here on the bench. If you feel like it, come to the reception, its at the hotel by the town hall.”

With that last bit of conversation, Balto turned and walked out of the dimly lit caboose.


Aleu slowly pulled the shower door back, and looked inside. A small box sat on the seat. She grabbed a towel and wrapping it around her curvy body, left the shower to examine Balto’s present.

*************


The Dogs of the Alaska range may be toughened by their hostel environment, but they did indeed have a since of nobility, and Victorian style. In some ways it events that allowed them to flower and don evening where gave a release from the hard work and extreme environment.

So it came to no surprise to see the lobby of the Grand Hotel filled with dogs who looked strangely perfect in formal attire despite the fact Aleu recognized a few of them from town.  The room was ornate in a simple northern way, with fancy rugs thrown over a hardwood floor, and several oil lamps hanging on the walls accenting while a giant chandler above illuminated. Aleu noting the simplicity of it all. A small string quartet played in one corner.

But what turned heads was Aleu herself. She walked into the lobby clothed in a stunningly beautiful deep red strapless evening gown that began atop her breasts and went down to her ankles, it was made of luxurious fabric, delicately and exotically trimmed with gold inlayed with flower shapes.

But what was more stunning, was the wolf wearing it.

Aleu’s fur glowed like a locomotive headlamp, each bit of fur groomed and in place. Her hair flowed evenly along her bare shoulders, and she smelled just faintly, but not overpoweringly, of flower petals.

Balto walked up beside her. “I see you like it, I got it for your birthday, but I thought it best to give it too you know. Sure looks better then the little Blue Dress you usually wore. "

Aleu smiled. “I usually hate wearing anything that can’t survive in the cab of a locomotive, but I’ll make an exception for this…but this corset is killing me!” she growled.

Aleu was approached by a small thin looking husky. He wore a dark black suite that was perfected by a simple red flower. Aleu knew this was the lucky dog that was the groom.

“Hello Star.” She began.

“My, my, you do clean up good.” Star said. “I remember when you we’re cutting your teeth on your father’s sled traces.”

Aleu giggled. “Yes well, where’s Dixie. I haven’t seen her in a good couple of years.”

Star sighed. “She left early because of a cold. Shame really, poor girl was upset that we have to postpone our honeymoon.”   

Balto smiled. “I guess that explains the constant sneezing at the chapel. And I thought it she was allergic to those flowers. Don’t worry; it will be ten times better when she isn’t hacking up mucus.”

Star smiled and took a swing for his drink his drink. “Yes well, thank you for coming. I have to tend to my gusts.”

Star turned and walked back into the crowd.

Aleu turned to her father and the two walked over to the food table. “So whose who in this northern melting pot.” She whispered to her father.

Balto pointed across the room, and too a dark brown husky. “Well to begin with, that’s Nikkei, you might recognize him as he was on my sled team during the epidemic. Son of a tree stump still treats the other teams as if they where born in a pauper’s grave.”

He pointed to a red and yellow cocker spaniel. “That’s Winfred, Bessema DeWinkerville. She hails from San Francisco. Is licensed with the San Fran Terminal Railway.”

Aleu razed an eyebrow. “What is she doing up here?”  

“Said something about looking at an 0-6-0 porter for their line.” Balto said waving his paw. His eyes narrowed as he recognized a black and white malamute, he was smiling and telling some tale that was keeping his audience of delicate girls in complete aghast horror.

“Oh and that…is Steele.”

Aleu growled. “The same screwball that tried to sabotage you on the race long ago. I don’t think I ever met him.”

Balto nodded. “Yah, he moved to White Mountain along with Star and Kaltag after being ridiculed as the team that gave up. Son of a bitch still has a crush on your mother.” He stopped and glanced. “Speaking of which…what is Kaltag doing here.”

Aleu looked at the yellow Chinook Balto was looking at. “What do you mean?” she asked perplexed.

“Kaltag is a fireman on our railroad. I thought he was working all week.” Balto said, his lips turned into a frown as his brain started thinking something was strange about Kaltag’s appearance.

But before Balto could ponder on that thought anymore, the doors opened and in stepped a black and cream husky that wore a brown miners jacket over a vest and trousers. “Sorry I’m late.” He announced stepping in the door.

The local girls all ran over to him and gathered around him giggling silly like and hoping her would pick one to take onto the dance floor. Aleu watched in amazement. The dog had some nice muscles, and had a look of supreme confidence around him.

Balto saw her starring and knew this was his chance. “Aleu…there is someone I would like you to meet.”

He took her hand and led her over to the dog. Who turned and said. “Balto, you old grizzled railroader you.”

“Jonathan, good to see you.” Balto replied light heartedly. “This is my daughter, Aleu. She’s blown into town and is staying for a while with us.”

“Why hello Aleu.” He said, his eyes dancing up and down her body. He then reached out and took her hand, kissing it gingerly. “Pleasure to meet you. You father and I where discussing you some time back.”

Aleu giggled, taking her hand back, he was a charmer. “Really now.” She looked at her father, and even though she smiled, Balto could see the “What is he talking about?” look in her eyes.

“Yes,” he spoke up. “Aleu this is Jonathan Brewbaker, he’s been working with Kennacot Corporation on mining the gold out of the Yukon Mountains. They took over from Kenneth. He is very wealthy and knows a lot about mining.”

Jonathan laughed. “Well, enough to get into the shafts and help out my men whenever I can. I’m not your average robber baron, but there is gold in ‘tem dare hills’ and I aim to squeeze it dry.”  

“How ruthless.” Aleu said, a small tone of distaste in her voice. She looked at her father.

Balto though, ignored it. “well, I’ll let you two get acquainted.”

He walked away leaving Aleu with the canine miner.

“Well, Miss Aleu, would you like to dance.” He asked.

Aleu looked at him and smiled. “Yah… it’s the best offer I’ve had all evening.”

The two dogs made their way onto the dance floor, and stepped hand in hand as the musicians played out a ragtime. Aleu wasn’t much of a dancer, the only real moves she could do was a gandy dance…and that didn’t count.

But Jonathan swept her as if she was as light as a feather. Comparably, she was. He was a good foot taller then her, and much more stronger. But Aleu won a secret victory in noticing how her hands could match his grip.

“You got quite a grip there.” He whispered in her ear.

“Johnson bars and throttles are quite a task to handle.” Aleu said

“Yes, you father told me you worked with steam locomotives. We have a few pumping boilers up at the mines. I can keep my hand with the best on them.”

“Yes well, a pumper is nothing like a railroad locomotive.” Aleu replied back, getting the since he was trying to whew her with his talents. Her heals clicked across the floor with his as they continued to dance among the other couples.

“You can teach me, and my men. We just got a small switch locomotive.”

“I don’t think so.” She replied, slowly pulling herself away from him. But he put his hand at the small of her back, and closed the gap.

Holding her close he whispered in her ear. “Aleu, I know we’ve just met, but I feel like I’ve known you a long time.”

Her heart fluttered, he wasn’t serous, was he.

“Me and your father have been talking.” He began, pulling her off the dance floor. Aleu fallowed, wondering what hew as up too. He pulled her over to an alcove and took her hand sin his. “I understand you must be very lonely riding all over the country, and he’s worried sick about you. I’ve been told so much about you, hoe you are, and your work attitude, and I must say I’m impressed.”

“You flatter me.” Aleu said sarcastically. “Go on.”

Jonathan kissed her hand again. “Well, I think it would be prudent if we become mates.”

Aleu stood there; she saw this coming like a freight train on a deer. “I have to talk with my father.”   



She turned and walked quickly over to where Balto was sitting, drinking a glass of wine. He stood up as she approached and put the glass down on a table. Aleu crossed her arms in an angry stance and glared at him. “What in the hell!” She hissed.

“Aleu, don’t you give me that tone of voice.” Balto scolded.

“Don’t give me that ‘don’t you give me that tone of voice’, what have you been spreading!” She hissed back.

Balto sighed. “I’m guessing you don’t like Mr. Brewbaker.”

“Well, he’s nice, but he’s not my type. And what’s with this arranged marriage crap?”

Balto sighed. “I was hoping you’d like it. You mother and I are worried about you. Always running around this railroad. Your 28, time to settle down and have pups. Jonathan Brewbaker is perfect for you. He’s a rough outdoorsman who isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. He cares for his men, and he’s rolling in enough money to provide you with whatever you want. We talked it over with him, and he is willing to take you.”

“I don’t want him, I want Texas. The mainline, and the railroad!”

“You can still work for the railroad, in fact it was his suggestion that if you two mated, he would buy the Texas, and you two can work the mines here in Alaska. You’ll be married, have a family, be close to your own family, and still ride the rails. What more do you want.”

Aleu’s face dropped into a snarl “So everything, this journey backs up here, the welcome home, the freights, even this dress! It’s all to impress Mr. Brewbaker and get me married!”

Balto frowned, he looked very hurt. “Well…yes.”