by Lorenz Font
It would have been, if the man’s bloodshot eyes hadn’t opened at her touch. Her body turned rigid at once, and she moved to lift her limbs off him.
Pink crept up her cheeks. Sarah lowered her eyes, afraid to look at him when their faces were almost touching. His eyes tilted in her direction.
“Do … it,” his hoarse tone begged.
Sarah hesitated, but her innate healing sense would not let her refuse to do the right thing. She lowered her limbs onto his body again and inched closer. His slight movement suggested he was trying to snuggle against her, but whatever pain he’d been grappling with prevented him from doing so.
“Don’t move. Just stay still if you can. You’ll feel warmer in no time.”
“Have you no respect for yourself, or even for me?”
The livid voice boomed across the room and tore away her cloud of lethargy. Sarah’s eyes shot open, and she blinked, feeling disoriented. It took a moment to focus, but then she found herself staring up at a man who glowered back down at her. Her father. She bolted to a sitting position and glanced across the room to the empty bed. With a gasp, she realized that she had been dreaming all along.
It had felt so real. She shivered at the memory.
“You disgrace yourself.” Her father’s accusation made her cringe.
Sarah heard curious voices outside the clinic. There wasn’t a doubt that the entire town was waiting for the verdict. Their small town’s antenna was very good at learning about these types of situations. Reports must have already been spreading. Considering the inexplicable turn of events, this would have qualified for a front-page headline if they had a local newspaper.
Ahila glared at her with disapproval and walked out of the room. His anger was something she’d expected, and her one hope was that that he’d accept her explanation.
She closed her eyes and leaned on the desk for a brief moment before dutifully following her father outside the clinic. The scene outdoors was no surprise. Old and young alike had gathered, their expressions ranging from curiosity to outright accusation and blatant disappointment. Just a few people showed any signs of sympathy, Lily and Trimble among them.
“Do you have any idea what you have done?” Ahila’s voice boomed. It was no wonder why words in Beaver traveled fast.
“I did what I thought was right. Surely you’re not putting me through school so I can pick and choose who to help?” Sarah’s rising voice questioned. Her usual reserved character was gone. Instead, she spewed the same venom with which her father was lashing her.
“You had no right to give away what little medicine we had left. Didn’t you think about the possibility that if any one of us fell ill, there would be no chance of surviving because you gave away the few provisions we had?” Anger flashed in her father’s eyes while he stared her down. He had a slight stature, but size didn’t matter. Ahila was big in presence and command.
“I did the right thing, Papa,” Sarah cried in response. She clenched and unclenched her fists. How could she make her father understand?
“You did not! You chose an outsider and made him your priority. They come here with full knowledge that we cannot give them much in terms of medical assistance. They sign their waivers. They know what to expect.”
“I’m not going to become a doctor to make decisions about who deserves to be treated.” Tears came down with a gush, and she couldn’t help the quivering in her voice.
Lily took a step forward, but Trimble held her back.
“And you won’t ever become one,” Ahila thundered. “As of today, I’m washing my hands of you. Consider yourself expelled. You’re no longer a part of this tribe. This community you turned your back on will no longer fund your training. You’re on your own.”
“Papa, you don’t mean what you’re saying.” Pain squeezed in her chest. Sarah inched forward and dropped to her knees.
“I meant every word. Your blatant disrespect of my position and of the man you’re promised to will be your shame to bear. You can leave now.” Ahila turned on his heel and started to walk away.
“Papa, please …” Sarah scrambled to her feet and ran after him. She tried to pull on his arm to make him stop. Instead of even glancing in her direction, he shrugged off her hand and strode away in silence.
Banishment in the Gwich’in culture, though rare, was still practiced in current times. There was a degree of detachment from the American laws in rural areas such as Beaver. Tribal leaders were often called upon to decide on cases ranging from petty theft, domestic abuse, and disturbances to traffic mishaps and other crimes. That authority also included town business, which could take months for the local government to intervene in. Banishment had become a part of their policing structure, but it was a harsh decision that could only be handed down by the head of their tribe.
This was now Sarah’s reality. She would be banished from her father’s home and from the only place she’d ever known. Her crime? Saving a life.
Ahila considered his actions as stemming not from prejudice but from his responsibility to look out for the best interest of his people. Sarah had understood that goods and medications were hard to come by. Delivery occurred just once a month because transportation was both limited and expensive. Medicines cost money—money they didn’t have. For Sarah to decide the best course of action in the situation was deemed irresponsible.
With the banishment given, she couldn’t stay on the tribe’s land until the decree was lifted. The ban was now in force and must be carried out right away.
Turning around, Sarah saw a blur of faces that regarded her with the same fire she had seen in her father’s eyes. Only Lily and Trimble stepped forward to intervene when people began stalking in her direction, intent on carrying out her father’s judgment.
“There’s no need to do anything.” Trimble raised his hand, holding off the herd that would otherwise push her onto the next plane out of town. “I will personally see to her departure. Go on home.”
Speaking with the authority of a future leader, Trimble persuaded the throng of people to disperse. Surreal couldn’t even begin to describe the whole scene. Sarah wrapped her hands around her body to keep from falling apart. When Lily pulled her into her arms, Sarah knew that her exodus couldn’t be postponed.
She pulled away from Lily, whirled around, and ran home. Millions of confused thoughts were flying through her mind. Banished! Where would she go?
Packing was a fast chore when you owned close to nothing. She was out of the house within minutes, having packed a duffle bag filled with a few clothes, books, a family picture, and a couple hundred dollars she managed to scrape together.
Sarah walked to the plane depot and waited for Lily. With little money to her name, she wouldn’t be able to go very far. Looking around, she saw few people in the immediate area. Most of them hadn’t heard the verdict yet, but they gave her questioning looks nonetheless. Lily and Trimble arrived after a few minutes. Trimble wore a grim expression, while Lily looked like she was on the border of hysteria.
“I believe this happened for the best,” Sarah said with false confidence. The smile she tried to muster for their sakes failed to reach her eyes.
“Hello? Sarah, just in case you don’t realize this, you have been banished from your home. Now, tell me … when did that qualify as good?” Lily said incredulously.
Exasperated, confused, hurt, and scared, Sarah drew out a long and shaky sigh. “Don’t you think this incident voids my arranged marriage to Trimble?”
A bittersweet expression flashed across Lily and Trimble’s faces.
“This is not how it should be. Not at your expense. Not like this.” Trimble shook his head. “This isn’t right. You did an honorable thing.”
“This is Father’s way of showing me that I’ve crossed the line. Who knows? Maybe I deserved it. But don’t think for even one minute that I regret my decision.” Despite her tears, Sarah jutted out her chin in defiance.
“We have a little something for you.�
� Lily fished inside her bag and produced a wad of bills. “Take the money—you’ll need it. It’s not much, but we think it should get you through the next few weeks while you’re looking for a job and a place to stay.”
Reluctantly, Sarah accepted the money Lily shoved in her pocket. She had little of her own and nowhere to go, and being proud wasn’t going to get her anywhere.
“Thank you.”
“Do you have any idea where you’re headed?” Lily’s eyes brimmed with tears.
Sarah shook her head.
The sound of the bush plane’s little engine sounded—an alert that it was ready for commuters to come onboard. “Well, this is goodbye, for now.” Sarah’s heart grew heavier by the minute.
One thing she regretted was not having gotten the chance to find out what happened to that man. She hoped that he had survived his wound and would be able to get back to normal.
Glancing at the people boarding the aircraft, she waved for the driver to wait.
“I want to know if he made it through the night.” Sarah gathered her duffel bag and slung the strap over her shoulder.
“I’ll try to see what I can find out,” Lily promised with a sniff.
A stab of worry lanced Sarah’s heart. “I’ll call soon, and you can tell me about him.” The whistle sounded, signaling the plane’s departure. “I must go.”
“Keep in touch.” Lily held Sarah’s hands before pulling her into a fierce hug. They cried together.
“I have to go.” She pulled away before Lily could say another word.
Sarah’s actions had driven her to take a different route and go somewhere unexpected. With a snap of a finger, life had doled out a staggering and humbling hurdle to overcome, yet there was no regret on her part. She’d saved a life, and that was all that mattered. From this point on, she had other problems to worry about. The timing couldn’t have been any worse, but she squared her shoulders. To lift her flagging resolve and reiterate her ability to face the unknown, she spoke aloud.
“Bring it on.”
Chapter 5
In the past month, thoughts of her father and the fateful day that led to her expulsion from her town occupied most of Sarah’s waking hours. Yeah, it hadn’t been a walk in the park. She’d racked her brain for ways to get Ahila to lift the ban, but it wouldn’t be easy. When he set his mind on things, he was almost impossible to budge. He refused to take her calls, which confirmed that he remained angry and unyielding.
It went without saying that the stranger had been on her mind, too. She often wondered what had happened to him after he was transported to Fairbanks. Did he survive his wound? Had any complications arisen from her impromptu, amateur operation?
Sarah had replayed the scene in her mind over and over. No matter how often her rational side assured her she’d done the right thing, the doubts lingered. She’d treaded the gray area of ethics. Talk about a sword dangling over her head.
“Do you have class today?” Cheryl came bounding into the room, a pesky, cheeky, honest-to-goodness fireball masquerading as a sweet, innocent-looking woman.
“Yeah, I’m leaving in half an hour.”
In many ways, Cheryl Dobson had become Lily’s Los Angeles counterpart when Sarah entered the university. They’d met during their first biology class together and had been inseparable ever since. Although their personalities were like night and day, Cheryl’s bubbly attitude complemented Sarah’s more withdrawn demeanor. Despite Cheryl’s “speak your mind and think later” approach, the two women had hit it off right away. In fact, it was their differences that had paved the way to a unique friendship. They got along well, which had made it easier for Sarah to transition into her new environment.
Now, Cheryl gave her friend a long look-over before flopping down at the edge of the bed. Sarah knew what was coming. Cheryl wasn’t one to mince words, and Sarah had gotten an earful already, especially now that they lived together. Upon her arrival, she’d called Cheryl from the airport, asking for a place to stay for one night. Her friend had jumped in with the offer to share a room in her home. Cheryl’s parents were on board with the idea, inviting Sarah to stay with them for as long as she needed a roof over her head.
Every day Cheryl spotted her sulking, she’d throw out a barrage of smart-ass comments to get her to start talking about her feelings. Through all her scolding, Cheryl conceded she would have done the same thing in that situation.
“What’s on your mind?” It wasn’t a real question, but it was Cheryl’s way of drawing Sarah out of her shell.
Frustration put an edge in her voice. “It’s been a month, and my father doesn’t sound like he’ll budge.”
Cheryl seemed to consider that and smiled. “Are you sure you’re just thinking of your father?”
Relentless and borderline-annoying as she was, Cheryl had Sarah pegged. It was scary how easy it was for her friend to read her like an open book. Sarah chose to feign innocence. “What are you talking about?”
Narrowing her eyes, Cheryl peered at her closely. “You’re not fooling me. Spill.”
Sarah kept up with the pretense. “Spill what?”
“Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about that man whose life you saved. These were your exact words, and I quote, ‘Cheryl, he’s beautiful. A work of art. I haven’t seen anyone as gorgeous as him up close.’ ” Cheryl laughed after mimicking her and ducked for cover, knowing full well that retaliation might be headed her way.
“What do you want me to say? I want to know what happened to him. You keep on bringing it up and blaming me for playing Mother Teresa. Now all I can think of is whether I messed things up more than I helped,” Sarah objected, scrunching up a piece of paper into a ball and hurling it in Cheryl’s direction. She missed, and Cheryl stuck her tongue out at her.
Sarah threw her hands up in frustration. That much was true—she’d crossed the line when she played doctor without a license. In her own defense, she had done it based on the urgency of the situation. She’d been second-guessing her decision ever since, but it had been a life or death call without the benefit of reconsideration or do-over.
Cheryl’s expression softened. “For what it’s worth, I believe you did the right thing.”
“I know … I just can’t help being curious.”
“You spoke with Lily, right?”
Sarah nodded her head.
“What did she say happened after you left?”
“Lily said things happened real fast. When she came back to the clinic later, there was a helicopter, state troopers, and guys in suits asking questions. At one point, Lily said it got scary. The town had been thrown into one big crime scene. No one could leave until they were issued clearance.”
“Wow.” Cheryl chewed on her bottom lip. “Makes you wonder why he got shot and what’s going on with that big entourage. You think he’s an important man?”
Sarah considered that for a moment. The man had seemed nowhere near ordinary. Even in his sleep, he’d been intimidating, and she could easily imagine him being someone born to power. His clothes had spoken of fine craftsmanship and excellent taste—too bad she’d had to cut them off him. “Maybe. I really wouldn’t know.”
“Hmm … you did say you dreamt about keeping him warm that night, right?” Cheryl teased.
Sarah should be used to her by now. Still, color rose up her neck. Flipping over on the bed, she buried her face in a pillow. “Shut up!” The pillow muffled her response. She regretted ever telling her friend about that dream.
“Yeah, yeah.” Cheryl giggled.
“Whatever.” It was impossible to get Cheryl to take her seriously when she got into this teasing mood. It was Sarah’s cue to leave for class. “I’m going. Don’t wait up. There’s a good chance I’ll be late tonight.”
Snatching her backpack off the desk, Sarah hurried out of the room before Cheryl could see how her teasing affected her. It was one of many things she wasn’t ready to admit.
“Greg, the car’s ready,” Simon Moss
called out from the doorway.
Gregory Andrews III glanced up from the mountain of papers on his desk—documents requiring his signature, approval, or review. He nodded at Simon, who left after scrutinizing him a bit longer than necessary. There were too many papers piling up around him, and Greg had no idea how fast he could get to everything. He’d been back in the city for two weeks following his long hospital confinement in Fairbanks. Since he couldn’t make an appearance at work without clearance from the doctor, he opted to work from home. The trouble was his body hadn’t been the same since he’d returned to the mainland.
Most days he felt better, and it seemed like he was inching back to normalcy. There were good days when he moved with ease, enjoying the absence of shooting pain from his abdomen or the recurrent nausea and dizziness. But some days, the only thing he could do was stay in bed or seated, or he’d have stumbled and hurt himself.
Greg planted his hands on the desk and hoisted his body up. Before taking a step, he plucked the cane perched on the side of his chair. The cane was a staple for him these days, an aid he needed in case his muscles decided to spasm without advance notice. It had happened many times earlier, and the results had been devastating. Busted lips, extreme fatigue, and a bruised ego were some of the side-effects he’d encountered after his surgery.
Clutching the cane, he hobbled toward the door, through the hallway and out of his Fifth Avenue penthouse to the elevator. The elevator attendant smiled at him when he approached.
“Good morning, Mr. Andrews. You’re looking well today,” the elderly gentleman greeted with sincerity.
“Thank you, Lewis. I’m feeling much better.” Greg resisted the urge to snap back. Instead, he concentrated on the descending numbers encased in a metal display. His mood hadn’t been the best and would remain sour until he heard from Trevor.
“Are you going for another appointment?” Lewis looked at Greg over his shoulder, his kind eyes crinkling at the corners.