Got a thrill last night when we kept refreshing the story properties and saw the view count going up slowly but steadily. We checked the chapter views and found where our reader was, watching him or her go from one chapter to the next. They got to the end of what we had posted and... nothing. Lol. Should have known they wouldn't leave any feedback. But it was still kind of fun and creepy at the same time to stalk them while they read. If that was you, we're harmless. I swear.

Thanks again for your review from the middle, Steel (sent a pm). It's nice to hear specifics about what entertained you. We might write up that first adventure eventually. I don't know.

Chapter Thirty-eight: Sled Team

Fraser left both puppies with me while he put a frozen pizza in the oven. A few minutes later, he came back with a steaming mug.

"Bark tea? If you're sore, this will help."

I scrunched up one side of my face. "Milk and sugar?"

"Yes."

I took the mug and sipped at the hot liquid. I didn't care much for the flavor, but I had learned to tolerate it on my last visit to Canada. Fraser swore by it (not literally, of course), and when you're cold enough, any warm beverage is inviting. The first bittersweet taste brought memories rushing back...

"Gah! Fraser, this is disgusting."

"You're just not used to it. Give it a chance."

"Maybe if you put some milk and sugar in it... or at least sugar."

"I'm afraid we didn't bring any."

"Ugh. I'm sorry, I can not drink this. You take it."

"But you're cold. It'll warm you up."

"Well... I guess I can choke a little more down. Next time, can you just make coffee like a normal person?"

"This is better for you."

"So is spinach. You don't expect me to drink spinach tea, do you?"

"...No."

"Okay, that's all I can take. You have the rest."

"Very well. But when you're feeling cold again in a couple of minutes, don't come running to me."

I pulled myself back to the present before I could dredge up memories of hypothermia and looming frostbite. That wasn't going to happen this time around. I was going to listen to Fraser more and act a little smarter and not stay as long. I hoped to God that Fraser's theory gave us a conclusive ending to our adventure.

Why, oh why didn't I tell him I wanted to discover something in Cancun or Hawaii? I thought wryly. Too late now.

I grabbed the black puppy before he could get too close to the fire. "They keep going toward the fireplace," I said. "What's the deal?"

"Well, even though their eyes are open, they're not fully developed. Their sight and hearing will remain rudimentary for several more days, at least. Their senses of smell, taste and touch are much more important to them at this stage of development."

"Huh. I didn't know that. I don't think I've ever seen puppies quite this young. Their ears are so tiny... and they're just little paws and a head connected by belly. You know what they look like? They look like hamsters."

Ten-point smile. "I think I should put these two back now. Keep an eye on the pizza, all right?"

"Okay."

Fraser came back a few minutes later with the other silver one, like Star, and one of the "mavericks." That one had a coat that went from pale grey to silver-blue on its back, and it had a very distinct white mask that didn't really look like Star or Nanouk. Nanouk has a white face with just a little black around his blue eyes and a sort of narrow white stripe going up between them. Star's face is even whiter, the white fanning out in a round pattern on both sides of her muzzle, making her look kind of owlish. A vertical oval on her forehead that isn't quite connected to the rest of the white is where she got her name. She also has blue eyes. The white of the puppy's face surrounded its eyes, but dipped down in the middle.

At this point all the puppies had blue eyes. Fraser said some of them might turn brown in a few weeks. If they did, that would mean either that Nanouk was not the father after all, or that there had been more than one father to the litter.

"Just 'cause their eyes are different?" I asked.

"Blue is a recessive color," Fraser said.

I suddenly had a flashback to a science classroom. Something about a monk and pea plants. "So... if both parents have blue eyes, the puppies will definitely have blue eyes?"

"No. Not necessarily. Huskies have a particular gene that causes blue eyes, and it's a separate cause from, say, a dog with white patches having one or both blue eyes. Nanouk and Star both have dark skin around their eyes, so I'm fairly certain that their eye color is not caused by their skin and hair pigmentation pattern. That means they have the rare gene that is almost entirely unique to huskies..."

"Fraser, my brain's starting to hurt. Simple answer."

"The simple answer is that if those two are the parents... yes, the puppies will almost certainly have blue eyes, too."

"Thank you."

He sighed. "You're welcome. It smells like the pizza is done."

I buttoned my shirt halfway, tucked it into my jeans and nestled the puppies inside against my stomach. "Okay. Lunchtime."

"Looks like you've already eaten."

"Hardy-ha-ha. Yeah, I had a couple of hotdogs." I got up slowly. My back was very sore, and I cringed as I followed Fraser to the kitchen area and sat on a stool.

"Are you all right?" he asked me.

"Stiff."

"Maggie said there's liniment in the bathroom cupboard."

"Okay. Maybe I'll try that." Maybe I'd try it later, when Maggie was back... when she might see me with my shirt off...

"You know, you could have one of those pups if you want one."

For a moment I was tempted, but I shook my head. "I can't get a puppy. I don't have the time. I need one that comes ready-trained."

He nodded. "Yes, that makes the most sense."

"I mean, if I get one at all," I added. "I haven't decided to do it."

Fraser brought the hot pizza over.

"Oh, my gosh, it's Hawaiian?" I couldn't remember the last time I saw a frozen pizza that came in that variety. Of course, it had been a while since I looked.

"Yes, I mentioned to her that you liked pineapple."

"You must have told her a lot in the last couple of weeks."

"I had to send her money for the dogs' upkeep anyway, and it's been a long time since I had a pen pal," he said, cutting the pizza neatly into quarters. "I've enjoyed writing to her. Some of my letters were quite verbose, I'm afraid."

"Verbose?"

"Wordy."

"Like father, like son, huh?"

He smiled a little. "Perhaps. I brought one of my father's journals to leave with Maggie while we're away."

"Cool." I wondered what my dad's journal was like. Probably boring as hell. "Changed the oil today and did a little gardening." I smirked. "When will she be back?"

"Any time now, I imagine. The plan is to spend another night here and leave in the morning. Does that suit you?"

I nodded. I wouldn't have minded much if we spent the whole two weeks with Maggie, but I knew this thing about the grave at Gjoa Haven was going to bug me if we didn't check it out.

We ate three quarters of the pizza (it wasn't that big) and put the puppies back in the shed. Then I went looking for the liniment. I had planned to wait, but I was really sore, and I was starting to think the idea of an exhibition for Maggie's benefit wasn't a good one. It would probably just embarrass her... or me... and definitely Fraser.

"Hey," I called from the bathroom, "did you ask me about something last night? When we were making the fire?"

"You told me that Francesca had neither received nor rejected your attentions, and that you had told her to take our time away to consider," he summed up. "Then I asked what might happen if you took up with Maggie and returned to find that Francesca was ready for your courtship. You seemed too sleepy to formulate an answer."

Attentions? Courtship? "Fraser, are you sure you were born in this century?"

"Well, yes, Ray. As was my father."

I peeled off my undershirt and hung it on the doorknob with my flannel shirt. "So, if Maggie and I get something going, and Franny decides she wants me, what'll I do?" I reviewed.

"That's what I was asking, yes."

I poured a little liquid out of the bottle (labeled "Liniment for muscle pain" in neat cursive) into my hand. It smelled weird and strong, but not so bad. I reached over my shoulder and started rubbing it into my skin. It seemed to burn cold. "Whoa. Um... well, if it was a really serious thing with Maggie, I guess I'd tell Francesca that, uh... well, I'd just have to explain. And try not to hurt her feelings."

"And what if you didn't consider it a 'serious thing'?" he asked.

I knew I had to tread very carefully here. If not for Fraser, I'd probably go ahead and try dating Franny anyway... but then there was also Ray to worry about. God, brothers could be scary. I sure could pick 'em... each of the girls I liked was the sister of a good friend. "I guess I'd still have to tell her about Maggie," I said regretfully. "But we could still try going out." I switched to the opposite shoulder. The liniment seemed to be working.

I peeked around the door, but Fraser was tending the fire and I couldn't see his face. "That sound okay?" I asked.

"Honesty is the best policy. I suppose if that were all right with Francesca, I wouldn't have anything to say about it. Except that you should also tell Maggie about her."

I grimaced. "Yeah... okay. That's fair." I experimentally rubbed a little liniment on my chest. This stuff had Vick's totally banged. "I'm a little scared to ask what's in this," I said, "but I think I'm gonna ask Maggie for her recipe."

"Why would you be afraid to ask?"

"Because you make stuff out of mucus membranes and sea cucumbers, and you and your sister have a lot in common." I put the liniment on my neck and everywhere on my back that I could reach, which was just about all of it. I've got longish arms and I'm kind of skinny and flexible, so I've pretty much got it covered. It's just awkward and uncomfortable.

I washed my hands and put the liniment away before pulling my shirts back on. "Whoo, I feel better already. Where'd those puppies get to?"

"You know they're in the shed... and you ended your sentence with a preposition again."

"I did? Well, who cares? I'ma go get a puppy. You want one?" It sounded like I was asking if he wanted a beer.

He smiled and shook his head a little. "Since you're going anyway."

I was coming back to the cabin with two puppies in my coat when Maggie rode up... on a snowmobile. The snow wasn't deep, but still deep enough, and kind of solid. Damn, she was fine.

"Good afternoon," she called after cutting the engine.

"Hey," I said, grinning. I opened my coat a little so the puppies could peek out. "I was picking up a couple furry friends to play with."

She smiled. "Aren't they adorable? I'm hoping Benton will want to keep one or two of them for the team."

"That would be cool. Then you'd get to raise them."

"Yes. The snowmobile is more convenient for most of my snow traveling, but there's nothing quite like a dogsled. It's a good project to keep me busy, too. Now that I'm not hunting my husband's killers."

"It's a good hobby," I agreed.

We went back inside and passed the puppies around while Maggie nibbled on the leftover pizza.

"I thought we could take the team out," she said. "I've been trying to build up their stamina for you. There's decent snow right now, and they can use a good run before being transported."

"What do you say, Ray?" Fraser asked.

I smiled. "I say... can they pull us all at once?"

"I think they can."

"When the snow melts off, I'll borrow an ATV and let them pull that," said Maggie. "I've already arranged it."

"Good thinking," said Fraser.

I looked down at the puppy I was holding. "Oh... damn it."

"What's wrong?"

"This puppy just peed on my shirt..." I checked my layers. "On both my shirts." I looked up at Maggie. "Do you have a washer and dryer?"

"I do, in the closet beside the bathroom, but you can just wash them in the sink," she suggested. "I can do it for you."

"You don't mind cleaning puppy urine out of someone else's clothes?"

"Not at all."

Looked like she'd be seeing me bare-chested after all... and I'm not normally shy, but I felt weird taking half my clothes off in front of her. Probably just because Fraser was there too.

"It's a good sign, actually," she said, taking my shirts as I handed them to her. "They're urinating on their own."

"Do they need help?" I asked, confused.

"When they're first born, they don't know how," Fraser said. "Their mother stimulates their impulse to excrete waste by licking them."

I made a face. "Ugh. That is so nasty." I started to feel chilly and grabbed an afghan off the back of the couch to put around my shoulders. "You gonna keep any of 'em?"

"Possibly. I'll check them over when we come back. They'll have developed a little more by then, and I might be able to spot the more promising ones."

"So, don't name anyone yet," I joked. I held the little gray pee-bandit against my bare chest. At least I knew its bladder was empty at this point. "What will you do with the rest of them?"

"Maggie can sell them to locals who want sled dogs or family pets." He looked up at her. "And you're welcome to keep a fifty percent commission."

"That's very generous," she said, working soap into the stained spot on my undershirt.

"I think it's fair. You've done all the work."

"Yes, but you're the owner. I'm just the handler."

"A very trusted and valued handler. Call it a family business venture."

"You've certainly given me incentive to get good prices for them. But that shouldn't be hard. You're a little bit famous around here, and everyone in town knows your dogs."

A little later, my freshly washed shirts were hanging in the shower to dry and I was dressed in new ones. We layered up and went out to hitch up the sled team. Fraser put Nanouk in the lead and the other four in pairs behind him.

"All right, Ray first," Fraser said.

I climbed onto the sled, leaning back against the lashing between the stantions... Fraser had taught me what everything was called over the course of our previous dogsled journey.

When Fraser prompted, Maggie got on in front of me and I put my arms loosely around her waist. Fraser tucked a fur-lined cover over us, giving me a look that said, "You behave yourself."

I nodded to him, knowing a subtle expression would get lost under my ski mask. Boy, I was glad to have that thing. It kept my nose a lot warmer than a scarf did, without suffocating me in the process.

"Let's go, guys," Fraser called to the team.

The dogs, who had been looking around and fidgeting and scratching suddenly all straightened up. Nanouk gave an excited bark and they all moved forward together.

Fraser ran along behind, helping to push the sled until it got up to speed. Then he jumped on and the team was pulling all of us.

Maggie was right: there's nothing like it. It's fast, but not so fast it freaks you out. It's sliding, and pattering paws in the snow and lots of panting, but it's not like the roar of an engine. It makes me feel like I've gone back in time. Like I'm a kid on a snow day. Having my arms around Maggie, however loosely, was a nice bonus.

We stayed out a long time. Over an hour, maybe two. Maggie had kept the dogs in great shape. They were running like it was nothing. She said afterward that she thought they responded better to Fraser's voice than hers. Maybe she was right; he does have that weird connection with Dief, after all.

We fed the dogs and shut them back in the shed one by one. As soon as we saw one poop, we put it away. That was Maggie's system for keeping the shed clean. Maggie and I sat with the puppies while Fraser took Star out for a little exercise.

"I love this one," she said, picking up one of the black puppies. "She's a strong one. Already pushing the others around a little bit, too. She might make a good lead dog someday."

"Can a girl boss the boys?" I asked, reaching out to touch the puppy's head.

"The alpha tends to be male, but it definitely can be a female. And it's good to have more than one good leader in your team, in case one of them is injured. You don't want to be caught without a strong one to keep the pack motivated."

"You know as much about this stuff as Fraser does."

"I always wanted a sled team when I was a little girl. I did have one dog and a toboggan. Bear would pull me to school and then I'd send him home."

"Wow, he was like Lassie! Did he come pick you up, too?"

"No. He didn't magically know what time to come get me. My mother tried sending him once, but he ended up going to a neighbor's and getting into their trash can instead."

I laughed.

"After that he just went with me in the morning. We could trust him to go straight home because Mom always waited to give him breakfast until he came back. We couldn't do that when I got out of school, because he ate supper later than that. My mother was sometimes still at work, anyway. But a lot of the way home was downhill, so I could ride the toboggan down."

"Nice. How old were you?"

"I think I was about twelve when Bear died. He was just a year older than me. Mom got him to keep her company and keep watch after my father... I mean, after her husband died."

I thought it must be weird, having to stop calling someone your dad after twenty-five years or so of thinking that he was. "So, you were going to school by yourself since you were...?"

"About third grade, I think."

"Wow. I don't think my mom let me go anywhere by myself until I was at least ten. Let alone someplace at the same time every day... that would just be begging a kidnapper to pick me up."

"Looking back, I can hardly believe I was allowed to. But at least on the way there, I had my dog. And we lived in a quiet neighborhood with a low crime rate."

"That's good. I don't really know what that's like."

Fraser came back into the shed with Star.

"How's she doing?" Maggie asked.

"She seems just fine." Fraser guided Star over the low side of the wooden puppy box and took her collar off.

Maggie set the black puppy down as the others started crowding around their mother. "Let's give them some family time and go get dinner," she said.

Fraser reminded me that the monk I was thinking of was named Mendel, if you want to look him up. (He thinks doing science homework is a leisure pastime, apparently.) Comments are still welcome. Just so you know. ~Ray K.