After exchanging pleasantries, they heard an announcement through the loudspeaker that the dog mushing event would be starting soon. Isabelle found herself swept up in the crowd as everyone moved toward another area of the woods. For a moment it was a bit disorienting, until she felt Connor reach for her hand. Although she sensed he was simply ensuring she wasn’t left behind, it was hard to deny how good it felt to have his hand around hers. It gave her a feeling of safety, as if Connor was protecting her from harm. She knew it wasn’t romantic, but for a moment Isabelle imagined what it might be like to hold hands with Connor for real.
Stop dreaming about things that won’t ever come to pass. It’s a complete waste of time. She needed to be firmly rooted in reality.
By the time they reached the area where the mushers were located with their sled dogs, a large crowd had assembled. There was a buzz of excitement in the air.
“What exactly are we going to see?” Isabelle asked. It was slightly embarrassing, but what she knew about dog mushing would easily fit on a postage stamp.
“This is just a demonstration of how dog mushers and their teams perform. They’re all going to race along the trail and back to give us an idea of what the longer races look like and how the dogs work as a team to get the job done,” Connor explained. “We’re raising money tonight to go toward shelter dogs.”
“That’s a wonderful cause. My family had a Great Dane for twelve years. She was a shelter dog. Her name was Daisy, and she was amazing.”
“Great Danes are a handful, much like huskies. Bear keeps me on my toes.”
“Yes, they are, but Daisy was a sweetheart. We lost her a few years ago. I still miss her.”
“Sounds like you might be in the market for a shelter dog. The vet clinic is doing adoptions all month, just in case you’re interested.”
Adopting a dog! The idea of doing so hadn’t even crossed her mind, although she knew it would do wonders for her loneliness. But what if she had to abruptly leave Owl Creek and move to another location? There was no telling how many different towns she might relocate to. Would it be difficult for a pet to be moved around so much if the need arose?
Isabelle shrugged. “It’s something to think about,” she said, not wanting to give up on the idea so soon. She would love to have a stable life where owning a dog was possible. Maybe she really could put roots down in Owl Creek without having to look over her shoulder all the time. Perhaps it was possible to live a normal life.
Connor pointed toward one of the mushers. “See the guy in the front wearing the red parka? That’s Ace Reynolds. He’s an exceptional dog musher,” Connor said. “One of the best.”
“I heard he grew up here in Owl Creek.”
“He sure did. Folks here in town are awfully proud of him. He’s going to compete in the Iditarod this March.”
Isabelle wrinkled her nose. “The Iditarod? It sounds familiar, but I have to confess that I don’t know anything about it.”
He winked at her. “As a born and bred Alaskan, I’ve grown up on it.” He let out a chuckle. “The Iditarod is a yearly sled dog race that stretches from Anchorage to Nome. It takes place over the course of eight days or so. It’s pretty intense and only for those who are dedicated to the craft. When I was a kid, I wanted so badly to be a dog musher and compete in the Iditarod. Ac
e was born into it. Both his father and his grandfather competed, so I guess one could say it’s in his blood. He’s spent so much of his life training and raising the pups. I can’t really imagine him doing anything else.”
“Are the dogs safe?” she asked. “It’s hard to imagine them racing in such a cold climate. Or for such long stretches of time.”
“You’ll never meet anyone as passionate about dogs as Ace. He treats all of them very well. They’re his family.”
“That’s good to know,” Isabelle said, her heart warming at his words.
“These guys are the best of the best,” Connor said. “It’s a pretty tight-knit group. Some are them are retired, but a few, like Ace, are still competing. It can be very lucrative, but mushers like Ace aren’t in it for the paycheck.”
Isabelle nodded. Connor was giving her quite an education. It was an interesting sport with a rich history in Alaska.
“I think they’re getting ready to begin,” Connor said, pointing toward the starting line. “The teams are going to go two at a time.”
Isabelle turned back toward the action as a horn began to blow and a voice announced that the event was about to begin. Since Connor had given her the background on Ace, her eyes were trained on him and his team. When it was his turn to race, the crowd noisily cheered him on, distinguishing him as the clear favorite in the lineup.
As Ace and his team came flying down the path, the noise from the crowd was deafening. A feeling of exhilaration gripped her. The speed and finesse of the mushers and their dogs were spectacular. With the wind blowing in her hair and a fierce chill in the air, Isabelle almost felt as if she was riding on the sled herself. It was no small wonder why this sport was so popular and drew such large crowds. It was an invigorating event, one she never could have experienced back home.
As all the dog mushers crossed the finish line, loud applause broke out among the crowd. Isabelle joined in, clapping enthusiastically.
“That was really incredible,” she said.
“There’s nothing quite like the first time you see it.” Connor flashed her a smile. “It’s the official sport of Alaska. Cool, huh?”
“I had no idea,” she admitted. “But it makes sense. I can’t think of a more thrilling event to watch.”
“It’s pretty cool seeing it through your eyes.” Connor’s own eyes twinkled as he looked down at her. His voice injected a feeling of coziness into their conversation. For a moment she almost forgot that they were at a public place and surrounded by an entire community. Everything else faded away.