[Alaskan Quest 03] - Whispers of Winter (20 page)

“I couldn’t live like that,” Adrik said, shaking his head.

“It’s a sorry state of affairs when you have to look with suspicion at everyone who passes your way. Seems almost that you create a sort of prison for yourself and your things.”

Adrik seemed to relax as the trail opened into a level snow-covered valley. He gave the horses a signal and let them move out at full speed before Jacob picked the conversation back up.

“I agree. For all the time I’ve been in Alaska, we never had enough to worry much about locking things up,” Jacob admitted. “Folks knew they could take refuge at empty cabins on the trail—the owners would even leave enough fuel for a fire.”

“That’s the law of the north. Folks know not to run off without leaving some manner of provision for the next fellow.” Jacob knew that law well. “Even while running the store in Last Chance, we never worried about keeping track of things too closely. Leah kept records and such, but many was the time when people just came over and helped themselves. They always made it right later on.”

Adrik nodded. “I would expect as much. Still, you have thievery up here as well. Remember how bad it was during the gold rush?”

“Oh sure,” Jacob agreed. “People are always wanting something for nothing, but the weaker ones went south after they tried their hand at gold and other means of getting rich quick. It’s discontentment that leads people into foolishness.

I’m a content man, so I care little about chasing after things that might or might not make me happy.”

The valley began to close up again, but the trail was wide and well-traveled, and Jacob knew the horses would have little trouble taking them right back to their base camp. The sounds of civilization broke through the silence. Jacob found it amazing that the little townsite was already planning for the day when electricity would ease their long winter darkness with streetlamps and well-lit homes.

“Look, I’ll go ahead and drop this off at the lumberyard. Why don’t you head on home?” Adrik suggested.

Before Jacob could answer, a man called to Adrik as he made his way up the trail. He waved and hailed them. “Adrik, there’s word about your relatives. They’ve made it to Seward.”

“That’s great news, Morris. Thanks for coming to find me.”

Morris chuckled. “Thanks for being on your way back. I feared I was in for quite a hike. Guess I got lucky. What else have you to do?”

“This is the last load of logs,” Adrik replied. “I’m especially glad now that you’ve told me what I’ve been waiting to hear.” He turned to Jacob. “Look, I’m gonna need some help from both of you. I want to go down to Seward and help Timothy and Ashlie make the trip here.”

“I’ll finish with this delivery,” Jacob offered. “Just go.”

“Train is taking on fuel even as we speak. I told them to wait for you,” Morris offered. “They weren’t too happy, but when I explained the situation, they agreed to hold off until you got back. They’ll be pleased to find it’ll be just minutes instead of hours.”

Adrik nodded. “Sounds good. I’m indebted to both of you.”

Morris grinned. “I have a packet of papers for you to deliver once you reach Seward. That way you won’t have to lie to your missus. Jacob can tell your Karen that you were needed on official railroad business.”

Adrik’s laugh bellowed across the otherwise quiet countryside. “I see you’ve thought of everything.”

“The light’s nearly gone,” Jacob said with a glance at the skies. “You go on. I’ll tend to this. Morris and I will make short work of it.”

Adrik nodded. “Don’t forget to give Karen the ledger. She’ll see to it that my figures are entered right.”

“I’ll do it. Just go.”

Jacob watched as Adrik gathered his things from the back of the cart. He seemed happier than Jacob had seen him in ages.
I think he brought Ashlie home as much for himself as he did for Karen,
Jacob mused. Ashlie was the light of her father’s life, and Adrik spoiled her terribly. Jacob supposed if God ever blessed him with a daughter of his own, he’d do likewise.

Jacob walked into his cabin well after dark. He felt an overwhelming urge to collapse at the kitchen table, but he knew he smelled pretty bad. He pulled off his heavy parka at the door and hung the fur on a peg before bending over to pull off his muddy boots.

“I have a hot bath waiting for you,” Helaina called.

Jacob noticed the tub sitting in front of the fireplace. “I don’t deserve such kindness, but I’m thankful for it.” He grinned up at his wife and noted the sparkle in her eyes. She seemed to be in an unusually good mood.

“I’m working on supper. I figure to have elk steaks and fresh bread. Canned vegetables too. Oh, and Karen shared part of an apple cobbler she baked.”

“That sounds almost as good as the bath.” He chuckled and finished pulling off his boot. “Almost.”

She came toward him, but he held her off. “You don’t want to get too close. I smell worse than ten men.”

Helaina pinched her nose and leaned forward with a quick kiss. “Then get thee to thy bath.” She headed back toward the stove. “So what did you do today?”

“Adrik and I worked on those felled trees. We cut them into manageable pieces, stripped some and loaded them. I delivered them just before coming home.”

“Sounds like you’ll be nursing some sore muscles. I have more of that liniment Leah made. I can rub your back later,” she murmured.

Helaina busied herself at the stove while Jacob shed his filthy clothes and climbed into the tub. He eased into the hot water and sighed. Life just didn’t get much better than this. A beautiful wife fixing supper in the kitchen, a hot bath to soothe his weary muscles, and a good house to hold them safe and warm. Jacob had always known God’s blessings, but now he knew God’s abundance.

“So what did you do today?” Jacob asked after several minutes of silence.

“Oh, I kept very busy. Karen and I gathered evergreens for Christmas wreaths and trim. We visited a little with Leah and shared news. Karen heard from her friends—the ones you knew in the Yukon. They all seem to be well.”

“That’s good. Peter’s the one I told you about—the one who owns the shipping company. If we decided to get serious about starting a mercantile, he’d be the one I’d talk to about supplies.”

“I remember,” Helaina said, coming to where Jacob sat soaping himself in the tub. “You want me to get your back?”

“Sure.” He handed her the washcloth and soap. “I can’t tell you how nice this is. Thanks for thinking of me.”

Helaina washed his back, giving special attention to his weary shoulders. “Maybe with the extra time away from the railroad work, you could check out some of the details regarding the store. Write some letters to Mr. Colton. You know we have whatever money we need. We could buy up some of the townsite lots and at least plan things out.”

“You know how I feel about using your money, Helaina. It’s not that I won’t, but I don’t want to take undue advantage. I want to make my own way.”

“I thought we agreed that we would share everything. Money, possessions, good times and bad,” she said, handing the cloth back to him. “You know I don’t want anything like that coming between us.”

Jacob rinsed off and stood to take the towel she offered. “I know that. I don’t want anything coming between us either. If need be we’ll use your money, but only if we both feel it’s where the Lord is leading. I want this to be a good life for both of us, but I want it focused first and foremost on the Lord.”

Helaina went to the chest and got clean clothes out for Jacob. He dressed quickly, then pulled her into his arms. “It’s so good to be home.” He kissed her passionately on the lips, then lingered to plant kisses against her cheek and neck.

“There’s something I want to give you,” Helaina said rather breathlessly. “An early Christmas present.”

Jacob pulled back and shook his head. “No. We agreed. No presents until Christmas morning.”

“But this is something really special. Something that isn’t my gift to you, but rather the Lord’s gift to us both.” She smiled and took hold of his hand.

“I don’t understand. The Lord has given us a gift?”

Helaina nodded and stepped back. As she pulled away, she drew his hand to her stomach. “He’s given us a child.”

For a moment the words didn’t register. Jacob felt her press his hand against her as she continued. “We’re going to have a baby, Jacob.”

Leah was just serving dinner to Jayce when they were both startled by the sound of her brother giving out first one yell and then another.

Jayce met her eyes and it was all Leah could do to keep from laughing out loud. “I guess she told him about the baby.”

Jayce chuckled. “I guess she did. Sounds like it met with his approval.”

Leah laughed and spooned out peas for the twins. “I’m sure he’s quite pleased with himself—and with Helaina.”

Chapter Seventeen

I
don’t know where Adrik is,” Karen confided to Leah. “Here it is Christmas morning, and he should have been back by now.” She twisted her hands together and pulled back the curtain at the window for at least the tenth time.

Leah turned to her brother. “Do you know anything about this?”

Jacob shrugged. “I know he took some papers to Seward for the railroad. I don’t know what else the railroad wanted of him while he was down there, but I do know they aren’t working Christmas. I’m sure Adrik will be here soon. He definitely had plans to be celebrating Christmas with his family. That much I know.”

Everyone had gathered at the Ivankov house to celebrate Christmas morning, but Karen’s mood was far from festive. Leah decided it would be best to keep Karen’s attention on something else.

“Karen, I am so impressed by the breakfast you prepared. I would have been happy to come and help.”

Karen glanced at the abundant table and shook her head. “I just wanted everything perfect. I was already worried about Adrik. Do you suppose something has happened to him? Should we send Jayce or Jacob to go look for him?”

“Let’s give him just a little more time. You never know. There might have been heavy snows between here and Seward. Adrik loves you and the boys more than anything. He’ll be here when he can.”

Karen smoothed down nonexistent wrinkles on her blue serge skirt. She had dressed with obvious care for the day. “I have a bit of a headache. Maybe I’ll brew some more willowbark tea.”

“Now stop fretting. You know he’ll be fine. And just look at you. You look wonderful,” Leah told her. “I especially love what you’ve done with your hair.” Karen’s red hair, now marked with streaks of silver, had been fashioned in a loose bun atop her head. She had taken extra care to curl the wisps of hair that fell gracefully around her face. She looked like a proper Victorian lady, Leah thought. The only problem was, Victoria had died more than a dozen years earlier and a new age was upon them.

“Sorry I’m late!” Adrik bellowed as he pushed open the front door. “Merry Christmas!”

Karen gave a sigh. “He’s safe.”

Leah squeezed her arm. “Of course he is.”

“I’ve brought my wife a special present,” Adrik announced and stepped aside. All gazes turned toward the door, and even the twins were silent.

“Merry Christmas!” Timothy Rogers called to the assembly as he peered around Adrik’s broad frame.

Leah couldn’t hide her smile. “Timothy! How wonderful to see you. What a great surprise.”

Karen shook her head. “I can’t believe it. You’re finally here to visit, and you pick the dead of winter to enjoy our hospitality? Whatever made you come now?”

He laughed and hugged Karen close. “I had to accompany Adrik’s Christmas gift to you.”

Just then Ashlie stepped into the doorway. “Merry Christmas, Mama.”

Karen’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped open in wordless wonder. Ashlie rushed to her mother’s arms and gave her a tight embrace. “I’ve missed you so much.”

Leah watched as Karen’s shock turned to joy. She embraced her daughter, but her gaze met Adrik’s. Leah saw such an exchange of love in those glances. It gave her a warm and happy feeling inside to have shared in that moment. If ever two people loved each other, it was Karen and Adrik Ivankov. How perfect that God should have put them together.

“How in the world did you arrange this?” Karen asked as Ashlie ran to greet her brothers. By now Adrik was at her side, but he only shrugged.

“Did you know about this?” Karen asked Leah.

“I did not. I doubt I could have kept such a secret.”

Adrik leaned over and kissed Leah’s forehead. “And that is why I did not tell you,” he said, laughing.

“Just look at you,” Karen said as Ashlie pulled off a long green wool coat. Ashlie was dressed in an impressive traveling suit of blue wool. Her hair was pinned up and trimmed with a smart little green hat that matched her coat.

“I’ve learned to be quite fashionable,” Ashlie admitted. “I don’t want to shame my school or Cousin Myrtle. Who, by the way, sends her regards and love. As well as a few gifts.”

Leah thought Ashlie had aged considerably since they’d last seen each other. The girl was radiant and charming. Tall and slender, she had Karen’s delicate features but Adrik’s teasing smile and dark eyes. There was just a hint of her Tlingit ancestry in her features, and they added a rather exotic flavor to her appearance.