Crash: Northwoods, Book 2

by Grant C. Holland

  Brandon raised an eyebrow in disbelief. “You’re scared of butterflies?”

  “I was. It’s a long story. We don’t have time for it now.”

  Elle leaned close to Gabe. “Save that story for our next installment of the Brandon Sessions. It can be the equivalent of a commercial break.”

  “What?” asked Brandon.

  Gabe chuckled. “Never mind about that. Would you be willing to take Hal out for a canoe trip? I might ask his campaign manager along, too. I’m sure they’ll bring at least one photographer.”

  “And spend hours with him? Do you think I’m crazy?”

  Brandon didn’t buy the idea, but Gabe saw a sparkle in Elle’s eyes. “Think of the PR, Brandon. You’ll be on local TV at the least. Maybe the story will even go viral or spread to national news coverage. I think it’s worth a shot, and who knows, maybe Gabe has a point.”

  “Once in a while, I do have a point. Hal might see something worth saving out there. The trip could be like a stone dropped in one of the lakes with ripples spreading through the campaign.”

  Brandon looked from one to the other. The softening of his expression showed that he knew he was losing the fight. “Okay, if you can convince him, I’ll do it. Make sure I’m in charge. I won’t have political hacks out there putting all of us in danger for some dramatic photoshoot. The professionals are in charge.”

  “Done.” Gabe reached across the table for a three-way fist bump with his best friends.

  “Remember, leopards don’t change their spots,” said Brandon when he decided that he needed to have the last word. “And zebras don’t change their stripes.”

  8

  Hal

  While the campaign continued, Trent steered Hal to the retail politics of personal appearances in coffee shops and at senior centers. He held small-group conversations with carefully chosen local influencers at public libraries. The small group meetings allowed Hal to talk face-to-face with real people. While speaking with potential supporters, he avoided intensive discussion of the issues in the campaign. Instead, he used his time to find connections with the voters.

  Occasionally, one of the people Hal met steered him directly to the mining concern, and he couldn’t avoid the topic. At a stop at the general store in Iron Crossing, he listened to a hardship story from a local resident. It was a man who appeared to be in his 50s. He had sharp creases in his face and rough, callused hands that indicated a life of hard work.

  “I know this part of the state is beautiful and all, but without a job, we can’t stay. God bless you for trying to bring that all back so we can live in the place that we love.”

  As he listened, Hal wondered if there were any place in the world that he truly loved. Maybe the beach in southern Portugal, or those white villages in the Greek Islands. He knew that wasn’t what the man was talking about, but Hal found it hard to relate to the difficulties of life in the Northwoods. He was still a wealthy product of the Hamptons inside.

  Trent nodded to prompt Hal into a canned response, plucked from his regular stump speech.

  “And that’s what this campaign is all about. We’re going to make it possible for you and every other resident of this corner of Minnesota to live a fulfilling life. You won’t need to leave your homes and move to the big cities. This is your land, and we’ll make sure it stays yours. It doesn’t belong to the people who only come here for a week to escape the life they live hours away from here.”

  A look of contentment filled Trent’s face. The comments pleased him. His expression meant that Hal wouldn’t have to endure lecturing in the car once the event was over. He could return to his Ely apartment for the night and bask in as much comfort as he could find in Minnesota. He knew that the midwestern life was only temporary. Once he moved to Washington, he could find a larger and more luxurious place to live.

  Hal enjoyed most of the one-on-one talks. People that he met told him about their cabins, seeing the Northern Lights while canoeing the lakes, and the best little diners in the Northwoods. He didn’t look forward to the next rally. He preferred the small-group talks. The next rally was the largest one yet. Trent scheduled it for a school gymnasium in Ely. It was only the beginning of what Trent called the “surge.” The crowds would get even bigger two weeks later in Duluth.

  As spring changed to early summer, Hal used a cane for support when walking. He’d graduated from the crutches. When he stepped out from behind the curtain that lined the back of the stage, the crowd always cheered. The affirmation from the clapping and whistling was something Hal knew he would miss when the campaign was finally over.

  The moment before he began speaking, Hal spotted Gabe in the crowd. He stood about five rows back from the podium, and he wasn’t wearing a uniform. While he squinted his eyes slightly to make sure that it was Gabe, Hal pushed the papers of his speech around on the podium. He didn’t want to hear any comments afterward about staring at somebody in the crowd.

  If anyone asked, Hal knew that he would say that picking Gabe out of the crowd was a last-minute brief practice session. It was always positive to make eye contact with audience members while speaking. Gabe happened to be one that was available.

  More than half of the room thundered with applause for all of the crucial lines in Hal’s stump speech. They inspired him to speak with more commitment. He added emphasis to his words. To his surprise, the big crowd invigorated Hal.

  “And that’s what this campaign is all about!”

  “This land is your land!”

  For the first time in his public speaking career, Hal found himself slightly hoarse by the time he finished. After acknowledging the well-wishers with two more waves, he stepped behind the curtain and shouted, “Water!”

  A college-aged intern hurriedly handed Hal a bottle. “Right here, Mr. Brentwood.”

  “Can’t we have that at the podium the next time? Find Trent and tell him that I need a bottle of water or even two at the next rally. My voice was on the edge of breaking for the last ten minutes.”

  Less than 30 seconds later, Trent appeared. He reached up for a high-five. Between the cane and his water bottle, Hal didn’t have a hand free. He nodded and offered a half-smile.

  “You killed it!”

  “And it nearly killed me,” said Hal. “My throat was so dry that I thought I’d lose my words at any minute. What would they think if I started croaking like a frog instead of speaking?”

  “We’ll make sure we have water for you the next time. With everything else that I have to handle, this is a minor oversight. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.”

  “Since it all went well, I’d like to take a moment.”

  Trent frowned. “But I’ve got some potential donors who want to see you up close and personal. One of them might offer the personal dollar limit for donations.”

  For Hal, one of the worst parts of the campaign was the fact that he always had to spend time raising more money. He mistakenly thought that he would focus on hauling in cash for a month or two, and then he’d have what he needed to finance the rest of the campaign. Unfortunately, according to Trent, fundraising continued without stopping until election day.

  Trent dug in his heels. “Come and talk to them, Hal. You’ve got to do your job first before you go off and talk to somebody else.”

  “It’s important.”

  “You’re in a campaign, and that’s the only thing important until November. You can rest a few days after you win the primary in August, but this is your job 24/7. Don’t forget that.”

  Hal felt like a child lectured by a parent, except Trent was only a couple of years older. Hal decided his manager was more like a playground bully trying to assert dominance.

  “Okay, fine, Trent, but it’s only this small group you have right now, and they don’t get more than five minutes. When I say that I need to take a moment, that’s what I mean.”

  Finally free, with a few minutes to himself, Hal stepped into the main room where he spoke earlier. Custodians
were busy putting away chairs and cleaning the floors. Most of the crowd was gone. A few still milled around the exit, and then Hal spotted Gabe.

  Dressed in a red plaid lumberjack-style shirt and jeans, Gabe was talking to one of the custodians. From a distance, it looked like the conversation was lively. Hal hurriedly strolled across the floor with the cane at his side.

  Gabe turned his head. “Hey, Hal.”

  “Hi. Don’t let me interrupt your conversation. What I have to say can wait.”

  Hal turned back to the custodian to finish his thought. “And then the oldest son spoke up. He said, ‘If you’d asked me, I knew it would end like this from the very beginning.’”

  They both laughed, and the custodian said, “Smart guy. Thanks for the conversation, Gabe. We’ll have to connect again at one of the bars some night. I owe you a drink.”

  “That’d be great. If I can drag Brandon along, I will. You’d like him. He has great canoe stories to tell.”

  “Keep the wilderness wild,” said the custodian just before he turned away.

  Gabe shifted his focus to Hal. “I guess you might not agree with that. Things don’t stay very wild once the huge metal cranes and backhoes make their appearances.”

  Hal’s shoulders sagged along with a heavy sigh. “Can I be done with the campaign now that the speech is over?” He reached out and touched Gabe’s right shoulder. An impulse made him want to squeeze it, but Hal kept the movement of his fingers in check.

  Gabe didn’t shy away from the touch. Hal even thought he detected a slight smile. “Thanks for saying hi. I suspect you have tons of other people who want a few minutes of your time.”

  Using the cane, Hal moved a half-step closer.

  “I was surprised to see you here. You’re not working security unless it’s undercover, and that comment made it clear I’m not your candidate.”

  “I’m still curious about what you have to say.”

  Hal looked up. He couldn’t stop the brightening of his expression. “Thanks. I appreciate that. I saw you right before I started talking.”

  “I noticed. Our eyes met.” Gabe quickly changed the subject. He pointed at the cane. “You’re walking now. Congrats. Doctors do wonders.”

  “It still aches by the end of the day, but yeah, I should be able to ditch the cane in a few more weeks. I wouldn’t be walking without you.”

  Hal found it hard to believe the goopy, sweet sentiment was coming out of his mouth. He wasn’t like that with anybody else. He tried never to let others see that side of his personality.

  While their eyes met again, Hal barely blinked. He remembered how often he’d deliberately tried to appear bold and masculine when he was growing up. Inside, Hal might have felt soft, mushy, and even vulnerable, but outside he was the tough, firm young man, a chip off his father’s massive block.

  Gabe said, “All I did was keep you with me. I tried to stop you from falling asleep. Losing consciousness is dangerous in that kind of situation, but anyone there would have done the same thing.”

  “How many other people would have walked miles through the woods to get to me? If you’d waited for…”

  Gabe changed the conversation topic again. He started to bounce slightly from one foot to the other. Hal didn’t know whether something was urgent, or Gabe was only trying to look like he needed to leave.

  “I promised my friends that I’d meet them for coffee, so I’ve got to go, but you did well. The people all around me loved you, Hal.”

  The mention of coffee gave Hal the perfect opening.

  “Oh, speaking of coffee. That’s what I wanted to ask you. I nearly forgot. Could we have coffee together—sometime? Maybe you could show me your favorite shop. I’ve heard there are some great places here in the woods. I need a native to show me around.”

  “You might be surprised by what these woods inspire. I grew up in this part of the state. That’s why I sound like I’m a little protective of it. Still, I’m not a political animal. I try not to take sides. So, that’s off-limits as a conversation topic—if we have coffee.”

  Hal heard the passion in Gabe’s voice when he mentioned the woods. He loved how Gabe, who appeared to be well-informed, could clearly state that he wasn’t taking sides. The world needed many more people like that.

  At his public appearances, Hal thought that it looked like everyone was on one side or the other, and most of them refused to see anything but their truth. The words that Trent gave him to say didn’t help matters.

  Hal said, “I have to admire your stand. As a politician, I know it’s important to build a coalition that supports my policies. Yet, someone unmoved by all of the shouting on both sides is sort of a rare gem. I promise that there’ll be no discussion of politics while we sip our coffee.”

  Gabe blushed slightly. “Rare gem? Like an opal or a sapphire? I don’t think anyone has ever said something like that about me.”

  A few seconds of silence passed between them.

  Gabe broke the quiet with a question. “Have you ever canoed the boundary waters?”

  Hal knew that his answer would probably sound tone-deaf. He was running to represent an area for which canoes were almost more important than cars. “I’ve never been in a canoe.”

  “Are you joking? I can’t believe that. 99% of the people here in this district have been in a canoe before.”

  “I didn’t get many opportunities out on the East Coast. I’ve been in a lot of boats, but I’ve never paddled a canoe or kayak.”

  Hal suddenly tensed and gripped his cane with white knuckles when Gabe threw an arm around his shoulders. “Why don’t you come with me on a canoe trip into the woods? You’ll be in expert hands. I’ll bring Elle along and maybe Levi.”

  “I don’t know whether Trent will allow that.”

  “Your campaign manager? You’re the candidate. That means you outrank him. He doesn’t run you, does he?”

  “He runs the campaign. Sometimes it feels like I’m only one small part of the machinery.”

  Gabe listened politely and then slapped Hal firmly on the chest. Something deep inside Hal wanted Gabe to touch him more—much more. He didn’t understand why he felt that way, but he pushed the question to the back of his mind. There was a more immediate issue—a possible trip.

  Gabe adopted a teasing tone. “Find some courage if you want to represent us. Come along on the trip. Tell Trent that it will help you better understand how to relate to people up here. And—think of the photos. Great publicity all the way around.”

  Hal took a deep breath. Visions of the canoe flipping filled his head, but he didn’t want to say no to Gabe. The man saved his life, and he didn’t want to say no to him about anything. It wasn’t just the crash. Something was intoxicating about Gabe’s presence that Hal couldn’t identify.

  “Okay, I’ll talk to Trent.”

  “And you’ll work hard to convince him?”

  “I’ll do that.”

  Gabe slapped his chest again and then pulled back a half step. “Do I get a hug before I go? I think we’re friends.”

  Hal did his best to offer a one-armed bro hug, but Gabe was having none of it. He threw both arms wide and pulled Hal up tight against his chest. The force of the squeeze nearly took Hal’s breath away.

  At that moment, with his chin resting on Gabe’s shoulder, Hale knew that he wouldn’t let Trent say no. He was going to ride a canoe into the wilderness.

  9

  Gabe

  Gabe climbed out of his truck to prepare for the canoe trip to Lone Cedar Lake. Elle approached him while Levi settled the gear into the two canoes.

  “Is Brandon back sulking in his office about this?” Gabe looked at Elle first and then in the direction of Levi. Both worked for Brandon as canoe trip guides.

  Levi called from the canoes. “I think it’s best to lay off him about it for now. He’s got a point about Hal, but I do think he’s taking it a little far. You know how he is. Brandon has to stew about it for a while before he mel
lows. When he finally relaxes, he’ll come up with a reasonable approach. He’s not there yet.”

  Levi returned his attention to the canoes. They rested at the edge of a small lake. The group planned to paddle through it for the first part of the journey. Levi wanted to make sure he checked both of the vessels well before setting out into the wilderness. He was meticulous with details. Both Gabe and Elle felt even safer with Levi on the trip.

  Gabe said, “At least he let you come along.”

  Levi called back over his shoulder. “Brandon doesn’t let me do anything. I make my own decisions. I didn’t sacrifice any of my independence when I moved into town.”

  “And Miss Elle is joining us, too.”

  “I wouldn’t miss this for the world,” said Elle.

  “Why do you say that? It sounds like you’re almost as excited as you would be if you had tickets and were going to Bruce Springsteen’s retirement concert.”

  “Come on, Gabe. You lured the politician that everyone says hates the Northwoods into the BWCA. At the Loon, they all insist he’s afraid of the water and the woods. He’s going to prove them wrong, and I’ll be there to see it.”

  Gabe screwed his mouth up into a frown. “He was brave in the woods after the crash. Don’t they give him any credit for that? It was dark, almost pitch black, and he was lying on damp, muddy ground with broken bones. It sounds scary as hell to me.”

  “Sadly, some would have wished him ill. They didn’t celebrate when he survived.”

  The words cut deeply for Gabe. His entire life was about rescuing people from dire circumstances, with no thought about their background. Life was always a precious thing to him regardless of the specific person.

  “That’s horrible.”