Peter nodded. “I would appreciate your assistance as well. They know you, and you can help them feel comfortable with me.”
“Yes. I will help.” Amka nodded at him.
“Good. Then I will head back to my office and gather everything I need. Now that I know there are two sleds, that will help me know how to pack.”
“Amka and I will come to your office and pick you up in about thirty minutes.” Whitney didn’t even bother to look at anyone else. She just headed to the house.
This was what she needed. A mission. The headache would have to be ignored. There were lives on the line, and they needed her.
It feltgood.
Havyn rushed after her older sister. Whitney was more than capable, but with everything that had happened, they needed to look out for each other in ways none of them ever imagined before. “Hey, Whit?”
Whitney looked at Amka. “Go pack whatever you need. I’ll be right there.”
Amka nodded and headed toward the quarters Chuck had built for her family by the milking shed.
“Do you have some things you want me to bring out to the village?” Whitney was always in her element when it came to her dogs and taking care of people.
“No, well, actually, I hadn’t thought of that, but I was wanting to check on you. Are you sure you’re going to be all right by yourself out there?”
Her sister frowned and crossed her arms over her chest. “Of course. I do this all the time.”
“No ... I mean ... well, you’ll be out there with aman.” She didn’t want to imply that Peter would ever do anything to her, but the question still had to be asked.
“Amka will be with me—”
“And I’d like to be too.”
Havyn and Whitney turned.
“Dad!” Havyn rushed to him with outstretched arms. “Are Eli and Bethany with you?”
“No. Not this time. John told me where you’re headed. I have a lead on Stan and could use a ride out there to the gold camp just past Amka’s village.”
“This is a bit of an emergency.” Whitney’s clipped words conveyed her lack of love for the man who was their father.
Dad held up his hands. “I understand that. And I will help too. But I don’t want to miss the opportunity to find Stan for Ruth.”
Havyn watched for her sister’s answer. Ultimately, it was up to her. Her dogs. Her sleds. Her domain.
“Fine. As long as you help Dr. Cameron too, I’m fine with it. But you better pack light. As in, whatever you can carry on your back.”
“I can do that.” Dad squeezed Havyn’s shoulder and sent her a smile. “I appreciate you giving me a ride. I’ve got a small bag with me.” He looked between the two of them. “I’ll go help John and Daniel.”
The awkward silence that followed made Havyn’s chest tighten. She wanted to talk to her sister like they always had, but she couldn’t. And she wasn’t sure why. “Are you sure you’ll be all right?”
Whitney gave her an emotionless smile and patted her arm. “I’ll have my guns and my dogs. I’ll be fine.”
Fine.Her sister’s usual response nowadays. But Whitwasn’tfine. Havyn’s heart broke a little. There wasn’t time to talk about it now. Would she get the chance soon? Before her sister was crushed by the weight of it all? She swallowed and pasted on an encouraging smile. “Well, we will all be praying for you. For the journey, for the village, for Peter to help them. And for your safe return home. You have God with you, Whit.”
Her older sister turned. “I better go pack.” As she walked away, she mumbled, “God is with me. For all the good that does....”
Havyn froze. It was worse than she imagined. When had Whit become so bitter? And to talk about God that way? For a moment she couldn’t breathe.
Maybe she didn’t know her sister as well as she thought.
FIVE
