by Bonnie Leon
“Yes. Chocolate. Your favorite.” Jean nuzzled against him and rested the back of her head against his chest. “I wish it was warmer.”
“We could stay home,” he whispered in her ear.
Setting the knife on the countertop, Jean turned and gazed up into her husband's blue eyes. Her heart turned over. He could still send her pulse racing. “Sounds tempting.”
Will kissed her. “We could send the children with the Lundeens.”
Jean laid her cheek against Will's wool shirt. “We can't. Susie and Brian would have a fit. You know how much they love these picnics.” She chuckled. “Brian told me he's going to win the sack race this year for sure. He's been practicing. The last couple of days he's been hopping back and forth between the garden and the barn. Said that way he'll be all practiced up and ready to win.”
“We certainly can't miss that,” Will said with a grin.
Brian bounced into the kitchen. “I'm ready to go! My hair's combed, my teeth are brushed, and I've even got on clean underwear.” He grinned.
Blonde-headed Susie followed her older brother. “Ready,” she said, holding a wad of green yarn in her hands, which stretched out behind her.
“Oh, Susie,” Jean said, wiping her hands on her apron. “Where did you get that?” She took the yarn and started rewinding.
“She got it off your dresser,” Brian tattled. “I saw her do it. She pushed the chair up to the bureau and climbed up.”
“You saw her?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Why didn't you stop her?”
Brian frowned and shrugged.
Will raised an eyebrow and smiled. “No harm done.” Using his good arm, he picked up Brian. “I heard you've been practicing for the sack race.”
Brian nodded. “Yep. I'm gonna win!”
“I'll be watching.” Will set the boy on the floor. “You and Susie feed the chickens, and then we'll head out.” He bent and kissed Susie's blonde curls. “I'll pack the blankets and fishing gear while your mama finishes making our lunches. We ought to be ready just about the time you two finish.”
“All right.” Brian started for the door.
“Don't forget your sister,” Will said.
With a look of annoyance, Brian held out his hand. “Come on.”
“Brian, get your coat. It's cold.” Jean grabbed Susie's off its hook by the door and helped her put it on.
“I want to go to the picnic,” Susie said.
“We will. Just as soon as the chickens are fed.” She patted the little girl on the fanny. Susie took Brian's hand and allowed him to lead her out the door.
“S'pose I ought to get to it.” Will stopped at the door. “Where'd Luke get off to so early?”
“You know him. He set out for Alex's first thing. They planned on doing some fishing. We'll see them at the lake.”
“I don't doubt that. I've never known either one of them to pass up a meal.”
“I don't recall your letting many pass you by.”
Will stepped back into the kitchen and crossed to Jean. Pulling her into his arms, he gazed into her eyes. “That's only because you're such a fine cook.” He kissed her. Looking at her adoringly, he added, “I believe you're more beautiful today than the day I married you.”
“Oh, go on. I know better,” Jean said, smiling and tucking back a loose strand of hair. “Now, scoot. I've got work to do.”
With a wink he headed outside.
When they reached the lake, Will pulled the pickup to the side of road. The picnic area was already crowded. Children waded in the shallows, but many simply stood shivering, their lips tinged blue. Adults, bundled in coats, watched, and some crowded around a bonfire; others roasted frankfurters skewered on sticks.
Glancing at the youngsters in the water, Jean pulled her coat closer. “That lake's got to be freezing. How can those children stand it?” She looked at her own two. “No swimming for you. It's too cold, and I don't need you sick.”
Brian's expectant expression crumpled into a pout. “It's not cold,” he protested.
“It is.” Jean glanced at Will who looked as if he might dispute her ruling. “Will?”
“We'll have to see. Maybe it'll warm up later.”
Sulking, Brian headed toward a group of his friends.
“Looks like a lot of homesteaders are here. Do you think there'll be trouble?” Jean asked.
“No reason why there should be.” Will lifted the picnic basket from the truck. “Folks have been getting along pretty good, for the most part.”
“A lot of the homesteaders are still mad about us living in the valley, especially that Mr. Townsend. Nothing would make him happier than to see all the colonists leave.” She nodded toward the big man. “He's here.” Wearing a buckskin coat and well-worn jeans, Ray Townsend stood warming himself at a bonfire, along with several other homesteaders.
“No matter what Ray Townsend may think, he's not bigger than God,” Will said. “We don't need to worry about him or the others; God will see to us and the rest of the folks in this valley.”
“Yes, but he didn't make us puppets. Every person has a mind of his own; whether to hate or to love is up to us.”
“True, but I believe folks will find a way to get along.” Will's eyes roamed over the people gathered. “Anyway, looks like most are stickin' to their own friends.” He handed the basket to Jean, then lifted Susie out of the pickup and set her on the ground.
The little girl spotted her sister. “Laurel,” she called and ran for her, arms outstretched.
Jean draped two blankets over her arm and headed for Laurel. “She sure misses you.”
“I miss her,” Laurel said, gathering Susie up in her arms.
Will grabbed his pole. Gazing at the dark ceiling of clouds, he said, “Looks like rain.” A mosquito landed on his arm and drilled. He slapped it. Another settled on his other arm, and one buzzed his head. “Maybe if we stay close to the fire the mosquitoes will stay away.”
“I doubt it. They're determined.” Jean walked back to the truck and took netted hats out of the back. She handed one to Will. “Seems the children are oblivious to the pests,” she said, planting a hat on her head and pulling the netting over her face. Will swatted another bloodsucker. Jean raised an eyebrow. “You might have less trouble if you put on your hat and coat.”
“I don't like wearing them,” he said, putting on his hat, then grabbing his coat out of the truck and shrugging into it.
Laurel scratched a welt on her cheek. “We saved a place down by the lake.” With Susie still in her arms, she moved toward their picnic spot.
Watching Laurel with Susie, Will said, “The kids have grown so fast. Susie's not much of a baby any more. Before we know it, she'll be grown and married too. And then it'll be just the two of us.”
Jean leaned against her husband. “We've got a while yet. Brian's only eight, and Susie's not even three.”
Taking Jean's hand, Will followed Laurel. Adam walked up from the lake and met them.
Jean gave him a quick hug. “I've been meaning to come by. I've just had so much to do, what with Will still trying to catch up after being off work so long.”
“How's that hand?” Adam asked.
Will reached out his arm, straightened his fingers, and then bent them, the stub of a finger moving along with the rest. He repeated the movement a couple of times. “Feels pretty good. Nearly good as new, minus a finger. It takes a little getting used to. And my fingers are still kind of stiff. The hand is weak, but the doc says it won't take long to get back the strength.” He flexed the hand again, then let his arm fall to his side. “I'd say I've got a lot to be grateful for. And it sure feels good to be working again.”
“Yeah, I'll bet. I didn't know farming was so much work,” Adam said, patting Will's back. “I've got my hands full at our place.”
“Thank you for all the help. I'm real sorry I had to take you away from your chores.”
“I was glad to do it.”
; “If you need any help or have any questions, just holler.”
“I will, and probably sooner than you think.” Adam leaned against a tree. “Did you hear about the calves killed at the Prosser place?”
Jean had started to sit but stopped. “The Prossers? No. What happened?”
“Looks like that same grizzly. Killed three calves and mauled his bull so badly they had to put him down. From the looks of it, though, the bull got the bear pretty good. His horns were bloodied.”
Jean's face had gone pale. “Everyone's all right?”
“Yeah.” Adam shook his head. “But now we've got an injured grizzly roaming about. Hope he stays away from our place.”
“Sounds like a bad bear,” Will said.
“Townsend's putting together a hunting party. He said it shouldn't be too hard to track him.”
“I'd like to go along. 'Specially since it was probably the same animal that made a call at our place.”
“You can't be sure, Will. It might be a different bear,” Jean said. “Let Ray Townsend take care of it.”
Will settled serious eyes on Jean. “God placed me as guardian over my family and my farm, and that includes taking care of marauding bears. It doesn't seem right to let someone else take care of my responsibilities.” He pulled off his hat. “Besides, I've never tracked a bear. It would be a real Alaskan adventure and would give me a chance to use some of what Alex has taught me about hunting and tracking.” He scanned the crowd. “Where did Ray go? I saw him a minute ago.”
“He's over there,” Adam said, pointing at a small band of men standing close to the largest fire.
“I think I'll talk to him.”
“Will, no. Please.” Jean rested a hand on her husband's arm. “Your hand's not even completely healed.”
“It's good enough.” He watched Mr. Townsend. “It's not up to Ray Townsend to watch out for my family.”
Jean's eyes moved to Susie, who was sprinting toward the lake. “Oh, that little scamp. She's heading straight for the water.”
“I'll get her, Mama,” Laurel said and ran after her sister.
“I'll be back in a few minutes,” Will said.
“You mind if I come along?” Adam asked.
“No. Come right ahead.” Will kissed Jean and headed toward Ray.
When Will and Adam approached Ray, he was glaring at his daughter and Robert Lundeen as they walked along the lakeshore. He ignored the newcomers. Three of the men with Ray nodded. The fourth, a stocky man with dark hair and a friendly smile, said, “Howdy, Will. How you been keepin'?”
“I'm doin' all right. How about you, Frank?”
“Good. Been thinkin' about doin' some minin' this summer.”
“Thought you had a good trapping season.”
“I did, but the pelts won't see me through the year. Prices are down.”
Ray cut in. “So, Hasper, what is it you want?”
Will faced the big man. He wasn't small himself, but beside Ray Townsend he felt puny. Ray's shoulders and chest were broad; he stood a good two inches taller than Will and outweighed him by twenty or thirty pounds. A tangle of curls had fallen onto his forehead. Glaring at Will, he swiped them back. Pulling himself up to his full height, Will met the man's angry eyes. “Heard you were putting together a hunting party for that bear.”
“Yeah. So?”
“Well, he made a visit to my place awhile back. Tore apart my pump house and scared my family good. I figure I owe him something. I'd like to go along.”
“You?” Ray sneered and shook his head in disbelief. “We don't need farmers along to botch things up.” He looked at his buddies and snickered.
Will wasn't about to be put off so easily. He took a step toward Ray. “I mean to go. That animal threatened my family; he could have killed our livestock. I have a right to hunt him.”
“Hunt him then. Just not with us.” Ray grinned. “You'd be smart to stay put and watch out for your family.”
Smelling a fight, onlookers encircled the men. Robert, with Celeste on his arm, joined Will.
Ray glared at the young man, then turned and picked up a piece of wood and chucked it into the fire. Refocusing on Will, he said, “You're a farmer, not a hunter or tracker. You try to hunt that bear, and he'll end up hunting you. Leave this to people who know what they're doing.”
“I'm not as ignorant as you think. I know some about tracking.”
“Why not let him go?” Frank asked. “He's a good man. We could use him.”
Ray glowered at Frank, then turned a hate-filled glare on Will. “You're not needed, and you won't be coming with us.”
Anger and resentment burned through Will. He fought to control his rage. He said nothing for a long moment, then took a steadying breath and said, “Have it your way. I'll pray for you and the rest of the men.”
Will's compliance made Ray angrier, and Ray turned his ire on Robert. “I told you to stay away from my daughter,” he growled. Glancing at Celeste, he said, “She can do better.”
Robert looked squarely at Ray. “Maybe she's made up her own mind about us. Seems to me a twenty-year-old woman ought to be able to choose who she spends time with.”
“She does what I say!” Ray bellowed, his face turning crimson. “And she ain't wasting time on no outsider!”
Celeste stepped between the two. “Daddy! Stop it! I told you how I feel. You have no say in this.”
The red hue in Ray's face deepened. “You don't talk to me that way, girl! And you'll do as I say!”
Celeste's blue eyes blazed. “I won't. I'm a grown woman, and I'll make my own decisions.”
Knitting his heavy brows, Ray compressed his lips, then said stonily, “Then it's time you found somewhere else to live.” He turned and walked away.
Celeste stared after her father, her chin quivering. Robert placed an arm around her shoulders. “I'm sorry,” he said.
“You don't have anything to be sorry about.” Celeste wiped at tears and sniffed. “It's him.” Her eyes refilled. “I don't know him anymore. I… I don't know what's happened to him.”
“We should have stayed away from him,” Robert said.
“No. He has to face up to this—you and me. I'm not going to hide from him. And he's not going to control my life anymore.” With a shuddering sigh, she added, “I'll need help getting my stuff moved.” Fresh tears emerged. “I don't know where to go.”
“You can stay with us,” Adam said. “We have plenty of room.”
“Are you sure? I hate to impose.”
“Are you kidding? Laurel will love having you.”
“All right. If you're sure?”
“I'm sure.”
“I'll help you move,” Robert offered.
“No. You better stay clear of my place. I'll get someone else.” She turned to go, then stopped. “I'm sorry, Robert.” Without another word, Celeste walked to the road.
Robert watched her until she disappeared. “How can her father be like that?”
“I'm done trying to figure him out,” Will said. “You have my sympathy. If you and Celeste stay together, you'll have a rough road.”
“She's a special girl. I guess I'll have to put up with her father.”
“Good luck,” Will said with a grin and patted Robert on the back.
“I'm going to need it,” Robert said glumly.
When Will returned to his family, Jean immediately asked, “Are you going along?”
“Where are you going?” Luke asked, walking up to his parents with Alex beside him.
Will looked at his son. “You have any luck?”
“Nope. Too early.”
Alex grinned, his bright smile lighting up his face. “Next time, maybe.”
When it was quiet, Jean asked again, “Are you going with them?”
“Nope. Seems they've got enough help.”
She rested a hand on her chest. “Thank goodness. I don't want you traipsing off after a crazed bear, especially with your hand still weak. You need to keep
close to home for a while, and you have lots of work to do anyway.” She sat on the blanket. “It looked like Celeste and her father had words. What happened?”
“Ray doesn't want her seeing Robert. She took a stand, and he kicked her out of the house.”
“Oh, no. That poor girl. What's wrong with that man?”
“I don't know. If he's not careful, he'll lose his daughter for good.” Will gave Jean a small smile. “Let's talk about something else.”
“All right. But where will she stay?”
“With us,” Adam said. He looked at Laurel. “I told her you wouldn't mind.”
“Of course I don't. I'm glad you asked her.”
Jean looked at Will. “You hungry?”
“Always,” Will said, sitting beside his wife.
Jean opened the picnic basket and took out a sandwich. “You want potato salad?”
“You have to ask? You make the best I've tasted.”
“I made some too,” Laurel said, taking out a bowl of salad. “It's Mama's recipe, but I doubt it will taste as good as hers. It's my first try.” She looked at the road where her friend had disappeared a few moments earlier. “I hope Celeste's all right. Maybe I should go and help her.”
“No. It would only cause more trouble,” Will said. “Her father doesn't like you anymore than he likes the rest of us.”
“I know. I just feel so sorry for her.”
Jean scooped out a spoonful of salad and dropped it onto a plate. “We need to start praying in earnest for them every day. God has a way of working these things out.”
“He has his work cut out for him with this mess,” Robert said.
“I can't argue with you, but we've seen him do some amazing things.” Jean scratched a welt from a mosquito bite. “I remember the day I stepped off the train and got my first look at the valley—and the mosquitoes.” She looked up at the gray sky. “It's hard to believe it's been two years since we arrived.”
“What a spring that was,” Adam said. “All the rain and floods.”
Laurel linked arms with Adam. “I'll never forget. Rain and more rain. What I remember most when the train pulled in was a town of tents sitting in the mud.” She laughed. “I nearly fainted.”
“Will, did you think you'd made a mistake?” Adam asked.