An Alaskan Proposal

by Beth Carpenter

  Leith bumped his head on the frame. “Ouch.” He pushed free and handed over the dog. “Here.”

  Sabrina rushed around the car to stand beside Emma and Leith. “I’m sorry. This was my fault. My dog got loose and yours jumped out of your car to chase him. Leith was rescuing them.”

  “You should keep your dog under control,” the woman said.

  “Yes. I will. I’m sorry.” Sabrina refrained from pointing out again that the other dog had escaped as well. Under her hands, Sabrina could feel Boomer’s muscles quivering, and a low rumble escaped from his throat. Leith didn’t say anything, but his raised eyebrow screamed “I told you so.”

  They made their way back to Leith’s car. Once they were all safely inside, Sabrina asked Leith, “Is your head okay?”

  “I’m fine. I didn’t hit it that hard.”

  “Good.” Sabrina sighed. “Okay, you’re right. Boomer does need to learn better manners. How do I go about teaching him to obey like Tal does?”

  Leith rubbed his forehead and glanced back at the terrier, now innocently resting next to Emma. “I’d suggest an obedience class, or if you can’t fit that into your schedule, I have a book on basic training techniques I could lend you. I have to tell you, though, he’ll probably never be as obedient as Tal. It’s in their nature for German shepherds to respect authority. It’s a terrier’s nature to thwart it.”

  “That’s okay. Boomer doesn’t need to be perfect, just learn enough to be safe.” She smiled at the dog. “Because we don’t want you run over or getting carried away by eagles, do we?”

  Boomer sniffed as if to say he wasn’t afraid of any eagle. Tal licked his ear and encouraged him to curl up between her front legs. She rested her chin on top of him.

  Leith seemed surprised. “I’ve never seen Tal this affectionate with another dog before.”

  “I told you. Boomer’s irresistible.”

  He smiled. “Apparently Tal agrees.”

  By the time they arrived at the campground, the others had staked out adjoining campsites and were busy unloading the camping gear. A couple of tents and a pop-up trailer were set up on the other side of the campground, but it didn’t look too busy. Emma jumped out and danced in a circle. “We’re here!”

  Sabrina climbed out of Leith’s truck, suddenly shy, but Marissa hurried over to greet her. “Hey, so glad you made it.” She bent down to pet the dog cradled in Sabrina’s arms. “Who’s this?”

  “This, we’ve just decided, is Boomer.”

  “Just decided?”

  “Yes. I wasn’t sure I was going to keep him, so I didn’t name him until today. I hope it’s okay that I brought him.”

  “Of course it is. Ryan’s corgi, Donner, is here somewhere and Sam might bring his Lab, Kimmik. Sam and Dana are leaving Griffon with Ursula, though, so they might leave the dog, too. Dana’s excited because this is her first chance to catch a king salmon. Last summer she was nine months pregnant during this run. Have you been king fishing before?”

  “No.”

  “I think you’ll like it. King fishing can be a little slow, but it’s superexciting when you catch one. The downside is the limit of one fish, so once you get your king, you’re through. If you get one today, though, you can still try for grayling or dollies tomorrow.”

  “Grayling or dollies.” Sabrina repeated the words and nodded as though they meant something. She was going to have to corner Leith and quiz him on what exactly was so special about king salmon.

  “Nice vest. Is that a new style? I’ll have to come to the store and look.”

  “Uh, no. It’s the same basic vest they’ve always had. I just added some curved seaming and some trim.”

  “I like it. You should tell them to make all their vests like that.”

  “Well, maybe if I make the management team, I’ll have the chance to do that.”

  Sabrina snapped Boomer’s leash in place and allowed Emma to take him to meet Ryan and Donner. Leith started to unload the camping equipment, and she hurried to help, eager to see if she remembered the skills Leith had taught her. “Do you want me to set up the tent here?”

  “Here’s good, but this one sets up differently. Since we’re car camping, I thought I’d bring the cabin tent, so we could use cots instead of sleeping mats.”

  “Oh.” A different tent meant she’d look stupid in front of Leith’s friends, with him showing her how to set it up in baby steps. Which was exactly why she hadn’t been all that eager to try fishing. She was getting tired of being the helpless one all the time.

  But it didn’t turn out like that. Leith set up the tent without much fanfare, just asking her to hold a pole in place or hand him a stake now and then. Together, they set up cots inside and carried in sleeping bags, spreading Emma’s purple bag on the center cot. By the time they’d finished, Sam and Dana had arrived and were setting up their camp.

  Leith looked at his watch. “It’s been about an hour since the tide came in. Let’s gear up.” He opened one of the plastic tubes he’d unloaded and pulled out some fishing rods.

  Rivers had tides? And if they did, what did that have to do with fishing? Marissa must have noticed Sabrina’s puzzled expression because she stepped closer. “The salmon spend their first year in fresh water, but then they migrate to the ocean and live there for several years. Now they’re returning to the place they were hatched to spawn. They like to get a boost from the tides to start them swimming up the river. We’re likely to see a surge of salmon coming by here about an hour after the tide turns.”

  “Oh, that’s right. You said you’re a wildlife biologist.”

  “Yeah. I did a presentation on salmon life cycles in an elementary school last month. Sorry if I’m lecturing.”

  “No, I like learning about things like this. So, the salmon hatch in the river, but they live in the ocean. Then they come back to the rivers to lay their eggs every year? Sort of like sea turtles?”

  “Not exactly. Sea turtles lay their eggs on the beach and return to the ocean. Spawning is the end of a salmon’s life cycle.”

  “They die? But that’s so sad.”

  “I don’t know. It’s a natural cycle. Salmon have an amazingly strong instinct to return home. They swim against the current, leap over cascades and brave people fishing and bears to get to the spawning grounds.”

  “Bears?” And Sabrina had been worried about eagles.

  “Sure. Salmon are grizzlies’ favorite food.”

  “How do the salmon know where they’re supposed to go?”

  “They have an amazing sense of smell, and they imprint the river they grow up in. At the fish hatchery in Valdez, you can see them all pooled up, trying to swim up a two-inch pipe to get inside where they were hatched. I think it must be a huge victory for them to reach their spawning grounds. They’ve lived a full life and accomplished their purpose.”

  Sabrina smiled at her. “You really like your job, don’t you?”

  “I do. If spawning is a salmon’s purpose, studying wildlife is mine. That and my family.”

  “Sabrina,” Leith called. “Do you want to come over here with Emma and Ryan? I’m about to give the fishing safety talk.”

  Marissa laughed. “You’d better go. Leith won’t trust you with his fishing tackle until you’ve had—” she formed quotation marks with her fingers “—The Talk.”

  Sabrina joined the kids to listen to Leith. Just like in the first-aid class, he was funny and energetic, but made his points clear. “I know face piercing is in fashion, but you do not want it done with a fishhook.” He held a gaudy green lure up next to his cheek. “See, as a fashion accessory, it’s a total bust.”

  The group laughed, but then focused again as Leith continued. Once they were properly instructed in safety, Leith handed out fishing rods and assigned them to their spots along the creek, with Ryan just downstream from Chris and E
mma and her far enough apart so they weren’t in danger from each other. The other adults were already at work farther up the river, fishing lines arching over their heads before they stretched out and landed in the water.

  Before she tried fishing, Sabrina tied Boomer to a tree within sight of the riverbank. The other two dogs were loose, but they seemed inclined to stick close to the group. Sabrina wasn’t at all sure Boomer wouldn’t take off into the woods on a whim, so she decided not to take any chances.

  Her phone chimed. Misty had sent two photos of herself. In one she wore a retro sundress with a full skirt in a cherry print, in the other white jeans and a fuchsia cold-shoulder top. Sisterly input needed. Date tonight. Which one?

  Sabrina had to smile at the thought of a little sister who wanted her advice. Where are you going?

  Pizza & Movie.

  The dress. And a sweater so you don’t freeze in the movie.

  Cool. Thnx.

  Have fun.

  She put away her phone and bent down to give Boomer an ear rub before she went to fish. But the moment she stepped away, leaving him tied, Boomer expressed his dissatisfaction. Loudly. Sabrina pretended to ignore him, turning her back and picking up her fishing rod, but that didn’t discourage him from barking and whining as though she was deserting him forever.

  She’d just about decided to go back and get him when he stopped making noise. She turned to see Tal had joined him and was licking his head. After a moment, Tal flopped on the ground and Boomer curled up between her paws for a nap. She rested her big head beside him. After a moment Donner wandered over and lay down nearby.

  Now that the dogs were settled, Sabrina picked up her rod. She looked over to watch Leith help Emma untangle some leaves from her line. The sun shone down on his broad shoulders and his blue eyes sparkled when he smiled at something Emma said. He was so good with his niece, and with Ryan, too. He’d make a good dad, someday.

  Sabrina liked kids, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to be someone’s mother, to have another person totally dependent on her. At least not until she had a secure job and was positive she could support a family on her own because you could never be sure about marriage.

  “Hey, are you going to fish or just admire the view?” Leith called.

  “I don’t know. It’s a nice view.”

  He threw back his head and laughed. “Better fish. You can’t eat scenery.”

  It wasn’t the scenery she’d been referring to, but Leith didn’t need to know that. She tried casting the shiny green lure into the river, the way Leith had shown them. It took a few tries, but before long Sabrina got the hang of casting and slowly reeling in the line, allowing the lure to wiggle and jerk like a minnow. Even though there was no sign of any salmon on her line, Sabrina decided she rather liked fishing. The sunshine felt warm on her back, and the air smelled fresh and clean.

  Across the river, a group of black-and-white ducks paddled along. The repetitive motion of casting the line out and reeling it in was soothing, like knitting or enjoying a rocking chair. They’d been fishing for almost an hour when Emma squealed, “I think I’ve got a fish!”

  Leith, who had been fishing just upstream between Emma and Ryan, set down his pole and hurried over. “You’re right. Reel it in, slowly. Keep your tip up. That’s right. Good job.” He continued to coach her until she’d successfully brought the fish close to the shoreline, where he could scoop it up in a net. He called out, “Emma’s got the first catch of the day. A nice little jack.” He pulled a measuring tape from his vest. “It’s fourteen inches. The regs say if it’s under twenty, it doesn’t count toward your one-king limit. That means you can keep on fishing, while I take care of this one.”

  Leith carried the fish toward camp, presumably to clean it. Not long after that, Dana’s pole arched sharply. “Fish on!” Sabrina stopped fishing to watch. This one seemed to take a lot longer to get it close to the shoreline. Sam reached down with the net and held up the fish. It must have been close to three feet long. Now Sabrina understood why they called them kings. They were enormous.

  Chris moved closer to check out the fish, blocking Sabrina’s view for a moment. When he moved again, they were hooking something into the fish’s mouth. Chris held it at arm’s length, the fish dangling. “Thirty-three pounds. Nice.”

  “Not bad for your first king.” Sam kissed his wife. “Congratulations.”

  Dana beamed. “Grilled salmon for supper. I’ll go start a fire while the rest of you fish.”

  After another hour of fishing, Chris and Leith had pulled two more huge fish from the water. Leith went off with the salmon, saying something about cleaning them and starting coals while Chris stayed with the kids. He returned a little while later. Ryan had hooked one, but much to his disappointment, his line broke before he could reel it in. Leith came to stand close to Sabrina. “How’s it going?”

  “Well, I haven’t caught a fish, but my arm muscles have gotten a good workout.” She cast once more and had started reeling it in when she felt a sharp tug on the line. “Hey, I might have one!”

  She reeled it in slowly, trying to follow Leith’s instructions. “Easy. Turn its head upstream. Now bring it closer.” Sabrina reeled in part of the line, but with a sudden jerk, the reel started spinning outward.

  “Oh, no.”

  “That’s okay. Just play the fish. You might have to let him wear himself out a little. Let him run a bit and then bring him in.”

  The fish ran several times before Sabrina was able to work it even close to the shoreline. She could see it, looking like the shadow of a whale in the water a few feet out. It changed direction suddenly. “Don’t let him get into the current,” Leith advised, but before Sabrina could react, the fish darted and the line snapped, shooting backward and slapping Leith in the face.

  “Cielos!” Sabrina threw down the pole and ran to him. “Are you all right?” A red mark slashed across his cheek.

  “I’m fine. Fortunately, the fish took the lure with him, so I only got the line.”

  “I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s my fault.” Leith rubbed his cheek. “I wasn’t following my own advice about standing too close. No harm done.”

  “I’ve got one and it’s a giant!” Ryan shouted. The arch of his fishing rod seemed to back up his assertion. This time Chris and Marissa gave advice and helped him play the fish, while the rest of the group watched and cheered. It probably took thirty minutes, but finally Chris netted it and pulled it out. It was huge, or at least it seemed that way to Sabrina.

  They pulled it out of the net and onto the bank. The fish gave a sudden thrash and managed to flip itself into the river. In that instant, Chris launched himself into the water, tackling the fish like a rugby player. “I’ve got it. Get the net.”

  Sam grabbed the net and waded in, easing the net beneath Chris, who held on until he was sure the fish was safely caught. Together they dragged the fish from the water once again, this time farther from the bank.

  Ryan ran over and, heedless of Chris’s soaking wet clothes, wrapped his arms around him. “Thanks, Dad.”

  Chris grinned from ear to ear. “Are you ready to weigh this monster?”

  “Yeah!”

  The salmon weighed in at thirty-two pounds, and Ryan couldn’t have been more thrilled. After that, they all decided to call it a day.

  Back at camp, Dana already had a fire going, and was brushing olive oil over the biggest salmon fillet Sabrina had ever seen.

  “We’ve got the vegetables covered, from Becky’s garden,” Marissa said. “Leith, you said you had dessert?”

  “We do,” he answered. “Sabrina and I will just get it in the Dutch oven, and it can cook while we eat.”

  Sabrina and I. It felt nice to be part of a team. Sabrina passed off Boomer’s leash to Emma. Leith had pulled out a big cast-iron pot and was rubbing the inside with a butter wrapper
. “How can I help?”

  “When I was cleaning out my freezer to make room for fish, I found a bunch of blueberries from last year. Can you get them from the ice chest? And you’ll find the other ingredients in that box.”

  She found the gallon bag of berries, cake mix, cinnamon, pecans and sugar. Meanwhile, he’d arranged smoking coals in the firepit. Sabrina set the ingredients on a folding table. “Are we making a cake on the campfire?”

  “No, it’s more of a cobbler, and we’re using charcoal. I started the coals earlier, and they’re hot now. Go ahead and add the ingredients to the blueberries in that bag.”

  Sabrina followed his instructions, and they soon had the cobbler mixed and the Dutch oven nestled onto a bed of coals with more coals on the lid.

  Leith held his hand about seven inches over the coals and slowly counted to six before jerking it away. “Rule of thumb—if you can leave your hand this close for six seconds, the coals are medium-hot. Based on my experience, it will take about twenty-five minutes to cook this cobbler.”

  “I’ll set my phone alarm. No chance the cobbler will explode in the meantime, right?”

  Leith grinned. “Nope. If the steam builds up, it can escape around the lid. No explosions tonight.” He gathered up the tongs and wrappers.

  Sabrina returned the phone to her pocket. “You know, if you ever get tired of this survival trainer gig, you should audition for the Cooking Channel.”

  Leith laughed. “Yeah, I’ll send in my résumé as soon as we get back. I’m sure they’ll be calling right away.”

  If he sent in a video, they probably would. Especially if he smiled like that. Even the mark on his cheek from her fishing line didn’t detract from his appeal.

  She smiled back at him. He stopped what he was doing and met her eyes. And held them.

  “Dinner’s ready,” someone called, breaking the spell.

  Leith set his tongs on one of the flat stones beside the firepit. “Our mess kit is over there. Could you help Emma with her plate, please?”