One afternoon in late July, she actually found time to write Tia.
Be glad you’re not here. It’s so hot even the lizards are looking for shade! It hasn’t rained in weeks, and everything’s turning a yucky brown. But none of the guests seem to mind. They all lay around the deck getting fried. Pretty dumb, huh?
Colin had to stop the afternoon trail rides. He does mornings and that’s it. I haven’t seen much of him lately, but he asked if I’d ride with him tomorrow. There’s a couple of really novice riders, and he could use some backup. I can’t believe how psyched I am. I’d really like to go out with him. For real, you know?
Kara put down her pen. There wasn’t much chance of that. They were way too busy, and there was always a mob of people around. Besides, she knew Dad wouldn’t let her go on a real date. Not until she turned sixteen.
She addressed the envelope, then slipped into her sandals. If Mark was still at the lodge he could take the letter to Tia now.
She crossed the empty rec room and opened the front door. One look told her Mark’s plane had gone. She heard the rumble of thunder in the distance, then a flash lit up the eastern sky.
“Dry lightning.”
Anne was standing at the wall of windows in the dining room and staring off across the mountains. She nodded and handed Kara the newspaper Mark had brought in that morning from Lariat. “The devil’s matches.”
Kara read the headline out loud: “Fire Destroys Wildlife Refuge.”
Below the caption was a picture of several volunteers herding small animals into cages. A firefighter, his face black with soot, held an injured raccoon.
Dad walked up behind them. “It’ll get worse unless we get some rain.” He looked at Anne. “I don’t want to frighten either of you, but we need to be careful, even with the barbecue. And we should practice an evacuation plan.”
For the rest of the week they monitored the radio. So far fires burned in Idaho, California, and southern Oregon, nothing close enough to worry about, but Dad cautioned the guests not to roam too far and told Colin to cancel the trail rides. “It’s too hot for the horses anyway.”
Kara tried to hide her disappointment, but Anne picked up on it right away. “There will be other rides. This will not last.”
By the second week in August, the afternoon thunderstorms had stopped, and they had two days of steady rain. Dad turned off the radio. “Fires are under control.”
“We will have barbecue tonight,” Anne announced as she dug packages of steak out of the freezer.
“All right!” Ryan raced for the door. “I get to dump the charcoal in the pit.”
Kara laughed. “Slow down, Ry. We have to dig out the old ashes first.”
Colin was reaching for his hat. “Can you do that later? The horses need exercise, and I could use some help checking out the trail to Otter Lake.”
Ryan spun around and planted himself in front of Colin. “I can come.”
Kara bit her lip and launched a pleading look at Dad.
To her relief he actually got the message. “Uh, hold on, Tiger, I think Colin and Kara can handle it. Come on, I’ll help you dig out the barbecue pit.”
She didn’t have any trouble reading the look Dad flashed her as he led Ryan out the door. It said “Behave yourself,” loud and clear. Any other time she might have been insulted. Right now she was too excited to care.
She wasn’t the only one excited. Lily pranced and jigged the whole time Kara was trying to saddle her. She finally had to resort to crossties to get the job done.
Colin laughed. “Dakota’s not much better. They’ve been cooped up too long, and they’re telling us about it. I think we’d better give them a workout in the meadow before we try the trail.”
She kept a tight rein until they reached the meadow. The ground had absorbed most of the rain, leaving only a few muddy spots. “If we avoid these holes, we’ll be fine,” she called to Colin. “Let’s jog them in a circle.”
He nodded, and Kara took the lead, putting Lily into a slow jog, then a canter. They went around twice in each direction, then she gave Lily her head. The mare needed little encouragement to run, and Dakota was all too happy to follow her.
Colin moved alongside her, and they rode together. The wind on her face, the rhythm of hooves like drumbeats on the hard-packed ground, Lily’s muscles bunching and unfolding beneath her—for one wild moment Kara wished they could go on like this forever.
Too soon, Colin slowed Dakota to a canter, then a trot. Kara took the cue and followed. When they finally brought the horses to a walk, she sighed and gave the command to stop.
“Whooee,” Colin shouted, “that was some ride!” Sweat made muddy rivulets down his face, and his hat had fallen over one ear. He looked like he’d just wrestled a bull.
Kara grinned. “It sure was, but you almost lost your hat.”
“At least I didn’t lose my hair.”
“What?” Kara felt herself redden at his teasing laughter, then realized the hair she had braided and coiled on top of her head had slipped to one side. She tried to straighten it but couldn’t find the plastic clip she’d used to fasten it that morning.
Colin leaned over and brushed a speck of dirt from her face, then reached up and pulled out the final pin. The braid tumbled down her back, coming half undone. “Let it fall, Indian Princess. Your hair’s too beautiful to hide.”
He smiled, then turned Dakota’s head toward the trail.
For a few seconds, Kara couldn’t move. Did he think she was beautiful, or just her hair? She shook her head and loosened the rest of the braid. Cut it out, Wako, he didn’t mean anything by it.
She clicked to Lily and followed Colin up the trail. Except for one steep, muddy slope, the path was clear all the way to the Pine Creek trail junction.
Back at the barn, they brushed the horses down. Kara gave them each a flake of hay, while Colin filled the five-gallon buckets with fresh water. As they were leaving he asked, “See you tonight?”
She fumbled with the latch on Lily’s stall. “What’s tonight?”
“Square dance. A last minute thing. Laura Anderson’s father is a caller.” He swept his hat across his chest and gave a mock bow. “I’d be mighty pleased, Miz Sheridan, if you’d save a round for me.”
“Maybe.”
“Keep ’em guessing,” Tia had said. “It’s the only way to survive the boyfriend zone.”
Kara steeled herself against the confusion on Colin’s face. “Thanks for the ride.” She turned away and forced herself to walk casually toward the lodge.
Had she hurt his feelings? Of course she had hurt his feelings. He’d probably never ask her to do anything with him again. So what? So, I like him. At least, she liked him when he wasn’t acting like a clown.
She had always thought having a boyfriend would be fun. Well, she was sure making a mess of it. Oh, Mom, I wish you were here. I need to talk to you, bad.
Just relax, Wakara, be yourself. Kara swiped her wrist across her burning eyes. How many times had she heard that one? Maybe she should listen this time. It just might be good advice.
KARA PLACED THE LAST of the steak knives on table five, then scanned the area to be sure the floor was clean. There was space for twenty people in the dining room. The cabins only held sixteen, but they often had extras like Mark, or friends from Lariat who dropped in for the day.
She straightened the chairs, then headed for her room to change. That red cotton top, she decided, and her wraparound skirt. Would she get to dance with Colin? He probably wasn’t even speaking to her, and she couldn’t blame him.
As she passed the kitchen doorway, she heard the crackle, buzz of the radio signaling a call. She shrugged. Anne would get it. The crackling stopped, but it was Ryan’s voice she heard.
“Eagle Lodge. Who’s this?”
Kara sighed and hurried to the radio room. “Ryan Sheridan, you know you’re not supposed to play in here. Give me that mike.”
He scrambled away from her. “
Here she is.” He tossed the microphone in her direction. “It’s Tia-wee-a the big fat heehaw.”
Kara caught the mike and glowered at him. “You’re in trouble, Bud. And quit acting like a baby.”
“Ryan? Kara? All right you guys, who’s there?”
“I’m here, Tia.”
“Good, it’s you. Pops gave me three minutes to talk to you, and I wasted two of them getting past that goofball brother of yours.”
“Sorry.”
“Whoot whoot whoot.” Ryan crouched in the doorway, curling his upper lip, scratching his armpits, and making noise like an orangutan.
“Don’t worry. When I get off the radio, he’s bear meat.” She glared at him again, then turned her back. “So what’s up? Over.”
“My History grade, that’s what’s up. To a B! Aren’t you proud of me? Over.”
“Proud? Tia, that’s awesome. When did you find out? Over.”
“Just this morning. Pops almost expired. For a reward I get to take the rest of the summer off. Cool, huh?”
There was a pause and some static, but before Kara could say anything else, Tia was back. “Uh, Kara? Is your dad coming out anytime soon? Over.”
“I don’t know. Why? Over.”
“Oh, I just wondered.”
“Come on, Tia. What’s going on? Is something wrong?”
“No. Yes. I mean, I really want to see you and I thought maybe if your dad was coming . . .”
Kara felt a chill run through her. “Is it Greg?”
The line crackled, and she thought for a minute Tia had cut out. Then she heard her friend’s whisper over the static. “Yeah. He’s really weirding out, Kara. I’m totally freaked for him. He’s been running with T. J. Magic’s friends. Everyone knows those guys are, like, strung out all the time.
“Uh-oh. I gotta go. Pops is gonna go ballistic if I don’t get off. Look, just get your dad to come home soon, okay? Bye.”
The line popped, then hummed. Tia had cut out.
Kara felt cold all over. Empty and sad and angry all at the same time. She walked to the window and leaned on the sill. Now what? Tell Dad and ruin his week, or keep quiet and let Greg ruin his life? There really wasn’t a choice.
She’d tell Dad tonight, when the guests had gone back to their cabins and Ryan was in bed. Ryan. She’d get on him about the radio later. This was no time to cause more of a fuss.
In spite of her mood, the steak, baked potato, and green salad tasted good. Everyone else must have thought so too, because there wasn’t a scrap left on anyone’s plate.
Dad wiped his mouth with a napkin and pushed away from the table. “Fantastic meal, Anne.”
He turned to Colin. “We’ll wait until later to start the entertainment. Why don’t you turn the horses out, then take a breather? I promised Ryan I’d help him polish his boots.”
When the men left, Anne started rinsing dishes. Kara followed her to the sink with an armload of plates, still wondering how to tell Dad about Greg.
“You are troubled.”
The cook’s voice startled her, and she quickly set the dishes on the counter. “Is it that obvious?”
“Maybe not to all. I see the wookawkaw sitting on your shoulder.”
“The what?”
“The woodpecker picks and picks at the wounded tree. If someone does not chase it away, eventually the tree will die.”
Kara shook her head. “You can’t chase this one away. Greg’s headed for real trouble, and I don’t know what to do.”
Anne nodded. “Greg is wounded. Like you, he bleeds, but in a different way.”
Kara leaned against the sink. “You mean over Mom?”
Instead of answering, Anne dried her hands and moved back toward the table. She pulled out two chairs and sat in one. Kara hesitated, then took the other. Anne didn’t talk much, but what she did have to say was usually important. It wouldn’t hurt to listen.
But the cook was silent. It looked like she was praying. When she finally spoke, Kara had to strain to hear.
“When wetyetmas, the goose, loses her mate, she calls and calls. She does not believe he is gone. She waits and waits for his return. When he does not come, she paces and cries. She pecks at other geese that dare to venture near. Finally, she accepts that she is alone and flies away to join the others on the pond.”
Kara had to bite her lip to keep from crying. “You mean like grief. My counselor talked about the stages. Disbelief, denial, anger, and acceptance. She said we have to go through it all before the pain gets better.”
Anne nodded. “You have listened well. But not everyone moves from one to the other at the same time. And sometimes people get stuck. If wetyetmas does not move on, if she ruffles her feathers and refuses to let the others near, she will soon starve and grow too weak to fly.”
Kara’s eyes stung. After Mom died, Greg had helped Dad with the arrangements. He had gone to the celebration service and the cemetery, but she hadn’t once seen him cry. Afterward he went away by himself for a week. He’d been sullen and angry ever since.
It was easy to see how Greg could be stuck. Dad still cried, but he was trying to move on. When she thought about it, so was Ryan. He hadn’t said a word about Mom since Anne arrived.
Where did that put her?
Kara started to speak, then changed her mind. She didn’t want to even think about that question, let alone ask Anne. Something told her she wouldn’t like the answer.
Anne laid a gentle hand on her head, then moved back to the sink. “It will be dark soon. You will want to wash and change. I will finish in here.”
“Thanks, Anne.” She hesitated, then walked over and gave her a hug. “For everything.”
THE THERMOMETER IN THE rec room read 90 degrees, and the square dance petered out after two rounds. The only ones who seemed to be having a good time were Colin and Laura.
Laura Anderson. Tall and perky, with cropped blond hair and a peaches-and-cream complexion that had probably never seen the sun. She had latched onto Colin like a lasso on a bull, and Colin had a ring in his nose before he knew it.
Dad walked by with a stack of almost empty popcorn bowls and interrupted Kara’s thoughts. “What would you say to a couple of days in Lariat?”
She nearly dropped the bag of empty pop cans she was carrying to the kitchen. “What? You mean that?”
Dad laughed. “If I had known you’d be that eager, I’d have tried to arrange it sooner.” His smile faded. “Are you doing okay, Wakara? You’ve been working pretty hard. I know it’s been a while since you’ve had a break.”
His voice sounded raspy, and he cleared his throat. “Uh, I’ve been wanting to tell you how much I appreciate all you do for us. With your mother gone, I couldn’t . . . Well, I just couldn’t get along without you, Sweetheart. You know that, don’t you?”
Kara felt the tears sting her eyes. She wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face against his damp cotton shirt. His hug was strong and comforting. When his breath caught on a sob, she couldn’t hold back.
Dad held her for a few minutes while they both cried, then he dropped a kiss on her hair and pushed her gently away. “Well, as your mom would say, I guess we needed that.”
She nodded, not trusting herself to speak, and grabbed a napkin from the box on the serving counter to blow her nose. Dad pulled a clean kerchief from his back pocket and did the same. They looked at each other and laughed.
“It’s going to be a slow week. The guests will all be gone by noon tomorrow, and there are no more scheduled until Saturday morning. Colin and Anne can hold down the fort for awhile.”
He patted her cheek. “Get some sleep, Sugar Bear. We’ll tell Ryan in the morning.”
Her first thought after he had gone was, Thank you, God. They were going home, and she hadn’t even had to mention Greg. Now maybe Dad could find out for himself, and she wouldn’t have to be involved.
Coward. Dad was hurting enough already. Now he had to find out his oldest son was in trouble
. She thought about Greg’s sullen attitude. He was barely civil to anyone, and more than once she’d smelled beer on his breath, but he’d never done anything really horrible. Maybe it wasn’t as bad as Tia said.
Between Colin and Greg, her mind was spinning. But the crying must have done her some good, because her head had barely hit the pillow before she was out.
The next morning they took off right after breakfast and landed in Lariat before the sun was high.
Kara had just unpacked her overnight bag when her bedroom door flew open, and Tia launched herself into the room. “All right! You brought your new outfit. The youth group at church rented Rodeo City for Wednesday night. Free pop, and hamburgers or chicken sandwiches for a buck.”
Kara groaned. “Tia Sanchez, I love you to pieces, but I came home for a rest. Do you have the days planned too?”
“Of course. I knew you wouldn’t have Lily, so I asked Mom and she said you could ride her mare.” Tia flopped down on the bed beside her. “Tomorrow we go shopping. Then I have a big surprise!”
Tia’s enthusiasm was contagious. Kara felt relaxed and happy. “What’s the big surprise?”
Tia sat up. “You know that B in History? Well, Mom said I could go to the Beauty Palace. Haircut, nails, the works. And when I heard you were coming I told her, ‘Only if Kara comes too,’ and would you believe it? She said yes. No argument. Isn’t that cool?”
“Uh, yeah, that’s cool, but I don’t know.”
“Don’t know what? Come on, Kara, it’s the ultimate deal. We get complete makeovers and Mom pays for the whole thing.”
Kara looked at her short, clean fingernails. “It does sound like fun, but isn’t it kind of a waste? The nails won’t last long with my job.”
“So what? At least you’ll have them for Wednesday night.” Tia studied her own ragged cuticles. “Trevor Sanders was asking if you’d be there.”
“Trevor Sanders? Isn’t he the guy who won the regional High School Rodeo finals?”
“Up close and personal. That is, unless you and Colin . . . ?”
Kara didn’t like the gleam in Tia’s eyes. She shook her head. “There is no me and Colin. We’re just friends.” Well, they were if he hadn’t crossed her off his list completely after last night.
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