{"id":1098,"date":"2019-02-12T13:38:17","date_gmt":"2019-02-12T18:38:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/read.whitefire-publishing.com\/?p=1098"},"modified":"2020-03-15T11:38:45","modified_gmt":"2020-03-15T15:38:45","slug":"in-the-land-of-white-nights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/whitefire-publishing.com\/read\/in-the-land-of-white-nights\/","title":{"rendered":"In the Land of White Nights"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>
\n

In the Land of White Nights<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

by Bonnie Leon<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anna or rivers of gold\u2014which will captivate his heart?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lure of the nineteenth-century gold rush calls to Erik, a civil-war veteran. He and Anna, his Aleutian bride, set sail for a new life together in Sitka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anna stands strong against the adversities of the new land with its unfamiliar culture and fearsome challenges. She fights the prejudice of others, while growing her newfound faith in the white man\u2019s God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When forced to move farther north and begin again, Anna refuses to give up, allowing nothing to stand in the way of her family\u2019s happiness. They discover joy as well as heartache in the Alaskan wilderness. But will Erik\u2019s love of gold put all they\u2019ve worked so hard for in jeopardy?<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t

Chapter 1<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Alaskan Territory<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

May 1869<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anna\u2019s stomach tightened as\nshe watched the dory travel back to the dock of onlookers, leaving her on the\nship anchored in the harbor. Was this the right thing to do? Would whites\naccept Indians like her into their world?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Erik moved to\nher side and smiled down at her. \u201cReady?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nodding, Anna\nstepped forward on the wooden decking of a sturdy clipper ship. She held baby\nLuba in her arms and her five-year-old sister, Iya, stayed close beside her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The captain\nshouted orders to put out to sea, and the crew set to work, clambering over\nriggings, pulling on lines, and climbing up masts to unfurl the sails. The men\nworked in unison, almost as if in a dance. The sails expanded and the ship\nmoved beneath Anna\u2019s feet as they headed into the deeper waters of Cook Inlet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She turned her\nface into the wind and couldn\u2019t keep from smiling. Cool air caressed her\ncheeks, the clean smell of the sea lifting her spirits. Stifling an impulse to\nlaugh, she glanced down at Iya and squeezed her hand and hugged Luba more\ntightly. What would Kinauquak say about her taking his child to a new land? He\nwould want what was best. He would want her to be loved. Anna pressed a kiss to\nher daughter\u2019s head. Delight at being on the sea once more swept away fears of\nthe unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She took a slow,\ndeep breath and looked up at her betrothed. Tall and handsome, Erik had his\ngaze fastened on the swelling sails. He seemed aware of nothing but the\nbillowing white canvas that flapped in the wind. His blue eyes shimmered with\nanticipation, and he gripped the railing tightly, as if by doing so he might\nhurry the ship along.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They were on\ntheir way to the place called Sitka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The clipper\ncreaked as it rocked and edged forward, gradually picking up speed as they\nplunged toward the open sea. The small swells gave little resistance, and the\nship skimmed over the waves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shouts and\ncheers came from people standing along the shoreline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anna answered\ntheir spirited farewells with an enthusiastic wave until the well-wishers and\nthe village grew so small she was unable to distinguish them from the beach.\nThen the cove blended into the shoreline and was lost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe will see\nthem again?\u201d Iya asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An ache squeezed\nAnna\u2019s chest. Anna and Iya Dunnak would never return, but Iya didn\u2019t need to\nknow. \u201cMaybe one day we will come back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Erik watched\nher, eyes moist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do his eyes fill with tears or is it the cold wind?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He smiled\nsoftly, then turned and focused on the broad expanse of water stretching out before\nthem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anna followed\nhis gaze, seeing only sky and sea. She closed her eyes, allowing the aroma of\nthe salty ocean and the excitement of adventure to wash over her. The world,\nwith its promise of rich experiences, awaited her and the children. Her hand\nrested on the walrus tooth necklace Erik had found on the beach many months\nbefore. Their new life had begun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many moons ago,\nwhen the giant wave destroyed her home and she left her birthplace to face an\nuncertain future, she\u2019d been afraid. But no longer. She wasn\u2019t alone. She had\nErik, Iya, and Luba, and Erik\u2019s God, who watched over them. They would share a\ngood life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Erik leaned against the railing and placed his hand on Anna\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With her eyes\nstill closed, she whispered, \u201cI love you.\u201d The wind whisked away the words, and\nshe looked into the warmth of Erik\u2019s eyes. \u201cThis is right. It is good.\u201d She\nsqueezed his hand. \u201cWe will be together always.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luba whimpered\nand squirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anna lifted the\ninfant and peered into her round, flushed face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The little girl\u2019s\neyes teared in the wind, and her nose was red from the cold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDo you want to\ngo to a new home?\u201d Anna smiled at her little one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luba chortled,\nkicked her feet in the air, and swung her fists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Erik put his arm\naround Anna\u2019s shoulders and pulled her next to him. \u201cI think that\u2019s a yes.\u201d He\npatted the little girl on the fanny, then turned to Iya. \u201cHow about you? Are\nyou ready to make a new home?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grinning\nbroadly, Iya nodded. \u201cI am glad to go. You say it is the right thing for us. So\nI know it is true.\u201d She leaned on the railing, tipped forward, and watched the\nwaves wash against the hull.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIya, no!\u201d Anna\nyanked the little girl back from the balustrade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iya lost her\nfooting and landed on her backside on the deck. Wearing a bewildered\nexpression, she looked up at Anna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am sorry.\u201d\nAnna\u2019s reckless reaction had only caused more trouble. \u201cIt is not safe there.\nYou could fall into the sea. Stay away from the railing. Until we are on land,\nyou must be with me or Erik \u2026 always.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe\u2019s all\nright.\u201d Erik lifted Iya and set her on her feet. \u201cI suppose we should find our\nrooms and get our gear stored.\u201d He moved toward the captain, who stood just a\nfew paces away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The paunchy,\nfriendly looking man had a pipe in his mouth and a small black cap pulled down\nover unruly brown hair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m Erik\nEngstrom.\u201d Erik extended his hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The captain bit\ndown on his pipe and accepted the greeting. \u201cCaptain Bradley. Glad to have you\naboard.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHappy to be\nhere. I was wondering if you could tell me where my friends and I might find\nour cabins.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The captain\npeered at Anna and the children from beneath the rim of his hat. One eyebrow\ncocked, he looked back at Erik. \u201cCertainly.\u201d He called to his first mate. \u201cShow\nthese passengers to their cabins.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sailor\nbobbed his head. \u201cAye, Captain.\u201d He turned to Erik. \u201cYour name, sir?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEngstrom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The man\nconsulted a list. \u201cTwo rooms?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFollow me,\u201d the\nsailor said curtly and marched toward the companionway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Erik set his jaw\nas Anna had seen him do many times before. He was unhappy about something, but\nhe said nothing as he gathered their belongings and followed. Uneasy, Anna\nhoisted Luba onto her hip, took Iya\u2019s hand, and trailed along behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After following\nthe seaman down a flight of stairs, they entered a narrow passageway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A woman with a\nsmall boy approached from the other direction. She hugged the wall and pulled\nthe child in close, as if protecting him from intruders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A lump formed in\nAnna\u2019s throat. She tried to smile, but the woman looked away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sailor\nstopped outside a wooden door. \u201cThis one be yours, sir,\u201d the crewman said as he\nunlocked the door. He handed Erik the key, then proceeded to the next doorway\nand, without looking at Anna, said in an unpleasant tone, \u201cThis one\u2019s for you\nthree.\u201d He dropped the key in Anna\u2019s hand, quickly retraced his steps, and\ndisappeared up the stairwell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anna stared at\nthe door to her room, then looked at Erik. We\nstill do not share a bed?<\/em> Hurt grew inside. At the beach he refused to\nshare a hut with her, but why now? They were promised to each other. Before the\ngreat wave had taken her beloved Kinauquak, he had never turned away from her.\nHot tears of humiliation built up behind her eyes. Did Erik not love her?\nFighting to control her emotions, she asked, \u201cWhy do you stay there?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Erik blushed and\nlooked at the key in his hand. When he looked up, he wore a crooked smile and\ncleared his throat. \u201cI explained that back at the beach. We can\u2019t live together\nuntil we\u2019re married.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anna swiped at\nher tears. \u201cWhy? I do not understand. You say you love me but do not wish to\nshare my bed?\u201d She took a quaking breath, afraid of the question she must ask.\n\u201cYou do not wish to be with me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Erik moved\ncloser. He cupped her chin in his hand and lifted her face and looked into her\neyes. \u201cI love you very much.\u201d He stopped as if to gather his thoughts. \u201cI know\nthe customs of your people are not the same as the white man\u2019s, and I do not\nwant to hurt you, but we must wait. It would be wrong for me to share your bed\nbefore we are married.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anna released a\nsigh as he enfolded her in his arms. Of course he loved her. She pressed close.\n\u201cWhy are we not husband and wife?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe will be as\nsoon as I can find a minister to marry us. I know this is hard for you to\nunderstand, but God wouldn\u2019t be happy with me if I disobeyed Him in this. We\u2019ll\nbe married soon. I\u2019m sure there\u2019s a minister in Sitka.\u201d He hugged her more\ntightly. \u201cI can\u2019t wait to be your husband. It\u2019s what I want more than anything\nin this world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why did his God\nnot want them together? She managed a small smile. \u201cWe wait as you say.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Erik unlocked\nher door and carried her bag inside. The room was tiny, with what looked like\ntwo pallets, one above the other on one wall, and a washstand on the other. At\nthe end of the room, a round window let in dim light, and next to that a cabinet\nwas tucked into the corner. On the opposite corner stood an ugly, black stove.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anna unlatched\nthe door and peered inside, trying not to breathe in coal dust. \u201cWhat is this?\u201d\nCoughing, she backed away from the blackened interior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA coal stove.\nIt\u2019s for heat. I\u2019ll show you how to use it later.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anna pointed to\nthe pallets. \u201cWhat are these?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBunk beds,\u201d\nErik said. \u201cYou sleep on them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iya climbed onto\nthe top bunk. \u201cI will sleep here.\u201d She sat on the edge and hung her legs over\nthe side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anna set Luba on\nthe floor and sat on the lower bed, exhaustion suddenly pulling at her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ll get\nsettled in my room while you put your things away and rest. I\u2019ll meet you on\ndeck later.\u201d Erik stepped out and closed the door behind him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Erik gone,\nthe tiny room felt empty. Anna\u2019s earlier enthusiasm faltered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Erik should be\nwith her and the children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luba fussed and\nAnna lifted the infant up from the floor and then sat on the hard bunk to nurse\nher while Iya explored the cabin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A mirror over\nthe vanity brought a delightful exclamation from the little girl as she\nexamined her reflection. \u201cThis is better than Mama\u2019s tiny glass. Much better!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anna couldn\u2019t\nresist the temptation to look. Standing behind Iya, she gazed at her\nreflection. Gold, almond-shaped eyes stared back at her. Although Anna had\nknown for some time that she\u2019d grown into a woman, she was surprised to see\nthat the girl she remembered had changed so. She brushed dark-brown hair back\nfrom her face, exposing a smudge of dirt on her cheek. She scrubbed at it,\nfrowning when it didn\u2019t come off. Holding Luba in one arm, she poured water\nfrom the pitcher on the washstand into a bowl, took a rough towel hanging from\na wooden bar, and dipped it in the water, then scrubbed at the dirt again.\nFinally, it submitted to her efforts. \u201cThis is helpful.\u201d She washed Iya\u2019s face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The little girl\ngrimaced, pulled away, and quickly found something new to investigate. She\npeered beneath the bunks, reached into the dark recesses, and pulled out a\nsmall pot. She removed the lid and tipped it one way then another. \u201cWhat is\nthis?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anna shrugged.\n\u201cAsk Erik. He will know.\u201d She sat on a wobbly, wooden chair and finished\nnursing Luba. The movement of the ship felt peculiar in the close quarters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luba was content\nto sit on the floor and play with her mother\u2019s hairbrush while Anna put away\ntheir few belongings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the room\nlooked tidy, she said, \u201cWe will go meet Erik now.\u201d With Luba strapped to her\nback and Iya hanging on to her hand, she slipped out the door and headed for\nthe stairway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Erik leaned on\nthe deck rail, watching the shoreline. When he spotted them, he straightened.\n\u201cIs your room all right? You get everything put away?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iya took a\nlittle hop toward Erik. \u201cThere is a big glass where I see myself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have one\ntoo.\u201d Erik grinned. \u201cBut I\u2019m sure your reflection is a lot prettier than mine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere is\nsomething under our bed I do not know. It is like a bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A blush rose in\nhis cheeks, and he chuckled. \u201cThat\u2019s a chamber pot.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat is chamber\npot?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s there for\nwhen you have to relieve yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iya\u2019s expression\nremained perplexed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou know, when\nyou have to go in the weeds?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding\ndawned on Iya\u2019s face. \u201cThat is smart to have.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anna turned her\nattention toward the sea, gazing at spray kicked up by the waves as the ship gently\nrocked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gulls squawked\noverhead and dived between the sails and rigging, looking for tidbits a sailor\nmight have carelessly laid aside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ship cut\nthrough the water at an astonishing pace. Surely it would only be a matter of\ndays before they pulled into Sitka Harbor. It was there her new life would\ntruly begin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Erik had said it\nmight be hard, that some white people wouldn\u2019t trust them because they were\nIndians, like the woman in the passageway with the little boy. They wanted\nnothing to do with a native.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is that how it\nwould be everywhere in the new place called Sitka?<\/p>\n\n\n