Her Secret Alaskan Family

by Belle Calhoune

  * * *

  Hank stood at the back door to his mother’s house feeling like a human icicle. He couldn’t remember a time when he’d felt so frozen to the bone. On his way to Trudy’s house his truck had broken down. And to make matters worse, his cell phone had died, leaving him stranded without a ride or a means of communication. Due to the storm, no other vehicles were on the road to rescue him. He had been up a creek without a paddle.

  “Hank! Come in from the cold!” Trudy urged, quickly making her way to his side.

  “Don’t mind if I do,” he said, wincing as he walked in. “I’m sorry for bringing snow in, Mama, but my feet might be frostbitten.”

  “What happened, Hank?” Sage asked. “Did you walk from town?”

  He nodded, his teeth chattering. “Sadly, my truck broke down about three miles or so down the road. There were no houses on the route where I could seek shelter, so I had to hoof it here.”

  Sage let out a gasp of disbelief. “You must be frozen all the way through!”

  “Help him get that jacket off, will you, Sage?” Trudy asked. Sage didn’t waste any time helping. He felt energized simply by her close proximity to him, and when she brushed against him as she took his coat off, he caught a whiff of a honey scent.

  Hank shivered. He was frozen to the bone and in need of some sustenance. All during his three-mile walk he’d dreamed about a mug of piping hot tea and his mama’s home-baked bread. He could hear his stomach grumbling.

  “Hank. Go inside the spare room and I’ll bring you a pair of sweatpants, socks and Jack’s old robe. You need to get out of those wet clothes,” Trudy commanded in a no-nonsense voice. Hank followed her instructions, hobbling down the hallway after struggling out of his boots.

  Switching up his clothes made him feel refreshed. He returned to the kitchen while Trudy went to the laundry room with his wet garments.

  “Sit down. I’ll get you a cup of tea. Are you hungry?” Sage asked. He nodded, feeling too depleted of energy to answer. Folks who weren’t used to Alaskan weather didn’t understand how things could turn deadly in a heartbeat. If he’d stayed out in the elements much longer he might be dealing with the long-term consequences of frostbite.

  He watched Sage as she foraged in the cupboard for cups, then turned the kettle on. Her movements were graceful and efficient. Within minutes he had a cup of tea placed in front of him along with a serving of cheesy toast. Hank didn’t waste any time digging in. He hadn’t eaten since early this morning.

  “Feeling better?” Sage had a smile on her face as she looked at his empty plate. Not even a crumb remained. He’d also drained his teacup.

  Hank leaned back in his seat. “Yes. Thank you. It’s funny how quickly the tables can turn. I’m usually the one keeping watch over everyone else in town.”

  “Now it’s your turn to be taken care of, Sheriff. I imagine you’ve earned it.”

  He fiddled with the handle of his teacup, his gaze focused on it. “When I was out there in the snow I kept thinking about Addie. I kept praying for God to watch over her in the event that something happened to me.”

  “Oh, Hank...” Sage murmured. “I’m so sorry your thoughts took you to that place.”

  “I suppose it’s the product of being Addie’s only parent. It’s one of my greatest fears. If something happens to me, she’ll be parentless.”

  “That’s not going to happen!” Sage said in a scolding tone. “And if it does, you have Trudy and Piper as wonderful stand-ins, not to mention her honorary uncles, Gabriel and Connor. It’s nice to have a village.”

  “That’s true. None of them would ever let me down, or Addie. You haven’t met Connor yet, have you?”

  “No, I haven’t had the pleasure. Maybe at the cook-off we’ll run into each other.”

  “I’ll make a point to introduce you unless Beulah beats me to it. She’s a very proud grandmother.”

  “Knowing Beulah, that’s not hard to imagine,” Sage said, her expression inscrutable. Sometimes Hank wished he could get inside her head and see exactly what she was thinking. There still remained a little mystery about her, which both perplexed and fascinated him. With every moment he spent in her presence, Hank found himself wanting to know every single thing about her.

  The sound of Addie’s chattering reverberated from the baby monitor. He made a move to get up from his chair, only to be stopped by Sage.

  “I’ll go get her, Hank. Please don’t get up,” Sage insisted, placing her hand on his arm.

  She returned a short while later with Addie nestled against her chest. His daughter looked very content, which wasn’t always the case with people outside the family. But because she saw Sage each and every day, they’d developed a close bond. Hank couldn’t resist reaching for Addie. It had been a long day without seeing his little girl.

  “Hank, I told Trudy the news earlier. I’m going home in a few days.”

  Hank felt his heart lurch at Sage’s unexpected announcement. Although he’d known she would be leaving town before too long, he hadn’t imagined it happening so soon. The knowledge left him feeling deflated. He’d just begun to explore his feelings for her and now she would soon be nothing more than a memory.

  “I’m sorry to hear it. You’ve been a fine addition to this town.” His throat felt clogged.

  For the life of him he couldn’t think of anything else to say, but he knew he wanted to come up with something to make her change her mind and stay.

  Addie leaned her body away from him, stretching out her arms in Sage’s direction. She let out a high-pitched squeal. Sage smiled at Addie and took her in her arms. She pressed a kiss by her temple. “I’m going to miss you so much, Addie. I’ll never forget you,” she whispered near her ear.

  Although he didn’t say it, Hank would miss Sage just as much. And he wouldn’t ever forget her. Forgetting Sage would be like trying to forget the magnificent northern lights. It just wasn’t possible.

  A few minutes later, Trudy returned along with Piper, who was still in her pajamas.

  “What happened to you?” Piper asked Hank.

  “My truck broke down. Long story short, I had to walk from the Beckworths’ Farm all the way here.”

  His sister let out a low whistle. “Yikes! I slept through the whole thing. It was snowing so hard this morning I didn’t even bother opening up the diner. Can I get you anything, Hank?”

  “No, I’m good. A few more minutes out there and I think I might have been dealing with frostbite. Between Mama and Sage I’ve been pretty spoiled,” he said. Piper wiggled her eyebrows at him when Sage wasn’t looking. He didn’t even bother telling her she’d gotten things wrong. He had the feeling he was wearing his feelings for Sage like a neon sign.

  “Hey, Piper, can I borrow some snow pants?” Sage asked.

  “Sure thing,” she said. “Are you going out there in all that snow?”

  Sage’s grin was infectious. “Yes! I’m from Florida. This type of snow event is as likely as a volcano erupting. I’m going to seize the moment and head outside. I might never get an opportunity like this again.”

  Piper left the kitchen, quickly returning with a pair of pink snow pants. In a flash Sage had put them on along with her winter boots, hat and gloves.

  Once she went outside Hank peered through the window, watching as she twirled around in the snow, then lifted her face toward the sky as snowflakes landed on her. She jumped up and did a cartwheel in the snow, her legs knee-deep in the fluffy white stuff. When she began doing a playful little dance, Hank let out a bark of delight. Piper began to giggle while Trudy couldn’t keep a straight face even though she tried at first. When Sage looked toward the window and spotted them watching her, she playfully stuck out her tongue. Next thing he knew she was on her back in the snow flapping her arms around. It made him smile. She was a big kid at heart, he realized. Her joy was contagious.
/>   “Isn’t she silly?” he asked Addie, who placed her hands against the glass and lightly banged on it. It drew Sage’s attention. She picked up a mound of snow and threw it toward the window where it landed with a splat. Addie descended into a fit of the giggles. Hank loved the tinkling sound of his daughter’s laughter. It made him feel as if all was wonderful in her world.

  This was what he wanted for himself and Addie. Someone who saw the simple pleasures in life and didn’t hesitate to embrace them with gusto. This was what was missing in his world. He’d been so insistent on staying away from any female who might tempt him to feel again, but in the process he had shortchanged himself and Addie. One of these days he would have to tell his mother she’d been right about him and the issues he had been holding on to from the past.

  Wonderful things happened when you acted on simple faith. He might not have a future with Sage, but she’d taught him that his heart wasn’t as closed off as he’d believed. And maybe, if he could summon the courage, he might ask her to stay in Owl Creek.

  Chapter Twelve

  The delicious smell of food hung in the air outside the Snowy Owl Diner. A large tent had been set up where the contestants were all gathered to present their culinary dishes. Even though it was a small-town event, people had come from far and wide to try to win the substantial monetary prize. Sage’s focus was on helping Trudy with her savory chili dish. After tasting it during the prep stage, she was convinced Trudy had a decent shot at the trophy, although she predicted Piper was going to give her a run for her money. Even Hank might have a surprise or two up his sleeve with his famous corn bread.

  Sage was trying to stay upbeat despite the fact that she was already having withdrawal symptoms. The pace of life here in Owl Creek suited her. Alaska was so different from anything she’d ever experienced, which left her craving more of it. She’d acclimated to the weather and the shorter hours of daylight. She was really proud of her ability to drive on snow-covered Owl Creek roads. She’d even driven home from town the other day through fog as thick as pea soup.

  Her goal was to allow herself an enjoyable last event in Owl Creek before she departed for home. Trudy had made up long-sleeved T-shirts for the two of them to wear bearing the slogan Team Trudy. Wearing it made Sage feel as if she was a part of something special. Right before the judges began walking around to taste test the offerings, Sage said to her, “You’ve got this!” She held up her hand in the air for a high five which Trudy gladly provided.

  Out of the corner of her eye she saw someone waving in her direction. It was Hank. His table was located a few tables down. Gabriel and Connor were standing with him and they were all wearing black T-shirts with the words The Three Amigos printed on them. Sage made a gesture toward the shirts and gave him a thumbs-up.

  She spotted Piper setting up her table and she made a beeline to her. Piper had been up and out of the inn well before Sage had arisen this morning. She had no idea what Team Piper had whipped up for the contest, but she knew it would be delectable.

  “Hey, Piper. I just wanted to wish you well today,” she said.

  “Thanks, friend. I’m so happy you’re helping Mama out today. I know it means a lot to her.”

  “I was pretty happy she asked me. It makes me feel like a part of Owl Creek.”

  Piper stumbled as she placed a pan down on the table. She muttered a few angry words, then lightly kicked the table’s leg. “If one more thing goes wrong I’m going back to bed!” she said with a snarl.

  “Are you all right? You seem super stressed out.” Sage remarked, placing her hand on her friend’s shoulder. She seemed as if she was about to crack wide open.

  “I’m hanging in there. I’m just feeling a bit under pressure at the moment.”

  “Because of the cook-off? You don’t need to feel nervous. From what I can see, it’s all good fun.”

  Piper’s lips trembled. “It’s not the cook-off, Sage. I only entered because it’s tradition...and I need the money for the diner. Things have been really slow lately and I’m getting worried about its long-term future.”

  Sage put her arm around the other woman. “Things will most likely get better after winter when tourism picks up. Can you ask Trudy or Hank for any financial help? I’d help you myself if I could afford to.”

  “That’s sweet of you, Sage, but I could never accept it. Mom and Hank have already done so much to support my dream. I can’t really ask them to do much more.”

  Sage sighed. “I wish there was something I could do to help. I don’t like this look of dread on your face.”

  “Just listening helps. The diner means so much to me. It was my dad’s pride and joy. I don’t want to disappoint him.”

  “I know carrying on his legacy is important to you. And from where I’m standing, you’re doing a wonderful job.”

  “Now you’re going to make me cry, Sage,” Piper said, reaching out and embracing her.

  It seemed that everywhere she turned, God was highlighting the importance of relationships between fathers and their daughters. Piper and Jack. Hank and Addie. And her own loving relationship with her own father.

  As she walked back toward her table, Sage couldn’t help but feel a bit forlorn about not being able to stick around to help Piper. She was honored that her friend had confided in her about her money woes. If only she could find a way to solve her problem with the diner.

  As she walked past Hank’s table he waved her over. She couldn’t help but smile at the T-shirts. It must be nice to have a kinship like the one Hank, Gabriel and Connor shared. Although she had friends back in Coral Gables, she’d never had close connections like these men shared. Once again she wondered if her life would have been vastly different growing up here in Owl Creek. Maybe she and Piper would have been best friends.

  “Everything okay with Piper? She seems a little quiet. But maybe she’s just afraid she’s about to lose to the three amigos.” Hank jokingly puffed out his chest, earning himself a smile from Sage.

  “She’s got a lot on her mind,” she said, knowing it wouldn’t be right to violate Piper’s trust. It wasn’t her place to tell Hank about his sister’s troubles. Trudy, Hank and Piper were a tight-knit family who clearly adored one another. She prayed Piper would reach out to her family and ask for their assistance. Carrying such a weight on her shoulders would surely drag her down if things didn’t get better at the diner.

  She made a face at Hank. “And I seriously don’t think she’s scared of your famous corn bread.” She held up her fingers and did the sign for air quotes when she uttered the word famous. “Whatever she has under that aluminum foil smelled pretty delectable. I imagine she’s going to have you shaking in those boots of yours.”

  Hank grinned. “So you’ve got jokes about my corn bread, huh.” He leaned in so his face was close to her own. “I’m going to do something that might be against the rules, but I’m going to make an exception since you’re an out-of-towner.” He reached into one of his covered pans and pulled out a piece of corn bread. “Go on and try it.”

  Sage let out a sigh. “I’m not a really big fan of the stuff, to be honest.”

  “You’re going to love mine. It’s Alaskan sourdough corn bread.”

  Knowing Hank wasn’t going to stop asking her, Sage tentatively took a bite. When the flavor hit her tongue, she closed her eyes and let out a sigh of satisfaction. When she opened her eyes, he was looking at her with an expectant expression stamped on his face.

  “This is...incredible!” She took another bite, then ended up pushing all of it in her mouth.

  “See,” Hank crowed, rocking back on his heels and smiling like a Cheshire cat. “I don’t want to say I told you so, but I did tell you my corn bread was legendary.”

  Sage covered her mouth with her hand until she finished swallowing. “I won’t argue with you on that one. Well done, Sheriff!”

  “Hey there
!” Connor walked over and stuck out his hand. “I’m Connor North. I’ve heard a lot about you, Sage Duncan.” Sage shook hands with him, swallowing past her nervousness.

  Hank tried to discreetly jab him in the side, then rolled his eyes in his direction.

  “Have you?” she asked, darting a glance at Hank, who looked extremely sheepish.

  “Yes,” Connor answered, shooting his friend an annoyed look. “From my grandmother. She’s a card-carrying member of your fan club.”

  “Well, the feeling is completely mutual. I love Beulah and her generous heart,” Sage said, feeling slightly unnerved by being so near to her brother. Up close, Connor was even more handsome than she’d previously realized. With his dark hair and striking blue eyes, he exuded a familiar air. Sage realized there was something about him that reminded her of herself. It made her nervous, wondering if anyone else might pick up on it.

  Connor looked around the immediate area. “She’s coming today, but I haven’t seen her yet. I have a feeling she’ll be stopping by your table.”

  “I’ll look for her,” she said, grinning at the thought of getting to spend more time with Beulah. “It was nice to meet you, Connor. I better head back to Trudy.” With a wave, she said her goodbyes and walked away. Meeting Connor completed the circle. With the exception of Braden North, who wasn’t currently residing in Owl Creek, she’d met her entire family.

  Connor was a larger-than-life human being in her eyes. From everything Hank had told her about him, he was a good person. Strangely enough, she felt a burst of pride knowing he was her sibling.

  “Did I see you over there sampling the competition?” Trudy asked, frowning.

  Within seconds she was laughing, unable to keep up the pretense of being upset with Sage.