by Leslie Gould
“Molly,” Mervin whispered, “want to walk around the lake tonight?”
I ignored him.
“Molly,” he said again.
Martin poked me and snorted.
Ben chuckled.
“I heard you—all three of you,” I answered.
“And?” Mervin’s voice was louder.
“I can’t think that far,” I said. “Not until camp is set up and supper is served.” I crossed my arms and closed my eyes. But I didn’t sleep. I kept wishing I was in the pickup with Leon, with the horses safely in the trailer.
Chapter
12
“How about this one?” Cate pointed out the window. We were on the horse-camp loop, where there were several campsites.
“I don’t think that one’s big enough,” I said. “Let’s go to the next one.”
The van driver let out a sigh and accelerated. There weren’t any other campers—one of the benefits of coming on a Monday. Through the trees, the blue of the lake sparkled in the late-afternoon light. A trail ran parallel to the road. From the entrance sign, it extended up the hill and into the forest. I imagined that’s where Leon would ride.
Hopefully Hannah wouldn’t go with him.
Why hadn’t I gotten back on a horse way back when? If I’d only known Leon was in my future.
The van stopped. “How about this one?” Cate asked.
It was smaller than the previous one. “Let’s look at one more site,” I said.
The van driver sighed again and continued on. The pickup driver, who followed behind, honked his horn. I ignored it, but could hear Martin, Mervin, and Ben all turn around in the back seat.
“Molly.” Beatrice nudged me. “What’s the difference?”
I ignored her too.
The driver stopped at the next site. I peered out the window past Beatrice. It was definitely bigger. And closer to the lake. There were several flat areas for the tents. Two picnic tables. Lots of trees, both conifers and deciduous. Two fir trees stood the perfect distance apart to hang a clothesline.
“This is good,” I said.
“Finally,” the driver muttered, pulling ahead and then backing into the parking space. We all piled out into the cool mountain air as the pickup driver kept going and then backed the trailer into a low area at the far edge of the site.
“Leon wants to keep the horses away from the water,” Hannah said.
“Oh. Why?”
She gave me one of her funny looks. “Sanitation reasons,” she said, as if I should have known.
That got me looking for a restroom.
“Over there,” Beatrice said, pointing to a little shed. “Pit toilets,” she announced.
“No showers,” Hannah added.
“It’s only for three nights,” I said.
“Only.” Beatrice groaned.
“Come on.” I started to the back of the van. “Let’s get this unloaded so the drivers can get back on the road.”
I’d expected the guys to start the process, but they didn’t. Pete headed toward the horse trailer. Mervin, Martin, and Ben crossed the roadway to a grove of white pine trees and started picking up the slender cones from the ground and lobbing them at each other.
I cleared my throat.
They didn’t respond.
“Mervin. Martin. Ben.” My voice was loud—they still didn’t respond.
“Hey!” I yelled.
Mervin froze, a pinecone in his hand.
“Help us,” I said, nodding toward the van.
Cate crawled out of the side door with Robbie and his diaper bag. Hannah took the little boy, and he cuddled against her as she headed toward the horse trailer.
“If Leon doesn’t need help, could you send Pete back?” Cate’s voice was calm.
Hannah nodded her head and kept on walking.
“If Leon doesn’t need help, could you come back here too?” I called after her.
She waved her hand at me without looking back.
The boys ran back over as the driver opened the back of the van, and we all worked together to unload the gear. “Put it on the picnic benches,” I said. “Not on the tables.” Everyone, mostly, complied.
The van driver said he’d see us midmorning Thursday and drove to the horse trailer, waiting for the pickup driver. Hannah held the horses’ leads in one hand and Robbie in the other, while Pete and Leon unhooked the trailer. Together they pulled the green portable fencing from the bed of the pickup, and then bales of hay. No wonder Pete had gone to help. As soon as they were done, Pete headed back and the truck driver and the van driver took off, disappearing around the curve.
I organized the assembly of the tents, assigning Mervin and Ben to set up the boys’ and Beatrice and Martin to set up the girls’.
“What are you going to do?” Beatrice asked, our old tent poles in her hands.
“Set up the kitchen,” I answered as I opened the first box. I’d probably need some help with the stove—but I planned to ask Leon for that once he returned from tending to the horses. And I’d definitely need help putting the canopy up over the kitchen table—although I had managed it alone a few times on market days.
I glanced down at Leon and Hannah. Storm sniffed Robbie’s back, making the little boy giggle. Lightning stepped closer too, her ears forward. Hannah laughed and said something to Leon as he carried a section of fencing toward her. He answered and then easily placed the metal piece on the ground, as if it were plastic. I couldn’t imagine the fencing would keep the horses contained, not after the way they’d taken off earlier.
I pulled two plastic tablecloths from the box and spread them over the tables. Next I pulled out the dishpans and rack, placing them on one end of the picnic table I’d decided to use as the kitchen.
Robbie began to fuss, and Hannah headed back to the campsite, the horses following along. Cate held a tent pole in her hand but started toward her nephew, meeting Hannah halfway. Pete trailed Cate, taking the pole from her before she collected Robbie in her hands.
“He’s probably hungry,” she said.
“We’ll eat as soon as I can heat up the stew,” I said.
“I’ll get him a cracker.” Cate headed toward his diaper bag on the picnic bench closest to her.
I stepped to where I had a clear view of Leon, sure I could see his biceps ripple under his blue work shirt. I felt as if butterflies were fluttering around in my chest—until Hannah returned with the horses, stopping in the clearing away from the trailer. Leon placed another section of fence behind them. I watched as he set up a third, guessing he was going to build the fence around the horses—and Hannah.
The butterflies stopped as my breath caught. I was jealous. I took a raggedy breath and quickly turned toward the camp-stove box.
“Want some help?” Mervin asked, pushing his glasses to the top of his head. The sun was well hidden behind the trees now.
I glanced toward Leon again. Hannah laughed as he set up the fourth piece of fence. He’d be done soon.
“You could put the ice chests on the bench,” I answered Mervin.
“Oh bother,” Beatrice said. She was standing next to our half-raised tent, a broken pole in her hand.
“Get the duct tape,” I said, “and fix it.”
“We need it too,” Ben said, pointing to the boys’ sagging tent.
“Jah.” Mervin eased the first ice chest onto the bench and then let go of it, resulting in a heavy thud. “Our tent has some problems.”
Not only was it sagging, it tilted to the right too. “For sure,” I answered.
Mervin laughed and then asked what else he could do.
I found it sweet that he was eager to help. I wanted to suggest he go finish the fence for Leon but knew that would never do. Mervin liked horses about as much as I did.
“Fill the jugs with water.” I glanced around, looking for the water spigot.
He grinned. “I’ll find it.”
I smiled and then glanced down toward Leon, hoping he was
almost done. He was placing another section of fence in place, his back toward me. But Hannah was looking straight at me. A frown on her face.
I posted the chore and meal charts on the tree closest to the picnic table, then called everyone to gather around for supper.
“Before Pete leads us in prayer,” I said, “I wanted to explain how we’ll be doing things.” I pointed to the chart. “As you can see, I prepared dinner for tonight.” Besides stew, I’d put out raw veggies, the homemade bread, and cobbler. “Everything is spelled out for the rest of the camping trip. Who has which meal. What’s on the menu. Who’s on cleanup.”
Beatrice groaned.
“Who’s in charge of collecting the firewood.”
Martin groaned.
“Who’s in charge of the fire.”
Ben groaned and then muttered, “This is why I never plan to marry—”
“Denki,” Cate said to me, “for seeing to all of this. It’s necessary and a big help.”
“You’re all very welcome,” I said, grateful for Cate’s praise and a little miffed with Beatrice, Martin, and Ben. We were Amish raised, after all. We were used to hard work. And someone had to take charge. Like Cate, they should be thankful for what I’d done.
Hannah stepped toward the chart.
I smiled. “You and Mervin are in charge of cleanup tonight.” Turning toward Pete, I said, “You can go ahead and lead us in the prayer now.”
Hannah stopped next to me, brushing against my shoulder as Pete bowed his head for the silent prayer. Mervin narrowed his eyes and turned his head toward the lake, as if to remind me he’d suggested a walk after dinner. Jah, I did plan to go on a walk. But not with him.
Just before I closed my eyes, I noted that Beatrice was staring at Leon, who had his head bowed. She had a slight smile on her face, as much as I’d seen from her in the last couple of months.
I squeezed my eyes shut quickly, offering up a prayer that God would grant us peace and goodwill, that Beatrice would give up her affection for Leon, and that Mervin would gain back his for Hannah. Please, I pleaded, as Pete said amen.
Leon sat facing the horses during dinner, complimenting me a couple of times on the stew. The first time I replied that everything tasted better while camping. The second time I simply smiled.
I’d managed to sit across from him, and at first he seemed intent on me, but then I realized he was looking over my shoulder. Midconversation, as he complimented the cobbler, he struggled up from the bench and dashed around the table and across the campsite. I turned to watch him. Storm was pushing his forehead against the top railing of the fence.
“Can’t he just hobble them?” I asked.
“No,” Hannah responded. “Not for the entire time we’re here.”
I didn’t respond.
Robbie threw a slice of bread toward me.
Hannah laughed.
“Don’t encourage him.” I stood, picking up my plate and Mervin’s too. Next I picked up Martin’s and Ben’s. Then Hannah’s.
“I thought Mervin and I were on cleanup,” she said.
“You are,” I answered. I put the dishes in the pan at the end of the table and watched Leon start back toward camp. The others stood and milled around. Ben picked up a pinecone and tossed it at Martin. He caught it and tossed it back.
I took a deep breath. “Who would like coffee?” I asked as Leon returned to the table.
“I’ll take some,” Pete answered.
I turned and reached for the pot simmering on the back of the stove. “Cate?”
“No, thank you,” she said, picking up Robbie and heading toward the hand-washing station.
I poured the coffee in a blue enamel cup and handed it to Pete. “How about you, Leon?”
“Sure,” he said, a bite of cobbler on his fork. “As long as you’re going to have a cup too.”
I poured us each a cup and sat across from him again.
Mervin, Martin, and Ben drifted across the road to the grove of pines.
“A walk sure would be nice,” I said.
“Jah,” Leon answered, his eyes drifting behind me again. “The horses could use some exercise. That’s for sure.”
“Oh,” I said. That wasn’t what I’d had in mind.
“There’s a horse trail above the lake.”
“Oh,” I said again.
He took the last bite of his cobbler, followed by a drink of his coffee.
“But we should go soon. Before it gets dark.” Leon stood, picking up his plate but leaving his coffee.
“We’ll lead them, right? That’s what you’re saying.”
“Unless you want to ride tonight,” he said with a twinkle in his eyes as he put his plate in the dishpan.
I shook my head.
“You two should go ahead,” Cate said.
Hannah had joined the guys across the road.
“Just make sure everyone does what they’re supposed to,” I said to Cate. “Don’t do it for them.”
“Of course not.” She smiled at me.
After telling Leon I’d meet him by the horses, I slipped into my tent to grab my flashlight out of my bag. I took a moment to spread out my sleeping bag and place my duffle bag at the end. I also grabbed my sweatshirt.
When I crawled out of the tent, Beatrice was positioning kindling for a fire.
“That’s Ben’s job tonight,” I said.
She stood straight and turned toward the guys. “Well, it doesn’t look like he plans to make one anytime soon. And it’s already getting cold.”
As she spoke, Ben released a pinecone toward Martin.
“I rest my case,” Beatrice said, returning to the kindling.
The lawn chairs were stacked to the side. I pointed to them. “Put those around in a circle. We can roast marshmallows when we get back.”
She didn’t respond.
“Beatrice.”
“I heard,” she barked.
“Goodness,” I said softly, not wanting to make a scene.
“Go,” she said, looking past me to Leon. Although the fire in the pit hadn’t been started yet, one had already ignited in her brown eyes.
I gave her one last firm look, and then headed toward Leon, the flashlight in my hand.
He had both horses out of the fenced area by the time I arrived, and didn’t offer me one of the leads this time. “This way,” he said. “We can check out the trail for the ride tomorrow.”
I stepped beside him, determined to keep ahead of the horses.
He glanced back at Pete and Cate. “Guess they decided we didn’t need a chaperone.”
I smiled. “I think they’re too preoccupied with Robbie.”
We walked along the road, side by side but not talking, until we came to the trail.
I stopped for a moment, breathing in the fresh mountain air, thinking of the camping trips with Dat. We’d camped on the other side of the lake, of course, but as much as being here made me miss him all the more, it felt good to be back at a place Dat had loved so much.
Leon seemed to sense my need to savor the moment and waited patiently. Finally I said, “Let’s go.”
At first the path was narrow, and Leon indicated for me to go first. The evening light dimmed as the canopy of leaves overhead grew thicker. In the shadows, mountain laurel bloomed—the white-and-pink blossoms shining like stars in the forest against the dark green leaves. After a few minutes of walking, the trail widened and Leon stepped beside me. The horses bobbed along behind us as obedient as could be.
A green bug with nearly transparent, fairy-like wings, landed on my arm. I held it up for Leon to see.
He grinned and then said, “We don’t have bugs like that in Montana—at least not where I’m from.”
A meadowlark sang above our heads, most likely his last song before bed. A moment later the sound of water stopped us. Leon pointed to the right. “Over there.” We took off on a spur of a trail, the horses still behind us. After about fifty feet, we stopped. Ahead was a waterfall, tumb
ling down a rock wall and sending out a spray of water as it crashed into the creek below.
Moss covered the rocks along the creek. Trillium grew along the banks along with star of Bethlehem, the white flowers in full bloom. The creek wound its way into a ravine and then disappeared.
“How enchanting,” I whispered.
Leon put his arm around me and pulled me close. The worries of the day fell away with the rush of the water. I was with Leon. In the Poconos. In the most romantic setting I could ever imagine.
Lightning nudged my back.
My face fell. With horses.
Leon pushed against the horse and then pulled me even closer, his lips brushing the top of my Kapp. I turned my face up to his, and his lips met mine, a hint of the berry cobbler still on them.
He wrapped me in his strong arms, the horse leads still wound around his hands as we kissed again.
Finally he pulled away. “Miss Molly,” he whispered, his eyes dancing. “What have you done to me?”
“It’s you that’s—” Lightning nudged me again.
The horse whinnied. Leon laughed. “It’s nearly the summer solstice,” he said. “What better time of the year to be out in the forest with the girl I . . .”
I turned my head up toward him, my eyes searching his.
He blushed.
“Really?” I asked.
He stammered, “Is it too soon?”
“No,” I answered, looking into his blue, blue eyes.
He took a deep breath, and I thought he was actually going to say the word, but his shyness must have gotten the best of him.
“I didn’t mean to be too forward.”
I shook my head.
He sighed and then said, “We should get back on the trail.”
“Jah,” I answered, growing aware that we were alone, without a chaperone, except for the horses. Full of feelings I hadn’t experienced before.
I had to get Mervin interested in Hannah again. That was the only thing that would change Mamm’s mind. Then she’d surely be fine with Leon. And if not . . .
What was I willing to do? Run off with him? All the way to Montana? Of course not.