“Supper is almost ready, Mother. Would you like to come to the table now?” He looked at Laurette. “We’ll talk more later.”
❧
By morning, the sunshine had disappeared into a heavy mist. Tyler looked up when Laurette came into the office.
“How was Hyder?”
“Glad I got back last night. No planes will land in Sitka today.”
Ryan had come in after Laurette and heard this last declaration. “An entertainer was due on the noon flight. We’re supposed to get her to the cruise ship leaving this afternoon.”
“What’s their route? Are they going up the Neva Straits?” Tyler asked.
Ryan nodded and grabbed a tide table. “High tide is at three ten; the captain’s going to have to sail two o’clock.”
Laurette looked from one to the other. It was a narrow strait, and the ships could only make it through on a high tide. The scenery left the passengers breathless, so the cruise lines made the passage as often as they could.
“Could we get the entertainer on an earlier flight?” Laurette asked.
“Won’t help if she can’t land here,” Ryan said.
“But if she gets into Juneau earlier, she’ll be ready to hop a flight back here as soon as the fog clears.”
“It’s a thought. I’ll see what I can do.” Tyler picked up the phone.
She and Ryan started on the daily routine of taking care of cruise ship requests. The fog remained solid, and the noon flight went north without stopping. By one o’clock, the fog and mist had started to break up.
Laurette stopped by the office to check in. “Got time to grab a sandwich?” she asked Ryan, who had followed her up the stairs.
They turned as Tyler hung up the phone. “That was our entertainer. She’s on the two fifteen flight from Juneau.”
Laurette looked at Ryan but did not voice her question.
“Can you do it?” Tyler asked Ryan.
“I think so. The water isn’t too choppy.”
“Take Laurette with you. She can keep the woman calm.”
“Let’s go.” Ryan patted her on the back as he went by.
“What are we going to do?” Laurette asked, trying to keep up with Ryan’s long stride.
He grinned. “We can grab take-out sandwiches on our way to the airport.”
“Somehow I don’t think that’s the whole story.” She hopped in the company van. “Then what do we do?”
“We transport the entertainer and her luggage to her ship before it gets to the straits.”
“By boat?” She gasped.
He nodded, pulling up to the drive-in. “What do you want for lunch?”
“I seem to have lost my appetite,” she muttered.
He grinned at her and ordered them each a sandwich, with a soda for her and chocolate milk for him. “You’d better keep up your strength. I’m going to need your help.”
❧
Ryan pulled out a sign just like the one he had held up for Laurette some months ago. Only the name had been changed. An attractive young woman approached them.
“Are you from Southeast Alaska Maritime? I was told they would meet me.”
“Yes, Miss Thomas. I’m Ryan and this is Laurette. We’re going to take you to your ship,” Ryan told her. “Our time is short, so please point out your luggage as soon as it comes out.” He hurried her to the baggage carousel.
Miss Thomas pointed to a large suitcase marked HEAVY. “There’s one more small one. I have to carry costumes, so I need the big case,” she apologized.
Ryan flipped the van keys to Laurette. “Why don’t you pull up by the front door? It’ll save us a few minutes.”
A minute later, after Ryan hurriedly pulled the small suitcase from the carousel, Miss Thomas asked, “Is there a problem with time? When does the ship sail?” She struggled to keep up with Ryan.
He sighed. “This is going to be a rough trip. The ship sailed at two to make the tide. We’re going to take you to it by boat.”
“Why didn’t they wait for me?” she asked indignantly as they reached the place where Laurette had parked the van.
“The ships have to go through the straits at high tide. They didn’t have any choice,” Ryan explained as he stowed her bags in the back of the van. “Do you have some tennis shoes or something more practical than those?” He pointed to her high heels.
He thanked Laurette as she handed him the keys and got in the backseat.
“I knew I shouldn’t have taken this gig,” Miss Thomas muttered. “I have some running shoes in my small bag.”
“You can change while we get your gear loaded into the boat,” Laurette suggested. “If you can, it would be wise to change into jeans and a sweatshirt, too. That looks like an expensive suit.”
Ryan noted the fear in his passenger’s face as he raced to Crescent Harbor. “We’ll take good care of you,” he said, trying to reassure the entertainer.
She smiled weakly. “Mother told me to be a teacher.”
Ryan left the women to find proper attire while he loaded the large suitcase. “Must weigh a hundred pounds,” he muttered, stowing it in the bow of the boat. “Wonder what those costumes are made of.”
Laurette handed him the smaller case, then helped Miss Thomas into the boat and guided her to the passenger seat facing the bow. She took the bench that shared the seat back of the forward-facing passenger spot.
Ryan took the boat out of the harbor. As soon as he passed the No Wake Zone, he opened the throttle up. “Hang on,” he called to the women. “A little choppy out here.” Glancing at Miss Thomas, he noted her white face and grim look. Laurette looked like she was having fun as the boat pounded over the waves. He noted that she had wisely put on her rain gear so the spray coming over the side of the speeding boat didn’t soak her.
“Rette, will you take the wheel?” he yelled. “Just like driving a car, only the road is bigger,” he teased as she slid behind the wheel. He stood in the opening in the canvas where he had a better view. “Head for that point. Don’t touch the throttle unless I tell you, understood?”
Laurette nodded as she stood next to him. He glowed with pride at how quickly she learned to stand while holding the wheel to keep the boat going where he indicated. “You’re doing great.” He wanted to put his arm around her but didn’t think it proper while they had a passenger.
He turned to Miss Thomas. “You okay?”
She nodded, her knuckles white from gripping the bar in front of her.
“There, I think I see the ship,” Laurette shouted.
“Looks like it. Head right for it. I’ll take over when we get close,” Ryan told her.
He squatted down where he could talk to the entertainer. “I told you this would be a tough one. We’ll come up alongside the ship, then hold the same speed while we transfer you and your luggage aboard.”
“Will they open a door for me?” Her eyes were as big as saucers.
“It will be above the water level. The crew will help you aboard.” Before she could question him further, he grabbed the VHF radio to talk to the ship.
“Thanks, Rette. You did a great job,” Ryan said when he took over the wheel. “Can you help Miss Thomas get ready?”
He saw Laurette kneel next to the frightened woman to talk to her. He concentrated on bringing the boat alongside the cruise ship. He waved to the sailors who had opened the deck door several feet above them. Within a couple minutes, he’d matched their speed and was holding steady directly under the opening. He signaled to the sailors.
“Rette, I need you to take the wheel a minute. I’ll get Miss Thomas’s luggage loaded.”
“You can do it,” he whispered as she slid into the seat behind the wheel. “Don’t look at the water. Just hold us steady under that opening.” He pointed to the side of the ship.
He grabbed the heavy rope net the sailors tossed down, loaded the luggage into it, and signaled for the men to pull it aboard.
Miss Thomas had moved to the stern to watch
the process. “Will they pull me up like that?” Her voice trembled.
He stood up and watched the luggage inch its way up the side of the moving ship. “Not exactly. They’ll give you a ladder to climb.” He smiled at her. “Just think of it as a new part of your act.”
“I should have listened to my mother,” she groaned.
Ryan checked on Laurette. She kept her eyes on the open deck above them and held the boat close to the ship. That’s my girl. The ladder fell into the back of the boat, breaking into his thoughts of Laurette. “Are you ready for this?” Ryan asked the entertainer.
Miss Thomas shuddered. He saw her press her lips together and held the ladder while she put a foot on the first rung. “Take it slow. I’ll hold the ladder as steady as I can. Now go.” He gave her boost up and held her legs as long as he could reach. She only had a few more rungs to go when the sailors at the top took her hands and pulled her aboard.
A cheer went up. Miss Thomas stood and bravely waved to Ryan.
He gave her a thumbs-up and moved to take the wheel from Laurette.
She heaved a sigh of relief and slid to the passenger seat.
Ryan turned them away from the ship and headed back to Sitka at a slower speed. “You did a perfect job.” He smiled. “Were you praying the whole time?”
“I’ve never prayed so hard in my life. What if that poor woman had fallen?”
“I bet she goes home after this and becomes a teacher.” He reached to take her hand. “I prayed for her, too. Thank God our prayers were answered so quickly and so perfectly.”
FOURTEEN
The hectic pace of work kept Laurette’s mind off her personal problems. At times the thoughts of what she would do if Ruth had to go into assisted living jumped out to worry her. John remained attentive, but she knew he wanted to get back out to fish while the sockeye were still running. The canneries paid him a good price for the red salmon. He had registered Ruth with the police, but her ID bracelet still had not arrived. Just trust God to take care of her, Laurette reminded herself as she climbed the stairs to the office.
“Your father ever shoot skeet?” Tyler asked as she came through the door.
She shook her head. “He didn’t keep guns around the house. Said he didn’t have time to hunt.” She grinned. “Besides, the pheasants and ducks were my mother’s pets. I’m not sure what she would have done if he or Brian ever shot any. I know she wouldn’t have cooked them.” She picked up the fax messages. “You going hunting?”
“No, but we just got a request for clay pigeons. A cruise director wants to have people shoot skeet off the back deck. Seems the ones he had shipped for that purpose got broken, and he needs us to replace them.”
“They sure request some interesting stuff.” Laurette looked up as Ryan walked in.
“What now?” he asked.
Tyler explained the problem.
“What about the gun club? I think they have skeet shoots sometimes.”
Tyler raised his eyebrows. “Never heard of one here, but that’s a good idea. Will you find out who runs it and give them a call?”
“Sure. How soon do we need the clay pigeons, and how many do they want?” Ryan asked.
“Here’s the fax.” Laurette handed him a sheet from the ones she had been reading. “I’ll take care of this one. A woman needs to go to the dentist.”
Tyler got up and grabbed his jacket and pointed out the window toward the huge ship in the harbor. “I’ve got to put a harbor pilot aboard.” Laurette had started out the door when he called, “Diane wants you to call when you get a chance.”
Laurette waved and headed for the dock to pick up the passenger needing dental attention.
❧
Ryan sat down in Tyler’s seat and started calling people about the clay pigeons.
“Yeah, I got a couple cases I can spare. They’re at the clubhouse,” the manager told Ryan. “I’m on my way out now. Could you pick them up after four?”
After making an appointment with the man, Ryan put the phone down and wondered if Laurette would like to go along. He hadn’t had time to ask about Ruth for a couple of days, and it would give them a chance to talk.
What will you do when Rette leaves? If Ruth goes into the nursing home, she’ll have to find a new place to live. Or would she quit SAM early and go back to Seattle?
I’ve got to find time to look for a year-round job. I have to have something to offer her before I can ask her to stay in Sitka. Ryan pushed aside his worrisome thoughts and went back to solving problems for the cruise ships in the harbor.
❧
While Laurette waited to take the passenger at the dentist back to the dock, she called Diane.
“Have you ever seen the Russian Dancers?” her friend asked.
“No. Never have time when they have a show.”
“You know they’re housewives who perform authentic Russian dances. Their costumes alone are worth seeing.”
“I hear the passengers off the ships talk about them. I’ll go see them before the summer’s over.”
“That’s why I wanted to talk to you. My neighbor is one of the dancers, and she’s given me tickets. I checked the schedule, and you only have two ships on Thursday. Will you go with me?”
“Have to check with the boss, but since it’s you asking, I think he’ll let me off early.”
❧
On Thursday when Laurette ran into the restaurant a bit late, she stopped still. “Ruth, how nice to see you.” She looked at Diane. “You didn’t tell me Ruth could go, too.”
Diane patted Ruth’s hand. “It’s our surprise.”
Ruth beamed. Laurette gave her a kiss on the cheek and pulled her chair close to her old friend.
“I let the church know so no one will worry when they call this afternoon and Ruth isn’t there to answer.”
“You thought of everything.”
They enjoyed lunch, then went to the Centennial Building. “I was here for the music festival, but the curtains behind the stage were open then,” Laurette commented.
“The dark background will make the costumes stand out better,” Diane explained.
An hour later, when they came out of the show, Diane asked Ruth if she would like to take the long way home.
The old woman’s eyes sparkled. “I’d like that. I still love sightseeing, even after all these years.”
Laurette smiled and helped Ruth into Diane’s car. “I went out to the gun club with Ryan the other night, and he took me up to Harbor Mountain. What a view. We could see all of Sitka Sound.”
“You sound like a tourist,” Diane teased. “Enjoy it while you can. The wet, dreary winter will be here soon enough.”
“I guess I’ll be back in rainy Seattle by then,” Laurette said sadly.
“I don’t like to think of you going away,” Ruth said quietly. “I never get to see my grandchildren—haven’t since they left Sitka. Will you ever come back?”
“I’m not sure I want to leave,” Laurette admitted with a sigh.
Diane drove to Katlian Street and parked near Totem Square. “Are you up to walking a little?” she asked Ruth.
Ruth seemed happy to walk between the two young women. “When Esther lived there,” she said as she pointed across the street to the Pioneer Home, “we used to come over here and try to figure out what the totem meant.” She chuckled. “My sister would make up silly stories about it. She said those old petroglyphs looked like something I had drawn.”
Laurette hugged Ruth. “You must miss your sister a lot.”
“Yes, but soon we’ll be together again.”
“I hope not for a while. We aren’t ready to let you go,” Laurette protested.
“The Lord will decide,” Ruth said, stopping to catch her breath.
“We should get you home before you wear us all out, Ruth,” Diane said. Ruth smiled at Diane’s teasing, then they all turned back toward the car. “I’ll drop you off and then take Laurette back to her truck.”
❧
“Thanks for taking us sightseeing, Diane,” Laurette said.
“I just hope Ruth doesn’t get the idea to go on her own,” Diane said, turning back toward the office.
“Me, too.” Laurette heaved a big sigh. “She is so sweet, and I don’t want anything to happen to her.” She added wistfully, “I don’t want to leave her.”
“I keep telling you to stay in Sitka. One of our winters will cure you of thinking Seattle is a rainy place.”
“I may have to go back to Seattle sooner if John decides to put Ruth in the Pioneer Home. I won’t have a place to live.”
“Wouldn’t he let you continue to live in her house?”
“Why? Don’t you think he’ll want to sell it or even move there himself?”
“Well, if you need a place to stay, the kids can share a room and you can come live with us.” Diane pulled in behind Laurette’s truck. “There’s no reason to make a rushed decision.”
“Thanks. I would like to finish my job here, and I don’t want to go back to the B and B. It’s just too expensive, long-term. I’ve looked in the paper and haven’t found anything else available yet.”
Diane reached over to pat Laurette’s hand. “The Lord has a plan. We just have to be patient until He tells us what it is.”
As Diane drove away, Laurette decided not to get in her truck. Ruth would be asleep, so she would just stop by the office for a minute to see what was going on. She climbed the stairs.
The look of pleasure on Ryan’s face when he saw her made her heart skip a beat. “Thought you’d gone with Diane.”
“I did. She just dropped me off to pick up my truck, and I came in to check on you.”
“You don’t think I can handle this alone?” he quipped.
Laurette felt her face grow hot. “I didn’t mean to criticize. You do great.” She looked at the clock. “But you’re working late. Problems?”
“No. Tyler got called to Ketchikan, so I’m double-checking what has to be done tomorrow.”
“Need help?”
“I will tomorrow.” He waved the stack of faxes. “Always something to handle.” He leaned back in his chair. “I’ve been meaning to ask you about Ruth. Is she staying home?”
Alaskan Summer Page 10