Brides of Alaska (14 page)

Sam watched the man put on his headset. Turning the dial to adjust the frequency, the man began the message.

“-./—/—/. -.-./.-/.-̤/.-̤/̤/-./—.” The radio key clicked out the words, “Nome, calling.”

The room seemed shrouded in silence against the rhythmic tapping of the telegraph key. Sam and Dr. Welch stood to one side as the sergeant tapped out the call again. He paused and waited to see if anyone would pick up his signal.

Within seconds the answer tapped back. “Fairbanks, calling. Go ahead, Nome.”

The sergeant turned and nodded to Dr. Welch. “It's Fairbanks. I'll relay the message.”

The sergeant's finger tapped out the message with expert ease. “Nome, calling. We have an outbreak of diphtheria. No serum. Urgently need help.”

Sam and Dr. Welch breathed a sigh of relief. Just knowing that the rest of the world would learn of their need gave them hope.

The sergeant continued to radio the message to Anchorage, Juneau, and Seward. “I'll let you know when I get anything in,” Sergeant Anderson said as he took off his headset.

“Thanks, Sergeant,” Sam said and offered his dog team to Dr. Welch.

For days, time stood still in Nome. The only thing that didn't slow was the diphtheria. Three children were dead, ten new active cases were revealed, and more than fifty people reported they'd been exposed. Dr. Welch could only use what little serum he had on hand. Soon not a single unit remained.

Finally, on January 25, a message was received in Nome. Anchorage had 300,000 units of serum at the Alaska Railroad Hospital. It could be packaged and loaded on the number sixty-six Anchorage-to-Fairbanks Passenger Special and received at the Nenana railhead within two days. The Star Route of the interior mail delivery operated by dogsled from Nenana and could carry the serum as part of its load.

Dr. Welch gave the go-ahead, and Sergeant Anderson wired the message to Dr. Beeson in Anchorage to proceed with the shipment.

“I suggest we call a city council meeting,” Dr. Welch said as the sergeant finished his message. “This presents a whole new problem.”

Within an hour, everyone had gathered for the meeting. Julie stood to one side of the meeting hall, while Sam kept a determined gaze on her from the opposite side of the room. It was the first time he'd seen her since she'd left for her routes. She'd done nothing to let him know of her hurried return to Nome.

It was also the first time Sam had seen Julie in a dress. Self-consciously, Julie smoothed the white uniform, mindful of the way it displayed her more feminine qualities. She was wearing her uniform because she'd been helping at the hospital with the non-diphtheria patients. Dr. Welch had wisely kept the hospital quarantined for those patients whose ills did not involve diphtheria and required surgery or detailed medical help. Nurse Seville had been dispatched to the Sinuak village to work with the natives while Julie stayed on in Nome.

“I know you've all been waiting for good news,” Dr. Welch began, “and finally I have some to report. Anchorage has 300,000 units of serum, and they've started it north to Nenana on the train.” A cry of excited voices went up. Dr. Welch waited until the crowd had quieted before continuing. “We must decide how we are to get the serum from Nenana to Nome. Anchorage advises me that it will arrive in Nenana tomorrow.”

“Leonhard Seppala has agreed to go after the serum,” M. L. Summers announced.

“The arrangements have already been made to start the serum west after Nenana,” Dr. Welch declared. “Several relay teams will work it down the Tanana and Yukon Rivers. Perhaps we could have Seppala meet the serum, say, at Nulato?”

“That's over six hundred miles round trip,” Sam advised. “It would be a hardship for one man and one team of dogs.”

“Seppala suggests he take a team of thirty or so dogs,” Summers expounded. “He would drop dogs off at the various roadhouses and cabins along the route and pick them up fresh on the way back. That way he could mush night and day. He believes it would only take a return trip of three, maybe four days.”

“Three or four days?” one of the other men questioned. “That would average nearly one hundred miles a day! Seppala's huskies are good, but they're not indestructible.”

“Have him stand by,” Dr. Welch said as he contemplated the matter. “I'm still awaiting word from the governor. I'm not authorized to make the decision on my own.”

The men nodded and settled down. Julie took the opportunity to slip quietly from the room in order to avoid Sam, but he was prepared for her action and followed her out. Julie was halfway down the hall and heading for her parka when Sam caught hold of her arm and whirled her into his arms.

“You look incredible,” he whispered against her ear.

Julie thrilled to his touch, melting at once against his lean, muscular form. How often had she dreamed of this during those lonely nights spent out on the trail.

“You know,” Sam said with a teasing smile, “I never purchase a sled dog sight unseen. I always go over them with a well-trained eye, just in case there are any hidden defects. But you, I was ready to take sight unseen, buried under pounds of furs and leather. Boy, was that a good call!”

“I beg your pardon,” Julie said indignantly and pushed away. “Are you comparing your marriage proposal to purchasing a dog?” She clamped her hand automatically over her mouth, grimacing because the very subject she'd hoped to avoid was now open for conversation.

“You know I didn't mean it that way. I just can't believe how beautiful you look in that dress. Now come here, and give me a kiss.”

Julie shook her head and backed away. “Remember the quarantine,” she said firmly.

“I do,” Sam said as he moved forward.

“No close physical contact,” Julie reminded.

“Uh-huh,” Sam agreed, all the while moving forward at a steady pace.

“You aren't going to break the rules,” Julie asked as she came to a stop against the wall, “are you?”

“Yup,” Sam said and pulled her against him tightly. “If love could kill a man, I'd already be dead,” he said as he lowered his mouth to Julie's and kissed her soundly.

Julie's mind went blank as her senses came alive. What was the cologne Sam was wearing, and why hadn't she noticed before how soft his beard was?

Voices down the hall brought Julie back to her senses. She pushed at Sam with both hands and gasped for air. “I've got to get back to work,” she said and maneuvered under his sinewy arms.

“We can, uh, talk later,” she said, pulling on her parka and acknowledging Dr. Welch as he approached.

Sam grinned at her embarrassment, but let it go at that. He'd have plenty of time later.

B
y the morning of January 30, Leonhard Seppala had been given the go-ahead and had moved his huskies out across the trail to press ever closer to the serum.

The people of Nome were frantic. There had been five deaths, twenty-two active cases, and thirty-some suspected cases of diphtheria. All they could do was wait and make those who were ill as comfortable as possible.

Julie was working with Dr. Welch when Sergeant Anderson arrived with a message from Territorial Governor Scott Bone. He was requesting that more relays be set up between Nulato and Nome, as the army reported a severe change in the weather.

“This isn't good,” Dr. Welch said as he motioned Julie to follow him. “Sergeant, round up as many of the council members as you can. Julie, you go along with him and get whoever will come with you to join us at the bank. We need more drivers!”

Julie nodded and raced down the hall behind the sergeant, pulling her coat along with her as she stepped into the street. They took opposite sides of the street and worked their way down the storefronts, calling out to those inside as they went.

By one o'clock, a nice crowd had gathered at the bank. Outside the skies had turned overcast, and the wind had picked up. A storm was moving in from the northwest, and Julie was thankful that she wouldn't be required to drive her team out in the blizzard.

“If I may have your attention,” Dr. Welch announced. “I have received word from the governor. He has requested we arrange for more relay points along the mail route. The weather forecast has the interior of Alaska turning into a dangerous situation. The suggestion is that more men can travel fewer miles and the risk to life would be reduced significantly.”

“But Seppala's already on his way,” M. L. Summers declared.

“Yes, I know. He'll no doubt catch up to the serum at one point or another, but instead of having to turn right around and travel all the way back to Nome, he'll only have to make a portion of the journey. I need volunteers to go out along the lines of the mail route and position themselves at the roadhouses.”

Several hands went up, including Sam's. Julie caught her breath. What if the storm grew so bad that Sam's life was threatened? Could she stand to see him go, risking his life and the possibility of never returning, without declaring her love?

Her love? Julie tested the thought again.
Yes
, she thought excitedly.
I do love him. I really do, and to lose him now would be devastating
. She didn't hear the rest of Dr. Welch's speech. Her mind was intent on how she could share her heart with Sam. She couldn't throw herself into his arms and tell him, or could she?

The meeting broke up, and Julie recognized Gunnar Kaasen and Ed Rohn, as they had both agreed, with Sam, to participate on the serum run. She waited nervously for Dr. Welch to finish instructing the three men so that she could talk to Sam.

After several minutes, Julie thought better of talking to Sam in public and made her way down the hall. There hadn't been all that much snow, she reasoned, so she'd walk to Sam's house on the edge of Nome and wait for him there.

Julie was concerned to see that the storm was skirting to the east of Nome. It was headed directly toward the path the serum would have to take, so she prayed that it would pass quickly and blow itself out into Norton Sound before it could cause harm to the dog teams. She hurried to Sam's house and went inside to wait for him.

Minutes later, Sam arrived. He was busy with the dogs outside the back door, but Julie knew he'd have to come inside to get provisions before leaving. Nervously, she twisted her hands, wondering what to say when he finally appeared.

Outside, the wind howled, and while it hadn't yet begun to snow, Sam recognized the dangerous look of the storm. He quickly harnessed his best dogs to the sled, deciding to take eight strong mala-mutes, then made his way into the house.

Julie almost laughed at the shocked expression on Sam's face as he came rushing through the back door, nearly knocking her to the floor.

“Oh Sam,” Julie said as her voice cracked. She was quite frightened for him and threw herself into his arms, just as she'd thought she couldn't do.

“What's all this about?” Sam questioned as he pulled away just enough to see Julie's face.

“I'm so frightened for you, and I just couldn't let you go out there without telling you …” Julie's words faded as she lowered her head.

Sam lifted her face to meet his gaze. “Telling me what?”

“That I love you,” Julie said and broke into tears. “Oh Sam, I love you so much it hurts.”

Sam laughed out loud and whirled Julie in a circle. Julie sobbed all the harder as she thought of how she'd come to love Sam's boisterous laugh and wondered if, after today, she'd ever hear it again.

“Now stop that,” Sam said as he held Julie's trembling body against his own. Her tears pained him in a way he'd never known. “Don't cry, Julie. Everything is going to be all right. You'll see.”

“But the storm is coming up too fast, and you have to go so far to get to your point on the relay. I couldn't bear it if I lost you now,” she cried.

“Nothing's going to happen to me, silly. I've got too much to live for now that I have you. Did you really mean it? Do you honestly love me?”

Julie rolled her still-damp eyes. “How can you ask that? I thought you knew I loved you before I knew.”

“Then everything is going to work out. God sent you to me, and He won't separate us now,” Sam said confidently.

“Can we pray?” Julie asked as she wiped at her tears with the back of her hand. “I mean, together?”

“Oh Julie,” Sam's face sobered as he spoke, “I'd love to pray with you. Come on.” He led the way to the front room where Julie had previously fallen asleep. He stopped and knelt in front of the small table that held his Bible. “Come here,” he motioned, and Julie felt a sudden peace.

Kneeling beside him, Julie felt Sam take hold of her hand in his. With his free hand, Sam began to turn the pages of the Bible. Julie reached up and stopped him.

“May I?” she asked with huge, saucer eyes.

“Of course,” Sam replied and let Julie turn to Psalm 121.