When he reached the lead dog, the ice splintered and Ray dropped into the frigid water. Standing in the icy river up to his chest, he grabbed one dog and tossed him clear, then grabbed the other and pitched him on the ice before struggling to pull himself free. The ice broke again and again, holding him prisoner.
“Ray! Hold on!” Luke yelled. He stopped the team and ran to the frozen waterway. Grabbing a broken limb, he stepped onto the ice, jamming the branch down in front of him as he walked.
“Get out of here!” Ray yelled. “You'll fall in. Get back!”
Luke ignored him. He punched the ice again and broke through. Then he moved around the spot, testing the thickness. Each time he stepped closer to Ray, the limb pushed through. Finally he moved downstream and tried again. The ice held. He took a tentative step, tested it again, then took another step. While Ray clung to the ice, Luke moved closer.
Shivering uncontrollably, face white, Ray sank below the water. “Ray!” Luke screamed. “Ray!” He didn't want him to die. The possibility created an aching chasm inside. “I want you to live!” he shouted. “You have to live!”
Gasping, Ray reappeared.
“I'm coming. Hang on.” Luke dropped to his stomach and crawled forward, holding out the branch. He wasn't close enough. He pushed forward. Finally it was within Ray's reach. “Grab hold!” Ray stared at the end of the branch, seeming confused. “Grab hold!”
He reached for the lifeline but couldn't hang on. He tried again. This time he got a good handhold and slapped at the water with his legs, trying to climb free. Each time he managed to get his body onto the ice, he broke through.
“Don't struggle,” Luke said. “Just hang on, and I'll pull you.” Ray did as he was told. When he seemed to have a good grip, Luke clambered onto his knees and hauled on the branch, praying it wouldn't break and that the ice would hold them both.
When Ray was partially out of the water, a long drawn-out creak followed by a splintering groan echoed from beneath the ice. Luke stopped. The ice held. Taking a deep breath, he pulled. Finally Ray was completely free of the water. Moving slowly and cautiously, Luke dragged him to the bank.
Shivering so hard it looked as if he were having seizures, Ray tried to stand; but his knees crumpled, and he fell.
“We've got to get you dry,” Luke said, pushing a shoulder under Ray's arm and helping him to his feet. He guided him to a level spot, then ran to his sled and removed a fur blanket.
His lips blue against a white face, Ray struggled to get his coat off, but his hands were shaking too hard.
“I'll do it,” Luke said, unbuttoning the parka and stripping it off. Ray dropped and lay shivering in the snow. “I'm gonna need some help,” Luke said, but Ray acted as if he didn't hear. “Come on. We've got to get your body warm. Get up. Now!”
Ray was beyond hearing and didn't respond. Luke stripped off the rest of his stepfather's clothes, wrapped him in the blanket, then removed his own outer clothing and huddled inside with him, vigorously rubbing Ray's arms and back. His skin was so cold it stunned Luke. He didn't know how the man could survive. But he wasn't about to give up and continued rubbing him down, then held Ray against him, offering his own body's warmth. The shivering eased, and Luke asked, “You any better?”
Ray nodded. “Yeah. I think so.”
“OK. Stay put. I'll start a fire.”
Luke climbed out from under the blanket and walked to the sled to get the tinder. He made a small pile out of dry paper and wood chips, then with trembling hands lit a match and held it to the mound. A puff of smoke, then a tiny flame appeared. “I got it.” He glanced at Ray who lay bundled in the blanket, his eyes closed. “I'll have you warm in no time.” Luke added bits of wood and blew on the small fire. It grew, and he laid more wood on it. When the fire was strong and crackling, he returned to the lump beneath the blanket.
“Ray?” He didn't answer. A knife of fear cut into Luke. What if he died? Not now. “Ray,” he said louder.
The big man blinked, then opened his eyes.
“Come on. I've got the fire going.”
Ray nodded and struggled to his feet. He dropped to one knee. Luke bent, maneuvered a shoulder under him, and helped him rise. The two moved slowly toward the fire. After settling Ray, Luke filled a coffeepot with snow and set it in hot coals. “I'll see to the dogs.”
The water hadn't penetrated the thick undercoats of the team. They lay in the snow, seemingly content. Luke tethered all the dogs, then doled out dried salmon to each one. By the time he'd finished, the snow in the pot had melted. He added coffee grounds, then sat close to the fire, holding bare hands out to the flames. “Feels good.” He glanced at Ray, who was still huddled beneath the blanket. “How you feeling?”
“Better, thanks to you. That was good thinking.” He shook his head. “And it was also stupid. You took a big risk.” He looked at Luke. “I should have known better, especially after a heavy snowfall. I could have killed us both.”
“You didn't. And the dogs are fine. We'll be on our way again in the morning.” He eyed the sled, which was tipped half in and half out of the water. “I don't know about your sled though,” he said, gathering up branches and constructing a makeshift drying rack.
“We'll pull it free, but not right now.”
Luke draped Ray's clothing over the rack. “They should be dry before morning.” He glanced at Ray. “You think you could eat something?”
“You bet. I'm starved.”
“That's a good sign,” Luke said, heartened.
Ray stood and looked at the blanket draped around him. “I've got another set of dry clothes in my pack.” He looked out at the sled stuck in the ice.” 'Course, it's a little tough getting to it.”
“I've got some.” He grabbed long underwear and tossed them to Ray. “They're not going to fit, but they should do until your clothes dry.”
“Thanks.”
Luke retrieved biscuits and dried beef from his pack. Ray had managed to get the bottom half of the underwear on. They were skin tight and rode up to his midcalf. Luke laughed. “Guess I'd better do some more growing.” He handed Ray a couple of biscuits and a piece of dried meat, then poured them each a cup of black coffee. The two men sat quietly and ate, staring at the flames.
Night closed in, and blackness wrapped itself around the mismatched pair. A wolf howled in the distance, and the dogs lifted their heads to listen, then returned their noses to the inner layers of their fur coats. Stars in a black sky winked, and a glow from the moon below the tree line promised to brighten the darkness.
Luke knew this was the time God had set apart for him and Ray. It was time to settle years of bitterness, but first he needed to know how and why his father had died. He ate a piece of dried beef, washed it down with coffee, and dredged up his courage. “I figure you know how I've felt about you all these years.”
“Yep. No misunderstanding that.” Ray sipped his coffee and stared at leaping flames.
“I never understood why you hated my father so much.”
“I didn't hate just him. I hated nearly everyone. Most of all, I hated God. Couldn't forgive him for takin' my Ellie from me. I figured he had no cause to do such a thing. Then I blamed myself.” He studied his biscuit. “I still don't understand, but I figure he'll explain it to me when I meet up with him.” He glanced at Luke. “Anyway, to answer your question, your father was just a target for my fury.”
“Why him?”
“He was everything I wanted to be and couldn't be.” He picked up a stick and poked the embers. “You have a right to be proud of your father. He was a decent man. I wish I'd known him as friend. He had all the usual good qualities—hardworking, smart, honest, and trustworthy. But he was also one of those rare people who knew who he was and why he'd been put on this earth.” Ray slowly shook his head. “Back then, I just didn't get it. I was plain jealous. And since he was an outsider, I figured I had good reason to hate him.”
