Authors: Lisa T. Bergren
Deep Harbor (46 page)
As tempting as Elsa’s invitation to join them in the valley had been, Karl had to get back to San Francisco to deliver his load. When he knocked on the door of the Kenneys’ home, he thought of Elsa and her children, surrounded by their loving neighbors and friends of the Skagit Valley. They would be well cared for. He was confident in it. But there still was the slightest pang in his heart, a vague sense of missing something …
“Karl!” Mrs. Kenney squealed, opening her arms to him as he moved past the maid. He was briefly enveloped by her voluptuous body and then released to face her giggling girls.
“Hello, Mr. Martensen,” said Mara coquettishly.
“Mr. Martensen,” flirted Nina, echoing her sister.
“Ladies,” he said gallantly, giving them each a nod and a grin. In the months that he had been at sea, they had grown more lovely, but he was as sure as ever that his role for them would never be anything other than brotherly.
“Martensen!” Gerald said, coming out of his study to heartily shake the younger man’s hand.
“Gerald, it’s good to see you. Happy Thanksgiving.”
“And to you, my boy. And to you. Come in. Let me get you some refreshment,” he paused, looking pointedly at the maidservant, “and the ladies can join us in the parlor before dinner.”
“After we freshen up, Papa,” Mara said demurely.
“Yes, yes. Come when you can,” he said, waving her off.
“I will get the hors d’oeuvres,” Mrs. Kenney said. “Please, Karl, leave your coat and hat with Ronni.”
As directed, Karl slipped out of his coat and handed it and his hat to the maid. He followed Gerald into the parlor, smiling at the crackling fire in the fireplace and candles lit about the room. It was warm and cozy, the perfect place for a man to think, on a day such as this, about what he had been given.
“You got the wood off-loaded,” Gerald stated, sitting down and handing Karl a crystal glass.
“Yes. With little difficulty. Seems there’s as great a hunger for quality lumber down here as there ever has been.”
“Excellent. Excellent, my boy. Will you make some more runs for me?”
Karl smiled and hesitated. “Actually, Gerald, I’ve been meaning to talk with you about that.” He edged forward in his seat. “Perhaps we should discuss it later, after dinner.”
“No, no. Out with it.”
“Well, you see, Gerald, you and I met at just the right time for me to accept captaincy of your ship. It seemed providential, right. And I have no quarrel with how you run your company or pay me,” he said urgently, searching his friend’s eyes. “The thing is that I’m not being a wise investor. I have enough capital to captain my own ship, and would like to have my own steamer built. My time sailing as a captain without more than a partial buy into the load was good, but it’s not wise for me to continue doing so. Not when I could be sailing my own ship, and taking a hundred percent of the profit.”
Gerald chuckled and sat back. “I had no idea. I had no idea you
had the means to buy your own vessel. I suppose I should be glad I got you when I did, son. You’ve done well for me and my investments.”
Karl cocked his head, a bit embarrassed. “It takes a while to have a ship built. And I’ve just finished a design that I’ll order from Ramstad Yard in Camden. For the next year, I’ll continue captaining your vessel, if you’ll have me. Then we’ll need to find a qualified man to take over.”
“What can I say?” Gerald asked. “I hate to think of losing you at all, but I am glad that I had you for a while.”
“Oh, you’re not losing me, Gerald. I intend to be a friend to the Kenneys for a good long while.”
“Oh?” said Mara, entering the room. She smelled of spicy perfume. Gerald grinned as he looked from one to the other.
“Yes,” Karl said, shifting uncomfortably under her girlish gaze. Clearly, she had misinterpreted his words. But before he could say more, her sister and mother entered the room, and their conversation took another tack. Karl sighed. Surely, at some point, this too would have to be dealt with.
A
knock at their door one late November evening startled Tora and Kaatje as they huddled near their tiny woodstove. “Who could that be?” Tora muttered.
“I hope everyone is all right,” Kaatje added as she went to the door and opened it to see Trent Storm.
“Come on! You have to see them!” Trent practically shouted, unperturbed by the women shushing him. Christina peeked out from behind the curtain that separated their “kitchen” from the “bedroom” of their one-room home. Here in the new territory, there was precious little to choose from when it came to housing arrangements.
“What, Trent? See who?”
He grabbed her shawl by the door and wrapped it around her shoulders. “You too, Kaatje. Get your girls up. It’s magnificent!”
“What? Trent Storm, what do you mean, taking us outside on such a cold night?” Kaatje demanded in a friendly, wondering tone. Still, she motioned toward Christina, who with a squeal went to awaken Jessica. After throwing on more clothes, they moved outside as a group.
Tora smiled as soon as they were away from the house. To the
north, the aurora borealis was shining in such splendor that it took her breath away.
“Have you ever seen anything like it?” Trent exclaimed, placing an arm around Tora and another around Kaatje as they stared together. The girls stood in front of them, laughing and dancing at the sight.
“Not since—” Kaatje began.
“Bergen,” Tora finished. “But even there, I do not suppose I ever appreciated what I was seeing.” Over the mountains, streaks of purple and blue extended toward them, with red waves crossing the others as if a heavenly weaver were working on a fantastic loom.
“Do they appear often here?” Kaatje asked hopefully.
“On cold, clear nights, through April, I’m told,” Trent said. “We could see them at times in Minnesota, but nothing like this.”
“I’m so glad they’re here,” Tora said. There was something about the mere presence of the northern lights that gave her comfort, like a small hug sent from home.
“It is affirmation that we are on the right path,” Kaatje said. “Regardless of what is before us.” She moved away from the couple slightly and turned toward them, her face inscrutable in the near-darkness. “Thank you for coming with me, my friends,” she said. “I could not have done it without you.” Her voice broke a bit, and Tora moved nearer to her.
“No, Kaatje. Thank you for allowing us to come. I cannot begin to describe what it means to me.”
Kaatje shook her head, as if embarrassed. “Well, it is clear that you belong together. You two should marry.”
Tora smiled and took her hand. “Soon enough,” she said over her shoulder to Trent. “Very soon. But first, let us move forward as one. When you have found out what you need to about Soren, when I am sure that you and Jessie and Christina are well on your way—beside me or on your own—then Trent and I will marry.”
Kaatje turned to Trent. “I am sorry, Trent. You see how stubborn she is?”
Trent laughed and again placed an arm around each woman. “I recognize it. But for once her stubbornness is being used by the God who orchestrates nights like these,” he said, looking upward. “For now, I am content to be simply near Tora, and to be your friend too. I have a peace about it all that I cannot explain.”
“Then God go with us,” Kaatje whispered, looking upward with Trent. In the silence, the northern lights created a holy atmosphere. So great was the sight and their momentum, it was surprising that there was not anything audible to accompany such a cacophony of motion.
“God be with us,” whispered Trent.
“God
is
with us,” finished Tora.
If you enjoyed
Deep Harbor,
look for the third installment of
The Northern Lights Series
Midnight Sun
To be released Spring 2000
Kaatje has traveled to the most difficult territory in the west to find out if Soren is alive or dead. Surrounded by her friends and family, she feels ready, truly ready, to know the truth. Eventually Kaatje decides that all evidence points to the fact that Soren is dead, and she concentrates on building her successful business with Tora. Better yet, she allows herself to fall in love with a good man who has pursued her for years. Karl, Elsa, Trent, Tora, and the girls all celebrate her coming nuptials. But just as Kaatje’s wedding draws near, she has to climb one last mountain. For only on the darkest of days, can she discover the truth and see her
Midnight Sun
.
Dear Friends,
Thanks for reading another one of my books. Writing is like tearing out your heart and placing it on a platter, and I appreciate that my readers are so tender with my offering! I hope you liked
Deep Harbor
. Tora Anders reminded me of Scarlett O’Hara in her determination and stubbornness, but also of myself. Although I have never wandered as far as Tora, how many times have I pained my Savior through sin? It makes me ache when I think about it and endeavor once again to try harder. Thank heaven for grace, or I’d be history. And for any who wonder, God’s grace is as deep as the ocean. Praise him!
For all who have inquired, my second baby, Emma Reyne, was born in July. Her older sister, Olivia, adores her, and so does the rest of the family. There’s nothing like a baby to remind me of how God feels about us; a moment of sweet, toothless smiles and cooing makes up for hours of crying. We thank God that she was born healthy and pray that we raise her with a heart for Christ.
Now I’m trying to reestablish a routine for our family and get crackin’ on
Midnight Sun
, the third and last installment of the Northern Lights Series. It will really be Kaatje’s story—is anyone more deserving than she is? Still, there are trials ahead for her, poor thing. But don’t worry; I love her too!
I wish each of you every blessing in life. But most of all, I hope you can dive even deeper into the Word, knowing your Savior better each day. Always remember that he is our Living Water, our Stream in the desert, our safest Harbor in the storm.
All my best,
Write to Lisa Tawn Bergren:
c/o WaterBrook Press
12265 Oracle Boulevard, Suite 200
Colorado Springs, CO 80921
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EEP
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ARBOR
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UBLISHED BY
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12265 Oracle Boulevard, Suite 200
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The characters and events in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to actual persons or events is coincidental.
eISBN: 978-0-307-45936-7
Copyright © 1999 by Lisa Tawn Bergren
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Published in the United States by WaterBrook Multnomah, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House Inc., New York.
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ATER
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