Hiding in Alaska

by Belle Calhoune

  * * *

  “They say the moon is bigger here in Alaska.”

  Isabelle turned around at the sound of Connor’s voice. Although she had glimpsed him from across the way, nothing compared to seeing him up close. Dressed in a pair of dark colored jeans and a navy blue parka that almost matched his eyes, Connor looked casual yet rugged. For the millionth time since she’d arrived in Owl Creek, Isabelle wondered how he had managed to stay single. No doubt it was by choice. She didn’t think many women could resist him.

  He grinned down at her. “And brighter.”

  Isabelle felt a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “I won’t argue with you on that, although I’ve always heard that the moon is the same size regardless of where you are in the world.”

  “Rule number one. As a new resident of Owl Creek, you shouldn’t question town folklore.”

  Isabelle laughed. “I see.” She held up her mittened hands. “I promise not to ever question Alaskan lore again.”

  “So, are you having a good time?”

  “So far it’s been a really fun night. I’ve never been part of a small-town community before, so it’s quite interesting to see how everyone comes together for an event.”

  “Owl Creekians are friendly, if a bit nosy. Don’t be surprised if you’re asked about your great-grandmother’s little sister’s second husband.”

  She burst out laughing. “Owl Creekians? Is that really a thing? You’re kidding, right?”

  Connor folded his arms across his chest. “O ye of little faith. I’ll have you know that one of my ancestors, Barnabus North, came up with that particular name for the townsfolk.”

  “B-Barnabus?” Isabelle sputtered, devolving into a fit of the giggles. Unable to stop herself, she ducked her head and continued laughing. “I’m so sorry for laughing at your ancestor, but that name sounds a million years old.”

  “Thanks a lot. That’s my middle name,” Connor said, his expression shuttered.

  “Woops!” Isabelle raised a hand to cover her mouth. “I’m really putting my foot in my mouth tonight, aren’t I?”

  A sly smile began to spread across his face. “Gotcha. I’m just teasing you. I was named after my father. Connor Nathaniel North.”

  “I like it,” she said. “It’s a bit more distinguished than Barnabus.”

  “Hey! Leave Barnabus alone. He was a very distinguished town founder. Just ask Beulah. She happens to be coming this way.”

  When she turned in the direction of Connor’s gaze, Isabelle instantly spotted Beulah, resplendent in a peony pink ensemble. She was walking alongside an older man, who Isabelle assumed was her husband. Another couple was with them, holding hands and making a beeline toward Connor.

  Beulah’s voice rang out as she greeted her. “Ella! You came! I’m so glad you decided to join us.”

  “Good to see you as well, Beulah. That color looks lovely on you,” Isabelle said.

  “That’s what I told her,” the older gentleman said as he reached out to take Beulah’s hand. “I’m Jennings North, Beulah’s husband. I’ve heard a lot about you, Ella. All good things of course.” He stuck his hand out and shook hers with vigor. “Welcome to Owl Creek, my dear.”

  “Thank you,” she murmured, surprised to discover he knew who she was. It made her happy to know Beulah had spoken about her in a positive light. She thought Beulah and Jennings just might be the most adorable couple in town.

  “These are my parents, Willa and Nate,” Connor said, nodding in the other couple’s direction. “This is Ella Perez. She came to Owl Creek by way of Arizona to work for us.”

  Connor’s parents looked like they had just stepped out of a healthy Alaskan living ad. Willa bore a striking resemblance to Sage, although her eyes were a bright blue while Sage’s were brown. They shared similar features and nearly identical noses. Willa was a petite woman who was dwarfed next to her tall husband. Nate North was just as handsome as his son. With his full head of dark hair and an athletic physique, he appeared quite youthful. Both were smiling in her direction, which immediately calmed her unease at meeting so many people all at once.

  “Thank you for coming to work for North Star Chocolates,” Nate said, his eyes full of warmth. “We’re always grateful for fresh ideas and innovations.”

  “You’re a lovely addition to Owl Creek,” Willa gushed. She sent Connor a pointed look, which caused Isabelle to squirm a little bit. It was clear Connor’s mother also appeared to have her matchmaker hat on. What was it with small Alaskan towns and people feeling the need to pair people up?

  After exchanging pleasantries, they heard an announcement through the loudspeaker that the dog mushing event would be starting soon. Isabelle found herself swept up in the crowd as everyone moved toward another area of the woods. For a moment it was a bit disorienting, until she felt Connor reach for her hand. Although she sensed he was simply ensuring she wasn’t left behind, it was hard to deny how good it felt to have his hand around hers. It gave her a feeling of safety, as if Connor was protecting her from harm. She knew it wasn’t romantic, but for a moment Isabelle imagined what it might be like to hold hands with Connor for real.

  Stop dreaming about things that won’t ever come to pass. It’s a complete waste of time. She needed to be firmly rooted in reality.

  By the time they reached the area where the mushers were located with their sled dogs, a large crowd had assembled. There was a buzz of excitement in the air.

  “What exactly are we going to see?” Isabelle asked. It was slightly embarrassing, but what she knew about dog mushing would easily fit on a postage stamp.

  “This is just a demonstration of how dog mushers and their teams perform. They’re all going to race along the trail and back to give us an idea of what the longer races look like and how the dogs work as a team to get the job done,” Connor explained. “We’re raising money tonight to go toward shelter dogs.”

  “That’s a wonderful cause. My family had a Great Dane for twelve years. She was a shelter dog. Her name was Daisy, and she was amazing.”

  “Great Danes are a handful, much like huskies. Bear keeps me on my toes.”

  “Yes, they are, but Daisy was a sweetheart. We lost her a few years ago. I still miss her.”

  “Sounds like you might be in the market for a shelter dog. The vet clinic is doing adoptions all month, just in case you’re interested.”

  Adopting a dog! The idea of doing so hadn’t even crossed her mind, although she knew it would do wonders for her loneliness. But what if she had to abruptly leave Owl Creek and move to another location? There was no telling how many different towns she might relocate to. Would it be difficult for a pet to be moved around so much if the need arose?

  Isabelle shrugged. “It’s something to think about,” she said, not wanting to give up on the idea so soon. She would love to have a stable life where owning a dog was possible. Maybe she really could put roots down in Owl Creek without having to look over her shoulder all the time. Perhaps it was possible to live a normal life.

  Connor pointed toward one of the mushers. “See the guy in the front wearing the red parka? That’s Ace Reynolds. He’s an exceptional dog musher,” Connor said. “One of the best.”

  “I heard he grew up here in Owl Creek.”

  “He sure did. Folks here in town are awfully proud of him. He’s going to compete in the Iditarod this March.”

  Isabelle wrinkled her nose. “The Iditarod? It sounds familiar, but I have to confess that I don’t know anything about it.”

  He winked at her. “As a born and bred Alaskan, I’ve grown up on it.” He let out a chuckle. “The Iditarod is a yearly sled dog race that stretches from Anchorage to Nome. It takes place over the course of eight days or so. It’s pretty intense and only for those who are dedicated to the craft. When I was a kid, I wanted so badly to be a dog musher and compete in the Iditarod. Ac
e was born into it. Both his father and his grandfather competed, so I guess one could say it’s in his blood. He’s spent so much of his life training and raising the pups. I can’t really imagine him doing anything else.”

  “Are the dogs safe?” she asked. “It’s hard to imagine them racing in such a cold climate. Or for such long stretches of time.”

  “You’ll never meet anyone as passionate about dogs as Ace. He treats all of them very well. They’re his family.”

  “That’s good to know,” Isabelle said, her heart warming at his words.

  “These guys are the best of the best,” Connor said. “It’s a pretty tight-knit group. Some are them are retired, but a few, like Ace, are still competing. It can be very lucrative, but mushers like Ace aren’t in it for the paycheck.”

  Isabelle nodded. Connor was giving her quite an education. It was an interesting sport with a rich history in Alaska.

  “I think they’re getting ready to begin,” Connor said, pointing toward the starting line. “The teams are going to go two at a time.”

  Isabelle turned back toward the action as a horn began to blow and a voice announced that the event was about to begin. Since Connor had given her the background on Ace, her eyes were trained on him and his team. When it was his turn to race, the crowd noisily cheered him on, distinguishing him as the clear favorite in the lineup.

  As Ace and his team came flying down the path, the noise from the crowd was deafening. A feeling of exhilaration gripped her. The speed and finesse of the mushers and their dogs were spectacular. With the wind blowing in her hair and a fierce chill in the air, Isabelle almost felt as if she was riding on the sled herself. It was no small wonder why this sport was so popular and drew such large crowds. It was an invigorating event, one she never could have experienced back home.

  As all the dog mushers crossed the finish line, loud applause broke out among the crowd. Isabelle joined in, clapping enthusiastically.

  “That was really incredible,” she said.

  “There’s nothing quite like the first time you see it.” Connor flashed her a smile. “It’s the official sport of Alaska. Cool, huh?”

  “I had no idea,” she admitted. “But it makes sense. I can’t think of a more thrilling event to watch.”

  “It’s pretty cool seeing it through your eyes.” Connor’s own eyes twinkled as he looked down at her. His voice injected a feeling of coziness into their conversation. For a moment she almost forgot that they were at a public place and surrounded by an entire community. Everything else faded away.

  Was Connor flirting with her or simply being nice? Did it even matter, considering the albatross hanging around her neck? For all intents and purposes she wasn’t a free woman. Her past in Miami shadowed her every single day. It never let her forget her limitations.

  “I’m really happy to be here,” she said lamely, wishing she could simply let loose and go with the flow. But she couldn’t, and anger rose up inside of her. She had witnessed a brutal murder that had put her own life in jeopardy. And now, because of it, she had to steer clear of the one man in all of Alaska who made her feel as if good things might be coming her way.

  Connor stayed where he was, mere inches away. “If you’re hungry we can check out the food truck. They serve a mean gumbo if you want to ward off the chill in the air. There’s also a melt-in-your-mouth chocolate bread to satisfy even the biggest sweet tooth.” His smile served as an invitation. “What do you say?”

  She should make an excuse and get as far away from Connor as possible. Perhaps she could tell him she needed to check in with Lissa about what time she wanted to leave the event. But she was hungry and the fare sounded scrumptious. A myriad of thoughts raced through her mind. Before she could rein herself in, Isabelle blurted out, “I’d love to check out the food truck. I haven’t eaten since this morning and my stomach has been grumbling so loudly it sounds like a grizzly bear.”

  “Well, that sounds serious. We better do something about that right away,” Connor replied. He held out his arm, and she looped hers through it as they headed off in the direction of the food truck. Although Isabelle knew she was heading into dangerous territory by spending time alone with Connor, she couldn’t seem to help herself. He drew her in with the force of a magnet. Just for tonight she was going to enjoy herself with him, secure in the knowledge that it was only a moment in time. When tomorrow morning rolled around, Isabelle would revert back to her plan to stay away from him.

  Getting close to a man like Connor would only make her life in the Witness Protection Program way more complicated. As it was, Isabelle felt as if she was trying to keep her head above water with one arm tied behind her back.

  Chapter Eight

  Connor tried to avoid the curious stares and whispers of the townsfolk. He could feel dozens of eyes focused on him and Ella as they dug into their food. His love life had always been the subject of much speculation in Owl Creek. Since Ella was a newcomer to town, it added a whole new dynamic to their gossip. While a part of him wanted to shoot them dirty looks, he knew taking the high road was more practical. All of his life Connor had been aware of his position in Owl Creek as a member of the North family. As the future CEO of the town’s main industry, it was his responsibility to act in a dignified manner.

  “Do I have something on my face?” Ella asked him. A frown line marred her brow.

  Connor studied Ella for a moment. She looked pretty perfect as far as he could tell. “Not that I can see. Why do you ask?”

  She darted a look around them. “Quite a few people are gawking at me. I thought maybe I had chocolate on my nose or something.” She took another bite of the sweet treat, emitting a satisfied sound as she munched on it.

  Connor stifled a chuckle. She really had tucked into the chocolate bread, and he relished watching her enjoy it so enthusiastically. Ella seemed to have no idea that the two of them were the object of the town’s curiosity. “They’re not staring at you. It’s the fact that we’re together that interests them,” he acknowledged with a grimace. “It’s kind of a town hobby.”

  Ella’s eyes widened. “Oh. I see,” she said in a surprised voice.

  “I’m sorry. I know it must be a little awkward, but certain folks in a small town love to speculate if they see two people hanging out.” He tamped down his irritation. Connor didn’t want Ella to feel uncomfortable or to think that the townsfolk were small-minded gossips.

  “I get it,” she said. “I grew up with a Brazilian grandmother.” She ducked her head and giggled. “She and my great-aunts put me under the microscope my whole life. If I was even spotted with a boy, he was automatically my boyfriend. I understand how this all works, even though it can be frustrating.”

  “I know they don’t mean any harm,” Connor said. “Much like your grandmother and aunts, I imagine. Because you’re new in town, they want to know more about you. And—” he paused dramatically “—the whole town wants to marry me off.”

  Ella let out a surprised sound. “Wow. So they’re trying to march you down the aisle, huh?” The corners of her mouth were twitching with amusement. He liked seeing this lighthearted side of her. Perhaps he’d simply been picking up on her nervousness about relocating to Alaska up to this point. Tonight she seemed as if she was coming out of her shell.

  “Yes. It’s an open secret here in town. It doesn’t help that my brother, Braden, is getting hitched soon. You know how that is. People have started to look at me cross-eyed because both my younger siblings have settled down.”

  “That’s a bit of pressure, isn’t it?”

  Connor shrugged. He didn’t want to admit that lately it hadn’t been as easy to shrug it off. He spotted Sage, Hank and his niece, Addie, standing across the way. Whenever he was in their presence, Connor wondered what it would be like to fall so deeply in love with someone that you wanted nothing more than to devote your life to that person. He’d
never felt anything remotely like that.

  “It is, but I suppose it’s a bit of a compliment. Everyone in town has known me since the day I was born. They really want me to be happy.”

  “Aren’t you happy now?” Ella asked. She was gazing at him intently, as if she really cared about his welfare.

  “I’m very content with my life, but when I see my sister and her family, I wonder how much better things could be,” he admitted, jerking his chin in Sage’s direction. His sister was holding Addie in her arms while Hank was making her giggle by tickling her. Anyone could see that they were a picture-perfect family. He’d surprised himself by being so honest with Ella. Maybe it was easier to admit something of that nature to someone he didn’t know very well. Somehow it took the pressure off.

  “They do look blissful,” Ella said. “Their little girl is precious. She’s the spitting image of her daddy.”

  “That’s my niece, Addie. When Sage met Hank, he was a single father, so my sister became a mother when they got married. She fell in love with Hank and got Addie as a beautiful bonus.”

  “They’re such a sweet family. Sage looks like she’s a great mom to Addie. She’s so loving and attentive. And a schoolteacher to boot. She’s like the Mary Poppins of mothers.”

  The image of his sister swinging down from the sky with an umbrella brought a smile to his face. Connor shifted his gaze in Sage’s direction. “She really is incredible, isn’t she? It’s been amazing getting to know her.”

  Isabelle furrowed her brow. “What do you mean? Shouldn’t you already know her? She’s your sister.”

  Connor let out a ragged sigh. “I didn’t grow up with her. This is going to sound pretty wild, but she was kidnapped from our home when she was only three months old. She was missing for twenty-five years. We were only reunited with her a short while ago. Thankfully, we’ve all bonded, but it’s been a tough journey.”

  Isabelle gasped. Clearly she hadn’t known about his family’s tragedy. Sometimes it seemed to him as if the entire world knew about what had transpired. When Sage had returned to Owl Creek last year it had coincided with the twenty-fifth anniversary of her abduction. As a result, there had been an abundance of media attention. The headlines had broadcast the story of Sage’s return all over the country.