Fire and Ice

by Susan Page Davis

  “That means a lot.” She smiled at him, and his heart lurched.

  “I’m glad Steve and Cheryl don’t see a need to sell the property. I’m sure God will find a way for your family to get through this rough spot.” He was glad he hadn’t jumped in with an offer to buy them out. That probably would have upset Robyn and her grandfather even more. It was just as well that his assets were tied up. He took a cookie and bit into it.

  “Grandpa’s determined to stick it out here,” Robyn said. “He was shocked when Mom hinted at leaving Alaska.”

  “Well, maybe you should just wait and see what happens. The Lord knows what’s ahead. I’m sure He’s got something planned for the Hollands.”

  She nodded slowly. “Sterns is supposed to come tomorrow if he wants to buy. If not, he’ll call. I’m not sure I’ll wait around all day to see if he shows up. I’ve got a lot to do for the race.”

  “What’s on your list for tomorrow?”

  “Putting up markers on part of the race route. Of course, if we get a lot of snow out of this storm, I may have to wait.”

  “I don’t think this will amount to much.” Rick glanced toward the window. “It’s too cold for a really big snow.”

  “Well then, I’ll probably try to get the hilly part marked tomorrow.”

  The opportunity to be with her and perhaps help her in a small way beckoned him. He asked casually, “Want someone to tag along?”

  She arched her eyebrows. “What, you want to ride on my sled?”

  “I’ve mushed in my time. Had a team before I went away to vet school.”

  “So, you’re saying you’d go along if I supply you a team?”

  “I guess that’s a little presumptuous.”

  “No, it’s not. We have an extra sled. If you’re serious, it might be fun.”

  Rick smiled at her. “I haven’t driven a team for a while, but I used to know what I was doing. It would be an honor to mush with you.”

  “Great. Hey, wait a minute. Isn’t tomorrow one of your days in Anchorage?”

  “They need me Thursday this week, so I switched.” He frowned as he remembered Bob’s and Hap’s reactions when he’d told them two days a week in Anchorage was too much for him. After next week he was going back to Tuesdays only. They hadn’t liked it one bit. Rick had even told them that his goal, as much as he liked them, was to stop working at Far North altogether and put his energy into his own practice.

  “So you’re free all day?”

  “I could go with you in the morning. I’ve got a few barn calls I need to make after lunch, but if you’re sure you trust me to drive some of your dogs, I’d love to go out on the trail with you.”

  “Sure. Call me by eight. If the weather’s not good, or if Sterns has scheduled a time to come, I’ll tell you. Otherwise, we can go then.”

  “Sounds good.” Rick finished his tea.

  “Want some more?”

  “No, I’d better head home and get some sleep. I have to hit the trail in the morning, and the boss musher is strict about punctuality.”

  She laughed, and Rick’s anticipation level soared. If he could have imagined the perfect way to spend his free morning, sledding with Robyn would have been beyond the most appealing thing he’d have come up with.

  He leaned across the table and squeezed her hand. “Thanks for trusting me. I may be too keyed up to sleep.”

  “You’d better sleep. I don’t want you falling asleep on the runners tomorrow.”

  The next morning, conditions were perfect for sledding. Robyn hurried to feed all the dogs and make sure the equipment was ready. As she worked, her thoughts bounced continually to Rick. His generous offers of help lately gave her spirits a boost, and the fact that he wanted to go sledding with her … just thinking about it made her breathe faster. He must like her as more than a client and neighbor. The way he’d looked at her last night had propelled her dreams into high gear.

  At about seven thirty the back door to the house opened and her mom came out to the dog lot.

  Robyn’s heart sank. “Did Mr. Sterns call?”

  “No. I just wanted to check with you before you take off. What should I do if he comes while you’re out?”

  Robyn checked her relief and considered her mother’s situation. “If he doesn’t call in the next hour, Rick and I are going to head out. We should be back in a couple of hours though.”

  “Yes, but I don’t want to be here alone when he comes.”

  When it came down to it, Robyn didn’t blame her. She’d feel the same way. “Maybe you can try to call him when we’re ready to leave and see what he says.”

  Mom went back into the house.

  Robyn laid out harnesses for four dogs each for her and Rick and got out both lightweight sleds. She decided to give Rick the newer one, as the old one was more fragile. And she would give him four strong but calm dogs. She would take four of her client’s dogs herself.

  Rick called promptly at eight, and she found herself grinning as she answered her phone. “Come on over. I’m good to go.”

  “Sterns hasn’t contacted you yet?” he asked.

  “Nope, and I’ve got the sleds out.”

  “I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

  She went into the house. Mom wasn’t due to go to work until one o’clock, and Robyn found her in the kitchen.

  “Thought I’d bake apple crisp and take some to Grandpa tomorrow.”

  “Good idea. I bet he’d like some licorice, too.”

  Mom smiled. “Don’t know how he can stand that stuff, but I’ll pick some up this afternoon.” She jotted it on the shopping list that hung on the refrigerator door.

  “I’ve got to put in another order for meat for the dogs,” Robyn said, watching her face.

  “Okay.” Neither of them spoke of how close they were cutting their finances.

  When the race is over, Robyn told herself, we should be okay for a while.

  More than two weeks still lay between them and the Fire & Ice, and all the entry fees were in the bank. They never spent any of the money from the race for anything other than race expenses until the event was over, but usually they made a profit of a couple thousand dollars.

  “So, Rick’s on his way over,” Robyn said. “Do you want me to try to call Mr. Sterns?”

  “I guess I can do it.”

  “Okay. If he’s on his way, of course we’ll stay.”

  Mom took her phone off the counter and pushed a few buttons. “I’m getting his voice mail.” She waited a moment then said in her best “leave a message” voice, “This is Cheryl Holland. We just wondered if you planned to come up to Holland Kennel today or not. Please let us know. Thank you very much.”

  She closed the connection and gulped.

  Robyn walked over and kissed her cheek. “Thanks. You did great.”

  She went out to the dog lot, and Rick soon joined her. His first words were, “Did you get ahold of Sterns?”

  Robyn shook her head. “We haven’t heard a word from him. Mom called his cell phone, but he didn’t answer.”

  “Well, cell service is spotty at best outside Anchorage.”

  She nodded. “So, are you ready to mush?”

  He grinned. “I am so ready. Who’s on my team?”

  “I’m letting you take Max. He’s your leader. And Bandit, Dolly, and Spark.”

  “Who do you get?”

  She picked up the first set of harness. “Oh, I’m taking four of Pat Isherwood’s dogs.”

  “He’s the guy who had the appendectomy?”

  “Yes. He’s paying me good money to keep them in shape for him. I try to take all eight of his dogs out two or three times a week. This past week has been tough though. I took the other half of his team out Monday, but they’ll need to go again tomorrow, and no excuses.”

  Putting the dogs in harness with Rick helping her was an interesting experience. Despite the cold temperatures—only ten degrees this morning—Robyn found herself blushing when their faces came
close together as they bent over the same dog. She’d always been independent, even more so since her brother left home. She lived in a fairly remote location and had braced herself long ago for the possibility that she wouldn’t find a husband out here.

  Although more men than women lived in Alaska, she’d increased the odds against finding a match by choosing not to go to college. Instead, she’d stayed home and worked in the dog business. That seemed most practical after her father died, and she loved dogs and sledding. She knew she wanted to continue Grandpa Steve’s kennel business, and her mother had reluctantly agreed. But in taking that path, she had isolated herself to some extent. Her contacts were mostly through business and church now, and she’d decided not to worry about it.

  “Hey, you really do know what you’re doing.” She laughed and straightened as Rick adjusted the harness on Bandit. “Go ahead and get Max. I’ll start getting my team hitched up.”

  The last thing on her checklist was to alert her mom. Rather than leaving the team while she trudged to the house, Robyn called her on the cell phone.

  “Are you two leaving now?” Mom asked.

  “Yep, we’re all set. I don’t know if you’ll be able to get me when we leave here, but if you do hear anything, try to give me a call.”

  “I will. Be safe, honey.”

  Robyn laughed. “Well, I’ve got a doctor with me, just in case.”

  Rick laughed, too, as she put her phone away and zipped the pocket. “You’re sassy this morning.”

  “I feel good. Don’t you? New snow, terrific dogs …”

  “Great company,” he finished.

  She felt her cheeks warming again and untied the snub line for her team. Ignoring his flirtatious smile, she stepped onto the runners of her sled. “Ready?”

  Rick nodded as he stowed his own line.

  Robyn turned forward. “Hike!”

  Rick couldn’t remember when he’d had a better time. Robyn led him first over trails he knew well, but then they veered onto land he’d never traveled. They stopped every time the race trail changed course, or any place a hazard occurred, like a sharp drop-off or rocks hidden beneath the snow. Robyn had packed different colored ribbons for marking the way and warning signals. Their brief stops gave the dogs short rests.

  Rick had thought he was in good shape, but keeping up with Robyn challenged him. He watched her jump off frequently and run behind her sled, amazed at her energy.

  “Hey, watch your team,” Robyn called at a stop an hour into their trek.

  Rick had forgotten to set his snow hook. The minute he stepped off the runners, the dogs had leaned forward, ready to take off. “Whoa!” He jumped back onto the sled, putting his weight on the runners and reaching for the snow hook.

  Robyn laughed. “Don’t bother. I’ll get this one. It won’t take a minute.” True to her word, she quickly positioned the markers where the trail took a turn and regained her position behind her team.

  At the next stop, Rick was determined to prove he wasn’t an absolute greenhorn. He set his hook and made sure the lines were taut before letting go of the sled.

  “Not bad.” Robyn tossed him a roll of plastic ribbon. “I want to mark this curve because of the rocks there. If someone runs into them, it’s bad news. We’ve had more than one sled wreck at this spot.”

  Since no trees grew nearby, he held stakes she had set in the snow while she packed more of it tightly around them. “We’ll need to have someone check them the day before the race,” she said. “I get volunteers to run short stretches of the route that day until the whole trail is covered. It breaks the trail if we’ve had new snow and gives us the assurance that all the markers are still in place.” She clumped the snow tightly around the last stake. “There.”

  Rick stood when she did. “This is fantastic. Thanks so much for letting me go with you.”

  She smiled up at him. “I’m having fun.”

  Her rich brown eyes sent him a message that made him believe she really was enjoying this morning as much as he was. He thought he knew her well enough now to interpret her moods. Had things gone beyond friendship?

  Her glowing cheeks and bright eyes drew him. Now might be the time to kiss her. Or would that be too forward? He’d known her a year, but they’d spent only a little time together, most of it in the past week. He wanted to let her know how he felt—but did he really understand that himself?

  He liked everything he knew about her, and each new revelation confirmed his impressions of her character. She was diligent and loyal. She loved the Lord. She cared deeply about her family, its heritage, and its well-being. And she was very pretty. But there was still so much to learn. If he told her now what he thought, would he regret it?

  He leaned toward her, his heart pounding. As he reached for her, she sobered and hesitantly raised her arms. He pulled her closer. Robyn came into his arms but turned her face away, resting her head against his shoulder. His heart tumbled. Did she do that to avoid a kiss? Maybe it was too soon. But she stayed in his embrace for a moment.

  Then she laughed, a sudden, contented burble.

  He pulled away and eyed her cautiously.

  “I’m sorry. It’s not funny, but …” She tossed her head, her lips curved in amusement.

  He tried not to let his apprehension come through in his voice. “What?”

  “It just hit me how hard it is to hug someone in January gear in Alaska.” She smiled up at him. Something about her expression told him she’d found the experience enjoyable.

  He nodded. “We may have to repeat this experiment when we’re in a warmer place.”

  Her smile widened. “We’d probably better head back, in case Mom’s got company.” She pulled out her phone and checked it. “Just as I thought. No service out here.”

  “Let’s go.” Rick hurried to the back of his sled and reached for the snow hook. She hadn’t protested his comment. As they took the trail back, he found himself looking forward to kissing her and hoping that time came soon.

  The dogs pulled them back toward the Holland Kennel yard at a smart trot. Rick believed those on his towline could have kept going all day and loved it. As the miles flew by, his thoughts drifted back to their embrace. Robyn was right—parkas weren’t the best attire for courting.

  Cheryl came out the back door of the house as they came to a halt and ran to where Robyn hitched her team leaders. “I’m so glad you’re back!”

  “What is it, Mom? Did Mr. Sterns show up here?”

  “Not yet, but six of our dogs are missing.”

  seven

  “Six dogs? What do you mean?” Robyn couldn’t process what her mother told her.

  “I’ve called the police. I didn’t know what else to do.” Mom wrapped her arms around herself and shivered. “I don’t know how this could have happened. I’m sorry.”

  Robyn put her arm around her mother. “You’re freezing. Go inside. We’ll put the dogs away and come right in.”

  Rick had tied his team with a snub line and walked slowly along the yard, looking at the ground. “These look like fresh snow machine tracks,” he called.

  “Yes, they were pulling a trailer with a box or cage on it.” Mom’s eyes swam with tears. “I would have heard them, but after Mr. Sterns called, I decided to do some vacuuming, and when I shut it off, I heard the motor out here, but it was too late. By the time I got to the window, they were already pulling out.”

  “Wait,” Robyn said. “Sterns called you?”

  “Yes. About twenty minutes after you left. He told me he’d come around noon. I tried to get you, but I couldn’t get through, so I started cleaning up the house. I decided it was a good time to … well, that doesn’t matter. The thing is, when I heard the motor and ran to the kitchen window, I saw this snow machine with a trailer leaving the yard and going out that old woods road. I figured someone had just driven through, even though we have it posted not to. I was a little mad, but it happens.”

  Rick had come over and stood beside R
obyn, listening.

  Mom went on, “Then I saw that one gate was open.”

  Robyn swung around and looked at the enclosures. “Both gates are closed now.”

  “Because I shut the one to the male dogs’ yard. It was wide open. I knew you wouldn’t leave it that way, so I ran out to look. Tumble was gone. And you’d said you were taking some of Pat Isherwood’s dogs out this morning, so I knew that meant you didn’t take Tumble for your leader.”

  “Right,” Robyn said. “And Rick had Max leading.”

  Her mother nodded and her face crumpled. “When you called me right before you left, I looked out and saw that you each had four dogs in your team. I had wondered if you would take Tumble in case Sterns came while you were gone, to make sure he didn’t try to take him, but I could see that you didn’t. So I ran through the lot to see what other dogs were gone. I counted fourteen missing, so besides the eight you had out, it looks like six were stolen.”

  Rick reached out and touched her shoulder. “When will the state police be here?”

  “Any time now.”

  “Sounds like you did the right thing. Why don’t you go in and put the kettle on? Robyn and I will take care of the teams and be in shortly.”

  She nodded, and her face quivered. “I feel so … angry. Angry and stupid.”

  “Don’t,” Robyn said softly. “We’ll get them back.” She wished she believed that.

  Her mother turned and trotted toward the house.

  Robyn looked at Rick. “What do you think?”

  “It’s very odd. Sterns calls and says he won’t come around for three hours or more, and then thieves come into the lot in broad daylight and steal six dogs.”

  Robyn nodded. “Yes, including Tumble, the dog he was so angry about not getting. Let’s put these mutts away and make a list of who’s missing.”

  They quickly stripped off the dogs’ harnesses and piled them on Robyn’s sled. When all of the dogs they’d exercised were tethered to their kennels, Robyn walked around the lot. She’d already realized the six missing dogs included two of Patrick Isherwood’s team, Wocket and Astro. Tumble and three other Holland Kennel dogs had also been taken.