Summer of the Midnight Sun

by Tracie Peterson

  “If there had been another way, I would have tried it. This seems the only choice other than just calling her a liar.”

  “And I truly do have business to tend to,” Jayce declared. “There are some matters for me to address in Juneau. I can just get transportation from Ketchikan and rejoin you when you’re ready to return to Nome.”

  Leah tried to relax. Jayce wasn’t coming to Ketchikan for her company. That much was easy to see. Especially given his last statement. “All right. I suppose the matter is already settled. We’d best be on our way or we’ll miss the ship.” She leaned over and gave Jacob a peck on the cheek. “Please be careful. She may be dangerous.”

  Jacob laughed. “More to herself than to me. I plan to put her through the most arduous of trainings. By the time you two get back, she’ll be able to run a dog team almost as good as you can.”

  Leah watched Jacob and Jayce shake hands. “Take care of her,” Jacob told Jayce.

  “I will. I promise.”

  The words caused Leah to wince. She turned away. You’ll take care of me for Jacob, she thought, but not because you want to. I’m an obligation—nothing more. I have to remember that.

  ————

  Jacob was glad to see Kimik and some of the other village men. “I wasn’t sure if you’d get word or not.” He shook Kimik’s hand and gave him a hearty pat on the back.

  “Icharaq’s brother came just in time. We were headed out to hunt. Are these all the supplies?” he asked, looking at the stacks around them.

  “Yes. I sent some other things north on the Bear. These were small enough I figured we could handle them.”

  “Where’s Leah?”

  “She’s taken a ship to Ketchikan to see our family. She’ll be back in September—maybe earlier.”

  Kimik nodded, then called to his companions. “We load now and get home sooner.”

  “We’ll have one passenger. A lady who intends to come north and learn how to handle a dogsled team,” Jacob told Kimik.

  “A lady? Who is she?”

  “Her name is Mrs. Beecham. Ah, there she is now.” Jacob saw Helaina walking toward the docks, a young man behind her loaded down with two bags.

  When they reached Jacob and the others, Helaina instructed the boy to put her things on the boat. “Just show them which one you want these on,” she told Jacob.

  Jacob pointed to the nearest umiak. “That one is fine.”

  The boy deposited the bags and returned to Helaina for pay. She quickly parted with a few coins and dismissed him. “So where are the others?” She looked around, obviously expecting to see Leah and Jayce.

  “What others?” Jacob asked, playing dumb.

  She looked at him with an expression of great annoyance. “Your sister and Mr. Kincaid, of course.”

  “Oh.” Jacob picked up a piece of rope. “They’ve already gone.” He headed to the umiak, anxious to see what Helaina’s reaction would be.

  Helaina followed after him, rather breathless. “Why didn’t they wait for us?”

  Jacob let the matter drag on as long as possible. “Why are you concerned? I’ll get you safely to Last Chance.”

  This momentarily silenced Helaina. Jacob could almost hear wheels turning in her head as she contemplated her next question. He then looked over the remaining boxes, picked up one, and headed to the boat. Before he could return for any more, Helaina was there beside him.

  “Good,” Jacob said, pointing to the boat. “You can get in and sit there by your bags. We need to balance everything out just right.”

  “I don’t understand why you’re being so unpleasant,” Helaina said, demanding his attention. “I simply wanted to know where your sister and Mr. Kincaid had gone. You don’t have to be meanspirited about it.”

  “I didn’t think I was being meanspirited,” Jacob replied. “I just didn’t understand why their location was of any concern to you.” He looked at her hard, daring her to explain.

  “I suppose after these last weeks, I’ve come to care about their well-being,” Helaina said sweetly. “They are good people—your sister, especially. I’ve enjoyed getting to know her and will be happy to know her better.”

  Jacob decided he’d played around long enough. “Well, you’ll have to wait until September to do that. But meanwhile, you’ll get the best dog training available. You’ll be able to drive a team like a native once I’m through with you.”

  “I don’t understand. Why will I have to wait until September to better know your sister?” Helaina didn’t even bother with further pretense.

  “Because she’s not coming with us. She and Jayce left early this morning on a ship bound for Ketchikan. Leah’s visiting family and Jayce is traveling on from there to handle business.”

  For a moment, Jacob actually thought Helaina might faint. The color drained quickly from her face as her eyes widened. Then just as quickly as she paled, Helaina’s face flushed red in fury. “Why was I not told they were leaving?”

  Jacob crossed his arms and looked at her strangely. “Mrs. Beecham, I fail to understand why any of this is your concern. My sister has a life that has nothing to do with yours. Jayce too. You have made yourself a supreme annoyance, as far as I’m concerned, but I’m willing to help you out, given the importance of the situation.”

  “What would you know of its importance?”

  He thought for a moment she might cry. This woman was so strange. She began to pace in front of him even before he answered her. “I know that you said it was critical that you learn how to handle a dog team. You said you were quite happy to spend the winter with us and endure the sub-zero temperatures so that you could better prepare yourself for the exploration planned next year. I’ve kindly tried to accommodate you on that issue, but now you seem far more interested in something else. What might that be, I wonder?”

  Helaina seemed to compose herself. “I simply thought I was to have female companionship, for one. It hardly seems appropriate for me to head north without at least one other woman to accompany us.”

  “Yet you were prepared to do just that with the Arctic exploration team.”

  She looked rather stunned at this. It was clear to Jacob that she was caught and had no way in which to escape. He had taken a chance that she didn’t know about the captain’s wife accompanying her husband. At least he had been right on that account.

  “So are you coming with us or not, Mrs. Beecham? I’m going to finish loading the supplies, and then I need your answer.” He stalked off, smiling to himself. Let her chew on that fat for a while.

  Helaina wanted to throw something at the back of Jacob Barringer’s head. She wanted, in fact, to throw him to the ground and beat the smug look off of his face. All of her plans were ruined, and she didn’t have the simplest idea of how to resolve the situation. The justice system in this part of the world was so frustrating. Had she felt that the police in Nome would have assisted her properly, she might have engaged them, but her observations had given her little encouragement.

  If I tell him that I won’t go, it will only make him more suspicious, she thought. Helaina quickly assessed her choices. She could refuse to go to Last Chance, telling Jacob that she’d wait for his sister’s return. But she surmised that if she did this, Jacob would probably reject any thought of her coming to Last Chance in the future.

  There was a slim possibility that she could catch up to Jayce and Leah in Ketchikan, but she could never hope to maintain her cover under that circumstance. There would be no reason for her to be there, and Jayce Kincaid was not a stupid man. He would easily figure out by eliminating all other possibilities that she was there for him.

  If I go with Mr. Barringer, at least I know his sister will return in September. But what of Kincaid? He might not. She had to follow him and not Leah Barringer. There seemed no guarantee that Jayce was coming back to Last Chance Creek.

  “So what’s it to be?” Jacob asked.

  Helaina jumped, not realizing he was standing there watching h
er. “I must say it’s a difficult matter. I suppose I must come with you if I’m to learn about the dogs. I had hoped to further my discussion with Mr. Kincaid about the Arctic as well, but he’s not returning until September, I suppose?”

  “That’s the plan.”

  She nodded. Since she had no real idea of where Jayce’s business would take him, she felt her only choice was to go with Jacob Barringer. “Very well. I suppose my discussions of the Arctic can wait. I’ll come with you and learn what I can about the dogs.”

  Jacob looked at her oddly for a moment. “Are you sure? You’re going to be stuck up there for a while. You might be able to get passage on the mail ship, but otherwise—” “I’ve made up my mind. This will be fine. I’m sure the experience will be interesting and the time will pass quickly.”

  Jacob laughed. “I’m sure it will be interesting, but I don’t know about the time. If you don’t mind, I need you to take your place in the umiak.”

  She nodded and made her way unassisted into the boat. Her mind reeled from the discovery that Jayce Kincaid was gone. Her brother had been right about one thing: this man’s capture was proving more difficult than anyone she’d ever known.

  Thoughts of Stanley brought to mind the letter she’d just posted to him. She had told him that plans were delayed but moving along well and she was certain to soon have Jayce in custody. Now she had no idea of how long it might be.

  They would have to return to pick up Jayce and Leah and transport them to Last Chance Creek, she surmised. That would at least get her back to Nome. Perhaps she could send a letter to Stanley to have the Pinkerton men transported to Nome to await her arrival. While there, she could work something out to take Jayce into custody.

  She relaxed a bit. Surely this would be the answer. Until now there had been no time to get anyone else in place to assist her. But two and a half months was enough time for Stanley to work out the details to send a dozen men to her aid.

  Jacob and his men pushed off and climbed into the boat. Helaina was unprepared for the rocking motion as they made their way out toward the Bering Sea. The men’s long powerful strokes took them quickly away from the shore and into the deeper waters. She gripped the side of the skin boat and held on tightly. What if they were to capsize? The boats hardly seemed a match for the long journey ahead of them.

  “Are you certain we’re quite safe?” she asked Jacob.

  He grunted as he pulled the oar through the water. “As safe as anyone ever is out here. This is God’s country, and He alone holds the future.” He smiled for a moment, and then an expression crossed his face that suggested he just remembered something important. “But you don’t believe in God—do you, Mrs. Beecham?” He shrugged. “So I’m not sure what or who you think holds your future.”

  He turned his attention back to the water, leaving Helaina once again infuriated with his snide mannerisms. The boat heaved hard to the right, causing Helaina to retighten her grip. Her gaze fell to the inside of the boat. It was nothing more than a wooden frame with skins lashed around it. She felt her stomach churn and knew without a doubt that she was going to be sick.

  “You’re turning green, Mrs. Beecham. Are you given over to seasickness?” Jacob called.

  Helaina’s only answer was to lose her lunch over the side of the boat. She dampened her handkerchief in the sea and wiped her mouth before glancing up. Jacob’s look of concern surprised her.

  “Are you feeling any better?” He seemed to genuinely care.

  “I had no idea it would be this rough,” she said honestly. The fight had been taken completely out of her. The boat seemed to settle a bit but not enough. She fought back a wave of nausea.

  “You might actually feel better if you lie down. Adjust things as you need,” he said, then turned his attention back to the job at hand.

  Helaina wasn’t in the mood for an argument. She pulled her bag close and used it for a pillow. Lying down did help a bit. She closed her eyes and pulled her arm up over her face to shield the intense sun. This was going to cost the Pinkertons more than usual, she decided then and there.

  Jacob watched Helaina as she struggled to get comfortable. He felt sorry for her. He had never figured the spitfire woman would fall victim to the rolling waves. Lying there as she was now, she looked almost childlike—innocent and harmless.

  What are you after? Why are you here?

  The questions haunted him over and over. Jayce swore he didn’t know her from the past. He had no idea of where she’d come from, but he planned to find out. He would send telegrams once in Ketchikan and see if he might get information from some of his friends. Meanwhile, Jacob planned to keep her too busy to be trouble to any of them. If she wanted an Alaskan adventure—he’d give her one she’d not soon forget.

  Chapter Sixteen

  What do you call this?” Helaina asked, wrinkling her nose at the food in front of her.

  “We call it supper,” Jacob replied. “It’s actually pretty good—you should try it before turning it down.”

  “What is it?” She picked at the chunks of meat.

  “It’s seal meat in its own oil.”

  She frowned and pushed it away. “Don’t we have anything else? Something fresh, perhaps?”

  “I got some fish,” Kimik said proudly. “You want a piece?”

  She nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, I’d like that very much.”

  Kimik pulled out a newly caught fish and held up his knife. “How big you want?”

  Helaina looked at the fish and then at Jacob. “Isn’t he going to cook it?”

  “I doubt it.”

  “You mean he plans to eat it raw?”

  Jacob nodded and rubbed his chin. “Since he doesn’t plan to cook it, that would be my guess.”

  She gave him a look of complete disgust. “I can’t eat raw fish.”

  “You could cook yourself a piece over the fire,” Jacob suggested. “Shouldn’t take too long.”

  “And how would I do that? I don’t see any pans or utensils.”

  Jacob held up a willow branch. “You could use this. Spear it through and hold it over the fire.”

  “But that stick isn’t sanitary. I have no idea what’s been on it.” She crinkled her nose, as if imagining all the possibilities.

  “Suit yourself, Mrs. Beecham.”

  “This is impossible,” she said, picking up her plate. “What about the supplies you’re taking with us? Aren’t there some kind of canned goods we could open?”

  “You gonna buy them?”

  “I’ll happily pay for a decent meal.” She tossed the tin pan in Jacob’s direction. “What do you have?”

  “I have some canned milk, sugar, flour, beans, canned and dried, and—” “Open some beans. At least that way I can heat them here by the fire.”

  Jacob shrugged and got to his feet. “Shall I run you a tab or will you pay in cash?”

  She quickly found her bag and fished around until she came up with several bills. “Start my account with this,” she said rather snidely.

  Jacob noted she’d given him a considerable amount of money. He tried not to react with too much interest and went to find her can of beans. She was already proving to be difficult; the episode of seasickness had only been the start. After that she’d complained about needing to stop for a chance to relieve herself, then wondered if there wasn’t some way to apply shade to her section of the boat, and finally questioned Jacob as to whether they’d travel all night. And now she was turning her nose up at the food. It wasn’t a good way to get started.

  He returned with the beans and tossed the can to her. She looked at it for a moment, then put her hand on her hip. “Do you have something with which to open this?”

  He rolled his eyes, hoping to show her just how deep his exasperation ran. “Give it here.” He rummaged in his bag and produced a can opener. He made short work of the lid and bent it back without severing it completely from the rest of the can.

  “Anything else?” he asked, ha
nding her the beans.

  She put the can next to the fire. “A spoon would be nice.”

  He looked into her blue eyes and crossed his arms. “I’m sure a spoon would be very nice, but I don’t have one. I only have the can opener because Leah told me we needed one for the house. Sorry.”

  “Very well.”

  She squared her shoulders and assessed the situation without another word. After a few minutes she took up her handkerchief and pulled the can back from the fire. Gingerly touching the metal, she found it to be sufficiently cool, then worked to bend the can lid back as far as possible. To Jacob’s surprise, she then lifted the beans to her lips as if drinking from a glass. She’d need to be careful, Jacob thought, or she’d cut her lips for sure.

  The men had chosen to sit away from Jacob and Helaina. They seemed to understand that they’d not have the same camaraderie with this new white woman that they’d shared over the years with Leah. Jacob figured it was just as well. Helaina’s caustic nature was not something he would have wished on his enemy, much less his friends.

  “Don’t you ever miss civilization?” Helaina asked without warning.

  Jacob thought about her question for a moment. He remembered a time when Denver had been his home. The city had seemed overwhelming, even terrifying. He hated the noise most of all, not to mention the rudeness of people who seemed always to be in a big hurry.

  “If you mean big cities full of people and racket, then no,” he said softly, “I don’t miss it.”

  “But what about the innovations—the changes? The world is not as you left it when you came to hide away up here.”

  He looked at her oddly. She had such a strange way of looking at life. Her words were always something of an accusation. “What do you mean ‘hide away up here’? I didn’t come here to hide. I first came to the Yukon with my father. I stayed up north because I love it. There’s something about this country that reaches deep inside a man. I honestly never thought it would happen to me. There was a time, in fact, that I planned to leave as soon as I had the means.”

  “But what about automobiles and aeroplanes?”