Night of the Aurora (Salmon Run - Book 1)

Chapter 23

Hawk left the cup of coffee alone to cool on the table. His stomach was too tied up in knots to drink any more. With each arriving pack of snow machines his hopes would be raised. 

And each time he ended up disappointed.

The grand adventure of coming to Alaska for a new life had turned into a horrifying nightmare. The inheritance just didn't matter to having Zach with him.

Mr. Dunn set out more crackers and slices of cheese. "You need to eat something."

He shook his head. "Thank you, but I'm not hungry."

"Let him be, dear. Food can't satisfy what he needs," Mrs. Dunn said, taking her husband by the arm to lead him away.

A nice couple. Both middle-aged with hardly any gray showing in their hair, and obviously devoted to each other and their three children. If only he could have found a way to provide that for Zach. Yet another regret.

By his calculations almost all the passengers should be in from the Solar Express. Most were gone, having found their way home.

Darnit whined at him, looking up at him with big worried eyes. He caught himself starting to reach out to pat the head of the patient dog that hadn't left him.

He took a deep breath. Time to get official help. The residents of Salmon Run might not be overly concerned, but two kids missing in the middle of a cold Alaska night was no passing matter. He looked around the store, wondering if someone inside might be a representative of the law. Where was McRoyal? He needed help.

A bright light flashed through the windows, hitting the back of his head. He turned back to find a tight group of headlights turning off of the street into the store parking lot.

But this time among the pack was a snow machine he hadn't memorized from all the other deliveries. And it held two smaller bodies.

Hawk jumped up, upending his chair. Darnit barked and raced after him as he rushed around the table and through the double entry-way, pulling on his coat. He slipped on the snow at the bottom of the steps. The dogs on the porch jumped up and ran down, barking excitedly, racing through the machines as they came to a stop. 

The one at the back of the seat of a large snow machine lifted the visor and yelled out, "We're back, Dad!"

And the aurora-filled night suddenly felt brighter. So bright it was hard for him to keep his eyes wide open. Then he realized he had tears in his eyes. 

Zach jumped off the snow machine and across the snow and ice without even taking his helmet off. Hawk engulfed him in a hug. Zach hugged him back just as tightly.

"What happened? Where were you?" Hawk demanded as the other rescued passengers walked into the General Store.

"I can explain that, Mr. Callahan," Sasha Neeley said, taking off her helmet. Her dark hair stuck out of the bottom of her hat. "But can we do it inside?"

Hawk let Zach go, allowing him to take off the helmet. He ushered them inside and to the table he'd just vacated. Darnit left the other dogs to follow them inside. Zach spotted the cheese and crackers, grabbing one to stuff into his face.

"We hit a spot of soft snow, sir. It sometimes happens if there is water underneath, and that area is full of lakes, some of them with hot springs," Sasha said quickly.

Grandpa Neeley appeared, hugging his grand-daughter from behind. "And there's my wise raven."

"We had to dig the machine out," Zach finished with a shrug. He ran a hand through his stringy hair, "And got really hot doing it."

"Sounds scary," Hawk said, pulling a chair out for Zach to sit in.

"Zach was great. He hardly panicked at all," Sasha said with a twinkle in her eye. Hawk noticed the scowl his son gave her in return as he wolfed down another cracker.

"We need to keep you inside now to keep you from getting further chilled," Grandpa Neeley said. "Hawk, you and Zach will sleep at our house. We have the extra beds. We can take you to the lodge tomorrow."

Now that he had Zach safe and sound, Hawk didn't argue. He was too tired to argue. And happy. He couldn't stop smiling.

"And tomorrow I'm coming for coffee with the men. Good old-fashioned coffee," Mr. Goodwin declared as he passed the table on his way towards the door.

"And before you do I will provide you with a nice healthy breakfast," Ms. Goodwin said. She wrapped a scarf around her neck and took his arm, "You'll love it. Now, walk me home."

Mr. Goodwin grumbled under his breath as he held the door open for his wife.

Hawk grinned. All was right with the world again. At least, for Salmon Run.