Lois Richer - North Country Mom

“Maybe this will help.” He held out a sack made of netting. “I’ll hold it, you get them inside. Perhaps then we can finally sit down.”

“Thanks.” So bossy. But at least he was helping. When the bag was full, he tightened the top then swung everything into an overhead bin, including her backpack. She winced at the rough handling but said only, “Window or aisle?”

“Aisle. My legs are too long for the inside seat.”

They certainly were; long and clad in designer jeans. But it was his feet Alicia noticed—feet covered in a most amazing pair of boots which lovingly hugged his feet in gleaming black calfskin. For a fit like that, she guessed the boots were custom. She wondered who’d made them. Good craftsmen were hard to find. She should know. She was always looking for unique, handcrafted items for her shop.

Suddenly aware she was staring, Alicia huddled against the wall to give him more room.

His smile and the way he pointed his booted toes up were the only signs he gave that he’d noticed her scrutiny. He thrust out a hand. “Jack Campbell.”

“Alicia Featherstone.” As his fingers engulfed hers a tiny shiver of—what? Fear? Dread?—made the hairs on her arm stand to attention. She blinked. No, it felt more like anticipation. Surprise bloomed inside her. It couldn’t be anticipation. Men made her nervous. Had done ever since—

“What’s in the packages, Alicia?” he asked.

“Stock for my store.” He certainly wasn’t reticent. “I buy handmade goods from First Nations people to sell to visitors to Churchill,” she explained. “Canada has a thriving Native arts population. I’m trying to help it expand.”

“Tansi.”

This handsome traveler spoke her native Cree language? Delighted, Alicia shot back a greeting in the same language.

“Pardon?” Jack raised both eyebrows in an imperious question mark.

Uh-oh. Alicia switched to English. “I thought you were speaking to me in Cree.”

“Maybe I was and didn’t know it.” His tanned face relaxed and suddenly he looked much younger. And more handsome, if that was possible. “I don’t know what it means but isn’t Tansi the name of your store?”

“In Cree it means ‘hi’ or ‘how are you.’” She tilted her head to one side. “And yes, my store is called Tansi. How did you know?”

“I’ve been to Churchill before.” Jack inclined his head. “My sister, Laurel Quinn, lives there. She runs a rehabilitation project for troubled boys called Lives Under Construction.”

“I’m very familiar with it. I teach her boys classes on Aboriginal culture.” Alicia silently completed a second inventory on Jack. Yep, he was the stuff of romantic teenage dreams. Fortunately hers were long gone. “How long will you be visiting?”

She followed his gaze to the girl who slept so peacefully across the way. Giselle didn’t look anything like her father. Perhaps she favors her mother. A pang of loss pinched Alicia’s stomach into a knot as she remembered a baby, so tiny, so precious.

Where is he now, Lord?

“Giselle and I aren’t visitors this time.” The tightness in Jack’s voice made her curious. “We’re moving to Churchill permanently. I bought a hotel.”

“You’re the new owner of the Northern Lights Lodge,” she said in sudden understanding.

“Yes.” He didn’t exactly look thrilled.

“You aren’t excited about your venture? Do you have lots of experience?” She wished she could make herself small enough so his broad shoulder didn’t keep brushing hers, but that was not easy when she was five foot eight.

“No. I was a cop in Vancouver.” His voice hummed with a low rumble. “It’s all I ever wanted to be and I was good at it.”

A cop who loved shoes? She’d think about that later.

“I lived in Vancouver once.” Alicia couldn’t quite suppress a shudder. “Why’d you quit being a cop to run a hotel?” she asked, then realized how nosy she sounded. To change the subject she said, “You’ll probably regret leaving mild Vancouver when winter returns to Churchill.”

“I doubt it.” Jack said it with a bald fierceness, his gaze on his daughter. “I’m moving for Giselle, to keep her safe.” His jaw clenched and a tiny tic appeared.

“Oh. Is she in danger?” Alicia couldn’t contain her curiosity about this obviously hurting man and his very cute daughter.

“Maybe.” He gave Alicia the kind of look that sized her up in about three seconds. “Her mom was an internal-affairs cop. We thought she’d be safer there than on the street. Turns out we were wrong. Simone was killed by a dirty cop two years ago.”

“I’m so sorry.” Alicia’s heart winced at the grief that colored his voice. “So you’re left to take care of Giselle on your own. But you can’t do that if you’re working as a cop, so you bought the hotel,” she guessed. “Good for you.”

“And because Laurel’s here in Churchill. She’s the only family we have left.” Jack’s gaze drifted to the other passengers, who were settling into a drowsy state as spring’s twilight faded and darkness fluttered over the land.

Then he faced her, a line of strain deepening around his mouth. His blue eyes turned navy. Alicia felt the tension emanating from him.

“I’ll do anything to protect Giselle,” he said in a fierce voice. “Including figuring out a new occupation. It helps that Laurel has a friend who is a mega-hotelier. His name is Teddy Stonechild and he comes to Churchill a lot. He promised to help me get the place up and running.”

“Giselle will be safe in Churchill. We’re so isolated that most of the world barely knows we exist,” Alicia said, trying to lighten the mood.

“I hope that’s not true.” A smile tried to play with the corner of Jack’s mouth. “Otherwise, my hotel will go broke.”

“Highly unlikely. Teddy knows everything about running a hotel. He should, given how many he has.” Alicia shrugged. “Anyway, the polar bear seekers book every available room from mid-September to November, the northern lights hunters come in January and February, and we get a lot of folks stopping by to see the belugas from now till fall. Lodging in Churchill is very limited and very relaxed, so I’m sure you’ll do well.”

“I hope so.” The words emerged in a quiet murmur as Jack stared at his daughter. “Because failure is not an option.”

“I’ll say a prayer for you and Giselle,” she offered.

“I doubt that will make a difference.” His voice hardened. “God abandoned us when He let Simone die.”

“God doesn’t abandon His children.” Alicia bristled under the look Jack gave her, a look that said he thought she was being childish. “Believe me, I know.”

“Why? Do you have kids?” Jack asked.

“I’m single,” she said firmly. Then, lest he think she was angling for a date, she added, “And I intend to stay that way.”

“Not exactly what I asked.” His gaze narrowed. “But I agree with you. I intend to stay single, too.”

“Oh?” A hunk like him staying single? In Churchill? Alicia almost laughed.

“I will never allow myself to go through losing someone I care for again.” The absolute loss in Jack’s voice killed her amusement. When he spoke again, his voice was more even. “If you had kids, you’d understand how they become the focus of your life. You’ll do anything for them. Giselle is my world. Besides her, nothing else matters.”

I do understand what you mean, Jack. I know exactly how you feel. I’d do anything to keep my son safe. But I don’t know where he is, or how to find him.

“Sorry, guess I’m not very good company tonight,” Jack muttered turning away. The keep-away signs were clearly posted. Only natural, given he’d lost his wife.