[Song of Alaska 02] - Morning's Refrain

by Tracie Peterson

  “So have you two managed to solve all the issues of the world?” Evie asked.

  “Haven’t gotten much further than discussing the new governor. Seems everyone is fairly excited about it. They say he’s bringing his wife and children. At least three of his four children. I guess a fourth is off on his own or otherwise occupied.”

  Evie pushed back an errant wisp of hair. “I hope his wife isn’t too uppity. She’ll be in for a real shock if she is. Folks coming here always seem so surprised that such places really do exist.”

  “We were just discussing that,” Kjell said. “I was telling Josh that it always impressed me how well you and Lydia adapted. I’ve seen many army wives come here only to leave before their husband’s time was up. They usually went to live with family back down in the States. They couldn’t bear the long waits between letters from home.”

  “I know. I’ve been at many a gathering of ladies where such matters were the sole topic of discussion,” Evie said. “Frankly, I’m glad to get mail just once a month. That way, if Jeannette has written to complain in more than one letter, I can get it all out of the way in one sitting.”

  Kjell laughed. “And she seems quite content to complain, doesn’t she?”

  Evie nodded. “More than most. You’d think she’d find some satisfaction in her life, but she never does. She has the house we grew up in, because, as she told Mitchell and Marston, she couldn’t be happy anywhere else. Her children are grown and gone, or very nearly so, and her husband allows her the freedom to do pretty much whatever she wants—so long as she keeps to her budget. I suppose that is the most grievous thing in her life, however.”

  The men exchanged a knowing smile. Josh had heard most of the women in Sitka complain about having to keep tight budgets. Things up here cost a whole lot more than elsewhere. Many of the women had family members from the States ship them supplies at outrageous freighting costs, and still managed to save money. It wasn’t that Arnie and the other shopkeepers were unfair in their pricing, but things were precious here. It was harder to get even common items.

  “So are they planning a big party for the governor?” Joshua asked no one in particular.

  “Lydia says there will be a big reception to greet him and the family on the day they arrive. Then sometime next month there’s to be a party and dance. She’s getting her musicians ready for the occasion.”

  “Our own little Sitka orchestra,” Josh said with a grin. “That Lydia can sure play the violin. I’ve never heard anything sweeter.”

  “I marvel at her abilities,” Evie admitted. “I never had a talent like that.”

  “You sing like a lark,” Kjell countered. “Your instrument is your voice.”

  “I agree,” Josh said, meeting her gaze. The moment their eyes met, he felt his heart skip a beat. Why couldn’t she be free? He didn’t want to dishonor her or God by having selfish thoughts about her. He drew a deep breath and looked away. God, forgive me for loving her. “I guess I should get back to work. I need to finish cutting boards.”

  “Want some help?” Kjell asked.

  Josh put aside his uneaten pastry. “No. I’ll be just fine. The boys will be back soon, and I’ll have more than enough help.”

  “In that case,” Kjell said, getting to his feet and extending his arm to Evie, “may I escort you somewhere?”

  “I’m going to Arnie’s. You’re welcome to help me make my way through the mud.”

  “I’d be honored. Perhaps we can find Mrs. Murphy’s lost rain barrel. I heard it said that the poor woman believed it blew off her porch during a windstorm. She thinks it rolled all the way out to sea, but I’m more of a mind to believe it sank in the mud and is still stuck somewhere.”

  Evie laughed. “I’m sure if we dug around in the mud of Lincoln Street, we’d find entire regiments of soldiers and their gear still mucking about. I saw a man sink up to his thigh a couple of weeks ago. Traversing the area is not for the weak.”

  The men laughed. “Perhaps,” Kjell said with a wink at Josh, “we should work on creating some mud shoes. Something along the lines of snowshoes, only for the streets of Sitka.”

  “Mother, can I talk to you?” Dalton asked. He hesitated. “I don’t want to upset you again.”

  Lydia looked up and smiled. “I’m not upset. Come sit beside me.” She patted the sofa cushion.

  “I just want to apologize for getting so riled up yesterday.” He sat down and rubbed his hands rather nervously on his trousers. “I feel kind of lost.”

  She put her hand over his. “I’m so sorry. I never meant to make this harder on you.”

  He could see the sadness in her expression. “I wanted to say the same thing. It’s just that I need to understand. I need to know.

  It’s so hard to realize there’s a whole part of my life that remains a mystery.”

  “I know how that feels,” his mother told him. “When I lost my memory after the attack, I was so frustrated and angry. I knew there was so much I should understand, and yet I didn’t. I didn’t know the people around me, and that hurt most of all. Now you feel that you don’t know us—that we’ve betrayed you.”

  He nodded. “I know you didn’t intend to, but that is how it feels. Evie told me I should just forget about our father and siblings.

  She said I should flee them as if they were the devil himself, but I can’t do that. I know everyone wants what’s best for me—that you’ve always wanted that.”

  “You’re right. I only meant to protect you,” she said softly. “I don’t know what Marston and Mitchell might do—even now. If they thought you could benefit them, they would stop at nothing.”

  “But, Mother, I’m a grown man now. I can take care of myself.”

  She smiled sadly. “I know, Dalton. But in my mind you’re still a little boy. You’ll always be my little boy.”

  He hugged her. “I have so many questions. Evie said she’d talk to me about anything I wanted to know, but some of it only you can answer.”

  “Yesterday came as a bit of a shock, but I’m prepared now. I knew the day would come when we would need to relive the past. I never intended that you be kept from the truth forever.”

  “Thank you,” he said, pulling back to look at her once more.

  Reaching up, she gently touched his jaw. “You’ve grown up so fast. When I think of how I nearly lost you . . . well, I can’t even imagine a life without you. I wanted children so very much. I feared you would be an only child, and then God finally blessed us with the girls. I’m so afraid . . .” Her words faded as she dropped her hold.

  “Afraid of what, Mother?”

  She lowered her gaze to the fire. “I suppose I’m afraid of losing you again.”

  “How? How could you possibly lose me?”

  “Your brothers are very persuasive. Life in the States is much different from here. I’m afraid you’ll be enticed to stay once you go there.”

  “Who said anything about me going there?”

  She looked up at him and smiled knowingly. “You will. Maybe not tomorrow or the next day, but you will go to better understand what it was that brought me here. You’ll go to meet your siblings face to face so that you can ask your brothers what possessed them to do the things they did.” Mother turned back to the fire. “You’ll go, but I pray you’ll return. That’s my only hope.”

  Chapter 3

  The tenth of June dawned, overcast with a blanket of mist that hung heavy over the mountains. Within a few hours, however, the weather had cleared and the sun came out to welcome the new governor and his family.

  Lyman Knapp had been installed as the third governor of the District of Alaska. Appointed by President Harrison earlier in the year, Governor Knapp and his family were about to arrive at the docks in Sitka, along with three of their four children. Nearly the entire populace of Sitka had turned out to welcome the newcomers. Russians, Creoles, Tlingits, and Americans stood side by side to cheer the event. Everyone wanted to know what news he would bring of t
he States and of the future for Alaska.

  Dalton stood to the far side of the wharf watching with the others. He caught a glimpse of the bearded man as his launch approached the docks. The harbor was too shallow for the larger ships to enter close to shore, but it was only a minor inconvenience. The approach of the launch allowed the people ashore to watch and assess the passengers. It also allowed the governor and his family to consider their new home.

  “They ain’t gonna like it here,” Briney Roberts announced. The man was an old salt who’d long been a friend of the family. “I can tell you, the president makes a big mistake every time he appoints a governor who don’t know nothing about this place.”

  “I agree with you there, Briney.” Dalton shrugged. “I suppose they mean to put politicians in place who know how the game is played back in Washington. I guess they feel it doesn’t matter whether they know how to live here or not.”

  Briney scratched his graying beard. “Your pa would make a better governor than that fellow.”

  “Well, give the guy a chance. Pa says he’s a war hero. He served in the Union Army and was wounded several times during the War Between the States. He’s been a lawyer and judge, as well as a congressman.”

  Briney spit out into the water. “Bah. Ain’t none of those things gonna give him the wherewithal to live here. A lawyer. Bah! A waste of time, if you ask me.”

  Dalton shrugged. Briney made a good point, but he didn’t want to encourage dissension. “Only time will tell if it’s given him the knowledge he needs for running the district. A governor will need a good understanding of the law. Maybe we can teach him the rest.”

  A loud round of applause went up as Governor Knapp appeared safely on the dock. The man bowed and presented his wife. More applause. Knapp motioned for the noise to cease, and the crowd fell silent.

  “Citizens of Sitka, I want to thank you for such a warm welcome. I am Governor Lyman Knapp, and I have come to serve this district to the best of my ability. Though this is an isolated land, I am persuaded to believe that there is a great wealth of resources and advantages to this place.”

  The clapping began again, and Briney nudged Dalton. “Got ’em eating out of his hand.”

  Knapp was now speaking with the city officials. There seemed to be some confusion as to what was to happen next. Dalton suppressed a yawn and glanced out to see a second, smaller boat making its way to the wharf. Perhaps these people were part of the governor’s family or staff. Dalton noted several women, as well as children, huddled together. They seemed to consider the town with some interest. Once in a while, someone would point and others would nod. Deciding he’d seen enough, Dalton was just about to move away when he saw a woman near the front of the boat jump to her feet. Fashionably dressed and groomed, she seemed oblivious to the danger.

  Dalton frowned. They were still a good ways from docking—it really was foolish of her to stand. The woman waved her hands as if swatting at some unseen attacker. The people in the boat were admonishing her to sit, but she seemed not to hear them. Instead she turned rather quickly and entangled herself in her dark green traveling suit.

  Dalton watched in a kind of strange fascination as the woman tipped backward almost in slow motion. The people around her reached out to take hold of her and keep her from falling off the boat, but it was to no avail. Another of the passengers screamed, calling out a name that Dalton couldn’t quite make out, as the woman disappeared under the water.

  The pilot of the boat didn’t seem to realize what had happened. He didn’t even attempt to slow his approach to the docks. People in the boat were calling out and trying to move to help the victim, but it was only serving to make the launch unstable.

  Slapping at the water as she resurfaced, the woman fought to keep her head above the waves. She clearly could not swim. She struggled in such a panicked manner, it left little doubt in Dalton’s mind that she was fighting for her life.

  Without another thought, Dalton pulled off his boots and jacket and, before Briney could even attempt to stop him, headed into the water.

  The shock of the cold momentarily stunned Dalton. He would have to move fast before the water lowered his body temperature to a dangerous level. Swimming with long, steady strokes, Dalton tried to look up long enough to get a fix on the woman. When he didn’t spy her immediately, he began to fear it was too late. He prayed he wouldn’t have to dive to locate her. Just then he caught sight of her odd little hat as she bobbed up for air. With a few strong thrusts, he reached her side just as she sank once again.

  Dalton knew she would probably fight him, but to his surprise she all but collapsed against him as he pulled her backward by the collar. She had either the good sense to let him rescue her or she’d passed out. Either way, he didn’t care, so long as she didn’t resist his efforts. With a strong single-armed stroke, Dalton began the journey back to shore. He heard cheers from the people but ignored them to focus on the job at hand. Neither one of them was out of danger just yet.

  When he got close enough to touch the ground, Dalton stopped and stood. Panting and exhausted, he reached around and lifted the water-logged woman in his arms. Blond hair spilled down from what had once been a carefully pinned bun. Somewhere in her struggle she’d lost the little hat.

  “You’re . . . hur-hurting . . . me,” she protested, her teeth chattering.

  “Excuse me?” He looked down to meet her frowning expression.

  “I said . . . you’re hurting m-me. You’re . . . holding me . . . too tight. In fact . . . I d--.d... . . don’t know why you’re c.carrying me . . . at all.”

  He could see she was younger than he’d originally thought. Instead of a more matronly woman, he found himself eye to eye with a girl surely no more than his own eighteen years.

  “I’m trying to save your life and get you to shore.” Sharp rocks cut into his feet, but Dalton pressed on.

  She seemed to gain control of her teeth. “But you’re pulling my hair,” she declared.

  Dalton stopped at this and looked at her in disbelief. “You have a strange way of being grateful for someone saving your life.”

  She reddened and shook her head. “My hair is caught. Put me down at once.”

  Seeing that the water was no more than a foot deep, Dalton nodded. “As you wish.” He released her and watched as she fell back into the water. The look on her face was one of complete disbelief.

  Dalton watched as she hit the bottom and bounced back up. Sputtering and shrieking, she fought the water and tried to reposition herself. He smiled as she managed to regain some control. With her skirts molded to her slim body, she struggled to steady herself.

  “How dare you!”

  He chuckled. “You told me to put you down. I just did what you said.”

  “How accommodating,” she said, taking her skirt in hand.

  Dalton shrugged. “You’re welcome.”

  She fixed him with a glare. “You are no doubt one of those uneducated ruffians I was warned about.”

  This only served to amuse Dalton even more. “I certainly hope so.”

  He laughed heartily as he moved toward shore. Other would-be rescuers were approaching, so he pushed through them to retrieve his coat and boots from Briney.

  “You gotta get out of them wet clothes. Come on over to my boat.”

  Just then Joshua Broadstreet approached. He held out a blanket to Dalton. “I have another blanket for the young lady.”

  “I’d be careful in giving it to her. She’s the testy sort.”

  Josh laughed. “Well, she just very nearly drowned.”

  “Because of her own stupidity,” Dalton countered. He stripped off his shirt and wrapped the blanket around his shivering body.

  “Maybe she’d be grateful to you if you brought her this bit of warmth,” Josh teased.

  Dalton looked at the blanket for a moment and shook his head.

  “She wasn’t grateful for having her life saved, so I doubt a blanket will change her position.”r />
  “Come on, Dalton.” Briney pulled him away from the approaching young woman and her crowd of helpers. “No sense worrying after her now.”

  “Believe me, I do not intend to give her a second thought.”

  “I was terrified when I saw you go into the water,” Lydia told her son as the family ate supper that evening. “Are you certain that you’re doing all right? You aren’t chilled, are you?” She reached out and felt his head.

  “Honestly, Mother, I’m fine. The water was cold, but Briney saw that I dried out quickly. I’m far more interested in the food on my plate and the pie you promised.”

  “Let him eat, Liddie. He’s just fine,” Kjell said, taking hold of his wife’s hand. “Relax.”

  “Illiyana said you’re the fastest swimmer in Sitka,” Britta announced.

  Dalton reached over and gave a gentle pull on his sister’s earlobe. “I’ll bet her brothers would have something to say about that. I know for a fact Yuri considers himself a great swimmer.”

  “Well, you were really fast,” Kjerstin declared. “I think if you had a race, you would win.”

  “I’d rather not give it another shot just now,” Dalton replied. “That water was much too cold.”

  “How come the Tlingit children go in the water all the time?” she asked, looking to her great-aunt for answers.

  Zerelda exchanged a look with Lydia. “Well, the Tlingit have their ways and we have ours. They take their children into the water at an early age to toughen their skin and strengthen their constitution. The law has forbidden it, but some still bathe their infants quite early in the icy water. I don’t suggest it, however.”

  “But why?” Kjerstin asked. “Why do they do that?”

  “Well, the native people do a lot of things that would probably be harmful to whites. For instance, they eat a variety of things that often make us sick.”