"Dawns Prelude" - читать интересную книгу автора (Peterson Tracie)

Chapter 6

The journey to Sitka had been an arduous one for Lydia. Having never traveled so far, she suffered during the seemingly endless miles of train soot and smoke, only to discover that the ocean voyage was worse. Now, as the Neu'beriz stood anchored in the harbor off Sitka 's shores, the gentle rocking of the waves made her sick.

Please, just let us get ashore, she thought, pressing a scented handkerchief to her nose. The sweet scent of lavender calmed her momentarily.

Miss Sophia Cracroft stood not far away on the deck with her aunt, Lady Jane Franklin, who was searching for some memento of her husband, Sir John Franklin. He had died some twenty-four years previous while trying to discover a northwest passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Lady Franklin, a delicate but sturdy seventy-nine-year-old English woman, remained hopeful that her husband's journey records might yet appear in one of the far-north settlements.

Lydia didn't know much else. She had been told that Lady Franklin preferred to keep to herself or to the company of her niece. Gazing out now across the water to Sitka, Lydia tried to focus on the small log settlement.

"That's the Indian village to the left."

One of the ship's officers was at her left shoulder. She couldn't recall his name hut gave him a brief smile. "Are the Indians happily settled there?"

"I suppose they might be," the man replied. "They call that area the Ranche. The Russians gave it that name after a term they picked up in one of their California colonies."

Lydia let her gaze travel to the rows of long log houses. They were quite large, and she supposed several families could live within one structure. A high wooden stockade ran up from the beach to the first of three blockhouses. Aunt Zerelda had told her many stories about the Tlingit Indians of the area. Her aunt had a strong affection for these people, although she admitted that their ways often confused her.

"Many of the town's buildings are in disrepair," the officer told her. When most of the Russians left, taking their businesses with them, the town suffered greatly. However, there are still numerous stores and saloons." He smiled. "Always there must be saloons."

Lydia nodded. Zerelda had told her of at least two breweries that made liquor for the area people. It seemed importing liquor to Alaska was not legal, hut creating it there apparently was acceptable. Zerelda hated it because the Tlingits seemed to have little physical tolerance for the stuff, yet found it much desired.

"I understand you have family here."

Lydia gave the man a brief nod. "My aunt has lived here since before the purchase. She is a nurse."

"Did she come to help with the military hospital?"

"No. She was hired by a German family. It seems the wife was taken with bouts of illness, and the husband wanted her to have a learned companion who could aid her when sickness kept her bedfast."

A young sailor approached them. "Beggin' your pardon, Captain said to tell you the launch is ready."

"I suppose this is farewell," Lydia 's companion declared. "We will he here for a short time, so perhaps I will see you again."

Lydia realized the man seemed more than a little interested in her response to his suggestion. She felt her stomach roil and pitch as the ship shifted in the water. "Perhaps." She offered nothing more.

Collecting her things, Lydia refused the officer's help and made her way to where the launch awaited passengers. Lady Franklin and Miss Cracroft were already settled when Lydia took her place on hoard. She allowed the young man there to take her carpetbag, while she held tightly to her violin.

"The rest of your things will he brought ashore later today"

Lydia nodded. "I'll send someone for them."

If the larger ship had proven difficult for Lydia 's composure, the smaller vessel was even worse. The constant motion made her nauseated, and she feared she might be sick once again.

She straightened and again dabbed the handkerchief to her face, hoping the boat would soon dock. Lady Franklin whispered something to her niece and it was only a moment before the woman reached toward Lydia.

"My aunt suggests a hit of peppermint will help."

Lydia took the offering and put it in her mouth, anxious to try anything that might settle her stomach. Almost immediately the candy seemed to help. She drew a deep breath and eased back against the seat, hugging the violin case close for comfort. The journey was nearly over. Soon she would see Zerelda, and all would be well.

Forcing her mind to focus on the happiness she hoped to find in Sitka, Lydia gazed up at the mountains. The snowy peaks were majestic, washed in sunshine that seemed to drift down the mountainside, illuminating thick forests of spruce and fir. It was every bit as lovely as Zerelda had described.

Tiny green islets dotted the water around the harbor as they approached the small wharf. Some of the islands actually appeared to have people living on them. Lydia wondered what it might he like to live isolated from everyone else, and then realized that in many ways, that was exactly what life in Sitka would be like for her.

Lydia couldn't help but wonder where Zerelda lived. Her aunt had described the property and her cabin on Baranof Island, but Lydia had no idea how to find her. She could only hope that someone would know Zerelda and be able to point the way.

The men tied off the small launch, then went to work helping the women onto the dock. Lydia felt a wave of nausea wash over her again. She would he so glad to he off the water. Apparently she wasn't well suited to ocean travel. Not that she planned to depart Sitka any time soon. She was determined to stay even if she hated the isolation and primitive ways.

"Careful, ma'am, the dockboards are uneven," a grizzled seaman announced, handing Lydia her hag. She nodded, fighting to get even footing.

"You'll probably not have your land legs yet… I mean limbs." The man flushed red and turned away.

Lydia was glad that he went off to help Lady Franklin. She didn't want to stand around waiting. With a cautious step forward, Lydia marveled at how weak she felt. Her legs acted like rubber sticks, not fully willing to support her weight. She longed to sit down, but there was nothing available until the end of the wharf.

People hustled around the docks. Most were men either coming off small fishing boats or preparing to head out. Some threw her an appreciative glance hut remained focused on their work. Lydia tried to keep her eye on the rough-hewn bench at the end of the wharf. If she could just make it there, she could rest.

She forced herself to watch the men work at their various tasks in order to keep her mind off of being sick. She marveled at the way young men jumped on and off the tethered fishing boats. Ahead on the dock, there were several freighters loading supplies. They seemed to have little trouble at all with the massive crates. Their arms bulged muscle, yet their expressions remained relaxed, as if they carried nothing more than a baby.

Taking another step, dizziness blurred Lydia 's vision. She struggled with her bag a moment, then put it down, lest she drop her violin. Reaching to take hold of something to steady herself, Lydia realized there was nothing. She closed her eyes, hoping the world would right itself.

"Arc you all right?"

Lydia opened her eyes again. She saw a tall, blond-haired man at her side, but when she tried to answer him words would not come. Blackness overtook her as warm arms wrapped around her shoulders.

Kjell Lindquist stared in dumbfounded silence at the woman in his arms. He had come to the docks to check on the new saw blade he was expecting, and now… this. He shifted the young woman's weight and lifted her. Looking around, Kjell couldn't help but wonder what he should do. His wagon was at the edge of the road. Maybe he could take her to the hospital.

"Looks like you've hauled in a good catch," Briney Roberts called from his boat, the Meiji, Maid.

"She just fell into my arms out of nowhere."

Brincy laughed. "Well, weren't you just saying the other day that if the good Lord had a wife for you, He'd have to drop her into your arms?"

Kjell nearly let go of the woman. He had said just that. Pushing aside the thought, he decided it was just coincidence and not providence. The young woman moaned, and Kjell couldn't help but look at her. Her skin was so pale, yet she was quite lovely. She reminded him of a fine china doll.

Looking at the stranger with a mix of amazement and concern, Kjell felt strangely at peace holding her. There was something about the dark-haired beauty that intrigued him. The woman started to stir. What would he say to her, How could he help her?

Black lashes fluttered open to reveal dark brown eyes. At first, the woman said nothing; she was clearly stunned. Kjell smiled, hoping to assuage any fears she might have.

"Hello," he said softly. "I believe you fainted."

"I suppose I did." She put her hand to her head. "I don't travel well on the water."

Kjcll gave a chuckle. "You aren't alone. Many folks have a hard time." He thought she might ask him to put her down, but when she didn't, he started walking toward his carriage. "My name is Kjcll. Kjcll Lindquist."

"Chell? What kind of name is that?"

"It's Swedish. Doesn't look a thing like it sounds."

She closed her eyes and reopened them as if trying to focus. Kjell thought she might faint again, but instead she said, "My name is Lydia Gray.

"I have my wagon here. Can I drive you someplace?" he offered.

"I don't know. I don't know where I'm going."

He grinned. "Well, I'm hettin' you'd rather it he someplace other than the dock."

She nodded. "My aunt lives here, but I don't know where."

"What's her name? I know just about everyone. Sitka isn't that big, you know" He reached the wagon and stepped up with Lydia held tightly in his arms. She hardl7' weighs anything, he thought, depositing her on the seat. He sat down beside her. "So do you know your aunt's name?"

"Of course I do. It's Zerelda Rockford."

"Oh, Zee. Of course I know her. Wonderful woman-great friend to everyone she meets. Everyone loves her. She lives down a ways on the Saherhagen property."

Nodding, the small woman smiled. "Yes, that's her. She worked for Mr. Saherhagen and his wife. You call her Zee? How unusual."

"She started it. Some of the Tlingit children had trouble saying her name, so she shortened it to Zee."

Lydia suddenly turned and pointed. "My hag! My violin." She started to climb down from the wagon, but Kjell stopped her.

"I'll get them. Sorry, I didn't see them." He bounded out of the wagon and hack down toward the dock, where a heavy carpetbag and violin case awaited retrieval.

When everything was secured, Kjell took up the reins and urged the matched draft horses forward. "Get along now, boys." They headed south along Sitka 's main road, pulling the load in their effortless manner. They seemed to instinctively know where their master wanted them to go, which allowed Kjcll time to consider the woman at his side. What in the world had brought her to Alaska? She hardly looked prepared for life in the small island community-she wasn't even wearing sturdy hoots.

"I want to thank you for helping me hack there. I've not felt well since leaving San Francisco." She straightened a little but remained pale. "I had thought maybe Zerelda would he there to meet inc, but I realized too late that my last letter to her likely hadn't preceded me."

"It's probably on the same ship that brought you," Kjcll said. "Zee won't care, though. She'll be so happy to see you it won't matter."

"And how can you be so sure?" Lydia asked. "You don't know anything about me."

"Don't he so sure about that. I've heard Zee talk quite a hit about her one and only niece. She thinks of you as a sort of daughter." Kjcll could see that Lydia was not bearing well with the bouncing wagon. "Why don't you stop trying to impress me with your ladylike posture and lean against me? You're sick, and there's no reason to be ashamed of it."

To Kjell's surprise, she didn't fight him on the idea. Nodding, she slouched against him. "I am sorry."

"You don't need to be. Truth be told, I'm the sorry one. Sorry that the roads aren't better and that the wagon springs are so bad."

Lydia looked up at him and shook her head. "What will your wife think when word gets back to her that you were seen like… like this?"

"I'm not married, so I don't anticipate a problem," he said with a wink. "I hope there won't be any jealous husbands hunting inc down…"

The woman blushed and lowered her gaze. "No, I'm a widow."

"I'm sorry" he murmured, not knowing what else to say.

"Don't he," Lydia replied without even pausing for breath.

This truly served to confuse Kjell. There was a bitter hatred edging the woman's words. She must have lived a pretty awful life if she could say such a thing. Maybe someday she would tell him more about it.

"I bought supplies in San Francisco. I'm afraid there is quite a bit. I wasn't at all sure what would be useful to Zerelda. Might I hire your services, Mr. Lindquist, to bring them to Zerelda's place once they are unloaded from the Newbeni?

"I'd he happy to help, but there's no need to offer me pay. Folks up here help each other without it. We have to help one another, you know"

My aunt has often said as much." She closed her eyes and sighed.

The wheels sank into a deep hole, bouncing the wagon hard. Lydia sprang up as if she intended to jump. She didn't reach for Kjcll, but he put out his arm to keep her in place.

"Sorry. We do the best we can," he told her.

Lydia nodded and remained rigid in her seat. She stole a glance at him, and Kjell couldn't help but return her gaze. My, but she sure is pvetty, he thought. Like a spring blossom. He had to admit he wasn't in the least hit sorry that he'd been the one to catch her.

With no reserve strength, Lydia let herself lean on Kjcll once again. It went totally against her better judgment, but she couldn't help herself. Men had caused her nothing but pain and miseryalways betraying her trust. Still, despite her misgivings, she felt at case with this man.

How strange. I ve never felt comfortable with any man, and now this total stranger leaves nee without concern. It's almost as if I've known him, a lifetime.

Paying little attention to the surroundings, Lydia felt her stom" ach lurch. She was going to be sick again. "Oh, please stop.

Kjell reined hack on the horses just as Lydia leaned over the side of the wagon. Her abdominal muscles churned violently, bringing up what little was left in her stomach. To her embarrassment, she felt Kjell's arms slip around her steadying her as she continued to he sick. She waited for the misery to end and then drew a deep breath.

"I'm afraid there's no ladylike way to do this. I'm sorry," she said in a tone that came out more whimper than anything.

"Don't he on my account," Kjell said, pulling her gently back toward him. "Lots of folks get seasick. I had a friend who didn't stop feeling the rocking of the waves for weeks."

"1 hope that won't be my case," she said, shaking her head weakly. "I don't think I could live that long in this state."

"I'll pray it passes much quicker for you," Kjell stated softly.

She didn't argue with him. If there was even a remote possibility that God truly cared, she would welcome any help in overcoming this sickness.

"Do you feel good enough for us to go on?" he asked. "Your aunt's place is just up the hillside over there."

Lydia nodded and tried to see the cabin she would soon call home. It looked quite small. What if it was too small? What if Zerclda had no desire for her to stay there?

"Arc there other places to rent?" Lydia asked. "I mean, if my aunt can't have me."

He chuckled. "You'd be hard-pressed to get away from Zerclda once she sees you. Besides, there aren't any places available."

"Its just that I hate to impose myself upon her. She might not have the room."

"My guess is she'll make the space if she doesn't have it," Kjcll replied. "But don't worry about it. If she won't have you, there arc dozens of men in town who would seek your hand in marriage before the sun goes down. Zerelda gets asked at least ten times a day, I'm sure."

"That may he. However, they would ask in vain where I'm concerned. I don't intend to ever marry again."

Kjell surprised her by shaking his head. "That husband of yours must have really hurt you."

Lydia met his gaze. "You have no idea."