St. Elias

by Meris Lee

  “I’m the direct descendant. My grandmother had only one son, my father, and my father has only one son, me. And my father is not in the best shape.”

  “I see,” said Elias. “Are you short on funds? Maybe I can help…”

  “Thanks, but I’m in too big a hole. No offense, but you do not look to be rolling in the dough.”

  “That’s true,” said Elias. “I’ve seen Mt. St. Elias. I wonder if it’s time for me to leave.”

  “You should stay until the wedding.”

  “That’s almost another two months.”

  Just then, a gray-haired, pot-bellied man with a red nose staggered into the office. Elias caught a whiff of liquor. Andy’s face turned dark. “What are you doing here?”

  “Does a father need a reason to visit his son?” said the man, looking Elias up and down. “Who might you be, pretty thing?”

  “Joe.” Andy took a step to stand between Elias and his father. “Why don’t you beat it?”

  “You need to hear him, Andy,” said Katy as she walked into the office. “I was on my way here when I ran into your father at the general store. He told me what happened.”

  “What happened?” Andy demanded.

  Joe cleared his throat and coughed. “Your cousin Billy shot himself. His wife found him when she got back from work.”

  Andy, trembling, took a step back, and Katy caught him from falling. She helped him walk to his chair to sit down.

  “Is he… okay?” asked Andy.

  “Billy’s dead,” said Joe. “I always thought he was going to kill his wife first.” Joe looked at Elias now. “He was always bashing her head on something when she wouldn’t give him money to get the dope. He’d been out of work three years. It’s a shame.”

  Andy rose from his chair and tried to grab Joe’s collar from across his desk, but Joe took a step back. “Show some respect to Billy,” Andy hollered. “You get out of here.”

  “Fine, fine,” said Joe. “I just want you to know what can happen when you’re flat broke, and your spirit’s gone. If you’re smart, you’ll call Zachery O’Brien tomorrow and sign the land lease contract.”

  Andy jumped over his desk and took hold of Joe’s arm, but Katy threw herself between the two men and pushed Andy back. “He’s not worth it, Andy,” cried Katy.

  Joe cleared his throat and coughed again. “Well, pretty thing,” he said to Elias before heading out the door, “you can find me at the saloon any time.”

  Andy ran his hands through his hair and sighed. “Elias, I’m so sorry about my old man.”

  “You’re not responsible for his behavior,” said Elias. “But I’m sorry about Billy.”

  “What are you going to do, Andy?” asked Katy.

  “I don’t know,” said Andy, tears coming down his face. “When we saw him the other day, I thought he looked troubled, but I didn’t think he was going to—I should’ve taken the time to get him to talk to me. Maybe I could’ve saved him…”

  “His death is not your fault.” Katy held Andy’s hand. “You want me to stay with you?”

  “No. You go home,” said Andy. “I need to think about some things tonight.”

  “Okay,” Katy said reluctantly. She kissed Andy on his cheek, but Elias could see he was too overcome with guilt and sorrow to respond.

  “I wish there’s something I can do to help,” said Elias as she walked with Katy back to their cabin.

  “Me, too. I’m sure we’ll be able to help Andy and his family with the funeral in some way,” said Katy. “It just all seems so helpless around here. Billy was trapped. Andy is trapped. I am, too. I don’t want to die in this trap…”

  Elias had nothing to offer, no words of wisdom, no grand ideas. She couldn’t possibly advise Katy to leave McCarthy the way she left Fort Worth. She stayed close to Katy, hoping to comfort her just by being there. The only other thing she knew to do was pray.

  »»•««

  When Elias and Katy reached their cabin, Shuping was stomping out of the door, crying. A strange man followed her out of the cabin. He was wearing a pink dress shirt and a gray sports coat that shined under the moonlight.

  Gina also came out of the cabin and stood watching on the porch, looking amused. The man said something in a foreign language to Shuping, and she slapped him in the face.

  “What’s going on?” asked Elias, stunned.

  The man got on his knee and took Shuping’s hand. She pulled her hand away and got behind Elias.

  “Tell him to leave,” said Shuping.

  “What in the world is happening?” asked Katy.

  “Can you call Sergeant Wolfe to remove him?” asked Shuping, livid. “He’s stalked me from China, and he’s harassing me.”

  The man stood up and waved his hands. “No, no. I’m not harassing my Pingping. I love her. I want her to come home and marry me.”

  “Pingping?” Gina piped up from behind.

  Shuping shook her head. “He insists on calling me that as if he and I were together. We’re not.”

  “I can’t live without my Pingping,” the man pleaded. “Please, tell her she must go back to China with me. I will die without her.”

  “Why don’t you stay here?” said Gina.

  “Gina,” Shuping shouted. “Don’t give him that idea!”

  “Sorry…” Gina muttered.

  “I can’t stay,” said the man. “My name is Chen Guo, and I’m the only son of my parents, who are top twenty-five wealthy people in China and own a big construction business. I have to go back and take care of the business.”

  Elias was shocked by how boastful the statement was, but Chen Guo looked like he was merely reporting a fact rather than bragging.

  “My Pingping can’t stay, either,” Chen Guo continued. “She’s also the only daughter of her parents, who are equally wealthy and own a big real estate business. She has to go back and take care of that business, too.”

  Elias always thought Shuping was well-to-do but was still surprised to hear she was from such great fortune. How much money did her family have to qualify as top twenty-five wealthy people?

  “Please, Katy,” said Shuping. “Get him out of my face.”

  Katy frowned and said to Chen Guo, “Look, Shuping’s not ready to go back to China—”

  “But we have engagement,” Chen Guo said. “We were promised to each other before we were born. And Pingping, don’t you remember that time we went skydiving, and you said you loved me before you jumped out of the airplane?”

  Shuping rolled her eyes, but Elias noticed a blush on her cheeks. “That was before I knew anything,” said Shuping.

  “Like what?” asked Chen Guo, choking on his tears.

  “I found out the world is bigger than our parents’ money,” said Shuping. “And I found out living simply like I am now, makes me happy. I can’t deal with the drama with my family and the politics inside my parents’ company. I don’t like the busy life in Shanghai. I don’t like the traffic, the noise, and the smog. And I don’t like I can never speak my mind.”

  Elias admired Shuping’s resolve to give up material things in pursuit of happiness. She couldn’t relate to it because she never had many material things, but it seemed grand and noble.

  “Mr. Chen,” said Katy, “why don’t you check into our best hotel for the night? It’s late, and I’m sure Shuping is tired.”

  Chen Guo peered at Shuping, who looked quite angry. “Okay,” said Chen Guo. “I will go to your best hotel. I come back in the morning.”

  “Don’t,” said Shuping, stomping back inside the cabin.

  “I’ll call the front desk and have them send a shuttle van for you,” said Katy, dialing on her satellite phone.

  »»•««

  After Chen Guo left for the Kennecott Hotel, the women sat down at the small dining table to have their supper, leftover chicken pot pie with fried pickles and cornbread, prepared by Elias the night before.

  “What a wild day!” said Katy

  “Shuping
—” Gina started.

  “I don’t want to talk about it,” said Shuping.

  “Fine.” Gina rolled her eyes and turned to Katy. “So, how was the trip to Anchorage? Did you buy anything?”

  “I was going to get the most affordable dress,” said Katy, “but then I saw this fabulous gown next to it and I fell in love with it right away. It’s way beyond my budget. The store owner offered me an installment plan, and I just couldn’t say no to it. I mean, a wedding happens only once in a lifetime, right?”

  “Right,” said Gina.

  “Then, when I went to the party supplies store to buy invitation cards, I saw an album of wedding photos on display. I looked through it, and I was swept away by pictures of these elegant, beautiful weddings. There was one that took place on the beach in Hawaii with thousands of orchids and hibiscus flowers. The tables and chairs were covered with gorgeous linen the color of lavender. The cake was decorated with beautiful seashells and pearls. It took my breath away…”

  “So, did you get the invitation cards?” asked Gina.

  “No,” said Katy. “I saw a business card for a wedding planner and decided to call her instead. I’m meeting her in Anchorage soon. I’m hoping she can help me design an amazing wedding.”

  “What about your budget?” said Elias.

  “Andy and I are going to my friend Chloe’s wedding in Cordova this weekend,” said Katy, ignoring Elias. “I’m going to take notes. She’s always got a knack for aesthetics. She and her fiancé just bought a house, too. Brand new construction.”

  “You think Andy’s still in the mood to go to a wedding after his cousin just killed himself?” said Elias.

  Gina and Shuping gasped. They hadn’t been informed of Billy’s death. Katy quickly filled them in. “I’m shocked and sad, too. I’ve known Billy for as long as I’ve been with Andy,” said Katy. “But going away from here and attending a wedding might cheer Andy up, don’t you think? Just to get out of all this darkness…”

  Elias shrugged, uncertain of the validity of Katy’s reasoning. She herself had run away from home, but the darkness hung over her head wherever she went. She was still haunted by Heavenly’s death and Ce’Rainitee’s desertion seventeen years after the fact and thousands of miles away from where it all happened. But she wasn’t in the mood to argue with Katy. It was indeed a long and wild day for Katy, and she did not need to complicate it any further.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chen Guo came to see Shuping every day and waited for her outside the general store while she worked. The dress shirt and sports coat were replaced with expensive designer outdoor clothing, and he looked like a model that had leaped from the page of a catalog. He was clean-shaven, his hair nicely layered with mousse and gel. It amused Elias. Shuping was always dressed tastefully, too, but she was not showy like Chen Guo.

  “How long is he going to keep this up?” said Elias, standing with Katy at the door of their cabin.

  “He seems spoiled. I doubt he’ll last long,” said Katy.

  “He’s come all the way from China.”

  “It’s not that difficult a journey when you’re rich,” said Katy. “Andy just pulled up. I’m so glad he agreed to go to Chloe’s wedding as planned. He’s so torn up about Billy’s death. See you tomorrow night.”

  They said goodbyes and Katy was off. How nice it was to be paired up with someone!

  Elias’s thought turned to Sam, and she was embarrassed by her own imaginations. She went to the kitchen and began preparing the chicken spaghetti Sam requested. She’d already boiled chicken breasts and cooked spaghetti, and now she assembled them along with seasoning and vegetables in a casserole pan. She topped the whole thing with a thick layer of cheddar cheese and popped the pan into the oven. She patiently stood by to wait for the cheese to melt, pictured the gratified look on Sam’s face when he would taste the dish, conjured in her head the delightful conversation they would have, and wondered whether she should confess her feelings or wait for him to guess. What should she do when everything came out in the open? Was it then his turn to tell how he felt? If he felt the same way, then what next? And what if he was completely uninterested and would laugh at her instead?

  At the horrifying thought of that possibility Elias smelled the cheese burning. She gasped at the sight of the charred cheese through a thick cloud of smoke when she opened the oven door. She hurried to remove the pan from the oven and threw it in the sink. What a disaster! Why did she bother? She’d done what she came here to do. Now it was time to go home. There was no way she could hide forever. She hadn’t been lucky before in her life and why would that change now?

  Elias was jolted from her thoughts when she heard someone rapping on the door. As if answering her last question, divinity had sent Sergeant Wolfe to her doorstep.

  “Miss Dodsen,” said Wolfe through the door. “I know you’re home. Just ran into Katy and Andy on my way here.”

  Reluctantly, she opened the door to let the trooper in.

  “I’m glad to see you well, sir,” she said, her heart palpitating as she tried to put on her best behavior. “May I offer you some tea?”

  “Did you burn something just now?” Wolfe wrinkled his nose. “You aren’t really a cook, are you?”

  “Even the best chef burns something occasionally…”

  “I’ll be direct with you, Miss Dodsen. Are you a runaway from Texas?”

  Elias caught herself before her jaw dropped, and said, as calmly as she could, “What makes you think that, sir?”

  “There’s the accent, for one thing. And this kid Josh might have let slip something at the bar in Glennallen while having a beer or two…I’m giving you a chance to quietly leave this town, so we don’t make a scene and embarrass Katy.”

  “It’s not illegal to run away.”

  Wolfe leaned toward Elias. “Running away after committing a crime is illegal. Using a fake name to work and rent is illegal.”

  Elias felt her hands tremble as cold sweat began to accumulate in the back of her neck. How did he find out? Did he take the time to go through all the files of missing parolees in the southern states? What was he going to do now, arrest her?

  “Well?” said Wolfe.

  “I don’t know what you mean, sir.”

  Wolfe smirked. “I told you I’ve been making inquiries about you. I check out all strangers that linger beyond a few days. I always think, what makes this person want to come here and stay? This is not a town that keeps youngsters like you, but it sure is a town that attracts fugitives.”

  Elias heard footsteps, and the cabin door opened. It was Sam, carrying Gina, with her arms around his neck and her legs dangling at his elbow. They both looked surprised.

  “What’s going on?” asked Gina as Sam lowered her to the futon.

  “I’m investigating something,” said Wolfe, looking away from Sam. Elias could tell he was embarrassed to meet Sam.

  “Investigating here?” said Gina.

  “I’ll be going now,” said Wolfe. “Miss Dodsen, you know where to find me.” He turned to the door.

  “Aren’t you going to thank Sam for saving your life?” said Gina.

  Wolfe halted and turned around slowly. “I owe you one, ranger.”

  Sam didn’t say anything back. He just looked concerned and perplexed.

  “Well…” Wolfe muttered, and he exited through the door.

  Sam took a step closer to Elias. “Are you all right?”

  She was moved that he seemed to care about her well-being. “I’m fine.”

  “What did he want?” asked Gina.

  Elias deliberated for a moment whether to tell them. Although she was confident Wolfe had mistaken her for someone else this time, she feared he would eventually find out what she was guilty of in the course of his investigation.

  “Tell us,” said Gina. “We can help you get Big Bad Wolfe off your back.”

  Elias sighed and decided to tell. If Wolfe was going to find out about her parole violation, her rev
ealing their conversation was not going to speed up or slow down the prospect of that. “He asked me if I were a runaway from Texas, here under a fake name.”

  There was a moment of quiet. Gina and Sam seemed as dumbfounded as she was about the accusation.

  “I’m sure it’s a misunderstanding,” said Sam.

  “I hope so,” said Elias, feeling somewhat relieved already by his words. “What happened to you, Gina?”

  “She twisted her ankle while ice climbing the Root Glacier,” said Sam. “Another ranger and I carried her out, and I volunteered to bring her home.”

  “Well, I was trying to make you chicken spaghetti, but I burned it…”

  “I’ll eat burned chicken spaghetti.” Sam smiled.

  “No way.” Elias felt warm in her cheeks. “I’ll make it again, and you can come over for dinner—with all of us, that is.”

  “Yes, certainly,” said Sam. “I’d better get going then.”

  She walked Sam out of the cabin. Once outside, Sam turned and said, “Tomorrow afternoon, I’m leading a ranger program on the animals of the park. I’ll come to the hotel twenty minutes beforehand to see if anyone’s interested to join. If Mr. Mason could give you an hour off…”

  “I’d be glad to come,” said Elias.

  Sam smiled, tipped his hat, and walked off. Elias watched him disappear behind a willow tree. She grinned. Did Sam just kind of ask her out, even though it was a group event?

  “Sam’s such a gentleman,” Gina said when Elias came back into the cabin.

  “You don’t think he’s rude and arrogant anymore?”

  “He saved Big Bad Wolfe after Wolfe insulted him again and again. Katy told me what Sam did. And now, he’s saved me, too.”

  “He only carried you home.” Elias started to clean up the mess in the kitchenette.

  “My ankle hurt so much. Sam wrapped it and took care of it. I still couldn’t walk on it, but it’s not hurting now.”

  “That’s wonderful.”

  “I’ve dealt with many men before,” said Gina, “but Sam is the first real man I know. I don’t know if a woman like me deserves a man like him. I’d like to think I do.”

  Was Gina interested in Sam, too? Elias began to wonder.