This time they snacked themselves as well as the dogs, filling up on trail mix, crackers, and buttered pumpkin bread. Lainey finished the last of her now lukewarm coffee and drank a thawed Gatorade. She grimaced as she watched Scotch eat a half stick of butter right from the package.
"Yuck."
Scotch wrapped the second half in its paper. "Says you. At least I won't be freezing my butt off like you."
Lainey grimaced in answer. She heard noises and looked back at the trail behind them. "Sounds like somebody else is coming."
Standing, Scotch squinted up the hillside looking for the trail. "They're coming mighty fast. Wonder if it's a rookie."
In answer a team of dogs burst through onto the level trail. It took a few moments for Lainey to realize that there was no musher on the sled. She stood up, mouth open, not certain what she should do as the team headed toward their position.
"Whoa!" Scotch called, stepping out into the trail. "Whoa! Lainey! See if you can get onto the sled as it passes."
Lainey dropped the detritus of her snacks onto her sled bag, adrenaline once again pumping through her system.
The new team heeded Scotch's command and slowed down as they neared, but did not stop. Frisky and excited, they trotted toward Scotch, making the sled an easy enough target for Lainey to board. She ordered them to halt, firmly stepping onto the brake to further impede their progress. By the time Scotch got hold of the leaders' collars, they had come to a full stop and were rolling in the snow to cool off.
"Now what?"
Scotch looked around their immediate area. "Let's get them over there," she said, indicating a stand of sturdy trees. "We can tie them there until their musher shows up."
Lainey glanced back up the perilous trail. "What if he's injured?" She saw the same concern in Scotch's eyes.
"We don't know where he lost the team. If it was as far back as the first descent, it could take us hours to get there by sled. Chances are good someone has already found him coming from the other direction." She led the dogs toward the trees. "If he's closer, it'd still be better for us to get to the checkpoint and notify someone. They can get to him faster with a snow machine."
Nodding, Lainey helped get the sled into position and tied the snub line to a tree. She set the snow hook as firmly as possible. "Isn't this considered outside assistance? Won't we get in trouble or be disqualified?"
Scotch opened the sled bag and located the Iditarod promotional package. "No, this is a legal action. If he's near enough to walk, great. Or he can hitch a ride with another team; it's one thing to assist someone to keep going when they should scratch. It's another to leave somebody out here in the bush to die." She found the bib number so she could notify the committee who it was and put things away.
She and Lainey returned to their sleds, their dogs eager to get going again.
"This ever happen to you?"
Scotch's face reddened, but she smiled. "Yeah. Once. My first Yukon Quest. A sweeper got me while I was dozing on the sled. Knocked me flat." She chuckled. "I walked for an hour or more before I found the team tied off the trail waiting for me."
Lainey grinned. "Just returning the favor, huh?"
"Yup."
At their parking spots, they split up and went to their respective sleds. As they urged their teams forward, Lainey spared one glance back at the dogs curling up to take a nap as they awaited their lost owner.
CHAPTER THIRTY
THE IDITAROD UTILIZED one of the small cabins skirting Rainy Pass Lodge as a checkpoint and Lainey accompanied Scotch until they reached the small crowd of volunteers gathering there. It was rather fortuitous that Scotch's team led the way; when young Chibee noticed a herd of horses near the lodge, he voiced a howl and attempted to break ranks and give chase. The rest of Lainey's team chose to follow the familiar scent of Scotch's dogs, and Chibee was forced to abandon his pursuit.
"Five fifty-six PM. Welcome to Rainy Pass," the checker said. He marked her time and grinned as he looked at her head. "Nice hat," he said, gesturing at her with a pencil.
"Thanks!" Lainey chuckled. She tugged on it. "I think I deserve about a dozen more of them."
"I hear you," the checker agreed. "Maybe you'll get a hundred for the Farewell Burn."
"Man, don't remind me!" Lainey glanced at his clipboard, pleased to note she had not dropped behind the mid thirties placing. "Scotch and I found a team with no musher just on the edge of Puntilla Lake. We tied them down there."
"All right." He wrote something on his paperwork. "We'll get somebody out there to check on the situation." He waved her on to the veterinarians waiting nearby.
She quickly fell into the checkpoint routine, assisting the vets with her dogs, picking up her food drop, and going over her team with a critical eye. All the animals seemed in good spirits, though Heldig's paws appeared a little worse for wear. Lainey used a different salve for the pads of Heldig's feet, telling her in no uncertain terms that she was going to staple her booties on if things continued this way. The dog was less than impressed, kissing Lainey's nose with impudence.
As Lainey continued her camp chores, a handful of reporters surrounded her, joined by Ben Strauss. Her friend stood back, allowing the others to ask questions about the trail through Happy River Valley. Several took pictures of her new headgear. When she mentioned her trainer, Scotch, had a lot to do with her successful arrival, they drifted away to get an interview with her as well.
Relieved at the loss of attention, Lainey finished cooking the dog food and loaded it into the cooler.
"That sounded pretty exciting."
She grinned at Strauss. "I'll say. I think you'd get a kick out of doing this. You should consider a leave of absence sometime and give it a go. You're always into the dangerous survival stuff."
"Maybe I will." He gestured toward the lodge. "Come on. I'll buy you dinner. The moose stew is good."
Not wanting to get on the wrong side of the 'no assistance' rule, Lainey said, "Better yet, I'll buy."
Strauss shrugged agreement.
It felt a little odd to be leaving her team. She glanced over the sleeping dogs, oblivious to her departure. "They'll be fine," Strauss said, reading her mind. "A lot of the mushers grab a bite here rather than eat what they're carrying. It'll do you good to see people."
She laughed. "All right! I'm convinced."
They left the sled parking area and walked to the lodge. Even with the potential for a fresh cooked meal before her, Lainey stifled a yawn. It was the end of the second day and she had had about six hours sleep, total. She was probably doing better than most rookies were, having the experience of Scotch to draw upon. Lainey could not fathom doing this without the extensive training she had put herself through since June.
The lodge looked like what a lodge should look like. Walls of thick logs, rough hewn banisters on the large covered porch, and the requisite old dog drowsing by the door met Lainey's gaze. She was surprised to see the musher Drew Owens sitting on a bench, hands in his parka pockets, feet stretched out and crossed at the ankles. He appeared to be sleeping, and she wondered why he would be napping out here rather than inside.
Strauss opened the door for her and Lainey stepped into a fairly busy establishment. A large dining room was off to the side and seemed to have quite a number of reporters, volunteers, and mushers enjoying each others' company. Her arrival sparked a round of welcome and toasts, and Lainey waved at the diners as Strauss led her to a table.
The warmth here beat down upon Lainey, acclimated as she was to the frigid temperatures outside. She almost felt the sweat popping up on her forehead and she hastily began removing her outer clothes. The skin on her face stung and her sinuses began clogging as the tissue swelled up. By the time she reached Strauss' table, she felt like her head was full of cotton. No wonder Owens was sleeping outside. If she had not offered to buy dinner, she would have turned around and gone back out to her dogs.
"Ugh," she said, sitting down. Other mushers who braved
the indoors were half clad, and she followed their lead, removing mukluks and liners, until only socks covered her feet. Next time she would bring her spare liners and fresh socks inside.
"What can I get you?" a man asked. "The moose stew is hot and ready or we can grill you up a sandwich, but that'll take more than a few minutes."
Lainey smiled despite her discomfort. "Served a lot of Iditarod mushers, have you?"
"Oh, yeah. We're glad to keep our doors open every year for the race."
"The stew will be fine. And about three gallons of coffee."
The waiter took Strauss' order and left the table.
"You okay?" Strauss asked.
Lainey rubbed her face. "Kind of fuzzy from the heat. It feels like I've got a sinus infection."
"Interesting. I suppose it makes sense. You've literally been out in the weather for over forty-eight hours."
"Yeah." Lainey tried to breathe through her nose and failed. "Ugh."
The food was delivered and she dug into the hot meal. Despite her physical discomfort from the heat, the stew triggered a massive hunger and she ate as if starved.
"So. You and Scotch?"
Lainey sighed. Howry had warned her it was coming, and here it was. "Yeah, looks that way."
His brow furrowed. "You're not sure?"
"Well, it's not like we've followed through on things. We've been concentrating on getting through this race before we explore any... options."
"I thought you told me she was straight."
Lainey stopped eating and closed her eyes. "Yeah. I did." She looked at Strauss. "At the time, it was only wishful thinking on my part. I really doubted she was gay. I had no idea she would be amenable to a -" She paused, searching for the right word. Liaison? Dalliance? Affair? "A relationship," she finished.
His eyebrows shot up at the term. "A relationship?" he repeated.
She was sure she blushed, though how he could see it through her weather reddened skin she did not know. "Yeah. I don't think this is going to be just a fling."
"Wow." He sat back in his chair and stared at her.
"What?" she demanded, slightly irritated.
Strauss smiled. "I just never thought I'd see the day you'd be off the market."
Lainey grunted in mock aggravation, though her insides shivered with trepidation. "I don't know about that. We'll see how it goes after the race." She had admitted to herself that she loved Scotch, but she had no idea if Scotch felt the same. There was still a chance that her hope for more than a one night stand would be crushed, that Scotch had no desire for more. It was something on which Lainey did not want to dwell.
He seemed to understand the dangerous emotional trail she was on, and wisely refrained from making further comment. "Don seemed to be worried I'd fire you over the issue."
"Well, I did lead you on about my real reasons for pitching the story," Lainey said, pointing her spoon at him.
"True, but the pitch was solid or I wouldn't have bought it. The fact that you dived into the challenge after my bosses made their changes only sweetened the pot. You could have said no to the gig."
Lainey did not disabuse him of the notion that she could have put a halt to the entire deal. He had no idea how driven she had been to bask in everything that was Scotch Fuller. "I guess," she said with a shrug.
Another round of greetings warned her of new arrivals. Howry slid into the chair next to Strauss, and Scotch draped her parka over the one beside Lainey before sitting down.
"Moose stew at Rainy Pass Lodge," she said, happily tucking a napkin at her throat. "Best thing since sliced bread."
"I agree," Lainey said, returning to her food.
"Here you go, Scotch." The waiter set a bowl of stew and a plate of bread and butter before Scotch. "You want hot chocolate?"
"You bet!"
"Come here often?" Howry asked after the man delivered Scotch's beverage.
"Once or twice," she said in an off-handed way, smiling when he laughed.
Strauss eyed Scotch. "You've gained a few places since the start of the race. Think you'll win?"
She chuckled through a mouthful of stew, swallowing before answering him. "We've got a long way to go before we think about that. The key is to gradually pull forward, not make a run for it in the first couple of days. Exhaust the dogs now and they'll have nothing to offer down the trail."
"Still, you're considered a contender this year," Howry said.
"Doesn't mean I'll make it."
"Is that modesty talking?" Strauss asked.
Scotch shook her head. "No, reality. I can have the best team, the best times, and the best weather, but anything can happen out there. Hell, if I bust my sled in the Farewell Burn and can't find a fix or alternative on the other side, I scratch. If the weather takes a turn for the worse and blizzard conditions make visibility zero, I could easily get lost off the trail. Lots of things can happen that I have no control over."
"Why do you do it, if not to win?"
Lainey, curious to know the answer to that question, gave Strauss an intent look. Was he putting Scotch through her paces for Lainey's sake? Trying to draw Scotch out to measure her character and integrity, to make sure she was good enough for Lainey? For his part, Strauss ignored her, though no doubt knew what she was thinking. Lainey puzzled over a combined sense of pleasure at his paternal attempt and annoyance with his behavior. Who did he think he was, her father? He had no right to judge her choice of partner.
The conversation continued without her, and Lainey hastened to catch up.
"Why climb Mt. Everest? Why go on safari to hunt lions or rhinos? Why get up every morning?" Scotch said, her food forgotten. "It's a challenge. Out here my survival depends on me and my actions. It's difficult sometimes, yes, but satisfying on levels you can't even imagine."
Strauss watched her for a long moment. "So winning doesn't matter?"
Scotch's serious demeanor faded. "Didn't say that," she said, winking at him.
Lainey joined the others in laughter. That easy confidence Scotch held radiated around the table, and Lainey drew it in like air. This was the key, this was the foundation of the self-assurance that had first drawn her to Scotch. Knowing the basis for it did not lessen her desire one whit, either.
Howry held up his beer. "To survival."
"And winning," Strauss added, lifting an iced tea.
Scotch and Lainey both chimed in. "To winning."
The indoor heat lulled her, and Lainey yawned hugely. "Sorry."
"No. You've got every reason to be tired," Strauss said, putting his glass down. "And still a long way to go."
"If I'm going to get any sleep, now is the time to do it." Lainey forced her feet back into damp liners and mukluks. She would definitely need to change them before catching a nap.
"Want company?" Strauss asked.
Lainey smiled at him, letting him know she understood his earlier ploy and felt no ill will. "Naw. You'll just have to turn around and come right back here."
He nodded. "We're staying here another night and flying into McGrath next."
"See you there." Lainey gathered up her outer clothing and headed out of the lodge. Her exit was met with a chorus from the people lounging around inside, wishing her luck. She waved and closed the door against the chill, feeling immensely better now that she was not overheated.
Drew Owens still drowsed on the bench. Lainey chuckled at him and stepped into the snow.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
LAINEY DRAGGED HERSELF from her sleeping bag, reluctance in every bone. While the heat and food from the lodge had made her drowsy, once back at her sled she had difficulty falling asleep. A couple of teams remained frisky after their foray through Happy Valley, and their constant barking whenever a musher arrived or left roused her between fits of slumber. Sleeping out in the wilderness definitely had its benefits and she now regretted not blowing through the checkpoint.
She put on fresh socks and boot liners, shivering in the night chill as she st
omped into her mukluks. On her way to the privy, she entertained herself with thoughts of feather beds, thick quilts, and roaring fires. By the time she returned, the exercise had warmed and woke her enough to get immediately to work.
The moose stew was still with her, so she did not cook herself a meal. Instead, as the dog food heated, she doubled up on her snack items. The extra banana breads, trail mix, jerky and pemmican would keep her going until the other side of the Dalzell Gorge. The next fifty miles would not be easy. Some said that the trail to Rohn was as bad as Happy Valley - the rough path simply took longer to travel.
Lainey quietly went through her team with their late night supper, waking each of them in turn with soft words and pettings. She was pleased to see them all eating well, a sign of continued good health. The dreaded kennel cough had not been spoken of among the other mushers; perhaps this would be a sickness free race. After another watering, she began the heating process all over at the cooker, drinking freshly brewed instant coffee from her thermos.
Another voice spoke nearby, and she looked over to see Scotch mirroring her tasks. She watched as the woman worked through her team, seeing the love and devotion the dogs gave her, seeing Scotch reflect the same back to the animals. Scotch had been wrong in the lodge. It was not just her abilities that she relied upon to survive. The dogs had everything to do with it, too. Scotch might be the alpha dog in the pack, but it was still a team effort.
Lainey quickly grabbed her camera and snapped off a couple of photos, catching Scotch in the act of bestowing attention on one of her dogs. The flashes attracted Scotch who looked up at her. Lainey waggled her camera with a not-so-apologetic grin for the intrusion. Scotch merely smiled and returned to her chores.
The second round of dog stew was finished, and Lainey dumped it into the cooler. She shucked her heavy mittens for two layers of rubber gloves over silk liners, stuffing hand warmers into the palms, and started down the line with ointment and booties.
"You ready to go?" Scotch asked.
"Yeah, just about. You?"
"Yup." Scotch looked over Lainey's lively team. "You're doing a great job with them."
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