back. 

The intensity of the wait for the results was beginning to get some of the citizens impatient. Even Jenna was growing anxious for the official results; although she hadn’t seen the plane arrive during the day, she was afraid that her youngest child’s dreams were about to crumble yet again if the postmaster surprised them with bad news. The team, however, was nervously awaiting news of victory or defeat, but they remained strong in their belief in what their leader had told them only a while ago – they were all winners in their own right, even if they were told that they had lost.

Out of the entire team, the dark burgundy and ivory male was truly the most worried of all. He gulped with every sentence that the brown mustached male was telling them, his heart racing with equal feelings of anticipation and concern. Although he believed every word he had told his friends about them all being winners in the end, he was starting to wonder if he would still make his father proud of him if his sudden fall had cost the team a crucial victory. He let out a sigh as he lowered his head, closing his eyes in fear of the upcoming results; a loving nuzzle and a comforting lick from his smiling mother made all of those fears disappear from the three-year old’s face. 

“No matter what, Kodi,” Jenna whispered into her son’s ear. “you’re still a winner to me . . . and all of us; I’m sure that if your father could see you now, he’d be smiling.” She nuzzled him on the other side of his face, completing her words in his other ear. “You’ve made him very proud, Kodiak.”

“Thanks, Mom,” he returned the gesture then allowed her to return to her other four children and her nine-year old owner. He let out another breath as the results were finally revealed from the postmaster. 

“And Mr. Simpson, it has truly been an honor to work with you and your team . . .”

“Oh no . . .” Ralph whimpered, detecting an early result of failure from the beginning of Mr. Conner’s sentence. “That doesn’t sound –” Before he could say any more, the other dogs hushed him by placing their own paws over his mouth. 

“ . . . and it is my greatest pleasure to inform you that we will be working together for a while longer.” Mr. Conner’s mouth curved into a smile as his tone changed from tense to joy. “Congratulations, Mr. Simpson! You and your team are the winners of the race!”

A slight pause led to an uproar of cheers, barks and howls from everyone in town. Dogs joined together, singing in their natural chorus of jubilant cries and wails, while people began hugging each other, as well as the excited young musher, and his brave team of seven dogs that had made the perilous journey against a true work of new technology that everyone had feared would beat the dog-sled team. 

No dog in town was as happy as the red and white lead dog at that moment. Tears of pure joy spilled from his eyes, soaking his white cheeks with the salty liquid. His team nuzzled and patted him in congratulations for doing such a great job on his first run as lead dog. His mother and siblings joined him with their tears of happiness for the remainder of the hour, then they left him so that he and his team could rest for the night in the boiler room.

Although he was glad and truly relieved that his accident on the mountain path didn’t cost them their jobs, Kodi waited for his friends to be unhitched from their harnesses before he glanced his brown eyes up at the sky, wondering where their opponent was. 

This is strange . . . We last saw the bush plane back at White Mountain, but . . . but we hadn’t heard any sign of its presence ever since.

What could have happened to it? To the pilot?  

I know I shouldn’t be so worried about the fact that they’re not here, but . . . I can’t help be concerned by something . . .

My chest aches . . . and I don’t know why . . . 

Oh, Dad . . . I’ve made you proud like I promised, but why do I feel this pain deep inside?

What more can I do, Dad? 

(6/22/07 – finished part 2)