Free [Alaskan Quest 03] - Whispers of Winter by Tracie Peterson Page A

you actually lost your senses?”
    “He accused me of stealing, and I ain’t lost my senses.” Ripley shook his head. “Well, at least have the decency to shoot off those three bad toes if you have to shoot him at all. That way maybe I won’t have to perform two surgeries.” Bristol frowned, looking momentarily confused, but Elmer merely steadied his aim.
    “Just put the gun down and we can talk about what happened,” Jacob interjected.
    “What happened,” Bristol said in a heated manner, “is that he thought we were all asleep and went to help himself to an extra portion of food. He’s a thief.”
    “Am not. I was just hungry!”
    “Enough!”
    Everyone turned to find Captain Latimore struggling to make his way to the two men. He pushed past Jacob and Keith and went directly to Elmer. “Give me that weapon.”
    “Uhh … Captain, I …”
    “Hand it over now.” Latimore stared at him hard. “We will discuss this in my quarters, but we will not be armed to do so.”
    To Jacob’s surprise, Elmer handed the pistol over. Latimore turned to Bristol. “Come with me now.” The younger man nodded, looking almost sheepish. He limped toward the captain.
    Latimore headed back to his tent with the two men following behind. Jacob exchanged a glance with the captain as he passed. It was evident the episode had cost him every bit of strength. However, there was a look to his countenance that suggested he had regained the will not only to live but to take back his command.
    After the men had disappeared, Jacob turned to Jayce. “It’s good to see Latimore take the matter in hand.”
    “Yes. It’s obvious the men have needed him.”
    Keith nodded. “He’s a good man. A fine captain. I was sorry to see him so grief stricken, but perhaps now things will be righted.” He walked away to join the other crew members.
    Jayce turned to Jacob. “He’s right, you know. If Latimore is able to rally his men, we may see positive spirits restored.”
    “I hope you’re right.” Jacob yawned. “I suppose for now we should head back to bed. We’ve had enough excitement for one night.” He watched Keith pass the rif le to Travis. “They’re good men—the demands of survival have been too much for them.”
    “God will see them through. Just as He’ll see us through, Jacob. You know it’s true. Rest in it.”

    Eight hours later, Jacob sat across from Latimore. The captain looked better than Jacob had seen him since the Regina went down.
    “The problem is that the men do not have enough to keep themselves busy with. Do you have suggestions, Jacob?”
    “I do, but you may be no happier to hear about it than they will be.”
    Latimore eased back against a pile of furs. “You’ll have to excuse me; I still have great weakness.”
    “Please feel free to rest. We can discuss this another time.”
    “No. I think we should talk now. If Elmer were kept busy, I don’t think he would be so fearful about starvation. You see, as a boy he was quite impoverished. He went hungry most of the time. It’s haunted him into his adult years. He’s not really a bad person, but his fears are causing him to make bad choices.”
    “I can understand that, but the men are angry about it. They feel he’s cheated them of food that should rightfully be shared. Starvation is something we all fear.”
    “I am not making excuses for Warrick, merely pointing out the truth of the matter. I have confined the man to my presence when he’s not busy with required duties. Which brings me back to that situation. My men are used to hard work. They need to have a purpose.”
    “We need to lay up food,” Jacob said. “Between you and me, there is always the possibility that help will not come. A compromise was struck that we would leave the island on July tenth if rescue has not reached us. Still, whether we wait it out here on the island or take the umiaks and try to make our way back to Alaska, we will need food. The men don’t seem to