Chapter 4

Night passed and went. The stars went around in the sky and the sun came up and the moon went down. The land turned from dark and mysterious to bright and orange. All the people came out of their houses and went about their daily chores with puffs of steam rising from their breath. The cold from the night before loosened it's grip, but not altogether let go.

Jenna got up early and went to her friend's house to set up a date with Quin and Dakota later in the day. Then she went and sat in front of the telegraph office to look towards the southeast where the boat would come from.

The sun moved through the sky. Then at about noon on the clock in the telegram office the ship appeared on the horizon. It came under a black cloud of smoke moving slowly along towards Nome. It took a good hour for it to move from just an insignificant dot on the horizon to a three hundred foot ship moving just offshore. Jenna quickly went to the dock and sat on a crate and watched as the boat pulled into the dock

The sound from deep within the ship – the steam engines – grew silent and only the thick black smoke wafted up out of the great hulking smokestack. People came out onto the deck and looked at the little town and pointed and talked. The lines were cast off the ship and tied to great metal bars sticking out of the dock. Soon a large wooden plank appeared from the boat and the crane hoisted it down off the boat. The giant crane with it's massive hook began to latch onto large wood boxes deep in the ship and set them on the dock in a perfect line.

Jenna watched as people came from the town and began to tear the crates apart and haul the assorted contents away on their backs and in their arms and on carts. She watched as people began filing down the gangplank onto the dock. Nervousness crept up Jenna's spine as she searched the jostling crowds of people for her parents.

She also searched through the people faces. They all looked so strange. There were old faces and young faces. Kids danced about with bright smiles and songs, parents held their hands and walked with a purpose. Mining men hunkered low under their bags full of their life's possessions headed out into the town and then out into the hills searching for the gold they would never find. Nonetheless they all moved off the dock and into town. Some of the people had dogs. The male dogs took long looks at Jenna as she sat on her crate, but they all passed as their mastered called them on.

Jenna began to feel even more nervous. But it felt like more than just being nervous, it felt like a strange sort of excitement which made her want to jump about and bark for no reason. She just wanted to release all the energy banging around in her legs and feet and try to break out of her body and take flight.

Suddenly there he was, and there she was beside him. They had on leashes and stood close to their masters William and Susan with a small pile of bags. Jenna remembered them all. They all looked the same, only a little older. Her father still retained his muscular shoulders and hips. He had only grown a little fatter around the midsection and a little greyer around the muzzle. Her mother looked the same as the day Jenna left her to go to Nome. She looked just a little more haggard in her figure with weathered fur from long cold years gone by.

Jenna sat for a long time on the crate, afraid to move. Would they recognize her? 'Of course they will,' Jenna told herself. 'So then why am I having so much trouble going over there? What will I say to them?' Before she knew it she jumped off the crate and moved towards them through the throngs of people.

"Jenna!" Benson suddenly barked.

"Jenna?" Cleo said turning and looking where her mate did. They both went to the end of their leashes and stood side by side as Jenna walked up.

"Hi mom. Hi dad." Jenna said nuzzling both of them in turn. "How was your trip?"

"It was pretty cramped." Cleo said first.

"We didn't get to walk around much. We only got to go out on the deck twice to walk around. The rest of the time we just stayed in the cabin. But all the pain was worth it just to see you." Benson said with a smile. "My you've really filled out. I half expected you would still be a little pup bouncing around in a huff like your tail was missing."

"Well," Jenna said looking over her shoulder at her body. "I guess I just grew up."

"And you became very beautiful young lady," Benson smiled. "I bet you have all the boys chasing your around."

Jenna smiled forcefully. "Well, I'm kind of already taken."

"Really?" Cleo said.

"And I already have grownup children of my own."

At this Cleo and Benson's eyes went up in their head and they looked at each other with pure shock on their faces. "Really?" Benson said. "That just makes me feel really old. When will we get to meet your mate and your children?"

"Some time today after your master's get settled in." Jenna smiled back. "How long are you here for?"

"I think I heard Susan say eight days." Cleo replied.

"Well that's good. I hope it wasn't too terrible a trip and you're not too tired to go on a tour later on."

"Oh, don't fuss about us Jenna." Cleo said. "We're fine. We'd be happy to go for a walk. Right Benson?"

"I would love to go on a walk. I'm so stiff. A walk would be just what I need." Benson stretched his legs out and curled his back down to the dock.

"Ok." Jenna giggled helplessly like she did when she was a pup. "So anyways, welcome to Nome."

"It's kind of like Mukluk, just fewer trees." Benson said looking around the town.

"Little brother!" William suddenly shouted as Rosy with her mother and father came walking through the crowd towards them.

"William!" Rosy's father shouted back. "It's good to see you again." He shook Williams hand vigorously, and then hugged him. He then stepped back and held his arm out. "Of course you know my wife and my daughter."

The humans talked for several minutes about the trip and the town and any little thing which came to mind. Finally Rosy's father turned. "Come now. Let's get your things and get you settled in."

"That would be nice." William responded. Then they all took off through the town to the house.

The house came alive as the people moved bags up the stairs and they talked about sleeping arrangements and laughed loudly at seemingly everything. Rosy petted Benson and Cleo in front of the fireplace where they lay happily receiving her affectionate hand.

"Rosy." William suddenly said from the top of the stair.

Rosy turned and looked. "Yes sir?"

"Come up here. I have a present for you if you help us do a few things."

Rosy bounded away and up the stairs. The human's feet resounded through the floor above as they moved around and moved things around and talked endlessly.

"So Jenna," Cleo started. "What's your mate's name?"

"Balto." Jenna said glancing sidelong at her father to see if there might be a hint recognition in it. He didn't seem to react.

"Oh, that's such a lovely name." Cleo responded. "He sounds handsome."

"I think he is." Jenna replied.

"What about your children? What are they doing?" Benson said.

"Well, I haven't talked with some of them in a long time. But my son Kodi is the leader of the local mail team, and my son Dakota is kind of a housedog. He doesn't want to be though. He wants to be a hero like his father."

"So this Balto is a hero?" Benson said smiling, verging on being sarcastic.

"Yes dad, he actually is."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you were making a joke." Benson said laughing apologetically.

"No I'm not. He saved Rosy and about two dozen other children who were sick with diphtheria."

"Wow, I guess that does classify him as a hero." Cleo said smiling.

"How did he do it?" Benson asked. "Tell us the story."

Jenna began to tell the story about how the kids got sick. She then told them about Steel and how he wasn't much of a good guy. She told how he had a great ego problem and how he cheated Balto out of a race, but she left out the part about Balto being half wolf. She also told about how Steel had a thing for her since the day Jenna got to Nome. Jenna then told about the storm and the team getting lost. She then told about how Balto went out after the team. She told about how all the other dogs in Nome thought he was stupid, or crazy, or both for going after them. Jenna told about the grizzly bear in great detail as to what happened and how she became injured and had to return and Balto had to go on alone. She told about how Balto had to fight Steel to get the lead of the team, how Balto fell off a cliff and had to bring the medicine back up the cliff. She told about how he went over an ice bridge, ran from an avalanche, and almost got killed in an ice cave. She then told about Steel saying Balto had doomed the team and there was no hope. She then told about Balto bringing the medicine into town under the cheers of all the people.

Jenna then told about how Balto had always had a crush on her and all the little things he did for her before, during, and after he became the town hero. She told about funny things, sad things, happy things. She told them how much she loved Balto, how she didn't think she could live if he went away.

Jenna watched as her parents listened to her talk and always asked question and urged her to go into detail about Balto, Steel, the avalanche, the ice bridge, the bear, and everything. But she always steered clear of any question which might signal Balto's half-wolf nature. Finally the story ended and they all sat around taking it all in. The humans had quieted down.

"Wow," Benson said with a breath. "He sounds like quiet a dog. He sounds like more dog than I ever was. I can't wait to meet him and thank him personally for saving those children and for falling in love with you."

"Speaking of going and meeting Balto," Cleo started. "I think it's about time we go for that walk."

"I agree." Benson said pulling his stiff body up. "Let's go out."

The sun already moved far across the sky and headed like a lead weight for a nosedive in the ocean as the three of them walked down the plank sidewalk on the main street towards Kodi's. It felt much warmer now and their breath only produced a small cloud of steam which dissipated over their heads instantly.

"So where are we going Jenna?" Cleo asked.

"We're going to go to meet my son Kodi first, then I have to go escort a girl over to meet my son Dakota."

"So this Dakota must not be very good at picking girls?" Benson asked quietly.

"Not so much at picking girls as he is at lying and trying to pump himself up to something bigger than he is." Jenna replied. "This girl I'm going to introduce him to has a good head on her shoulders and a great big crush on him. She's just been to shy to say anything about it to him. I think it will work out, I have a feeling."

They walked along in silence for some time. Then Benson spoke up. "So where does this Balto live? I would like to meet him and have him along while we meet your children if it's possible."

Jenna bit her lower lip as she looked away. "He lives outside of town. It's going to be a bit of a walk to meet him. It's a mile or so." She looked back at her father.

Benson looked at his daughter. "I would gladly walk ten miles to meet him and have him along with us. I mean if he did what you say he did, and he's the kind of good guy you say he is, then it would be the least I could do to go and meet him and thank him for what he did."

"I don't think I could walk that far." Cleo cut in. "Maybe later you and Jenna could go meet him and bring him to the house so I can meet this Balto for myself."

"I suppose we could do it that way." Benson replied to Cleo.

They continued on through the streets. Jenna walked along with them, although she felt far away from herself.

When they got to Kodi's the house looked peaceful and quiet and the poplar trees behind the house swayed gently in the breeze. The orange and red leaves on the trees pulsated like little spotlights coming on and off at different times. Everything looked the same as the night before, except now Jenna could see it all very clearly.

Kodi lay sleeping in his doghouse as they came walking up. Dusty – who's plywood doghouse stood right next to Kodi's – jumped up and went and whispered something in Kodi's ear. Kodi opened his eyes and then he got up and stretched. Dusty joined in next to Kodi as they walked to the edge of the yard to meet.

"Good afternoon Kodi, Dusty." Jenna said coming to a stop. "I would like you to meet my father, Benson, and my mother Cleo." Jenna looked at each in turn. "Mom, Dad, I would like you to meet Kodi and Dusty."

From the far back of the yard near the house Ralph and Kirby began to stir from their houses and make their way to the small group. Jenna noticed them coming. "And those two over there are Kirby and Ralph. The one on the left is Ralph." Kirby and Ralph joined in the little circle. Jenna continued. "Kirby, Ralph, these are my parents Benson and Cleo."

"Hello." Kirby said.

"Hi." Ralph retorted.

"Kirby, Ralph." Benson smiled and bowed his head in acknowledgment.

"Nice to meet you Benson." Kodi said. "I've heard a little about your adventures, but what I've heard sounds like you're quiet a dog."

"Yeah Jenna's told us lots of things," Dusty cut in.

"I hope she hasn't painted a hero's portrait." Benson laughed deeply. "I've also heard some things about you Kodi, and you sound like you got something good going for you. I've heard of your-." In the middle of his sentence Benson let his eye's fall to Kodi's feet. He realized had never seen feet this big on a dog before. "-Wow!" He said aloud before he realized it.

"What?" Jenna asked.

Benson realized everyone had heard him and he felt ashamed for reacting like he had. "Oh … nothing bad or anything. I just noticed your feet Kodi."

Everyone looked at Kodi's feet. To his teammates and mother they weren't any different.

"Oh my." Cleo responded as she looked at them.

Kodi laughed it off. "What's wrong with them?"

"Well nothing really," Benson replied sheepishly. "It's just I've never seen feet that big on a dog before."

Kodi smiled and took a sidelong glance at his mother before locking eye's with Benson. "I guess I just inherited them from my father."

Benson laughed at his own joke before talking. "Well you know what they say about big feet … big father."

Everyone laughed.

"Yeah, my dad's pretty big. He's still bigger than me." Kodi replied. "But I have him beat in speed."

"So what breed is your father?" Benson asked simply. "I don't believe Jenna has told us."

Jenna, Dusty, Kirby, and Ralph all looked at Kodi and realized this could be a question he might choke on and the whole thing might crash down in a clatter of uncertainty. Undoubtedly Kodi looked like he was about to choke as he looked into the top of his skull searching for the answer among his eyebrows. "You know sir, I'm not quiet sure."

"What about you Jenna?" Benson asked. "Do you know what breed your mate is?"

"Yes Jenna, you must know." Cleo pressed.

Jenna froze as she searched the distance for the answer. Nothing came and she felt panic creeping up her spine as she carried on searching for a good five seconds while everyone looked on a waited with a silent patience.

"Come on you guys." Kirby cut in rudely and without notice. "Everyone knows he's half w-"

Before he could say anymore Ralph jumped on him and wrestled him to the ground and had him chocked under his right forearm. Their bodies' scrambled and kicked viciously against the ground and each other. Both of them barked wildly and made a terrible racket like a saw cutting into a tin roof.

Dusty jumped in the center of the circle, suddenly explaining as Kirby and Ralph wrestled like maniacs in the dirt behind her while Kodi watched them go at it from nearby. "You have to excuse my teammates sometimes they have … issues."

"I can see." Cleo replied rather callous.

"Well," Jenna spoke up. "I'm sorry mom and dad, but we have to keep going. I have to go get this girl to meet my other son."

They hurried away from the scene. Jenna looked back just as the team began to go out of sight. Kirby sat up while the rest of them looked at him and talked in a very brutal way. He looked genuinely sorry and unsure of what he had said wrong.

They went through the town to Quin's house and Jenna barked at the upstairs window. Quin's white face appeared in the window and she looked out at who barked and then came rushing down the stairs and to the door. She scratched at it, and a moment later her master opened the door and Quin came out.

Quin's fur had an off-white mixed in with splotches of grey - especially around her face. She had a very slim and muscular physic with a huge fluffy tail like a lace stage curtain.

"Good afternoon Jenna." She said quietly. Quin then looked at Jenna's guests and cleared her throat and waited to be introduced.

Jenna didn't pick up on it right away, but she got it in a moment. "Oh! I'm sorry. Quin this is my dad Benson, and my mother Cleo. Mom, dad, this is Quin."

Quin smiled. "It's very nice to meet you two. Did you arrive here in Nome recently?"

"Yes." Cleo replied. "We got her just this afternoon."

"Oh, I hope you two have a lovely time here. You should get Jenna to show you the falls up the valley. They're very beautiful this time of year, especially with the trees in their fall colors."

Jenna looked at the sun and knew she had to push everyone along. She especially didn't want Quin to start talking about Balto since she wasn't in on what was going on. "Okay, I'm sorry to rush our visit. But we have to get going."

"Oh no problem Jenna." Quin said simply. "I'm ready to go."

They turned and went down the street towards the boiler room.