Brides of Alaska

by Peterson, Tracie;

  For a long time neither Julie nor Sam said a word. They watched the dancing lights as the colors faded, then radiated and grew brilliant again. The stillness of the windless night made the cold easily tolerated, but Sam moved closer to block the chill from Julie’s back.

  Julie decided she had to deal with Sam. He wasn’t going to go away, and even though he planned to leave the next morning, it was necessary to tell him exactly where she stood.

  “Sam,” Julie said as she turned to face him. She hadn’t realized just how close he was. Sam reached out and quickly pulled Julie into his arms. “Wait just a minute,” Julie protested. “You can’t keep doing this.”

  “Oh yes, I can, and I intend to do it often after we’re married,” Sam said, refusing to let Julie loose.

  “Married? I’m not going to—” Her words fell into silence as Sam lowered his mouth to hers. Julie expected the same brief type of kiss Sam had given her in the kitchen, but instead his mouth was firmly fixed on hers in a deeply passionate kiss. Julie had set out to concentrate on not responding, but easily lost that thought as Sam aroused feelings inside her that Julie had never known existed. Giving in, Julie allowed Sam to pull her tightly to his chest as her arms went around his neck.

  When Sam pulled back, Julie felt herself gasp for air. “You’ll never stop feeling lonely until you give in to your heart and marry me. Remember, two are better than one,” Sam whispered.

  “But, I prayed about working as a nurse. I know it’s my destiny.” Julie forced the words from her muddled mind.

  “And you are mine,” Sam said before silencing Julie’s protests with his mouth.

  Chapter 7

  On the first day of November, Julie reported to Dr. Welch at the two-story Maynard-Columbus Hospital. The whitewashed clapboard building offered the most thorough medical help in northwestern Alaska and had seen more than its share of action.

  After meeting with Dr. Welch for a few days, Julie’s confidence returned. Dr. Welch was habitually happy. He was at his best when he was working in and around his patients, and his nurses enjoyed his vibrant love of life. Emily Morgan, training to take over as head nurse at the hospital, told Julie that it was Dr. Welch’s devoted wife, Lula, who’d made the gray-haired doctor so content.

  “You know,” Emily said as she showed Julie to a small office, “she married him right after his internship in Los Angeles. She’s worked alongside him for many years.”

  “Yes, I know,” Julie said as she slipped out of her parka. “I’m quite familiar with both the doctor and his wife. I was born in Nome.”

  “I didn’t know you were native to Alaska,” Emily said. “Oh, by the way, this is Nurse Seville,” she added as a rather plain-looking woman came into the office.

  “Glad to meet you,” the woman said, extending her hand. “I’m Bertha.”

  “It’s nice to meet you as well,” Julie said and shook the woman’s hand. “I’m Julie Eriksson.”

  “Well, it’s quite a challenge you’ve carved out for yourself. I’ve made calls with Dr. Welch to the nearest Eskimo settlements, and I’ve never really enjoyed the sled travel. Although I must say, Doc enjoys every bit of it. But you’ll be out there on your own, driving your own team and facing the elements. I admire your spirit,” Bertha said honestly.

  “Thank you,” Julie answered just as Dr. Welch entered the room.

  “Are you ready to go?” he questioned as he took a seat behind a paper-laden desk.

  “I sure am,” Julie responded. “I came to say good-bye and see if there were any last-minute instructions.”

  “Take good care of your dogs,” Welch answered firmly. “Of course, take good care of yourself as well. Keep detailed records, and let me know if there’s anything that needs my attention.”

  “I will,” Julie promised and picked up her parka. “I’d best be on my way. My first stop is nearly two hours away.”

  “At least the weather’s been good. Unseasonably so, if you ask me,” the veteran doctor replied. After nearly twenty years in Alaska, he spoke with authority.

  “Well, remember me in your prayers,” Julie said as she pulled on her coat.

  “That we will,” Nurse Emily replied.

  Moving out on the open trail, Julie had plenty of time to think. Too much time. She’d been working for nearly six weeks, and during that time, she’d seen just about everything.

  She’d delivered babies, set broken bones, stitched up wounds, and dealt with a multitude of other ailments. Overall, her experience had been a good one, but always there were the hours alone on the trail when the only thing she could think about was Sam.

  How could one man affect a woman so much that she questioned her purpose in life? Ever since Sam had kissed her and told her he intended to marry her, Julie had been confused.

  When Julie was younger and there had been only her mother’s driving desire to see her daughter become a nurse, she’d felt certain of her destiny. But Sam was just as strong in maintaining that Julie was his destiny.

  Julie stopped the dogs for a brief rest. There were only three to four hours of light a day as Christmas grew near. Usually she woke up in the darkness and moved out, only to spend the daylight hours inside a sod igloo, delivering a baby or tending to some other medical need. She was enjoying this rare opportunity to travel during the daylight hours.

  Julie checked her compass and pulled out a small map from inside her parka. If everything went according to plan, she’d be in the next village within two hours. Carefully replacing the compass and map, Julie checked her dogs and took her place at the back of the sled.

  “Let’s go,” she called out, and the dogs immediately picked up a nice trotting pace.

  Julie alternated running behind the sled and riding the runners. She’d gradually regained her muscular arms and running legs. Physically, she’d never felt better, but emotionally, she was drained.

  “God, please help me,” she prayed. The winter sky’s pale turquoise color was already giving way to the coming darkness. In the distance, Julie saw the telltale signs of a snowstorm. She called to the dogs to pick up the pace before turning her mind and soul back to God in prayer. “Lord, I don’t understand why You sent Sam into my life at this time. I thought I knew what You wanted me to do, but how can I do that and care for a husband? And if You don’t want Sam to be my husband, then why did You allow him to complicate things for me?” Julie realized how selfish her prayer sounded and fell silent.

  She watched the frozen wasteland pass by her moving sled. The horizon stretched out forever, and yet, just ahead Julie would thrill to the light in the window of some thoughtful villager, and once again she’d be safe.

  The dogs seemed to sense the end of the journey and hastened to the place where they would receive fresh tom cod and tallow. They are smarter than human beings, Julie thought. They never press on in a storm when they know it’s dangerous, and they’re content to do their work and take their rest. If only I could be the same.

  Blackness fell long before Julie reached the small Eskimo village. She kept watch through the darkness as the dogs, confident of their trail, pressed on.

  Visions of Sam filled her mind, and for a moment Julie allowed herself to wonder what it would be like to marry Lucky Sam Curtiss.

  “Surely I’d have to give up my nursing,” Julie mused. “He would expect me to give him my undivided attention. And there would be the possibility of children. A man like Sam would probably want a dozen or more,” she added sarcastically. “But then, I hope to one day have a big family, too.

  “Why did he have to come?” Julie yelled into the darkness. She hadn’t noticed that they were nearly upon the village, and only when Dusty brought the team to a stop did Julie realize why.

  “Good boy, Dusty. I was daydreaming again,” Julie said as she planted the snow hook.

  A middle-aged Eskimo man appeared with his two sons. She recognized the man as George Nakoota. She had tended his youngest child during a bad bout of tonsilliti
s during her first visit to the village.

  “There’s warm food inside for you,” George said as he helped Julie unload her sled. “The boys and I will take care of the dogs.” Julie nodded and went inside. As long as the dogs were fed and bedded down, she could rest.

  George’s wife, Tanana, helped Julie out of her parka and mukluks. “George heard you coming from far off,” Tanana said as she placed the parka over a chair by the oilcan stove.

  “I don’t see how George can hear these things from so far away,” Julie said. “He’s always saying that he can hear any storm or animal coming for fifty miles. Those are mighty perceptive ears.”

  “George does not listen with his ears. He listens with his soul. George and the land are close, like old friends.”

  “The soul can tell a person a great deal, if we choose to listen to it,” Julie agreed. “Have you thought about what I told you when I was here before?”

  “I remember when your father used to visit with George and tell him about white man’s God in heaven. George said it made nights pass faster with stories from your Bible.”

  “But they’re more than stories, Tanana.” Julie hoped her old friend wouldn’t be offended by her boldness. “I know you’re skeptical of the things that white folks bring to your people—the sickness and disease, the mining operations and such—but honestly, Tanana, God has a great deal of love for you and your people.”

  “I know that,” Tanana agreed, “but He loves me in the Eskimo way.”

  George came in, bringing the rest of Julie’s gear. “Your dogs are looking good, Julie. You’ve been taking good care of them.”

  “The people have all been so good to me,” Julie said as she sat down at the small crude table where Tanana was dishing up hot food. “They feed the dogs and me and always give us a warm place to sleep. I have no complaints.”

  “Any trouble with animals?” George asked as he joined Julie at the table. “I noticed that Dusty looked a bit chewed-on.”

  “He was,” Julie nodded. “You’ve got eyes that are every bit as good as your ears, George. He got into a fight with a village dog. The other dog looks worse, so we count it a victory for him. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell him otherwise.”

  George laughed. “You spoil him. He’ll grow fat and lazy and never run fast, but I won’t tell him.”

  Julie stayed on in George’s village for two days. She treated several bad colds and looked in on George’s mother, who’d suffered from an infected wound on her hand. Julie was preparing to leave when George’s oldest son came running.

  “My father’s been hurt,” he said breathlessly as he pulled at Julie’s arm.

  “What happened?” Julie asked, pulling her medical bag from the sled.

  “The dogs were fighting, and he tried to pull them apart. His arm is pretty bad.”

  Julie followed the boy on a dead run to the opposite side of the village where George had been carried to his house. When Julie walked into the house, George had already been placed on the small kitchen table. His arm was a bloody mangled mess, and Julie wasn’t sure that she could save it.

  She motioned George’s son to hold a cloth to his father’s arm. “Put pressure here while I prepare my instruments. Tanana, I’ll need some hot water. George, George, can you hear me?” Julie questioned as she leaned down.

  “I hear you,” George said between gritted teeth.

  “I’m going to clean your arm and see what’s what. I’m going to do a lot of stitching, and I’d just as soon you not have to be awake for it. I’ve got some chloroform, and I’m going to put you to sleep,” Julie said as she prepared a place for her instruments.

  “Julie,” George whispered weakly.

  He was losing a great deal of blood, and Julie knew she’d have to hurry. “What is it, George?”

  “You gonna pray for me?”

  “Of course,” Julie said with a smile.

  “Your pa has talked to me before,” George paused and drew a deep breath before continuing, “about eternal life. I think I need to have that about now.”

  George was always good-natured, even when he was bleeding to death, Julie decided. Nevertheless, she continued as if George had nothing more complicated than a splinter. “John 3:16 says, ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ You must believe that God sent His Son to save your life. Do you believe that, George?” Julie asked as she washed her hands in carbolic acid before pouring a great amount into a bowl for her instruments.

  “I believe,” George whispered.

  “Then pray with me, George,” Julie said as she took fresh water from Tanana. “Dear Father, George knows he’s a sinner, and he wants Your forgiveness,” Julie paused to wave George’s son away and poured water over his father’s arm.

  George bit his lip but refused to cry out. “I’m a sinner, God. Forgive me,” he said and looked up at Julie.

  Julie nodded and continued, “George wants to accept Your Son, Jesus, so that he might have eternal life.”

  “I want eternal life,” George murmured. “I want Your Son, Jesus.”

  “And, Lord,” Julie said as she poured disinfectant over the mangled limb, “help me to mend George’s arm. Amen.”

  George nodded, too weak to speak. Julie poured a liberal amount of chloroform on a clean cloth. “I’m going to put you to sleep now, George.” She placed the cloth over George’s nose and mouth.

  Instantly, George was rendered unconscious, and Julie flew into action. She picked her way through the strips of flesh, cleaning each one thoroughly and moving on to the deep gashes.

  Tanana held a lantern to one side. Periodically, Julie felt for George’s pulse and respiration. He was doing well, and Julie felt confident that his relative good health and God’s direction would see her through the situation.

  After two hours, Julie stood back and assessed her work. Barring infection, George would retain full use of his arm. She decided to stay on in the village until she felt confident that the wounds were free from contamination.

  Dragging her weary body to bed, Julie thanked God for His direction. She fell asleep listening to George’s rhythmic breathing.

  With George well on the way to recovering and Christmas only three days away, Julie readied once again to return to Nome. She was determined to be home for Christmas, but she hadn’t managed to do any Christmas shopping yet.

  She was rechecking the dogs’ harness when Tanana approached her. “You have my gratitude for saving George’s life. I thanked your white God, too.”

  “He can be your God as well, Tanana,” Julie said as she turned from the dogs.

  Tanana nodded and held out several packages. “I’ll think about your words, Nurse Julie. These are for you. They are payment for George. I know your Christmas is coming soon, and maybe you will need things for your father and brother. I have made two pairs of sealskin mukluks. They have fox fur inside to make them extra warm.”

  “Thank you, Tanana. I’ll give them to my father and brother for Christmas and tell them that you made them.”

  The woman smiled broadly and backed up a step. “You are welcome here anytime. We’ll look forward to seeing you after your celebration.”

  Julie nodded and rallied her team. “Hike!” she called out and held onto the sled handle as the dogs, eager to be on the trail, moved out.

  Nome looked the same as when Julie had left. She knew she ought to go directly to Dr. Welch’s office at the Merchants and Miners Bank of Alaska, but keeping in mind that it was Christmas Eve, she took time, instead, to do a bit of shopping.

  She searched through several shops, looking for just the right gifts for Vern and August. She finally settled on some tools for her father and a guitar for August. She smiled as she brought the items out to her sled. August had always wanted to learn to play the guitar, and now Julie would hound him until he could play her a tune.

  Julie wrapped the g
ifts safely inside a large fur pelt and loaded them onto the sled. She started to walk down the street to the hospital when something in the store window caught her attention. A handsome, ivory-handled knife was prominently displayed.

  Julie went inside and asked to see it in order to better study the detail of the carving. A talented craftsman had skillfully transformed the ivory into an intricate piece of art. The outline of a dog driver with his sled team was highlighted on the handle of the knife.

  Impulsively, Julie purchased the knife for Sam. She hadn’t seen him in seven weeks, but the urge to buy him a Christmas gift overruled her better judgment.

  Adding the knife to the other gifts on the sled, Julie went in search of Dr. Welch.

  Chapter 8

  Julie found Dr. Welch, and after quickly exchanging her paperwork and personal assessments of the villages she’d visited, she bid him a Merry Christmas and received permission to go home for the holidays.

  “You know,” Dr. Welch said as he followed Julie outside, “we’re having a bit of a Christmas Eve party, and I know Lula would love for you to join us.”

  “I’ve never been one for parties,” Julie answered honestly. “I’m just a home girl. I want to be with my family.”

  “I understand,” Dr. Welch said with a smile. “You have a well-deserved rest, and I’ll see you the day after New Year’s.”

  “I’ll be here,” Julie replied with a wave.

  Making her way to the dogs, Julie started thinking of Sam. Would he make an appearance on Christmas, and if he did, would she be happy to see him? She tried to forget about him and concentrate on getting home, but nothing could get him out of her thoughts.

  Julie looked over each of her dogs, checking their paws and bellies for signs of freezing. They were tired and deserved a good rest, but Julie had no alternative but to drive them home.

  “Your team looks a bit spent.”

  Julie smiled before straightening up to meet Sam’s bearded face. “I’ll give you that much,” she said, pushing her parka hood back. Her black hair had been neatly braided when she’d started out that morning, but now wisps of it blew around her face.