An Alaskan Blessing
Auteur
Belle Calhoune
Lezers
19,9K
Hoofdstukken
16
Chapter One
A cold Alaskan wind swept over Skye Drummond as she made the trek from the family homestead toward the general store. The Serenity Mountains, blanketed with snow, rose up in the distance. Even though the sun was just rising, and she was normally sleeping at this hour, Skye felt excited about her new role at Sugar Works. For more than a decade her family’s business had specialized in birch syrup with low amounts of sugar and additives. With the opening of the shop, Sugar’s Place—which had been named for Skye’s late mother and which Skye proudly managed—they’d branched out in the last few years to specialty items such as candles, soaps, blankets, clothing and a few food items. Her father was convinced Sugar Works was poised to become a household name in Alaska and the lower forty-eight states. Skye wished she had an ounce of his confidence. It would be nice to walk through life feeling good about herself.
Walking to the shop every morning helped Skye clear her mind. The last three years had been tough on her. In a perfect world she would be married now and starting a family. But being ditched on the day of her wedding by her ex-fiancé, Tyler Flint, had ended those plans. Her heart still ached every time she thought about it...and him. She wasn’t in love with him anymore, but it hurt to know he hadn’t found her worthy enough to be his bride.
You have a lot of growing up to do.
Those had been the last words Tyler had said to her before he’d walked out of the church and vanished from her life. Skye shuddered every time she remembered the comment he’d spoken in the church vestibule right before her heart completely shattered. And even though she had tried really hard to move on with her life, it had been extremely difficult, especially in a small town like Serenity Peak. She’d been humiliated by the town gossip, along with the implication that she’d done something so terrible that Tyler had been forced to call things off. The rumor mill had cut her to shreds. As a result, she’d gone inward.
One step at a time. That was what she had been trying to do ever since that terrible day. It hadn’t been easy trying to grow from her awful experience and demonstrate that she wasn’t unworthy of love. She breathed in the pristine air and reminded herself to stay calm and serene. Letting her emotions get the best of her served absolutely no purpose.
You are a work in progress.
You are worthy.
You are kind.
You are a child of God.
She repeated the affirmations in her head. Little by little she was getting her self-esteem back. Feeling good about herself was one of her biggest goals.
There wasn’t an abundance of snow on the ground, but temperatures were frigid.
When she was about ten feet away, Skye noticed a basket sitting on the front porch leading to the general store. She hoped it wasn’t anything perishable that had been delivered last night. Sometimes delivery trucks ended up at Sugar’s Place instead of the family home down the road.
She suddenly stopped in her tracks. The little noise she’d just heard emanating from the basket sounded like a baby’s cry.
She must be hearing things. Why would a baby be out here at such an early hour? Especially without an adult around.
Skye let out a shout as she saw a little arm raised up in the air. She quickened her pace and vaulted up the steps, peering down into the face of the most adorable infant she’d ever seen.
“Oh, sweet baby, you must be freezing.” Skye didn’t waste another moment before she scooped up the basket and placed it on her hip, then rushed to unlock the front door. Once she stepped inside, heat suffused her. She was grateful for the warmth in the store. This child needed to be warmed up immediately.
Skye rested the basket on a nearby counter and placed her palm on the baby’s cheek, which was only slightly cool.
“Hmm, you don’t seem too cold, but I have no idea how long you were out in the elements. I’m no doctor, but wee little ones aren’t supposed to be left out in the Alaskan cold.” She bit her lip. Skye had no idea what to do. She felt like pinching herself. Was this really happening? An actual baby had been left at the shop.
Skye looked the infant over. Judging by her pink blanket, the baby was a little girl. Skye had an urge to cuddle her and tell her everything would be all right. Who would leave a baby on the doorstep of the family store? She needed to call the authorities immediately.
Skye reached for her cell phone and dialed the state trooper’s office. When the receptionist, Karissa Daniels, answered the phone, a feeling of panic rose inside of her. She needed help! This wasn’t something she could deal with on her own. She began to explain at a fast pace.“Slow down, Skye,” Karissa said. “I can’t understand what you’re saying.”
She reminded herself to stay calm. Dear Lord, help me. For whatever reason You placed this child in my path and under my protection.
“Someone left a baby at the shop’s front door,” Skye repeated slowly. “I need a state trooper to come here to check out the situation. I’m not sure what to do,” she admitted.
“I’ll send someone over right away. Have you reached out to Poppy?” Karissa asked. Poppy Matthews was a local doctor and one of Skye’s closest friends. “She might need to check the infant out.”
“Yes, I will,” Skye promised before concluding the call. She didn’t think the baby had been harmed by exposure to the elements, but she wasn’t certain. It was best to have a medical expert make that determination. Skye called Doc Poppy at her medical clinic, and Poppy promised to head over to Sugar’s Place as soon as she finished up with a patient. She quickly dialed her father, then Violet, her older sister. Both calls went straight to their voice mails. Skye had a feeling neither one had cell phone service. It was an odd problem they had from time to time in certain areas on their property.
Ten minutes later a vehicle marked State Trooper pulled up in front of the shop. Skye had been standing by the window, eagerly awaiting their arrival. The baby had slept peacefully, which astounded Skye. She had been watching carefully for the slightest sign that something was wrong. Not that she was an expert on infants, but she’d helped Violet when Chase was a baby.
Skye drew in a sharp breath when she spotted the handsome state trooper stepping out of his patrol car. Ryan Campbell. With his dark hair and blue eyes, he was extremely easy on the eyes. He seemed very well aware of his appeal, which annoyed her to no end. She’d known him since they were babies, yet lately she’d felt as if she didn’t know him at all. He was Tyler’s close friend. Skye always had the feeling he was being judgmental toward her. And finding her to be lacking in every way imaginable.
He was the very last person she wanted to deal with right now, although she couldn’t afford to be picky. This sweet baby girl needed all of their help, even if it meant dealing with her ex-fiancé’s best friend.
Ryan Campbell walked toward Sugar’s Place, his mind racing with the details of the call he’d just received from dispatch. An abandoned baby had been found by Skye Drummond at her family’s general store! Of all the calls in the world, why had he been given this particular one? Not only was the incident highly unusual, but the call had been made from someone who disliked him. Skye was always icy toward him now. Because he’d been best buddies with Tyler back then, she’d decided to lump him into the same category as the man who’d subjected her to public humiliation and broken her heart. On the rare occasions when they’d crossed paths over the past few years, Skye had given him nothing more than a cold look.
He’d gotten the message, loud and clear from Skye. They were no longer friends. It had been a long time since they’d been close confidants—Ryan knew he’d alienated her during his rabble-rousing phase in his early twenties—but it still hurt that she couldn’t even seem to look him in the eye now.
He inhaled a deep breath before he turned the knob and stepped inside. As usual, the sight of the stunning blonde caused him to lose his equilibrium a little bit. Skye had always been the most beautiful girl in Serenity Peak, with charm and wit in addition to her striking looks. For as long as he could remember, Skye had been Tyler’s girl, until he’d called off their wedding.
“Good morning, Skye,” Ryan said, taking off his hat and holding it against his chest. It was uncanny how nervous he always felt in this woman’s presence. Her sea blue eyes always seemed to cut straight through him like lasers.
“Hello,” Skye said curtly, bobbing her head in his direction. “The baby’s right here.” She reached out and patted the side of the baby carrier. Her movements were gentle and graceful. Ryan sensed she didn’t want a single thing to disturb the precious bundle.
Ryan took a few strides in Skye’s direction, quickly closing the space between them. He looked down at the baby adorned in various shades of pink. With wispy brown hair poking out from her cap and full cheeks, she was lovely. Her eyes were pressed closed and she was sleeping peacefully.
“She fell asleep shortly after I discovered her,” Skye said. “Hasn’t even made a peep since I brought her inside. Despite everything, she seems to be pretty content.”
Ryan thought it was amazing, under the circumstances, that the baby remained in a tranquil state. “Do you have any idea who she belongs to?” he asked.
Skye’s blue eyes widened. “No. None at all. I’m not even sure how old she is. I can’t understand why anyone left her here of all places.” She shuddered. “I don’t want to think about what could have happened if I’d overslept or dawdled over breakfast. When I found her she was cool to the touch but just barely. And she wasn’t in any distress.”
Winter in Alaska was fairly brutal and the last time he’d checked, this morning’s temps were hovering around fifteen degrees.
“It’s just a hunch, but I think someone placed her on the porch just as you got close to the shop. Otherwise, she would have been frozen.”
“If so, then someone planned this out,” Skye murmured.
“Looks like there’s something tucked into the side of the carrier.” Ryan reached down and lightly tugged at the object. He pulled out a piece of paper and unfolded the white stationery. A single word stared back at him. Lula.
“What does it say?” Skye asked, leaning toward him.
He held the scrap of paper up for her to see. “Lula. That must be her name.”
“Lula,” Skye repeated, a soft smile tugging at the corners of her mouth before it stretched out across her entire face. “What a sweet name.”
He hadn’t seen Skye smile much since Tyler broke her heart. He’d almost forgotten how radiant she looked when she was happy. Who would have thought that an itty-bitty baby would spark such joy in Skye?
“It’s a good name,” Ryan said. “And from what I can see, she was well taken care of.” He ran his hand alongside the baby carrier. “This is a solid product. And the blanket and clothes are made from fine materials. This baby was loved.”
“You can tell all that from her clothes and the carrier?” Skye asked with a frown.
“It’s a feeling,” Ryan said, “based on what I’ve observed. In a situation like this one, it’s important to absorb the clues. They can tell us a lot.”
“Well, if she was so loved, why was she abandoned?” Skye scoffed. “Who would do such a thing?” Her voice quivered with anger.
Ryan locked gazes with her. He counted to ten in his head before responding. “Perhaps someone who was overwhelmed or desperate. It’s not my place to judge. My main priority is the baby and making sure she’s okay.”
Skye bristled. “Of course. Same here. That’s why I contacted your office. An innocent baby is at stake.” She moved closer to the carrier and placed her hand protectively on the side.
“You did a good thing, Skye, but I can take it from here,” he told her in a gentle voice, sensing she needed reassurance. Immediately her shoulders relaxed as she stared down at the peaceful infant.
“What happens now?” she asked, her eyes wide with interest.
Ryan drew his brows together. “That all depends on whether we can locate the parents or not. Until we can figure things out, this little lady is going into foster care.” Just saying the words out loud caused a little hitch in his heart.
Skye let out a gasp and raised her hand to her throat. “I know that’s the normal protocol, but isn’t there anything else to be done until the parents are tracked down?” She seemed to hesitate momentarily. “My father is in the system as a foster parent although he may not have his current certification.” She bit her lip. “It’s been a while since my family fostered.”
“The certification would have to be current.” Ryan ran his hand over his face. The situation was complex. That was for certain. “This is new territory for us. It isn’t every day a baby is dropped off at someone’s place of business. And honestly, the parents might not be in a position to raise her. Clearly whoever left her was in distress of some sort.”
All of a sudden the door flew open to reveal Skye’s father, Abel Drummond, striding into the store. With his long grizzled beard and broad shoulders, he always made quite an impression. “Skye! What’s going on? That message you left didn’t make any sense. I thought you said something about a ba—” Abel halted in his tracks as soon as he spotted the baby carrier. He let out a low whistle. “A baby?” If the situation hadn’t been so serious, Ryan might have chuckled at the dumbfounded expression etched on Abel’s face.
“Morning, Abel,” Ryan greeted him.
Abel’s mouth hung open as he rushed to his daughter’s side. “A baby?”
“Yes, Daddy,” Skye said somberly. “I found her on the porch.” Skye quickly brought her father up to speed, barely stopping to catch her breath.
Abel ran a shaky hand over his face. “Never thought I’d see this twice in one lifetime.” His words came out in a rasp as a stunned expression crept across his face.
“Twice?” Ryan asked. “Has this happened before?”
Abel nodded. “Years ago, when my wife was still with us, we fostered a baby that had been left at the homestead. Skye was barely out of middle school at the time.”
“What happened?” Ryan asked. The story sounded vaguely familiar, but he was filled with curiosity about the specific details.
“We became a foster family,” Skye said, smiling at her dad. “Little Danny was a sweetheart and a blessing for all of us. I finally knew what it felt like to be a big sister.”
A wistful look emanated from Abel’s eyes. “He stayed with us for six months. Then he was adopted by his forever family,” Abel said. “We still get Christmas cards from the Johnsons every year, updating us on his life. They live over in Kodiak.”
Ryan couldn’t help but wonder if the two incidents were related in any way. What were the odds of this happening twice to one family? He frowned. Was a clue to this baby’s identity in the Drummond family’s past?
“What’s that look for?” Skye asked. “Are we suspects?” She seemed to aim for levity, but he sensed the steely edge to her tone.
“Skye,” Abel said in a warning tone.
Clearly it hadn’t taken long for Skye’s coldness toward him to rise to the surface. He shouldn’t let it bother him, but it rankled a bit. Why was he the focus of her anger instead of her ex-fiancé? The last time he checked, he hadn’t been the one to leave her at the altar. Guilt by association, he imagined.
Ryan reminded himself to go easy on her. She was still nursing a world of hurt. “I’m here in a professional capacity, Skye. Of course you’re not implicated in anything, but I need to keep my mind open to any and all connections that might result in any leads. It’s important that we locate Lula’s parents.”
“We appreciate you coming out here, Ryan,” Abel said. “There’s nothing more treasured in this world than a child.” He slid his arm around Skye’s waist and pulled her close to his side. Abel’s words resonated with him. Ryan knew that as a single father who’d raised two daughters after his wife’s untimely death, children meant the world to Abel.
“I couldn’t agree more,” Ryan said. “I fully intend to keep her safe while she’s in my care.”
“Where will you take her?” Skye asked, lips trembling. Raw emotion emanated from her face. For a moment he thought she might burst into tears.
The question stumped Ryan. He didn’t know the protocol for abandoned babies. There were a few families in town who fostered kids, but he wasn’t certain about their current status in the program. One woman, Dora Pryor, was getting on in years and not in good health. He would definitely need to contact his boss, Gideon Ross, to find out how to proceed. Finding a suitable foster family in a town as small as Serenity Peak might be tricky. According to Skye, her father hadn’t fostered in a while and his certification might not be current. Plus, he was a full-time business owner of Sugar Works. If Abel hadn’t mentioned fostering this baby, it wasn’t Ryan’s place to make the suggestion.
He scratched his jaw and did his best to avoid looking into Skye’s azure blue eyes. Ryan didn’t want to risk reigniting the feelings he’d once harbored for her. Once she and Tyler had started dating, he’d put those feelings to rest, but he didn’t want to take any chances. Skye Drummond was the type of woman who might cause a person to forget their very own name.
“Honestly, I’m not sure. I need to talk to Gideon,” he admitted. “And locate some potential foster families.” He stopped short of saying that he might have to fly the baby out of Serenity Peak to a place with more fostering opportunities. Judging by the way that Skye was standing so close to the baby carrier, she was feeling protective.
“Poppy is on her way over to examine Lula. Maybe we should just wait a bit and let her check the baby out before any decisions are made,” Skye said.
“That sounds reasonable to me,” Abel said with a nod. “Her health is of the utmost importance, especially since she was found out in the elements.”
Good points, especially since he wasn’t certain about his next steps. In that the Drummonds had served as a foster family in the past, he felt confident about leaving Lula with them while he sorted things out.
“Will you be all right with the baby if I head back to the office for a little bit?” Ryan asked. He planned to radio Gideon and explain the situation once he got back to the car. By the time he arrived back at the state trooper’s office, maybe his boss would have a plan of action.
“We’ll be fine,” Abel said. “I can run into town for diapers and formula.”
“Yes, Daddy. It would be great to have a bottle ready for her when she wakes up, which could be at any moment,” Skye said, biting her lip.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can,” Ryan said with a curt nod. Something told him that Skye wouldn’t care if he ever returned at all. She simply stared at him without making a single comment.
He made his way back to his vehicle and sat there a short while, mulling over the stunning turn of events. His morning had started off with quite a bang, and today’s events left no doubt that he had chosen the right path. Becoming a state trooper had been Ryan’s way of turning his life around. Instead of running wild all over Serenity Peak as he’d done in his bad-boy phase, he was now helping people and doing his best to make a difference.
Still, the incident had brought Skye Drummond back into his orbit. Honestly, he wasn’t sure which was more startling. Dealing with an abandoned baby or having to stand face-to-face with a woman who wanted nothing to do with him.
