[Alaskan Quest 02] - Under the Northern Lights Read online

  UNDER THE NORTHERN LIGHTS

  Under the Northern Lights

  TRACIE

  PETERSON

  BETHANY HOUSE PUBLISHERS

  minneapolis, Minnesota

  Under the Northern Lights

  Copyright © 2006

  Tracie Peterson

  Cover design by Ann Gjeldum

  Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval

  system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical,

  photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the prior written permission of the

  publisher and copyright owners.

  Published by Bethany House Publishers

  11400 Hampshire Avenue South

  Bloomington, Minnesota 55438

  Bethany House Publishers is a division of

  Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

  Printed in the United States of America

  Paperback ISBN-13: 978-0-7642-2774-5 ISBN-10: 0-7642-2774-2

  Hardcover ISBN-13: 978-0-7642-0219-3 ISBN-10: 0-7642-0219-7

  Large Print ISBN-13: 978-0-7642-0220-9 ISBN-19: 0-7642-0220-0

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Peterson, Tracie.

  Under the northern lights / Tracie Peterson.

  p. cm. — (Alaskan quest ; 2)

  ISBN 0-7642-0219-7 (alk. paper) — ISBN 0-7642-2774-2 (pbk.)

  1. Kidnapping victims—Fiction. 2. Frontier and pioneer life—Fiction.

  3. Alaska—Fiction. I. Title. II. Series: Peterson, Tracie. Alaskan quest ; 2.

  PS3566.E7717U53 2006 813’.54—dc22 2006008822

  To Merrill,

  with love for your friendship.

  You are a dynamic daughter of the King,

  and I’m a better person for knowing you.

  Books by Tracie Peterson

  The Long-Awaited Child • A Slender Thread

  What She Left for Me

  I Can’t Do It All!**

  ALASKAN QUEST

  Summer of the Midnight Sun

  Under the Northern Lights

  BELLS OF LOWELL*

  Daughter of the Loom • A Fragile Design

  These Tangled Threads

  LIGHTS OF LOWELL*

  A Tapestry of Hope • A Love Woven True

  The Pattern of Her Heart

  DESERT ROSES

  Shadows of the Canyon • Across the Years

  Beneath a Harvest Sky

  HEIRS OF MONTANA

  Land of My Heart • The Coming Storm

  To Dream Anew • The Hope Within

  WESTWARD CHRONICLES

  A Shelter of Hope • Hidden in a Whisper

  A Veiled Reflection

  RIBBONS OF STEEL†

  Distant Dreams • A Promise for Tomorrow

  RIBBONS WEST†

  Westward the Dream • Ties That Bind

  SHANNON SAGA ‡

  City of Angels • Angels Flight

  Angel of Mercy

  YUKON QUEST

  Treasures of the North • Ashes and Ice

  Rivers of Gold

  *with Judith Miller †with Judith Pella ‡with James Scott Bell

  **with Allison Bottke and Dianne O'Brian

  Contents

  Chapter One: Last Chance Creek, Alaska

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-one

  Chapter Thirty-two

  Chapter Thirty-three

  Chapter One

  Last Chance Creek, Alaska

  Home.’’

  Leah Barringer Kincaid sighed the word as the settlement they called Last Chance Creek came into view. It felt as if she’d been gone a lifetime instead of just months. But even as the relief of familiarity settled over her, another thought shadowed her joy.

  ‘‘But it’s not really my home anymore,’’ she whispered as the dogsled drew ever closer to the village. She had just recently married, and though she and Jayce had talked about different possibilities of where they might make their home, nothing had been settled. Not completely.

  This village—this house—was one she had shared for many years with her brother, Jacob. She could hardly expect that he would leave now, especially at this time of year. It wouldn’t be prudent or beneficial for any of them to set out on their own in the face of the Arctic winter. A million thoughts rushed through her mind. So much would change now. She and Jacob had often talked about what they would do when one or the other of them married. Leah had always figured the house would belong to Jacob and she would move off to her husband’s home, but where would that be? Jayce had spent time living all over Alaska. He spoke with fondness for Last Chance, but did he love it enough to remain?

  ‘‘Lay-Ya! Lay-Ya!’’ Ayoona’s voice beckoned to Leah. The squat old native woman waved and pushed her fur-lined parka back just a bit to reveal her brown face as she called to her son. ‘‘John! You look hungry. We got you supper.’’

  Leah felt awash in emotions. Seeing Ayoona was like seeing her own grandmother. How she had missed her home. And to think, there was a time when I wanted to be anywhere but here. She remembered the restlessness as easily as she remembered her own name. The isolation of the Seward Peninsula was sometimes daunting. Winters were hard and long. Summers were fraught with dangers and endless sun.

  John pulled the sled to a stop in front of his mother. ‘‘I need to see to the dogs, and then I’ll eat.’’

  Leah climbed out of the basket and hugged the old woman. ‘‘I’ve missed you so much. It’s good to be home.’’ The woman smelled of seal oil and smoke, and the combination made Leah smile as she pulled away.

  ‘‘You got married,’’ Ayoona stated. ‘‘Your man is a good man?’’

  ‘‘Yes,’’ Leah said. ‘‘He is a good man. I love him very much.’’

  ‘‘And he loves you. I know.’’ Ayoona grinned, revealing several missing teeth against her weathered lips.

  John interrupted their revelry. ‘‘I’m going to leave your things at the house,’’ he told Leah. ‘‘I can help you get them inside after I feed and water the dogs.’’

  ‘‘Don’t worry about it. I can get the boxes inside,’’ Leah answered, glancing toward the house. ‘‘I’ll be fine.’’

  ‘‘Your man can help,’’ Ayoona said matter-of-factly.

  ‘‘My man? Jayce is with Jacob. They’re tracking down Jayce’s brother Chase,’’ Leah explained to Ayoona. ‘‘That’s why John had to bring me home. Chase took Helaina Beecham at gunpoint. Remember her? She was the woman who helped Jacob last summer.’’

  ‘‘I remember her,’’ Ayoona said, nodding. ‘‘She didn’t
like it here. She strange—lived in your inne even when it was full of water.’’ Ayoona referred to the summer ritual when most of the Inupiats moved into tents as the permafrost melted and caused flooding in the subterranean houses. Ayoona shook her head. ‘‘She didn’t like our ways—our people.’’ The words were matter-of-fact, and there was no condemnation in the woman’s tone.

  Leah smiled at the thought of Helaina Beecham up to her ankles in water. ‘‘I don’t think she understood the people here, Ayoona. I honestly don’t think it was a matter of like or dislike. She was probably terrified and uncomfortable with such a drastic way of life.’’

  Ayoona nodded. ‘‘Not like you.’’

  ‘‘No, not like me.’’ Leah had always loved the people here, even if the place had grown wearisome.

  John moved the dogs out. ‘‘I’ll see you at the house, Leah.’’

  ‘‘I’ll be right there.’’ She gave Ayoona another quick hug. ‘‘When I get things put away, I’ll come tell you all about my time in Seattle.’’

  ‘‘You bring your man too. We eat together.’’

  Leah shook her head. ‘‘My husband isn’t here, Ayoona. Like I said, he’s trying to find his brother. The man is a killer and kidnapper.’’ ‘‘Your man is here.’’ Ayoona pushed her parka back even farther. Her expression revealed absolute assurance that her words were true.

  ‘‘Jayce . . . is here?’’ Hesitating, she shook her head. ‘‘He’s here? You’re sure?’’

  ‘‘He just got here. He came this morning,’’ Ayoona stated with a smile. ‘‘Needed more dogs. Better dogs. Said he was only staying for a few hours, then going.’’

  Leah felt her heart skip a beat. Jayce was here. They would have a few moments alone, and he could tell her what they had discovered so far. ‘‘I have to go,’’ she told Ayoona. ‘‘I need to find him.’’

  Ayoona grinned. ‘‘You won’t have to look for long.’’

  Leah fairly ran the distance from Ayoona’s inne to her own home. The little structure of wood and sod had never looked more inviting. John had just finished offloading the crates from the sled. ‘‘I’ll see you for supper,’’ he told her.

  ‘‘Thank you for coming after me, John. Ayoona said that Jayce is here. He came for more dogs. Jacob probably wanted his own dogs, though why he sent Jayce instead of coming himself is beyond me. Anyway, we’ll be over in a bit.’’

  ‘‘Jayce!’’ she called as she opened the door and went down the few stairs. The houses in this part of the world were partly buried in the ground for insulation and protection against the wind. She and Jacob hadn’t buried theirs quite as deeply as the natives usually did their homes. Leah didn’t like the feeling of being in the ground. She had also gotten Jacob to build their house with a shorter entry tunnel than those of the natives. Tunnels gave her a feeling of being closed in—trapped. She shuddered as she opened the second door to their house.

  ‘‘Jayce! I’m home!’’

  She looked into the store on her left. There was no one there. The kitchen would be the likely place. The wood stove kept the place nice and warm and required the least amount of work. ‘‘Jayce?’’ She pushed back the heavy fur that acted as a door.

  And there he was. Her heart skipped a beat as he turned from the stove. ‘‘Jayce,’’ she sighed.

  ‘‘Welcome home . . . Leah.’’

  It was only then that she realized it wasn’t Jayce at all.

  It was Chase.

  ‘‘You are Leah—aren’t you?’’ he asked. His resemblance to Jayce was uncanny, but there was something about him that set him apart. Something raw and cruel. Something very, very evil. The skin on the back of her neck prickled, and Leah swallowed hard and leaned back against the doorframe. ‘‘What are you doing here?’’

  ‘‘Now, that’s no way to welcome your husband.’’ He grinned wickedly at her and took up the coffeepot.

  ‘‘You aren’t my husband.’’ She turned to leave. Surely she could outrun this man. She’d get John, and he could take Chase in hand.

  ‘‘I wouldn’t go, if I were you. Otherwise your husband and brother, not to mention your dear friend Mrs. Beecham, might all be killed. I’d really hate to do it, but I will.’’

  Leah froze in her steps. She turned very slowly. ‘‘What are you talking about?’’ How could he possibly have Jayce and Jacob?

  He poured himself a cup of coffee and gave a nonchalant shrug. ‘‘I suppose we could discuss that over something to eat.’’

  ‘‘Ayoona is expecting us. She thought you were Jayce.’’

  ‘‘Just as I hoped she would. I find that being an identical twin has its advantages. The heavy winter clothing doesn’t hurt either. It’s easy enough to hide a man’s face when needed. But since it wasn’t needed . . .’’ He let his words trail off.

  Leah felt a shudder go through her. A million questions came to mind. ‘‘How did you even know about me—about this place?’’

  ‘‘Mrs. Beecham has been most helpful—without really meaning to be, of course. Not only that, but I’ve watched Jayce most of his life—or had him watched. Getting information on a man who is doing nothing to hide himself really isn’t that difficult. I have well-paid friends who always seem happy to share their knowledge for a price. As for this place, I’ve been here before.’’

  ‘‘How did you know about me—about Jayce and me being married?’’

  He looked at her and laughed. ‘‘You really are quite naïve— aren’t you? You’ve certainly done nothing to hide your marriage. Besides, Mrs. Beecham told me about it—told me about Seattle and her clearing my brother through the use of fingerprints. She loves to talk, and I figure, why not let her? It’s not costing me a cent, and it’s valuable information.’’

  Leah could have throttled Helaina. She had done nothing but cause trouble from the beginning. Now Chase was here, threatening everyone Leah loved, and there seemed to be nothing she could do but play along.

  Leah felt a shudder go through her. ‘‘What have you done with my husband and brother?’’

  Chase took a seat at the table. ‘‘They’re safe enough . . . for now.’’

  Leah felt her anger overcome her fear of the man. ‘‘Where are they?’’

  Chase took a long drink, then settled back against the seat. ‘‘Look, you must be a fairly smart woman. I doubt Jayce would marry a ninny. He always did have to have the best of everything. But be that as it may, being smart, you must know that I’m not about to divulge any secrets that might help you to betray me. All I will say for now is that they are safe. Safe for the time. What you do or don’t do will determine if they continue being safe.’’

  Leah decided it couldn’t hurt to temporarily play his game. ‘‘What do you want?’’

  ‘‘I want dogs and provisions. Mrs. Beecham eats a lot, and we left town in a hurry—as you probably know—not exactly prepared for this sudden change of weather. I figured to get blankets and warmer clothes. You know, sometimes a person’s survival depends on little things.’’ He swept her body with his gaze.

  Crossing her arms against her chest, Leah wished fervently she could wipe off the smug expression Chase wore. He clearly had the upper hand. If she told the village that he was Chase instead of Jayce, he would most likely be taken into custody . . . but not without a fight. But more important, she might never find Jayce and Jacob. Or even Helaina. Leah felt bad that she held very little concern for the woman, but with her brother’s and husband’s lives at stake, Helaina ran a distant third—especially considering all she had blabbed to Chase.

  ‘‘So how do we resolve this?’’ Leah finally asked.

  ‘‘You do what I say and no one will get hurt. We will pack a sled and head out in the morning. I figure a night of rest and . . . warmth will be to our advantage.’’ He dropped his voice low. ‘‘I’m very much the same man as my brother. So it would hardly be wrong for us to . . . well . . . enjoy each other’s company.’’

  ‘‘You’re nothing
like my husband. Jayce is a good man with a strong conscience to see right win over wrong. He loves God, and you clearly love only yourself,’’ Leah said, shaking her head. ‘‘I might help you get dogs and supplies, but I won’t betray my husband by allowing you any part of me.’’

  ‘‘And if I insist?’’

  Leah’s knees threatened to buckle. She was shaking so hard she was certain Chase could see her tremble. With a false sense of bravado, she squared her shoulders. ‘‘Then I suppose we all die.’’

  He studied her for a moment. ‘‘Keeping your marriage bed untainted means that much to you? What has Jayce done to deserve such loyalty?’’

  Leah refused to back down. ‘‘He’s a trustworthy man, and he’s had my heart since I was nineteen. I love him very much, and I won’t betray him, even to save my own life.’’

  ‘‘But what about doing it to save his life?’’

  It was then that Leah realized this was all a game to him. He was enjoying the play of emotions on her face—the frustration and fear in her voice. He seemed to feed off of it.

  Leah could stand no more. ‘‘I have supplies to bring in and put away. The villagers believe you are my husband. For now I’ll let them believe that. But if you do anything to cause me grief, I’ll tell them all, and you’ll be imprisoned.’’

  ‘‘Not without a fight,’’ Chase said, laughing.

  ‘‘I think we both realize that,’’ Leah replied. ‘‘But you do not know these people like I do, and there you are at a grave disadvantage. You’d do well to remember that. Now I’m going to bring in the supplies—otherwise everyone here will know that something is wrong.’’

  She hoped her words sounded believable. She certainly didn’t feel convincing. Walking back out of the house, Leah contemplated what she could do. The options seemed so few. She didn’t want to risk the lives of the people here, but she didn’t want to give Chase any advantage.