Chapter 9
Chapter
Nine
W eston slipped out at the first hint of light, careful not to step on any of the boys sardined into the tent. They’d been a restless bunch, elbowing and grunting at each other well into the night.
He just needed a moment of silence.
Stars still hung in the dark sky with a bare outline of the hills to the east proclaiming the coming dawn. He took a few deep inhales and exhales as he contemplated the day to come.
What had Eli preached on the other week? Rejoice in the Lord always, and again, I say rejoice.
Would the Apostle Paul spout the same mantra if he were stuck here with all these city kids? Because there wasn’t much to rejoice about.
Weston made the rounds of the horses, rubbing their shoulders and talking to them in a low voice. Tails swished lightly. They all seemed okay, but he’d have a closer look when the kids took them to water later .
He lit a match to the tinder and sticks he’d laid out before turning in last night and tucked his billy can full of water tight against it.
The glow in the eastern sky was a little brighter now. Fewer stars remained visible.
Weston pulled his phone out of his pocket. He’d turned it to airplane mode before they left yesterday to preserve the battery, but he also had a recharge pack along in case he needed it. Not that the kids were likely to leave him much time to read. If any.
For now, though… Philippians chapter four. There was an app for that.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.
His reasonableness. He stifled a snort and shifted uncomfortably on the log. No one who knew him would say he was reasonable. Looked like he should work on that.
The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Do not be anxious. Let your requests be made known to God with thanksgiving.
Being a Christian was hard. There were so many rules that went contrary to Weston’s nature. What if he liked being anxious?
Except, he didn’t. And that last bit reminded him why. Because the peace of God wasn’t compatible with him clinging to anxious, negative thoughts .
Had he mentioned that it was hard? Because… it was hard.
Rejoicing and looking on the bright side was easy for someone like Paisley.
But was it, really? She didn’t know her dad. Wasn’t sure if her mom was sober. If anyone had grounds for being wary and tentative, it was her. What was her secret?
He read the words on his phone again.
Paisley’s secret was right there. That’s how she lived. While Weston kept holding God at arm’s length, unsure if He was trustworthy, Paisley was all in. She trusted.
What would it be like to trust like that? Could he even do it if he really tried?
Weston laid a few more sticks on his fire. The water was steaming now. Sunshine shafted through a gap in the hills, lighting up the top of a mountain to the south.
This was his favorite time of day. Always had been. And today it was more true than ever before.
He heard a zipping sound and turned to see Paisley stumbling out of her tent, wearing a rumpled hoodie and flannel pajama pants adorned in… Weston tried not to stare, but really? Pink unicorns. Didn’t that just figure? They were just as cute as she was.
Not that he’d ever admit it to her, but she was growing on him. A few weeks ago, he’d have said she was growing on him like a foot fungus, but maybe she wasn’t that bad.
Her wide eyes met his as she straightened, combing her fingers through her mass of blond hair. “I didn’t know you were up,” she whispered, reaching behind her to tug the zipper closed.
“Best time of day.” Weston should stop looking at her, but he couldn’t. She was just so… wholesome. Pretty, but not fussy about it. And that positive attitude was a bit of an attraction, too.
There, he’d admitted it to himself. That was as far as it would ever go. He wasn’t relationship material. Just ask Rayna. Paisley was only trying to figure him out. Once she succeeded, she’d move on to someone else. Spritely butterflies didn’t linger with guys like him.
“Water’s nearly hot. Coffee in a few?” He wiped the smirk off his face.
“You have a sick sense of humor. Tea all the way. But first, the latrine.” She picked her way around the logs and rocks between her and the shielded area.
Well, he could help with the tea. They’d set up a camp stove last night to reheat the stew Mom sent along. He’d fill the kettle and turn it on for her. See? He could be nice.
He’d just settled back beside the small fire with his coffee grounds beside him, waiting for the water to boil, when she came back to the kitchen area and squirted sanitizer on her hands. “Weston?”
“Hmm?” He didn’t look over.
“Thanks for putting on the water. At least, I assume it was you, since no one else seems to be up.”
“No problem.” It was all he could do not to grin at her pleasure. Because all of a sudden, he’d do nearly anything to hear her gratefulness.
He looked down at his phone lying on the log, the screen black now. Was that how God felt when one of His people was thankful? In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Paul prayed about everything with thanksgiving. And God gave peace. Which probably made it easier for Paul to keep a good attitude. And for God to keep giving peace.
Huh.
The other tent on the boys’ side bulged. Someone grunted. There was a scuffling sound. Then a zip before Harvey practically rolled out the door. There were other voices now.
This morning’s quiet time was over.
Weston pulled the can off the fire, dumped in the grounds he’d pre-measured, and gave it a stir with a stick. “Want a coffee, Harvey? It’s nearly ready.”
The man blinked as he stared at Weston’s soot-covered billy can. “I’m more of a tea guy myself.”
By dinnertime, the kids were worn right out. Paisley had run a scavenger hunt, and Harvey had taught fishing off the rocks on the edge of camp. Susanna had come into her own taking over the camp kitchen and meals. Weston had taken some of the kids riding a few at a time.
Paisley ran through a series of stretches beside the lake, waiting for the dinner call. A rustling sound beside her caused her to turn her head to see her shadow mimicking her. “Hey, Aryana.”
The girl smiled as she lifted both hands to the sky.
Paisley leaned down and pressed her palms to the ground .
Aryana made it all the way to her knees. “Oof. How do you do that?”
“Practice.” Paisley leaned to one side then the other.
The girl tried to copy her moves. She’d been half a step behind Paisley all day in an unsettling form of hero worship.
It was strange, something Paisley hadn’t experienced before. Back at the guest ranch, the kids were busy with other activities, too, plus they had their families. Mind you, Aryana’s family had come along on the ride.
Last night — even first thing this morning when Harvey assumed Paisley would fix his tea — she hadn’t been all that sure the Littles would pull their own not inconsiderable weight. Who would have guessed that Harvey was an avid and experienced fly-fisherman who enjoyed coaching interested kids?Between the four adults, they’d kept their charges busy all day.
Now the mood was more subdued as everyone gathered around the campfire and waited for the dinner call. Aryana’s twin, Axel, could barely stop yawning. These kids would fall asleep much more quickly tonight with less complaining about rocks and roots intruding into their spaces. Even Elsa had quit whining about the latrine.
“Is the fire ready?” Susanna called.
Weston gave her a thumbs-up, gathered a stack of willow branches he and some of the tweens had cut earlier, and carried them to the makeshift kitchen.
The kids surged toward the makeshift kitchen to stab the sticks through wieners.
Paisley stood nearby helping those who needed it. “You go ahead,” she said to Susanna.
The older woman shook her head. “You’ve been on your feet all day. You first.”
“We’ve all been on our feet.” But Paisley wasn’t going to waste time arguing. Looked like buns and condiments and vegetables and chips were laid out for the kids as their hot dogs roasted.
She handed a stick to Susanna and pierced a wiener with the last one. “I’m hungry enough to eat three of these.”
Susanna grimaced. “I can’t tell you the last time I had a hot dog.”
“They’re definitely better after a day in the mountains than any other time.”
“I hope you’re right.” Susanna followed her to the fire. “I’m hungry enough to eat nearly anything.”
Even a hot dog.
Paisley tried to force the smile off her face at Susanna’s unfinished sentence.
“What’s so funny?” Weston’s low voice came from beside her.
She startled. “Everything and nothing. Hey, you haven’t eaten yet. Take this.” She tried to push the willow stick into his hands.
Weston shook his head. “You go first. A few more sticks will be available in a minute.”
Who knew the cowboy could be so gentlemanly? Though Paisley should have expected it, knowing his mom. Nadine Kline was pleasant and polite. At least Weston had absorbed one of those qualities.
Now he stood by the roll-up table and helped Axel with the mustard.
Of all the people Paisley could have imagined sharing responsibilities on for this trail ride, no one could have done a better job than Weston. He might think he wasn’t a people person, but he was wrong. He was great with the kids, patient and kind, putting himself last.
The problem was she’d kind of hoped he’d be rude to everyone and prove that he truly wasn’t worthy of her notice. Instead, he’d confirmed his worth to her, almost certainly unwittingly.
He wasn’t even growling at her all the time anymore. Might they become friends through this shared experience?
But Paisley’s emotions were half a step ahead of reality. If they could be friends — true friends — they could also be more. Right?
She watched him across the campfire until her hot dog singed, and he was still there, helping kids, while Harvey stood off to the side, wolfing down his meal. Paisley headed for the food station and slid her wiener into a bun. Then she stabbed a raw one and handed the stick to Weston. “It’s your turn. I’ve got this.’
Something like an electric current passed between them for a few seconds before he nodded and headed to the fire. She fixed her bun while helping a couple of the kids. Then Susanna was there, obviously trying not to let her curling lip show to the kids.
Paisley kept her face straight. “What would you like on yours?” She took a quick bite, waiting for Susanna’s reply.
“You’re amazing. I don’t know how you do this.”
“I love the outdoors.”
“Cute cowboy doesn’t hurt, either?”
Paisley nearly choked. “Pardon me? ”
“Have you been dating long?”
“We… we’re not.”
Susanna blinked and stepped back. “Really? There’s certainly something between you. I’ve forgotten what that’s like, so it’s been fun to watch you two.”
That was a lot to unpack. “Sorry to disappoint you.”
“Oh, I don’t think I’m wrong.” Susanna looked down at the food and grimaced.
“You’re probably wrong about the hot dog, too. They’re not a staple for me, but they sure hit the spot on camping trips like this.”
“Well, there’s nothing else.” Susanna braced herself as she squirted ketchup on her bun. “I’ll likely survive.”
“Pretty sure you will.”
Kids surged through for seconds before Weston reappeared with his cooked hot dog. He handed her the stick. “Your turn. Better get another before the vultures eat everything.”
He wasn’t completely wrong. Only one partial package remained.
“You’d better reserve another one for yourself.”
Weston shrugged. “Not if the kids are this hungry.”
“What, you have a snack stash along just in case?”
“I’ll never tell.” But something like amusement flashed in his eyes.
“What?” Paisley leaned closer. “Care to share?”
“Just jerky, because it suits my personality.”
“It doesn’t.”
His brown eyes darkened. “Then, yeah, if you want some later.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “Maybe. But I’m still having another hot dog now.”
“Be my guest.” Weston smirked. “I will, too. Besides, there’s a bucket of cookies for tonight, right? I like sweet things.”
“I’m sweet.”
He snorted. “Uh huh. Have a hot dog.”
Paisley caught Susanna’s chuckle as she turned back to the fire. Great. Now they were a spectacle.
Although Weston had sort of agreed that she was sweet. So that was something.