LITMIR.BIZ

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other and smiled. On their tour yesterday, Joe had been quite a character, providing them with anecdotes about his ancestors. Then he’d made fun of Kendra’s pronunciations of some Tlingit words and told story after story until their stomachs hurt from laughing so hard.

      Sashi loved this man’s company and thought it was a shame they were cutting their tour short, all because of Freddy. But it wasn’t her place to say anything. After all, Kendra was the one paying for this three-day adventure trip with Joe.

      For some reason, Sashi feared that this last hurrah in Red Bay would be a disaster. She’d told Kendra that if Freddy Marshall had been serious about her, he would have wanted to be alone with Kendra. But her friend had refused to listen. She had insisted she needed to see Freddy and the group one more time before they left Alaska.

      All these thoughts filled Sashi’s mind as she watched Joe exit the plane first and walk up the slope to the split-level cabin. Once he felt the area was safe, he called to them. They put on the fishing waders Joe had given them, then grabbed their night packs.

      Kendra got out of the plane ahead of Sashi, visibly bursting with excitement and the knowledge that Sashi, whose waders were two sizes too big for her and whose pack weighed half as much as she did, was going to need help. Sashi watched her friend walk up the moss- and rock-laden hill.

      After throwing down her pack, Kendra returned to the shore and stood half in, half out of the water. She grinned as Sashi was planning her next move.

      “Sashi, what are you doin’?”

      “I’m sitting here thinking of all the predicaments I’ve been in this summer. I have to tell you this is a classic.” Still clinging to the edge of the plane’s opening, Sashi could tell Kendra was trying hard not to laugh. Kendra knew Sashi hated depending on people in any way.

      “Would you mind if I go get my camera?” Kendra asked. “We’re lucky that it’s such a nice day for the end of August.”

      “I thought you’d never ask,” Sashi said drily. “Go ahead, then maybe you can help me get off this plane.”

      In a minute Kendra was back with a camera, took a few shots, then helped Sashi wade to shore. They were both laughing as the waders kept smacking Sashi in the face.

      Finally the two of them made it into the cabin. Joe had made a fire and had coffee brewing for the three of them. While Kendra kept a vigil at the window waiting for Freddy’s plane to appear, Joe took Sashi to the back of the cabin.

      She eyed her wily comrade. “What’s all this?” He’d been up to something. The old chief possessed the wisdom and the walk of a great tribal leader from the past.

      Joe’s voice grew hushed as he placed his hands on her shoulders. “You remind me of a lone wolf pup. It’s in your eyes and in your wild red hair. Just learning about its power and strength is what makes you so strong.”

      He picked up a small, rectangular handheld device. “My daughter and her husband gave this to me for my birthday. It’s a personal locater beacon if there’s an emergency. Don’t leave the cabin without it.”

      “But, Joe, don’t you need it?”

      He pulled another one out of his vest.

      “Are they connected?” Sashi asked.

      He shook his head and his eyes danced with laughter. “To satellites, yes. Me, no. I have a good friend who is a doctor named Cole Stevens. Like you he is a wolf, also a loner. He never leaves home without one. He got it for me. Same birthday, I think.”

      “I’ve met Dr. Stevens. I’m supposed to meet up with him again tomorrow.”

      Joe’s face broke out in a radiant smile. “Ah. He has finally found his mate.”

      Sashi’s face reddened. “Oh, that’s a little bit out there, Joe. We just met.”

      “No, Joe is usually right.”

      “You’ve got to be making this up.” She loved the way he referred to himself in the third person. She tried not to laugh while she held a hot cup of coffee in her hand.

      “I laugh about Joe all the time,” he said. “But I never laugh about safety. Never.” He held the device in his hand and showed her how to turn it on. With care he explained how each device was coded by its own transmitter signal.

      “Here’s the funny part,” Joe said. “Cole and my daughter are very good friends, but they don’t know Joe has two devices.” By his smile, she knew he enjoyed telling the story. “Since they know I have little faith in modern technology always working, they offer to pay the yearly fee.”

      Sashi bit her lip, trying to understand this man. “But if you don’t trust the devices, then why carry them?”

      “Now Joe never said he didn’t trust the devices.” His finger shook, but his smile was back. “I like an extra one in this land of the Raven. Because of this old body, it gives me peace of mind in the back country.”

      “Where will you be tonight? I don’t want to take your peace of mind.”

      Joe shook his head. “You want to take a piece of my mind and keep the device on you.” He tucked it into a pocket on her padded vest. “Now let me give you another piece of my mind.” For the next ten minutes he told Sashi about bear mace and how to survive in bear country.

      “Thank you,” she said, then hugged him. “Where are you flying now?”

      His eyes lit up. “I’m going back to Ketchikan to be with my daughter, granddaughter and son-in-law.”

      “Until tomorrow, then.”

      “I will be here early.”

      Sashi followed him out of the cabin and down the steep slope. “Can you give me an idea of what time exactly?”

      “Depends on the weather.” Joe looked up at the sky, then back to her. “As you know, Mother Earth is going into her rainy season. I’ll be here about nine.” He smiled, waved goodbye and made his way down to the plane. “You worry about me too much, little wolf. I’m the one who’s worried about you out here without a gun. I wish you ladies would take one.”

      “Joe, Freddy’s coming and I know he always carries at least two guns. Even so, we know bear safety. Everything will be all right.”

      With his long, salt-and-pepper hair and beautiful jewelry that shook as he moved, Joe cut an elegant figure out here in nature. He eyed her. “You talk so tough I almost believe you. Then you turn sideways and I forget you even exist.”

      She put her hands on her hips and laughed.

      He gave her one last wave, then began to wade to the plane.

      Deep down Sashi wondered if Freddy was really going to come or if he was going to let Kendra down like he’d done so many times. Her heart ached for her friend, but when she remembered tomorrow when she’d see Cole again, the emptiness that had filled her life for so long seemed to fade.

      * * *

      COLE LOOKED AT THE LITTLE GIRL seated on the edge of the hospital bed holding her mom’s hand tightly. Her blond hair and big blue eyes reminded him of Jake’s daughter. His friend was a lucky man. Cole wasn’t a pediatrician, but he’d learned a few tricks to get kids to cooperate.

      “So I hear your name is Maggie the Magician.” His expression was kind as he looked at this cutie.

      The girl shook her head, but then she smiled.

      “Let’s try again. Is your name Maggie the Magnet?”

      “No! You’re silly. I’m Maggie Johnson.” Her tiny voice had come out in a whisper.

      “Wow. I wish my name was Maggie Johnson. Then I’d be really cool like you.”

      “But you can’t because you’re an old man.” Her voice was firmer now.

      Her

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