Fire and Ice

by Susan Page Davis

  “Besides the fact that he’s green as grass?” She thought about it for a moment. “He came with a pocketful of cash, but that’s not really unusual. People know they can’t always use a credit card or write a check out here in the hinterlands. I guess the thing I like least is the way the dogs reacted to him. They didn’t seem to take to him.” She looked up and smiled ruefully. “That and the fact that he has fancy clothes and is staying at the swankiest hotel in Anchorage.”

  “Mmm. Real ‘dog racing’ people don’t usually put on airs.”

  “Yeah. Is he a rich guy who fancies getting into a hobby that will make him look rugged to his friends?”

  “People like that usually tire of it when they learn how much work is involved.”

  “Exactly,” she said. “Then what will become of these beautiful dogs?”

  Rick stepped closer to Robyn—as close as his unwieldy snowshoes would let him. He laid his gloved hand on the sleeve of her parka.

  “Listen, I don’t know if this would help you or not, but I’ll be in Anchorage all day tomorrow. I have a friend with the state police, and I was thinking …”

  Her eyes glistened with what might be hope, so he plunged on.

  “He may not be able to do anything, but I could ask him to look into this guy’s background and just make sure he’s legit.”

  “Wow, that would make me feel better. Even if they didn’t find anything—I mean, if he doesn’t have a police record, that’s good, right?”

  She gave him Sterns’s full name, the hotel where he was lodging, his cell phone number, and the town in California where he claimed he lived. Rick was glad to be able to do something to help her. His concern for the Hollands had grown over the last few days, and he wanted to take away some of Robyn’s anxiety.

  The dogs whined, and she reached for the snow hook. “We need to get going. Thanks for listening, Rick.”

  “Anytime. And be careful. I saw a moose not far from here yesterday.”

  “Okay, I’ll stay alert. Don’t want a moose tearing into my team.”

  He watched her and the sled team move down the trail into the trees. She’ll be okay, he told himself. Though he’d heard of a few instances where a moose had savaged a dog team that couldn’t escape its wrath, that was a rare happening. Usually the huge animals lumbered into the woods as soon as they saw someone coming. And Robyn knew what she was doing. He was more worried about her financial straits.

  He was beginning to care for her beyond friendship, and he didn’t like to think that her family might leave the area. His friend Joel Dawes might not be able to help him out. Maybe he should have broached the subject to Joel before mentioning it to Robyn, but her uneasiness about the potential sale to Sterns had overcome his caution. Assurance that the prospective buyer was honest should help Robyn feel easier about selling some of her treasured dogs to him.

  Rick set out once more on his snowshoes, mulling over the Hollands’ situation. If Cheryl seriously wanted to sell the property, he wouldn’t mind adding to his own land. But he didn’t suppose he had enough money for that. Opening his new practice in Wasilla last year had tied up all his savings. He wondered, too, who owned the Hollands’ property. Robyn’s father had died in an accident several years earlier. A plane crash, if he remembered correctly. Was the deed in Cheryl’s name—or Grandpa Steve’s?

  An hour later he got home and built up his wood fire. Relaxing with a cup of cocoa and a handful of cookies from a store package, he found that he couldn’t stop thinking of Robyn. When he considered his hours spent at Far North Veterinary, it now bore directly on the amount of time he had available to spend with her. The drive to the city on Sunday for church tired him out and took him away from his Wasilla patients—and Robyn. Definitely time to focus his efforts.

  He looked at his watch. She’d have put the dogs away by now and buttoned down the kennel for the night. He pulled out his phone. “Hey, Robyn? It’s Rick.” He felt suddenly like he was back in high school, calling a girl from chem lab and wondering what to say next. “Just wanted to see how your ride went.”

  “Good. No moose that I saw. And I’m pleased with the way the dogs are progressing.”

  “Glad to hear it.” He loved the way she talked about her dogs—businesslike, but with the pride of a mother.

  “I’m thinking of entering a short race next month, after we’re done with the craziness here,” she said. “It’s a great way to get the dogs used to competition and crowds.”

  “Sounds like fun.”

  “Hey, do you remember what I told you earlier, about … about our property?”

  “Yes.” He sensed that she didn’t want to say too much over the phone.

  “Well, my mom says Sterns is interested.”

  “In the whole place?”

  “Yes. I’m having a hard time with this. It makes me furious that she told someone like him—someone we know nothing about.”

  “Did she talk to him again since this morning?”

  “Apparently he called her tonight, after she left the nursing home. She phoned me on her way home. She hasn’t gotten here yet, but … well, you promised to pray for me. Would you pray that I don’t have a rip-roaring, knock-down-drag-out with my mom?”

  “Yes. I surely will. I’ll do that right now. And I won’t forget tomorrow. If I can find out anything about this guy for you, I’ll call you.”

  He hung up still feeling her alarm. Would trying to help her put him in the middle of a bitter family dispute?

  Robyn waited up for her mother, her anger simmering. She planned what she would say when Mom walked through the door. This wasn’t fair. Robyn’s name might not be on the deed to the property, but she ought to have a say in what became of her home and her business.

  Even though her thoughts made sense to her, she knew her attitude was wrong. Mom had worked hard, even before Dad died. She’d helped in the kennel business, too, but had finally taken the job at the store to supplement their erratic income. When it came right down to it, Mom had probably suffered most of all the family.

  She’d moved with her husband and two-year-old son from civilized Pennsylvania to the wilds of Alaska. She never complained about the cold or the light deprivation and the seasonal affective disorder some Alaska residents—especially the transplants—suffered. She pitched in and helped.

  Grandpa’s accident was a case in point. Mom was dealing with it the best way she knew how. Getting Grandpa the best treatment they could. Visiting him as often as possible, though the forty-five-mile drive from their home in Wasilla to the nursing home in Anchorage took an hour each way.

  Robyn tried to focus on her anger once more. She stopped before the front door and practiced the words she had planned to say. “What were you thinking, Mom? Telling a stranger we’re considering selling our home when Grandpa doesn’t even know yet.”

  Oh yes, those words would cut deep. In her own ears, she sounded rude, disrespectful, and childish.

  Tears flooded her eyes, and she flopped down on the sofa.

  When her mother came in twenty minutes later, Robyn met her with a tender heart. She threw her arms around her. “Mom, I’m sorry I was mad at you. Can we talk about this?”

  “Of course.” Her mom took her coat and gloves off and sat down beside her. “I know it’s hard for you to think about moving away from here. This has been your only home.”

  “Yes. But I—”

  Mom held up one hand. “Haven’t you ever wondered what it would be like to live someplace else? Someplace … easier?”

  Robyn stared at her. “You mean, outside Alaska?”

  “Yes.”

  “No.” Robyn let out a puff of breath and looked away. The conversation had nose-dived so fast she felt dizzy.

  “I thought a lot about it on the way home,” Mom said. “I realize I shouldn’t have mentioned to Mr. Sterns that we might sell our property before the family had discussed it thoroughly. He caught me by surprise when he said he was looking at land and t
hinking of moving up here, and I just … let it fall out of my mouth. That was wrong of me.”

  Robyn shook her head. “I thought maybe you were just tired of the dogs and never having any money.”

  Her mother laughed with a sniff. “Honey, I love dogs. It’s true, sometimes I wonder how we’ll get by, and I do get sick of vacuuming up dog hair, but our life here has been pretty good these last twenty-five years, don’t you think? What you can remember of them, that is.”

  “Well, yeah.” Robyn reflected that she had never known anything else. What if she’d grown up in Pennsylvania, or some other place that had even less snow? She would still love animals, of that she was sure. But what if she’d never had the opportunity to go dog sledding? “If you and Grandpa really think we should move, then I guess we should. But I can’t imagine being happier somewhere else. And Grandpa … do you think he would even consider moving south?”

  “You’re probably right. He’d hate it.” Mom sat for a moment, staring down at the rug. Then she smiled. “I don’t know how God is going to work this out, but I believe He will.”

  “So …” Robyn eyed her cautiously. “You’re willing to tell Mr. Sterns that we don’t want to sell this place?”

  “Yes. Unless Grandpa wants to sell it. It’s half his, after all.”

  Robyn nodded. “Thank you.”

  Her mother held out her arms, and Robyn hugged her.

  “Mom, I know keeping the kennel going has been hard on you. You’ve worked constantly since Dad died, and I appreciate that.”

  Her mother turned and grabbed a tissue from a box on the end table. “There have been some difficult moments. I won’t deny that. The financial worries have been stressful. But, you know what? Even when I’m worrying, I know that’s wrong. God doesn’t want me to wear myself out worrying. What do you say we pray about this together?”

  “Yes. And maybe tomorrow I can go with you to Anchorage, and we can talk to Grandpa and see what he thinks.”

  “That’s a good idea. In fact, why don’t I call the store tonight and see if it’s possible for me to work an earlier shift tomorrow? If I could get out, say, by three, we could drive into town and see Grandpa and eat supper in Anchorage.”

  “Can we afford it?”

  “Well, I was thinking fast food, not a fancy restaurant.”

  Robyn nodded. “Yeah. Let’s do it. I’ll get Darby to feed the dogs their supper.”

  “Can she handle it alone?”

  “I think so. I’ll have the meat ready and leave her lots of notes.”

  Her mother laughed and seized her hand. “Let’s pray now.”

  five

  Rick made a house call at a dairy farm on his way to the clinic Tuesday morning. He also stopped to see a client’s injured Irish setter. Heading once more for the animal hospital, he realized he would drive past the hotel where Philip Sterns was staying. On a whim, he drove into the parking area and strolled to the lobby.

  At the desk, he told the clerk he was looking for Sterns.

  “I’m sorry, I can’t give you his room number,” the young woman replied, “but if you’d like, I can call his room and see if he’s in.”

  Rick hesitated. What would he say?

  “Oh, there he is now.” The clerk nodded toward the elevators.

  Rick swung around and saw a thin, middle-aged man step out and head toward the main entrance.

  “Thanks.” He hurried to catch up with him. “Mr. Sterns?”

  “Yes?” The man stopped walking and turned toward him.

  “Hi. I’m Rick Baker.” He extended his hand, and the man shook it. “Uh, I understand you’re looking for property in the area.”

  “Are you a real estate agent?”

  “No.” Rick smiled sheepishly. “Actually, I’m a veterinarian. But I do know someone who’s in the real estate business—the agent who helped me find my place in Wasilla last year.”

  Sterns eyed him curiously through his glasses. “And how did you get my name?”

  “I’m sorry. I probably should have started with that. I’m a neighbor of the Hollands.”

  “Ah.” He relaxed visibly and Rick felt more confident.

  “Cheryl and Robyn are friends of mine, and they mentioned they’d had a visitor who was looking for property. Since I work close by, I thought I’d drop in and see if you’d found an agent to work with.”

  “Yes, as a matter of fact, I’m on my way out to meet with one now.”

  “Oh, well, you’re all set then.” Rick felt a little silly, but he was glad he’d gotten a look at the man. He was sharper than Rick had suspected, given Robyn’s description.

  “Wasilla is one of the areas I’m considering when I relocate,” Sterns said. “Perhaps you could give me the agent’s name. If I don’t find what I want down here, I may do some serious looking up there.”

  “Sure.” Rick wrote down the name of the agency for him.

  “Do you treat the Hollands’ dogs?”

  Rick nodded. “When they need it. They’re a healthy lot.”

  “So, as far as you know, their dogs wouldn’t have any problems? I’m looking at some of their adult females and one male, Tumble.”

  “Oh, yes, I know Tumble. He’s in great shape. I don’t know a kennel with a better health record.” Rick eyed the man once more but could think of no way to get useful information from him without arousing suspicion.

  “The girl, Robyn,” Sterns said, frowning. “She seems reluctant to sell them.”

  “Robyn loves her dogs, but she’s a businesswoman. If she thinks it’s best for her kennel, she’ll sell you the dogs you want. If not, then she’ll offer you others of comparable quality.” Rick stepped back. “I’d better head on over to the animal hospital. Nice to meet you.”

  Sterns nodded and walked out the door. Rick inhaled deeply. He should have asked Joel’s assistance first, and not tried to meet Sterns. If the man was underhanded, he’d be suspicious now. And Rick had admitted that the Hollands had talked about him. That might not sit so well. He wished he’d thought of a way to get out of revealing that.

  He pulled out his cell phone as he walked to his pickup. Sterns passed him in a red rental car. Rick waved, but Sterns ignored him.

  “Hey, Joel? This is Rick Baker. Are you able to access databases to find out some background information on someone from another state?”

  Robyn drove toward Anchorage with her mother beside her.

  Mom was content to let her drive and was even happier when Aven phoned. After chatting for about ten minutes with him, she put the headset on her phone and passed it to Robyn.

  “Hey,” Robyn said. “What’s up?”

  “You’re not driving in heavy traffic while you talk, are you?” her big brother asked.

  “No, I’m on the Glenn Highway, and traffic’s light.”

  “Okay. I guess you heard Mom telling me about this guy who’s interested in the land.”

  “Yeah, I did. What do you think about that?”

  “I told Mom to do whatever she thinks she has to do.”

  “I agree, mostly. If we really need to sell, then she and Grandpa should do it. Mom and I talked a lot last night. I think the question is, do we need to be thinking about this now?”

  “Well, Caddie and I are agreed that we should try to help you if we can.”

  “No, that’s not right. You shouldn’t be helping support us.” Robyn looked at her mother, and Mom shook her head adamantly. “Listen, you’ve sent us part of your pay ever since you joined the Coast Guard. But you have your own family to think of now. It’s time for us to stand on our own feet and for you and Caddie to invest your income in your own family.”

  “Well … we’ll talk about it when we come for the race. But keep me posted on this guy, okay? Because if you don’t want to sell the land, you need to be firm, and if that upsets him and kills the sale of the dogs …”

  “We can handle it,” Robyn said, but she wasn’t sure how. She passed the phone and headset back t
o her mother.

  “You know what, honey?” her mom said to Aven. “We’re going to talk this over with Grandpa tonight. After we’ve discussed all the options, we’ll be able to make a better decision about it.”

  Robyn sighed and tried to concentrate on the road.

  “You know,” Mom said after she had hung up, “when Rick called this morning and you were in the shower—”

  “What about it?” Robyn asked. She’d scurried as quickly as she could to take the brief call. Rick had inquired about her grandfather and their plans and then signed off to drive to work.

  “We chatted for a couple of minutes, and he mentioned that he’s still going to church in Anchorage, but he wants to stop driving that far, even though he’ll miss his friends there.”

  “Really?” Robyn stared at her. Had Mom been doing a little snooping on her behalf?

  “I invited him to visit our church any time. It wouldn’t surprise me if he showed up some Sunday.”

  Robyn said nothing but wondered how she would handle things if Rick walked into their church on Sunday. She was glad for the warning.

  Twenty minutes later they reached the nursing home. Grandpa was eating an early supper from a tray.

  “They say they’ll have me up and eating in the dining room within a few days,” he said after greeting them. “I’m not sure I want to.”

  “What’s wrong?” Mom asked.

  “I think they need a new cook. Cheryl, I miss your cooking. Did you bring me anything?”

  Mom laughed and opened her tote bag. “Robyn made some brownies this morning while I was at work, though when she had time, I don’t know. She’s busy all the time without you there to help her.”

  “That’s right.” Robyn passed the plastic container of brownies to him. “We’re in high gear, getting ready for the race. I need you, so hurry up and get better.”

  He fumbled with the container, and Robyn leaned over to help him open it.