Joy Takes Flight (3 page)

The newlyweds headed for the Anchorage Hotel. When they pulled up, Kate remembered her first visit here. She'd just arrived in Anchorage and didn't know where to stay. This had been the only place she'd found. It had been too expensive, but she'd stayed anyway.

When Paul and Kate walked up to the desk, the young man, Bill, who'd been a bellboy on Kate's first visit, stood at the desk. “Hi, Kate. Paul. Congratulations to you.”

“Thank you,” Paul said. He smiled and lifted his eyebrows. “I believe we have a reservation under the name of Mr. and Mrs. Anderson.”

“You do—our nicest suite. It's all ready for you.” He touched a bell and a young man appeared. “Ted, can you show Mr. and Mrs. Anderson to their room—suite 332.” He handed the bellboy the keys, then turned to Paul and Kate. “Enjoy your stay.”

Kate suddenly felt nervous. She hadn't thought much about her wedding night. She wasn't sure what was expected of her. She worried over it as they followed the bellboy up the stairs and down a carpeted hallway. By the time they reached room 332, her stomach was churning. The bellboy opened the door, walked in, and set their luggage inside.

Paul dropped a generous tip into his hand and Kate moved toward the doorway.

“Oh no you don't,” Paul said.

Before she could protest, he picked her up and cradled her against him. Kate laughed. “You don't have to do this.”

“Of course I do. A new husband has an obligation to carry his bride over the threshold.” He kissed her briefly, and then stepped inside. “And besides, it gives me a reason to hold you.” He pushed the door closed with his foot.

Still cradling Kate, he kissed her again—only this time it was long and deep. Kate could feel the heat of passion. Her nerves fell away. “I love you.”

She circled his neck with her arms. “I'll love you forever.”

The ghost of a memory touched Paul's eyes, but only for a moment. “And I'm yours, always.”

W
hen Kate woke, her first thoughts were of Paul . . . her husband. The idea of it made her feel warm inside. She ran a hand over the finely woven sheets, then rolled onto her back, her head sinking into a plush pillow. She opened her eyes and looked at the other side of the bed, expecting to see Paul. He wasn't there.

She pushed up on one elbow and looked around the room. “Paul?” No answer. Kate climbed out of bed and glanced in the bathroom. He wasn't there—where was he? She moved to the window. The frozen white street below was empty. Her gaze moved to the Chugach Mountains shimmering pink and white in the distance. Resting her cheek against the cold window, she smiled, her heart and thoughts swelled with love. Everything was different now—it was better.

Stretching her arms above her, and then letting them rest on her head, she wondered where Paul had gone. When in town, he always seemed a little unsettled. Maybe he'd decided to take a walk.

With a yawn, Kate wandered back to bed and dropped onto the cushioned mattress. It was much softer than what she was used to. She pulled the plush spread up under her chin and closed her eyes, her mind returning to the previous evening.

When she and Paul left their guests and headed for the hotel, her nerves had set in. She knew what went on between men and women, but she'd never experienced anything more than a passionate kiss. A soft smile touched her lips. She loved Paul's kisses. He'd been gentle and tender, touching her as if he were caressing a priceless treasure. He'd raised passions in her she didn't know existed. They'd fallen asleep in each other's arms, knowing they belonged to one another forever.

She heard a key in the lock and the door opened. Through half-opened lids, she gazed at her handsome husband.

Paul stepped into the room, carrying a tray laden with Danish, coffee, and cream. He caught sight of Kate lying on the bed, her expression passionate. He wished breakfast could wait. He pushed the door closed with his foot. “Good morning. Don't you think it's time you were up?” He grinned. “The day's half over.”

Kate fluffed her pillows and sat up. “Sorry, but I didn't get much sleep last night.” She chuckled, the tone in her voice reminding him of wind chimes ringing in a breeze.

“And you're blaming me for that?” He raised his brows and smiled.

Kate bent her legs and pulled her knees up against her chest, where she rested her chin on them. “I'm not complaining.”

Paul sat on the edge of the bed, unable to ignore how alluring Kate looked. “Thought you might be hungry.” He set the tray on a bureau next to the bed, then bent and kissed her. “You know you're beautiful when you sleep.”

“Oh?” Kate's face flushed. “I never thought of myself as beautiful. When I was a kid, I was just tall and gangly, and my hair was red.” She put on a crooked smile.

“Now you're willowy and your hair is a gorgeous auburn.” He lifted her hair off her cheek and brushed it back, wishing they had more time before they needed to catch the train. He straightened. “You like cream in your coffee, right?”

“Uh-huh.”

Paul poured cream into one of the cups and stirred it into the coffee, then handed it to Kate. Using a fork, he cut off a bite of apple Danish and held it out to her.

Kate accepted the offering. “Mmm. Delicious.” She sipped her coffee, desire in her eyes.

Paul handed her the Danish and then settled on the bed beside her.

Kate set the coffee on the bedstand and took a bite of Danish. She leaned against him. “I love you.”

He pressed a kiss to her tousled hair. “Will you still love me when mornings are about getting up to a freezing house and trying to get a fire going before your fingers freeze, then making a batch of flapjacks instead of enjoying pastries in bed?”

“Always,” she said softly and snuggled closer.

Paul couldn't imagine life being any better than this. He kissed her hair again, then downed his coffee and ate his roll. “I wish we could stay here all day, but we've got to get moving. We have a train to catch.”

“A train? Where are we going? I thought we were staying here in town and then heading out to the creek.”

“I have a surprise for you.” He rolled off the bed.

“What?”

He smiled slyly. “Do you ski?”

“A little. Why? Are we going skiing?”

“Maybe,” Paul said, wearing a smug grin.

The train wheels clacked over the tracks while Kate watched the passing forests of spruce and fir laden with snow. They were traveling south, but Paul wouldn't say where exactly. Their hands clasped, the two rested against each other, both wearing smiles they couldn't erase.

Kate looked up at her husband. “I didn't know I could feel this happy.”

Paul squeezed her hand and then pressed it against his cheek. “After Susan . . . I thought I'd never love anyone again.” His eyes glistened with unshed tears. “Then I found you.” His voice caught. “I tried not to love you, but when something's meant to be . . . it can't be stopped.” He let out a puff of breath. “When I think of how foolish I've been.” He shook his head. “Well, I'm glad God's overruled my stubbornness.”

Kate rested her cheek against his shoulder and closed her eyes. They'd nearly lost each other. A whisper of a sigh escaped her lips.

The next thing Kate knew the train whistle blew. She opened her eyes. The couplings clanked and the engines ground to a stop. “Where are we?” she asked, gazing out at wilderness.

“This is where we get off.” Paul stood and helped Kate up.

“But . . . there's nothing here.”

“There's a depot.” Paul nodded at a small building.

The porter carried their bags out and set them on the depot steps. The place looked deserted. Paul tipped the man, then watched him climb aboard the train.

Kate had a sense of being abandoned as the train headed down the tracks and disappeared. She glanced at the tiny shack. “Doesn't look like anyone's here.” Ice-cold air chilled her face.

Paul glanced at his pocket watch. “Someone will be here soon.” He took in a breath and blew out a puff of frosty air. “We better wait inside.”

He ushered Kate through the door. It wasn't any warmer indoors, but a barrel stove and a stack of wood and tinder took up one corner of the room. Kate hoped they wouldn't have to wait long.

“I'll get a fire going. At least that way we'll be warm until our ride gets here.”

Kate gazed out the window and wondered what kind of ride. She couldn't imagine anything other than a dogsled. “So, are you going to tell me where we're going?”

Paul stuffed paper and kindling into the stove and glanced at Kate. “Nope.” He smiled devilishly as he took a match from a can and lit it.

“You're going to leave me in suspense?”

“That's right.” He held the tiny flame to paper, which flared to life.

Soon the wood popped and crackled and the aroma of burning birch filled the room. Just the sound of it made Kate feel warmer. She sat on a wooden chair and bundled deeper into her coat. “It'll be dark soon. Are you sure whoever's coming has the right date?”

“As sure as I can be.” Paul bent over her from behind and wrapped his arms around her. “Don't worry. They'll be here. They were highly recommended.” He nuzzled her neck, then walked to the window and looked out.

Kate thought his shoulders looked a bit tight. He was worried too. What if no one came?
We'll be fine
, she told herself.
We'll just wait for the train to come through tomorrow.

Something like the rumble of an engine growled from within the forest. “What's that?” she asked.

“I expect it's our ride.” Paul grinned. “Have you ever ridden in a weasel?”

“A what?”

“It's a cat made for the snow. It has tracks like a tractor. I'm pretty sure that's what they use to carry passengers out here in the winter.” He straightened. “Yep. There it is.”

What looked like a combination tractor and truck rolled toward them, its tracks digging into the snow. Kate hoped it had a heater. “Paul, I don't have anything to ski with.”

“That's okay. Everything's been taken care of.” He steered her toward the door, then picked up the bags and followed her down the steps.

The weasel crunched through deep snow and stopped alongside the depot. A man wearing a heavy parka opened the driver's side door and climbed out. “Howdy. You Mr. and Mrs. Anderson?”

“That's us.” Paul extended a hand. “I'm Paul and this is Kate.”

She shook the man's hand.

“I'm Levi. Good to meet you folks.” He looked at the smoke rising from the chimney. “Sorry I'm late. I meant to be here early enough to have the place warmed up for you. But Ole Sadie here had other ideas. She decided she wasn't runnin' today. Took some doing to get her to turn over. For a while I was afraid I'd have to hitch up the dogs.” He laid a hand on the cat. “But she came through.” He smiled, then stepped inside the depot and picked up Paul and Kate's suitcases. “I've got hot coffee. Climb on in and I'll get you a cup.”

He stood to the side and gave Kate a hand up. She sat in one of two seats in the rear of the rig. Paul took the other.

Levi handed up the bags and then climbed in. He rummaged through a duffel bag, then pulled out cups and a vacuum bottle. After unscrewing the lid, he poured steaming hot coffee into a cup and handed it to Kate.

“Thank you.” She took a sip. It was strong, but good. And it felt warm going down. “That's just what I needed.”

Levi handed a cup to Paul. “My wife's got supper waiting for us at the house. She told me to give you a nice easy ride up the mountain.” He chuckled. “I'll do my best. But either way, it's worth the trip. My wife's the best cook in all the territory.” He ground the gears and then turned the vehicle back the way he'd come.

The mention of food reminded Kate how her empty her stomach felt. It had been a long time since her morning Danish.

“How far is it to the lodge?” Paul asked.

“'Bout forty minutes. This contraption doesn't move very fast.”

“So, we're going to a lodge?” Kate asked.

“Yeah. I thought it might be fun to do something different. I used to ski when I lived down south. Me and my family would head up to the Sierras every winter.”

Kate's excitement grew. “I'm not very good. But it sounds like fun.” She pressed her hands between her knees and peered up front as Levi ground the way upward, following a trail between the trees.

Levi glanced back at them. “We have a batch of youngsters at the place right now, but that's all. It'd be pretty quiet, but those young bucks believe in having a good time. They hit the trails first thing and ski like they
want
to break their necks.” He shook his head. “Hope no one gets hurt.”

“My husband's a doctor,” Kate said proudly. “If there's a problem he'll know what to do.”

Levi glanced at Paul. “Glad to have you.”

By the time they reached the lodge, it was dark. Levi stopped in front of a large cabin. “Go on in. Make yourselves comfortable. My wife will see to you.”

Paul and Kate climbed out, and Levi headed Sadie up the hill.

Kate looked out at the white world falling away from them. In the light of a rising moon, the snow looked like rivers of white weaving their way down the mountain between batches of evergreens. “It's beautiful.” She hugged Paul. “Thank you for bringing me here. How did you know about it?”

“Patrick knew a fella who stayed here once. He said the skiing is good. And there's a pond for skating too.”

“Oh, I can't wait. I haven't skated since I first left Yakima. I'm a pretty good skater. There were lots of ponds in the valley where I lived.” Kate moved to the door.

“I was told the accommodations are fine, but nothing like what we had last night.” Paul sounded apologetic as he opened the door for Kate. They stepped into an overly large room. The first thing Kate noticed was the smell of fresh-baked bread and roasting meat.