Fire and Ice (21 page)

“Eventually I want to build a bigger facility and maybe even bring in a partner to work with me, but for now I think full-time hours and possibly adding a receptionist will move me forward.”

He could tell the exact moment she latched onto his idea. Her eyes lit and she stared at him for a moment before speaking. “A receptionist?”

“Yes. I wondered if … well, I know you have a job, but I think you’d be an asset to my practice, Cheryl. I need someone to answer the phone, schedule appointments, keep records, and occasionally help me with the animals. Starting the beginning of February.”

She was still staring at him. “Do you mean it?”

“Of course.”

She laughed and hugged him. “Did you know how much I hate my job at the store? Standing up for hours on end?”

“Well, you could sit at least half the time, I’m sure. And when I build the new animal hospital, you’d be a lot closer to home. I plan to put it next to my house.”

“Oh, Rick. I think … no, I
know
I adore you. Thank you so much.”

Contentment worked its way through him. “I don’t know what they pay you, but I’d try to at least match the hourly rate—”

“You had me with ‘an asset to my practice.’”

He laughed. “Great. We’ll talk over the details soon.”

“I’ll look forward to it.”

“Mom?” Robyn made her way toward them. “Grandpa wants to know what’s keeping you.”

Cheryl threw a knowing glance at Rick. “I’m going to let this handsome veterinarian tell you.” She hurried away.

Robyn watched her. “What’s up? She looks radiant.”

He chuckled. “Hope you don’t mind. I just offered your mother a job.”

“A job?”

“As my receptionist.”

Robyn stood still for five long seconds. Rick was afraid she was upset, but slowly her lips curved upward. She leaned toward him. “Thank you. That’s the most wonderful thing you could have told me, now that Tumble is found.”

Rick reached for her hand. He hoped he’d have the courage to tell her a few more things soon. “Come on. Let’s get this job done,” he said.

The volunteers stripped the tables and tidied the serving area.

Aven and Caddie stayed until after nine o’clock, but finally Robyn pulled her brother aside. “Take your wife home. She looks exhausted.”

Aven looked over at Caddie, a deep furrow creasing his brow. “She does look beat. But we’re almost finished here.”

“I’ll help Robyn lock up,” Rick said. “We’ll probably be only twenty minutes behind you.”

“Okay.” Aven looked at the pair uncertainly.

Rick winked at him. “We’ll be fine. We just need to box up a few things and load them in my truck.”

“All right. Want us to take Tumble?”

Rick looked over to where the dog was snoozing on the floor under one of the tables. He’d had his time in the spotlight earlier, and the race-goers had lavished attention on him. Rick fully expected to see Tumble’s photo on the front page of tomorrow’s newspaper.

“Sure,” Robyn said. “Hitch him up in his kennel, would you?” Rick had taken her home earlier to feed all the Hollands’ dogs, but she hadn’t wanted to leave Tumble there so they’d brought him back. He’d behaved himself and sat quietly during the dinner.

Robyn called to him. He jumped up and trotted eagerly to her. “Go with Aven.” She patted his head and smiled into his trusting eyes. “You big lug.” She stooped and kissed the dog’s forehead.

When Aven and Caddie had left with Tumble, Rick began packing up the last few things. “All of this goes to your house, right?” He gestured to the dishes and leftover paper plates and cups remaining on the nearest table.

“Yes, and those extra napkins. Oh, and Anna left her purse. I called her as soon as I found it, and she said she’ll come pick it up tomorrow.”

“And Patrick’s taking his dogs home at last?”

“All eight of them go in the morning. I’ll miss them.”

Rick closed up the carton he had filled. “You’ll lose a couple more soon, too, won’t you?”

“Yes. I had two people come to me today and ask if I had team dogs they could buy.” She smiled, but her eyes drooped.

“Sounds like business is doing almost too well.”

“Yeah. It won’t hurt us to thin out the ranks a little though. We’ll have more puppies in spring, and I’ll have a lot of youngsters to train. And Clay Brighton wants me to do some initial training with a litter of yearlings he has.”

Rick nodded. “I’m proud of you.”

“Thanks. I hope Grandpa feels well enough soon to start helping me again. I guess you heard Trooper Glade say we might be able to get back the three dogs Sterns bought. They’re putting them in official custody at the kennel in Anchorage until after Sterns’s arraignment. Aven thinks we should pursue it, and he’s offered to help out if we suffer financially because of it.”

“He’s a good guy, your brother.”

“The best.”

A few minutes later, Rick began carrying cartons to the truck while Robyn held the door for him. At last the hall was cleared.

Robyn walked to the light switches. “Well, that’s over for another year.”

Rick put his arm around her and walked her to the door. A beam of light came in through the glass from a security light outside. “Tired?”

“Yeah. But not as tired as Grandpa.”

“I hope he didn’t overdo it today,” Rick said.

“Me, too.” Robyn fumbled with the key ring in her hand. “I’m a little concerned about Caddie, too.”

“Oh? Something I don’t know?”

“Maybe. She’s expecting in August.”

“Wow. I didn’t know that.” Rick couldn’t help grinning. “That’s terrific. Aven seemed awfully happy, but I just figured that was his normal, sunny personality.”

She laughed. “I’ve never seen him this happy. Caddie’s the best thing that ever happened to him.”

Rick touched her cheek and looked into her eyes in the dimness. “I love it when you laugh. You’re so beautiful then.” He gulped. Would she think that meant he didn’t find her beautiful at other times? Because he did, always. “Robyn …”

She didn’t speak but arched her eyebrows and waited.

He hesitated only a heartbeat. “I love you.”

She caught her breath and he pulled her into his arms. He kissed her as he’d wanted to for weeks, holding her close and running his hand through her thick, glossy hair.

“I love you, too,” she whispered when he released her.

“There’s so much we need to talk about.”

“Whenever you’re ready.”

He pulled her close and held her for another minute, then took the keys from her. They stepped outside and he locked the door.

In mid-April Rick arrived in the Holland Kennel dog yard as Darby finished her mushing lesson. He helped Robyn and Darby unhook the three dogs from the sled and put them away. As he pushed the sled, laden with harnesses, toward the shed, a snowball hit him in the back and he jumped about a foot off the ground.

“Gotcha!” Darby laughed.

He whirled in time to see her bend for another handful of snow. “Oh no, ya don’t!” Rick scooped up enough to pack a quick snowball and lobbed it at her.

Robyn joined in and caught Darby on the arm. For a couple of minutes they exchanged shots, with Robyn alternating her aim between him and Darby.

At last, Rick held up both hands, laughing. “I surrender.”

“Okay, Dr. Baker, I’ll let you go this time, but only because I need to get home. Don’t forget who’s the champ though.”

“Right. I’ll get you next time. If there’s enough snow left.”

Darby headed for the driveway. “Thanks, Robyn. I’ll see you tomorrow at church.”

Rick helped Robyn put the equipment away in the shed. “The snow’s going fast. Pretty soon you’ll be training with the ATV again.”

“I know.” She smiled ruefully. “Grandpa wanted to drive again today. His last sled ride for the season. I let him take one ten-year-old dog inside the fenced yard. I feel so bad that we can’t turn him loose with a team anymore.”

“Maybe he’ll get distracted this summer, helping you and working with all those new puppies.”

“I hope so.” She smiled up at him. “Where are we going tonight?”

“That new restaurant on the Goose Bay Road.”

“Great. Anna says it’s really good. Give me fifteen minutes to change?”

“Sure.” They walked to the back door, and Rick held it open for her.

“Hi, Rick,” Cheryl said as they entered the kitchen. She and Grandpa Steve sat at the kitchen table together.

“I’m going to change, Mom, and then we’re going out to eat.”

“Join us for a cup of tea while you wait, Rick?” Grandpa asked.

“Thanks, I’d like that.” He removed his gloves and unzipped his jacket. Robyn headed off to her room, and Rick sat down beside her grandfather.

“Twelve of Tumble’s new pups are reserved. Can you believe that?” Steve’s eyes glittered. “We’ve only got four more babies, and Robby wants to keep two of them.”

“I guess you’ll stay busy this summer.”

“You bet I will, Doc. Robyn plans to run the Iditarod next year, and I’ve been going over her plans with her. Gotta make sure all her equipment is just right, you know.”

Rick nodded. “I’ll be there to help.”

Cheryl placed a mug of tea before him. “It’s a big venture.”

Grandpa nudged the sugar bowl Rick’s way. “It is, but she can do it. She’s a spunky girl. If she’s not in the top ten, I’ll eat my mukluks.”

Rick laughed.

They were still discussing the big race when Robyn swept into the room wearing a calf-length skirt, an aqua sweater, and tall boots. “What are you yakking about now, Grandpa?”

“Our plans for the Iditarod, that’s what.”

She patted his shoulder. “That’s right. We’ve got lots to do, haven’t we?”

Rick stood. “Ready to go?”

“Yes.” Robyn stooped to kiss Grandpa and blew her mom a kiss. “We won’t be late.”

“Well, we might be,” Rick said.

“Oh?” She eyed him suspiciously.

“I’m not worried,” Cheryl said. When Robyn turned to get her coat, she winked at Rick. “Have a good time, kids.”

An hour and a half later, when they left the restaurant, the sun was just going down.

Robyn sat beside him in the truck, relaxed and dreamy. “What a beautiful night.” She gazed out toward the mountains. The clouds glowed pink and lavender.

Rick drove to the lakeside park and stopped the truck where they could look out over the still-frozen expanse. “Hope you don’t mind. I wanted to talk about something in the restaurant, but it seemed a little too popular.”

“Yeah, it was crowded. The food was good though.” She looked up at him with serious, dark eyes. “What did you want to tell me?”

“Not tell you. Ask you.” He reached in his pocket and took out a small, square box. “I … I got you something when I was in Anchorage Monday. That is …” He hauled in a deep breath. Time to start over. “Robyn, I …”

She was staring at the little box. Slowly, her eyelashes lifted and she met his gaze but said nothing.

“I love you,” he whispered.

Her lips quirked into the gentle smile he adored. “I love you, too.”

He nodded, wondering if his no-frills plan was the best after all. Robyn wasn’t a lace-and-roses girl, but it wouldn’t have hurt to buy some flowers.

She sat quietly beside him. Most women would have pounced on the box by now, squealing and crying. Not that she didn’t care deeply, but she waited for him to do this his own way. So, what was his way?

The simple approach. He reached for her hand. “Will you marry me?”

Her sharp intake of breath left him in suspense for several seconds. Finally she exhaled.

Had he asked her too soon? She’d known for months how he felt. Was she wondering about all the things he’d pondered the last few weeks—what their home and businesses would look like, for instance, where all her dogs would reside, and how they’d make sure Grandpa Steve could live at home as long as possible?

“Yes.”

“You will?”

“Nothing would make me happier than to be your wife.”

He kissed her tenderly, nearly exploding with thankfulness and anticipation. The questions faded into the fast-falling dusk.

He drew back and placed the box in her palm, closing his hand around hers. “I made some guesses—educated ones. I hope you like it. But if you don’t—”

She sprang the catch and held the box up close to her face. “Oh, Rick, how could I not like it?”

He helped her remove the ring and slid it onto her finger. “It’s Alaskan gold and amethyst.”

“It’s perfect.” She curved her arms around his neck. “Thank you for picking it.”

He kissed her again.

“Mom and Grandpa will be so happy,” she whispered in his ear.

“Yeah, they are.”

She leaned back. “They are?”

“Uh … yeah. Your mom saw the box on my desk, and … I hope you don’t mind. They’re waiting for the official word.” She smiled and stroked his cheek. “Let’s go.”

On a bright July day, Rick and Robyn stood together before their pastor at the little church in Wasilla. In the front row sat Cheryl, Steve, Aven, and Caddie. On the other side were Rick’s parents and sisters, who had flown in for the wedding.

Anna and Darby stood beside Robyn at the front of the church. Because of her impending due date, Caddie had gently refused to be a bridesmaid. Rick had called on his brother and Bob Major for the occasion.