Always Ready (6 page)

“Let me see. . .” Brett thumbed through a card file on the desk. “I quoted her a price on a complete set for ten dogs.”

“That’s right. She gave you the sizes?”

Caddie surreptitiously studied Aven’s profile. He was about four inches taller than she was—five-eleven, she guessed—and even now, trying to act casual about his sister’s errand, he maintained the officer’s posture. His dark hair reflected the overhead lighting. The contrast between his precise grooming and Sellers’s scruffy aura made her smile. Aven’s clean-shaven cheeks were smooth, and his firm jaw had just enough roundness to give the impression he was not too pliable, not too obstinate. He wore his jeans and Henley pullover as well as he did his uniform.

“Yes, I think I have all the information I’ll need,” the harness maker told Aven as he came from behind his counter. “Doesn’t your family host one of the smaller races every year?”

“Yeah, the Fire and Ice. My folks have organized that race for the last ten years.”

“Never been to it, but I’ve heard of it.”

“It’s a fun race. Only a hundred miles, but it’s got interesting terrain. Some of the mushers like to use it as a warm-up.”

“It’s earlier than the Iditarod?”

“Yeah. Middle of January.”

Brett lifted a bundle of nylon straps and hardware and placed it on the counter. “This is the style I recommended to her. She said she wanted good quality, but nothing fancy.”

Aven smiled. “That’s Robyn. She doesn’t want to spend any more than she has to, but she wants good stuff. She’s been getting by with old, patched equipment.”

“Can’t do that on the trail,” Brett said.

Caddie stepped forward, eyeing the heap of harness in surprise. “I thought it would all be leather.”

Brett grinned. “Things have changed a lot over the years. Dog harnesses are lighter and more durable now. Leather deteriorates faster than synthetics, it stretches more, and it takes longer to dry out. Besides, dogs like to chew it. I love doing leatherwork, but I put together dog harnesses as a sideline. I’ve done a few custom leather harnesses for show dogs, but for real work, you want nylon or cotton webbing and lots of padding around the collar.”

They chatted for a few more minutes, and Caddie listened as Aven told the artisan a little more about his family and the annual race they sponsored.

“I used to get around to some of the races when I lived in Fairbanks,” Brett said. He pointed out a few of the nicer points of the sturdy harness.

Aven fingered the straps and nodded. “Okay, I’ll take it. Can you put together what she needs while I wait, or should I come back?”

Brett grinned. “I had a feeling when she called Saturday and said her big brother would come look it over, so I took a look at the inventory. I just need a couple more components. I can have the full set ready in a couple of days.”

Aven laughed. “She called again? She didn’t tell me.”

“Yes, she did. I’ll have everything ready to her specifications.” Brett rang up the purchase, and Aven paid for it.

“Why did you move out here?” Aven asked. “Not many mushers live on the islands.”

“My girlfriend’s family lives out here. She didn’t like Fairbanks, so I agreed to move down here with her. I kind of like it here.” Brett nodded toward the display wall. “I don’t sell as many harnesses as I used to when I lived up there. I sell more tooled bags and dog leashes now than I do harness. But I do a fair amount of business over the Internet, and sometimes people call me for special orders.”

Aven and Caddie went out to the aging pickup. Aven opened the door for her and helped her up carefully. She held on to her cast as she scooted into the cab.

“How’s the arm doing?”

“Not too bad.” She checked her watch. Not time for her medication yet.

Aven headed the truck toward the center of Kodiak.

“That was nice of you to get the harness for Robyn,” Caddie said.

He flexed his shoulders. “Well, she needs it. The sponsors shouldn’t show up on race day with equipment tied together with twine. She’s saved up about two-thirds of the price, and I can kick in the rest.”

“It sounded as though she may have guessed you’d do that.”

“I didn’t think so, but maybe I’m more predictable than I thought.” Aven shook his head, smiling. “She was disappointed because she thought she had enough money, but prices were higher than she expected. She told me when I was home last weekend that she’d shopped online, but she couldn’t find a set as good as she wanted for anywhere near what she could afford. So I said I’d come look at what this guy had to offer and see if it was well made and worth waiting for.”

Caddie smiled. “She’ll be so happy when she gets it.”

“Yeah. I think I’ll ship it to her. I’d like to take it to her myself, but I doubt I’ll get home again before the end of summer. It’s rare to get two or three days off together this time of year.”

Caddie nodded. No need for explanations when they both understood exactly what life was like for Coast Guard personnel during tourist and fishing seasons. Either of their ships could be called at a moment’s notice for search and rescue details. The one constant in their lives was unpredictability.

“The mountains here are unbelievable,” she said, peering out the window.

“Yes, this is easily one of the most beautiful places on earth.” Aven grinned at her. “Too bad the weather’s so nasty most of the year.”

“I expect I’ll get my fill of it next winter, but it’s green and beautiful right now.”

“The Coast Guard will probably send you to the Fisheries Law Enforcement School for a few weeks during the worst of the winter.”

Caddie glanced down at her cast and scrunched up her face. “Too bad I can’t do it now, while my arm is keeping me from active duty. Hey, did I hear you say you’re from Wasilla?”

“A few miles outside of town. My folks bought the place when I was little, back when Dad worked for the oil company.”

“So you grew up there.”

Aven nodded. “Yeah. Robyn was born here in Alaska, at the hospital in Anchorage. I’m a transplant from Pennsylvania, but I don’t remember anything about it back there. I think I was two when we moved.”

“My family’s been all over, but we were in Washington when Dad died, so we stayed there.”

“What happened to your dad?”

She pulled in a deep breath, determined not to get teared up talking about it. “He was in the Coast Guard. Don’t know if you knew that.”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Yeah. He actually died while he was on duty.” She didn’t like to think about it. Remembering how he’d lost his life brought on the doubts she regularly battled. If Dad wasn’t tough enough, why should she think she was? “He served in Alaska for two years. At Homer.”

“Really?” Aven slowed for a turn. “When?”

“A long time ago. Right before I was born. He was transferred all over the map afterward, but he kept talking about it and saying he’d like to come back. He loved it here.”

“I can understand that.” Aven eyed her cautiously. “So. . .he didn’t die while he served in Alaska?”

“No. He was posted at Seattle when it happened.” She smiled, hoping she could keep the tears in submission. “He talked a lot about coming back here. My mom didn’t really want to come, though. She didn’t like Alaska. She said Washington was far enough north for her.”

“Was she depressed? Seasonal affective disorder?”

“Is that the same as light deprivation sickness?”

“Yeah. The fancy name they use for it now.”

“Maybe. She didn’t like it and said she just wanted to hole up in winter and not go outside when it was dark.”

“How do you like it so far?”

“Oh, I like it. Of course, I’ve only seen the days-in-overdrive part.”

He laughed, and she felt encouraged to go on.

“I’ve always wanted to come here. Probably because of things Dad told us. I decided to get posted in Homer if I could. Kodiak was as close as I could get, but my ship was in Homer a few weeks ago. The
Wintergreen
stopped there to leave off some buoys, and I got to see a little of the town.”

“It’s beautiful there,” Aven said.

“I’ll say. The bay is absolutely gorgeous. All those volcanic mountains, and the spit running out into the water. . .”It was easier talking about the incredible terrain than Dad. If Aven would just drop the subject, she’d feel better.

“So, your dad was an officer.”

There it was again. “Yeah. He served thirty years. His last command was as skipper of a cutter out of Seattle. He used to joke that he’d served in nearly every district the Coast Guard has.”

Aven kept his eyes on the road. “So. . .you’ve signed on for a career?”

“Probably. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do. Well, since I was ten or so. I wanted to be just like Dad. I knew I couldn’t serve under him, but I figured when we had leave together, we could talk about our life at sea. I thought it would be so neat, wearing the uniform just like he did.” She smiled at her naiveté. “Dad’s death gave me second thoughts.”

“How so?” He pulled up at a stop sign and looked over at her.

Caddie shrugged, trying to marshal her thoughts. How much did she want to reveal? Too much might drive Aven away.

Dad had been away a lot during her childhood. It was only lately that she’d thought her ambition might be misplaced. Had the little girl thought somehow that joining the Coast Guard would bring her father closer in a way that would make up for all the times he was away at sea? While she was serving out of Woods Hole, Massachusetts, and her father was posted in Seattle, he’d been killed in the line of duty. Her unplanned visit home for his funeral had broken her heart. She’d returned to duty more determined than ever to make him proud.

She shook her head over the memories and frowned. “Sometimes I want badly to advance and become an officer. To be a captain, even. But then other days, I know I could never live up to my dad’s record, so why even try?”

Aven checked for traffic and pulled forward. “Do you like the Coast Guard?”

“Sailing is fantastic, and the job is challenging. What I’m doing now is the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but. . .yeah, I like it.”

He smiled, and she found herself smiling, too.

“So, what’s there to fret about?” he asked.

She lowered her chin and looked toward the green mountainsides and distant gray waves. “I’m always second-guessing myself. Did I really do that right? Can I perform to my CO’s expectations? Would Dad be proud of me if he were here?”

“I think I can answer that last one.”

She stared at him, weighing whether or not he was serious. “Okay, how?”

“I’m sure he’d be very proud of you now.”

“You can’t know that.”

“I think I can. A father who sees his child trying to emulate him, especially in an area where he excelled and was respected. . .yeah, that’s something to be proud of.”

“Thanks. I’ll remember that next time I wonder if I’m doing this for the wrong reason.” She blinked back the rogue tears that filled her eyes. “So, what about your dad? Is he still with the oil company?”

Aven shook his head. “He was flying on business a few years ago. His plane crashed.”

Caddie caught her breath. “I’m so sorry.” If they could only have one thing in common, that would have been the last thing she’d chosen. Yet his words took on deeper value because of it.

“How’s your mom doing?” she asked after a long silence.

“All right. It’s been hard. She and Robyn are getting along, though. I help them when I can.”

“Does your mother work?”

“Yes, at home. The dog kennels were a hobby when Dad was alive, but it started turning a profit. Robyn’s a very good trainer. She and Mom have kept things going. My grandfather lives there, too. He helps a little, but he can’t do much now. Mom got Dad’s insurance, and she has a small income from his retirement fund. Like I said, they get by. Just.”

“That’s a heavy load to carry.”

“It can be. Sometimes I think I should leave the Coast Guard and go home to help them. Or get a better paying job somewhere. But so far, I don’t feel God’s leading me to do those things. So I keep on.” He huffed out a breath and smiled. “So. . .do you still want to take in the Baranov Museum? We’re almost there.”

“I’d like that. I’ve heard so much about the Russian occupation and heritage, I’d like to learn more.”

“You got it.” He put on his turn signal and turned in at the museum’s parking area.

He was out of the truck and around to her door while Caddie still fumbled with the seat belt release.

He opened the door and leaned on it, grinning at her. “Let’s not get too weepy about our families, okay? This is going to be a fun day.”

“I won’t if you won’t.” She was glad her tears had cleared up without spilling over. “I am sorry about your dad, though. I’ll pray for your mother and Robyn.”

“Thanks. I’ll pray for your family, too. Now, let’s go see what made old Alexander Baranov such a big shot around here.”

Five

Aven carefully taped up the box with the dog harness for shipping and prepared a label. When he’d finished, he sat down to write a note to Robyn.