Read Online Summer of the Midnight Sun by Tracie Peterson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Tracie Peterson
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best to avoid her.
Now the expedition had brought them back together. . . . No, he’d brought them back together.
But why? Why did I come? So much has changed. So many years have passed by. She can’t possibly care for me after all this time . But in his heart, Jayce hoped that she did. He hoped that somehow he might be able to get to know her again. The time he’d spend here working with the dogs would allow him to see her every day and that in turn would hopefully show him if he’d ruined his chances ten years ago.
Glancing up from the pan of water Jacob had provided, Jayce squinted against the sun. There were several men down by the water’s edge. An umiak —a small boat made from animal skins—sat nearby. The men seemed to be asking about something. One man in particular held Jayce’s attention.
“It can’t be him,” Jayce muttered.
He watched the man, being careful to keep out of sight. Why is he here? Is he looking for me? It would have taken careful investigation for him to find Jayce. Or was it pure coincidence?
This ghost from Jayce’s past life rose up to disturb him like nothing else in the world. This man could ruin everything Jayce had worked for.
Jayce eased around the corner of the inne and fought to settle his nerves. He continued watching as best he could and felt only moderate relief when the man and his companions got back in the umiak and pushed out into the water. As the boat disappeared around the bend, Jayce let out a heavy sigh.
“You coming?” Jayce startled to see Jacob watching him. “What’s wrong?” Jacob asked. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Jayce wasn’t about to let Jacob know the truth of it. If it was who he thought it was, Jayce could very well be in big trouble.
“I’ve just got a lot on my mind. The Homestead should be arriving soon, and I need to know my way around handling those teams.”
“Well, maybe it won’t be as bad as you think. I’ve decided to come with you.”
Jayce forgot about the man and looked at Jacob with a grin. “That’s wonderful news, Jacob. I can’t tell you how excited I am to have you join us. You won’t regret it. The pay’s not great, but the adventure more than makes up for it.”
“I don’t think Leah took the news well, but I did mention having her go see Karen and Adrik. I think she consoled herself with that.”
“She’s not in charge of you, Jacob. A man can’t live his life attached to his sister’s apron strings.”
“That’s not the way it is between us,” Jacob snapped.
Jayce waved his arms. “Whoa, now, I didn’t mean anything by it. I’m sure you two stick together because you have no one else.”
“We also happen to appreciate each other’s company. We’ve been looking out for each other since we were kids, and I don’t intend to stop until Leah is properly married to a husband who can take up the job.”
“I understand perfectly,” Jayce replied, feeling an odd sensation run through him at the mention of Leah marrying.
Jacob leaned in, his tawny brown hair blowing back in the gentle breeze. “I care about what she thinks. You should too.”
“I do. Honestly, Jacob. I’m sorry.”
Jayce wasn’t sure why his friend had become so angry, but he wanted to make things right. “I need to go back to the house and get my gift for your sister. Point me in the right direction for the party.”
“It’s over there.”
Jayce glanced across the way to see a reasonably sized wood house. He could only imagine that it must have cost a small fortune to bring in lumber for such a project. The natives and even the Barringers had houses put together with driftwood, whalebone, and sod. It was rumored that many of the missionaries would not come north without better housing, however. Jayce had read an entire report given by one of Dr. Sheldon Jackson’s missionaries that told of the unbearable cold when living in less than a reasonable American house. Jayce had laughed at the situation
Now the expedition had brought them back together. . . . No, he’d brought them back together.
But why? Why did I come? So much has changed. So many years have passed by. She can’t possibly care for me after all this time . But in his heart, Jayce hoped that she did. He hoped that somehow he might be able to get to know her again. The time he’d spend here working with the dogs would allow him to see her every day and that in turn would hopefully show him if he’d ruined his chances ten years ago.
Glancing up from the pan of water Jacob had provided, Jayce squinted against the sun. There were several men down by the water’s edge. An umiak —a small boat made from animal skins—sat nearby. The men seemed to be asking about something. One man in particular held Jayce’s attention.
“It can’t be him,” Jayce muttered.
He watched the man, being careful to keep out of sight. Why is he here? Is he looking for me? It would have taken careful investigation for him to find Jayce. Or was it pure coincidence?
This ghost from Jayce’s past life rose up to disturb him like nothing else in the world. This man could ruin everything Jayce had worked for.
Jayce eased around the corner of the inne and fought to settle his nerves. He continued watching as best he could and felt only moderate relief when the man and his companions got back in the umiak and pushed out into the water. As the boat disappeared around the bend, Jayce let out a heavy sigh.
“You coming?” Jayce startled to see Jacob watching him. “What’s wrong?” Jacob asked. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Jayce wasn’t about to let Jacob know the truth of it. If it was who he thought it was, Jayce could very well be in big trouble.
“I’ve just got a lot on my mind. The Homestead should be arriving soon, and I need to know my way around handling those teams.”
“Well, maybe it won’t be as bad as you think. I’ve decided to come with you.”
Jayce forgot about the man and looked at Jacob with a grin. “That’s wonderful news, Jacob. I can’t tell you how excited I am to have you join us. You won’t regret it. The pay’s not great, but the adventure more than makes up for it.”
“I don’t think Leah took the news well, but I did mention having her go see Karen and Adrik. I think she consoled herself with that.”
“She’s not in charge of you, Jacob. A man can’t live his life attached to his sister’s apron strings.”
“That’s not the way it is between us,” Jacob snapped.
Jayce waved his arms. “Whoa, now, I didn’t mean anything by it. I’m sure you two stick together because you have no one else.”
“We also happen to appreciate each other’s company. We’ve been looking out for each other since we were kids, and I don’t intend to stop until Leah is properly married to a husband who can take up the job.”
“I understand perfectly,” Jayce replied, feeling an odd sensation run through him at the mention of Leah marrying.
Jacob leaned in, his tawny brown hair blowing back in the gentle breeze. “I care about what she thinks. You should too.”
“I do. Honestly, Jacob. I’m sorry.”
Jayce wasn’t sure why his friend had become so angry, but he wanted to make things right. “I need to go back to the house and get my gift for your sister. Point me in the right direction for the party.”
“It’s over there.”
Jayce glanced across the way to see a reasonably sized wood house. He could only imagine that it must have cost a small fortune to bring in lumber for such a project. The natives and even the Barringers had houses put together with driftwood, whalebone, and sod. It was rumored that many of the missionaries would not come north without better housing, however. Jayce had read an entire report given by one of Dr. Sheldon Jackson’s missionaries that told of the unbearable cold when living in less than a reasonable American house. Jayce had laughed at the situation
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