Under the Midnight Sun Read online

  Also by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse

  All Things Hidden

  Beyond the Silence

  THE HEART OF ALASKA

  In the Shadow of Denali

  Out of the Ashes

  Under the Midnight Sun

  www.traciepeterson.com www.kimberleywoodhouse.com

  Books by Tracie Peterson

  GOLDEN GATE SECRETS

  In Places Hidden

  In Dreams Forgotten

  In Times Gone By

  HEART OF THE FRONTIER

  Treasured Grace

  Beloved Hope

  Cherished Mercy

  SAPPHIRE BRIDES

  A Treasure Concealed

  A Beauty Refined

  A Love Transformed

  BRIDES OF SEATTLE

  Steadfast Heart

  Refining Fire

  Love Everlasting

  LONE STAR BRIDES

  A Sensible Arrangement

  A Moment in Time

  A Matter of Heart

  LAND OF SHINING WATER

  The Icecutter’s Daughter

  The Quarryman’s Bride

  The Miner’s Lady

  LAND OF THE LONE STAR

  Chasing the Sun

  Touching the Sky

  Taming the Wind

  STRIKING A MATCH

  Embers of Love

  Hearts Aglow

  Hope Rekindled

  SONG OF ALASKA

  Dawn’s Prelude

  Morning’s Refrain

  Twilight’s Serenade

  ALASKAN QUEST

  Summer of the Midnight Sun

  Under the Northern Lights

  Whispers of Winter

  Alaskan Quest (3 in 1)

  BRIDES OF GALLATIN COUNTY

  A Promise to Believe In

  A Love to Last Forever

  A Dream to Call My Own

  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

  LADIES OF LIBERTY

  A Lady of High Regard

  A Lady of Hidden Intent

  A Lady of Secret Devotion

  WESTWARD CHRONICLES

  A Shelter of Hope

  Hidden in a Whisper

  A Veiled Reflection

  YUKON QUEST

  Treasures of the North

  Ashes and Ice

  Rivers of Gold

  House of Secrets

  A Slender Thread

  What She Left for Me

  Where My Heart Belongs

  © 2018 by Peterson Ink, Inc., and Kimberley R. Woodhouse

  Published by Bethany House Publishers

  11400 Hampshire Avenue South

  Bloomington, Minnesota 55438

  www.bethanyhouse.com

  Bethany House Publishers is a division of

  Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan

  www.bakerpublishinggroup.com

  Ebook edition created 2018

  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—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

  ISBN 978-1-4934-1730-8

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

  This is a work of historical reconstruction; the appearance of certain historical figures are therefore inevitable. All other characters, however, are products of the authors’ imagination, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  Cover design by Dan Thornberg, Design Source Creative Services

  Front cover photo of Curry, Alaska, courtesy of Kenneth L. Marsh, author of Lavish Silence

  Kimberley Woodhouse is represented by The Steve Laube Agency.

  This book is lovingly dedicated to my beautiful friend Jackie Hale.

  God blessed me immeasurably when He brought you to me.

  You are one of a kind.

  Your honesty, encouragement, love, and—let’s be honest—amazing wit and sarcasm have been a joy to me. I love how you call me your twin (even though you’re younger, cuter, taller, and—ahem—thinner) and how it doesn’t take anything for us to laugh or cry together.

  You are a gift.

  Every once in a while, God brings someone special into our lives . . .

  and it’s hard to say good-bye. Wow. Is it ever.

  Even though the physical distance between us may be much greater, our hearts will always be connected. Thank God for technology that helps make the world so much smaller.

  You are amazing and loved.

  Don’t forget that. Our journey has just begun.I love you dearly.

  And to Tayler . . . the real Tayler Hale.

  I love you more than words can say. Keep your focus on the Lord, and let your beautiful light shine for Him. Your adopted mom loves you to the moon and back.

  —Kimberley

  Jackie and Tayler, I have been so honored to become friends with you beautiful ladies. I pray God’s blessings on you and your family. Thank you for letting me call you friend.

  —Tracie

  Contents

  Cover

  Also by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  A Note from the Authors

  Prologue

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  8

  9

  10

  11

  12

  13

  14

  15

  16

  17

  18

  19

  20

  21

  22

  23

  24

  25

  26

  27

  28

  Epilogue

  In Memoriam

  Recipes

  About the Authors

  Back Ads

  Back Cover

  A Note from the Authors

  We are so excited to have you journey with us once again for the conclusion to THE HEART OF ALASKA series.

  The Curry Hotel has become very special to us, and it has been such a joy to hear how much you love it as well. The characters will live on in our hearts for decades to come, even though the series has come to an end. We appreciate the letters you’ve sent mentioning your trips on the Alaskan Railroad and your brief sightings of where Curry once stood. It is always such a delight to know that the stories interested you enough to further explore one of our finest states. We hope you’ll continue to enjoy the richness that Alaska offers.

  We hope too that the stories will continue to encourage you spiritually. The stories we’ve heard from you—our readers—have been so uplifting. We love that the gift of story has been used in your hearts and minds for God’s glory: how something one of the characters went through touched your life, or how a particular Scripture drew you closer to God. Writing, for both of us, is a ministry to share the Gospel of Jesus and biblical application. When you send us your letters and emails, they bless us. Thank you.

  While we hate to say good-bye to Curry, there’s one last story to tell.

&nbsp
; Thomas.

  Out of all the fun characters, we’ve heard you cheering him on the most. And we love it.

  So it’s a privilege to give you Under the Midnight Sun.

  Kimberley and Tracie

  Prologue

  FRIDAY, MAY 30, 1919—ESTES PARK, COLORADO

  White velvet and blue satin.

  That’s what the snow on the mountains and the brilliant blue of the cloudless sky made thirteen-year-old Tayler Hale think of as she lay on her back on the ridge above their campsite.

  Squinting her eyes at the sky, she imagined she was floating in a giant satiny blue bubble . . . high above the rocky peaks that seemed blanketed in white velvet. The thought made her smile. What she wouldn’t give to be able to fly above it all. Watch all the activity in the wild from her bubble, write in her journals about it, and draw the pictures she captured in her mind. Just like the woman she so admired, Lady Isabella Bird.

  Lady Bird had come to America and traveled all over these very mountains—alone. She wrote in great detail about her adventures in one of Tayler’s favorite books, A Lady’s Life in the Rocky Mountains. Tayler loved every page of it. Her copy was worn from the many times she’d read the account and dreamt of her own future. Isabella Bird’s descriptions of the Estes Park area had given flight to Tayler’s desires to become an explorer just like the refined Englishwoman.

  Oh, to be as free as Lady Bird. And to be admired for her spirit and knowledge when she’d become the first woman to be allowed in the Royal Geographic Society. She had traveled the world, lending a hand wherever she went, even helping to found a hospital in India. Tayler couldn’t have admired her more. Lady Isabella Bird had made a difference, and Tayler wanted to do the same.

  As she looked at the sky and mountain peaks surrounding her, she could almost imagine herself an adult, riding on horseback over the snow-covered elevation on her way to rescue some campers who’d lost their way. It sent a little thrill through her. They’d talk about her as a great woman explorer, an expert on the plants and wildlife. People would flock to hear her lectures on survival in the wilderness.

  Her smile grew into a giggle. Tayler’s imagination could take her to far-off places with amazing adventures, and surely her mother would scold her for such thoughts. But she couldn’t help it. One day, Mother would understand.

  Squinting at the height of the sun in the sky, she realized the time. Her dreams of adventure were inspiring, but none of them beat the real-life adventures she had with her brother, Joshua, and his best friend, Emerson.

  They’d had camping and mountaineering trips together with her father for as long as she could remember. It was a mystery why Mother allowed her to go for so long—despite all her pushing for Tayler to “be a lady”—but Dad had a way of convincing Henrietta Hale.

  Yet it was all coming to an end.

  Reality set back in, and Tayler felt her face scrunch into a frown.

  Joshua and Emerson would soon be heading back east to their prep school. The last year of their college preparatory academy was intense and year-round. After that, they’d be headed to Harvard. Would this be their last adventure together? Ever?

  She swallowed the question and tried to blink away the tears that threatened every time the thought invaded. A gust of wind blew over her like a whispered answer. Too bad she didn’t understand it. If only God would send her real answers on the wind.

  A rustle sounded behind her and then something dark and scratchy landed on her face.

  “Boo!” Joshua’s voice. The scoundrel. Always such a prankster.

  Tayler swiped at the wool blanket he’d thrown over her but stayed calm and still in her position. “Just remember who squeals like a girl when they see a spider and which one of us has no trouble catching aforementioned eight-legged critters and has access to your bedroll.”

  “You wouldn’t.” His upside-down face held a lopsided grin as he bent over her.

  She raised her eyebrows. “Oh, wouldn’t I?”

  He shook his head and plopped himself onto the grass beside her. “You’re not playing fair.”

  “I know.” Allowing a smug smile to lift her lips, she sat up. “But you’re older, remember? You taught me to not play fair. So it’s your fault.” She tossed the blanket in his direction.

  His laugh filled the air, and he threw the blanket back at her. “Yes, let’s remember who is older, young lady.”

  She made a face at him and rolled her eyes. “But that doesn’t mean wiser . . . or more mature. You know, one of these days, you’re going to have to grow up and take on responsibility instead of joking around.” Lowering her brows, she attempted to look serious. She adored Joshua—he was the best brother in the whole world—and the thought of him truly growing up made her sad. But she couldn’t allow her feelings to show.

  “I’m hurt. I thought you loved my jokes.” He put a hand to his chest and played the dramatic sad fellow.

  With her right hand, she shoved at his shoulder and laughed. If only these days could go on forever. She often heard other girls her age tell of how much they despised their brothers, but from her earliest memories she’d adored Joshua. He was clever and witty and so wonderfully observant. He had taught her to see the world with different eyes.

  “Hey, Emerson and I are going down to the creek to get cleaned up.” And just like that he slammed the door on her reverie. “Just wanted to give you some warning. Dad is working on the fish we caught, so he sent me to tell you that he wants your help.”

  “All right. Thanks.” Why didn’t he seem fazed by all the change like she was?

  “We’ll be back soon.” He tapped her nose with his finger and jumped back to his feet. “Don’t burn any of my fish. But you can burn Emerson’s.”

  She stuck out her tongue and then smiled. Leaning back to gaze at the sky again, she sighed. It wasn’t fair. Rolling over onto her stomach, she huffed and then propped herself up on her elbows and peeked over the edge of the ridge to the crystal lake below her in the valley. They were all growing up whether they liked it or not. The boys were sixteen now, and their lives were practically mapped out for them—including the much-expected Harvard educations. If only she were sixteen too . . .

  Tayler plopped her chin down on her hands and kicked her feet in the air. Mother would definitely disapprove of such unladylike behavior, but she wasn’t here on this trip. In fact, she never came, because camping was a bit too primitive for her. And Tayler had heard the hushed conversations between her parents. Mother thought Tayler was getting entirely too old to be traipsing off into the woods and hiking up mountains. In fact, Mother thought her daughter should focus on etiquette and manners, dinner parties and the arts.

  But Tayler wanted to go to college. She wanted to study plants and animals and mountains and . . . well . . . everything outdoors. She wanted to travel and see the world for herself, and maybe . . . just maybe even write about it like Lady Bird.

  If Mother knew Tayler’s real plan, she’d probably lock her daughter up for a good long while.

  Tayler giggled and stood, brushing at her skirt. Her mother wasn’t that bad. But it was scary enough to think of telling her the truth. Dad had an inkling of Tayler’s desires, but he would never go against his wife. Never. Men might run the rest of the world, but Tayler’s mother ran the Hale family corner of it.

  Might as well face it. She was stuck. At least for now. She headed over to the camp to help her dad cook the fish. There would be plenty of time later to talk with her parents about her future. No need to worry them. Once Joshua was away at Harvard, maybe she would venture the subject with Dad.

  But that would mean Joshua would be gone. Permanently. Emerson too. And that thought was almost as horrific as telling Mother. A shiver raced up her spine. If only she could go with them. But she wasn’t a boy. A fact that had felt like a thorn in her side most of her life. Now that she was getting older, it seemed even more divisive. The fairer sex were rarely allowed into the same circles as men, even though
things were changing. Tayler had pointed out the exploits and world travels of women like Lady Bird and the famous journalist Nellie Bly, only to have her mother threaten to limit her access to reading materials.

  With a glance over her shoulder to the white-covered peaks, she vowed to capture this scene with her watercolors later. Perhaps when the sun streaked its last rays across the sky in brilliant color.

  The thought made her smile. There was at least one thing she liked to do that Mother approved of—paint.

  “What’s brought that lovely smile to your face, Tayler?” Dad looked back down as he dredged fish fillets in his special concoction of flour, cornmeal, and spices.

  “Just thinking about painting the sunset later.” Tying her hair back with a ribbon, Tayler walked over to the bowl they used as a washbasin. “After dinner, I think I’ll attempt to capture it for Mother.”

  Dad gave her a wide grin, his hands covered in white, sticky-looking globs of breading as he worked with the last few fillets. “She’ll love that. There’s nothing quite like a Colorado sunset over the mountains.” He held up his hands and frowned. “And nothing quite like the mess I’ve made here.”

  Tayler shook her head and brought him a towel. She couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled up. “You say that every time, Dad, and every time you manage to make an even bigger mess.”

  “But it will taste good.” He leaned in with his hands raised high and kissed her on the cheek. “You start frying them, and I’ll get this cleaned up.”

  Tying an apron around her waist, Tayler noticed that he already had the cast-iron skillet heating over the fire. She plopped a heaping spoonful of lard into the skillet and watched it melt, then added another. As it began to bubble and sizzle around the edges, she brought the plate of fish over. Whistling a tune she’d heard from the radio, she began to fry the fish, a few fillets at a time, and then watched them turn a beautiful golden brown.

  Emerson Pruitt strode up the hill toward her, his dark, curly hair wet from the stream. Seeing the towel hung over his shoulder and his charming smile aimed at her, Tayler felt her stomach do a little flip.

  She’d hung around Emerson and Joshua since she could walk. The boys had been best friends their whole lives. But it had been only recently that Emerson paid Tayler just a touch more attention than he used to. With compliments and special smiles just for her—smiles that were different from the ones he used to give—she thought their parents’ wish to see the two families joined might come to fruition one day.