Love Another Day

by Regina A Hanel

  "What made you leave?"

  "The lack of money and recognition. I was offered more money with this magazine. Believe me, it took a lot of thought, especially not being a fan of the outdoors, but I couldn't reject them. They offered me everything I wanted."

  Sam was taken aback by Halie's response, and it showed. "So you took the job because of the money?"

  "Surprised? Yeah, I did. I worked hard through school, and I have a goal, a certain level of financial freedom I want to reach by the time I'm thirty. I don't think there's anything wrong with that. I'm not saving the world or anything, but my contributions are important. Plus, this job's turning out to be more than I expected. I know I made the right move."

  "It's good it worked out for you then."

  "It has. If I didn't take the job, I probably would've never met you." Halie broke off a piece of the pie with her fork and placed it in her mouth. She fixed her gaze at Sam, but Sam merely shifted uneasily in her seat. Neither of them spoke for a few uncomfortable minutes.

  "Mmm, apple pie. It's delicious," she said, placing another piece in her mouth. "If you hadn't become a park ranger and couldn't be a soldier, what else do you think you would have done with your life?"

  Sam was happy Halie broke the silence. She said, "I think I'd run a small farm, somewhere warm, where the people are friendly and accepting. The winters around here are too rough, and the growing season's too short. I'd never survive, never mind make a profit in this area."

  "A farmer, huh? I can picture you doing that. You'd make a handsome farmer."

  The compliment embarrassed Sam. There was no doubt Halie wasn't going to make their 'friendship' easy on her. "No, I--what about you?"

  "What about me?"

  "What would you have done?"

  "I'm not really sure. I think I'd have to win the lottery first." Halie contemplated the idea. "Maybe then I'd buy a vineyard and start a winery that made award winning wines."

  "That sounds great. 'Award winning' wines too. Shooting straight for the top I see."

  "Sure, why not? You know it's funny, but I enjoy listening to the sound of your voice."

  Sam managed an, "Oh, ugh, no, I don't think--I mean, it's a nice compliment." Sam knew she should have ended her response there, but she added, "To be honest, I enjoy listening to you too."

  Another awkward moment of silence followed. "How about I go get us some more pie and refresh this coffee?" Sam said.

  "Sounds good. You know you'll never hear me refuse an offer for food."

  Sam returned and placed the plates on the table. The noise woke Jake for a second. He stretched out and rested his head on top of Halie's feet.

  "Oh, he's so cute," Halie said. "Where'd you get him from anyway?"

  "I found him on foot patrol two years ago off Phelps Lake trail. I saw him about twenty feet off the trail with the corner of my eye. He'd been left tied to a tree and nearly starved. He's one of the best things that's ever happened to me. Do you own any pets?"

  "No, the landlord won't allow any."

  "Whereabouts in Boston do you live?"

  "In the Beacon Hill section--familiar with it?"

  "No, I've never been."

  "You've got to go sometime. It's great. There are lots of antique shops, restaurants, and cozy pubs. It's nice. Sheila loves it too."

  "Sheila?"

  "My roommate."

  "You have a roommate?"

  "Yeah. I met Sheila my freshman year in college. We've been friends ever since. I mean, it's not always easy living together, but we do okay."

  The conversation continued effortlessly into the night before Halie realized the time. "It's late. I'm so sorry," she said as she slid off the sofa and stretched her legs. "Would you mind calling me a cab?"

  "I'll drive you back."

  "No, that's not necessary. A cab's fine."

  "It's so late already. Why don't you stay here? I've got the spare bedroom. I'll pop fresh sheets on the bed, and you'll be set."

  "Not having to make the ride back sounds great, but I couldn't impose like that."

  "It's no imposition. I just have to make sure I leave tomorrow morning by nine o'clock to meet a friend of mine. She lives in Jackson. I can drop you off at the lodge on my way over."

  "Really? That'd work out great. I wanted to write some more tomorrow anyway--I mean later today."

  "Good, it's settled then." After Sam finished making the bed, she showed Halie where the towels, toiletries, and extra blankets were, then said goodnight. Before Sam could walk away, Halie reached out and gently grabbed her hand from behind and placed it in her own. Sam spun around, her heart thumping in her chest. Her eyes drifted upward to meet Halie's, locking on them in a timeless moment.

  "Thanks," Halie said warmly. "For everything." Then she released her hold on Sam and walked into the bedroom and shut the door.

  Sam stood staring at the door several minutes before retiring to her own bedroom.

  Chapter Ten

  IN THE EARLY morning hours, Sam tossed and turned in bed while fragments of her recurring nightmare tormented her unconscious. Sam was keeping pace a few feet behind Tina along the narrow, rocky trail that wound its way up the side of Grand Teton Mountain. She knew they needed to find shelter but Tina wouldn't let up. The wind was intensifying. The clouds were darkening. Thunder rumbled louder and louder.

  Finally, Sam's last-ditch plea was successful. Tina stopped. But as she turned and faced Sam, a blinding flash of lightening crashed into the earth between them. Sam tumbled, hitting her head on a rock. She awoke an hour later, dazed and confused. Her head pounded, her face and pants were soaking wet. She rubbed her forehead and attempted to stand, but her body wouldn't respond. Instead, sharp needle like pricks of pain shot through her legs and jabbed at her temples. She lay on the ground a few moments longer. Tina--where's Tina?

  Fear washed over her. She strained as she raised her head, squinting from the pain. Several feet ahead of her, she saw Tina's body lying motionless on her back. Sam dug her fingers into the mud, trying to lift herself off the ground. She closed her eyes and concentrated on containing the sick feeling rising in her stomach as a wave of dizziness overcame her. Not able to stand, she crawled farther along the muddy trail on her stomach, inching her way toward the still figure.

  Sam shook Tina's legs. Her skin was cold to the touch. She inched alongside her, careful not to get too close to the mountain's edge. Pieces of Tina's charred clothes clung to her lifeless body, other pieces lay in shreds on the ground. Sam put her hand on Tina's shoulder and shook her again, begging her to wake up, but Tina's eyes were frozen open. Blood had oozed from her nostrils and left ear canal. Sam checked for a pulse, but found none. She forced herself to her knees. Trembling, she leaned over and exhaled a few futile breaths into Tina's mouth. Unable to steady herself for compressions, she yelled out in anguish before laying her head in defeat on Tina's chest and grabbing the shredded pieces of what remained of Tina's raincoat tightly in her hands.

  SAM AWOKE TO Jake's wet nose touching her face. She sighed heavily. "Hey, boy," she said, reaching her arm out from under the blankets and petting him on the head. She squeezed her eyes shut and opened them to clear her blurred morning vision and to erase her troubled thoughts. Sam was thankful she didn't have to work today. She sat up, rubbed her face with both hands and swung her legs out of bed. She slid her feet into her slippers, threw on a sweatshirt over her t-shirt, and shuffled into the bathroom to brush her teeth. Afterward, she grabbed an extra sweatshirt and sweatpants from the dresser draw and sneaked along the hallway to the spare bedroom, and lay the clothes on the floor in front of Halie's door. She stared at the door for a second, then continued on to get some coffee. Jake tagged along, inches behind her.

  The smell of freshly brewed coffee quickly filled the cabin. Sam grabbed her mug and set it on the counter. Jake moved closer.

  "No coffee for you, mister."

  Jake grunted.

  "No way." Sam opened the sliding gl
ass door and let him outside while she waited in the kitchen. The morning air was brisk as usual. When Jake was finished, Sam gave him a biscuit and fed him his breakfast. While he ate, she walked into the living room and watched the news. After Jake finished breakfast, Sam heard his tags jingling away from her, rather than moving toward her. She assumed he'd disappeared up the hallway, which was a deviation from his normal routine. After breakfast he'd unfailingly lie at the base of the sofa next to her feet.

  Five minutes later, Jake pranced into the living room with Halie close behind. Halie wore the sweats Sam had left by the door. The sweatshirt was now adorned with a small slobber spot Jake left on it when he'd sniffed it. Even with her hair tousled, Sam thought Halie looked beautiful.

  "I got the impression someone didn't want me sleeping too long," Halie said, petting Jake on the head. "You didn't send him in after me, did you?"

  "That would have been a good idea, but no, he did that on his own," Sam said, shackling the amusement she felt inside. "Morning."

  "Morning. Thanks for the sweats."

  "No problem. They fit nice," Sam said, noticing Halie had cuffed the sleeves. "How about some coffee? Are you hungry? I was going to make eggs and toast, if you're interested."

  "I'm always interested," Halie replied. "That'll be a yes to both."

  "Great, so what'll it be? Wheat or rye toast, and how do you like your eggs?"

  "Sunny-side up with wheat toast." Halie ran her fingers through her hair, then followed Sam into the kitchen. "Need a hand?"

  "No, I've got it. How about fresh scallions on top of your eggs?"

  "Sure. Why not," she began, "it's not like I'll be kissing anyone today."

  Sam walked over to the refrigerator without turning around. She purposely ignored the comment, a smirk etched on her face. Cute.

  "Hey, Sam?"

  "Yeah? What's up?" Sam grabbed the eggs, bread, and scallion bundle, and placed them on the counter next to the stove.

  "I don't want you to think I was snooping around the room or anything, but last night I had a little trouble getting to sleep. While I was pacing around I noticed a metal animal trap on the corner bookshelf. Is that the trap Jake stepped in at the park?"

  "Yeah. Weird, huh? I guess you're wondering why I kept it, right?"

  "That was my first thought," Halie said.

  "I'm not sure, to be honest. I guess a part of me thought that by keeping it, I'd still have a chance of finding the person who set it. I told my supervisor immediately, and we notified the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, but without being able to identify the person who put it there, there wasn't much they could do. The day after the accident, I took the trap to the Sheriff's office. They tried lifting fingerprints off it, but no luck. Whoever set the traps was probably wearing gloves, and even if they weren't, getting a partial off the trap would have been difficult." Sam popped four slices of bread in the toaster oven, then grabbed the eggs and one by one cracked them on the side of the hot fry pan, tossing the shells into the garbage can.

  "I'm sure I'd feel the same way," Halie reassured her. "Why do you think anyone would take the risk of trapping in the park though? Isn't that illegal? Why not trap somewhere else less patrolled?"

  "I don't know. Trapping isn't illegal in Wyoming, as long as you follow the laws set by the Game and Fish Commission which include getting a permit, among other things, but under those same laws, it's illegal to hunt or trap in Grand Teton. The only legalized hunting that takes place in the park happens under the Elk Reduction Program, and that's regulated. I don't like the fact there's any hunting here, but it keeps the elk populations in check. I don't even know where someone would have gotten an antiquated trap like that from." Sam scooped the eggs out of the pan and placed them next to the toast. She brought the plates over to the kitchen table and sat next to Halie. "As far as I know, stores that carry hunting gear only sell live traps and foot or leg traps that are padded."

  "Maybe it's a good thing you kept the trap. The first year I worked as a reporter I was taught that anyone you're searching for can eventually be found, and if you're persistent enough, anything you're looking for can be traced back to someone. I only worked at the paper a couple of years, but in that time, I found that statement to be true. I noticed a number stamped on the clasp, on the one side of the trap where the chain comes out. I had trouble reading the last letter, or number, but I scribbled its likeness on a piece of paper anyway. I'd like to give it to an old reporter friend of mine in Boston, Mark, to see if he can find out anything about it."

  "You think that'll do any good? The number's probably a part number or something. I doubt it'll tell you anything more. And if the trap truly is that old, who'd have kept records?"

  "You'd be surprised what people collect. Maybe it's an antique."

  "Seems like a long shot, but it may be a place to start."

  "I'll call my friend tomorrow or Tuesday."

  "Thanks. I appreciate your help." Sam eyed the clock on the wall and swallowed the last mouthful of her breakfast with her coffee. "I better take a shower. I don't want to be late. I told my friend April I'd be at her house by ten. Would you like to shower first?"

  "No, that's okay. I'll wait until I get to the lodge. I'll need a cold one by then anyway."

  Chapter Eleven

  AFTER HAVING DROPPED Halie off at the lodge, Sam pulled into the driveway of April and Corrine's house which was perched on an acre lot that backed up to the National Elk Refuge. She'd called her friend April Carlton two days prior and asked if they could talk, but she hadn't mentioned about what. Sam sauntered along the red brick walkway lined with low lying, trimmed bushes and alternating purple and white flowers. A few trees graced the property and the lawn was well kept. The faint smell of lilac filled the air. She knocked on the door.

  Seconds later the door opened. "Get over here, you!" April said. She bear hugged Sam as she entered the foyer. "Long time no see stranger. I darn near forgot what you looked like."

  "You couldn't be that lucky," Sam said.

  At five-foot-nine April was several inches taller than Sam. Her hair was shorter, but she was equally well built. "You're looking good," April said. "Are you on a new exercise regimen or something? Fess up. I want in."

  "No, nothing like that."

  Corrine Maxim made her way down the hall toward Sam and hugged her once April had let her go. Corrine was tanned, with wavy brown hair, and about Sam's height. "Hi, stranger. I made coffee and there's a crumb cake on the counter. I've got to go food shopping, but maybe I'll see you when I get back, if you decide to hang around a bit. And next time, don't wait six months before stopping in."

  "Yes ma'am," Sam said. Sam had learned not to argue with Corrine years ago. She'd met her at a realty office in Jackson. Corrine had shown her a slew of homes in the area, even though Sam had no immediate intention of buying since she lived in government housing, something she hadn't disclosed to Corrine at that time. But Corrine had pried from her she was 'family' and later discovered the many interests Sam and her partner, April, had in common. Sam remembered Corrine wouldn't take 'no' for an answer regarding meeting April, and she was glad she hadn't.

  After kissing Corrine good-bye, April swung around and faced Sam. "So what's going on? I was surprised to hear from you the other day. Corrine and I miss you, ya know. What've you been up to?"

  "Not much. Busy at work mostly. I have to take Jake on Tuesday to get his cast off. I can't wait until we can go hiking again. I've missed that. I missed you guys too. I know it's been a while, but has it been six months?"

  "If Corrine says so, then it's been six months. Trust me. She's got the memory of an elephant. It's not all on you, though. We could've called too. There's no excuse for either of us. I'm glad you're here though. What's going on?"

  Sam followed April into the kitchen. The kitchen was small, but bright. "I went to see the psychiatrist in Wilson again."

  "How come? I thought you were doing
better?"

  "I've been having nightmares about Tina's accident again. It's wearing me out. Sometimes I think I'll never get back to being the happy, relatively carefree old me."

  April placed a coffee mug in front of Sam. "I hear you. Hey, I'm always here for you, you know that. You can talk to me whenever you want. I don't think there's anything wrong with seeing that doctor if she helps you. I think it's a good thing."

  "Yeah, so did I, but she said something last week that's been bothering me."

  "What?" April asked.

  "I don't know, maybe it's nothing." Sam shifted her gaze over at the stove to ignore eye contact with April. "If I ask you something, will you be honest with me?"

  "You know I will."

  "Do you think I'm incapable of committing in a relationship?"

  "What? That's an odd question. Is that what the therapist asked you?"

  "Not exactly, but she implied it. I go in with one problem-- right--and she connects it to what she perceives is another problem. She thinks I fear commitment because I lost my dad so early in life and without knowing what was wrong with him." Sam's eyes welled up unexpectedly. Sally Kornwall's dragging of her dad into the reason for her nightmares struck Sam as an intrusion into the great relationship she and her dad had. The frustration of being unable to deal with the impact of her nightmares and of once again bringing the loss of her father into her daily thoughts made it feel as though she'd lost him again. "She thinks I've always 'harbored a fear of loss' deep inside, and that the accident 'exacerbated that fear.' That's exactly how she said it."

  April remained quiet.

  "Then I think, well, maybe she's right. I have had some decent relationships in the past, but for one reason or another, they didn't work out, and I'm usually the one who broke them off."