Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
On earth there is no heaven, but there are pieces of it—Jules Renard
David
“Where did all this come from?” Tula asked.
“Are you questioning your Daddy’s foraging skills?”
Dipping a spoon into the pan, Tula lifted it, her wrist turning and her nostrils flaring as if she were sniffing the contents.
She turned her gaze up to him. “Not at all, Daddy. I’m simply saying that while the world is a very vast place, I’ve yet to dig up any plant with roots of noodles or found any animal who doesn’t just provide milk but goes a step further and offers several varieties of cheese. ”
“And I’ve seen caterpillars, but none with segments that taste like meatballs, either,” Chloe offered from the other side of the table that had been set up with a buffet.
“Forget meatballs, has anyone ever seen a bush that blooms with loaves of bread?” Everly asked as she put not one but two thick slices of garlic bread on her plate.
“And I sure don’t see any fish,” Payne said.
“I do!” Eloise said from the end of the line. “Masters Travis and David not only caught us, they managed to catch these pretty-colored fishies too!” She giggled as she scooped up a huge spoon of multi-colored goldfish crackers and added them to her plate.
“I’m just glad they made the racoons return the marshmallows they stole,” Blake said. “I know Elise likes strawberries with her chocolate, but I’d rather have some more s’mores.”
“You could have told us that I didn’t need to burn the last of the hotdogs,” Elise said.
“And ruin our surprise?” Travis gasped as if that was unthinkable.
David chuckled. “Once again, you can thank Chef Connor and Everly’s Daddy for prepping this feast and Master Derek and your Bigs for hauling it all the way out here.”
“Thank you!” the Littles chorused as they continued to pick and choose from the many dishes that had magically appeared in their camp kitchen.
“I think it’s so great that not only did you help cook, but you are going to stay the night with me,” Everly said as she looked up at her Daddy Andrew who was Chef Connor’s sous chef.
“My pleasure,” Master Andrew said as he plucked one of the huge cookies provided by the Ridge bakery off her plate, transferring it to his.
“Hey, that was mine!” Everly said.
“All that fishing worked up my appetite,” her Daddy said. “Not to mention the calories expended when I had you over my lap or the ones I’m going to need when—”
“Here! Have some strawberries, Daddy. We picked them ourselves,” Everly said, her cheeks flushing as red as the wild berries when her friends began to giggle.
Once everyone had filled their plates and taken seats on logs or in camp chairs that some of the Bigs had brought, the Littles told tales of their adventures between bites. Laughter was shared along with the delicious food as the fire in the pit popped and crackled.
“So, what I’m hearing is that you think the trial was a success,” Master Derek said.
“Yes!” the Littles shouted in unison.
Travis chuckled and added, “I’d say that the answer is unanimous, wouldn’t you, David?”
“I would,” David agreed. “I admit I wasn’t sure what to expect, but this last week has far exceeded expectations that I wasn’t even aware of.”
Master Derek chuckled and nodded. “I not only agree, but I’m willing to bet you’ll find a great number of residents working on the skills they’ll need to attend next year.
Word of mouth alone will have guests doing the same when they schedule their visits in order to attend.
We might have to offer more than one session.
But before we do, is there anything you Littles would change? ”
The Littles took a few minutes to give the question some serious thought.
“Only thing I can think of is maybe we can all have bouncy beds, like Sadie and—”
“No!”
Sadie’s shouted response not only cut Tula off, but had forks pausing mid-air, eyes growing wide and Littles shooting looks at each other.
“No?” Wren asked. “Why not? You’re usually one who shares everything.”
“I’m not saying no to be selfish,” Sadie said.
“And I didn’t mean to interrupt you, Tula.
I just meant that the only time I get to sleep on a bouncy bed is when my Daddy shares the tent.
And, if you remember, the first time was the night we got spanked for breaking the camp buddy rule and the second time, well, that’s tonight and I think we all know an air mattress isn’t going to help much either. ”
David wasn’t sure if it was her words or the fact she reached behind her to rub at her bottom that had the other Littles giggling and the Bigs smiling.
“You do know that’s not the bed’s fault, right?” Nanny J said, giving Sadie a look that David was sure had many a Little reconsidering their actions.
“Yes, but now I see a bouncy bed and I think, burning bottom,” Sadie said as if that made perfect sense.
“Got it, no bouncy beds.” Master Derek mimed jotting down a note, using the air as a tablet.
“Maybe some camp cots?” Blake suggested.
“Yes!” Wren shouted. “That way the spiders have to be as determined as Chloe to climb all the way up to get to the top!”
Her comment had Littles rushing to convey details about their climbing adventures and had Chloe smiling as she received a hug from Nanny J.
After Chloe sat back, Lori jumped up and held out the bag Chloe had finally surrendered and that David had then presented to Lori. “You were so brave! You get to pick a lolly!”
“No!”
The Littles giggled at Lori’s shocked expression at the second shouted response. Blake drew her to him and explained. “We’ve had all the lollies we can eat. Besides, we want you to have them so that you’ll work really really hard to get ready so you can go to camp with us next year, okay?”
Lori’s smile returned and, after sticking a red lollipop into her mouth, she nodded and ran to her Daddy. “I’m gonna be bigger and pass all the tests!”
Gordon picked her up and settled her on his lap. “I’m sure you will, sweetie.”
“I’ve only been here a few hours, but it makes me remember how very much I enjoyed summer camp when I was younger,” Beverly said. “I’d like to suggest we offer a session that is open to both Bigs and Littles.”
“I think that’s a great idea. I’ll second that suggestion,” Nanny J said.
Derek grinned. “All in fav—”
“Aye!”
Once the unanimous and very enthusiastic approval was given, Derek declared, “Then consider it done. Now, what’s this I heard about s’mores?”
As the Deer jumped up to clear the dishes, the Rabbits started washing them, their Bigs helping.
The Bears went into the woods, the Littles directing their Bigs on which switches were suitable for roasting marshmallows.
The Bees began to pass out the ingredients needed to make the beloved camp treat, warning Bigs to keep their supplies close because the raccoons were most likely just waiting for a chance to sneak in and steal the replenished marshmallows.
David watched as Tula emptied half a bag of the fluffy white treats into the basket Jayne had made out of her shirt much as Lori had that first day of camp which had him considering how it had even come to be.
David thought of how Derek’s possession of some sort of magic was often referenced among the residents and visitors of Rawhide Ranch.
David had learned of this gift when he’d first stepped on to the property years ago to take over the task of guiding Jagger through an extensive but imperative program of physical therapy.
Though not directly involved, he’d been a silent witness to how the owner of the Ranch had taken the unraveling threads of what seemed to be an impossible situation and woven Jagger’s stubbornness with Moira’s desire to heal into a beautiful tapestry that bound their souls together.
Over the following years, David had been privy to several events and conversations where Derek’s soft words didn’t preach but offered shelter and understanding to those who’d been so beaten, physically or emotionally, or, far too often, both, until they believed they had no worth.
David had offered what assistance he could to repair broken bones, to suture wounds, to ease physical pain, but Derek had been the one to step forward to heal spirits.
With unfailing patience and quiet guidance, others born with the desire to help had learned how to hold, how to love, from simply following Derek’s example as they also found their place within a valley ringed by majestic mountains.
David had attended weddings of those who’d come to Rawhide with the desire to do nothing more than to hide away only to blossom like the wildflowers woven into crowns by the campers under the magic spell of Rawhide’s owner.
Like he’d done with countless couples before, Derek had been aware of what David needed before he’d recognized it himself.
Derek had been able to see that David wouldn’t just find Tallulah Rivers nice, attractive, and perhaps even consider her as a potential date.
Derek Hawkins had known beyond a shadow of a doubt that David needed Tula and that she needed him.
Together they were no longer two, they were one.
He looked around the circle and was once again amazed at the resilience of the Littles of Rawhide Ranch.
He’d watched them overcome their uncertainty of their skills.
He’d listened as they shared stories, as they encouraged one another with a love that went far beyond casual friendship.
Payne had mentioned sharing drawings he and Blake had done, but David knew each Little considered them far more than pictures.
Like he did, he knew each Little saw them as memories that were already indelibly imprinted in their hearts.
Chloe’s surprise at overcoming her fear of climbing had assured each summit he reached from now on would have him pause and picture her smile of pride.
Eloise’s glowing face as she hopped about camp, her giggles of pure joy always had him chuckling right along with her fellow campers.
Everly had an ability to inject calm into a situation to keep it from spinning out of control but David knew it was a yellow stuffed baby chick named Peggy who offered her a sense of peace in a world that could be chaotic.
David’s smile grew as he looked across the circle to where Elise’s hands were busy as if she couldn’t trust her words to be enough to relay the story she was sharing.
Her never-failing championing of her friends was enhanced by her sense of play.
Both could serve as great lessons to everyone.
As for the two who’d initially drawn Tula into their circle?
Wren’s red curls matched her fierce determination to live each day to its fullest. She shared that life with the animals she so loved which only made her an even better companion for her friends and a teacher to those who were brave enough to get on a horse for the first time.
Finally, he looked at Sadie. She was not just a force of nature, the girl had a heart so big it rivaled the sky of Montana.
She’d never met a stranger nor allowed one to believe they were less than the wonderful person each and every one was at their core.
The way she and Derek completed each other was a model to all the couples at the Ranch now and those yet to come.
When his gaze returned to Tula, it was to see eyes that had been filled with tears or remorse not long ago were now clear and shining with a light that once again had him thinking of resilience.
Her ass had to be tender, yet she wasn’t shooting glares at those who’d had a hand at turning her bottom crimson.
She threw back her head and her laugh joined those of the other Littles as they listened to something their beloved Nanny J was sharing while waving a skewered marshmallow in the air as if to punctuate her story.
And Moses? Like Derek, the man had a sense of his world, his surroundings, his people that was simply uncanny.
When Moses lifted his head and locked gazes with him, David didn’t raise his hands. A simple tilt of his head was returned by Moses’s single nod. Without a word, both men slipped away from the others.
They walked side by side in silence that spoke volumes.
Once they broke out of the woods, it was to stand at the river’s edge, their gazes lifting to the mountains.
What would be invisible soon with the falling of night was now lit by rays of the sun.
Rocks that were gray in the day, were painted shades of orange.
The shadows of crevices were veiled in purple while the water running at their feet danced through pools of yellows and red.
When Moses began to speak, his hands were as graceful as the birds that soared on the air currents far above them.
David listened, not with his ears, and not even with his eyes.
He listened with his heart, accepting each word passed to him as a treasure that would reside in his soul until the day he passed from this world.
When Moses’ fingers stilled, his smile had David turning to see two women walking from the woods to join them.
As Moses reached out to draw his wife to him, David felt as if a circuit had been completed as Tula’s hand slipped into his.
As the four of them stood, their gazes on the sun as it dipped beneath the mountain, David knew what Moses had said was true.
Sunsets were the creator’s promise that nothing truly ended.
Each day was a new beginning, and he’d do everything in his power to honor the gifts of the forests, the mountains, the rivers, and the most precious gift of all—the love of the woman standing beside him.
And when he slipped from this world into the next, David knew he’d wait patiently until Tallulah once again joined him and took his hand to walk eternally among all those who’d gone before them.