“That’s because they’re tsistl’uuni.”
“Chist-loo-nee? What does that mean? Do I have the wrong ones?”
The man laughed. “No. These are hill snowshoes. What you will need to climb the glacier.”
“Oh yes. Thank you.” Allan watched intently as the native man demonstrated with grunts. John had told them before they met up with the natives that they would learn the men’s names if and only if the men told them. It wasn’t polite to ask, and they had to earn each other’s trust. Allan found it all fascinating.
The man nodded once Allan finally latched the shoes correctly. “Here.” He handed Allan a paper-wrapped packet. “For your journey.”
“What is it?” He leaned down and took a whiff.
“Natsak’i.”
Allan tried to say it. “Nat-sa-kee.”
The man laughed. “Close enough. It’s smoked salmon strips. To keep your mind clear as you travel up the mountain.”
“Thank you, my friend. This is a wonderful gift.”
The native man walked away and went to his tent. Such fascinating people. Hardworking. Giving. Simple.
As Allan placed the packet of salmon into his coat pocket so he could carry his snowshoes to his tent, his hand brushed on the envelope Cassidy had given him that morning. He’d completely forgotten about it.
With everyone else occupied or asleep, he opened it up.
13 September 1923Henderson found dead (stop)Murdered (stop)Witness and evidence point to Frank (stop)Pray you are safe (stop)Please let us know update (stop)Louis
He read through it three times as a chill settled over him. Glancing at the tent where Frank had gone, Allan thought momentarily about confronting him with the news. He put that thought aside, however. If he caused a confrontation, there was no telling what Frank might do. Was the man’s story about a changed life all a sham?
He glanced around for John and found him on the far side of the camp reloading his backpack. Making his way across the camp, Allan cast a concerned glance at Frank’s tent. Had he murdered Henderson, and if so, why? Had the man threatened to expose him? Perhaps he had simply served his purpose and Frank felt it necessary to get rid of the man. Had that been how he felt about Allan’s father?
The thought of Frank being responsible for actually ending his father’s life sickened him. He had been fully accepting that negligence or even his father’s confusion at high altitude had resulted in Henry Brennan’s death—but murder was something entirely different.
John looked up as Allan approached. He gave him one of his customary smiles, but when Allan didn’t return it, John’s expression sobered.
“Is something wrong?”
Allan prayed for clarity. What was the truth? The Frank of the past, or the jovial story of a changed-life Frank?
Allan squatted down beside John, the weight of the truth hitting him. “We’ve got a killer in our camp.”
24
Three days had passed since the men left on their expedition. Everyone still talked about where they were or what might be happening, but for the most part, life just kept going at the Curry Hotel. Trains came in and trains left, bringing with them interesting passengers, miners, and railroad workers. There were fewer tourists, but enough that elaborate meals were still required. Cassidy tried to keep her mind on the task at hand, but it became more difficult with each passing day. She couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was very wrong.
She looked to the west several times during the day and prayed. She prayed that the weather would hold and the temperatures remain well above freezing. She prayed that they would be safe from harm and that her father’s previous injuries wouldn’t put him at risk. Most of all she prayed that time would pass faster and they would all return home safely.
Walking back to the kitchen from her room, Cassidy had to stop suddenly to keep from running into Thomas. “Whoa there. Where are you headed in such a hurry?” She reached back to straighten the bow in her apron.
“Actually, I was coming to fetch you, Miss Cassidy. Mr. Bradley says he needs you right away in his office.” He gulped in a few breaths.
“Thank you, Thomas. Would you mind letting Mrs. Johnson know where I am?”
“Sure. I’ll go right now.”
“But you don’t have to run.” Cassidy laughed over her shoulder.
His retreating steps slowed.
As she headed to the manager’s office, she wondered what concoctions Mrs. Johnson planned for the Asian diplomats they expected this weekend. That must be what Mr. Bradley wanted to speak to her about. He’d been all excited to host the dignitaries.
Cassidy reached the manager’s office and knocked on the door.
“Come in.” Mr. Bradley opened the door.
Immediately, she noticed the older, gray-haired couple sitting in front of the manager’s desk. Then she noticed that he closed the door behind her—making both doors to the office shut. Unusual for this time of day.
“Have a seat, Cassidy,” Mr. Bradley directed.
She looked to the couple and then to her boss as she took her chair. “Is there something wrong?”
The manager cleared his throat. “Cassidy, this might come as a surprise to you, but I’d like to introduce you to your mother’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Callaghan.”
Had she not been seated, she probably would have fallen over. What? Her mother’s parents? Here? Words wouldn’t form, but she felt her mouth drop open and couldn’t do a thing about it.
“I know this is a shock for you.” Mrs. Callaghan spoke first. “We sent a letter first, several months ago, but we weren’t sure your father had received it.”
Had Dad gotten a letter? He hadn’t mentioned it.
“We planned to speak with your father first, but Mr. Bradley informed us of his whereabouts, so we felt we had no choice but to come to you.” She paused and looked at the old man before continuing. “We’ve come to make amends.” Tears streamed down her cheeks.
Of all the things that could have happened to her on that day, this was the one that Cassidy would never have expected. Her grandparents had never been a part of her life. There had never been so much as a single word from them in twenty-three years. Now here they sat as if those years meant nothing.
“Yer hair and coloring is darker, but ye look like yer mother.” Sobs shook the woman.
Dad often told her she was as beautiful as her mother, but Cassidy knew her dark hair and dark eyes were from her father. She looked native Alaskan and she knew it. Still the thought of looking like her mother sent a little thrill through her.
Mr. Callaghan rose from his chair, his hat in his hand, and then slowly knelt in front of Cassidy. “My granddaughter.” His voice cracked on the words. “We’ve wasted too much time, and we’ve come to apologize.”
Cassidy blinked and closed her mouth. “I . . . I don’t understand. You left us. You wanted nothing to do with my father or me.”
Mrs. Callaghan sniffed and spoke again. “We were missionaries from Ireland. We’d come to this beautiful land to teach the native people. And we shouldn’t have been surprised that your mother would fall in love with one of the men, but we were. We were terrified of him as a half-Indian”—she corrected herself—“half-Athabaskan man. All those years we served with our holier-than-thou attitudes, knowing that we had the knowledge of the one true God and how He loved everyone and died for the world. And yet, we didna truly understand.
“We were angry with John for taking away our only daughter. And then when you were born and she died, we could bear it no longer. We felt we were being punished. We said some very ugly things to your father. Things that should never have been thought, much less spoken.”
After all these years. She had more family. They were here. Apologizing. And yet, Cassidy couldn’t move.
Mr. Callaghan reached for her hand. “Our attitude and behavior toward your father has haunted us these many years. When God finally got ahold of my stubborn heart, I knew we had to come a
nd repent to you both as well, but sadly, we lacked the funds and the courage until now.”
Her grandmother—yes, her very own grandmother—stood. “You see, we’re old. It couldn’t wait any longer. We wanted to see you—to know you not only because you’re all that remains of Eliza, but because you are our only grandchild. And . . . we are hoping that ye’ll forgive us and let us be a part of your lives.”
Cassidy blinked and looked around the room at each face. This couldn’t be real. Suddenly, she stood, opened the door, and ran back to the kitchen as fast as she could. She couldn’t imagine what they would think of her, but at the moment she didn’t care.
The clatter of the kitchen was comforting as Cassidy ran in and found Mrs. Johnson. Before she knew it, she started sobbing all over the woman.
Mrs. Johnson’s warm arms came around her and guided her into the dining room. “What on earth is going on? Are you all right?”
Cassidy pulled her apron up to her face and sobbed into it. Then she lowered it and started telling Mrs. Johnson everything that had just transpired.
The cook was stunned as well. “I can say that’s one I never expected.” She leaned back in her chair. “And you just left them and ran in here?”
“I didn’t know what to say. The shock was just a bit too much, and then my stomach started flooding with all these nasty feelings. I couldn’t believe they’d left us the way they did. The way they’d been prejudiced against the very people they were trying to minister to. And all the hurt from my childhood of growing up without them—without their love—and knowing they were out there just overwhelmed me.”
“I see.” Mrs. Johnson leaned forward. “And so you don’t want them in your life?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You do want them in your life?”
“I didn’t say that either. I’m so confused.” The sobs shook her again.
“Cassidy.” Mrs. Johnson’s hand engulfed hers. “Remember when I told you that I lost my entire family a few years ago?”
“Yes.”
“I didn’t have a choice to keep them as family or to let them go. I didn’t have the choice for them to come back.”
“I know. And I’m so sorry to come to you with all this. It’s not very sensitive of me.”
“Oh, hogwash. My point is this: They’re family and you have a chance to start anew. You need to forgive them for the past and leave it there—in the past. Losing them the first time was a loss you couldn’t fix. But to lose them again now would be devastating—and your fault. I would give anything to restore relationships with my family if they were still here. . . .”
The words sunk in and Cassidy nodded. Her heart broke looking at Mrs. Johnson’s face so full of regret. She threw herself into the older woman’s arms. “I hope you know that you’re my family now too. And I love you.” Before the woman could respond, Cassidy kissed her cheek and ran back to the manager’s office.
Her grandparents were waiting.
She could see the apprehension on the faces of the two elderly people. No doubt they had been completely surprised by her reaction.
“I want to apologize.” She looked first to her grandmother and then to her grandfather. It was funny that their blood flowed in her veins, but they were strangers.
“There’s no reason to,” her grandmother assured. “We put a terrible shock on you. Please say that you’ll forgive us—both for the shock and for all the lost years.”
Cassidy sank onto the chair she’d only recently vacated. “Of course I do. I can’t tell you how many years I dreamed of a meeting just like this—prayed for it too. I think after a while I gave up hope of it, but God had other plans.”
Her grandmother smiled. “I’m glad to hear you speak of God.”
“My father raised me on the Bible and taught me the value of hope in God. He also told me stories about my mother, but of course he had so few. I would very much like to hear more about her.”
“We would love to tell you.”
John watched the clouds above as they trekked farther up the glacier. The wind had a nasty bite to it. The weather had definitely changed.
Two days ago, they’d all snowshoed in their shirt-sleeves when the sun had been so warm reflecting off the snow and ice. But today, they were bundled up. Of course, they’d also climbed a couple thousand feet in elevation. He didn’t like the change from warm to cold.
But he didn’t like much right now. After Allan shared the news of the telegram with him, John made it his job to keep a constant watch on Frank’s whereabouts. Everything the man did or said was suspect. If Irving knew just how closely he was observed, he didn’t show it. Frank was as jovial as ever when it was just the three of them. But when the native men were anywhere around, his mood changed. And two of the Ahtna had told him that they didn’t trust Frank.
Not a good sign.
But what reason did they have for turning around and quitting? Unless the weather changed drastically, John realized they couldn’t let Frank know that they were suspicious. Irving knew how much Allan wanted to succeed, and he also knew how much they’d paid the native men to help and for all the supplies.
The only way out seemed to be if they hit some weather they couldn’t manage.
So John prayed for a storm.
A big one.
25
The evening meal passed in relative quiet—at least for a bustling hotel. But Cassidy couldn’t wait to spend more time with her grandparents. Nothing could put a damper on the joy she’d felt the last day getting to know them.
As soon as she’d gone back and forgiven them, a beautiful blanket of peace seemed to rest on her shoulders. Now she couldn’t wait for Dad to get back so he could share in this joy.
Grandmother Callaghan sat at a table in the dining room with her tea, waiting for Cassidy to be done.
“Grandmother.” Cassidy plopped in a chair across from her. “Thank you for waiting for me.”
“Not to worry, my dear one. It has been fun to watch you work.” She pointed at her bowl with her spoon. “What is this delicious dessert you created?”
“Lemon soufflé. It’s Mrs. Johnson’s secret recipe.”
“It’s delightful.”
“Thank you.” Praise from the woman who gave birth to her own mother gave her more happiness than she could have known. “Where is Grandfather?”
“He’s been so tired from the travel and excitement of finding you that he went to bed. He hoped you wouldna mind.”
“Not at all.” Cassidy smiled and folded her hands. “Would you tell me more about the family?”
“I’d love to.” The lines on her face crinkled around her eyes. “Did you know you were named after my family?”
“Yes. My dad told me that my name was the last gift that my mother gave me before she died.”
“Cassidy is a good, strong, noble Irish name. It was my family name. My father’s name—your great grandfather—was Ewan Cassidy.”
“What does it mean?”
Grandmother laughed. “It means ‘clever one’ or ‘one with the twisted locks.’ But your mother’s hair didn’t have a bit of curl, and neither does yours.”
Cassidy wondered if that was why dad always called her “Clever Cassidy” as a little girl. The memory brought a smile to her face. “Tell me about my mother, please.”
“Oh, she was such a sweet girl. She was our pride and joy. Voice like an angel. She loved to help with church—especially with the children. And the children loved her. She was always so happy. Her father—your grandfather—used to say she was ‘as sunny as the day she was born.’ Nothing ever seemed to make her sad—unless it was some injustice done to someone she loved.” Her grandmother frowned. “Like the way we treated your father.”
“Was it really just that Dad was part Athabaskan?” Cassidy hadn’t really meant to ask the question aloud, but now that it was out, there was no taking it back.
Grandmother sighed. “No. At least not for me. I think it w
as more about losing my daughter. You see, we knew we wouldn’t stay in Alaska forever, but if Eliza married your father, I knew she would never leave—because I knew your father would never leave. It was clear how much he loved this land.
“I think there was a part of me that was jealous of the affection Eliza held for him.” She shook her head. “I was so wrong. I had my piety and my religion, but no charity—no love. I can only pray your father will find forgiveness in his heart.”
Cassidy smiled. “I don’t think you have to worry about that. I’ve never seen Dad refuse someone forgiveness.”
“Perhaps no one has ever hurt him as much as we have.”
Shrugging, Cassidy didn’t feel she could countermand the woman’s statement. “With Dad it’s never been about the degree of wrong done him. He forgives openly and willingly because he wants forgiveness in return. At least that’s what he’s always telling me. If I know him as I think I do, he’ll be seeking your forgiveness.”
“Oh, but he doesn’t need to. The only thing we ever held against him was loving your mother—and we both know that wasn’t a sin or anything that needs to be forgiven.”
Now that they were talking about her father, Cassidy couldn’t help but let her worries creep to the front of her thoughts. If something happened up there, she wouldn’t get word until long after the fact. He could die . . . they could both be killed by an avalanche or lose their footing and fall off the mountain and Cassidy wouldn’t know about it until days, even weeks afterward. She truly regretted having spent any time in anger toward Allan and her father.
“I can see you are far away.” Grandmother stifled a yawn.
“I was just thinking of my father up there on the mountain.” Cassidy stood and forced a smile. “But I’ve kept you up way too late as it is. Why don’t you let me walk you to your room?”
“I’d like that very much.”
The frailty of her grandmother’s arms couldn’t be hidden by the woman’s thick sweater. Cassidy slowed her pace and once again sent a prayer heavenward, thanking God for the opportunity to be reunited with family before it was too late.
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