Whispers of Winter

by Tracie Peterson

  “I’m glad you’ll be staying in the house,” Adrik said as Leah and the others gathered for dinner a few days after his return from up north and the night before he and the boys were to head to Seattle. “I think you’ll enjoy the bigger space, what with those rambunctious twins of yours.” He chucked Wills under the chin and leaned over to kiss Merry. The little girl squealed with delight as Adrik’s kiss trailed down her neck and then turned into a loud chopping sound. It was a game Adrik used to play with her and hadn’t done in some time.

  Leah was glad to see Adrik seem a little more like himself. “We’ll miss you. I suppose next thing I know I’ll get a letter stating that you’d decided to stay in Seattle.”

  Oliver looked up with a deep frown. “We won’t stay there.”

  Adrik shrugged. “What if we like it more than we like it here?”

  Oliver pushed back his chair so quickly that it clattered to the floor as he stood. “I don’t even want to go to Seattle. Nobody asked me!” He ran out of the room, leaving Adrik looking rather stunned.

  Christopher got up slowly and shook his head. “I don’t want to go either.” He followed his older brother to their loft bedroom.

  “Well, I seemed to make a mess of that,” Adrik said, looking rather dejected.

  “They’re really suffering,” Leah said. She spooned some mashed up vegetables into Wills’ bowl and handed him a spoon. Merry was still happily gnawing on a piece of sourdough bread with butter and had hardly touched her vegetables. Buttering bread for Wills, Leah continued, “I’ve been meaning to talk to you, but—”

  “But I’m never home,” Adrik inserted. “I know, and I’m sorry. I’ve allowed my work to occupy me so that I don’t have to think or feel Karen’s absence. I knew it was wrong, but … well … things will be different now. I’ve been very selfish in all of this. Jacob and Jayce helped me to see that much.”

  “We did?” Jayce questioned. “When did we have time to do that?”

  “You did it by your actions. Every time I turned around, you were wanting to come home and be with your family. I wanted to be with the boys but wanted even more to be with Karen, and I knew she wouldn’t be here. Further, I knew the boys would have questions, and I would have to deal with their heartache on top of my own. I wasn’t up to it.” He shook his head. “I’m really sorry, Leah. It was selfish of me, but I intend to do better. I’m hoping this trip will give us a chance to really talk to each other and work through some of the pain.”

  “You owe me no apology. I was just worried about you— about them too. They haven’t been doing well, Adrik. Christopher suffers from nightmares and Oliver worries incessantly about everything. They both ask me about you constantly, always wondering and worrying if you’ll meet with some horrible fate.”

  “I didn’t know.” Adrik looked upward toward the loft. “I’ll talk to them—help them to understand.” He started to get up.

  Leah touched his arm gently. “Why don’t you give Oliver a little time to calm down? He’ll be more inclined to listen to you once he stops being so angry.”

  “I doubt the anger will stop anytime soon. Not if he feels like me,” Adrik said, retaking his seat. “But you’re right. I’ll go up after supper.”

  Oliver and Christopher listened to the things being said as they huddled together in their bed. Oliver shook his head and turned to Christopher. “I know what he’ll say. He’ll tell us that we’ll have a great time in Seattle and that we won’t miss Mama there as much as we do here, and before you know it he’ll be buying a house and getting a job. Then we’ll be stuck there. Well, I’ve made up my mind. I’m not going to Seattle. I’m going home.”

  “To Ketchikan?”

  “Yes. That’s where we were the happiest. That’s where I want to be.”

  Christopher’s expression turned quite serious. “I’m going home too. I want to go back to our old house. But, Oliver, how will we get there? Ketichkan’s a long ways off, and we don’t have any money.”

  “If we take the train down to Seward, we can find a boat to take us to Ketchikan. I’ve been asking some questions; I know all about this stuff. The fishing boats will take us so long as we work. We know how to do that kind of stuff. We’ll be home in less than two weeks if we’re lucky.”

  “You’ll take me too?”

  Oliver put his hand on Christopher’s shoulder. “I won’t leave you here. I’ll take care of you, Christopher. I promise.”

  “And I’ll take care of you,” he replied.

  Oliver didn’t want to hurt his brother’s feelings by explaining that an eleven-year-old boy could hardly take care of himself, let alone anyone else. “We’ll make it, Christopher. Together we’ll do just fine. Now, come on. Let’s go to bed. When Papa comes to talk to us, we’ll pretend we’re asleep. That way we won’t have to lie about our plans.”

  Christopher hurriedly pulled off his heavy flannel shirt and put on his nightclothes. “When are we going to leave?”

  “As soon as everyone is asleep.” Oliver had everything planned out in his mind. He’d been working on this ever since his father had made the Seattle plans known. He had originally figured to part ways once they’d arrived in Seward, but maybe he’d be better off to head out now. He knew there was a freight train that would come through sometime in the night. It was the train returning to Seward for supplies needed on the rail line up north. They always stopped to take on water in Ship Creek. If he and Christopher were very careful, they could probably sneak on board and make their way south. He’d watched the train cars on many occasions. Most of the time the doors were left open. It should be easy enough to hide inside one of them for the trip south. At least he hoped it would be.

  Leah hurried to get breakfast on the table while Adrik called to the boys for the third time. “Come on, guys, we’ll be late for the train if you don’t get your things and get down here right now.”

  He shook his head when there was no response and headed for the ladder. “They were so tired last night they were already asleep when I went to talk to them. No doubt they’re worn out from their grief and worry. I’m really sorry I put all of that on you, Leah.”

  “I was glad to be here for you, Adrik. You know that. Don’t blame yourself or be upset with the situation. It’s just the way things go.”

  “I think I’ll go up and talk to them before they come down. That way, maybe I can explain the way things are.”

  Adrik went up the steps while Leah turned to retrieve the coffeepot. The front door opened, and Jacob and Helaina entered. Leah couldn’t help but smile. Helaina moved ever so slowly under the heavy burden of her child. For weeks they had discussed whether the baby was a boy or a girl, and both concluded it was a son, due to his rowdy activity in the womb.

  “How are you feeling?” Leah asked as she pulled out a chair for Helaina with one hand and placed the coffeepot on the table with the other.

  “I slept pretty well. As I mentioned, the baby has been less active. The doctor said that’s due to his saving up his energy to be born. He doesn’t think it will be long.”

  “Neither do I,” Leah admitted. “You’ve really dropped since last week. I believe it will be any day now.”

  “Leah, have you seen anything of the boys?” Adrik asked as he came back down the ladder.

  “No, not since supper. Why?”

  “They’re gone. They’re gone and so are some of their things. They packed knapsacks to carry on the trip. Those are missing.”

  “Do you suppose they had a change of heart and decided to head over to the train station early—maybe to show you that they were willing to go?” Jacob questioned.

  “I don’t know. I guess I should head over there and see.” He scratched his bearded face. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”

  “Why?” Leah asked. “What’s wrong?”

  “Is any food missing?” Adrik asked.

  Leah shrugged and went to the cupboard. “I hadn’t really noticed.” She began to look around. �
�Well, several bags of jerky are gone—you know the stuff you put up last winter? And it looks like all but one loaf of sourdough bread is missing as well.” She looked up fearfully. “They’ve run away, haven’t they?”

  Adrik nodded and went to the door for his coat. “That’s what I’m thinking. I don’t know where they think they’re headed, but—”

  “We’ll help you look,” Jayce said, as he and Jacob stood. Jacob reached over and grabbed a piece of toasted bread and a few pieces of sausage to make a sandwich. Jayce took note and did likewise.

  “Let us know as soon as you find out anything,” Leah declared. “Chances are they’re still close by. They wouldn’t have any means of getting too far.”

  An hour later Leah had finished cleaning the kitchen, and still there was no word from the men. She worried about the boys and had stopped to pray for the entire party over a dozen times. It was just so hard to imagine the boys out there by themselves. They were smart children, however, she kept reminding herself, and they had grown up learning to fend for themselves. Surely they would be all right.

  “Leah, I think the baby is going to be born today,” Helaina said rather nervously.

  Leah noted that she was holding her stomach. “Are you in pain?”

  Helaina looked up and nodded. “They’ve been coming off and on since early this morning. I thought at first it was like some of the other times, but this is different. These are getting stronger and coming more often.”

  Leah glanced at the clock. It was a little past nine. “Well, we should prepare. Since we don’t know what’s going to happen with the boys or our men, I would like to put you up here. Would that be all right?”

  “I certainly don’t want to be alone right now,” Helaina admitted.

  “Do you feel well enough to go home and get a few things, or would you rather stay here with the twins while I go?”

  “I think I’ll be all right.” She got to her feet slowly. “What do I need?”

  “Bring a clean nightgown and blankets and clothes for the baby. I have the rest.” She smiled at Helaina’s worried expression. “Don’t fret.”

  “I just don’t want anything to go wrong,” she said. “The doctor said he lost a mother and baby last week.” She fell silent.

  Leah came to her side and hugged Helaina. “Don’t consider such things. You’ll be fine. Let’s not worry until there’s something to worry about.”

  Helaina put her hand to her abdomen and grimaced. “Seems to me that giving birth to a new individual is something to worry about.”

  Just then Wills ran full steam into Leah. “Mama. Mama. Look see.”

  Leah laughed as he held up one of his toys. “Giving birth is the easy part. Raising them up—now, that’s something that causes worry.”

  Helaina took her leave ever so slowly, while Leah reached down to ruffle her son’s hair. Her hand touched the warmth of his forehead, causing her to frown. She put her palm to his head and realized Wills was running a fever. She knew the twins were teething so she put away her concern. No doubt Merry would be feverish too. She went to her daughter and checked. Sure enough, Merry’s head was also warm.

  “Well, looks like I should get you two some rawhide to chew on and something to bring down that temperature.” But before Leah could see to that, Helaina returned. Her face was as white as a sheet and her expression told Leah something was wrong.

  “What is it?” Leah asked.

  “My water just broke.”

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Jacob could see frustration and worry etched on Adrik’s face. No one at the railroad or in town had seen Christopher or Oliver. It was as if the children had simply disappeared off the face of the earth.

  “They couldn’t have gotten far on foot,” Jacob told Adrik.

  “I tracked them here to the railroad,” Adrik said, shaking his head. “If they came here in the night, they might have managed to get on the freighter headed south to pick up supplies in Seward.”

  “But why would they head to Seward without you?” Jacob said shaking his head. “They didn’t even want to go to Seattle. Wouldn’t it make more sense that they’d just hide out somewhere around here until they thought you were gone or had changed your mind about the trip?”

  “I don’t know. I think I’d better go back to the house and get some gear. Then I’ll catch the train south just like I was going to do. That way if they have made their way to Seward, I’ll be able to look around and find them there. You and Jayce could keep looking around this area.”

  Jacob nodded. “You know we will.”

  Jayce came trotting from down the road. “Nobody’s seen ’em at the water,” he called. The inlet wasn’t all that good for ship traffic, but there were smaller vessels that could make it through the channels.

  “Adrik thinks they’ve taken the supply train south.”

  Jayce looked to Adrik as he came to stop in front of the two men. “Why?”

  “I tracked them here. There’s no sign of their leaving the area on foot. No sign of a wagon in the area where I see the signs of their boots. Just railroad tracks. I don’t know why they would do this. I just don’t understand.”

  “Understanding can come later,” Jacob said. “Let’s go back to the cabin and figure out how we can help you the best.”

  They began walking back to the house. Jacob wished he could offer some encouragement, but he knew how awful Adrik felt about the situation. If Jacob had a son and he disappeared, he would be frantic. There would be no comforting him.

  “You can get word to me by telegraph,” Adrik said. “If you find them, just wire me in Seward. I’ll check in periodically at the telegraph office.”

  “You’re going to Seward?” Jayce asked.

  “I don’t see as I have a choice.”

  “We’ll keep searching the area,” Jacob promised. “We can hire another man to help with hunting and just devote ourselves to the search until we hear otherwise from you.”

  “I really appreciate your help. I don’t know what I’ll do if—”

  “Don’t borrow trouble. We’ll find them,” Jacob said.

  They were nearly to Adrik’s house when a scream tore through the air.

  Adrik turned to Jacob. “What in the world was that?”

  The scream came again.

  “That’s Helaina!” Jacob said. He made a mad dash for the house. “Helaina!”

  He practically knocked the door off its hinges as he burst into the room. “Helaina!”

  Leah came from the bedroom she’d been sharing with Jayce. “Calm down. You don’t have to yell.”

  “What’s happening? What’s wrong?”

  Leah smiled. “Nothing’s wrong. You simply have a son.”

  Jacob stopped in midstep. “A what?”

  Leah laughed. “I said you have a son. A boy, Jacob. Helaina just had the baby. It’s a boy.”

  Leah watched as Jacob carefully took his son from Helaina. He looked at her with such love that Leah thought she might burst into tears.

  “What will you call him?” she asked the couple.

  “Malcolm Curtis Barringer,” Jacob declared. He studied his son in apparent wonder. “Malcolm because we both like the name and Curtis for Helaina’s maiden name.”

  “That’s a good name,” Adrik declared. “I wish I could stay and get to know the little guy better, but my little guys need me.”

  “I won’t stop looking either,” Jacob promised. “The baby doesn’t need me right now as much as Oliver and Christopher do.” He looked at Helaina, who nodded.

  “You have to help them,” Helaina said firmly. “I’ll be fine here.”

  “Leah,” Jayce said, coming into the bedroom, “something’s wrong with the twins.”

  “What do mean?” She dropped the blanket she’d been holding.

  “They’re sick, Leah. I went to check them like you asked, but they aren’t waking up. They’re burning with fever.”

  Leah felt her stomach clench. She push
ed past Jayce and went into the room where the twins shared a bed. Reaching to touch their foreheads, she pulled back in alarm. They were decidedly hotter than when she’d checked them only an hour ago. “We need the doctor. Can you find him?”

  “I’ll go right now. What do you think is wrong?”

  Leah could only think of the newspaper accounts of influenza on the Seward Peninsula. “I don’t know. I pray it’s not influenza.”

  Leah refused to leave her babies until Jayce returned with the doctor. The man appeared quite grave as he examined each child. “It could very well be influenza,” he told her. “There are several cases in the area that seem similar. I have no way of knowing for certain. At this point, their lungs are clear, and that’s a very good sign.”

  “What can be done?” Leah asked, wringing her hands together. Jayce put his hands on her shoulders and pulled her close.

  “You should work to get that fever down. I recommend tepid vinegar baths and aspirin powder. I don’t have much on hand and I have none of the new tablets. I’ll leave some of the powder,” he said, reaching into his bag. “I’ll look in on Mrs. Barringer, then check back on everyone later this afternoon.”

  Leah watched him leave, feeling completely helpless. In the other room Helaina was recovering from childbirth, and baby Malcolm was vulnerable to whatever sickness the twins were suffering. As soon as Helaina felt up to it, Leah would encourage her to go back to her own cabin. Maybe she would even suggest Jacob move his wife and baby there right away.

  “Tell me what to do,” Jayce said after seeing the doctor out.

  Leah shook her head, feeling so overwhelmed. “Undress them and I’ll get the vinegar bath ready.”

  She went into the kitchen to find the things she’d need. Tears came unbidden and before she knew it, Leah was sobbing into her hands.