shushing of the runners and the content silence had given way to Rosy’s restless inquiries.

          “Are we almost there?” she asked in a tone that came close to a whine. Rosy pulled her foot out from beneath Jenna. “Jenna, you’re on my foot. Mom…”

          Her mother sighed. “It should be only a few more minutes, Rosy.”

          Rosy flopped down in the seat with a huff. The minutes ticked by in tense expectation.

          Suddenly Rosy shot to her feet, jumping up and down on the seat. “I see it, I see it! We’re here! Whoohoo- oof!” She fell sideways into her mother’s lap, but kept wriggling with excitement. “Jenna! Balto! Get up, we’re here!”

          Balto chuckled under his breath and nudged Jenna’s face with his nose. “C’mon, Jen, we’ve got to get up. In case you haven’t figured it out already, we’re here.”

          Jenna opened her eyes and sat up, blinking rapidly. The tiny town of Stanton, Alaska seemed to rush towards them as they drew nearer. It was made up of an ornate little church, a post office, a bank, a rundown old factory, a few quaint shops, two schools, and several streets of two-floor cottages. It was one of these houses Rosy’s father pulled up to.

          Rosy leaped out with her enthusiasm spilling over. “Nana! We’re here! Nana! Nana, Nana, Nana!”

          The pale blue front door amid the paint-chipped white house creaked open to reveal a plump old woman with long silver hair and a wide, crooked smile, wearing a heavy blue dress with a thick white sweater atop. She peered around shortsightedly, but then her smile became dazzling as she swooped down on her granddaughter and picked her up off the ground in a huge hug. “Hello, Rosy!” she cried, “I haven’t seen you since you were- what, eight?”

          Rosy giggled and squirmed out of her grasp.

          Nana straightened up and fixed her gaze on the sleigh. “And I can also see you like to travel in style.”

          Rosy’s mother daintily climbed down from the sleigh. Balto followed her with a jump, and then Jenna. “Hello, Mother.”

          The old woman embraced her daughter. “Welcome home. You never come enough.” She nodded towards Rosy, who could be heard exploring the inside of the house. “Have you told her yet?” she murmured, “Jewel’s plot is in the back, if she needs to see…”

          Rosy’s mother shook her head.

          Nana raised her eyebrows. “Well, when will you?”

          Rosy’s mother pressed her mouth into a thin line. “Fine.” She strode towards the house, calling, “Rosy, honey? Before you look for Jewel, there’s something I need to tell you…”

          Nana shook her head.

          Rosy’s father stumbled over with most of the luggage. “What do you think we should do with the horses?”

          His mother-in-law exhaled noisily. “I’ll take them. And put those suitcases in the living room before you fall over. You always did take on more than you could handle. What do you think we should do about your dogs?”

          He shrugged while trying to get through the front door. “We let them run free.”

          “Good.” Nana laughed. “There isn’t much they can get into in this tiny town, besides.” She sauntered towards the sleigh, clucking to the horses.

          Balto gazed worriedly at Jenna. Her face was carefully expressionless. “Are you all right?”

          Jenna was silent for a minute, and then she shook herself. “Yeah. Did you hear her say that we never visit enough? We used to visit too much, I think. When she still lived in Nome. But when Rosy’s grandfather died, Nana moved out here. She said Nome had too many memories. Too many…” She cleared her throat and shrugged.

          Balto nodded slowly. “Oh. Now I see. Well…c’mon, Jen. Let’s see if there are any dogs in this one-horse town.” He padded forward, and then stopped and reconsidered with a grin. “Well, I guess it’s a three-horse town, since we brought two more.”

          Jenna forced a smile, and they started walking.

          They explored a few blocks, but it wasn’t until they reached the shadowed edges of town that they met anyone.

          “Well, well, well,” the steel gray husky growled deep in his throat, “This is unusual. Newcomers to Stanton? Or just passing through?”

          “We’re actually visiting a member of the family for a few days,” Balto said, stepping in front of Jenna protectively. “Uh, would you mind not circling us please? We’re not here to cause any trouble.”

          “Who are you?” Jenna demanded.

          The gray husky’s hazel eyes glittered. He came to a stand-still in front of Jenna and seemed to be sizing her up, weighing her strength against his. In the end, he smiled. “My name’s Talon. If you cross me, you cross all the dogs of Stanton.”

          For the first time Balto and Jenna noticed the dozen eyes leering at them from the shadows. Balto gulped, and exchanged glances with Jenna. She lifted her shoulders in a slight shrug.

          He took a deep breath and one step forward. “Look, we’re not-”

          “Jen!” One of the pairs of eyes shot out of the dark to become a red-brown and white husky who bounded over and wrapped Jenna in a hug.

          “Cooper!” Talon groaned in exasperation, “How many times have I told you to stay put when I’m messing with someone?”

          “Well, since we never get newcomers, I guess I forgot,” Cooper retorted, stepping back and grinning widely at the couple.

          Balto was eyeing him a little oddly, with the question ‘Why were you just hugging my mate?’ in his eyes. Cooper’s smile faded a little as Balto’s questioning glare continued to penetrate him, but then Jenna smiled. “Cooper! I wasn’t expecting to see you…here.”

          “Well, I’m not much of a house dog anymore,” Cooper explained. Then he turned, addressing the other dogs hiding in the dark. “Guys, this is my sister, Jenna. And this is…” He screwed up his face, squinting through confused eyes at Balto. “Okay, I have no idea who the heck you are.”

          Balto drew himself up. “My name’s Balto,” he said, waiting for the awestruck recognition that usually followed the mention of his name. “I’m Jenna’s mate.”

          The dogs only seemed slightly interested.

          “Balto, huh?” Talon said, “Interesting name. Well, welcome to Stanton. Since you’re Cooper’s sister’s mate, I guess you’re as much a part of the group as anyone.”

          Balto was a little startled. “You mean, you’ve never heard of me before?”

          Talon looked at him through narrowed eyes. “Would we have any reason to?”

          Balto opened his mouth and then closed it, speechless.

          Jenna quickly stepped in. “It’s nothing bad, if that’s what you’re thinking. Balto is just very-”

          “Jenna,” Balto said loudly, “Could I talk to you for a second?” Without waiting for a reply, he grabbed her shoulder and steered her to a nearby street corner.

          Jenna shook him off. “Balto, what’s the matter with you? I was just-”

          “I know,” Balto murmured, “But please, don’t tell them.”

          “What? Why?” Jenna exclaimed.

          Balto slowly exhaled and locked eyes with her. “Jen, for the first half of my life I was an outcast. For the second half, I’ve been a hero. And somehow this little town