Whispers of Winter

by Tracie Peterson

The big man laughed out loud. “I guess we’d better. Otherwise I’ll be standing here alone. Grab your things, boys. We’d best hurry or our Ashlie will leave us in the dust.”

  Ashlie opened the cabin door and waited impatiently for her family. The boys hurried to take up their small packs, while Adrik leisurely replaced the gun in his trunk, then hoisted it to his shoulders.

  “All right. Let’s go.”

  On the dock, Ashlie searched to find the only man she truly cared to see. “There he is!” Ashlie shouted, picking up her pace. She could see Winston standing beside Timothy Rogers. Was it possible that Winston was even more handsome than when they’d parted company earlier in the summer?

  “I thought we’d never get here,” she declared as she dropped her things on the dock and threw her arms around the man in a most inappropriate manner. At that point she didn’t care what anyone thought. “I’ve missed you so much.”

  Winston hugged her close, then set her away from him. Ashlie could see that he’d grown rather uncomfortable in the shadow of the big man who stood watching them.

  “Winston, this is my father, Adrik Ivankov.”

  “Sir … I’m … I’m … pleased to meet you.” He extended his hand. Adrik balanced the trunk with one arm and took hold of Winston.

  Ashlie’s father eyed the younger man with great scrutiny. “Glad to finally meet you. I figure if we’re to be family, we need to get right to work.”

  The tall dark-haired man seemed rather taken aback. “Get right to work?”

  “Getting to know each other,” Adrik countered. “Ashlie tells me she’d like to be married within the week. Does that set well with you?”

  Winston seemed to overcome his surprise just a bit. He looked to Ashlie, then back to Adrik. “She has a way of getting what she wants,” he said with a grin. “At least this time I find that it meets very well with my approval. But I would like to ask you properly for her hand and have your approval as well.”

  A smile broke the sternness of Adrik’s expression. “She does have a way of getting what she wants, and I can tell already that I’m going to like you just fine.”

  Leah looked around the large open room and smiled. Earlier she and Helaina had opened every window in the house to air out the damp, stale smell. This was the home she’d grown up in with Karen and Adrik. The Ketchikan cabin had started fairly small, but over the years Adrik had added on to it with first one room and then another and finally an entire second story. It was a beautiful log home that brought back many special memories of her mother-daughter relationship with Karen.

  Now after two hours of dusting and mopping, Leah felt the house was in good order. She sighed and leaned back against the front door. Adrik had told them to feel free to live with him as long as they liked. He wanted the company—no, he needed it. Leah knew that it would probably be hard for him to come back to this house and not be lonely.

  “You certainly managed to accomplish a great deal,” Helaina said, coming down the stairs. She and the baby, along with the twins, had been napping while Leah worked. “You really shouldn’t have done so much in your condition.”

  “I feel fine. Besides, I can get a lot done when there aren’t little ones under foot. Not to mention I enjoyed myself. I kept thinking of times when Karen and I cleaned this house together.”

  “I know you’ll miss her,” Helaina said. “I’m missing her myself. Sometimes more than I ever imagined.” She frowned. “I suppose that doesn’t make sense to you.”

  “Why wouldn’t it?”

  “Well, I didn’t know Karen all that long, but in the time I knew her, I found she had a way of nurturing people. And she made me feel as if my mother were here again. She would come and have tea with me every day if her schedule permitted. It meant the world to me.”

  Leah went to Helaina and took her hand. “It doesn’t matter how long you knew her. Karen had a special heart for people. I know she thought you to be a perfect mate for Jacob.” Leah smiled. “We always knew it would take a strongwilled woman to be a good wife for him.”

  “We have definitely had our moments. Goodness, but when I think back to our first meeting and how I nearly slapped him for running into me on the street, it makes me laugh. We didn’t exactly make a positive impression on each other.”

  “Well, you were too busy trying to hang my husband,” Leah teased.

  “Don’t remind me. I hate those days—those times of being so hard.” Helaina put her hand on Leah’s shoulders. “I don’t deserve the mercy I’ve received, but I’m so blessed to have it. I don’t deserve any of the good things God has given me.”

  “None of us do,” Leah admitted. “But then they wouldn’t be so special if they were deserved.”

  “I never thought I’d be a part of a real family again,” Helaina admitted. “I didn’t want to be a part of one. I didn’t want children because the pain of losing them would have been impossible to bear, and I certainly didn’t want to risk having another husband. Now here I am with both husband and son, and I could not imagine my life without them. Not to mention the twins and you and Jayce.” Tears came to her eyes. “Leah, the past … well … it seems like a vague dream— a nightmare, really. I never thought that would be possible. I’m so happy with my life.”

  Leah patted Helaina’s hand. “I am too. And so many years ago I sat in this very house, crying my eyes out because Jayce rejected my love. How strange it seems to be here now—married with two beautiful children and another on the way.”

  Leah put her hand to her stomach. “I couldn’t have ever seen the possibility of this all those years ago. I never thought I could be happy, but here I am.”

  “Leah!” Jayce called from outside. He came bounding through the front door, Jacob right behind him.

  Leah could see they were both quite excited. “What’s going on?”

  “We are the proud new owners of the Barringer-Kincaid Mercantile,” Jayce announced.

  “That’s wonderful news. I’m so glad things went well.” Leah went to her husband and kissed him lightly on the cheek. She had known the men were trying to put the finishing touches on their new business venture but hadn’t known for sure that things would be completed that day.

  “I’ve wired Peter Colton and will have a list of supplies delivered up here as soon as he can spare a ship to make the trip north,” Jacob said. He lifted Helaina at the waist and twirled her around several times before setting her back down. “Things are finally coming together for our store.”

  “I knew they would,” Helaina replied.

  “We’ll have to celebrate tonight,” Leah declared. “I’ll kill one of the chickens and fry it up.”

  “And can we have potatoes and gravy?” her husband asked.

  “And biscuits and fresh rhubarb pie?” her brother added.

  Leah laughed and looked to Helaina. “It would appear our work is just beginning.”

  September brought the grand opening of the Barringer-Kincaid Mercantile. Jacob was proud of what they’d accomplished and knew that, although there would be less traffic here than what he might have experienced in Seward or Ship Creek, Ketchikan had the feel of home to him. Only two days earlier they’d completed the renovations of the rooms above the store, and he’d moved his family into their own home. With Malcolm quite small, Jacob knew it would be some time before they would need to worry about having a bigger place with a yard. For now this was not only very adequate for their needs, it was beneficial for their business. With the store located just downstairs, Jacob wouldn’t have to worry about theft in the night. With the town growing ever larger, such matters were always of concern.

  Everything seemed perfect. With the store situated right at the docks, Jacob felt confident they would do very well. Jayce thought so too. He pointed out that ships might even begin allowing their passengers time to depart the ship and come to their store to purchase native-made items they could take home as souvenirs of their trip north.

  “I think once we figure
things up,” Jayce said, looking at the ledger, “we will have made a nice profit today.”

  “That’s to be expected,” Jacob said. “It was the first day. Folks were curious about the things we had on hand. We won’t have that kind of traffic in here on a daily basis. That’s why I didn’t want to have too big of a place.”

  “I’ve been thinking,” Jayce began, “in time we might add on to this building and create rental space for additional shops. Think of it.”

  Jacob could imagine just such a thing. “I had been thinking perhaps we could even buy the places just up the way from us and attach them on to this building with a few places in between. It would be expensive, but just imagine what we’d have when we got done. We could rent out the other buildings and have a nice income.”

  Jayce laughed. “We think so much alike, it’s downright scary.”

  The bell over the door sounded as a man looking to be in his fifties entered the store. Jacob moved down the counter. “Welcome, friend. We were just about to close up for the day.”

  “I’m glad I caught you, then.” He moved to the counter and extended his hand. “I’m Bartholomew Turner. Bart to my friends. I’ve come to discuss a matter with you and your partner.”

  Jayce joined Jacob. “I’m Jayce Kincaid.”

  “And I’m Jacob Barringer. What did you want to discuss?”

  “The fact of the matter is this: I own a store in Skagway. The economy in that area is quite depressed, and it is my plan to be done with the place when my lease is up at the end of October. I was here in Ketchikan to discuss with my brother the idea of leaving Alaska altogether. We are not young men anymore and a warmer climate would be to our liking.”

  “I don’t see what that has to do with us.” Jacob saw the man’s expression change from serious to rather hopeful.

  “I thought you might be interested in buying out my current stock. It isn’t large, by any means, but no one in Skagway wishes to secure it because there are many specialty items that are of no interest. Things like musical instruments and cameras. They used to be quite sought after, I must say. I once sold a great many things. Now I do better with the odd bits of furniture, lamps, and of course food staples. We found we had to add food items just to keep our business lucrative.”

  “Have you had your store long?” Jayce questioned.

  “I set up just after the gold rush began,” Turner replied. “I had a store at the end of Main called S&T House Goods. We were in a tent for quite a while, but then one of the wealthy townsmen built several buildings, and we rented out space for our store.”

  “I remember that place,” Jacob said. “I was up there during the rush. I was just a boy, but I do remember your place.”

  Turner beamed. “We had a fine store. My brother and cousin helped to make it a profitable business, but once the rush passed it became very difficult to keep things going. Not only that, but I long for home.” His smile faded. “Our mother passed on while we were up here, and our father is nearly eighty. We need to return to Oregon before he dies.”

  “I can understand your concern,” Jacob replied. “I suppose it might be possible for us to take the stock off your hands.” He looked to Jayce, who was nodding.

  “Maybe we could all have supper together and discuss the details?” Jayce questioned, looking to Jacob.

  “I don’t know why not,” Turner replied. “In fact, you could join me at my brother’s place.”

  “Nonsense. My wife would happily cook for you both,” Jayce replied. “Why don’t you and your brother plan to come to supper around six? Jacob and his family will be there as well.”

  Turner seemed quite excited. “I can’t tell you how happy this makes me. I’m quite anxious to get back to Oregon before winter sets in. My brother and I will be there.”

  That night after supper concluded, Leah put her children to bed and returned as the men were finishing up the last of their dessert and coffee.

  “Would you have any objection to my traveling to Skagway at the first of next month with Jacob?” Jayce asked. “Mr.

  Turner figures to have his merchandise inventoried and ready to go by then.”

  “I don’t mind at all,” Leah replied, although in her heart she knew she’d much rather neither man leave. “How long will you be gone?”

  Jacob met her gaze. “I wouldn’t think any longer than a couple of weeks. Maybe three at the most. I figured since Adrik and the boys plan to be home day after tomorrow, I could talk to him about keeping the store for us.”

  “Helaina and I could certainly tend to that,” Leah replied.

  “I’d rather you not have to,” Jacob said sternly. “The children need you, and besides, some of the men can be quite rowdy. I wouldn’t want there to be any incidents while we were gone and unable to protect you.”

  “Yeah, it’s bad enough to leave you here,” Jayce replied. “Maybe it would be better for just one of us to go.” He looked at Jacob.

  “We are perfectly capable,” Leah said, putting her hands on her hips in a defiant pose. “You above everyone else know that.”

  Jacob held up his hand as Helaina opened her mouth to weigh in her opinion. “Hold on. There’s no need for either one of you to get excited about this. Let me talk to Adrik, and then we’ll figure it all out.”

  “You can stay with me while you’re in Skagway,” Turner said as if to change the subject and calm the ladies. “I am happy to extend the hospitality.”

  “That sounds great.” Jacob looked at the calendar. “We’ll try to leave around the first of October. If things go well, and depending on ship availability, we might be able to head home before the fifteenth of the month.” “I will do my part,” Turner promised. “I’ll have everything crated and ready to go. We can nail down the lids after you approve the goods. I’ll even arrange to have movers standing by.”

  “Well, here’s to our new adventure,” Jacob said, holding up his coffee mug.

  Leah felt a chill suddenly run down her spine as the men clicked their mugs together. She didn’t know why she should feel uncomfortable, but she did.

  After everyone had returned home and she sat getting ready for bed, she voiced her concern to her husband. “I have a bad feeling about this venture of yours.”

  “A bad feeling?” Jayce looked up from where he was reading in bed. “What are you talking about?”

  Leah shrugged. “I don’t know.” She ran her brush through her long dark curls. “I suppose there’s no reason to feel uncomfortable. Turner is obviously a legitimate businessman, otherwise there’d be no reason to go so far as to try and entice you both to come to Skagway.”

  “Jacob even remembered his store.”

  “I know. I don’t know why I’m uneasy. I just am. The weather is very unpredictable this time of year. It might be rough to travel farther north.” She put the brush down and went to crawl into bed. “I suppose I just worry about your safety.”

  “Well, stop,” Jayce said, putting his book aside. He blew out the lamp. “There’s no reason to be afraid. Skagway is an all-year harbor—it never freezes over like in Nome. And it’s certainly not as risky as the Arctic. We won’t be stuck in any ice floes. Besides, Jacob knows Skagway, and we both have decent funds so that if we need to stay in a hotel should Turner’s hospitality prove to be less than desirable, we will be fully capable of doing so.”

  Leah snuggled into her husband’s open arms. “You could get sick.”

  “And sled dogs could fly,” he teased. “You need to stop worrying about the possibility of things that might go wrong and pay more attention to other things.”

  “Other things? Like what?” She tried to imagine what he might mean.

  “Like this,” Jayce said. He covered her mouth with his.

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Leah adapted easily to her new life in Ketchikan. She was amazed at how much the place had grown just since her last visit. There were now four salmon canneries, with another planned for the future, as well as min
ing and logging industries. The only problem with increased industry, of course, was the expansion of saloons and bordellos on Creek Street. Leah supposed it was one of those unavoidable issues, although she tried at every turn to encourage those she knew to avoid that area at all cost. In church they often talked of ways to reach out to the soiled doves who worked the houses of ill repute, but too much money was exchanging hands to keep the women away for long. This grieved Leah in a way she couldn’t begin to explain. The houses had been there even when she’d been a child, but she’d never thought much about the women who worked there. Now, after becoming a wife and mother, Leah’s heart went out to these poor souls. They were somebody’s daughters—maybe even wives and mothers to someone. What had brought them to such a horrible fate?

  Ketchikan remained scenic and beautiful despite the darker side of life. Eagles were abundant, drawn there by the presence of salmon and other good fishing. Leah loved to watch the birds on the beach. Wills and Merry loved them as well. They didn’t go to watch them often, but when they did everyone seemed to have the best time.

  With Adrik’s house removed from the town and set a bit higher on the forested mountainside, Leah felt removed from the sorrows and dirtiness of life. Here it was quiet and lovely with a rich abundance of all they needed. The winters were mild, with more rain than snow, and the summers were warm and beneficial to growing fruits and vegetables. She’d even managed to reconnect with a couple of dear friends from her youth. The life they’d found here was far better than she could have imagined, and Leah felt they’d made the right decision in coming. It would be a good place to raise Wills and Merry and the new baby.

  She put her hand to her stomach. Finding herself pregnant again stirred up some concerns as to how this would affect Jayce’s love for the twins. Just as she’d overcome her fears about whether Jayce could love the children as his own, new worries came to haunt her. Would he care more about the baby he knew to be his own?

  “I’m leaving now,” Jayce said. He came and planted a kiss on the top of Leah’s head. “I’ll be home around four.”