Returning to her desk, she retrieved the book she’d set aside for Nate. The thought of meeting him for another reading session sent her heart dancing in giddy circles. Focusing on their task at hand would be challenging now that she knew the touch of his lips.
Nate thought of himself as a failure, and she was determined to prove him wrong. Reading was just the first step. Writing would be the next hurdle to address. She pulled open the desk drawer and dug around for a notepad, tipping her head to search through the layers of school papers. Her fingers brushed against the lighter, still hidden there. Her chest tightened as she drew it out, the metal cold to the touch. She’d need to find a way to return it to Teddy. She hadn’t wanted the extravagant gift in the first place, but now it mocked her decision.
“If they’ve got a firebug in their midst, we need to root him out.” His words were like a scratchy record on a Victrola. The idea that someone would start fires on purpose sent an icy feeling across her skin. Elsie stared at the silver case nestled in her palm. She’d never had the courage to try the ridiculous gadget. No wonder Teddy thought she’d wash out of college—she didn’t even have the nerve to work a lighter.
Elsie sank onto the desk chair, placing the bag in her lap. It was a ridiculous fear that needed to be addressed. After a deep breath, she opened the top and flicked the lever, the tiny gear kicking out a spark. It took two more tries before the flame appeared, a miniature orange flag waving in the draft from the open window. Taking her thumb off the button, the light extinguished, leaving behind an acrid scent of phosphorus.
The firecracker sailed through the open window and landed on mother’s lace curtains fluttering in the summer breeze.
How easily a single spark could lead to disaster.
She snapped the lid shut and slammed the lighter back into the drawer, her palms damp. That’s where it would stay until she figured out how to get it back to Teddy. Perhaps her father or Graham would return it for her. Either way, she didn’t want the dreadful thing here a moment longer than it needed to be.
Jumping up, she hurried out of the dormitory and into the fresh air. She had thirty minutes to walk the short distance to the CCC camp for evening classes, and the late-day sunshine calmed her ruffled spirits. The record-breaking temperatures and clear days had made for a gorgeous summer. If this was to be one of her last summers in Yellowstone, at least it was shaping up to be the best yet. Teaching the CCC men was much better than making beds all day, though finding the time to do both jobs had been a challenge. She hadn’t been to Geyser Basin since the trip to Old Faithful. Her plans for detailed records of geyser eruptions had gone astray.
Maybe she could invite Nate to accompany her there this weekend. She’d managed to claim a rare Saturday off, and she certainly wasn’t going to waste it.
Rose was walking toward her, looking happier than she had all summer. “Elsie, what did you say to him?”
Elsie paused. “To whom?”
“To Graham, silly.” Rose’s pink dress matched the blush in her cheeks. She caught up to Elsie just as she was passing Pryor General Store. “He’s been much more attentive of late. I think he might be coming around. Did you give him your blessing?”
“He doesn’t need my blessing. I’m sorry that I made you both feel like you did.” Her unforgiveness had driven a wedge not just between her and Graham, but also between her and Rose. “But I do worry, Rose. Graham”—she scrambled to put voice to her concerns without deepening the rift—“The fire was long ago, Rose, but it affected us both deeply.”
“I know that.” Rose touched Elsie’s wrist, a smile warming her heart-shaped face. “It shaped you into the friend I love today.”
Elsie blinked against the tears that collected in her eyes. She didn’t deserve the good friends God had gifted her with. She pulled Rose into a quick hug. “I love you too. That’s why I want you to be careful. He told me he wasn’t looking for a steady girlfriend. But if you’ve somehow changed his mind, then I hope he can grow into the kind of hero you’ve always dreamed of.”
“I think he’s pretty heroic already, though he doesn’t see it. I’ll always be grateful that he saved you as a child. Plus, he’s helped with both fires here at the park.”
Both fires. Rose’s words sent a chill through her. Graham had been at both the Mammoth Hotel fire and the recent one at Canyon. “You invited him to the talent show at the CCC camp, right?”
She nodded. “He was staying over at Canyon and taking the tour bus group to Old Faithful the next morning. I thought he’d enjoy visiting with the men. He’s talked about them a few times since meeting them at the dance. He’d planned to borrow Charlie’s coupe and drive over to Lake to see a friend, but he decided to come with me instead.” Another smile teased at her lips. “I’m so glad he was there that night.”
Elsie tried to recall the event. She’d seen Graham at the show, but had she seen him leave? “Were you with him all evening?”
Rose frowned. “What are you implying? We weren’t out necking in the woods or anything.”
“No, I didn’t mean…Did he stay for the whole show?”
“People were milling around, you know that. They had refreshments set up in the back plus some of the guys talked him into helping with the backdrops and scenery, so he was up and down all evening.” Rose folded her arms and grinned. “I saw you sneak out too. That explains what I hear about you and Nate Webber.”
Heat rushed to Elsie’s face. “News spreads fast.”
“I remember him from the Lake trip. He seemed like a good egg. Easy to talk to and not bad looking, either.”
“And yet he couldn’t tempt you away from my cousin.”
“Not a chance.” She turned to face Elsie. “I’m so thankful Graham has earned your forgiveness.”
“He didn’t have to earn it. God just had to work on my heart.” Elsie smiled as her mother’s words echoed through her memory. “Forgiveness isn’t earned, Elsie. It’s bestowed.”
* * *
Nate studied the gurgling, belching mud pot in the Lower Geyser Basin, but it did little to distract him from the feeling of Elsie’s hand in his. He leaned closer to her. “It reminds me of some of the guys after Cook serves his famous pork and bean stew.”
She laughed, a more pleasant sound than the glugging puddle at their feet. “Just think, those gasses come from deep under the earth and erupt out here, like a shaken-up bottle of soda pop. The mud isn’t boiling; it’s just bubbling up with gasses.”
“As I said—bean stew.” He squeezed her hand. “But I think I prefer this.”
As they moved away to let a group of eager tourists view the mud pots, Elsie checked her watch. “We should head back if we want to catch Graham’s bus on its way to Old Faithful.”
“You’ve spoiled me today with the private tour. A fellow could get used to this.” He tucked her hand in the crook of his arm.
She adjusted her hat against the hot summer sun. “I wanted to show you some of my favorite spots. Next time we’ll bring the crew.”
Her smile could melt him in two seconds flat. Thankfully the path heading back to the parking area took longer than that. He’d stretch the whole day if he could. “Now as my way of thanking my beautiful tour guide, I’d like to buy her dinner at the Inn.” Unlike many of the other fellows, Nate had squirreled away the spending money the CCC had allotted him since joining up. He couldn’t think of a better way to spend it than romancing his girl. My girl. That had a nice ring to it.
“That sounds lovely.”
A ranger walked toward them, leading a group of visitors. Elsie pulled her hand free as the man tipped his flat hat in greeting.
Once the trail cleared, she glanced at Nate with a sigh. “I’m sorry.”
“I understand.” He did. Most of the park probably thought of her as Vaughn’s girl or Ranger Brookes’s daughter. What would they
think to see her with a lowly CCC recruit?
“It’s a little awkward. Teddy is still new to the ranger staff, but he is one of their own.” She gripped his arm and stepped close. “But I don’t regret my decision. Not for an instant.”
“So kissing you right here, right now, would be a bad choice, right?” He settled for rubbing his thumb along her knuckles and moving up toward her wrist. “It will be hard to keep this secret. Red’s probably already spreading the word.”
“So is Mary.” She slipped her wrist back from his grip, tugging at her cuff. “There are no secrets in Yellowstone. At least, not for long.”
“I’m getting that idea.”
As they reached the parking area, two of the yellow buses sat empty near the trailhead. “Is that Graham over there?” He gestured toward a cluster of picnic tables on the far side of the road.
Elsie stood on tiptoes for a better look. “It looks like it.” She frowned. “Who’s he with?”
As they watched, Elsie’s cousin leaned over and planted a kiss on the petite blonde by his side. His hand circled around her back as he pulled her close.
Elsie gasped, clutching at Nate’s arm. “It’s not Rose—I can tell you that much.”
“It looks like Graham’s found romance elsewhere.”
The second driver leaned against his vehicle, likely waiting for the tour group’s return. “Are you talking about Graham Brookes?”
Elsie looked at him warily. “Yes, he’s my cousin.”
“Well, Graham’s leading the gear jammer tourney this year.” The fellow chuckled. “I’ve given up trying to catch him in points. Got me a regular girl, and she frowns on the whole game.”
“What’s involved in the tourney?” Nate asked.
A pained expression crossed Elsie’s face. “It means a different girl at every stop. I should have realized that silly wager had been resurrected. I’ve been so busy teaching at the CCC camp; I haven’t been paying attention to the savage scuttlebutt.”
“So you haven’t heard, then? They upped the stakes this year.” The gear jammer leaned forward. “It’s how many girls you can kiss on a single circuit of the park. Brookes has pushed the total to four, just this week.”
“Four?” Elsie’s mouth dropped open. “Graham? Are you sure?”
Nate raised his brows. Of course he felt bad for Rose, but when this story got back to the CCC camp, the jammer would be a hero among the fellas.
The driver opened the door and snatched a cigarette from a box on the seat. “It’s all in good fun. The girls are in on it. They like being the one to push a gear jammer to a new record.”
“Rose isn’t one of those girls. She thinks she’s in love with him.” Elsie frowned.
Nate took her arm. “I don’t think it will do any good to confront him now. Let’s walk. It looks like we still have some time left.” Graham certainly didn’t appear to be in a hurry.
She followed him back down the trail toward the geyser basin, plumes of steam rising from the springs. “I can’t believe my cousin. Kissing four girls in one day? He told me he wasn’t interested in settling down—with Rose or anyone else. But I had no idea he had something like this in mind.”
“I guess you were wise to warn Rose to steer clear.”
“But I didn’t. We just talked, and she was excited because he’d been paying her more attention. I told her I’d forgiven him.” Her forehead crumpled.
“Have you?”
“Yes.” She paused. “But now this? She’s going to be heartbroken. After losing Pete this year, she’d sunk all her hopes into Graham.” A gust of wind swept through the basin, carrying a whiff of rotten egg. “You don’t suppose she’s one of the four, do you?”
“You said there are no secrets in Yellowstone. Wouldn’t someone have told you?”
“I hadn’t heard of Graham’s exploits, either. I don’t know how he’s keeping it quiet around Canyon.”
He squeezed her hand. “Are you going to tell Rose?”
“I suppose I’ll have to. Though I hate to do it. Graham has already been a strain on our friendship. We used to be so close.”
“Better she hears it from you.”
Elsie sighed, her countenance falling a bit more. “Yes, I agree. But it’s going to be difficult.”
Today wasn’t shaping up to be the romantic outing he’d planned. “We could skip dinner and head back, if you’d prefer.”
Elsie’s eyes widened, a smile softening her face for the first time since they’d arrived at the parking area. “Not a chance. Just because my cousin is being a skunk doesn’t mean he should ruin our evening. This summer is more than half over; I’m not missing anything else.”
He couldn’t resist the grin sweeping over his face. “That’s the spirit, college girl.”
Elsie dropped her things in her room before setting off in search of Rose. Nate had offered to join her for moral support, but the truth would come more easily without an audience.
Even with what they’d witnessed, the day had been nearly perfect. They’d put aside the incident with Graham and enjoyed a delicious meal at the Inn. On the ride home—with a different driver—she’d snuggled into Nate’s shoulder for the duration. The proud smile he wore nearly made her heart burst.
For now, she’d tuck that joy away for safekeeping.
It seemed funny that they’d gone from friends to inseparable in a few short days. The summer was passing at such a quick clip. Soon she’d head off to college and Nate’s six-month stint would be nearly finished. They’d just have to enjoy this month and let the future take care of itself.
As she walked, her fingers traveled up to her collar, a habit she’d been fighting since Teddy pointed it out to her. Nate didn’t know about her scars. When he’d called her beautiful earlier today, the word had echoed through her soul. Why must men be so focused on looks?
Rose and the other bubble queens were hard at work in the laundry room, the steam billowing from the machines like the mist back at Upper Geyser Basin. The huge smile Rose cast her direction sent Elsie’s heart spinning downward. Best get the news over with—like ripping off a bandage.
Minutes later, Rose was crumpled in a sobbing heap on the steps. “It can’t be true. You must have seen someone else.” The tears she shoved aside with the side of her fist said otherwise.
“I’m so sorry, Rose. Didn’t he say anything to you? You’ve spent a lot of time together.”
“Do you mean, how could I be so foolish?”
Elsie sank beside her. “Of course not. Rose, sweetie, I’d never think that of you.”
She shot Elsie a dirty look. “But you’ll think it of Graham in a heartbeat. And you’ll assume that some horrible story told to you by another gear jammer is true? Have you talked to Graham? He might be able to explain this.”
“Rose, I saw him.” Elsie scooted closer, rubbing her friend’s arm. “How in the world could he explain this away?”
“Just because he was kissing one girl doesn’t mean he’s been spooning with girls all over Yellowstone.” She wiped away another tear.
Something in her tone gave Elsie pause. “Have you kissed him?”
Rose’s tirade stopped in an instant. Hurt pooled in her eyes. “How long have we been friends, Elsie? Do you actually think I’d choose to be part of his record-breaking day? Or are you saying he wouldn’t be interested in doing that with me?” She pushed up to her feet with a storm cloud brewing on her face. “I’m done talking about this.”
Leaving Elsie alone on the step, she went back inside and slammed the door.
Elsie rested her head on her knees. She’d expected tears and anger. But Rose defending Graham? That had been the furthest thing from her mind.
* * *
Mammoth had never looked so heavenly, the sun illuminating the billows of steam rising from the hot springs
. Elsie let herself into the house, dropping her bag by the door. She’d stopped by the ranger station to see her father, but he’d been out on patrol. Walking back to the kitchen, she stopped in her tracks.
Her mother sat at the little breakfast table with a cup of tea and a book. She set down the cup and beamed at Elsie. “I didn’t know you were coming home. You should have sent a message. I’d have made something special.”
“I…I can’t believe you’re out of bed. That’s special enough.”
Mama rose to her feet, spreading her arms to embrace her daughter. “Oh, you know me. Good days and not so good days. But it’s been a great week overall, so that’s encouraging.”
“You look well.” Elsie pulled out a chair for herself.
“It’s all this glorious sunshine. I’ve been outside as much as I can, soaking up the light. I think God put healing power in the sun’s rays, don’t you?” She took a sip of tea. “Your father’s all worried about fire danger, of course. He has the tendency to see a tarnished lining in every silver cloud.”
Elsie retrieved a cup for herself. “It’s been a beautiful summer in Canyon too. Not as warm as here, but very dry.” She stopped. She hadn’t come to talk about the weather.
Mama’s eyes were shining. “I can see you have news. Do I get to hear it now, or do I have to wait until your father gets home?”
“I’d rather tell you first.” A ripple of uncertainty shot through Elsie, and she suddenly felt like a little girl searching for her mother’s approval. Best to get it over with. “I know you encouraged me to open myself up to Teddy.”
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