“I’ll let that be the job of the Holy Spirit,” Jacob said. “He’s got a much better chance of breaking through your façades than do I.”
He left her with that. She was clearly playing a game with him, and he refused to be a part of whatever it was she was trying to accomplish. He walked slowly back to the doctor’s office, all the while trying to figure out what Helaina Beecham was doing in Nome. He knew she was to have been a part of the exploration north, but there didn’t seem to be any real concern about getting north—not like there had supposedly been when she’d initially met him and Leah.
Jacob opened the door to the doctor’s. Mary was there to greet him. “How you do?” she asked.
“I do fine,” Jacob said with a smile. “Is Leah still visiting our patient?”
“She help him shave. He not very happy about staying in bed.”
“I can imagine. Would you mind if I sit here and read?” he asked, holding up his Bible.
“You read Bible?”
“I do. I love God’s Word.”
Her smile nearly doubled in size. “I love God’s Word too. Only I not read good.”
“You should get someone to teach you,” Jacob suggested.
“I not go to school. I too old.”
“You’re never too old to learn,” Jacob countered. “There are probably all sorts of people who could teach you to read better.
You should start asking at church.”
“I do that,” Mary replied. “Now I tell your sister you here.”
Jacob nodded and settled himself down with the Bible. He read no more than two verses when Leah appeared. “He’s doing much better. The leg is already showing signs of healing. Isn’t that amazing?”
“And all because something that wasn’t supposed to be there was taken out. Seems there are a lot of times in life where you can benefit by removing the offending bit of debris.”
Leah looked at him funny. “You’re certainly moody today. What’s going on?”
Jacob shrugged. “I can’t really say. I will say this, however. I’ve been trying to read the same passage of Scripture for over half an hour. It would sure be nice to get through it.”
“You needn’t worry that I’ll keep you,” Leah said, leaning in to kiss her brother on the cheek. “Jayce needs me and you don’t. I’ll go where I’m needed.”
Jacob nodded and waited until she was gone before trying once again to read his Bible. He had just reread the passage from moments ago when Dr. Cox returned from a house call.
“Well, I’m sure you know your friend is doing much better.”
“I did hear that,” Jacob replied. “Thanks to your sharp eyes and skilled hands, I’d say our friend has a fighting chance.”
“Yes, so long as we keep him here instead of sending him off to Seattle.”
“Seattle? Why would we need to send him there?”
The doctor handed Mary his bag and turned to Jacob. “Well, according to Mrs. Beecham, that’s what the exploration association wishes for her to do. She received word—a telegram, I believe—to have Jayce moved to a hospital in Seattle. I told her I believed it to be a bad idea, however. I have no intention of moving an injured man—at least not at this point of his recovery.”
Jacob wondered why Helaina would suggest such a thing. The exploration association had no reason to move Jayce—they had to know the ship was well to the north. “I’m paying for his care, and so long as he improves, I’d just as soon keep him here,” Jacob said, sensing that something just wasn’t right about the entire matter.
The doctor nodded. “That was my thought exactly.”
He left Jacob to sit and wonder at the situation. Mrs. Beecham was definitely up to something, and he knew this for two reasons: One, she acted like a woman with a secret. And two, there was no way anyone could have gotten word to her in Nome regarding Jayce’s situation. There hadn’t been any delivery of mail, and he’d learned only that morning that the telegraph had been inoperable for two days.
Chapter Thirteen
Leah was encouraged by Jayce’s recovery, despite his frustration. He was still in a great deal of pain anytime he tried to exercise the leg, but the doctor also reminded him that it had only been two and half weeks since the attack.
Leah had also been happy when Jacob made the decision to send the other villagers back to Last Chance Creek with supplies, allowing him and Leah to stay indefinitely. Kimik had promised to get Oopick to run the store in their absence, and that settled the matter. Mail and other supplies could now be had via the revenue cutter that regularly headed as far north as Point Hope. The village wouldn’t suffer for the Barringers’ delay with that faithful ship on duty.
Remaining in Nome had comforted Leah, and in return for her willingness to help in his office, Dr. Cox had offered a small room to her. Leah jumped at the chance to sleep in a real bed rather than in a tent. Jacob had been a little harder to convince. Still, in the end, he had come around to her way of thinking. When he made himself useful in collecting driftwood and cutting firewood, Dr. Cox told him he could sleep in the same room where Jayce recovered. He would have to vacate, of course, should they need the bed for medical reasons, but so far that hadn’t been a problem.
“Leah!”
Leah looked up to find Helaina Beecham heading her way. Helaina crossed the narrow dirt street, dressed in native style, much to Leah’s surprise. “You look very proper,” she told the woman.
“I should hope it would meet with your brother’s critical eye for fashion.”
“He only said what he did because he worried you’d die up north,” Leah said frankly. “The Arctic is not forgiving. Which reminds me, we hadn’t seen you in some time and figured you’d found a way to reach your ship.”
Helaina shook her head. “I received word from the association that Jayce and I were to head to Seattle. They had hoped for us to be there by now, but the doctor didn’t feel Jayce could travel.”
“He’s doing much better now, but I don’t think he knows about the association requesting him to come south.” Leah felt a tightening in her chest, noting again Helaina’s beauty. Her straight blond hair looked quite lovely in the simple way Helaina had tied it back, and her blue eyes seemed a perfect compliment to her peach-colored complexion.
“. . . but of course that depends on how well you know him.”
Leah realized she hadn’t heard what Helaina had just said. “I’m sorry . . . what did you say?”
Helaina laughed. “I was hoping you might help me persuade Jayce to come with me to Seattle. I was wondering how well you knew him.”
Leah tried not to let the question bother her, but it did. “I’ve known Jayce for over ten years. He stayed with my family for a time in Ketchikan.”
“Does he trust you to be honest with him . . . to tell him what would be best for him?”
This question made Leah smile. “No one tells Jayce Kincaid what’s best for him—he’s a free thinker. He does what he thinks is right and rarely concerns himself with how it will affect anyone else.”
“But then most men are that way,” Helaina said with a coy smile, “until a woman changes his mind, of course.”
Leah said nothing. She’d never had any power over Jayce Kincaid, but it was hard to explain this to the Beecham woman without getting into some of the most embarrassing moments of Leah’s life. And she wasn’t about to go down that path.
“Well, here’s what makes this most critical,” Helaina continued. “The exploration association has decided to send a second team north. They believe if they get them in motion immediately, we can be on our way by July. It would mean remaining in the north, but now that I have my Eskimo wardrobe, I don’t even mind that idea.”
Leah still didn’t understand the urgency. “So why can’t they pick you up here in Nome? No doubt they will stop for supplies and workers to help on the trip. They could surely pick the two of you up and head out from here. They might even want Jacob and his dogs.”
&nb
sp; “That would work,” Helaina said rather hesitantly, “except for the fact . . . that . . . well, they would like Jayce to hand select the final members of the team. They trust his knowledge of Alaska.”
“They should—he knows it better than most people. He’s scarcely been out of the territory over the last ten years.”
Helaina frowned. “Surely that’s not true. I’ve heard from other sources that he was quite often back east.”
Leah shrugged. “He told me he spent some time in Vancouver, but I know nothing about him being back east. In fact, it seems Jacob told me that Jayce had been working at something in the interior of the territory prior to going to Vancouver. He loves this land with such a passion that any person would be hard-pressed to come between him and Alaska.”
Helaina was silent, almost appearing to take offense to Leah’s words. Perhaps Helaina knew Jayce much better than she’d let on. Maybe she was in love with him and had planned to convince him to leave the land and settle in the States. The aching returned to Leah’s heart. Lord, please keep me strong. Please don’t let this hurt me more.
“I’m headed back to the doctor’s office right now. I’ve been helping out there in exchange for a room. You could come with me and talk to Jayce yourself. Perhaps if you share this good news of how his superiors want him to pick the team, he would be persuaded to come with you.”
Helaina nodded. “I have wanted to visit with him. I’ve held off, however. I wanted him to feel fully recovered before attempting to convince him to leave. I wouldn’t want to be the reason for a relapse.”
“Then come along. I’m done with my shopping.” Leah held up a small canvas bag. “We might as well see how he’s feeling.”
“But you will try to talk to him—after I’m gone?” Helaina asked. “Try to help him see how needed he is on this project.”
“I can try,” Leah said half-heartedly, “but I doubt he’ll give my words any weight.”
————
Leah and the doctor told Jayce that he was improving with each passing day. His restlessness at being unable to walk long distances caused him to be grumpy, however. The doctor had assured him the stiffness and aching would pass. The wound had been quite deep, after all, and Jayce was fortunate to have a leg to stand on. But even this explanation didn’t still the anxiety inside Jayce. He wanted to be back on his own—he wanted to be away from Nome.
“I’ve brought someone to see you,” Leah announced. A woman came in beside her and waited for the introduction. “It’s Helaina . . . Helaina Beecham, your teammate.”
“My teammate?” Jayce questioned.
“I was to be the assistant cartographer on the Homestead expedition,” Helaina announced. She moved forward and extended her hand. “Glad to finally meet you. I heard of your injuries when you first arrived but have hesitated to burden you with company.”
“I’m grateful for that,” Jayce said, giving her hand a brief shake. She looked like a frail thing, much too fragile for life in the north. He doubted if she weighed more than one hundred pounds and surely she wasn’t any taller than five foot. And he surmised all of this despite the fact that she wore a loose-fitting native kuspuk and denim pants.
“I heard that your injury was considerable,” Helaina continued. “I am sorry for that. Leah tells me that you met your fate while dealing with her brother’s sled dogs.”
Jayce eyed her warily. Jacob had already warned him about the woman. He was glad to have this advantage, certain that Mrs. Beecham knew nothing of their suspicions. Jacob hadn’t even told Leah, for fear that she might let something slip. Jayce watched her for a moment more before finally answering her.
“I was working with the dogs that were to be taken on the expedition. They were spooked, and I, unfortunately, was a stranger in a bad position.”
“Well, you appear to have recovered considerably, and that is why I’m here today. The exploration association would like for you to come to Seattle. We are both to travel there.”
“For what purpose?” This was exactly the information Jacob had shared. They had both mulled it over for some time, trying to reason what the woman might be about. There was no way she had received word via telegraph at the time she claimed, and there hadn’t been time for the mail to reach her from Seattle.
Helaina smiled sweetly and turned to Leah. “Might I have a chair? This will take a little time.”
Leah nodded and left to find Helaina something to sit on. When she returned with a wooden chair from the waiting room, Helaina nodded her approval. “Perfect. Now, where was I?” she asked as she took her seat.
“You were about to tell me why I need to go to Seattle.”
“Well, here is the wonderful news,” Helaina said, looking to Leah as if for confirmation. “There is to be a second expedition. It will leave as soon as the remaining members of the team are handpicked by you.”
“By me? Why me?” He looked to Leah. She seemed upset by all of this yet held her tongue, her distress evident in the way she worried the cuff of her sleeve. Had the Beecham woman somehow threatened her or coerced her to remain silent?
“You are the most knowledgeable about the lay of the land. This team will be staying on through the winter,” Helaina explained.
Jayce rubbed his stubbled chin. “I have no desire to stay in the Arctic through the winter. I’ve already promised Jacob to remain with him in Last Chance Creek and practice working with the dogs. We have several important trips already planned.”
He could see this news didn’t sit well with Helaina, but at the same time he thought a spark of something flared in Leah’s eyes. Could it be happiness at this announcement?
“But, Mr. Kincaid, this is a chance of a lifetime. You would be able to handpick the remaining team. The association values your opinion and believes you to be the most capable person to make these decisions.”
“I’m sorry, but you must be mistaken,” Jayce said, shaking his head. “I have no experience in such matters. They would never ask this of me.”
“You’re just overly modest, Mr. Kincaid. Your reputation precedes you.”
“Truly? And where did you hear of me, Mrs. Beecham?”
Helaina seemed momentarily surprised by this. She quickly recovered, however. “From the association, of course. As well as others. My own brother had heard of you, in fact. He thought you . . . well . . . ingenious.”
“I cannot imagine why. I’ve done nothing to merit such compliments.” Jayce made a pretense at struggling to sit up better in the bed. Leah immediately came to his side to assist him. He liked the way she fussed over him and the way her hair smelled of lavender.
“You shouldn’t wear yourself out, Jayce. If this is too much, we can go.”
“Nonsense. I’m doing quite well. Jacob will be here soon to help me with my walk, in fact.” He saw Helaina’s mouth tighten at the mention of Leah’s brother.
“I am glad that we had this opportunity to chat, Mrs. Beecham. I would be most grateful if you would send my regrets to the association and let them know that I won’t be joining them for the second expedition. It might be possible that I could come along next year. But the doctor assures me I would be risking my life to try anything so foolhardy this year.”
“I see.” Her tone betrayed an obvious displeasure. “I suppose there is nothing I can say to change your mind?”
“Nothing.”
“Even if I told you the second expedition would be called off if you refused to join?”
“I find that doubtful, Mrs. Beecham. The men who are funding and overseeing the Arctic exploration are not the type to put all of their eggs in one basket. Certainly not the basket of a lowly geologist. I know them well enough to state quite confidently that if they are planning a second expedition, it will go on without me. Geologists are easy to come by. I met quite a few when I worked in Vancouver for the last year.”
“Vancouver?” Helaina asked. “Exactly when were you there?”
“Most of last year.
I came north as far as I could get by ship in February, then relied on help from natives to get me to Nome.” She frowned only more at this statement. Jayce couldn’t quite figure it out. Why should that news upset her?
“You really should tell me sometime how you managed to work your way across Alaska in the dead of winter. I’ve heard it to be quite impossible.”
“For a white woman, it might be, although I’m sure Leah could do it,” Jayce replied with a smirk. “I find it hard to believe, for instance, that the exploration team accepted you. You’re hardly cut out for living in the north. You’re skin and bones. A good Arctic breeze would blow you over.”
Helaina’s face reddened at this. She clenched her hands together tightly, further amusing Jayce. “I assure you, I am quite strong and capable.”
“You’ve been north before, then?”
She looked to Leah and then back to Jayce. “No, but . . .”
“You have experience in Arctic temperatures of fifty and sixty below zero?”
“No, but . . .”
“Then you probably have firsthand knowledge of winter survival skills?” He arched his brow and stared at her with an unyielding question to his look.
“Mr. Kincaid, I assure you I know very well how to take care of myself in any situation. I am not afraid to listen to the advice of others, but neither do I leave my choices to fate. I am well read on the explorations of other teams who have gone north and failed. I know what is needed and what is expected.”
“Ah, but do you know what is unexpected?” He looked to Leah and winked. The action unnerved her completely and thoroughly amused Jayce.
Helaina had clearly had enough. “I will inform the association of your decision, Mr. Kincaid, but I wouldn’t plan on being invited to join any future expeditions.”
“It’s no matter to me,” Jayce lied. “I live here year-round. I don’t need a sponsorship to study the vast northern wilderness. I make that my life. Unlike some people who must have badgered the association into taking them on this trip, they came to me. They courted and wooed me to join them, much as a man might do when seeking to entice a woman. If they choose not to invite me to another event, I will not be brokenhearted.”
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