simply wandered away.” Jacob didn’t want to further demean the man, so he quickly continued. “There have been many bear tracks as you well know, so it wouldn’t be wise to just assume Latimore is unharmed. Go in pairs, and take one of the firearms. If you haven’t found anything in an hour,” he said, gazing to the southwest, “return to camp. The skies are looking mean, and we’d best be settled back here before it hits.”

“All it ever does up here is snow and be cold,” nineteen-year-old Bristol grumbled. “I never knew you could have temperatures as cold as this place.”