by Bonnie Leon
“No, she’s coming to stay.” A shadow of concern cooled the warmth in Sassa’s brown eyes. She wet her lips. “I’ve missed her. I was afraid she’d live in that city forever.” She closed her eyes for a moment. “Thank you, Lord, for bringing my little girl home.”
Although Paul longed to know what had driven Lily from Seattle, he managed to keep his curiosity under control and asked, “When will she be here?”
“Her ship docks in Seward two weeks from today. She’ll take the train to Anchorage. Mike’s going to fly her home.” A chortle escaped her lips, rising into the air like birdsong. “Patrick just talked to him on the radio.” Still barely able to catch her breath, Sassa continued, “We’re going to have a celebration. And we want you to come.”
“I wouldn’t miss it.” Paul hadn’t forgotten how Sassa had been unrelenting in her attempts to match up him and Lily. He hoped she didn’t return to her efforts. He gave her a firm look. “You understand about me and Kate, right?”
“Of course.” With a wave of her hand, she set off for home, but she wore a knowing smile that made Paul nervous.
Before leaving for the Warrens’ place, Paul lingered on the porch, hoping to catch a glimpse of Jasper. He missed his companion. He peered into the trees and whistled. The raven cawed from within a thicket of birch, then swooped down and landed on his perch beside the back door. Paul rewarded him with a chunk of bread. “Good to see you, friend.”
For a long while, after Paul had rescued the bird from one of his traps and cared for his broken leg, he’d stayed close, but recently he’d become more independent, his visits rare. The forest had once again become his home. Still, Jasper never seemed far away.
Paul stroked ebony feathers on the bird’s head and shoulders. “Figure one day you’ll find a mate and fly off for good.” Paul knew that’s how it ought to be, but he couldn’t squelch a feeling of melancholy. He’d miss his feathered companion. “Better get moving. I’ve got a party to go to.” He headed for the steps.
He ambled along the trail that led to the Warrens’, his mind on Lily. She’d been back two days, but he hadn’t seen her. He wondered if she’d changed much. Probably not—she’d been away less than a year. Sassa had kept her daughter’s reason for returning a secret. Remembering Lily’s enthusiasm for travel and adventure, Paul pondered over what had driven her back to the homestead. He figured he’d find out soon enough.
As he approached his neighbors’ log home, their dogs set to barking. When they recognized Paul, their bristled ruffs lay down and tails wagged. He gave them each a pat as he waded through wet noses and thigh-high fur.
Eleven-year-old Douglas opened the door. A broad smile brightened his round face. “Hi.” Although the oldest of the three boys, Douglas was the smallest but was built stout like his mother. He leaned inside the doorway and called, “Paul’s here.” Stepping back, he opened the door all the way. “Come on in.”
Paul rested his hand on the boy’s shiny black hair. “How you doing?”
“Good. Went fishing this morning. But I got skunked. You do any fishing lately?”
“Only a little. Been busy.”
“Me and Ethan pulled out two nice ones yesterday.”
Ethan and Robert crowded around the doorway, trying to get Paul’s attention. They were both tall and thin like their father.
“Hi,” Robert said. He tugged on Paul’s hand, dragging him inside. “Mama’s made the best dinner ever. And there’s cake.”
“Is that you, Paul?” Her hands in the sink, Sassa looked over her shoulder at him. She wiped her hands on her apron and moved to the children, flagging them away. “Go on. Get. Stop pestering him.”
“Oh, they’re all right.” Paul breathed in the succulent aroma of fish and baked bread. “Smells good in here.”
Sassa smiled. She reveled in her reputation as a good cook. “We’re having baked salmon, rolls, and sweet potatoes—Lily’s favorites.”
“Sweet potatoes with marshmallows and brown sugar?” Paul asked.
Sassa closed the door. “That’s the tastiest way to make it.” She smiled.
“I have it on good authority that there’s also cake?” Paul winked.
“Those boys—I’ve had a time trying to keep them out of it.” She shook her head.
Paul looked around. “Where’s Lily?”
“Upstairs.” Sassa lowered her voice. “She’s embarrassed. Things didn’t turn out well in Seattle. She doesn’t want a party.” Sassa glanced up the stairs. “But she’s back where she belongs and that’s reason enough to celebrate.” Tears filled her eyes and she mopped at them with the corner of her apron. “I’m so thankful to have her back.”
Paul rested a hand on Sassa’s shoulder. “I won’t say a word about Seattle,” he said, but wasn’t sure how to avoid the topic. She’d been set on an adventure and a new life. Whatever drove her home must have been pretty bad. “Maybe a party will cheer her up,” he told Sassa with a smile.
“Oh I hope so.”
The old German bachelor Klaus Braun, who lived farther up the creek, stood at the front window. Like so many who lived in the bush, he’d left a past in Germany that no one knew about, and they understood not to ask. He nodded at Paul. “Gutten Abend.” Leaning heavily on a cane, he hobbled to an overstuffed chair and slowly lowered his aging body into it.
“Hello, Klaus, good to see you,” Paul said.
The door opened and Patrick walked in. “I found a piece—oh hi, Paul. How are you?”
“Good. You?”
“Couldn’t be better.” He held up a chunk of driftwood. “Found this on the beach and figured Klaus might use it for one of his carvings.” He closed the door and moved across the room toward the elderly man. “What do you think? Will it work?”
The old German took the wood. He furrowed heavy gray brows as he studied it. “Ja. Gut.” He looked up at Patrick. “How much you vant for it?”
“Nothing. Figure God set it on that stretch of sand. It belongs to him, not me.”
Paul sat across from Klaus. “You ought to be able to make something special out of that.”
“Ja.” He nodded, turning the wood over in his hands and running his thumb down one side. “This is a fine piece for carving.”
“How you feeling these days?”
“Not so gut—old bones.” He leaned back in his chair. “Glad for a celebration, though,” he added with a smile.
“Sassa’s put together a fine meal,” Patrick said, glancing at the kitchen. “I don’t know how much longer I can wait. My stomach’s so empty, it’s about to turn on itself.”
“Heard you already have your garden in, Klaus,” Paul said.
“I do.” He nodded, his whole upper body moving instead of just his head. “But a bear come t’ my place so I got more work t’ do. He knocked over de outhouse—dragged paper all over de place.” He smoothed his beard. “Danke to Patrick for putting things back in order or I vouldn’t have a pot to . . .” He glanced at Sassa who was working in the kitchen. “Vell, you know.”
Patrick and Paul chuckled, then in a more serious tone, Patrick said, “It was probably a young male—they’re full of vinegar, especially this time of year. Gotta watch ’em.”
Sassa stepped into the room. “Come and eat.” She moved to the bottom of the stairs and called, “Lily, dinner is ready.”
The men moved into the kitchen and sat at a large rough-hewn table. Sassa carried a wooden bowl with a towel draped over lumps that Paul guessed were rolls. She set it on the table.
Lily walked into the room.
“Hi, Lily. It’s nice to see you,” Paul said.
“Goot dat you’re home.” Klaus gave her a nod. “Ve’ll have to go fishing soon.”
Lily offered a quiet smile. “I’d like that.”
“Lily, you’re the guest of honor,” Sassa said. “You sit. I’ll take care of everything.” She gave Lily an enthusiastic hug as if realizing anew that her daughter was home.
A blush darkene
d Lily’s brown skin and she dropped into a chair. She glanced at the others around the table and placed her hands in her lap. She didn’t look happy.
Poor Lily. Sassa meant well, but a party is probably the last thing she needs. Paul smiled at her. “Nice to have you back.”
“Thank you.” She glanced out the dining room window. “I like it here,” she said, but her tone was halfhearted.
“We’re real happy to have our girl home.” Patrick moved to Lily and draped an arm around her shoulders, giving her a squeeze. “Not good to be rootless.”
After everyone had found a place at the table and the food was set out, Patrick prayed, thanking God for Sassa’s cooking and his daughter’s return. He looked up, his eyes teary. He cleared his throat. “Let’s eat.”
Paul couldn’t keep from wondering why Lily had moved back. When she’d told him about her aspirations of finding a better life on the outside, she’d been confident and determined. He had to work at keeping his questions to himself.
Conversation at the table was lighthearted, focusing mostly on hunting and fishing. And Paul’s new occupation as a traveling doctor. He enjoyed sharing some of the adventures.
The meal was delicious, and although Paul’s stomach told him he’d had enough, he scooped up the last of the sweet potatoes onto his plate. “Sassa, you’ve outdone yourself.”
“Best cook in the territory,” Patrick said.
She smiled. “Thank you, but it’s just plain food.”
Paul scooted his chair back slightly and stuck his legs out beneath the table. He patted his stomach. “I won’t have to eat for a week.”
“We have dessert,” Sassa said as she cleared the table.
“Mom made cake.” Robert leaned his chest against the edge of the table.
“How about we rest a bit before we dive into dessert.” Patrick glanced at Sassa. “That all right with you?”
“Sure,” Sassa said. “I’ll do the dishes. By then maybe you’ll have your appetites back.” She stared at Paul. “A walk might help you digest all that food you ate.” She slid her eyes toward Lily.
Paul suppressed a groan. She knew about Kate. What was she up to?
“A walk is good after a heavy meal,” she said.
What’s the harm? He looked at Lily. “Would you like to go for a walk, Lily? I could use the company.”
Her face flashed with embarrassment. Her lips pursed, she cast a glance of frustration at her mother. “Sure. I guess that would be all right.” She pushed back her chair and stood.
Paul moved to the door and opened it. Lily stepped onto the porch. Paul had barely closed the door behind them when Lily said, “You don’t have to go anywhere with me. Mama’s just being her usual busybody self.”
“She cares about you. And what’s wrong with taking a stroll with a neighbor?”
“I know about you and Kate. I’m happy for you. She’s very nice.”
“She is. And I’m crazy about her.” Paul grinned and then turned his attention toward the stream. “You up for a walk? You look a little pale.”
“I’m fine.”
Paul followed Lily down the steps and toward the creek. “Maybe we can talk about something other than hunting and fishing. Even I get tired of it.”
She smiled at him.
“It’s nice to have you home. Really.”
Lily looked out over the creek. “It is beautiful here. I missed it when I was in Seattle.” Something in her voice said she missed Seattle more.
“Do you plan on going back, or is there some place else you’d like to explore?”
Lily shook her head. “No. One trip to the outside was enough. This is where I belong.”
“You’re awfully young to decide something like that. You don’t know what life holds for you.”
“I’m nearly twenty.” Lily bent and picked a tiny magenta-colored flower. She smelled it, then twirled the stem between her fingers. “Seattle wasn’t what I thought. At first it seemed exciting and fun. I got a job in a cannery and I had my own apartment. I liked that.
“But . . . it’s a big city. The people are different—not like here. Even with the big population I felt alone. I never met another native the entire time I was there. And some people didn’t like me just because I am native. It wasn’t what I expected.”
“I’m sorry.”
She brushed the flower petals over her lips. “It’s all right. I figure I belong here anyway.”
All of a sudden, Paul saw a changed, more mature Lily. She’d grown up while she’d been away. Sometimes disappointment will do that to a person.
Lily turned dark brown eyes on Paul and acted as if she were about to say something, then walked on. She plucked another flower. Without looking at Paul, she said softly, “I met a man while I was there. He seemed nice.”
Paul waited for her to continue.
Lily took a deep breath that sounded like a sigh. “He said he loved me.” Her full lips tensed into a hard line. “I believed him.” She tossed aside the flowers. “But the truth is, I was just a novelty to him—the Indian girl from Alaska.”
The spite in Lily’s voice surprised Paul. He was instantly angry at the man who’d hurt her. “You’re a lot more than that.”
She glanced at him, then without saying anything, she sidestepped down the bank.
“Don’t let someone like him decide who you are,” Paul said, following her down the embankment.
Lily sat on a log and stared at the creek. “I am just what he said—an Indian girl. I’m nothing special.” She looked up at Paul. “I’m not going to pretend to be something I’m not.”
“Good.” Paul sat on the downed tree, making sure to leave a couple of feet between the two of them. “Trying to be someone you’re not only causes more trouble.”
“Yeah, I figured that out. God created me. And I’ve decided not to argue with him about who I am.”
“Yeah, but I thought you wanted to see the world. Don’t give up on your dream. Sometimes it’s not easy to fit in, and maybe we’re not supposed to. But don’t abandon something just because it’s hard to do. When I came here, I didn’t know anything about living in the bush. I was completely out of place—a real cheechako.”
“You were.” Lily laughed. “We all wondered what in the world you were doing here.” Her eyes widened as if she realized she’d stepped into a forbidden subject. She quickly added, “I’m glad you stayed.”
Paul couldn’t tell her he had no choice. “I’m glad too.”
“I think that some people aren’t meant to leave home. God plants us where we belong. I’m not leaving again.” Lily braided her long black hair, then loosened the braid and combed her fingers through it. “I don’t mind living here. In fact, it feels good knowing where I’ll spend my life.”
“You plan to stay right here on the creek?”
“I doubt I’ll stay with Mom and Dad, but nearby. I’d like to marry someone who loves this area, have a family, and maybe even live up the creek further.” Her voice held no implication that she really thought it would happen.
Paul wondered why, then his thoughts wandered back to his home in California. Was he like Lily? Did he belong there instead of here? No. He was needed here, and he was doing something important. “I’m where I belong.”
“And you have Kate. She’ll never leave Alaska.”
“Yeah, can’t imagine anything chasing her out.” Apprehension pitched through Paul. Kate didn’t do anything in half measures. She’d give her all to Alaska. Maybe even her life.
— 8 —
Mike matched Kate’s strides as she crossed the airfield. “You’re working too hard,” he said. “You just got back last night and now you’re off for another three days?” He shook his head. “You need some downtime.”
“I’m fine. I got plenty of sleep.”
“What, four hours?”
Kate didn’t answer. She’d barely managed that, but she wasn’t about to pass up the work.
“Let me take th
is one for you.”
“Thanks, but Paul’s counting on me.” And Kate needed to see him. The last time they’d been together everything had been fine. They’d had a good time together and fishing had been fun, and then all of a sudden he seemed to withdraw. Something was wrong. She knew it.
“I can take him.”
“True, but I’ve got supplies to drop off, and I need the money.” She glanced at him, not slowing her pace. “Everyone works hard this time of year—you know that.”
Mike grabbed her arm. “Wait a minute.”
Kate stopped, and stared at his hand. “What do you think you’re doing? Let go.” She planted her hands on her hips and fixed her eyes on him. “You’re acting like you own me.”
Mike’s eyes slid away. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to do that.” He shoved his hands into his jacket pocket and kicked at a stone with the toe of his boot. “I can drop a flight and go with you.”
“Mike, why are you pushing this?”
“I’m taking care of my . . . best friend.” His blue eyes pleaded with her.
Kate’s heart softened. She wished he’d find someone else to love. “Thanks . . . really, but I’ll be fine.”
“What’s wrong with spending a little time together? Just friends, flying buddies.” He looked at her straight on. “I miss you. And not like that, but I miss our friendship. Since you’ve been going around with Paul, we barely see each other.”
Kate knew she hadn’t made time for Mike. She felt badly, but her time was limited and her heart was with Paul. She didn’t know what to say. She pushed her fingers through her short hair to lift it off her face.
“So, a date just between friends?”
“A date?” Kate shook her head. “No. How can you even ask? How would you feel if your girl was out with another guy?”
Mike’s expression darkened. “She is.”
“Stop it! That’s not fair. True friends want what’s best for each other. And all you’re thinking about is yourself.” Kate stared at the ground.
Silence wedged itself between the two until Mike spoke up. “You’re right. I’m sorry. Really, I am. It’s just so hard. I can’t just stop loving you. And I do care about you, and I even like Paul, but I can’t help how I feel.”
