A plane flew low and circled Nome a few times, spiraling downward. It landed with ease just outside of town. The passenger door opened and a tall built man stepped down into the late snow of March. His pale, shallow, high jaw face looked around Nome. He had come to Nome for a fresh start as he had finished his years in the army. He picked up a few bags that contained his belongings. He whistled a low whistle and two dogs hopped out. Both huskies he bought from people who didn’t want the dogs anymore. The tan one looked around the place with a disgusted look. But he was happy about leaving the small enclosure of the plane. The other husky was joyful of coming to a new place. She sniffed around, her eyes trying to capture each subject. "Thank you." Their owner paid the flyer. "Come on Brian and Karlee let’s head to our new apartment." He was able to rent a large apartment for himself and his two dogs. "I wonder on how many new people will meet!" Karlee spoke cheerfully as they walked along. She was hoping to lift Brian’s spirit. Brian looked at Karlee with a bored stare. Brian had come from a rich family in California. Karlee had come from a family in Tennessee who weren’t the richest but looked toward each new day with hope. "Why should I care what you do in this little Sirius forsaken place?" Karlee was a bit offended but chose to ignore Brian’s dark mood. "Just try to look happy." Karlee nearly begged. Brian gave her a sarcastic grin that was scary than the Joker from Bat Man. "Never mind…" She sighed. His face returned to normal. Meanwhile, Steele and his new trio were strolling through the main street. "First I’m wanted by everyone then that damn Balto turns everything upside down! Could things get any worse?" Steele complained. He was an outcast. All he wanted was to be loved. "Dixie mentioned she never wanted to see you again." Dalton a husky spoke. Steel rolled his eyes at Dalton. Captain also a husky and Nikki followed Steele. Steele decided to not bother discussing anything. Kaltag and Star had left the group long time ago. At least he didn’t need to deal with pitiful Star. *** Karlee and Brian were sitting outside the apartment building watching everyone walked by. Or at least Karlee was. Brian was busy checking if his nails were even. "I’m going to walk around town. You want to come?" "No." Brian didn’t even bother looking up. Karlee sighed and started down to the main part of town. Their owner, William or better know as Will was trying to find work. As she was looking around her surroundings she didn’t notice the group of dogs in front of her. "I swear my luck has dried up." Steele was speaking to his group. He wasn’t paying attention in front of him. He collided with a smaller husky. "Oof!" Karlee was on the ground and Steele had his body on top. Steele growled as he stood. He shook his head a bit to focus. Karlee rubbed her head. She quickly stood. "I’m sorry! I’m truly sorry. I should be watching where I’m going." Captain shoved her aside. "Sorry won’t cut it. You don’t run into the boss." Captain spoke with a deadly tone. Karlee laid her ears back and she wanted to growl but she didn’t want to get in trouble this early. "Give her a chance Cap." Dalton said. Captain growled then backed away still keeping his eyes on her. Karlee looked at each of the canines’ face before her eyes fell upon Steele. Their eyes locked. His blue to her odd violet eyes. Karlee looked away first and trotted past them. "She should watch where she’s walking." Steele barked trying to cover up his trance. But somehow a little spark was lit. Karlee traveled on as she scouted out each new object. When she finished her exploring she was heading back to the apartments. "Hey guys I’ll see you later." Nikki called out as he turned to head for his home. Captain, Dalton, and Steele all headed to the boiler room after saying their good-byes. Nikki shuffled along through the snow toward the apartments. As Karlee neared the building, she saw Brian wasn’t outside but rather upstairs in the room. Karlee sighed. She missed her open farm in Tennessee. If she could she would have returned to it. As Karlee raised her head she spotted a familiar figure coming toward the building. It was that big, brown husky with very small ears from that one group she ran into. She decided to at least become friends with one of the group. "Hey!" Nikki looked up to see the husky they had run into earlier. He felt kind of sorry for her because Captain was giving her a hard time. He stopped and let her approach him. "You’re the one that ran into Steele." Nikki spoke. Karlee blushed a bit. "The boss?" "The huge black and white husky…yep that’s Steele. Sorry for Captain being a bit over protective." Karlee just smiled a bit. "That’s okay. I was just wondering who you were." "I’m Nikki. Steele and I’ve been pals the longest of the group." Karlee nodded to show she understood. "I’m Karlee. Brian and I just moved up here." Nikki looked confuse. "Brian?" Karlee rolled her eyes. "A pooch that a rich family didn’t want any more. He’s so spoil and such a city dog." Nikki chuckled. "Well he sure doesn’t seem to fit with you. Where did you come from?" "I came from a Tennessee family who couldn’t afford to take care of me. So my now owner bought me as well as Brian. Then moved up here to get away from his troubles or trying to." Karlee became a bit sad and her expression showed it. Nikki really felt bad for her. He nudged her and she looked up with moist eyes. She didn’t need to deal with the bitterness from Steele’s gang. "Let’s get inside from the cold." Nikki said softly. Karlee nodded and followed Nikki inside. *** "Hey boss!" Steele turned around to face a panting, running Nikki. Nikki stopped and wheezed for a bit. "What is it?" Steele asked harshly. "I found out about some things on the husky that we ran into yesterday." Steele sighed. Captain and Dalton listened to Nikki. "Her name’s Karlee and her family just moved up to Nome." Steele was a bit interested now. "Any male dogs with the "family"?" "One by the name of Brian but she’s not into him." Steele smiled. Captain also was interested. He always wanted to be leader of this gang but he never knew how to overthrow Steele. "Boss let me check her out. To make sure she’s good enough for you." Captain spoke. Dalton rolled his eyes. Steele stepped up to Captain and faced him with a cold expression. "You can keep dreaming." Captain flattened his ears. *** William headed to his work in the sawmill. Karlee walked him to the door of the apartment building. He knelt down and stroked her. "What would I do without you?" He whispered to her. Karlee just wagged her tail and gave him a smile. William chuckled before out the door. Karlee sat there before she heard Brian lumbering downstairs. "Brian you really need to lose weight." Karlee pointed out flatly. Brian just growled. "I didn’t work for my supper like you farm girl." Karlee rolled her eyes before exiting the building by the back door. Brian followed because he really had nothing else to do. "I could so beat you in a race." Karlee said with a bit of cockiness. "You wish." Brian growled back. They heard some laughter coming from behind them. Karlee spun around to see an Australian Shepherd/husky cross and an Elkhound. "Sorry to say fat mate, but she could whip you." The cross dog spoke. Karlee smiled at the handsome dog. "I agree quite as much." The smaller dog said. Brian growled. "I’m Karlee and this is Brian. And who might you be?" The cross stepped closer to her and looked her over with his blue eyes. "I’m Austin. It’s a pleasure to meet you." He bowed his head low and Karlee’s cheeks went red. "And I’m Zip. Like Austin’s little brother." The Elkhound chuckled. Karlee giggled. "How about we have a race to see who’s fastest!" He suggested with a furious wagging tail. Karlee lit up. Her tail started to wag and her eyes bright. "I see the little lady’s up to it. Come on to the beach!" Austin called out. Karlee and Brian walked between Zip and Austin. Austin was close to Karlee and when too close crossed the border, Karlee gave him a bit of a growl and he just smiled. "I noticed your eyes." Austin spoke a little nervous. Karlee smiled. "They’re like my mother’s eyes." Karlee said. Austin nodded. "They’re the most beautiful I’ve ever seen." Karlee blushed and Austin just gave her a smile. "Alright!" Zip barked to get their attention. "To Balto’s Boat and back to this line." Zip drew a line in the sand. "Balto’s Boat?" Brian asked as Karlee studied the half-mile. Austin explained the hero of Nome for a bit.
among the males. He wanted to see what she had. "How’s it going?" Steele didn’t face Nikki but simply answered, "A race."
"Ready…" Karlee’s mind was locked into the race. She was so going to smoke ‘em. "Set…" Her heart was pumping as a smirk appeared on her face. "GO!" They exploded from behind the line. Brian instantly fell behind the rest of them. Austin led but Karlee was right on him. Her head was by his shoulder. Zip was stuck behind the two. As they neared the boat, Karlee pushed herself harder and able to pass Austin. Austin was shocked as Karlee spun in a neat circle before nearly running into the boat. She was quick, agile, and fast was all Austin knew about her as he followed after her. Karlee chuckled as she passed the still heading to the boat Brian. Her competitive spirit was running wild as she kept Austin at bay by always blocking him off. Steele was watching her as if he was waiting for a Triple Crown Winner to win Belmont’s Stakes. Karlee spotted the line not too far and was like flipping the nitro switch in a street race car. Karlee blew the other runners away as she arrived at the line a full 2 minutes before Austin. "Holy crap girl!" Austin said as he was catching his breath. Karlee kept her breath slow and steady. "Remind me…to never…play tag with you." Karlee broke out laughing. As Zip neared the line he was trembling from running his hardest and sat down. Brian when he finally arrived collapsed where he stood.
"Now you agree you need to lose weight?" Karlee asked Brian. Brian just gave a tired nod. Zip chuckled as he panted.
"Nice run there, Karlee." Karlee wheeled around to see Steele and Nikki. Steele smiled as he came closer. Nikki just sat where he stood.
"Well thank you." Karlee responded unsure if to sound happy or not. She watched as Steele sat not too far from her. Austin was alert. Zip was a bit scared and Brian didn’t care. He was too tired to even think. "I’m guessing you’ve raced before." Karlee said as she finally got a good look at Steele. She watched his expression and admire how handsome he was.
Steele smiled. "Yes I did race and win a load of times. Before I didn’t do something I was suppose to do so now I’m an outcast." Karlee heard about the one winter that Balto saved the town not Steele.
"Do you have a home?" Karlee was just curious.
"I live with my once musher’s nephew. My musher was disgusted with me and his nephew always had a soft spot for me." Karlee nodded to show she understood. A call echoed across the beach to the somewhat relaxed group.
"Oh we got to go." Zip said and stood. Austin followed slowly.
"Bye Karlee and Brian." The cross husky spoke sadly.
"See ya Austin and Zip." Karlee called out. Brian was snoozing. "Brian get up!" She yelled. The tan husky startled to a stand.
"Would you stop yelling at me?" Brian asked. Karlee rolled her eyes.
"Why don’t you head back to the hotel to sleep?" Karlee suggested in a fake sweet voice. Steele was a bit annoyed by Brian being there.
"I think I’ll do that. See you later." Brian started off, stumbling here and there. Karlee watched him go. And Nikki followed Brian to make sure he would get there in one piece.
"I swear if I have to take care of his lazy ass for the rest of my life, I’m going to go mad!" Karlee growled and Steele chuckled. "What’s so funny?"
"That you went from a quiet one to a bit fierce dog in less than a minute." Karlee giggled then stood. Steele then realized that how beautiful she was when the sun struck her light brown coat. How her light violet eyes illuminated from her expression. Especially the right eye that was covered by a black patch. As her tail swished, he noticed a black tip. Even though her patch gave her a daring look, her black ears added a sense of shenanigans. Steele smiled and Karlee returned his smile. "So how was it like in…."
"Tennessee?" Karlee finished his sentence. Steele nodded and Karlee began her tale.
***
"Goodness Karlee is quite a character!" Steele was talking to his trio about Karlee. Karlee had given light to his dark path. If Steele played his cards right, he was hoping to end up with Karlee. He would change for her.
"I bet she’s like all of the other females here." Captain snapped. He was hoping to derail Steele from his crush. Captain was still putting the final touches on his plan.
"No she isn’t! She’s ten times better than all of them…even put together! She may be competitive and stubborn, but what lies beneath completes her. Her eyes…" Steele saw the image of Karlee in his head that made him fall in love with her. Her eyes sparkling. "Are not like any other."
***
Karlee was walking with two other huskies that she had made friends with. Sandy the more gossipy one of the three then there was loyal Jasmine. Karlee met Sandy before Jasmine but that didn’t make her, her best friend.
"Who else have you met?" Sandy asked.
"Zip, Austin, and Nikki. Before them, I ran into Steele." Karlee chuckled.
"Steele? I thought he left Nome. I guess not." Jasmine said. For some reason there was something in her hazel eyes that Karlee was trying to figure out.
"Do you think Austin’s hot or what!" Sandy said as she swished her tail around. Karlee chuckled. "Jasmine is such in love with him!" Jasmine blushed and Karlee smiled. So that was what that little spark in Jasmine’s eyes was.
"Don’t worry. I agree he’s hot but I’m thinking about someone else." Sandy gasped and Jasmine just smiled.
"Who is it?" Before Karlee could say someone stepped up behind them.
"Hello ladies." Captain grinned. Sandy and Jasmine weren’t interested and neither was Karlee.
"What do you want Captain?" Karlee growled. Her body stood stiff and rigid and she was prepared for any attack.
"Can’t I just say hi?" He replied in a fake innocent voice. Sandy rolled her eyes and Jasmine flattened her ears. But Karlee stood face to face with the malamute. On the other side of the not very busy street stood Steele. Karlee didn’t see him and her eyes became half-close as if looking at someone she wanted. Captain became interested. Steele gasped. Steele felt betrayed but made himself stay.
"You know Captain…" Karlee begun to circle him. Her tone was a sweet temptation. Then stopped when she was facing him. Steele could hear Karlee perfectly and listened. "Sandy, Jasmine, and I really don’t like jerks…like you. So why don’t you just walk away and never talk to us again. Understand?" Karlee said with a calm and a bit bored tone. Captain was taken back and Steele smiled. Karlee gave a smug grin before turning to face her friends. Captain was still standing there watching Karlee. Steele was right. She wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. Karlee felt his eyes on her and turned back around to face Captain. "Did you not hear me? Now GO!" Karlee barked loud and clear. Captain backed away a bit and Karlee went into growling. Sandy and Jasmine followed their new friend with their own growling. Sandy started barking as before Captain was always trying to get her for his own. Captain walked away with his head lowered and his tail dropped. Karlee smiled.
"Oh my goodness Karlee! I didn’t know you had the stuff!" Sandy broke out. Karlee’s smile widened as Jasmine gave a few joyous barks.
"I say." Steele had come over from across the street. Sandy and Jasmine looked a bit worried but Karlee was completely different. Her eyes brightened and her tri-colored tail wagged fast. She didn’t look like the Karlee before that had chased Captain off. Steele smiled.
"How are you Steele?"
"Doing alright." He just looked at her. And Karlee just smiled.
"Oh where are my manners? This is Sandy." Pointed to the yellow tinted husky. "This is Jasmine." The brown and white husky gave a little smile. "I just met them this morning."
Steele nodded. "Nice to meet you." He smiled. Karlee’s friends noticed he was a little nicer. Sandy and Jasmine just smiled, more relax that Karlee was happy to see him. "So Karlee…um…how are you?" It was the only thing that came to his mind. That was a stupid question. He thought to himself.
"Good." Sandy and Jasmine looked back and forth at each of the huskies’ expression. Steele’s expression was unsure and Karlee hid her expression well.
"Anyway just wanted to stop and say hello." Steele quickly said before he turned on the spot and headed back to his home. He wasn’t going to make a fool of himself. Karlee watched him go with longing eyes.
"Oh you two would be a perfect pair!" Sandy said excited as she noticed the expression she was looking for. Karlee gasped and gave her pal a sharp look.
"Now that you mention it, Steele and Karlee would be a good pair. Besides the fact he’s a year older than she is but still…" Jasmine pointed out. Karlee became a bit annoyed.
"I don’t know what you’re talking about and let’s keep it that way." Karlee argued. But she argued with herself. Her brain and sense whispered no but her heart was yelling yes. Jasmine snickered and Sandy gave a laugh.
"Don’t lie to yourself Karlee. You know what you feel." Sandy said as she swished her yellow tail.
"I don’t think so." Karlee growled. "Now let’s just stop the discussing." They walked on.
"Yep first stage: denial." Jasmine whispered to Sandy loud enough for Karlee to hear. Karlee would have snapped at them but she would hold her tongue. She just growled.
***
"So how was your day?" Karlee asked Brian as they just finished their supper.
"Austin and Zip dropped by again, asking for you or course." Karlee shot him a glare. "But gave me an exercise from hell." Karlee broke out laughing. Brian just gave a small smile.
"You think all exercise is from hell." Now it was Brian’s turn to shoot her a glare.
"Whatever…but I’m off to bed. Night Karlee." Brian said before he walked to his bed. He circled himself before plopping down. Karlee just smiled before she sprawled out across the mat in the living room. William was already asleep. But Karlee couldn’t fall asleep. She twisted and turned. Sighs of desperation as she got up to pace. The husky was restless for what reason she did not know. Minutes dragged on. An hour later she headed outside. Singing a song always helps a trouble soul her mother often told her.
Karlee wondered through town as she looked around into each dark alley. She decided to head out to the sawmill to sing her song. Her scent was strong, as a another dog had fallen upon her track. A gasp then a little spark. The malamute raised his head toward the sawmill. Steele broke into a trot as he followed Karlee’s sweet scent. He wanted to run after her but kept himself at a trot so if someone were watching, suspicions wouldn’t rise.
Karlee perched onto a pile of cut lumber. She adjusted herself loads of time before settling down. As she looked into the vast starry night, she was searching through her mind what to sing about. Suddenly, an image of Steele popped up. Yes him! Now what song? Karlee continued thinking. She was so deep into thought she did not hear the approaching Steele.
Steele watched her for any signs. He waited for a minute. Looked around to see if anyone was around and opened his mouth. But it was quickly shut as Karlee’s voice shaped into a beautiful tune.
"There’s a tree out in the backyard. That never has been broken by the wind. Many years, we’ve stayed together as lovers…and as friends. What we have…will last forever if we’re strong enough to bend." Karlee paused. How did the rest go? She only sung the song for someone she loved and that was only once before. Very long ago…then the face of the foxhound appeared in her mind. She sighed.
Steele never thought she could sing so beautifully. She amazed him. "That was beautiful…" It slipped out.
Karlee sprung to her feet and nearly fell off the pile in doing so. Karlee turned around slowly to see an in-trance Steele. She blushed deep crimson.
"Oh thank you." Karlee nearly whispered. Steele shook his head to clear his mind and climbed up on the pile next to her. For a while Karlee and Steele just stared into each other’s eyes. Karlee broke the connection and hopped down from the lumber pile.
"Karlee wait!" Steele called out. Karlee faced him as he jumped down to the ground and stood next to her, facing Karlee. "Karlee I was…huh…wondering…if um…if you would like to go out on a date sometime?" Steele was nervous.
"A date?" Karlee asked again to make sure she heard right. Steele nodded.
"I know we just met but well a feeling claims my heart." Steele looked into her eyes. He tried to remain like he knew what he was doing but he was diving into this situation headfirst. Karlee’s expression changed to one that was like a lady being flattered by a gentleman. But her common sense caught her in her dreams.
"Sorry Steele but I don’t think I’m ready." She spoke sadly. She wanted to say yes so bad. Steele’s whole heart sunk. "Good night Steele." Karlee said as she was turning away. Her head low as she walked away.
"Hey at least let me walk you home." Steele said in a gentleman manner and walked beside her. His muscular body towered over her sleek frame. Karlee was walking so close next to him they would have bumped together. Steele and Karlee strolled down the moon lit street toward Karlee’s home. Steele was wounded emotionally but when he got his courage back up, he would ask again. "What if he never asks again?" Karlee thought to herself. As they reached the apartment building, Karlee turned to face Steele.
"Thank you." Karlee nuzzled him warmly. "Have a good night."
"And to you to…" Steele responded as Karlee disappeared around back to the doggie door. "My love." He whispered to himself.
To be continued…