Suddenly Zachariah shouted and brought his sled to an abrupt stop.
“Whoa!” Holly skillfully brought her team, amidst barks and grumbles, to a halt beside that of Zachariah’s. Stepping from the runners, she ran over to where he was kneeling beside a dog lying in the snow.
“What’s happened?”
“Tomahawk here has hurt his leg.” Gently he examined the lead dog’s limb, comforting the animal as he yelped in distress.
“I think it’s just a strain, but a bad one, so he can’t continue. I’ll move Quince up and Tomahawk will have to be dog in basket.”
Nodding, Holly realized he meant that as the dog was now unfit to pull the sled, it would be carried in the basket on the runners.
Watching as Zachariah saw to the dog, strapping up the leg, giving him a treat and making him comfortable in the basket, her heart that had already been captured was caught once again by the sheer tenderness of the man she loved.
Minutes later they were once again skimming speedily along, Tomahawk well wrapped up and secure in Zachariah’s basket watched happily, the wind in his face as the trees raced past.
Soon they were passing the few cabins that were all that was left standing of the old Iditarod town. They were heading to the checkpoint which was in an old house that in the past was used by a trapper.
Check-in completed, they swept past the communication trailer of the race sponsor to make their way to Flat, which was about eight miles past Iditarod and was the nearest town. Flat only had a population of around half a dozen people and the facilities were to say the least basic, although this was a place they could get more “Heet,” which was a type of fuel for the alcohol cooker.
Melting snow for a quick meal, Zachariah used another packet of dehydrated macaroni cheese, and that with a high-protein, sweet snack bar and a cup of strong, extra sweet coffee made a welcome if basic meal. The dogs fed, bootees changed and the outhouse used, then they were heading for Shageluk.
Chapter Seventeen
Iditarod to Shageluk was an unrelenting terrain of hills and dips. Repetitive, tedious, monotonous, boring, Holly entertained herself thinking of all the adjectives she could to describe the hideous trail, but her favorite she decided was as dull as ditchwater. Holly hated the track, and by now hated just about everything the Iditarod competition threw at her. She should have listened to Zachariah, the Iditarod was no place for her. But, she had wanted to prove she could do it and so here she was, on a punishing, never-ending trail with naught but Zachariah and her dogs for company. Not only tired, she was also hungry, unwashed and she felt annoyed, no, angry even, angry that by not wanting her to compete, Zachariah had as a consequence forced her into it. So in reality, she concluded to herself, all this, all she had gone through, and everything she’d had to put up with was in fact Zachariah’s fault.
* * * *
Three hours later Holly noticed that they were approaching Little Yetna River. The trail up until now had been narrow and her dogs had held up well under the pressure. Thankfully Zachariah decided to stop and it was with relief that she stepped off the runners. Thirty minutes later she was companionably sipping hot, sweet coffee out of an old tin mug and sitting alongside Zachariah. Conversation was delusory, but feeling the awful weight of knowing they still had some distance to travel before the end of the race made her quieter than usual.
“You’re quiet, Holly.”
Did he have insight into her mind or something? “Yes.”
“Just yes?”
“Yes.”
Zachariah silently studied Holly’s averted face. She looked fragile, as if a gust of wind would blow her away, her complexion, always pale tinged with a soft blush of rose, was looking paler than ever, and dark shadows under her eyes marred the purity of her skin. He knew she was finding the trail difficult and it was testing her stamina to the utmost, but to suggest he call for her to be airlifted out wouldn’t go down a bungle. But she needed rest, good food and warmth, and the only way to achieve that would be for her to go home now. But how to approach it? She was determined to carry on if only in respect for her father’s memory, but he was afraid it was too much for her. The Iditarod wasn’t easy on man or beast, and even some of the seasoned Mushers found the trail difficult to traverse, so for a newcomer a rookie, it was well-nigh impossible. But, approach the subject he must.
“Holly…” He began only to be interrupted.
“Don’t say it, Zachariah, just don’t say it,” she cried now almost in tears. If he should be tender now it would be her undoing and she didn’t think she could bear it, not right now anyway.
“I know what you’re going to say and I don’t want to hear it.” She stood up and stomped off toward her sled. Yes, she wanted it all to be over and yes she wanted to go home, and it would be so easy to let Zachariah take charge and arrange it, but she couldn’t, wouldn’t give up now as much as she wanted to, it would be like thumbing her nose at her father.
Zachariah caught hold of her arm and spun her around to look at him.
“Hear it you will, Holly, whether you like it or not. You’re exhausted and in pain and we’ve still around five hundred miles to go, so for once in your life be sensible and let me call for an airlift.”
“An airlift? Are you crazy? There’s no reason for an airlift.”
“I’m a doctor, Holly, and if I say you’re too exhausted, too weak to carry on and also the fact that you are sporting a shoulder injury, a helicopter will be called in to take you out of here.”
“No, no, and no! Look, Zachariah, there is no way I’m going to be taken out of here like some poor, pathetic newbie. I am tired, cold, and hungry and I am sick of the sight of snow, but there is no way I’m giving up. My arm hurts, yes, but every bone in my body aches anyway so I’ll just grin and bear it the same as everyone else. And if you dare call for rescue I will never forgive you, not ever. So…”
She took a deep sustaining breath. “Please understand where I’m coming from, and tell me you won’t disrespect me in such a way.”
Looking intensely into her stubborn face, Zachariah sighed.
“On you own head be it, Holly.” He sighed again. “So with that sorted out, I suggest we get going, we’ve still around thirty-five miles to go until Shageluk.”
Following Zachariah to the sleigh, Holly’s spirits sank even further. Another thirty-five miles, god, how was she going to make it? But, she had to, so all she could do was focus on reaching Shageluk where they would have another compulsory eight-hour stop.
* * * *
The thought of the eight-hour stop sustained Holly through the next few miles. Night was falling and the moon was difficult to see because of the vaporous mist that suddenly shrouded everything in sight. The atmosphere felt eerie and Holly shuddered, not from the cold but from the ghostly, haunted feeling that crept over her.
Steadily climbing up out of a valley, Holly knew this last hill before Shageluk was one of the longest, a couple of miles at best, but still an awe-inspiring height of two hundred feet. Feeling a chill wind start up, she fervently hoped that it would be strong enough to dispel the mist but not so strong that it would battle against her impetus.
* * * *
A few hours later and Holly let out an exhausted breath. It wouldn’t be long now before they reached Shageluk. Sweeping past the outlying houses, she swung in behind Zachariah as they entered the main street. The checkpoint was a log cabin which was the village community center, so once check-in was completed, Holly and Zachariah made their way back to the end of the main street to the school, where the dogs would be bedded down.
Snuggling down in her sleeping bag, Holly was more than ready to have six hours of high-quality sleep. Watching as Zachariah placed his bag beside hers and took off his coat and boots, she couldn’t help but admire his physique, always fit, he now seemed more buff than ever. Briefly closing her eyes, she relived how it felt being held in his arms.
“Holly, you okay?”
Holly’s
eyes snapped open. She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks at the wayward turn her thoughts were taking.
“Oh, yes, I’m fine, just glad to be able to sleep for a few hours.”
Nodding, Zachariah held out his hand and without hesitation she placed her hand in his, once again drawing comfort and security from his touch.
Her eyes closed and she sighed as sleep slowly began to claim her.
“Zachariah! You made it then?”
Holly’s eyes snapped open.
Astrid! What the hell is she doing here? It had been ages since she’d left them behind, so why was she still in Shageluk?
Zachariah sat up. “Astrid, what are you doing still here?”
Holly suppressed a smile. Zachariah was reading her mind again.
“Well, darling, I had a bit of trouble back there and it took simply ages to fix the sled, so here I am, in this…” She looked disparagingly around. “Godforsaken place. But now you’re here and”—she smiled, then pouted prettily—“we can catch up.” Her gaze fell on Holly. “Oh, hello, Holly, still with us I see.”
Refusing to answer, Holly lay back down and pointedly turned her back.
Zachariah yawned. “There’ll be no catching up at the moment, Astrid, I’m dog tired and I’m doing nothing but getting some sleep. But…” He raised an eyebrow. “If you’re still around later, maybe we can have a coffee together—all three of us?”
“But…”
“No, no buts, Astrid, now goodnight.” Lying back down, Zachariah put his arm over his face and it wasn’t until Astrid’s footsteps receded did he roll onto his side and close his eyes.
Holly lay quietly, hardly daring to move. Slowly releasing her pent-up breath, she opened her eyes and stared up at the ceiling. It hurt that Zachariah didn’t vilify Astrid for competing in the race, especially when she couldn’t get him off her own case. But then, he seemed to have a special relationship with Astrid, should she be believed. Sleep now seemingly miles away, Holly took stock of her relationship with Zachariah. They were friends, well of a sorts, she had also slept with him, although, they’d not done so much sleeping as having sex. And they’d done things…
She blushed remembering graphically just what they had done. He’d also helped her when she needed it and even—she sighed—when she didn’t, and he’d stayed hadn’t he? So surely that meant something? But what of Astrid? What of her relationship with Zachariah? If indeed there was one. Holly frowned, her eyes beginning to close. It was all so very confusing…
* * * *
Six hours later Holly was feeding her dogs. Although she had slept well the few hours’ rest hadn’t expunged the fatigue. Looking across at Zachariah, a surge of jealousy engulfed her.
He was casually chatting with Astrid as she leaned really close, her hand resting on his well-muscled forearm. Astrid was focused, competitive, fanatical, so why was she still hanging around? Unless, Holly’s eyes narrowed, unless it was because she did have something going with Zachariah. Grinding her teeth, she refused to even think about Astrid anymore and concentrated on hooking up her team. However, whilst her resolve was strong her emotions were weak, and her unwilling gaze returned time and time again to the cozy twosome standing by the school doors.
Finishing hooking up her dogs and ready to get going, Holly noticed Zachariah appeared in no hurry to leave Astrid’s company and she clenched her fists in fury. How many times had Zachariah insisted on continuing when she had wanted to stop? And yet here he was casually chatting to the sexy siren as if he was on a church picnic whilst she, Holly, hung around clicking her heels. Well, no way! No way was she going to hang around like some lovesick schoolgirl while he flirted with Astrid.
Stepping on the runners, her hands clenched tightly on the handlebar, she drew a ragged breath and without hesitating any further, with a one-word command moved her team out.
“Mush!”
The dogs, yapping and barking in excitement, raced forward, brushing within a hair’s breadth of Zachariah and Astrid, making Holly grin in pleased satisfaction at the startled look on his face.
Well rested, well fed, and once again caught up in the excitement of the run, the dogs were in top form and pulled the sled with renewed energy. Quickly picking up speed, they swept along the snow-covered track. Next stop, Anvik!
Chapter Eighteen
Zachariah was angry, blazingly angry. What the hell had got into Holly, racing off on her own like that?
“She hasn’t the sense she was born with.” He growled more to himself than to his dogs, whose paws were rapidly eating up the miles. When Holly had gleefully swung past him he could barely believe her stupidity, her arm was still bad so why on earth would she risk further injury going it alone when he was there to help her? Any more injuries and he swore he would get her airlifted whether she liked it or not, behave like a child and by damned he’d treat her like one.
Holly’s euphoria was beginning to wane. What she had done had been foolish in the extreme, her arm was still sore so, what if she needed help? All this drama just because she’d been jealous of Astrid’s attachment to Zachariah. Just how pathetic was that! Now more than a little worried she wondered how on earth would she be able to manage without Zachariah. Biting her lip Holly wished she’d thought her actions properly through rather than proceed on a wild and angry impulse. However, it was no use crying over spilt milk, what was done was done, and she now had to accept her foolish actions and go it alone. The scenery was flashing by and concentrating on the track ahead she gave thanks that on this leg of the journey there should be no surprises, just smooth running across lowlands and lakes and later on a heavy wooded area.
Nothing she couldn’t handle, she assured herself, albeit with a touch of trepidation.
Zachariah was pushing his dogs, but they were tough and well seasoned and after the eight-hour rest stop at Shageluk they were game for a good run. If he knew Holly as well as he thought he did, she would be running along at around three to four miles per hour which meant with luck and keeping up the speed, he should catch up with her in about an hour.
“And woe betide her then.” He growled grimly to no one in particular.
The sun was reaching its zenith and Holly was finally feeling confident. She had been on the trail two hours and thankfully so far nothing untoward had happened. Happily there was still no sign of Zachariah or Astrid, and if she had been able she would have done a little jig of joy.
That’ll show him, she thought gleefully. Although, she wasn’t quite sure exactly what she was showing him, but she dismissed that wayward thought out of hand. However, just a little while later her jubilation was somewhat dissipated. What was she going to say to Zachariah when he did finally catch up with her? Because she knew that of course he would, and probably sometime soon. Should she act all confident and laugh off his displeasure? Or should she pretend that she thought the whole idea was that once they left Shageluk she would go it alone? Or should she just tell him that she didn’t need his help and hoped that by leaving without him he would get the message? But no! She sighed, she knew he just wouldn’t believe any of it. And he would be mad, as mad as a wasp in a jam jar, and all she could do would be to keep quiet, because there was no way in hell she was going to tell him that she’d run off like a silly ninny because she was jealous. Oh no, that would give him far too much ammunition.
Speeding along through the white wonderland, feeling the cold on her face and the wind tearing at her clothes, Holly suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of defeat and reluctantly decided to bow to the inevitable. Zachariah was going to catch up with her sometime soon so it would be best to get it, whatever it was, over with.
It was just twenty minutes later she heard a shout of, “trail!” Knowing this meant give way, Holly wheeled her dogs to one side, and was in no way surprised when Zachariah pulled ahead of her and came to a complete stop, forcing her to rein in her team.
Watching with a certain amount of trepidation as Zachariah jumped off his runne
rs, tied his team to a tree, and marched across to her, she lifted her chin in righteous indignation.
“Are you mad? This path is narrow and you could have got us both killed,” she shouted in a fit of bravado.
Grabbing her arm, Zachariah hauled her off her sled.
“What the hell is the matter with you, Holly? You knew full well that we were going to continue together, if for no other reason than your shoulder, and yet you go haring off on your own without so much as a by-your-leave.” His eyes narrowed and he stared intensely at her. “Could it be that you are jealous?”
“Jealous! Jealous!” she screeched, playing for time. “Why would I be jealous? Just because you want to spend time flirting with ‘mattress back,’ it’s nothing to me.”
“Mattress back?” Zachariah lifted an enquiring eyebrow.
“Astrid.”
Zachariah remained silent.
“Get it? Mattress back because she’s always flat on her back with her legs wrapped around a man, any man.”
“Unworthy, Holly!”
“Well!” Holly replied sulkily, knowing that whatever she said, Zachariah would side with Astrid.
“That was a foul and obnoxious thing to say about anyone, let alone Astrid, who’s shown nothing but concern for your welfare. In Shageluk she took me to one side out of concern for you, wanting to know how you were, and whether you needed her help. Which is something you would have realized if you weren’t so damned jealous of her.”
Sleigh Ride to Love Page 10
