Arctic Passion

By Vera Hall

Laura, a young widow,is forced to take the only job she can find as a teacher in a remote Inuit village.
She meets Wake, a divorced bush pilot who works with the Inuit youth coaching hockey. They are atracted to each other, but both are reluctant to admit it, because each of them is afraid of being hurt again.
Laura finds out that Wake visits the Nursing station every day and believes that he is a two-timer.
When Laura finds him in a storm and saves his life with her body heat, things begin to get complicated.
Wake's father's death begins a a series of misunderstandings that keep Laura and Wake apart.
Will they meet again?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Vera Hall
• Release date: May 1, 2011
• ISBN: 9781458148995

Vera Hall

Writer and Painter Lived in North West of England, Ontario, British Columbia, Nunavut and the Yukon in Canada. Now living in Western Washington.

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Arctic Passion

By Vera Hall

Published by Vera Hall at Smashwords

Copyright 2011 Vera Hall

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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Chapter 1

Laura looked out of the window of the small plane. The cold Canadian Tundra stretched below her.

What am I doing here? she thought as she looked down at the frozen wasteland. She shuddered I can’t be cold with all these clothes on; it must be the sight of all that ice.

Laura had to admit to herself that she was scared. She was having second thoughts about changing her life so drastically, but it was too late now, the plane was about to land. She had not wanted to come to this strange isolated place, but she had no choice.

Her husband Paul had been ill for three years before he died, and they had used up all their savings and had to sell their home. She had given up her job, so that she could care for him. When they married, Paul and Laura had such wonderful plans for their future together. Paul's illness had changed all that. Their hopes had been shattered and now Laura faced the future alone.

Laura had run out of money and could not find work, and when a friend found her

a good paying job in the Arctic, it seemed like the answer to her prayers. However, the closer she got to her destination, the more she wondered if that were true.

She saw a small group of lights, below in the distance.

I can do this Laura said to herself.

She heard Paul’s voice saying, Yes, Laura, you can do it.

Whale Cove coming up, the pilot shouted. Please keep your seat belts on until we are completely stopped. I don’t want any of you to fall and break anything.

The passengers were excited and began to collect their belongings, ignoring the pilot’s announcement. They were obviously glad to be home as they joked around and playfully pushed each other. The girls in the group smiled at Laura and then looked away and giggled.

These young Inuit were not what Laura had expected. They were dressed like teenagers in the south. They wore the same uniforms of jeans, running shoes, and jackets with conspicuously fashionable names printed on them.

She smiled back at them and tried to hear what they were saying to each other. She did not understand a word. They were speaking a language that she had never heard before, one that bore no resemblance to any that she had heard in all her travels to strange parts of the world with Paul. It occurred to her that the Inuit had their own language. How stupid of her not to know this.

I wonder if any of these people will be in my class, she thought, How I will be able to teach English to them, if I don’t know their language.

The sound of the engine changed, the plane was landing. Laura couldn't see an airport, only a lonely row of lights below them and another group of lights from the village in the distance.

The plane landed with a THUMP that caused everyone to gasp. Some of passengers fell sideways and bumped into each other. The pilot came into the cabin, opened the door, and pulled down metal steps. He did not speak. Laura waited until the others got off and then made her way down the rickety steps to the slippery ground below. A strong gust of wind hit her face and she almost fell.

The pilot, opened the cargo hatch and unloaded several boxes, and piled them on the ground. Those are for Wake, he shouted and several of the young men shouted back O.K.

Laura was relieved to hear that at least some of them understood English. For some reason, this made her feel less lonely than she had been since she started her journey.

The pilot had not cut the engines and as soon as the cargo was unloaded, he got back into the cockpit. The plane sped down the makeshift runway and took off, causing an even stronger blast of cold wind to hit Laura. She realized that apart from a structure that looked like a large meat locker, there was nothing out there to protect them from the weather. The passengers huddled together under the floodlights of the runway.

What happens now? Laura thought as she moved close to the building to get out of the wind. She pulled her scarf up over her face and her parka hood forward to keep out the incredible cold. Fortunately, she had been prepared because she knew that it would be extremely cold and dark at this time of the year. She had experienced this same kind of weather the winter that Paul had worked in Moscow. She was glad that she was suitably dressed

Her tiny slender hundred and ten pound frame was overwhelmed by her outfit. Over her jeans and sweater, she had on pair of down overalls and a huge parka that stopped below her knees. Over her shoes, she wore huge, felt-lined rubber boots. Her ensemble was completed by a woolen hat and scarf, and a pair of snowmobile gloves. I look like the Michelin tire guy. Well at least I am not too cold yet, she said to herself. Surely someone will come out to meet me off the plane soon.

The other passengers were still in good spirits, talking and smoking cigarettes.

How do we get to town from here? Laura asked one of the young women

The young woman giggled and looked down. The taxi, a young man replied for her.

Well, I guess the taxi will get here eventually, Laura thought.

Wake was fuming mad. He got into the driver’s seat of the taxi, turned the key in the ignition, and revved the engine. The engine sputtered a couple of times and then started. Wake knew that it was really stupid to rev the engine in this cold weather. It was probably 40° below zero out there. But he was so angry that he had to take it out on something. He should have been coaching the hockey team at this moment, instead of driving to the airport. Sam was obviously not capable of doing it and the passengers would be stuck out there if he did not go. Wake had no idea who would be on that plane, other than the teacher. The poor widow could be frozen to death waiting for the taxi. The only good thing about him driving to the airport was that his computer equipment might be on that plane. In Sam’s condition he may have forgotten about it and left the boxes on the runway until the next flight came in, by which time the computer would be ruined. Sometimes Wake found that living in this village was frustrating.

He had seen the plane coming in for landing on his way to the arena to coach the hockey team. He had wondered why Sam’s taxi was still parked outside the office rather than at the airport. When Wake went into the taxi office, he could see why.

Sam and his buddies were hunched over the table playing poker. There was no alcohol in sight, but it was obvious to Wake, from their reddened faces and their slurred speech that they had all been drinking.

Sam. Didn’t you hear your radio? The plane has landed, Wake said.

Yes, I was jus on my way, jus finishing thish hand, Sam answered. He continued to play.

"Sam, you know the new teacher is on that plane, you can’t keep her waiting too

long, she won’t be used to the cold, and you know how cold it can get on the airstrip," Wake said.

O.K, O.K., just let me finiss this, Sam slurred. He finished the hand and pulled the pile of money on the table towards him. an I wis winning too, he said.

Sam got up from the table staggered over to get his parka from its hook on the wall.

He fumbled for his keys and walked unsteadily towards the door.

Good God, thought Wake, he is really drunk; I can’t let him drive the taxi in his condition.

Wake was exasperated, Sam was a nice guy and probably had not had much liquor, but he was very drunk. This was usual for Inuit people. They seemed to get drunk on very little alcohol; their bodies could not handle it.

It looks like I will have to do the airport run, Wake said to himself. Let’s hope that no-one finds these guys in here, or they will get a hefty fine for having liquor in the house.

Wake walked towards the door. Give me the keys Sam, I will go and pick up the passengers from the plane, he said.

Naah, No body takes Sam’s taxi, I’m going mishelf, Sam replied giving Wake a nasty look.

Give me the keys, Wake repeated his jaw tightening. I am driving the taxi to the airport.

Naah, Sam insisted

If you don’t give them to me, I will have to take them from you and you don’t want that Sam. You are not driving to the airport in your condition, Wake said.

Wake’s 6.2" frame towered over Sam. Sam knew he was no match for Wake, who was a much younger and fitter man than he.

Don’t know what all thish fush is about, anyways, Sam said as he gave Wake the keys.

Wake got into the taxi and slammed the door.

*****

Wake had been in the Co-op when he first heard about the new teacher coming.

Wake, what do you know about the new teacher? Jimmy called from the back of the store.

What new teacher? Wake was surprised

They’re bringin in a new teacher for the older kids. Lady teacher, pretty nice hey, looking for a man maybe, Jimmy said.

You guys are fooling again, you’re not getting me this time, Wake was used to them teasing him.

No, really, they are bringing in a new teacher, Jimmy called again from his office in the back. Go ask Ralph, he’ll tell ya.

Oh yeah, Wake waved his hand and went out of the door.

Wake dropped in to see Ralph at the school. I hear that they have hired another teacher, he said.

Yes, an older lady, a widow, Ralph replied. She is from Vancouver, apparently her husband left her penniless and she had to take this job to survive.

Who told you about all this? Wake asked, that she is penniless? I mean.

No-one actually told me the details, but she mustn’t have any money if she is taking a job in the Arctic at her age, Ralph said.

I don’t think we should make any assumptions about the woman. We shouldn’t have any preconceived ideas before we meet her. She could be quite different from what we imagine, Wake said.

You’re right Wake. I suppose much of what I said is just gossip, Ralph admitted.

As he headed for the airstrip, Wake wondered how the poor old widow was coping with the extreme cold. It would probably be at least fifty degrees below zero with the wind chill factor and there was nothing to protect the passengers from the wind. Wake had been lobbying for the community to put a small trailer out there now that the plane came in twice a week, but he had not been successful, so far.

He was driving as fast as he could, but the taxi was an old rattle trap and the road was a pathway of ice. It was a long time before he saw the runway lights in the distance.

Laura could see the taxi lumbering across the ice, skidding from side to side. She could not make out any road, but she assumed that it was frozen over. The vehicle didn’t look too safe, but she was not concerned. She had been on many forms unsafe transportation on her travels with Paul.

I wonder what he is thinking of all this. Wherever he is I know that he is watching over me, and it makes me feel safe. Thank you my love, Laura said looking up at the dark sky.

The taxi skidded to a halt a few feet from the group. It was an old battered panel truck, with no windows in the back. The driver was very surly; he didn’t get out of the cab.

O.K. everybody, get in, was all he said.

One of the passengers opened the back doors and started loading the luggage and the computer boxes for the guy in the village. Everyone piled in the back and shuffled about to find a comfortable piece of luggage to sit on.

Not you, the driver said, looking at Laura. You sit in the passenger seat in front, it will be more comfortable. Peter, you get in the back and let the lady have that seat.

Peter mumbled something and reluctantly gave up his seat and climbed n the back with the others. They all squealed with laughter as he got in.

Keep the noise down, the driver shouted, It is difficult enough trying to keep this old beater on the road without being distracted by the racket you are making. I need to concentrate, so keep it down.

O.K., O.K. a voice said from behind them. They started to talk to each other again. Although Laura could not understand the words, she got the impression that they were arguing.

I told you guys to keep it down, The driver shouted again.

It occurred to Laura that the driver was not Inuit. He appeared to have very long legs. He sat with his body cramped in the drivers’ seat with one knee on either side of the steering wheel. He had his parka hood up and so she could not see him clearly, but from what she saw, he was quite good looking. She thought it a shame he was so bad tempered.

Sorry, the driver said, You must think I am very rude. You must be the wid…,. he caught himself, the new teacher.

Yes I am. I am Laura Newport, she said.

Hi, I am Bill Wakefield, but everyone around here calls me Wake, he said.

Oh you must be the one that the computer equipment is for. I heard the pilot say those boxes are for Wake," Laura said.

He looked across at Laura. She was short and appeared very wide sitting in the seat beside him. She had her parka hood over her face and a scarf up over her nose. It was cold in the taxi; the heater was not strong enough to heat the cab in such a