Chapter 11 #3
“Backpacking’s for us.” Jim grinned broadly.
It took less than ten seconds to see that only Jim was enthusiastic about tackling the mountains on foot. That might be an advantage. “How far have you come?”
“Started off from Big Vista. Nice little campground, but too crowded. I wanted to show the wife and boys nature in the rough.”
Libby judged the boys to be about thirteen and fifteen, and both looked as if they were on the edge of whining. Calculating the distance to the Big Vista campground, she could hardly blame them. “That’s quite a hike.”
“We’re tough. Right, boys?” Both sent him miserable looks.
“You weren’t planning to go up this path?” Libby asked, gesturing.
“Matter of fact, we were. Thought we’d try for the ridge before nightfall.”
Susie groaned and bent over to massage an aching calf muscle.
“You won’t be able to reach it this way. Up ahead’s a logging and reforesting area. Did you see the break in the trees?”
“Yeah, I did.” He fiddled with the pedometer at his waist. “Wondered about it.”
“Harvesting,” she said without a blink. “Hiking and camping are off-limits. There’s a five-hundred-dollar fine,” she added for good measure.
“Well, I sure do appreciate you letting us know.”
“Dad, can’t we go to a hotel?” one of the boys asked.
“One with a pool,” the other chimed in. “And a video arcade.”
“And a bed,” his wife murmured. “A real bed.”
Jim offered Cal and Libby a wink. “Family gets a little cranky this time of day. Wait till you see that sun come up tomorrow, gang. It’ll all be worth it.”
“There’s an easy trail to the west.” Libby rose out of her seat to rest her hip on the side of the Land Rover. “Do you see it?”
“Yeah.” Jim didn’t like adjusting his itinerary, but the five hundred had done the trick.
She was glad she could give them one with a gradual incline. “Another, oh, three-four miles, and there’s a clearing, makes a good campsite. The view’s fabulous. You shouldn’t have any trouble making it before sundown.”
“We could give you a lift.” Cal had noted the tired, sulky look on the younger boy’s face. The moment the offer was out, it lifted into an engaging grin.
“Oh, no, no, thanks all the same.” Jim beamed. “That would be cheating, wouldn’t it?”
“Maybe.” Susie shifted her pack on her aching back. “But it might just save your life.” She nudged her husband aside and leaned toward Cal. “Mr. Hornblower, if you drive us to that campsite, you can name your price.”
“Now, Susie—”
“Shut up, Jim.” She grabbed a hunk of Cal’s damp shirt. “Please. I’ve got four hundred and fifty-eight dollars worth of gear on my back. It’s yours.”
With a hearty laugh, Jim put a hand on his wife’s arm. “Now, Susie. We agreed—”
“All bets are off.” Her voice rose shrilly.
In an obvious effort to control it, she drew a deep breath.
“I’m dying here, Jim. I think the boys might be traumatized for life.
You don’t want to be responsible for that, do you?
” Because she wasn’t entirely sure of his answer, she jerked away to tuck each boy under her arms. “You hike it,” she said.
“But I’ve got blisters, and I don’t think I’ll ever regain the feeling in my left leg. ”
“Suze, if I’d known you felt this way—”
“Fine.” She wasn’t willing to give him time to finish a single sentence. “Now you do. Come on, guys.”
They crammed into the back of the Land Rover. After a moment, Jim settled sadly in with them, his youngest on his lap.
“It’s, ah, beautiful country,” Libby began as she directed Cal along the trail. “You’ll probably appreciate it more after you’ve rested and eaten.” And a great deal more than that, she was sure, when Susie discovered they had circled a couple of miles closer to Big Vista.
“It’s certainly full of trees.” Susie sighed at the luxury of moving without effort. Because she knew Jim was sulking, she patted his knee. “Are you from around here?”
“Originally.” Confident that Cal would find the way now, she shifted to face their passengers. “Cal’s from Philadelphia.”
“Really?” Susie debated flexing her foot, then decided not to risk it. “So are we. Is this your first time out here, Mr. Hornblower?”
“Yes, I guess you could say it’s my first time here.”
“Ours, too. We wanted to show our sons a part of the country that was still unspoiled. And we have.” She gave her husband’s knee another squeeze.
Resilient, Jim swung an arm over the back of the seat. “This is one trip they won’t forget.”
The boys exchanged looks and rolled their eyes but wisely kept silent. There was still a chance for that hotel.
“So, you’re from Philadelphia. What do you think of the Phillies’ chances this year?”
Cautious, Cal tried to be noncommittal. “I’m always hopeful.”
“That’s the ticket.” Jim slapped Cal on the shoulder. “If they tighten up the infield and beef up the pitching staff they might have a shot.”
Baseball, Cal realized with a grin. At least that was something he could relate to. “It’s hard to say about this season, but I figure we’ll take our share of pennants in the next couple hundred years.”
Jim gave a bark of laughter. “That’s taking the long view.”
When they reached the clearing, their passengers were all in a more cheerful state of mind. The boys leaped out to chase after a rabbit. Susie stepped out more slowly, still favoring her legs.
“It is beautiful.” She looked out over the layers of mountains, where the sun was hanging low. “I can’t thank you enough, both of you.” She glanced over to where her husband was already yelling at the boys to get busy and gather some firewood. “You saved my husband’s life.”
“He looked in pretty good shape, actually,” Cal commented.
“No. I was going to kill him in his sleep.” She smiled as she eased the pack from her back. “Now I won’t have to, at least for a couple of days.”
Jovial, Jim walked back to give his wife a hug. She winced as he squeezed tender muscles. “I tell you, Suze, a man can really breathe up here.”
“For the time being,” Susie murmured.
“Not like Philadelphia, bless it. Why don’t you two stay for supper? Nothing like eating under the sky.”
“You’re very welcome to,” Susie added. “On tonight’s menu are the ever-popular beans, with the addition of hot dogs if the cold pack worked, and for dessert some delicious dehydrated apricots.”
“Sounds great.” And part of him was tempted to stay, just to sit and listen. He thought the Rankin family as entertaining as any daytime drama. “But we’ve got to get back.”
Libby offered her hand to Susie and added a sympathetic pat. “If you follow the trail to the right it’ll take you back to Big Vista. It’s a long hike, but a pretty one.” And one that would take them in the opposite direction from the ship.
“Can’t thank you enough.” Jim dug into his backpack and pulled out a business card.
The gesture had Libby smothering a chuckle.
You could take a boy out of the smog, but .
. . “Give me a ring when you get back, Hornblower. I’m sales manager at Bison Motors.
Cut you and the little woman a good deal, new or used. ”
“I’ll keep it in mind.” They climbed back into the Land Rover, offered a wave, then left the Rankins behind. “New or used what?” Cal asked Libby.