Ever Faithful

by Karen Barnett

  “The fire when you were kids—that was an accident, right?”

  She studied his face, particularly the worry lines scoring his forehead. “I was next door when it started. But Graham had been playing with firecrackers, and he said one went in the window. And when the house caught on fire, he ran.”

  “Maybe…” Nate frowned again. “Maybe seeing you again triggered memories. Something he wanted to relive—or set right—in some twisted way?”

  The idea seared through her. “Why would anyone want to relive such a horror?”

  The trail had gotten steeper. He jostled his way past a few large rocks, then reached back for her. She took his hand, although she really didn’t need to, allowing him to help her over the steep scramble.

  The men had gathered up ahead and were staring back the way they’d come. Elsie turned to look and immediately wished she hadn’t.

  The forest edge was ablaze, flames climbing high into the treetops, sending lodgepole pines up like Roman candles. Usually a fire burned slowly through the undergrowth until it was hot enough to take full trees. This monster seemed to defy the rules. The massive curtain of smoke roiled into the sky. She looked away and tried to quell the panic that rose from deep within her.

  Val placed both hands on top of his head. “Oy vey iz mir.”

  Red looked like he was about to be sick. “You can say that again, kid—whatever it means.”

  Nate gripped a canteen, his knuckles white. “The rangers at Canyon will see the smoke, right?”

  Teddy. Her father had said Teddy was coming to Canyon today. A district meeting. “Yes, I imagine so.” But what could they do? They’d start fighting it along the highway, but it wouldn’t help them here near the ridgeline. The only way out was to hike.

  Her father set his jaw. “I thought we could cut around it, but it’s spreading fast. We’ll have to head over the ridge and meet up with the spur trail. That’ll take us back toward Canyon. It’s a longer route, but it should be safer. And mostly downhill.”

  Downhill sounded good about now. Elsie pulled at her collar. She couldn’t seem to catch her breath.

  “Here.” Nate tipped some water from the canteen over his bandanna and handed it to her. “You need to cool yourself off. Your face is beet red.”

  She pressed it to her cheeks and neck. Her knees wobbled. Lord, don’t let me faint. Not in front of Nate and everyone. She staggered to a nearby log and sat, lowering her head to her knees.

  Nate followed. “Elsie?”

  “I’ll be all right. Just…just need a minute.” Spots danced in front of her eyes. Was it fear or the heat? Or some dreadful combination of the two?

  Val joined them. “Anything I can do?”

  “I think we’re going to need to give Elsie a hand.” Nate crouched beside her. “We can’t stay, Elsie. We have to keep moving.”

  Didn’t he know if she kept moving, everything was going to go black? She hid her face in the wet folds of the bandanna and nodded, hoping to buy herself a minute.

  It didn’t work. Nate hooked an arm under her elbow and lifted her to her feet. Val grabbed the other arm.

  Her father’s voice cut through the smoke clouding her thoughts. “Elsie? What’s wrong?”

  She dropped her hands and forced her eyes open. Father’s face seemed fuzzy in her vision, until she managed to blink a few times. When had her ears started buzzing? “I’m all right. Just…overly warm.”

  Nate fiddled with the buttons on her cuffs, freeing her wrists and pushing the sleeves up above her elbows. He poured water into his hands and splashed it onto her arms and neck.

  Val uncorked his canteen and pressed it to her lips. “Drink.” His young voice trembled. He said nothing about the scars, but his eyes had darted to them and then away.

  Her spirits shrank from the men’s attention. She swallowed a couple of mouthfuls of water then pushed away the canteen. “Just let me get a breath of air.”

  Her father and Val eased back out of her circle of vision, but she could still feel Nate’s steady arm under hers.

  “We need to move, college girl,” he murmured low, into her ear. “Maybe not so fast, but we’ve got to keep going.”

  She nodded and yanked at her collar, unfastening the snaps that held it closed. What did it matter now? She already looked a fool.

  “Here.” He tucked the wet cloth in around her neck, the coolness seeping into her skin like a gentle kiss.

  “That’s good. Thanks.”

  She followed the group through the woods, Val and Nate supporting some of her weight as she kept her feet moving forward.

  After another twenty minutes of walking, they started descending the hill at an angle, cutting over into the Sulphur Creek drainage. With the easier path, she released Val’s arm and waved him away. Leaning on Nate, however, was as much by choice as by necessity. As her mind cleared, the touch of his hand became a lifeline out of the clutching fear that seemed to dog her steps. “Are we keeping away from it?” Her mouth tasted like ash.

  Nate checked over his shoulder. “Yes. It’s still climbing the hill, but it’s mostly staying to the north. I think we’ll meet up with the road soon. Then we can hoof it back to camp.” A frown flitted across his already grim face. “Or flag down a vehicle.”

  “I can’t believe your trucks are gone.”

  “And your father’s too, I imagine.”

  She hadn’t thought about that, but he was right. “And he drove his own today. Not a park truck.”

  The crew walked in relative silence, without their usual joking and banter. Were they thinking of the stand of trees they’d been working so hard to save? Or were they still picturing what would happen if the fire caught them?

  A sudden thought washed over her, and she couldn’t help but tighten her grip on Nate’s arm. “This fire is heading toward Canyon, isn’t it?”

  He nodded. “It is.”

  * * *

  Nate never thought he’d be so glad to see Ranger Vaughn. But as the CCC crew straggled into the Canyon area, the sight of several rangers jogging toward them brought him a rush of relief.

  Vaughn’s face was grim as he approached Elsie’s father. “Thank goodness. We didn’t know what had happened to you. Did you get everyone?” His eyes widened. “Elsie, I didn’t even know you were out there.”

  She maintained her grip on Nate’s arm. “I’m fine, Teddy. We all are.”

  “The whole crew is accounted for,” Ranger Brookes answered. “What’s the situation?”

  Vaughn’s eyes stayed on Elsie for a long moment before refocusing on Brookes. “It looks like it started at the highway and spread from there.”

  Nate cleared his throat. “It started with one of our trucks, from what I saw.”

  “Your truck?”

  “Vaughn.” Elsie’s father cut him off. “What’s the situation here at Canyon? Are the facilities evacuated?”

  “Mostly, yes. We’re getting the last of the visitors loaded onto buses and taken out to either Norris or Lake. The savages are saving what they can, but we’ll get them out next.”

  “And fire crews?”

  He glanced over Ranger Brooke’s shoulder, his focus once again zeroing in on Nate. “We’ve called in the CCC crew from Old Faithful. The men from Mammoth are heading south. I’d like to put this group in service too.”

  Nate’s stomach dropped. Go back up there? It was about the last thing any of his men would want to do right now. “Sir—”

  Ranger Brookes lifted a hand. “In a moment.” He turned back to Vaughn. “We’ll take volunteers. These men have already been out all day, and the fire’s bearing down on their camp as well.” He turned to Nate. “How many men did you leave in camp this morning?”

  “Thirty or so.”

  Vaughn nodded. “I already have them assisting with the evac
uation.”

  “Good.” Brookes gestured to the men. “You fellows go back to camp and load up everything you can—tools and supplies. Leave the tents. Grab your personal belongings and those of the other men. Haul everything to the Old Faithful camp for now, then report back. We might need you.”

  Nate turned to the crew. “We’ve got two trucks left. Let’s load ’em up.”

  Vaughn cleared his throat. “This group trained for fire duty, Ranger Brookes, and they know this area.”

  Nate set his jaw. “I volunteer.”

  Elsie’s hand touched his back, but he kept his eyes fixed on the rangers. He couldn’t bear to look in her eyes right now, but this time Vaughn was right.

  Red stepped forward. “Same here. And some of the other fellows will too, I’m sure. You don’t need us all to clear the camp.”

  Nate turned to his friend. “We need you driving one of those trucks, Red. We’ve only got a couple of men who know how to handle them.”

  The smaller man hesitated, then nodded. “All right. I’ll get Moretti in the other one. He’s a bit of a lead foot, but that might be useful today.” He shot a glance at Elsie. “You want to come with us, Miss Brookes?”

  Ranger Vaughn gestured to a yellow bus pulling up. “Graham’s here now. She can ride with the other savages.”

  “What about my things?” Elsie’s voice sounded softly behind Nate. “I’ve got some items in my room I don’t want to lose.”

  Her tuition money. The thought settled in Nate’s gut. “I’ll go.”

  Vaughn pushed his hat back. “Wouldn’t Mary have packed for you?”

  “I need to be sure.”

  Nate caught her hand and squeezed it. “I can double-check for you, but you should leave with Graham.” He wanted her safe. Nothing else mattered.

  Vaughn grunted. “I’ll go. I know which room is hers.”

  “Stop it, both of you. I won’t be five minutes.” She scowled at them.

  Despite her show of confidence, Nate could feel her fingers tremble in his grip.

  She turned to face Red. “You can wait for me?”

  “Sure. It’ll take time to load up the trucks, anyway.”

  Nate released her hand. “Elsie, hurry. Please. I need to know you’re away from here.”

  Her eyes locked on his, as intense as he’d ever seen them. “I hate the idea of you going back up there; I hope you know that.”

  “I do. But I’ll be careful. I promise.”

  “Elsie.” Graham jumped out of the bus, leaving the engine running. “Have you seen Rose?”

  “No. Why? Isn’t she with Mary?”

  He darted a glance around the parking area. “I haven’t seen her since we went for a drive earlier today.”

  “I’ll check the dormitory. She probably went out on one of the other buses.”

  He ran a hand along his shirt front. “You’re probably right. If you see her, tell her…tell Rose I’m sorry.”

  Elsie had arrived at her room to find it emptied. Mary had been thorough about going through every drawer and bookshelf, even rescuing the men’s compositions. The only item left behind was a note saying that she and Rose were evacuating.

  It had been difficult to leave Canyon knowing that Nate and her father—and Teddy, too—would still be in harm’s way.

  Graham’s message about Rose had set the hair prickling on her scalp, and she couldn’t help wondering about it on the long truck ride to Old Faithful Inn.

  Entering the timbered lobby was like stepping into a friend’s embrace, but Elsie didn’t have time to linger and appreciate its warmth. Instead she scanned the milling crowd of concerned tourists and staff for familiar faces.

  Rose had worked her first summer as an ice-cream girl at the Inn, so maybe she’d taken advantage of the strange turn of events to stop in and say hello to old friends.

  Elsie tipped her head back as she walked to the center of the massive lobby. As always, her eyes were drawn to the remarkable open space extending up to the rafters. The architect had designed it to resemble an indoor lodgepole forest, but Elsie always felt more like she’d stepped inside the belly of a whale and was somehow gazing at its massive rib cage all about her. From her vantage point she could see level after level of pine stairways, connected by balconies and guarded by twisted railings. Visitors peered down from the upper levels with as much curiosity as those who gazed up. Even the windows were scattered in odd places, without the typical symmetry one expected in a building of this caliber. The Inn, crowded with evacuees, felt like a living, breathing creature.

  Elsie didn’t find Rose in the ice cream shop or the restaurant. She scaled the stairs and catwalks, searching every alcove until she finally reached the landing below the tree house. The quirky little structure perched near the rafters must have been the fulfillment of one of the architect’s childhood fantasies.

  She gripped the burled limb railing as she climbed the last flights of steps and tried to ignore the stitch in her side. Her legs trembled after the long day of hiking. When she reached the top, she found Rose sitting on the floor of the framed-in platform, her back pressed against the side, legs tucked under her. She barely glanced at Elsie, her attention sagging back to the floorboards.

  Elsie didn’t allow herself to look over the side. She couldn’t bear to think about all the empty space below them. She kneeled beside her friend, thankful the short wall blocked the dizzying view. “Rose, what are you doing?”

  Her friend lowered her head to her knees. “I just needed to get my thoughts together.”

  “I saw Graham.”

  Rose turned away. “We’re finished. I suppose you’re glad to hear that.”

  Graham’s words echoed in her mind. “Tell Rose I’m sorry”

  Elsie scooted closer to Rose and wove a hand around her arm. “It doesn’t matter what I think.”

  “It does.” Rose’s face crumpled. “But I wouldn’t listen to you. I wasted the whole summer chasing a man who didn’t care a thing about me. What’s wrong with me? Why do I keep thinking I can live the fairy tale?”

  “Nothing’s wrong. You’ve been sad, and you were looking for something—or someone—to ease the sorrow. That’s not unusual.”

  “But I just bought myself more pain. And I’ve ruined everything, Elsie.”

  Elsie brushed the hair from Rose’s eyes, tucking a limp curl behind her ear. “I think Graham has to take some of the blame here too.”

  Tears slid down Rose’s face, and she wiped at them with the heel of her hand. “Today is all on me. All of it, Elsie.” She squeezed the sides of her head with her hands and moaned. “My head hurts from so much crying. I feel like that’s all I’ve done this summer.”

  “Let’s go find Mary and get some cake.” Elsie helped Rose to her feet. “That will help.”

  “Will it?” Rose sighed, brushing off the back of her skirt. “Because I’m not sure anything can help at this point.”

  “Mary says cake always helps. Cake and friends.”

  “I suppose.” Rose’s voice had never sounded so empty.

  Elsie gripped her friend’s arm as they descended the winding staircases. As distraught as Rose was, leaving her to cry up here alone like a princess in her tower was not an option.

  * * *

  Nate walked along the deserted roadway near Mount Washburn, the smell of soggy ashes overwhelming his senses. Somewhere up ahead were the burned-out trucks. Wiping his face with a damp neckerchief, he tried not to think of how just eight days ago he’d pressed it to Elsie’s flushed cheeks. He’d like to think it still smelled of her, but in reality, it reeked of smoke, sweat, and dirt. Just like the rest of him.

  It had taken a week to squelch the fire, but most of the thanks went to the weather rather than Nate’s crew. The light snow they’d received the past two nights had saved them. Even th
ough the morning sun melted it away in short order, the cooler temperatures and moisture had sapped the fire’s strength enough for them to gain the upper hand. Remarkably, no damage was done to the Canyon Hotel or any of the surrounding structures. Even the camp was untouched, except for the fact that it remained a half-dismantled mess.

  Part of his company was bunking at Old Faithful, but the fire crew was lodged in a temporary camp at Roosevelt. With the hours they’d been keeping, he hadn’t been able to see Elsie since the fire broke out. That probably explained the hollow ache in the center of his chest. In another week, his college girl would slip out of his life for good.

  “I’ll think of something.” His words to her seemed no better than an empty promise, but one he’d repeated to himself every day they’d been apart.

  The trouble was, he hadn’t come up with any answers. For a brief moment he’d considered getting down on one knee and begging her to come back to Brooklyn as his wife. The daydream only lasted a minute or two before reality crashed in.

  Elsie had to follow her dream to university. He refused to stand in the way of everything she could accomplish. Just because he wasn’t school material didn’t mean he would ever consider taking it from her. If anything, it made her goals all the more precious to him. In some small way, it was as if a part of him were going too.

  They still hadn’t heard where the remaining CCC men would be restationed for the next six months. They were taking bets on locations, with the top two choices being Arizona and California. At least they’d be someplace warm. As much as he missed his family, he wouldn’t mind skipping out on a gray New York winter.

  Nate shifted the Pulaski ax to his other shoulder and continued down the road. Most of the crew had returned to camp for the night, but a small group of them had decided to mop up along the highway. The rangers hoped to open the route in the morning, and they wanted to make sure everything was safe.

  Nate picked up his pace as he spotted the burned-out hulks in the distance. The blackened metal frames of the two CCC trucks sent a tremor through his gut. Seeing that first truck erupt into flames would be seared into his memory for life, complete with the knowledge that he was the only thing that stood between that fire and his crew—plus the woman he loved. His pulse quickened at the reminder.