“Ritchie, stay here.”

            Susan was just about to jump when the train lurched. She dropped her things and grabbed for something to support her. The train started to speed up again. Susan didn’t look back and quickly jumped onto the platform to get Duchess. She ran as fast as she could and lifted Duchess up.

            “Okay. Let’s get onto our train.” she whispered.

            She turned to see the train speeding away. She sprinted after the train with her dog in her hands. She caught up to the caboose and was about ten feet away. There was only twenty feet of platform left. She gave it all that she had and grabbed onto the railing of the caboose with her free hand. She tossed Duchess as gently as she could into the caboose. Susan jumped onto the train just as the platform disappeared from below her. She looked over her things to make sure everything was there and carried them through the caboose to the nearest coach. She collapsed into the closest seat by her.

            Susan sighed, “That was way more excitement then I needed. I hope the rest of the journey doesn’t give me heart attack. I’ll be perfectly fine with a calm trip.”

            The door in the front of the coach opened. A man stepped through and closed the door. The man wore a blue uniform and cap which had the word “Conductor” written in gold letters. He went down the aisle with his ticket puncher in hand and asking any passenger for their ticket. He finally got to Susan.

            “Ticket please.” the conductor said while clicking his ticket puncher.

            Susan handed him the ticket. He looked it over and punched it.

            “Madame. After looking at yer ticket there, it seems that you belong in that first class coach… Mind if I escort you miss, miss-”

            “Whitley.” she said.

            His face showed a puzzled look. “Wait just a dog gone minute. Are you Susan Whitley? One of them rich women of Anchorage.”

            Susan nodded her head.

            “Well we better get you up to the front.” the conductor said. “Post haste.”

            The conductor helped Susan out of her seat and they both headed towards the front of the coach with Susan’s luggage He opened the door which sent a strong wind of cold air. He jumped from the coach to the next one and opened the door. Susan looked down to see the train couplers and how fast the ground was going beneath her. She hesitated before she jumped. Her dogs did the same.

            “And this here is the dining car Miss Whitley.” pointed out the conductor.

            She looked around at the tables which had a beautiful view through the windows.

            “Let’s continue.” he said.

            Finally she got to the first class coach. Before she could take a seat the conductor spoke to her again.

            “Now, the coach that’s up ahead of here is the sleeping quarters. Have a good night Miss.”

            Susan smiled. “Why thank you for the tour. And you have a good night too.”

            The conductor tipped his hat and disappeared into another car. She bent down to pet her two dogs.

            “I just remembered something.” she said while opening up one of her suitcases.

            She grabbed out two bandanas. One purple and the other green. She tied the purple bandana around Duchess’s neck and the green around Ritchie.

            “There we go.” she grinned. “I may be able to tell you two apart because Ritchie’s a darker shade a red. But I don’t want anyone to confuse your names.”

            The train traveled on into the night. The snowplow that was attached made it easy to push aside the heavy drifts of snow. A rabbit, fresh with his winter coat, sat beside the tracks. When he heard the train coming he bolted into a forest. The rabbit ran through the forest of pines until he thought it was safe.

After a bit his ears perked up and he sprinted again as a pack of animals and a human rushed past. The animals pulled a sled which a human and a few sacks rested on. Distant cries of “Hike!”, “Gee!” and “Haw!” could be heard echoing through the night. The sacks were transported by different sled dog teams from town to town. These sacks were picked up and dropped off. Except for one which was heading west. The exchanges of these sacks continued until morning.

Chapter Two:       

“Here ya go Mr. Conner.” Mr. Simpson cheerfully said.

            “Why thank you Mr. Simpson. And ya got the mail here on time.” Mr. Conner replied with a smile.

            “Yup. Nikki, Kaltag, and Star may be getting up in years but I couldn’t ask for better sled dogs.”

            “That you couldn’t. Well see ya later Mr. Simpson.”

            Mr. Simpson waved his hand as he exited the post office. Mr. Conner the post master opened up the bag of mail and began sorting the letters into cubbies for each mail recipient. One particular letter caught his attention. He looked at the return address which had a name on it.

            “Susan Whitley’s sending mail here? She’s probably just coming here to visit or something. But who knows?” he asked himself.

            He shrugged his shoulders and continued sorting mail. Just then the door opened and a family of three walked in. A small dog stealthily entered behind them. This dog was a bit pudgy and had long droopy ears. She was looking for a particular dog.

            “Mel. Mel!” she called.

            Just then a dog about the size of herself rushed up to her.

The dog started rambling. “Dipsy! Dipsy! We have a problem!”

“Uh-huh. Sure we do. I brought some food from the store. Want some?” Dipsy asked.

Mel started panicking. “How could I think of food at a time like this!? Do you know what’s gonna happen?!”

Dipsy started to eat some beef jerky that she brought with her. “Nope. But I’m sure you’ll tell me.”

“We’re done for! This is terrible!” stammered Mel.

Dipsy looked at Mel. “Oh really? I haven’t seen you this worried since yesterday.”

“Why wouldn’t I be? Susan Whitley’s coming!” blurted out Mel.

“And she would be?” questioned Dipsy.

            “Hello! Only the richest, most powerful person in Alaska. What’s she doing coming here? Oh no. She’s going to buy all the stores so she can make more money. Or she’ll buy the mail team for profit. Or worse! She’s going to buy all of Nome and demolish it for a new mansion!” yelled Mel.

            “Mel. Your only a year old and you feel like the world’s gonna end in a day. Just try to-” Dipsy started.

            She heard the door open as the family was starting to leave.

            “Oh, bye Mel!” she called as she scrambled out the closing door.

            Dipsy hurried back to the general store while the family headed home. The family entered their house and was quickly greeted by their husky. The little girl of the family rushed over to the dog and began to pet her. The mother sat down in a chair near her.

            She started to talk to her husband. “This is so odd Tom. I never get mail.”

            “Well see who it’s from Nancy.” answered Tom.

            Nancy looked at the return address.

            “Oh it’s from my sister Susan! The last time she sent mail was last Christmas!” she exclaimed as she began to open and read it. “It says that she’s coming for a visit!” she cried out as she finished the letter.

            Their daughter Rosie jumped up. “Aunt Susan’s coming for a visit!? I haven’t seen her in a long time!” she happily squealed.

            It was Tom’s turn to talk. “I still think it was awfully nice of her to give us Jenna. And to think,