He looked at her with surprise.“Had you ever spilled food on someone that way before?”
She shook her head.“I hadn’t.And I wouldn’t have that time if the man hadn’t pinched my bottom.It surprised me, and I jumped.He was always flirtatious, but he’d never done anything like that before.”
“No wonder you spilled on him.Did you tell your boss about the pinch?”he asked.
“Yes, of course.He told me I was still in the wrong for spilling.It was time for me to leave.”
“I want to go to Massachusetts and hurt the man who dared touch you without your permission.”
“Why?It would do no good.I’m certain he’s pinching someone else’s bottom now.”She sighed.“He watched my friend Sally as well as me.I warned her that he may become physical before I left.”
“Perhaps we can find someone for Sally to marry as well.Then she wouldn’t have to deal with customers putting their hands on her.”
“I’ll write her to see if she’s interested.I’m certain it would have to be next year.Would it even be possible to travel to Yeti in the winter?”she asked.
“By sled dog.But it would be dangerous.The cold would be fatal to many people.”
“Probably best for her to wait until spring then.”
“Definitely.”He pulled at the donkey’s lead as the animal protested the climb.
“What about you?What happened with your parents?”
“My parents were killed in a fire.My father got me out and went back for my mother, and they both died.I was ten.I spent some time in an orphanage, and then when I was thirteen, an older couple came to the orphanage and chose me to work for them because I looked strong.That was the end of my schooling, and I stayed with them until I was old enough to be on my own.They weren’t unkind, but they didn’t treat me with love either.It was just a work arrangement for them.”
“Do you resent them?”she asked.
James looked at her with surprise.“Of course not.They gave me a home and didn’t beat me.What more could an orphan ask for?”
“I suppose you’re right.”The climb at that point was becoming more intense, and he offered a hand to help her.“This part of the journey should take a week up to twelve days.I’m hoping we can do it in a week.”
She nodded.“I’m willing to push as hard as you are to get there.”She couldn’t wait to hug Belle.It had been far too long since they’d seen one another.
“Then let’s plan on stopping only at night when we need to.We’ll journey through lunch and not take a break during the day as most travelers would.”
“That sounds fine.We can eat while we walk.I’ll be sore, but I’ll live.”
“If it gets to be too much, I want you to tell me.”
“All right,” Maggie said, but she knew she wouldn’t be the one to delay their arrival in Yeti.She would push just as hard as he did, no matter how tired and sore she became.
At night, when they camped, they would hold one another close, but no intimacy took place.They were both too tired.
They made it to Lake Bennett in seven days, and retrieved the boat he’d hidden upriver.“Now our legs will get a rest, but we’ll be rowing.We’ll only stop at night,” he told her.
She nodded.She was so tired she couldn’t see straight, but if she needed to row, she would row.Getting to Yeti would have to be their first priority.
As they rowed along the Yukon River, they saw bears, moose, and other wildlife along the way.Each critter excited Maggie, surprising her.She was usually afraid of anything new.Maybe she did have the courage Elizabeth had said was inside her.She was certain the next few weeks would let her know for certain.
