Mariah's Alaskan Heritage

By Ethel McMilin

The Sweeney family enjoyed their first born and nicknamed him Buddy. Less than two years later, a little girl named Hillary joined the family. As time went on, they had other children and raised them in the outskirts of Fairbanks, Alaska. Raising children in the cold winters in Fairbanks wasnt always easy but they never considered returning to the lower forty-eight. They worked hard at teaching the children about the dangers of bears, swift water, moose, and very cold days. They also took advantage of the fun things there was to do in the great state of Alaska.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Oct 2, 2008
• ISBN: 9781467859622

Ethel McMilin

Ethel and Jack have been married 58 years. They have 5 children, 16 grand-children and 20 great-grand children. Ethel retired from the Bureau of Land Management as a computer specialist and took up the hobby of writing. She has 17 novels published. www.mcmilinchristiannovels.com lists the names of her novels and information about them. Some of the novels have been converted to E-books as well. One novel with its sequel is about Alaska where the McMilins lived for 14 years. If you want to know about the great state of Alaska, read the novels.

Book preview

MARIAH’S ALASKAN HERITAGE

ETHEL MCMILIN

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AuthorHouse™

1663 Liberty Drive, Suite 200

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.authorhouse.com

Phone: [phone]

© 2009 Ethel McMilin. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 9/30/2009

ISBN: 978-1-4343-9769-0 (sc)

ISBN: 9781467859622 (ebk)

Ethel McMilin

6006 S. 3050 W.

First Serial Rights

Roy, Utah 84067

Contents

CHAPTER 1

Buddy and the Bear

CHAPTER 2

A Visitor

CHAPTER 3

Kevan’s Visit with the Neighbors

CHAPTER 4

The New Family Members

CHAPTER 5

The Grandmothers’ Visits

CHAPTER 6

The Grandpas’ Visits

CHAPTER 7

Buddy’s Request

CHAPTER 8

The Moose in the Chicken Pen

CHAPTER 9

The Wedding Planner

CHAPTER 10

Aunt Claudelle’s Visit

CHAPTER 11

The Young Photographer

CHAPTER 13

The Photographer and the Bear

CHAPTER 13

Kevan and Sherri’s Wedding

CHAPTER 14

The Kenai Peninsula

CHAPTER 15

Buddy’s Halibut Trip

CHAPTER 16

The Guard Moose

CHAPTER 17

The Canoe Trip

CHAPTER 18

The Bear Collision

CHAPTER 19

A Vacation Trip

CHAPTER 20

Visiting Uncle Tom

CHATER 21

The California Trip

CHAPTER 22

The Caribou Incident

CHAPTER 23

Pushing Hillary Too Far

CHAPTER 24

Loretta

CHAPTER 25

The Indian Chief

CHAPTER 26

Van Trouble

CHAPTER 27

The Proposed Lawyer

CHAPTER 28

At Uncle Tom’s House

CHAPTER 29

Visiting the Grandparents

CHAPTER 30

Growing up Time

CHAPTER 31

Jesse’s Plans

CHAPTER 32

Jesse and the Yukon Quest

CHAPTER 33

Mariah’s Relatives

CHAPTER 34

The Doctor and his Wife

About the Author

This is a sequel to the novel

A Cheechako’s View of Alaska

Many of the incidents in this book actually happened but some are just the

imagination of the author.

This book is dedicated to my two

Alaskan grandchildren, Ryan and Bethany McMilin,

who inspired many of the happenings in this book.

CHAPTER 1

Buddy and the Bear

Elizabeth Sweeny sat out in the nice summer sunshine and rested. She watched her son and daughter as they played together. They did get along pretty well considering what she had heard about most siblings but that was not to say they didn’t have their squabbles now and then. Buddy was a year and a few months older than Hillary who was just a little over four. He definitely let her know he was the oldest and she needed to listen to him. As long as she did, they got along fine. Every now and then Hillary had an opinion of her own and then the situation changed.

Beth was glad that Josh had put a chain link fence around the house. It made her feel much safer about letting her children play in the yard unsupervised at times. The fence was high enough to keep the neighboring moose out. There was nothing in the yard that would endanger them and she often let them play alone while she did the housework.

Beth rubbed her stomach which was growing bigger every day. She still had three month before the baby was due. She was sure she wasn’t this huge when she had Buddy. She was quite small when Hillary came along as the little one only weighed six pounds. She remembered that Dr. Beeson had said she was quite sure there was only one baby, but the doctor did add unless a second one was hiding behind the first one. This did nothing to assure Beth that she wasn’t having twins.

She could just imagine what Josh would say if she were to have twins. That would mean that she only had eight more children to go. He had often teased her about having a dozen kids. Well, if he thought she was going to have a dozen kids, he could just think again. This was definitely number last! Three children made a nice family as far as she was concerned.

Mom, I’m hungry. When are we going to eat lunch? Buddy asked interrupting her thoughts.

Darling, its only 10:30, how about a snack to tide you over? she asked looking at her son. He was always hungry but he never seemed to gain a lot of weight. The boy was always busy doing something. Beth walked into the house and brought out two donuts and two glasses of milk. Hillary would have to have a snack if her brother did whether she was hungry or not. This snack should keep them both until lunch time, hopefully.

Beth was trying to think of something good for dinner and then work on her lunch for her and the children. What would Josh like for dinner? On the way into the house she decided to have some clam chowder. Everyone in the family liked that. It sounded like a very good idea to the pregnant woman and it was so easy to fix.

As she worked at setting up the lunch and getting a jar of clams, she heard the children laughing and giggling. What on earth was so funny? She tried to hear what they were saying—something about a bear. They must have taken their teddy bears outside to play with. But she didn’t remember them having their toy bears. No, they didn’t have them. She better go check on those two just in case.

As she entered the yard she noticed the children were looking up at the tree over by the fence. Beth looked up and turned pale. Children, come here quickly, she exclaimed with terror in her voice.

We want to watch the bear, Mama. He looks like a young one. See him up in the tree. Oh, now he’s coming down in our yard. Look, Mama, he wants to play with us. He’s a nice bear.

Beth rushed over to the children and hurried them into the house. It appeared that the bear had managed to get upon a large wooden box that was left next to the fence just outside the yard. Then the animal had climbed upon a limb that overlapped the fence and managed to get into the center of the tree. It looked as though the bear was climbing down the tree and into her front yard. She was still shaking when she closed the door and sat down in the easy chair.

What’s the matter, Mama? We just wanted to watch the bear. He was friendly. He wouldn’t hurt us, Buddy protested.

Buddy, bears are not friendly. They are wild animals. I want you to remember that. When you see one again, come into the house even if he isn’t up one of our trees. They will hurt you and claw you. Do you understand? she asked.

No, Mama, he wasn’t going to hurt us. He was just playing in the tree, Buddy insisted.

Darling, you have to believe me. He wasn’t playing. He was probably looking for food. Now you must promise from now on if you see a bear anywhere you will come into the house and bring your sister with you and then tell me there’s a bear outside. Will you do that?

Yes, Mama, I will tell you, Buddy said reluctantly. He just wasn’t convinced that the bear wanted to harm him and Hillary, but he would do as his mother told him. He would be six in a month or so and old enough to take care of himself. But his mother never seemed to realize that. But he wouldn’t upset her and would tell her if he saw another bear. Boy, she sure was upset over us watching this one.

Beth carefully opened the door and looked out. The bear was gone. Evidently since the children were no longer in the yard, the bear lost its interest in climbing down the tree and into her front yard. She was relieved. Once the bear come down the tree and went into the yard, she wasn’t sure how they would get the animal out and away from the house.

When Josh came home that night, Beth told him what had happened. She told him how the children were giggling and decided to check on them. What are we going to do if a bear can get into the yard that easily, Josh?

First I’m going to cut that limb off the tree. I should have paid more attention to it. We could put an electric fence around the tree—outside of the original fence. We would have to make sure the kids didn’t go outside of our yard. What do you think? Can you keep them away from the electric fence if we did that? he asked.

I wish we could come up with a different option. You know Buddy, he likes to explore. I don’t know if the fence would hurt him too much, but I don’t want to take a chance. I had a terrible time getting him to believe that the bear would hurt him. I think you should back up my story and tell him about bears and how dangerous they are. Be prepared to hear him tell you that his bear was different.

I’ll do that. Now, perhaps a barbed wire fence that’s away from the tree would suffice. That would discourage the bear. They love trees but not fences.

That sounds like a good idea, Darling. I hope we can do it real soon—like this weekend, Beth suggested.

It seems strange that the bear would climb that fence, Josh said.

Oh, he didn’t climb the fence. There was a large wooden box sitting by the fence so I guess he managed to get on that and then climbed the branch that hangs down over the box.

I thought it was strange that he would climb a chain-link fence. I’m still going to put the barb wire up just in case I do something dumb like leaving another box too close to the fence. That wasn’t the smartest thing I ever did. I’ll get Lonnie to help me, Josh stated. He and Lonnie always helped each other when ever needed.

Josh picked up the newspaper. Buddy, come here, he said. Josh turned to page three where there was a story about a bear mauling a man. He showed the picture to his son. That’s what bears do, Buddy. See that poor man. He’s fortunate to be alive. He should never have been that close to the bear.

But, Dad, that’s just that bear. Our bear was nice. He didn’t even growl at us. He just wanted to play, the boy replied.

Buddy, this picture shows you how bears play. Do you want to get mauled by a bear? asked his father.

What’s mall mean? Isn’t that a place you go shopping for stuff? Buddy asked trying to figure out what that had to do with a bear.

There is a mall and then there is what a bear does and that’s called mauled by using his claws on a person. That’s what the bear did to this man. He used his big paws and clawed at him. See all those bandages and the other sores that aren’t bandaged. Do you think that man looks happy or in pain? Josh asked.

No, he doesn’t look happy, he looks hurt, the boy agreed.

Now, Son, are you going to stay away from bears and keep your sister away from them after this?

I suppose. But, Dad, this was a little one. He wasn’t big enough to know how to maul someone. He hadn’t learned that yet, Buddy insisted.

You can never tell, Buddy. But it is the nature of the animal to maul his food.

What does nature of animal mean? asked the boy.

Josh shook his head. He sat the boy on his knee and tried to explain how wild animals were. Even when he was finished with the talk, it didn’t appear that he had gotten through to his son. He still thought of his bear as a friendly bear.

Then Josh thought back to when he and Beth married and he tried to tell her what she needed to wear but she didn’t listen. As far as that goes, neither did he when people told him how cold it was. He guessed that Buddy inherited this show me and I’ll believe it. One thing he could do is take him to the museum and let him look at the stuffed bears or to the zoo and see them in their cages. He just might make arrangements to do that. Until Buddy saw a bear up close enough to see the huge paws, he wasn’t going to believe his bear would hurt him. He had hoped that the picture in the newspaper would have made him think about what bears could do to a person. But, no, his bear was different. His bear!

CHAPTER 2

A Visitor

Kevan Jackson drove down the back roads of Fairbanks. He was looking for the Sweeny home but he wasn’t having any luck finding it. He thought he had taken all of the twist and turns that the man at the gas station told him to take but the scenery just didn’t look right. Josh had told him that he had a cabin in the woods and the man hadn’t passed a single cabin as yet.

He came to a nice looking house and decided to drive in there and ask if they happened to know the Sweeny family. It sure was a big house and had two fences on one side of the house. There must be some reason for that. Why wouldn’t the first fence keep out unwanted animals? Kevan had been in Alaska just long enough to decide he didn’t quite understand the residents.

Alaskans must like big homes, he decided. He had seen several large houses as he drove down the road and this one was the biggest. He noticed two young children playing with a ball in the front yard. They seemed to be having fun as they were giggling while they played. He parked the car and walked over to the fence.

Say, young man, can you help me? Kevan asked.

I’m not a young man, I’m only a boy, replied Buddy.

Oh, yes, I can see you are a boy. That’s my mistake. I’m sorry. Can you tell me your mother’s name?

Her name is Mama, Hillary answered quickly.

Mama, repeated the man. Alright, what is your name? he asked looking at the boy.

My name is Buddy, he replied.

Buddy, what is your last name? Kevan asked.

Buddy and Joshua and Mathew are my names.

Is Buddy a nickname? the stranger asked.

What’s a nickname?

Kevan began to think he wasn’t getting too far in this conversation. Could you tell me your sister’s name?

She is Hillary. Do you want to know her last name?

Yes, that would be good. What is Hillary’s last name?

Her name is Hillary Anne. Buddy looked up at the stranger very pleased that he could answer his questions.

Somewhat frustrated, Kevan asked the boy, I wonder if you could call your mama and ask her to come and talk with me. Would you do that for me?

Okay, I’ll get her, agreed Buddy and headed for the house. When he was at the door he yelled, Mama, there’s a strange man out here that wants to talk with you. Can you come outside?

Kevan grinned at the boy when he called him a strange man. He wanted to laugh but he didn’t suppose he better. He waited patiently outside the gate. He smiled as he thought about the conversation with the young boy and his sister. All he wanted to know was their last name. He wondered if Matthew was the last name although when it was used as a last name it was usually Mathews. They were two cute kids. It would be a while before he would forget that Hillary told him her mother’s name was Mama. He did his best to choke back a laugh when she said that.

Kevan watched as the door opened and a very pregnant young woman stepped into the yard and walked toward him. Good morning ma’am. I was just having a conversation with your son. He’s quite the boy.

Yes, I would agree with that. What did he tell you?

When I asked what your name was the girl said it was Mama. When I asked what his last name was he said his name was Buddy Joshua Matthew. Is your last name Matthews? Kevan asked.

Can I ask you why you want to know? Beth asked just a little puzzled and not too friendly. She didn’t know this man and she wasn’t too sure she wanted to answer his questions just like that without knowing who he was and what he was doing in her driveway.

I’m sorry. Let me start over. I’m Kevan Jackson and I’m looking for Joshua Sweeny’s cabin. They told me it was around here somewhere and I’m having a terrible time finding it. I didn’t pass a single cabin on this road and yet this is where they said he lived. By any chance do you know Joshua Sweeney?

Yes, I know him very well. So you are the Kevan Jackson that he went to college with and the two of you pulled a lot of tricks on the other classmates as well as each other. Is that right? Beth asked with a smile. She had heard one too many stories about Kevan Jackson and the trouble the two caused.

Oh, you know him then. That’s great. Could you tell me how to find his cabin? I’ve been looking for it for quite some time. I must be on the wrong road as I didn’t spot a single cabin, explained the frustrated man.

This is Joshua’s ‘cabin.’ It looks as though he’s pulled another trick on you. I’m Elizabeth Sweeny but everyone calls me Beth. These are our two children, Buddy and Hillary. Buddy is his nickname. He’s actually Joshua Matthew Sweeny. Come on in, Kevan. It’s almost dinner time and Joshua should be home before too long. He’ll be glad to see you, Beth exclaimed.

All I can say is that this is some cabin in the wilderness. If Josh had just told me that he had a regular house I wouldn’t have spent so much of the afternoon trying to find his house. Wait till I see him, Kevan threatened.

Well, here’s your chance. I just heard him drive into the garage, Beth exclaimed.

In a minute, Joshua walked through the door and hugged his wife. Then he looked at the stranger sitting on the couch. Kevan, is that you? Where did all that weight come from? Last time I saw you, you were as skinny as a rail, Josh said and walked over and gave his friend a hug.

Well, if I were you, I wouldn’t say too much. You look as though you have put on a few pounds. I’ll bet it’s from eating your wife’s good cooking. I guess we’ve both filled out a little. Say, I was going to get me a motel in Fairbanks. What motel do you recommend? I want to spend some time here. I’m writing a book about several different states and Alaska is one of the states that I want to include. Can you get a day off your job and take me around or is that impossible?

For one thing, this house you are in now is the best motel in town. For the second question, I can take time off from my job anytime. I just have to get my work done before, after or in between gadding around. So my friend, bring in your suitcase and I’ll show you to your room, Josh exclaimed.

Josh and Kevan walked outside and retrieved the two suitcases, his laptop and other computer equipment and sat them by the door. They took their time and finally sat down in the lawn chairs and visited.

Beth finished the dinner and then called them. Boys, dinner is served. Come and get it or I’ll throw it out, she said with a smile.

The two men carried all the things they had retrieved from Kevan’s car into the living room. Then after washing up they sat down at the table. Kevan looked at the steaks he was about to eat. They sure looked good and he was hungry.

Josh asked his friend to pray over the meal and he did.