Whispers of Winter

by Tracie Peterson

  Jacob pulled off gear and helped Latimore to the stove. Keith and Ben got up to assist their captain, although it was easy to see they were disgusted with the man.

  “He’s confused and blind. I found him wandering in circles.”

  “I find the Atlantic abominable to navigate,” Latimore stated as they helped him sit. Jayce brought several blankets and wrapped them around the man while Ben poured a cup of tea and handed it to Latimore. The man’s hands shook so much that he couldn’t hold the tin, so Ben gently held the cup to his lips.

  Latimore drank, then eased back. “We shall never see Scotland again.” He sighed the words, then passed out and fell backward against Jayce.

  “Will he live?” Ben asked.

  Jacob shook his head. “Not if he doesn’t want to.”

  Chapter Three

  I ’ll take you to Nome.”

  John’s statement startled Helaina. She’d been working to feed the dogs and hadn’t even heard the native man approach. She straightened, ignoring the ache in her back. John’s expression was emotionless, yet his eyes bore great pain. His mother’s passing had not been an easy thing to bear.

  “That’s very kind of you. How soon can we leave?”

  “Right now, if you can be ready.”

  “If you’re sure. I don’t want to … well … I know you’re grieving.”

  “We are all grieving, but not just for my mother. I grieve for my friend Jacob. I grieve for Leah and her children. We must go and see what is to be done.”

  It was the moment Helaina and Leah had waited for all winter. “Let me get my things packed. I shouldn’t need more than ten minutes.”

  “Meet me at the water.”

  Helaina nodded. The ice was gone and they would take the umiaks to Nome. It would be a blessing to the whole village, for she knew they would bring back ample supplies from her storehouse and that of any new shipments from Seattle and San Francisco. That was, if any of the ships had made it north yet.

  She hurried back to the Barringer inne and gathered her things. The warm weather was already causing the ground to thaw, and it would be only a matter of weeks before the house started to flood. Still, she liked the place. Liked it because it reminded her of Jacob. She could see him here—smell his scent, hear his voice. Here she felt an unusual sense of peace that he would return to reclaim his home—and she hoped he might claim her as well.

  Helaina hurried to pack a small bag of necessities for the trip, then threw everything else into her trunk and placed it up on the kitchen table. She would ask about having someone retrieve it and take it back to Leah’s home. Maybe she’d just mention it to Leah when she told her good-bye.

  Rushing for the Kincaid house, Helaina was glad to find that Leah was already waiting outside with the children. “John told me about the trip. I’ve packed you some food.” Leah handed Helaina a gunnysack. “Hopefully the good weather will hold and you won’t have to stop before reaching Nome.”

  “You’re so thoughtful. I do appreciate your thinking of this,” Helaina replied, slinging the sack over her shoulder. “I’ve packed up the rest of my things and left them on the table in my trunk. Could you have someone bring them here when you have time? I’d like to keep them from the water.”

  “Of course.” Leah turned away from the toddling twins. “Please get word to me as soon as possible.” The longing in her voice matched that in Helaina’s heart.

  Helaina reached out to touch her friend. “You know I will. No matter what. I’ll let you know what’s going on.”

  Leah nodded. “No matter what.” The words were spoken with a kind of ominous resolve.

  Helaina turned without another word and headed to the boats. John helped her in and tucked her things at the back with the rest of the supplies. Helaina knew the men wouldn’t allow her to help row, so she settled in and tried to ready herself for whatever news she might encounter.

  There’s always the possibility, she rationalized, that the men of the Regina managed to find help and get to land before too much trouble set in. But in her heart she knew the chances were remote. Of course, the news could be that the revenue cutters had already gone in search of the men. After all, the ice had been gone several days now. This would be her prayer, Helaina decided. She wanted only to hear that a rescue ship was already en route and that everyone was certain of the Regina’s location.

  She dozed off as the sun warmed the air. Her thoughts were of Jacob and her hope that he would be happy to see her in Alaska. She had prayed so often that he might still love her as Leah believed he did. There was no regret in her decision to come north, but Helaina knew that if Jacob refused her love, there would be no reason to stay. That thought saddened her more than she could bear, for then she would truly belong nowhere.

  You’ll always belong to me, a voice seemed to speak to her heart. She felt an immediate hope that grew every day as her knowledge of God grew.

  Yes, she thought. I belong to Jesus. I belong to God, and I will always have His love, even if Jacob has none to give me.

  ————

  In Nome Helaina learned that the war in Europe was not going well. American casualties were high, and no one had any idea of when the conflict might end. She worried about her brother, knowing that Stanley’s patriot heart would cause him to want to sign up. His leg would keep him from being accepted—of that she was certain. After Chase Kincaid threw him from the back of a moving train, Stanley had never been the same. The leg had been shattered and other bones broken; Stanley had been lucky to survive. She shook her head slowly as she remembered it all. Had it not been for the Pinkertons’ desperation to capture Chase Kincaid, she might never have met Jacob Barringer.

  Helaina looked at the small building in front of her and tried to put worries of Stanley aside. Since it was Sunday and there would be no chance of receiving news or information from the army or other officials, she had decided to spend her time in church. The woman at the hotel had told her about a tiny church and of the love the people held for one another. It sounded like just the thing to lift Helaina’s spirits.

  “Are you lost?”

  Helaina turned to find a determined older woman looking her square in the eye. “No. I was just planning to attend church.”

  “Well, you’re in the right place.” The woman offered a huge smile, along with her outstretched hand. “I’m Mina Bachelder, and we’re glad to have you. Are you new to Nome? I don’t think I’ve seen you here before.”

  “I’ve been here on several occasions. In fact,” Helaina leaned closer, so as not to make her next comment a public announcement, “I was the woman kidnapped when the deputies were shot and killed.”

  “Oh, mercy me. And here you are safe and sound. I guess I’d heard you went back to the States.”

  “I had, but … well … there was something and someone I needed to come back for.”

  Mina grinned and her whole expression lit up. “You should tell me all about it over dinner. I’m serving up a good caribou stew. Please join me.”

  Helaina nodded. “I’d like that.”

  After a wonderful church service, Mina led Helaina to her house on Second Street. “Will you be in Nome long?” she asked.

  “No, probably not,” Helaina said. “I came for information. My … well … a dear friend of mine has a husband and brother on the Regina.” In church the pastor had asked the congregation to pray for the men of the Regina. It had blessed Helaina to hear the pastor offer up prayers for the men, comforting her in a way she couldn’t explain.

  Mina reached out to touch her arm. “So that’s why you’re here.”

  “Yes. I’m hopeful that the army or the Coast Guard can give me information as to whether any rescue ships have been sent north. I know it’s early, but those men have endured a cold winter.” She hated to even think of what kind of fate might have befallen Jacob and Jayce.

  “Well, we’ve certainly been praying they’ve endured.”

  Helaina stopped in midstep.
“They must have. They were good men—strong and knowledgeable. They wouldn’t take chances.”

  “Seems they took a chance when they went north,” Mina replied. “Here we are.” She walked up a few steps and opened the door. “Just hang your coat on the hook. I’ll get the dinner on.”

  Mina disappeared through yet another door while Helaina pulled off her fur parka. The house proved to be nice and warm. Apparently Mina had stoked up the fire before heading to church. Helaina closed the door behind her and observed the tiny living room. There was a colorful rag rug, several wooden chairs, and a horsehair couch that had seen a great amount of wear.

  “Here’s a cup of tea for you to sip on while I set the table.

  I hope you don’t mind tea. I don’t drink coffee.”

  Helaina smiled and took the offering. “Tea is just fine. I’m very fond of it.” She sipped from the cup as she continued to study the room. A small fireplace had been trimmed with a simple wooden mantel. This in turn held pictures of people Helaina guessed to be Mina’s family. She leaned closer for a better look.

  Several of the pictures were obviously wedding photographs. Women who appeared a decade younger than Helaina peered out from white gowns and veils with sober expressions. They would have the viewer believe the day was nothing more special than any other—that having the photograph taken was a commonplace event that left the subjects fighting off moments of ennui. But Helaina knew better. This was the day most of them had waited for, prayed for. This was the beginning of a new life. A day so important that they had to commemorate it, no matter the cost, with a photograph.

  Helaina thought momentarily of her late husband, Robert Beecham. The marriage seemed to have taken place a hundred years ago. She didn’t dwell there long, however, as Jacob’s image came to mind.

  “I see you’ve found the children.”

  “Are all of these your children?” Helaina asked in surprise. There had to be at least a dozen different couples or families.

  “Indeed. I bore my husband seventeen babies. Fifteen lived to see adulthood.”

  “Where are they now?”

  Mina smoothed her colorful apron. “Some live right here. Some live down in the States. A couple made their way to other parts of the territory. They’re all good to write—especially the girls. I have ten daughters, so they keep me well apprised of what’s happening in the family.”

  “It’s an impressive family to say the least.”

  “They’re my blessing from God. And they all love the Lord as much as I do, so I can stand before Him on judgment day with a clear conscience.”

  Helaina heard the pride in the woman’s voice. It was quite an accomplishment to raise such a large family in the wilds of Alaska, but an even greater feat to see them all come to a spiritual understanding of biblical truth. Helaina wondered what the woman’s secret might be.

  “How did you do it?”

  Mina grinned. “Sit down with me and I’ll tell you all about it.”

  Helaina did as she was instructed, listening to Mina offer a simple prayer for the meal, as well as for the men of the Regina. The sincerity of her words made Helaina feel the woman genuinely cared about the plight of those men.

  “I always told my children,” Mina began, “that whether or not they chose to believe in God—He was still God. He wouldn’t make any special deals with them just because they were stubborn or confused. I told them that the good Lord had given them God-fearing parents for a reason, and that reason was to bring them up in the way they should go.”

  “And that caused them to believe?”

  “That and the constant reminder that hell was a very real place where you would spend eternity in misery and absolute separation from all hope and love. My husband led devotions at breakfast and supper every day. We talked about the people in the Bible as though they were family. There wasn’t a story my children didn’t know, but their daddy was good to remind them that it wasn’t enough to just know those lessons in their head. They needed to take them into their hearts and heed the message.”

  “Still, that’s a big accomplishment to see fifteen children learn to trust God and believe in Him. I was late in coming to believe. It was very hard for me.”

  Mina looked at her sternly. “Were your people believers?

  Did your folks take you to church?”

  “Oh, we attended church—but you must understand, I lived in New York. In our circle of friends, church was a place to be seen socially rather than for the sake of your soul.”

  “Goodness. I can’t imagine that.”

  Helaina smiled. “Think of this: One of the churches I attended held row after row of highly polished mahogany pews. You earned the right to certain pews by nature of who you were associated with and how much money you gave the church. The closer to the front, the more important you were—the more you were valued.”

  “That’s awful. Teaches a bad lesson.”

  “To be sure.” Helaina sampled the stew. “Mmm, this is wonderful. Thank you so much for inviting me.”

  Mina handed her a platter with biscuits. “These are a couple of days old but should crumble up nice in the stew.”

  Helaina took one and followed Mina’s example of tearing it up in her hands and mingling it with the caribou and vegetables. “How did you come to live here in Nome, Mina?”

  “My husband brought us here when there was little more than natives around. It was long before the gold rush—such a difficult time.” She tutted under her breath and focused on her food. “Nome has always had its problems, and those were grim days to be sure.”

  “Why did your husband want to live here?”

  “We were missionaries, ministering to the people of this region. When my husband passed on, there must have been more than two hundred natives from Nome and the surrounding area at his funeral. They loved him.”

  “If his hospitality was equal to yours, then I can definitely see why,” Helaina replied.

  “The Lord calls us to hospitality. The Bible says you never know when you might be entertaining angels, so I try never to pass up a chance to invite a newcomer.”

  “Well, for me this was an unexpected treat. I’ll remember it for some time to come.”

  “You’ll come back and see me too, won’t you? When you come to Nome, you’re more than welcome to stay with me. You can leave that hotel and come here now if you like. I have a small room off the back that has a spare bed and its own stove. It’ll keep you quite comfortable.”

  Helaina had never seen such generosity in New York. Life in Alaska was much different; people knew to look out for each other. To do otherwise might cause someone’s death, and no one wanted that on their heads.

  “I think it would be very nice to stay with you, Mina. If my time in Nome extends to several days, I will seek you out.”

  Mina nodded, satisfied that Helaina was telling the truth. “Eat up. I have a cobbler waiting for your attention.”

  ————

  The next day Helaina was still remembering the sumptuous meal with Mina when she came face-to-face with Cheslav Babinovich, a Russian man she’d met the previous year. “Why, Mr. Babinovich, is that you?” she asked the frightened-looking man.

  “Ah, dear lady. It is I.” He glanced over his shoulder.

  “Your name escapes me.”

  “Helaina Beecham. We met last year when you were seeking assistance. I introduced you to Dr. Cox.”

  “Ah, I do remember you.” He rubbed the back of his hand against his thick black mustache. “I fear the despair of the last few months has left me greatly distressed. I am no good at remembering much other than the terror being experienced by my dear czar and his family.”

  “I’ve heard things in Russia are quite grim where the royal family is concerned. Someone mentioned the royals have been imprisoned.”

  “It is all true.” He moaned and turned away. “I am desperate to assist them. I fear they will all be killed if I do not negotiate their release.”

>   “Can you do that? Can you negotiate with their captors?”

  “If I have enough money,” he said, turning back to face her. “Money is the only thing that speaks in my poor country.”

  Helaina watched as several men approached. Babinovich ducked his head against his coat and turned toward the storefront window, as if making himself invisible to their scrutiny. When the men were gone, he once again faced Helaina. “One cannot be too careful. Spies are everywhere. They will hunt down all of us with royal ties and see us dead.”

  “Who will?”

  “The new government in my country. The Bolsheviks. But I mustn’t speak of it. There is too much danger.” He lowered his voice. “I have jewels to sell. But for now, if word got back to our enemies that royal jewels were smuggled out of the country and sold to help the czar and his family—well, just let me say heads would roll.”

  Helaina frowned. “I wouldn’t want to be a part of that.”

  “But you might be interested in purchasing some of my jewelry?” he asked hopefully. “You are such a good woman, you surely could not stand to see the children left in the hands of such vicious people. The czar’s daughters are quite beautiful, and little Alexi is such a dear lad. They have no doubt been horribly misused.”

  Helaina frowned. The man’s story was quite compelling. “I suppose I might buy a few pieces,” she found herself saying.

  Babinovich nearly forgot himself as he reached out for her. He stopped before actually taking hold of her. “Oh, Mrs. Beecham, you have made me most happy. I am sure we can save them now.”

  Helaina arranged for the man to meet her in the lobby of the hotel later that day, then turned her attention back to her destination. She needed to know what had been done for the Regina and her men.

  ————

  Latimore rallied as Jacob spooned hot coffee, heavily laden with sweetened condensed milk, into his mouth. His eyes were less swollen, and it seemed to Jacob that perhaps he was regaining his vision.