That got his attention. His eyes locked with hers and she started laughing. “Come here,” she said, holding her arms out to Chase. “It’s time you understood that neither of us has anything to fear from Tony. I’ve made my decision and chosen to be your wife. A jealous ex-fiancé doesn’t stand a chance.”
Chase remained where he was, as if he didn’t quite believe her.
Lesley got up from the bed and was halfway across the room before she realized she was nearly naked. It didn’t bother her—she was proud of her body. Chase had made her feel that way. She was focused on the man in front of her, not on herself.
Rising onto her toes, she kissed him lightly.
“Lesley…”
“Shhh.”
He stood perfectly still, and with his eyes closed, allowed her to continue kissing him. When she was satisfied with his lips, she kissed the underside of his jaw, moving her mouth down his neck, then up to his ear. After what seemed like the longest moment of her life, he threaded his fingers through her hair and raised her face to his.
“I want you to be very sure.”
“I am,” she whispered. “I am sure.”
He looked into her eyes. “A hot bath and chocolate sounds like an excellent suggestion,” he said.
Lesley smiled contentedly. Marriage was far better than she’d ever imagined.
* * *
“Where are we going?” Lesley asked. They’d left Victoria that afternoon and had traveled down the Kitsap Peninsula, boarding the ferry from Bremerton to Seattle. Lesley had assumed they’d be heading directly back to her house. If so, Chase was taking an interesting route.
“There’s something I want you to see.”
She glanced at her watch and swallowed her impatience. They’d gotten a later start than they’d expected. Their morning had begun with a hot bath. At least the water had initially been hot, but by the time they finished, it had cooled considerably. Because their schedule was off, they’d been forced to wait for a later ferry.
Their flight to Alaska was leaving early the next morning, and Lesley had a hundred details she needed to take care of before then.
“There,” Chase said, pulling into an asphalt parking lot.
“Where?” She didn’t see anything.
“The billboard,” he said.
Looking up, she saw the original billboard Chase had used to advertise for a wife. The sign had been changed and now read, in huge black letters, THANK YOU, LESLEY, FOR SHARING MY LIFE.
“Well?” he asked, waiting for her to respond.
“I… Oh, Chase, that’s so sweet and so romantic. I think I’m going to cry.” She was struggling to hold back the tears.
“I want to make you happy, Lesley, for the rest of our lives.” He brought her into his arms and kissed her.
Happiness frightened her. Every time she was truly content, truly at peace, something would go wrong, her happiness ruined. The first time it happened, she was a child. A six-year-old. She’d never been happier than the week before they were supposed to leave for Disneyland. Not only had the trip been canceled, but she’d lost her father.
She’d been excited about her wedding to Tony, planning the event, shopping for her wedding dress, choosing her clothes. But he’d broken their engagement, plunging her into depression and then numbness.
Lesley was happy now, and she couldn’t help wondering what it would cost her this time.
Ten
Lesley’s hand reached for Chase’s as the airplane circled Fairbanks, Alaska, before descending. She’d found the view of Alaska’s Mount McKinley, in Denali National Park, awe-inspiring. After living in Seattle, between the Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges, she thought being impressed by Denali was saying something. The tallest peak in North America rose from the land far below, crowned by a halo of clouds.
“Is it all so beautiful?” she asked as the plane made its final approach.
“There’s beauty in every part of Alaska,” Chase told her, “but some of it’s more difficult to see. More subtle.”
“I’m going to love Twin Creeks,” she said, knowing it would be impossible not to, if the area was anything like the landscape she’d seen from the plane.
Chase’s fingers tightened around hers. “I hope you do.”
They landed and were met by a tall, burly man with a beard so thick it hid most of his face. Beneath his wool cap, she caught a glimpse of twinkling blue eyes.
“Pete Stone,” Chase said casually, placing his arm around Lesley’s shoulders. “This is Lesley.”
“You done it? You actually done it?” Pete asked, briefly removing his wool cap and scratching his head. His hair was shoulder-length and as thick as his beard. “You got yourself a wife?”
“How do you do?” Lesley said formally, holding out her hand. “I’m Lesley Goodman.” Pete ignored her proffered hand and reached for her instead, hauling her against him and hugging her so tightly, he lifted her three feet off the ground. Lesley wasn’t offended so much as surprised. She cast a pleading glance at her husband, who didn’t look any too pleased with this unexpected turn of events.
“Pete,” Chase said stiffly. “Put her down. Lesley’s not accustomed to being manhandled.”
“You jealous?” Pete said, slowly releasing her. His grin would’ve been impossible to see beneath the mask of his beard, but his eyes sparkled with delight. “That tells me you care about this little slip of a girl.”
Being nearly six feet tall, Lesley didn’t think of herself as a little slip of anything. She couldn’t help liking Pete despite his bear-hugging enthusiasm.
“Of course I care about her. I married her, didn’t I?”
“You sure did, but then you said you was coming back with a wife if you had to marry yourself up with a polecat.”
“Lesley’s no polecat.”
“I got eyes in my head,” Pete said. “I can see that for myself.”
“Good. Now, is the plane ready or not?” Chase asked, picking up two of their suitcases. He didn’t look at Lesley and she sensed that Chase was annoyed by Pete’s remark about his determination to find a wife. She hadn’t accepted his proposal under any misconception. If she’d turned him down, he would’ve found someone else. She’d known that from the first.
Pete grabbed the two additional pieces of luggage and winked at Lesley. “The plane’s been ready since yesterday. I flew down a day early and raised some heck.”
“Okay, okay,” Chase muttered. He turned to Lesley. “Do you mind leaving right away?” he asked as they approached the four-passenger plane.
“No,” she assured him with a smile. She was eager to reach her new home, and she knew Chase was just as eager to get back. It would’ve been nice to spend some time in Fairbanks, but they’d have plenty of opportunity for that later.
“So,” Pete said to Chase after they’d boarded the plane, “are you going to tell me how you did it?” The two men occupied the front seats, with Chase as the pilot, while Lesley sat in the back.
“Did what?”
“Got someone as beautiful as Lesley to marry you.”
Chase was preoccupied, flipping a series of switches. “I asked her.”
Lesley was mildly insulted that he’d condensed the story of their courtship into a simple three-word sentence.
“That was all it took?” Pete seemed astounded. He twisted around and looked at Lesley. “You got any single friends?”
“Daisy,” she answered automatically, already missing her neighbor.
“Daisy,” Pete repeated as if the sound of her name conjured up the image of a movie star. “I bet she’s beautiful.”
“She’s divorced with two boys,” Chase said, “and she recently started dating a guy she works with, so don’t get your mind set on her.”
Pete was quiet for a few minutes; silence was a rare commodity with this man, Lesley suspected. “I figured you’d get yourself a woman with a couple kids, liking the little rascals the way you do,” he told Chase.
&n
bsp; “Lesley suits me just fine.” Chase reached for the small hand mike and spoke with the air traffic controller, awaiting his instructions. Within minutes they were in the air.
Chase hadn’t told her he was a pilot; Lesley was impressed but not surprised. There was something so capable about him. So skilled and confident. She guessed that he was the kind of man who’d be equal to any challenge, who could solve any problem. Maybe that was typical of Alaskans.
“Won’t it be dark by the time we arrive?” she asked.
Pete laughed as if she’d told a good joke.
“The sun’s out until midnight this time of year,” Chase explained. “Remember?”
Pete twisted around again. “Did Chase tell you much about Twin Creeks?”
“A little.” Very little, she realized with a start. All she knew was that Twin Creeks was near the pipeline and that Chase was employed by one of the major oil companies. The town was small, but there weren’t any exceptionally large cities in Alaska. The population of Fairbanks, according to some information she’d read on the plane, was less than forty thousand.
“You tell her about the mosquitoes?” Pete asked Chase, his voice low and conspiratorial.
“Mosquitoes?” Lesley repeated. She’d considered them more of a tropical pest. There were plenty in the Seattle area, but the air was moist and vegetation abundant. She’d never thought there’d be mosquitoes in the Arctic.
“Mosquitoes are the Alaska state bird,” Pete teased, smiling broadly. “You ain’t never seen ’em as big as we get ’em. But don’t worry, they only stick around in June and July. Otherwise they leave us be.”
“I have plenty of repellant at the cabin,” Chase assured her, frowning.
“Twin Creeks is near the Gates of the Arctic wilderness park. Chase told you that, didn’t he?”
Lesley couldn’t remember if he had or not.
“We’re at the base of the Brooks range, which is part of the Endicott mountains.”
“How long does it take to drive to Fairbanks?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” Pete admitted, rubbing his beard as he considered her question. “I’ve always flown. We don’t have a road that’s open year-round, so not many folks drive that way. Mostly we fly. Folks in Twin Creeks mainly rely on planes for transportation. It’s easier that way.”
“I…see.” Lesley was beginning to do just that. Twin Creeks wasn’t a thriving community as she’d originally assumed. It was a station town with probably a handful of people. All right, she could live with that. She could adjust her thinking.
“Twin Creeks is on the edge of the Arctic wilderness,” Chase said absently, responding to Pete’s earlier remark about the town’s location.
It was difficult to read his tone, but Lesley heard something she hadn’t before. A hesitation, a reluctance, as if he feared that once she learned the truth about living in Alaska, she’d regret having married him. But she didn’t. It wasn’t possible, not anymore. Their honeymoon had seen to that.
“What about the wildlife?” she asked, curious now.
“We got everything you can imagine,” Pete answered enthusiastically. “There’s caribou, Dall sheep, bears—”
“Bears?” She refused to listen beyond that.
“They’re a nuisance if you ask me,” Pete continued. “That’s why most of us have caches so—”
“What’s a cache?” Lesley interrupted.
“A cache,” he repeated as if he was sure she must know.
“It’s like a small log cabin built on stilts,” Chase explained. “It’s spelled c-a-c-h-e, but pronounced cash.”
“Bears and the like can’t climb ladders,” Pete added. “But they do climb poles, so we wrap tin around the beams to keep ’em off.”
“What do you store there that the bears find so attractive?”
“It’s a primitive freezer for meat in the winter.”
“I keep extra fuel and bedding in mine,” Pete said. “And anything else I don’t want the wildlife gettin’. You’ve got to be careful what you put outside your door, but Chase will tell you all about that, so don’t worry. We haven’t lost anyone to bears in two, three years now.” He laughed, and Lesley didn’t know if he was teasing or not.
She swallowed uncomfortably and pushed the thought out of her mind. “I think moose are interesting creatures,” she said conversationally, remembering Lori’s comment.
“We get ’em every now and then, but not often.” Once more it was Pete who answered.
By the time they landed, ninety minutes later, Lesley was both exhausted and worried. After they’d parked the plane in a hangar and unloaded their luggage, Pete drove them to a cabin nestled in a valley of alder, willow and birch trees. Lesley didn’t see any other cabins along the way, but then she wasn’t expecting Chase to live on a suburban street. Neighbors would have been welcome, but he didn’t seem to have any within walking distance.
“See you in the morning,” Pete said, delivering two of the suitcases to the porch. He left immediately, after slapping Chase on the back and making a comment Lesley couldn’t hear. She figured Pete was issuing some unsolicited marital advice.
“You’re meeting him in the morning?” Lesley asked. Chase had told her he needed to be back at work. But she’d assumed he wouldn’t have to go in right away, that he’d be able to recover from his travels first.
“He’s picking me up,” Chase said. “I have to check in. I won’t stay long, I promise.” They were standing on the porch and Lesley was eager to get a look at her new home. The outside didn’t really tell her much. She’d seen vacation homes that were larger than this.
Chase unlocked the door and turned to her, sweeping her off her feet as if she weighed no more than the suitcase. His actions took her by surprise and she gasped with pleasure when she realized he was following tradition by carrying her over the threshold.
Lesley closed her eyes and reveled in the splendor of being in his arms. They kissed briefly, then Chase carried her into the bedroom and they sat on the edge of the bed together.
“This has been the longest day of my life,” Lesley said with a yawn. “I could kill for a hot bath and room service, but I don’t think I’d stay awake long enough for either.”
“I’ve dreamed of having you in this bed with me,” he said in a low voice.
Lesley cupped his face and tenderly kissed his lips. “Come on. I’ll help you bring in the luggage.”
“Nonsense,” Chase countered. “It’s no problem. I’ll get it.”
Lesley didn’t object. While Chase dealt with their suitcases, she could explore their home. The bedroom was cozy and masculine-looking. The walls were made of a light wood—pine, she guessed—with a double closet that had two drawers below each door.
A picture was the only thing on the dresser and Lesley knew in an instant that the couple staring back at her from the brass frame were Chase’s parents. The bed was large, too big for the room, but that didn’t bother her. The floor was wood, too, with several thick, braided throw rugs.
There was a small guest room across the hall, simply furnished with an iron bedstead and a chest of drawers.
Moving into the living room, Lesley admired the huge rock fireplace. It took up nearly all of one wall. He had a television, DVD player and music system. She’d known there was electricity; she’d made a point of asking.
The furniture was homey and inviting. A recliner and an overstuffed sofa, plus a rocking chair. Chase loved books, if the overflowing bookcases were any indication. Between two of them stood a rough-hewn desk that held a laptop computer.
A microwave caught her eye from the kitchen counter, which was a faded red linoleum, and she moved in that direction. The huge refrigerator and freezer stood side by side and looked new, dominating one wall. Everything else, including the dishwasher and stove, were ancient-looking. She’d make the best of it, Lesley decided, but she was putting her word in early. The kitchen was often the heart of a home and she intended to make the
irs as modern and comfortable as possible. From the looks of it, she had her work cut out for her.
“Well?” Chase asked from behind her. “What do you think?”
“I think,” she said, turning and hugging him around the middle, “that I could get used to living here with you.”
Chase sighed as if she’d just removed a giant weight from his shoulders. “Good. I realized as soon as I saw Pete that I hadn’t really prepared you for Twin Creeks. It’s not what you’d call a thriving metropolis.”
“I’ve noticed. Are there neighbors?”
“Some,” he answered cryptically. He held her close, and she couldn’t read his expression.
“Nearby?”
“Not exactly. So, are you ready for bed?” he asked, changing the subject, but not smoothly enough for her not to notice.
“I’ve decided I’ll have a bath, after all.” She planned to soak out the stiffness of all those hours cooped up inside planes.
“There’s one problem,” he said, sounding chagrined. “I don’t have a tub.”
Lesley stared at him. “Pardon?”
“There’s only a shower. It’s all I’ve ever needed. At some point we can install a bathtub, if you want.”
“Okay. I’ll manage.” A shower instead of a bath was a minor inconvenience. She’d adjust.
Chase needed to make a couple of calls and while he was busy, Lesley showered and readied for bed. Her husband of four days undressed, showered and climbed into bed with her.
The sheets were cold and instinctively Lesley nestled close to Chase. He brought her into the warm alcove of his arms, gently kissing her hair.
“Good night,” Lesley whispered when he turned off the light.
“’Night.” The light was off, but the room was still bright. She’d adjust to sunlight in the middle of the night, too, Lesley reasoned. But it now seemed that she was going to have to make more adjustments than she’d realized.
She rolled onto her side and positioned the pillow to cradle her head. She was too tired to care, too tired to do anything but sleep.