Whispers of Winter

by Tracie Peterson

  “I wish you would have been there too. Those days were so hard—so bleak. Still, after waiting all those years, I can’t complain. Jayce was the prize, after all.”

  “Just as Jacob is all I really want. The ceremony is not nearly so important.” She turned as Leah applied the final pins. “What is important is to have all of you here. Leah, I’m so glad we’re friends. I never really had a friend like you. Most women were jealous of my wealth or standing. New York is a very difficult place with its hierarchies and rules. You might find peers at your own level of society, but should they somehow be lowered in status or advanced, your relationships are forever changed. It just comes with the territory.”

  “I can’t imagine. I couldn’t live like that. I mean, if I suddenly found myself elevated to a new level, I couldn’t just turn my back on those I loved.”

  “With family, of course, you would not be expected to, but friends would be another story. Unlike in England, where having a poor but titled friend is still worthy of your attention, Americans are snobs when it comes to such matters. It was one of the reasons I refused to get too close to anyone. It was also the reason it was so very hard on me when my parents and Robert died. I had no one in whom I could confide, except Stanley, and he was far away and often too busy. Those were hard times.”

  “Well, you won’t have to endure them again,” Leah said handing her the mirror. “Now we will be sisters, as well as friends. No social standing or financial fiascos will separate us.”

  Helaina took the mirror, but instead of looking at her reflection, she met Leah’s eyes. “I know that with confidence, and it blesses me as nothing else could. When I think of the past and all we’ve endured together, the things you did for me—risking your life with Chase and … everything else. I might not have come to believe in God had it not been for you.”

  Leah shook her head. “The past needs to stay in the past. I know I’m a poor one to talk, given my inability to do exactly that, but I am trying. You would have found your way to God with or without me, but the Lord knew I needed to be humbled and taught mercy. I wasn’t very kind to you back then, but your forgiveness has blessed me like a warm fire after days on the icy trail. I will always be here for you.”

  Helaina nodded. “And I will be here for you. No matter what.”

  “What’s this?” Jayce called from the doorway. “You two seem mighty serious about something.”

  “We were just having a bit of girl talk,” Leah said, smiling. “Don’t you think our bride is beautiful?”

  “She is lovely,” Jayce said, surveying Helaina as she stood.

  “Thank you.” Helaina looked at her reflection momentarily, then passed the mirror back to Leah. “Jayce, I hope you know that I … well … I …” She seemed to fail for words.

  Leah knew Helaina wanted to make sure things were at peace between all of them. “I think Helaina wants to go to her wedding knowing that the past is forgiven and that we are all friends.”

  Jayce put his arm around Leah’s shoulders. “The past is gone. Of course we are all friends. My time out in the Arctic taught me much, not the least of which was to let go of my past. The burdens I carried for years seemed unimportant in the face of that adversity. I hold nothing against you, Helaina, and I pray you hold nothing against me.”

  Helaina came to Jayce, tears in her eyes. “I don’t deserve such mercy, but I am grateful for it. You, Leah, and Jacob have done so much to teach me about being merciful even when someone deserves otherwise. It’s been hard for me, but I’ve finally been able to come to terms with my parents’ deaths— and Robert’s death as well. It hasn’t happened overnight, but as I’ve sought God’s heart in the Bible, I’ve realized that He offers forgiveness for all, and I must strive to do likewise. I must also learn to put guilt aside as God forgives and covers my mistakes with His love. Guilt has eaten away at my heart for so many years. Jacob was able to see that and admonished me to do something more productive with my time.” She gave them a rather coy smile. “I guess Jacob will be that ‘something more productive.”’

  They laughed together.

  “I’m back!” Jacob called from the front door.

  Helaina bit her lower lip and threw a quick glance over her shoulder as if she’d forgotten something. Leah reached out to calm her. “You look perfect. Remember this moment fondly.”

  Helaina nodded. Jayce extended his arm to her. “Shall we? If we don’t get out there soon, he’ll just start bellowing again and wake up the children.”

  Helaina smiled and took hold of Jayce as though she needed the extra support. “I’m ready.”

  Leah watched them walk through the door. Jacob would finally be married. He would finally have a family of his own.

  She wiped a tear from her eye and drew a deep breath. Their lives were changing again, but this time it was something very good.

  In the living room Jacob waited with Adrik, Karen, Sigrid, and Bjorn. “Emma stayed home with the children. She knew Sigrid would be beside herself if she missed out on seeing Helaina married,” Bjorn said.

  “Well, we’ve gotten to know each other very well this last year. As the only single, white women in the village, we had a great deal in common,” Sigrid offered as an excuse.

  Bjorn yawned. “Ja. They have talking in common for sure.”

  Leah grinned. Her husband was home, her brother was marrying the woman he’d loved for a long time, and her family was safe and sound. What more could she want?

  Bjorn began the service by reading from Genesis. “God doesn’t want man to be alone—He said it wasn’t good.” Leah always enjoyed his thick Swedish accent. “And it’s not good. To be alone is a terrible thing—especially here in the north. Solomon, too, talked of two being better than one. They share warmth and a helping hand. When two people come together to marry, they share those things as well as love and hopefully a belief in God’s saving grace.”

  Helaina looked at Jacob as though he hung the moon and the stars. Leah looked to Jayce, who was waiting to officially hand Helaina over to Jacob, already missing his absence at her side.

  “Helaina, do you love the Lord and have you taken Jesus as your Savior?”

  “I have.”

  He smiled and turned to Jacob. “And Jacob, do you love the Lord and have you taken Jesus as your Savior?”

  “Yes, sir.” The catch in Jacob’s voice made him sound like a teenager again instead of a man in his thirties.

  “Who gives this woman?”

  “We do,” Jayce replied. “I and her other friends.”

  Bjorn nodded and Jayce extended Helaina’s arm to Jacob.

  “Take good care of her,” he admonished in a fatherly way.

  Jacob nodded with a grin. “You know I will. I’ve waited a lifetime for her.”

  Jayce stepped back to join Leah. He slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. Leah smiled up at him, sensing his happiness.

  The ceremony was short and simple. They exchanged their promises of love and support, then Jacob surprised them all by producing a small gold band. Leah recognized it as having been their mother’s. Jacob had tried to give it to her on one occasion, but Leah knew that their mother had wanted him to save it for his bride.

  As he slipped the ring on Helaina’s finger, Leah couldn’t help but sniff back tears. Their mother would be so proud. Their papa too. Leah liked to believe they were watching from heaven and knew they would surely approve of this union.

  “You may kiss your bride, Jacob. You are man and wife,” Bjorn announced.

  Jacob pulled Helaina into his arms and gave her a brief but sufficient kiss. Cheers broke out among those in the room as Leah’s gaze settled on her brother. They had always been so very close. They had taken care of each other when no one else was there for them. They had endured great difficulty in just getting to Alaska, but also in living there. The land was hard and difficult, but the rewards had been so great. Leah couldn’t help but wonder what the future held now. Would they
all go their separate ways? Would God see fit to keep them all together?

  “I want to congratulate you both,” Adrik said, coming to give Jacob a bear hug. He turned to Helaina. “Do I get to kiss the bride?”

  She nodded and seemed delighted to be embraced into the family in this way. Karen, too, came and offered her a kiss and a blessing. “May God richly bless your marriage. May you always remember Him first in all that you do, and may your love endure the tests of time.”

  “Thank you,” Helaina said, embracing Karen. “I feel so very blessed.”

  Leah came forward and hugged Helaina. “You are truly my sister now. I’ve always wanted a sister.”

  Helaina laughed and tightened her embrace. “I have, too, and now God has answered that prayer as well.”

  Jayce swept Helaina into a hug as Leah turned to her brother. They just looked at each other for a moment, and in Jacob’s eyes, Leah saw the passage of two decades of time.

  Jacob sensed it as well.

  “When we first came north, I cursed it,” he admitted. “I saw very little good here. You know that.”

  “I do. I felt the same way,” Leah admitted.

  “But now I see so clearly the hand of God in all the choices—good and bad. It amazes me how God could take even my rebellious choices and work them together for good.”

  “I know. I was thinking much the same. You were always there for me.”

  Jacob held her close for a moment. “I love you, Leah. No man could ask for a better sister.”

  Leah stepped back as he released her. “And no woman could ask for a better brother.”

  Helaina looked down at her finger and could scarcely believe she was finally married. Her dreams of having Jacob for a husband had come true. She thought only momentarily of Robert and of the beautiful diamond and sapphire ring he had given her on their wedding day. He would be happy for me, she thought. He would tell me it was about time I stopped grieving him and moved forward with my life.

  She smiled to herself as she compared her old life to the new one. Things would never be the same—but then again, she didn’t want them to be.

  “Well, you can party all night if you want to,” Jayce finally announced, “but Leah and I are going to take our leave. I haven’t seen this woman in over a year, and … well … let’s leave it at that.”

  Adrik laughed and pulled Karen toward their room. “We’ll say good night as well. It’ll be good to see you all at breakfast.”

  “Late breakfast,” Jacob called back as he pulled Helaina close. He stunned her by lifting her in his arms. “A very, very late breakfast.”

  They all laughed at this, but no one protested the idea.

  Helaina felt rather embarrassed by Jacob’s grandiose gesture, but at the same time she relished it and snuggled down in his arms. She sighed contentedly.

  “I feel the same way,” Jacob said as he carried her to their inne.

  “I’m just amazed that it’s finally happened. I’m so happy … so blessed,” she whispered. “I love you so very much, Jacob.”

  “And I love you, Mrs. Barringer.”

  The next morning Helaina awoke with a start. For just a moment she couldn’t remember where she was, and when she found Jacob sleeping beside her, it startled her even more. Then the memories of the night before flooded her mind. She moved closer to Jacob for warmth and smiled as his arms closed around her and pulled her near.

  “Good morning,” he said, his voice low. “How did you sleep?”

  “Like a dream. In fact, I woke up thinking maybe I had dreamed it all. I’m glad to know that this is very much real.”

  He laughed. “I hope all of your dreams are just as sweet.”

  He kissed her passionately and Helaina forgot about dreams and nightmares. Suddenly there was only Jacob. And Jacob was truly enough.

  When they showed up an hour later for breakfast at Jayce and Leah’s, they found themselves the objects of teasing.

  “It’s nearly lunchtime,” Adrik said, looking at his pocket watch.

  “It’s been light for hours,” Karen agreed.

  “It’s always light for hours during Alaskan summer,” Jacob replied, not willing to let them get the better of him.

  Leah brought their plates from the back of the stove. “We’ve been keeping this warm for you. Pay them no attention. They’re old married folk who’ve grown quite bored with one another.” She laughed as she gave Adrik and Karen a wink.

  “My mama and papa aren’t old,” Christopher protested.

  Leah gave his cheek a rub. “No, they really aren’t. I was just teasing them.”

  Oliver had long since eaten his breakfast and was ready for adventure. “Kimik said we could hunt with him today. Can we?” he asked as Christopher nodded hopefully.

  “I don’t see why not,” Adrik replied. “It seems like it will be a great time for you boys. Just make sure you do everything he says, and stay right with the party. This place isn’t like home. You don’t know the trails, and fog could come in and you’d be lost.”

  “We’ll stay with him, I promise. I’ll keep a good eye on Christopher too.”

  “But you’re not my pa,” the boy reminded his brother. “So you can’t tell me what to do.”

  “Kimik isn’t your pa either,” Adrik countered, “but if you aren’t willing to take instruction and correction from him, you’d best stay here with me.”

  Christopher grew very serious. “I promise I’ll be good. I’ll do what he tells me to do.”

  “All right, then. You boys head on over. I’m sure Kimik is more than ready to leave.”

  Leah put the twins on the floor to play as she began to clear away the breakfast dishes. Helaina dug into the food Leah had given her and thought nothing had ever tasted so good. She felt ravenous as she bit into the caribou sausage.

  “I hope you’re up for a bit of discussion,” Adrik began. “There’s something I’ve been wanting to talk to all four of you about.”

  “If it’s one of Adrik’s plans,” Jacob said, leaning back with coffee cup in hand, “we’d better hold on to our seats.”

  Adrik exchanged a quick glance with Karen and laughed. “You’re right on that count. I suppose my ideas can be a bit bold at times.”

  “Why don’t you tell us what you have in mind?” Leah prompted.

  Adrik folded his hands together and looked at each of them before he spoke. “I’d like you all to consider coming back with us.”

  “To Ketchikan?” Leah questioned.

  “No, to Seward. Well, to Ship Creek, really—though they’re starting to call it Anchorage now.”

  Helaina felt Jacob’s interest even before he spoke. “For what purpose?”

  “Well, that’s what I want to talk to all of you about. Are you game to listen?”

  Chapter Fourteen

  The situation is this,” Adrik continued. “The railroad is going in all the way to Fairbanks, and the place is hopping with activity. I’ve been hired by the railroad to hunt and bring in game for the men to eat. It’s a whole lot cheaper to hire me than to bring food up from the States, after all. The only problem is, I’m just one man and, frankly, the number of workers is growing every day. They estimate some four thousand workers now. I don’t think the territory will stay unsettled for long.”

  Jacob shrugged. “We’ve seen people come and go with the gold strikes. Alaska requires a special kind of person to stay.”

  “Jacob’s right. It’s going to take more than a few thousand men to settle this place and make the world take notice,” Jayce said.

  “But it’s a start. The railroad adds a sense of settlement and permanency that will draw people to come and stay.”

  “So you’re proposing we work for the railroad?” Jacob asked.

  “No, I’m proposing we work for ourselves,” Adrik replied. “Look, we can team up—maybe even add another couple of men I trust and form our own corporation of sorts. You wouldn’t believe the number of times I’ve been hired j
ust to lead city folks out hunting wild game. Most want the thrill of bear or moose, some just want to enjoy whatever comes their way, so that’s an entire different aspect to how we can make a living. Initially, we could contract with the railroad to provide a particular amount of meat per week and split the funds between us.”

  Jacob rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Where would we live?”

  “The Ship Creek area. That’s a good place to headquarter. The railroad from Seward has just connected to that place and is headed on out to Palmer and Wasilla. If things continue this way, we might see completion in another couple of years. Of course, we have to get through those mountains up north, and that will be no easy feat.”

  “And do you plan to move north with the railroad?” Jacob asked Adrik.

  Adrik looked to Karen and shrugged. “We’re trying to be open to where the Lord would take us. We’ve found there’s plenty of work to do in the area, but we also miss our home in Ketchikan. We’ll just have to see where the Lord wants us.”

  “Not only that,” Karen began, “Seward is a year-round harbor. We can get a steady supply of goods whenever we need them. Well, at least a decent supply,” she added with a smile. “There are good doctors, plans for a hospital in Ship Creek, as well as a power plant and electricity.”

  “That would be incredible,” Leah said, shaking her head. “I remember how wonderful it was when we were in Seattle.” “Not only that, but they’re laying water pipes that will bring water right into the house,” Adrik added.

  “It’s like we said,” Karen continued. “The area offers many benefits that can’t be had in the more isolated parts of Alaska. And there would be no winter isolation due to ship traffic being halting because of frozen harbors.”

  “That would definitely be a benefit,” Leah admitted. She hated to say it, but having children gave her a much different perspective on where to live. “Still, I’m happy to live wherever Jayce wants to be. I know he’ll provide for us and that we’ll be well protected in his care. So long as my family is with me or close by, I’ll be content.”