Colorado Cabin in the Pines (Peakview series Book 3)

by Jill Haymaker

  “So Mom, when Darrell and I were driving to Aspen Ridge the other night, we had to stop for some kids on horses, and I noticed a sign saying Peak Adventure Camp. I don’t remember that place.”

  “Oh, that’s where the old Farley Ranch. It was vacant for some years, ever since Ted Farley died. Ryan and Willow Haywood purchased it, and are running some kind of summer camp. You remember Ryan, he played on the football team with Luke? And Willow Green? They were a class or two ahead of you, I think.”

  “I do remember Ryan. Half back, Right? I knew him, but not well. I remember Willow too, but not sure we ever had a class together. They got married?”

  “Yes, I believe right after they graduated. I saw her at Violet’s the other day. They’re expecting their first child.”

  Their friends from high school were married and having children? That seemed like such a distant idea in her own life. Not that there wasn’t much else to do here in the mountains…but still. “Seems awfully young.”

  “I wouldn’t mind having a son-in-law and a few grandchildren myself one of these days.” Her mom looked over at her hopefully.

  “Don’t get your hopes up just yet. I have to find the right guy first.”

  “That guy is not Darrell?”

  Penny noticed that her mom’s face lightened with the question. “You didn’t like him?”

  “It’s not that I didn’t like him, he just doesn’t seem right for my baby girl.” She reached over and patted Penny’s hand.

  “Don’t worry, I am not about to jump into anything.”

  You know, Luke Walker won’t stay single forever.”

  “Mom. That’s the past. We’ve moved on. I’m happy for Ryan and Willow though. Maybe I’ll stop by and say hello.”

  ***

  Heading out for her daily ride, Penny rode away from Walker Ranch. She was in no mood to run into Luke and his friend again. She made her way down the trail by the creek and noticed it appeared well-worn from horse traffic. She decided to stop and see what this “Peak Adventure” was all about. She rode through the new wooden gate and headed down the rocky lane. As she emerged from the trees, there was a cluster of small buildings filling the valley below, with a large barn and corral in the center. Sounds of laughter rose in the air. A scene of pandemonium played out in front of her as children of varying ages ran around in every direction. A couple of wranglers were in the corral hurriedly saddling horses. She walked Ginger up to what appeared to be the main building. An obviously pregnant woman was sweeping off the wide porch.

  “Willow?”

  Startled, the women looked up from her chore.

  “Well, Penny Anderson. How the heck are you? It’s been ages.”

  Penny tied Ginger to the rail and walked onto the porch. “Yeah, probably since high school. My mom told me you and Ryan had purchased this place. Congratulations, by the way, on your marriage and the baby. When are you due?” She couldn’t help staring down at Willow’s large belly.

  “Early October. It’s a boy. We’re very excited. What about you? I heard you went to school back east somewhere?”

  “Chicago. I graduated in May with a degree in Education. I start teaching there in an inner city school in a few weeks. What have you been up to since high school besides the obvious?”

  “Ryan and I got married the summer we graduated and then headed to the University of Denver in the fall. We spent a lot of time working with inner city youth and trying to find ways to help. Shortly before we finished college, Ryan’s grandfather passed away and left him some money. We decided to buy this place.”

  “What exactly is Peak Adventure?”

  “It’s our attempt to help inner city youth. Get them out of the city for a couple of weeks and into our beautiful mountains. We cater to kids in minor trouble with the law, kids with family issues, and kids in foster care. Some of these campers have never been outside of the city before coming here. It’s amazing what a couple of weeks away from home, in the fresh air, and around horses does for their whole outlook on life. Maybe we don’t have a permanent impact, but at least we give them a break from their harsh lives. The hope is that they’re able to take some of what they learn here back home. Time will tell.”

  “Willow, this is a marvelous thing you’re doing. Where do you get your campers? I bet we have kids in Chicago who’d absolutely love it here.”

  “Right now, we only have kids from Denver, but we hope to expand nationwide. Of course, our kids can’t pay to come, so we have to depend on grants and donations. We pick the campers up in Denver. If we expanded, we’d have to think about transportation costs as well.”

  “Are you only open in the summer?”

  “Last summer was our first year. We closed at the end of summer and spent the winter fixing the holes in the place. This year we wanted to stay open year round. You know, have tubing, sledding, snow shoeing, cross country skiing in the winter months, but now with our son coming in October, I don’t think we’ll pull it off. Most of our staff are college students, who leave in the fall. Maybe next year.” Willow looked wistful.

  “Is that Penny Anderson, I see?” Ryan walked up to the porch and picked her up in a tight hug. “How long has it been?”

  “Too long. It’s good to see you, Ryan. Willow was just telling me about your camp.”

  “What have you been up to? Are you back in Peakview? How’s Luke?”

  Willow lovingly placed her arm around her husband. “Slow down, honey. Ask her one question at a time.”

  Penny smiled. There’s the kind of relationship she wanted. She explained about Chicago, the work she’d be doing, and that she was home for the summer. “I haven’t seen much of Luke. He and I were over a long time ago.”

  “That’s too bad. You two always seemed so perfect together. Weren’t you voted ‘most likely to get married’ in the yearbook?”

  “Things change.” Not knowing what else to say, she changed the subject. “So, I was wondering if you could use any volunteer help? I have four more weeks of vacation, and I’m starting to go stir crazy.”

  Ryan smiled. “Are you serious? We’d love to have you. Willow’s not going on as many rides now that she is near the end of her pregnancy, and I could sure use another wrangler with her own horse. How does that sound?”

  “Perfect. When can I start?”

  “We have a new group of campers arriving for two weeks on Sunday. Could you start Monday morning? The campers really get attached to the staff so starting with a new group would work best.”

  “I’ll be back Monday then.” Penny smiled and waved as she swung up on Ginger and headed back up the lane. She loved working with kids, and getting to do so right here in Peakview was a bonus. She couldn’t wait for next week to begin. Plus, being busy would take her mind off of Luke.

  ***

  Luke trudged up the steep incline from the main ranch to his cabin. It had been a long day. They were breaking a couple of new colts, and it took a lot of patience. He’d been thrown into the dusty corral several times since morning. Working with horses could be hard work, but it was rewarding when one finally caught on and everything started to click. Horses were such intelligent animals. Maybe smarter than most humans he knew. He couldn’t imagine doing anything else with his life.

  He walked across the newly-stained porch and into the coolness of his log home. Now that the plumbing and electricity were in, he was staying here full time. He still needed to paint the interior and buy furniture, but for him it was livable. He liked having his own space. He wasn’t much of a cook, but knew he was still welcome at his parents for dinner anytime, and June always sent home leftovers. After heating some of them in the microwave, he grabbed a beer and headed out to the deck on the rear of the cabin to watch the sun go down. He loved the quiet, the sound of the wind in the pines, still—he’d always imagined the sounds of laughter and children playing. Maybe he should get a dog.

  He startled as he heard the creak of a floor board and looked up to see Mary walk
around the corner of the house.

  “Hey, Luke. Care if I join you?” His sister sat down on the railing beside him. “It sure is beautiful up here in the evening.

  “Want a beer? There’s plenty in the fridge.”

  Mary stood back up. “Don’t get up. I’ll grab one for myself.

  Luke had really enjoyed having his new sister here these past couple of weeks. Since he had grown up with only a brother, he hadn’t known what to expect, but she was fun and always ready for adventure. She fit right in at the ranch. As much as he loved his father and June, it was nice to have someone his age around. He smiled as she walked back out on the porch clad in western jeans, boots and a hat. She looked the part of a Colorado cowgirl.

  “Luke, you need a wife and some kids to share this place.”

  He coughed as he choked on his beer. “I’m thinking about getting a dog. A friend of mine from high school has some German Shepherd pups that will be ready for new homes soon.”

  “Well that would be nice. But seriously, do you have a special girl in your life? I don’t picture you as the hermit type.”

  “Nope, not since high school. Penny moved to Chicago and left me and my bruised heart in the dust.”

  “Mom mentioned something about her. Isn’t she back for the summer?”

  “Yeah. But she’s going back to Chicago soon. She has a teaching job starting in August.” He stopped talking. Penny was leaving again. He didn’t talk about his feelings much. There wasn’t really anyone he trusted enough to share personal stuff. But Mary, she was easy to talk to, maybe she could give him some insight. He inhaled deeply. “I thought there might still be something between us when she first got back, but now I don’t think so. Women are confusing.”

  Mary laughed. “Not any more than men. What happened? Did you talk to her about your feelings?”

  “Nah. She came by one night—I thought there might be a spark. I was going to try and talk to her, but then her boyfriend from Chicago showed up.”

  “Ouch. Is he still here?”

  “Don’t know. It’s probably for the best. Could you picture me in Chicago? I don’t want to rob her of her dreams. She loves working with inner city kids. It’s just not meant to be.”

  “You should get out there. Find someone new. You’re a great catch.”

  Luke could feel his cheeks warm. “Thanks, sis. Maybe I’ll start dating again.” This was too hard to talk about. “So how about you? Any guys in your life?”

  “Not at the moment. I’ve spent too much time traveling the past few years to get attached to anyone. Maybe I should move out here and look for a cowboy.” Mary winked.

  “Let me know, I have some friends from high school who are still available. A woman could do worse than becoming a rancher’s wife.”

  Long after Mary headed down to the main house, Luke sat on the porch gazing up at the stars. Why couldn’t he get Penny out of his head? She was history. He did enjoy company of the female variety though. Maybe he should start dating. Surely there were a few eligible girls his age still around. He needed to get out more. Or maybe he needed to call John and see about a puppy.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Penny hummed as she saddled Ginger on Monday. She was excited to start the week at Peak Adventure. She’d missed working with children this summer. She swung her leg up over the saddle, and calling Bandit to follow, took off at an easy lope toward the camp. She shivered. Even at the end of June, the air in Peakview County was brisk in the early morning hours. Crossing the highway, she slowed Ginger to a walk and headed down the steep trail which led to the winding path along the river. The fragrance of pine pungent from the dew still clinging to the branches. She breathed in deeply, inhaling the smells of home. Bandit let out a small yelp of joy and raced ahead, no doubt after some unsuspecting rabbit. The sun’s rays spread warmth in the patches where they peeked through the trees. As the camp buildings came into view, the happy sounds of children’s laughter interrupted nature’s calm.

  Tying Ginger to the hitching rail in front of the main lodge, Penny made her way to the corral where the group of twenty-five new campers assembled. Okay, assembled might be stretching it. At least they were all in the confines of the large enclosure. A ragtag bunch of children ranging in age from 8 to 18 milled around. Some running and yelling, some climbing on the fences, others stood quietly to the side, looking uncomfortable and shy. A few stared defiantly, like they’d rather be anywhere else than here.

  Penny opened the gate and slipped in, careful not the let anyone out in the process, and walked over to where Ryan and Willow were talking with other staff members.

  “Mornin’.”

  “Good morning to you.” Willow gave her a hug. “Welcome to the first day of our new camp session. Always crazy at first.” She turned to the small group of counselors. “Everyone, this is Penny Anderson. She’s going to be helping out the next few weeks.” She turned back to Penny. “We’re getting ready for the first ride. We’ll break the children into two smaller groups—one for those who are older or have some riding experience and a second for those who are younger and may need more help. Penny, I’m going to have you ride with the younger group along with Ryan and Tad.”

  A nice looking young man with a huge smile shook her hand. “I’m Tad. It’s nice to meet you. Welcome to the zoo.”

  Penny watched Willow and a couple others efficiently split the mob into two and herd the older group toward the barn. Eleven kids remained in her group. Ryan asked them to take seats on the benches surrounding the corral as he turned and lead a horse toward them. Penny followed the group over to the benches, noticing a small girl sitting off to the side by herself with tears forming in her eyes. She was dressed in a pink Peak Adventure t-shirt and ball cap, the official uniform of the camp. Her blue jeans were full of holes—not the kind that are put there to be fashionable. The small tennis shoes on her feet looked as though they’d been on their last legs before being handed down to her. Her thick, dark hair stuck out of the back of her cap in a long ponytail.

  Penny took the seat next to her. “Hi. I’m Penny. What’s your name?”

  “Marissa,” she said in a barely audible voice.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Marissa. Are you excited about getting to ride a horse?”

  “I…I don’t know. They’re really big.” Her anxious eyes looked up at Penny. Penny pulled her onto her lap.

  “Horses are really nice. That’s my horse over there.” Penny pointed to where Ginger stood calmly at the rail.

  As if sensing the child’s distress, Bandit put her paws up on Marissa’s lap and wagged her stub of a tail.

  “Do you like dogs?”

  “I’ve never had a pet.” The small voice squeaked.

  “Meet Bandit. She loves everyone.”

  The child leaned down to pat her head and Bandit licked her cheek. Marissa giggled. Leave it to her dog to be able to break the ice better than Penny had been able to. She directed the child’s attention to Ryan who was explaining the parts of the horse and the saddle. “Never walk up behind a horse or make any sudden movements. You don’t want to get kicked. Horses are very nice animals, but if you scare them, they might react.” He demonstrated how to get in the saddle and hold the reins.

  Marissa’s dark brown eyes got wider and wider.

  “Don’t worry. We’ll find you a very small gentle horse.” Instinctively she hugged the small girl to her side. “Have you been to the mountains before?”

  “Nope.”

  “I live here. Where do you live?”

  The child looked hesitantly down at her feet. “I just moved so I don’t know the address yet. Somewhere in Denver, Colorado.”

  “I’m so glad you are here. Can we be friends?”

  The child nodded.

  “Good. Let’s find you a horse to also be your friend.” She grabbed the child’s hand and walked over to where Ryan and Tad matched kids with horses. “Marissa would like a very nice and very small horse, please,” she said
with a grin.

  “One small, nice horse coming right up.” Ryan smiled at the child. He turned to Penny. “Little Joe should be prefect for her.” He pointed to a small black and white Pinto, who looked considerably past his prime—the hairs on his muzzle fading to gray.

  Penny led Marissa over to where the small horse stood, looking half asleep. “Pet his face and let him know you’re his friend.” The child reached up tentatively.

  “He’s soft.” She smiled.

  After checking the cinch, Penny helped Marissa climb into the saddle and adjusted the stirrups. All around them, the other children also mounted their horses. “Don’t leave me,” Marissa pleaded.

  “I won’t. I promise.” Penny grabbed Little Joe’s lead rope. “I’m going to hang right on to this rope until you feel comfortable with me letting go.” With that, she led the horse into the corral and began to walk slowly around the edge, giving instructions and encouragement as they went. Some of the rest of the staff members were doing the same thing with other children.

  Ryan, having successfully saddled the entire group, walked up beside them. “Marissa, how are you and Little Joe getting along?”

  Marissa beamed down at him. “He is my new friend and so is Penny.”

  Turning to Penny, Ryan added, “The plan is to mainly stay in the corral this morning. Let the kids get used to their horses. If all goes well, we’ll take a short trail ride at the end.”

  Penny led Little Joe around the enclosure a few more times, watching Marissa visably relax. “You’re doing such a great job! Do you think you can handle him yourself, so I can go get Ginger and ride with you?”

  “Yep.” Marissa exuded confidence at her new found skill and fell in line behind the other campers.

  Penny walked over to Ginger. She couldn’t help wondering about her new friend’s circumstances. She’d make sure to ask Willow about the child later.

  The next few hours flew by. By the end of the morning session, all of the campers were controlling their horses well enough to leave the corral and ride a circle around the camp itself. Lunch was a picnic in the meadow, with lots of laughter and silliness going on. Marissa sat by Penny’s side, but by the end of the meal started giggling with the other little girls around them. In the afternoon, they took a short trail ride down by the river and during a break let the kids take off their shoes and wade in the icy water. By the time they rode back up to the barn, Penny needed a break. After hugging the girls and sending them to the craft cabin where some other counselors would lead them in a quiet activity, Penny helped unsaddle and brush down the horses, before walking over to the lodge in search of Willow. As she walked into the cool interior, Willow looked up from the mound of paperwork on her desk.