2

Downstairs, she followed the smell of food to the kitchen. 

“Got tators frying and saltpork in the pan,” Pete said. “Turnips from the garden are boiling. We’re eating good tonight.”

Exactly what I’d be eating in San Francisco. Ginny mused that some things didn’t change, even this far away from anywhere. 

Pete scraped their suppers onto two tin plates and gestured to the rough-hewn table and chairs. He stabbed a bite of turnip and shoved it past his beard into his mouth. “Like I told you, I want to try my hand at striking gold. Might as well, seeing as I’m already up here. If I get rich, I won’t want to own no hotel no more. If I go bust, I’ll need money from it again.”

Ginny’s heart thumped with excitement. “So you don’t want me to buy it, just to run it?”

“For the time bein’. I’m willing to give you seventy-five percent of what you take in if I come back poor and take it over again, though I’d most likely keep you on. If I strike it rich, you can keep it all.”

Ginny smiled. Her heart brimmed so full of joy that she could hardly think what to say. She swallowed over a lump in her throat. “This is a very generous offer. And I’m happy to accept. Of course, I’ll want it in writing so it will be legal. Do you know anyone who can write it up?”

“Sure. Ole Soapy will do it. We’re good friends. He’s goin’ to help me get outfitted.”

“That sounds all right. Can we get it done soon?”

“Sure. In the morning . I’m wantin’ to get free of this place to get ready for my trip.”

Ginny stared at Pete. Her mind whirled in a million directions. There would be so much to do, meals to plan, rooms to clean. Her excitement dulled her appetite. Thank you so much. This is a perfect solution for each of us.”

Pete wiped his plate clean with a chunk of potato. “It shore does.”

Ginny went up to bed when he declined her offer to help clean the kitchen.

He insisted. “You’re tired from the trip. Get some shut-eye.”

She was tired. She climbed the stairs to her room, changed to her nightgown, and crawled into bed. 

She slept well that night, dreaming of her new venture and also of her bumpy landing in the arms of the young Eskimo man. In this dream, she was falling from a great height. The young man raised his arms and she fell into them. She felt protected and secure. She wanted him to hold her forever. She was disappointed to awake alone to sunlight gleaming through her white lace curtains . She knew it had been up for hours. She shook off the strange feelings she’d had from her dream and dressed for breakfast. 

It was Sunday morning. She wondered if Pete’s friend would be available to write up the agreement. She pulled off her gown and smoothed the dress she had worn on the previous evening. It would have to do for today. 

Downstairs, Pete had left biscuits for her, as well as a note on the table that he’d gone to see Soapy. She smiled, appreciating his consideration. She plucked a biscuit from the pan, poured coffee and sat down to eat, enjoying the leisure. Hard work would soon be upon her again. To offer rooms as a boarding house, would mean offering meals. Taking care of the place and cooking would consume her time. Agitated, she swirled her coffee. Was she up to this? A wave of self-doubt washed over her. She’d heard the winters were brutal. She would have to lay in a supply of firewood, also. 

She straightened her shoulders and cast off her qualms. Determination had served her well in the past. It would serve her again. She would work as hard as it took to make this a well run hotel.

From outside the open window, she heard birds singing. She supposed they enjoyed the return of warmer weather. Their happy songs made her long to be outside. She had always loved the outdoors. Unfortunately, to help Pa make ends meet, she’d often taken jobs indoors. She worked in dank kitchens, doing dishes and laundry and scrubbing floors. She had washwoman knees soon after she left school at thirteen. When Pa died, she’d worked two full jobs to settle his debts. With what she had left over, she’d bought passage for this trip. Now that she was here, she hoped to make a life for herself, one day owning a boarding house, perhaps this one. 

She finished her biscuit and set her coffee tin to soak in a pan of suds. She ran upstairs and pulled on a shawl. Though it was a beautiful day, with a few low clouds and the mountains framing the bay, it was mildly chilly. 

Ginny’s curiosity led her to the back plot behind the hotel. Pete had said he had a garden and Ginny guessed that’s where they would be. She trudged through soft mud from the back door to a plot with chicken wire surrounding it. She saw the green tops of turnips as well as cabbage and onions. She wondered if the fence was only to keep out rabbits and deer. In this land of bear, wolves, and moose, who knew what might appear in the backyard? 

She startled when a shadow appeared beside her. She whirled and looked up into dark native eyes. She remembered her dream, the strong arms that held her and how secure she had felt. He was the most handsome man she had ever seen. 

“I remember seeing you when you got off the ship.”Ginny felt a flush creep up her neck. “I fell into you.”

“I’m glad I was there to catch you. I’m Jack.”

“I’m Ginny from San Francisco. Do you live here in Skagway?”

“When I’m not leading groups to the gold fields.”

Ginny’s curiosity quickened. “I’ve heard the trip is hard. Sometimes people die trying to get there, don’t they?”

“Sometimes. There are two trails. I use the White Pass. It goes up steep mountains. They are very high. And we walk close to drop offs. It is not an easy climb.” 

“What about the animals?”

He raised his dark brows. Ginny found his dark, intelligent eyes enchanting. 

“What animals?”

“Bear and wolves. And what about avalanche?” She felt sure there were other dangers of which she wasn’t even aware. Even native guides might prove a poor match for these. 

“We don’t usually have trouble with animals. They’re spooked by so many men.”

“Do women ever make the trip?”

He nodded. “Quite a few.”

Ginny felt intrigued about the possibility of such a trip. Wearing men’s trousers and traipsing across a wilderness would be a rare opportunity. However, she doubted she’d get the chance.

“I heard you’d be taking over the hotel,” Jack said.

Ginny’s eyes shone. Gratitude at being given a life here filled her heart. “Yes. Pete wants to go to the field and he needs someone here. I come along at just the right time.”

“It’s not an easy life here. Why did you come?”

Ginny sighed. Her memories of her old life were oppressive. “I was tired of scrubbing floors in San Francisco. I wanted a better life, my own property.”

“It can happen. There’s a woman freight outfitter who’s doing well.”

“I want to turn the hotel into a bed and breakfast.”

“You’ll be needing meat. How do you plan to get it?

“Is there somewhere to buy it here?”

“Not really. Most people lay in their own supply. I do a lot of hunting. I can supply if you like.”

Ginny smiled up at him. “That would be wonderful. I could pay you, of course. whatever Pete gave you. I just hope I’ll know how to cook it.”

“I can help you with that, too, but I don’t want to be paid. Helping someone realize a dream is payment enough.”

Ginny’s eyes filled with tears.”Thank you. You are so kind. I don’t know how I’ll repay you. You’ve taken a load off my mind. Are there dry cook stores here? I haven’t had a chance to look around.”

“I could take you on a tour of the town.”

Her heart leaped with joy. Jack was thoughtful and so very handsome and he was offering to acquaint her with the settlement. Perhaps, he had some interest in her, too. 

They walked from the garden to the front of the hotel. The town was active on a late spring morning. Men in plaid work shirts strode down the street or drove wooden wagons along the dirt road. Ginny stepped gingerly across the mud.

They passed the Red Onion Saloon. Ginny had seen plenty of these establishments in San Francisco. 

They passed a restaurant and Ginny paused, “The Skagway Brewing Co. That’s a strange name for a restaurant. What do they serve?”

“Whatever they can. In the winter, they offer wild game, canned goods, bread. In the summer, they have some vegetables, too.”

“Is the food good?”

“I’ve never been there.”

Her curiosity piqued. “Have you ever been to a restaurant?”

“No. No need. I can get my own food.”

Ginny admired this self-sufficient man all the more. He had accomplished the same goal she had, to be able to take care of herself and prosper. And he was handsome, too.

“I want to have the best food in town. I know how to cook,” she said. “I can do this.”

He studied her carefully, letting his gaze rove her face. “With your determination, I believe you will do well. And Pete has spoken well of your cooking.” 

As they continued on, Ginny’s senses were bombarded with so many new sights and feelings. The itch of mosquito bites were a background nuisance.

They ducked into the Union Church. 

Ginny looked around the simple frame interior and wondered what brought people here. 

“The church will be the thing that changes this town from the dishonest men who run it. This will be a good town one day, a good place for families.”

“The church will do all that?” Ginny had doubts that either God or the church folk could do all that. She’d been exposed to the darker elements of life in the squalid slum where she and her father had lived. She’d not seen much of God there.

“With God’s help the believers will overcome the evil,” Jack said. “I love the quiet in here, the closeness to God. Do you feel it?”

“Not really.”

“We should probably get back. I have guide work to tend to.” He gave her a keen look but said nothing as they turned back to the hotel. 

Ginny sat at her open upstairs window and took in more sights of the town. The mosquitoes had not re-discovered her and the view of the mountains was spectacular. As she tried to imagine the mountains in the winter piled with snow and the streets sparkling white, she wondered if the natives ever lost appreciation for the raw beauty. At this moment, with the help of Jack, she looked forward to the challenge of living in this wild, cold land. And since Jack had offered to provide meat, she also hoped he would provide companionship. It would be fascinating to sit by a fire on a cold winter night and hear him talk about his life. 

She admired his skill as a hunter and his kindness as a man. If she could choose one person to rescue her if she were ever lost in this wild land, it would be Jack.