Alaska and Beyond (Alaska Trooper Jack Blake Adventures) by M.D. Kincaid

Author:M.D. Kincaid [Kincaid, M.D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Adventurous Books
Published: 2012-09-15T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

KUSKOKWIM SPELUNKING

SUMMER HAS ARRIVED in Lone Wolf. I pass glaciers and snow-covered mountains on my trip from Anchorage, but my new home town radiates warmth. Not just in the midnight sun that glows over the village, nor from the birch trees that have burst out with bright green leaves, but from the person who awaits me. I glide the Cessna over the airport, splashing onto the waters of the Tranquility River. As I’d hoped, the dock in front of Tinka’s cabin is perfect for a seaplane.

Jet rushes over to the Cessna and we embrace as my boots touch land. She has a friend with her. The friend is my surprise.

“Jack, I know it’s only been a week, but it seems like an eternity since we flew our separate ways. I’ve missed you!” I agree and she introduces me to her friend.

“Piper, meet Jack.” Piper is black. Black with big brown eyes, a gray mustache and a fluffy pile of hair on top of his head. He shakes my hand.

“Glad to meet you, Piper.” I offer, then look at Jet for an explanation.

“Jack, I hope you don’t mind, but Piper has been keeping me company for the past couple of days.” I must look surprised. “When I first got back to the cabin, he was waiting for me, so I couldn’t just run him off.” Jet’s eyes are pleading for my understanding, but I need more details.

Jet explains how the orphaned moose that had taken up residence in the yard was laying down when she got home. Jet went over to check on her and noticed something unusual, something she’d never seen in her years as a fish and wildlife trooper. A dog was curled up with the moose, a situation not common in critters of vastly different species. Upon seeing Jet, the mid-sized pooch had stood up, wagged its tail, and wiggled all the way over to her. Jet said it seemed starved and quickly devoured a bowl of food. She had learned from James Stevens that a gas line worker had abandoned the dog to survive on its own when he left town after being fired from his job.

“I named him Piper for my favorite airplane. What do you think, Jack? James said he will watch him whenever we travel.” Now Jet and Piper both plead with their eyes.

I try to look like I’m deeply considering the issue. Truthfully, I love dogs and still miss the one we had on my uncle’s ranch, and Piper looks like he will fit in well at the Lone Wolf cabin.

“Well, I guess we could give him a try,” I offer.

I get another kiss from Jet. Piper excitedly flaps his little batwing-style ears like he’s going to take off. We now have a mascot.

We share a candlelight dinner, discussing our recent adventures and our plans for after our cases are solved. Piper lies in front of the fireplace and Annie the moose munches away at alder twigs in the back yard. Jet

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