Brides of Alaska by Tracie Peterson Read Free Book Online Page A

her.
    â€œHello,” Julie said nonchalantly.
    Sam smiled broadly. “Hello, yourself. How do you feel?”
    â€œBuried alive,” Julie said as she tried to sit up.
    â€œYou stay put, Jewels,” her father spoke authoritatively. “You nearly froze to death.”
    â€œI remember,” Julie said as she fell back against the pillow.
    â€œYou gave us a bad scare, little sister,” August said, leaning over the foot of Julie’s bed. “I think you aged me ten years, and I’m positive you did the same to Sam.”
    â€œThat’s for sure,” Sam laughed.
    Julie shook her head at the three men.
    â€œHow long did it take for you to find me?” she asked.
    â€œThat depends on how long you were with the dogs,” Sam answered.
    â€œIt couldn’t have been much more than an hour. Maybe half again as much.”
    â€œWell, let’s see.” Vern figured in his head. “We started around nine. That would’ve made it ten or ten-thirty when you left the building. We didn’t find out that you were missing until noon. After that we took turns looking for you. Sam and Kodiak found you just after two.”
    â€œKodiak?”
    â€œThat’s right. When we weren’t having any success finding you, we decided to get help from the dogs. Since you’d been working with Kodiak, we put him onto your scent, and he helped Sam locate you.”
    â€œIs he all right?” Julie questioned weakly.
    â€œWho? Sam?” Vern teased.
    â€œNo, no. Kodiak. He didn’t get too cold, did he?”
    â€œYou stop worrying about that dog. He’s doing fine,” Vern chided. “We need to know how you feel.”
    â€œI hurt,” Julie answered honestly. “I suppose that’s a good sign. I feel like I ought to be issuing a lot of thank you’s.” She looked at the three men who watched her so intently and added, “I thank God for all of you.”
    Vern’s eyes grew misty. “Come on, August. Let’s get some more rocks heated. Sam, you make sure she drinks more of this hot cider.”
    â€œI will,” Sam promised as Vern and August disappeared out the door.
    Julie looked at Sam. He hadn’t shaved, and the shadow of stubble on his face only made him more handsome. “Thank you for saving me,” she whispered.
    â€œYou’ve already thanked me,” Sam stated as he helped her to drink the cider. “Several times.”
    â€œI did? When?”
    â€œWhen I found you. When you were lying here muttering in your sleep. In fact,” Sam said with a self-assured grin, “you said quite a few interesting things.”
    Julie swallowed hard to steady her nerves. “I did? Well, I imagine the cold affected my mind.”
    â€œOh, I don’t know about that,” Sam said in a thoughtful way that made Julie wonder what she’d said.
    â€œJust who are you, anyway?” she questioned, causing Sam to burst out laughing.
    â€œWhat a question! You know full well who I am. Your brother and I have known each other for seven years.”
    â€œI know all that,” Julie said as she stared at the ceiling to avoid losing herself in Sam’s eyes. “I want to know, well, I want to know more.”
    Sam laughed. “All right. Where would you like me to begin?”
    Julie’s forehead furrowed slightly as she considered what she wanted to ask. “I suppose at the beginning,” she finally answered. “Where were you born?”
    â€œSacramento, California, in 1889—although we weren’t there long enough for the ink to dry on the Bible entry. My father was bent on finding gold. He was always late to everything, including the gold rush.”
    Julie laughed. “Unlike his son, who seems to make a habit of arriving right on time.”
    â€œMy father had big dreams. He was one of the reasons I came on up to Nome after my mother died,” Sam