Brides of Alaska (46 page)

“There are also rules of the road,” Mark continued. “You'll get most of these on paper, but some are just givens. There's the Good Samaritan Rule that says no racer can be penalized for helping another in an emergency. You have to explain the incidents to the race official at the next checkpoint, but there shouldn't be any problems.”

“Also, there are regulations related to the wildlife. If you have an incident arise where wildlife has attacked you, there are rules that relate to the situation. If the game is killed in defense of life or property, you are responsible to get that animal gutted and cared for,” August remarked.

“But that could take a long time and by then you'd lose your place in the race,” Rita said irritably. “That doesn't seem fair.”

“No other racer can proceed ahead of you,” Mark said, setting the record straight. “You don't lose your place.” Was it Rita's imagination, or did Mark sound rather disgusted with her?

“If it's impossible to take care of the animal, for whatever reason,” August continued, “you need to report the incident to the racing committee.”

Rita nodded, still disturbed by Mark's intonation.

“Of course, we don't have to worry about cruelty to the animals,” Mark began, “but rule number thirty of the Dog Procedures states that racers aren't allowed to commit any action or inaction that causes preventable pain or suffering.”

“And they are quite severe on this rule,” August added. “Violation of this rule results in disqualification. The whole world watches the Iditarod with extreme concern for the health and safety of the animals. It's almost as if it doesn't matter what happens to the drivers as long as the dogs are pampered and cared for. Now, don't get me wrong,” August continued, “I believe the dogs should always be cared for first. It's what I've taught you since you first started working with them. Your dogs are your life's blood out there. You feed them first, bed them down first, go over their bodies for injuries or problems, all before you take any form of personal comfort.”

“I know all of that, Dad,” Rita articulated.

“We're just trying to help you remember,” Mark joined in. “There's so much that you must keep in mind.” Mark noted the frown on Rita's face. “Look, Rita, no one is trying to make you feel stupid. We know that much of what you need to be aware of will come second nature to you. But, there will be those things that don't, and they'll probably be the very things that will not only make or break the race for you, but may result in a great many problems for you if you aren't on top of them.”

“Okay. Okay,” Rita retorted. “I'm all ears.”

“Well, let's get on with the race itself,” August suggested.

“That sounds good,” Mark agreed. “Now first of all is Anchorage to Eagle River. This is mostly urban and, as much as the dogs love to race, they hate the crowds and noise. There are hundreds of thousands of people, cars, helicopters, and, above all else, noise. It makes the dogs jittery and the drivers tense. Fourth Street is where it all starts. At a banquet a couple of evenings before the race, you'll draw your starting position. Nine o'clock marks the ceremonial start of the race with the honorary number one racer send-off. After that, the race officially begins at nine-o-two. Racers will take off every two minutes after that, and during the ride to Eagle River you'll carry a passenger.”

“That's you, Daddy,” Rita said, offering August a smile. August couldn't help but return his daughter's gesture.

“Who's riding with you, Mark?” August questioned.

“I have a friend in Anchorage and I've asked him to ride with me. It's kind of a pre-wedding present,” Mark replied. “In fact, after the race, I'm going to be his best man.”

“You never mentioned this, Mark,” August commented with a quick glance at Rita. He noted the flash in her eyes that bespoke of sudden interest.

“I meant to. When I was arranging help for the kennel so that you and Beth could spend time in Anchorage, I arranged to cover the extra day I'd be away for the wedding. I was going to mention it to you the other day because I needed to pick up the wedding ring in Fairbanks, but you made it easy on me with that trip to town, and I just forgot.”

Rita nearly fell off her chair. So the ring wasn't Mark's. This changed everything. But did she want it to? When she'd thought that Mark had someone else in his life, it was easier for Rita to separate her feelings from her thoughts.

Rita's reaction wasn't lost on August or Mark, but both men kept their thoughts to themselves, while Rita struggled just to hear what was being said about the trail.

February came quickly to an end and Rita found herself on the way to Anchorage with her father. Her mother was coming down with Gerald and his wife in order to join in the festivities. After the Iditarod started, they would drive the dog vehicles to Eagle River, where they would meet Rita and her team after the first leg of the race. At Eagle River, the dogs and sleds would be loaded into trucks and driven to Wasilla, where the entire race would start again. The trail in earlier years passed over the mudflats of upper Cook Inlet to Knik. Due to the hazards of this area, when unseasonable warmth left the ground and water unfrozen, the race was officially changed to restart in Wasilla.

“It only gets better,” August said with a smile.

“I love the anticipation. Just knowing that something glorious like the Iditarod awaits is enough to keep me on the edge of my seat. I keep thinking of how it's going to be, and even though I've never been there, you and Mark have made me feel as if I know how it will be,” Rita chattered.

August nodded. “I'm glad you're excited. I knew you would be. You're finally realizing your dream and that's something quite special. I'm grateful to be a part of it before I die.”

“Don't talk about dying, Daddy.” Rita's voice betrayed her fear.

“Rita, you don't need to worry about me. I'm not afraid to die; and when my time comes, I'll be ready. I guess my only real concern is whether or not you will be.”

Rita swallowed hard. She thought of the verses her aunt Julie had shared and all of her mother's speeches. Somehow those things were easier to deal with than her father's worries.

August tried not to notice the way Rita paled. Death, particularly the possibility of his death, caused Rita a great deal of fear. “Rita,” he began gently, “you must let go of the fear you feel inside. Trust isn't an easy thing, but trust in God is something that will never let you down, because God will never let you down.”

“How can you be so sure?” Rita barely whispered the question.

“It's a matter of believing in the promises that God has given in the Bible, Rita. He said He'd never leave us and He never will.”

“It's so hard,” Rita replied. “The whole concept is difficult to believe. I mean, I see that God is real to you and Mom. I guess even Mark sees Him in a real way; but it just doesn't feel that way to me. I've prayed before, but I never felt as though my prayers went any farther than the room I was in. God just never made Himself very evident to me.”

August nodded. “I can understand your predicament. I went through a time like that, too. Of course, you know all about that, and it isn't what's important right now. What is important is that you can have God in your life in a very real way. If you want Him, Rita, God will be there for you and He will help you to see Him.”

“I'm afraid of trying.” Rita's honest words hung in the air. “I mean, it seems like everyone I've ever cared about has deserted me. Everyone but you, that is.”

“Do you really believe that?” August questioned.

“I don't know, Daddy. All I know is that ever since I was a little girl, I tried to understand why Mom felt so angry with me all the time and why none of my brothers or sisters seemed to have the time of day for me.”

“Your brothers and sister were all so much older than you. You turned out to be a surprise gift from the Lord. You have to remember that you came nearly nine years after we presumed we were finished with diapers and bottles. Nevertheless, we loved you as much as any of the rest,” August replied.

Rita shook her head. “No, I don't think so. You may have felt that way, but Mother didn't. I overheard her tell Sarah that she'd never wanted me.”

August looked stunned. “I find that hard to believe, Rita. I mean, I know the pregnancy was a shock to your mother and that we had to change a lot of plans, but I remember when she gave birth to you. I watched her nurse you. Your mother loved you as much as any of the others.”

Rita winced and fell silent.

“Look, Rita,” August said, dividing his concentration between the road and his daughter, “the issue here isn't the past, but the future. I'm going to pray that God will reveal Himself to you in a very real way and I'm going to pray that you can somehow get over your hurtful relationship with your mother and start over.”

Rita looked out the window to avoid her father's face. She didn't want to appear vulnerable to his words, but the truth was, she felt compelled to listen.

“I mean it, Rita,” August said in an authoritative voice. “I want you to figure out what the problem is between you and your mom and deal with it. I don't want to leave this world with the concern that either one of you is alone. I want you to be there for each other. I want you to love each other.”

August's words hung on the air, stifling Rita into silent submission. “
I want you to love each other
,” resounded in her mind as the forested miles of highway ticked by.

T
he noise at the starting line on Fourth Street was intense and nerve-racking. Rita stood beside her dogs, soothing, quieting, and rechecking every harness and line. She could feel the adrenaline surging through her veins, making her heart pound hard against her temples.

Mentally, she made a list of the items she'd packed, and one by one she went over them. With each crunch of snow beneath her heavy boots, Rita felt the urge to be off building inside.

Dandy gave a whimpered howl that was quickly followed by howls from the other dogs. Rita saw her father lean over and give the lead dog a quick pat on the head. She thought he whispered something to the dog, but found a tap on her shoulder distracted her from finding out what it was that August had said.

“Yes?” She whirled around to find Mark's intense eyes. His cheeks were red from the wind, but his expression of excitement matched her own.

“Are you ready, Texas Rita?” Mark asked in puffs of icy air.

Rita couldn't help but grin. “I feel like I've worked a lifetime to get here.”

“You have worked hard,” Mark agreed. “I'm proud of the way you put aside our differences.”

Rita prickled at Mark's words. “I don't know what you're talking about.”

Mark laughed. “You weren't the most cooperative student, as I recall.”

Rita started to answer but found her reply interrupted by one of the race officials.

“I'm here to mark your dogs,” he told her as he moved with paint to dab on each dog's fur for purposes of identification. This would prevent the switching of dogs while out on the trail. Rita anticipated this from things her father and Mark had told her; still she didn't like anyone else handling her dogs.

She followed the man in silence, however, her mind still on Mark's words.
Forget about him
, she chided her heart and mind.
You don't need him or anyone else
. Yet even as she tried to convince herself of this, her father's words of salvation and heavenly security kept pounding at her.

By the time the official moved on, Rita found Mark gone as well. August came up with a grin a mile wide.

“Okay, Number Nineteen,” he said, referring to the number Rita had drawn for her position in the start of the Iditarod, “it won't be long now.”

“I know,” Rita mumbled.

“What's wrong?” August asked, suddenly concerned.

“Umm? Oh, nothing,” Rita said, noting her father's worried look. She wanted to assure him, but in order to keep her guard up, she also needed to distance herself. “It's just jitters, Dad.”

“I understand. Look, we're going to be taking off shortly. Do you have everything?” August asked.

“I think so,” Rita answered. “Where's Mom and Gerald?”

“Oh, they're out there somewhere. Don't you worry about them. They'll be there at Eagle River waiting with the dog trucks.”

“Well, I guess that's all I can ask,” Rita said with a hesitant smile.

“Don't worry,” August said as he patted his daughter's hand. “Everything will be fine once the race starts.”

Rita wanted to believe that, but in her heart she knew the turmoil was about much more than the race. “One more, Rita,” August called from the sled basket. “One more racer and then we're off.”