Ever Faithful

by Karen Barnett

  Teddy turned and met her eyes. “Elsie?”

  He had no idea what he asked of her at this moment. If his face filled with revulsion or pity, this mirage would vanish in a heartbeat.

  “I…I’m sorry, Teddy.” She dropped her arm. “I can’t.”

  Teddy stared at her in silence before finally offering a nod. “You’ll trust me—in time.” He held out a hand to her. “Come on. I’ll walk you home.”

  Trust him. After a long, shaky breath, she let his fingers close around hers. If she couldn’t get past this fear, there would be no future for them.

  Then again, she hadn’t expected one.

  * * *

  Mary’s eyes narrowed. “He asked to see your scars? That’s…that’s an odd request.” She wrinkled her nose. “Did you show him?”

  “No, because no matter what he says, I know they will matter.” Elsie didn’t like the childish tremor in her voice.

  “Oh, honey.” Her friend reached over and took her hand. “I know how you feel, but you do make too much of it. Sure, kids laughed once upon a time. But they were kids. I’m sure Teddy’s not like that.”

  “I hardly know what Teddy’s like.” Elsie pulled her hand away. “I’m not ready to share that part of me yet—to see pity in his eyes.” The evening was etched in her memory, but her brain spun the images around and around, still trying to make sense of them.

  Mary sighed. “When is he coming to see you again?”

  “Friday.” Maybe she shouldn’t have said anything. Once her friend caught a whiff of romance, she could be like an electrical storm in search of a mountaintop.

  “So soon? We have preparations to discuss. You’re not going to be alone with him this time. Not until we know what he’s really after.”

  Relief washed through Elsie. Having someone who understood made all the difference.

  “And,” Mary’s eyes took on a familiar glint. “You’ll need something new to wear.”

  “Mary, every penny I make is going toward school. I don’t have extra to spend on dresses.”

  “You can borrow something of mine, then.” She rose and opened the wardrobe they shared, flicking through her dresses. “And I’ll invite Red so we can all go out together. We can’t have you off rotten logging with a park ranger.”

  “This might all come to naught.”

  She swung around and fixed her gaze on Elsie. “Did he kiss you?”

  “No!” Elsie’s heart lodged in her throat. She wasn’t so naive that she hadn’t sensed the desire in him. Thankfully he’d not pressed the matter, because she’d have fainted right there, and he’d have been forced to carry her home like a sack of potatoes. Wouldn’t that be romantic?

  “You didn’t tell Rose before me, did you? Since she’s gotten so close with Graham, she seems to hear everything first.” Mary made a face.

  “That’s because my cousin has a big mouth.” Elsie pressed fingers against her temples, a headache building behind her eyes. “I wonder who else he’s talked to about me.”

  Mary chose a flowered dress and a pink sweater and laid them across Elsie’s lap. “What does it matter? You’ll be leaving for school in late September, anyway.”

  “That doesn’t leave much time for romance.” But Teddy knew her plans. He wouldn’t expect her to stay in Yellowstone just for him. Would he?

  “You can’t worry about such things. You’ll be diving headfirst into studies once you get to campus. Enjoy the summer while it lasts, that’s my philosophy.” Mary added a silk scarf to the ensemble she’d picked out for Elsie.

  Elsie slid her hand across the feather-soft sweater. Mary flitted through love like a bluebird in a sun-kissed meadow. If only it could be that easy. Elsie had watched many savages fire up summer romances only to have them wither away months later. She’d just never expected to count herself among them.

  “When God drops the right man into your life, I’m sure you’ll recognize him.” Her father’s words trailed through her mind. Teddy had certainly popped into her life when she was least expecting it, but how was she to know if that was God’s doing? It sure would be nice if He could be a little clearer about these things.

  Nate mopped his face with a bandanna as the sun beat on his shoulders. The view from this side of Mount Washburn stole the breath from his chest—or would if he had any left over. He’d spent the last three hours helping Red, Bukowski, Moretti, and Nowak drag limbs into a slash pile. For as far as he could see, hillsides of green trees rose to meet the brilliant blue of the sky.

  Had colors ever been this bright in Brooklyn? When O’Sullivan convinced him to sign up for the CCC, all Nate thought about was protecting his little brother and sending a few dollars home each month. He hadn’t expected to enjoy the work.

  Some of the men were singing “The Sidewalks of New York” as they swung axes and pulled crosscut saws through the beetle-damaged trees. The nostalgic waltz tune about the city seemed out of place in the forests of Yellowstone—just like them, really. Nate shook his head. Plucked from so many isolated immigrant neighborhoods throughout Brooklyn and the Bronx, the men had seen their share of scraps in the past month. He’d never heard so many ethnic jokes. It seemed just a matter of time before one of these petty squabbles erupted into a full-out brawl.

  “Hey boss, what’s next?” Red hollered at him. “You want us to haul more to this pile or start another farther down?”

  Nate studied the slope. They’d made a good dent in this patch. He gestured to where the second group was busy felling another whitebark pine. “Let’s make another pile over in that area.”

  Ranger Brookes was due this afternoon to inspect their work. They’d cut several trees today, and Nate hoped for more by nightfall. The park superintendent had already confronted Lieutenant Stone about the crew’s snail-like pace. The fact that none of the men had timber experience, added to the travel time to and from Canyon Camp, meant the job was taking longer than anticipated. Evidently, the superintendent had hoped to clear the whole hillside of diseased trees in the first month, but the heavy layer of snow hung on too long for them to get to the upper stretches of the mountain. Sadly, the more acres Nate walked, the more diseased trees he spotted. This beetle infestation was on a larger scale than they’d feared.

  What seemed to burn the superintendent the most was the schedule. CCC regulations limited them to forty hours a week, plus no work on Saturdays, Sundays, or holidays. The boys had been delighted to learn that, but the rangers groused about it. They weren’t accustomed to such rules regarding their paid laborers.

  Nate set his jaw. It just meant they’d have to work faster and smarter to make up the difference. He was determined to be a good leader, and that meant impressing Ranger Brookes. “Hey, Red—” He pointed at the dying trees to Red’s left. “Do you think we could finish those two in the next hour?”

  Red nodded. “I’ll get Moretti and Nowak and their guys on it. They were bragging about their speed with a saw just last night.”

  “Tell them they can have my canteen scrip if they get them on the ground by three.”

  Red grinned. “I’ll let ’em know.”

  Nate clambered farther up the hill, craning his neck to see into the treetops.

  A squirrel hopped from a nearby trunk, jumped across the fallen limbs scattered across the ground, and scurried up another tree. If only Nate could climb like that, he could examine each tree in detail.

  Nate took a swig of water from the canteen, then splashed a little into his hand and ran it across the back of his neck. The sun was blinding today. Not hot, exactly, but the intensity seemed to parch his skin like desert winds. Several of the fellows were sporting sunburns on their necks and chests, especially those who’d stripped off their shirts as they worked. By the end of the summer, their families wouldn’t recognize them—bronzed, muscled, and healthy. It was a transformation, indeed
.

  The sight of a man hiking toward them drew his attention. A park ranger was winding his way up through the forest toward the crew. Nate retied his bandanna and loped over to the group. “Look smart, men. Ranger coming.”

  One of the fellows groaned. “It’s not like we’re lollygagging here, Webber.”

  “You’re right. Sorry. He’s going to be pleased.” I hope.

  But the man walking toward them wasn’t Brookes. Nate bit back a groan as he recognized Ranger Vaughn striding up the steep slope, stepping over fallen trunks. Nate lifted a hand in greeting.

  Vaughn came up beside him, barely winded from the climb. “Webber, I hear you’re in charge.”

  “Of this team, yes sir.” Nate shielded his eyes from the glare. “We were expecting Ranger Brookes. I hope nothing’s wrong.”

  The man shrugged. “His wife isn’t well, so I came to do the inspection for him.”

  Nate chewed on this bit of information. Elsie’s mother? “Nothing serious, I hope.”

  Vaughn slid the straps of his pack off his shoulders and let it fall to the ground. “Do you know her?”

  “Not personally.”

  Vaughn unhooked his canteen and twisted the cap off. “Elsie and I are quite concerned, of course.”

  He’d nearly forgotten the two were an item. Elsie hadn’t mentioned Vaughn when they went to see the bears two weeks ago. But then again, why should she? It’s not like that had been a date.

  Vaughn slugged down some water and wiped his mouth with the back of his wrist. “I’m taking Elsie out to dinner tonight. Maybe for a nice moonlit walk. Should cheer her up.”

  Why was the man telling him this? “She seems like a nice girl. Smart. The men like her.”

  The ranger’s brows pinched together, a scowl brewing behind his eyes. “The men—”

  “—as a teacher.” Nate hurried to correct his words. He needed a distraction. Anything to get this conversation away from Vaughn’s love life. The picture of this stuffed shirt with the sweet Elsie Brookes turned his stomach. “You can see how much they’re getting done here. We’ve nearly cleared this whole stand of sick trees.” Nate gave the man a sideways glance. Sure, Vaughn was probably born with a hatchet in his hand, but in a Brooklyn alley he’d lose his wallet in ten seconds flat.

  Vaughn scanned the hillside. “How many trees have you dropped this week? Twenty?”

  “Closer to thirty. It should be thirty-three by the end of the day.”

  The ranger nodded before pointing to an outcropping just west of them. “What about over on the northern face? Do you have anyone working over that way?”

  “I’ve scouted the area with a few men, but I didn’t see much.”

  Vaughn’s eyes narrowed. “Take a second look. That’s prime territory for the pine beetles.”

  “It’s also still buried in snowdrifts.”

  “That a problem?”

  Nate swallowed a retort. “Ranger Brookes told us to focus on the lower reaches until things melt out rather than slogging around in the ice.”

  “We want those trees cleared out before the larvae wake up and start spreading. If we wait, we’ll be doing this all over again next year.”

  A loud crack followed by a frenzy of shouts caught Nate’s attention.

  “Watch out—she’s going down! Tim-ber!” Men’s voices rang out through the forest as the pine crashed through its neighbors, twisting and snapping limbs as it fell. Men scrambled out of the way.

  The messy drop set Nate’s heart pounding. He set off at a run, shoving through the brush. “What happened? Is anyone hurt?”

  Red appeared out of the stand, panting. “It twisted sideways—didn’t land where they aimed. Nearly took out one of our brush crews.”

  Vaughn came up beside him, scowling. “Your tree fellers need to be better trained. You should be able to land the timber right on a dime, otherwise everyone’s at risk.”

  As if we don’t know that. Nate didn’t bother to respond, keeping his focus on Red. “Is anyone hurt?”

  Red glanced around, eyes wild. “I don’t know. I think everyone’s fine. I didn’t see Bukowski after the log fell.”

  Nate hurried toward the fallen tree, pushing through the broken limbs. “Bukowski? Nowak? Is everyone accounted for?”

  Maguire’s voice came from the far side of the stump. “Over here! Bukowski’s hurt. We need help!”

  Nate and Red scrambled toward Maguire.

  Shorty and Maguire crouched over Bukowski, who sat upright with his chest heaving and one hand pressed to the side of his head.

  Nate dropped to his knee, scanning the wounded man. “What happened?”

  Maguire answered him. “Clipped him on the way down. Just caught him in the ear and shoulder. Another few inches, and he’d have been flat as a trash-can lid.”

  Nate pulled Bukowski’s hand away, wincing at the bloody gash above the fellow’s ear.

  Red pulled off the shirt he had tied around his waist and tossed it to Nate.

  Nate rolled it and pressed it to the side of the man’s head, easing him back onto the ground. The manual in his pocket had a chapter on first aid, for all the good it had done him. But growing up with four siblings and a drunken father had taught him a thing or two.

  Bukowski moaned, squinting against the pain. “It was just a limb. Clocked me good, though. Thought I was in the clear.”

  Red crouched on the man’s far side. “It changed directions in the air. We weren’t expecting that.”

  Nate kept the shirt pressed to Bukowski’s wound and glanced over his shoulder to where Ranger Vaughn lingered. “You got a doctor here?”

  “In Mammoth.”

  Red chewed his lip. “Think it’s that bad?”

  Nate chose his words carefully. “He’s going to need some stitching. My sewing skills are lacking. How are yours?”

  “Ain’t got any.”

  Bukowski’s eyes had glazed a bit, sinking to half mast. He probably had a concussion too. Hopefully not a cracked skull. Nate studied him. The man’s shoulder was bloody and twisted slightly. Might be broken as well. This was definitely more than they could handle on their own.

  “Red, can you take hold of this? Don’t let up on the pressure.” Nate slid out of the way as Red took his place. He wiped his hands on his dungarees and took a few steps away to get some air. He’d pushed the men hard in order to impress Brookes. Now Bukowski had paid the price for his haste.

  He bent forward, bracing his hands against his knees and willing his stomach to steady. He’d seen blood before, but never because of his own stupidity. After a few deep breaths, Nate stood and faced the crew. “Maguire, Ricci, Shorty—can you guys set to making a litter? We need to get Bukowski to the truck. The rest of you, get this tree cleaned up and the piles set. We’ll call it a day.” His hands were trembling as he gestured to the work site. Nate pulled them close to his ribs, tucking them under his elbows. And not the kind of day I ever want to repeat.

  The ranger came up beside him. Nate braced himself for a chewing out.

  Vaughn shook his head. “I know what you’re thinking, Webber. It’s written all over your face.” He watched the crew, climbing across the hillside like so many ants. “It happens. Don’t be too hard on yourself.”

  The unexpected sympathy sent a second wave of guilt through Nate. He so wanted to dislike the man who’d earned Elsie Brookes’s devotion.

  “Have a couple guys haul your injured man to the medical clinic in Mammoth. We can stay here and get the slash burn going.” The ranger drew a silver lighter from his shirt pocket. “It’s critical to torch the debris so the beetles don’t spread.”

  “I just told them they could knock off early.”

  “We don’t need the whole crew. You and me—and one or two others, just to keep an eye on things. We’ll have our
selves a late afternoon bonfire.” He tossed the gadget to Nate. “Should have brought some hot dogs.”

  “I thought you were only here for an inspection.” Nate caught the lighter, warm to the touch as if Vaughn had kept it clamped in his palm for quite some time.

  “Don’t mind staying to help out for a few hours, seeing as you’re short a man. I just need to get back in time for a late supper. Wouldn’t want to disappoint my girl.”

  Nate turned the object over in his hand, the shiny case seeming a mite fancy for a simple park ranger. “Nope. Couldn’t have that.”

  Elsie took Teddy’s hand as he helped her from the front seat of his car at Yellowstone Lake, and her friends climbed out of the back. The sun sparkled across the immense lake, the weather seeming to bless this little outing the girls had planned for the first day of July. A breeze riffled the surface, kicking up tiny wavelets that caught the light and made it dance across the water.

  Teddy had been the perfect gentleman at the dinner they’d shared with Mary at the Canyon Lodge last night, and the experience had scattered her misgivings to the wind. She’d relived the incident at Mammoth hundreds of times now, certain she’d misread his intentions. It’s a wonder he wasn’t regretting ever asking her out.

  On the ride to the lake, Mary’s and Rose’s laughter from the back seat had set her heart at ease. With business at the campground being slow, Rose was having trouble getting enough work hours at Mammoth. But for Elsie, having her best friends along, plus Red and Nate, meant she wouldn’t have to awkwardly entertain Teddy alone. The last thing she needed was to embarrass herself again.

  As Nate stepped out of the automobile and gazed out over the lake, the pleasure in those green eyes was clear. He and Rose strolled toward the lakeshore, together with Red and Mary. Elsie typically didn’t like to play matchmaker, but she hoped he’d lure Rose’s attention away from Graham.