Sydell Voeller Special Edition Read online

  She straightened, willing the tightness in her neck and shoulders to leave. "You'd be up-tight too if your derriere hurt as bad as mine does," she reminded him petulantly. "What I wouldn't give now for a hot tub and a massage." His mellow laughter drowned out her next words. "I'll put in an order right this minute," he said. "Especially for you."

  "Oh, Zack!" She couldn't help laughing too. How many times before had his sunny disposition pulled her out of herself? No wonder she'd fallen in love with him.

  They clopped down the dusty trail that switch-backed up the semi-wooded hillside on the north side of camp. Zack had tied their sleeping bags to the back of each saddle, plus the pup-tent for Logan. In his saddle bag, he carried a small aluminum coffee pot, a canteen of water, marshmallows and dehydrated snacks.

  They came to a clearing where charred stumps, remnants from an old forest fire, poked through fallen timber that lay in random piles like giant pick-up sticks. By now the heat of the day was beginning to wane and the sun had dipped behind the west ridgeline.

  The first hour merged into the next. More time passed. It seemed as if they'd been riding forever.

  "How much farther?" she asked, pushing back a strand of hair from her forehead.

  "Only another quarter mile or so."

  They entered the welcome coolness of the forest. Logan couldn't help comparing today's trail ride with her hike with Zack in the rain and the mud less than a week ago. Although every muscle in her body ached and the horse still frightened her a little, she had to admit, this was certainly more enjoyable.

  Later, after arriving on top of a flat knoll and tying the horses beneath an isolated stand of hemlocks, they sat shoulder-to-shoulder before a crackling campfire, sipping hot spiced cider. Shades of dusk were enveloping them like a thick velvety curtain. Off in the distance, an owl hooted, muted by the sound of the wind sighing through the treetops in the canyon below.

  Logan took another sip of her cider, savoring the tangy sweetness. She removed her hat and snuggled up to Zack a little closer. Heaven. Sheer heaven. Perhaps more foolish and dangerous than ever before.

  "Having a good time?" he asked, shielding his arm around her and drawing her close. She felt the heat from his body and gave an involuntary shiver.

  "Hmm. Wonderful." She paused, then turned to stare into his handsome face. The firelight flickered, illuminating each angle and plane, making him look so alive and vibrant. How could he be wrong for her when everything felt so right?

  "I'm having a great time too," he said huskily. "I could hardly wait to bring you here. One time before the first session of camp last summer, Dan and I decided to scout out the area a little better. We rode horses up here and cooked our supper over a campfire. Ever since then, I promised myself I'd come back."

  "I can see why," she said. "It's beautiful." Tipping her head back, she gazed up into the dark heavens. The constellations Zack had pointed out their first night of stargazing sparkled like tiny fireflies. Already a few meteors had streaked by. "Know something, Zack?"

  "What?"

  "When I look up at the night sky like this, it helps me put my life into perspective. I mean, how can my problems be so overwhelming when I compare them to the vastness of the universe?"

  "My thoughts exactly."

  "Maybe this is what I've needed all along, Zack. Maybe there's magic out here." She paused to sort out her feelings. "All I know for sure is that I'm finally beginning to heal."

  He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "I hope so, Logan." The tenderness in his voice was unmistakable. "I hope so for both you and Kim."

  For a long moment, their gazes locked. Then he pulled her closer, and with an intensity that nearly took her breath away, his mouth crushed down on hers.

  "Oh, Logan," he said with a sigh, finally releasing her. "I think I'm changing in some ways too."

  "You?"

  "Yes. No doubt about it, there is magic here. But I've discovered that magic isn't complete without someone to share it with."

  She smiled up at him. "So you had an ulterior motive in bringing me here. That bit about helping me get over my fear of horses was just part of the reason. . ."

  "Hmm." His eyes sparkled down at her. A corner of his mouth twitched. "You might say that."

  As she watched the play of shadow and reflected firelight across his face, she couldn't help but wonder. What exactly was Zack talking about? The magic of the moment? Or the magic that could last a lifetime?

  Chapter Nine

  "Wow!" Logan exclaimed, pointing to a burst of light as still another meteor streaked across the heavens. "There's another one! I bet they're coming almost every three or four minutes." She and Zack had spread out a sleeping bag and were lying flat on their backs, staring up at the sky. Zack had explained that meteors were solid particles that were burning themselves up in the earth's atmosphere. At certain times every year, the earth's orbit crossed these streams of meteors, thought to be the remains of an expired comet.

  "In some years during the Perseid meteor shower—that's the one we're seeing right now—you can see up to one falling star every minute," Zack went on. "Though this one is unquestionably spectacular, there are some even better."

  "Then I want to be around for the next big one," she said with a laugh.

  "So do I. Shall we make it a date?"

  "Yes. Why not?" Her heart seemed to beat in double time.

  From somewhere close by, a serenade of crickets punctuated the stillness. The campfire flickered in a bed of glowing embers. Just before midnight, they'd toasted marshmallows with the green sticks Zack had whittled to a point and drank more hot spiced cider.

  Logan couldn't remember when she'd ever felt so relaxed and at one with herself—nor so completely in love. Yet what good was that love if Zack didn't feel the same way too? And more importantly, if he didn't share her priorities about marriage and children?

  Later that night as she nestled down into the warmth of her sleeping bag, she heard the soft rise and fall of his snoring outside her tent. The events of the evening rolled gently through her mind. Duchess and the trail ride. Their kiss by the campfire. The breath-taking shower of stars. And most of all, Zack. . .

  For a fleeting moment before she drifted to sleep, she dared to envision a future with him. Zack, her husband, sleeping close by her side instead of in separate beds. Zack, who would be there every morning to share a few precious moments together before they each hurried on their separate ways. Zack, who would help her tuck in their little ones at night in that tender, age-old ritual she assumed only a parent could understand.

  Yes, she thought, pulling the sleeping bag more tightly up to her neck and giving a sigh. Perhaps she'd been wrong coming here with Zack. But right or wrong, she'd never forget this. Never for as long as she lived.

  * * *

  Next morning back at Camp Rippling Waters, Zack had only a few hours to assist Dan in the final preparations for the three night outing. Meanwhile, Logan hurried to find Kimberly in Cabin 3-B to see whether she'd experienced any last minute change of heart.

  Kim was stuffing tee-shirts, shorts, and blue jeans into a duffle bag. Frowning, apparently lost in her thoughts, she ignored Logan totally.

  "What are you doing?" Logan asked, tugging on her sleeve to get her attention.

  "I'm getting ready. I decided to go on the camp-out," Kim replied tersely.

  Logan's mouth dropped open. "Well now." She groped for her next words. "I guess that's good news. But why do you look so upset? Why aren't you more excited like the other kids?"

  "I don't care about how the other kids look. All I care about is getting to go on a special camping trip with Dr. Zack—like you did last night."

  Logan felt her face flush with anger. "Now wait a minute, Kim. The only reason I took that trail ride with Dr. Zack was because I made him a promise. I promised I'd try to help you get over your accident with Midnight by getting a better handle on my own fear of horses." She gripped Kim's shoulder. "I was only tr
ying to help you, Kim. You know as well as I do that riding around the corral a time or two just doesn't cut it."

  "But you didn't need to stay away so long!"

  Logan fought back guilt and frustration. Maybe she shouldn't have left with Zack. Were all ten-year-olds this impossible? One minute, Kim seemed pleased about her relationship with Zack. . .so pleased she'd even teased her about him kissing her in his bear costume. The next minute. . .well, that pleasure had changed to jealousy.

  "So, Sissie, you're getting your wish," Kim said, as she yanked closed the zipper on the duffle bag. "I'm going on the camp-out and I'm going to ride Midnight again. And this time, it's my turn to go with Dr. Zack."

  Logan sat down on the edge of her sister's bed so she could better meet her eye-level. Dust motes danced in the shaft of light beaming in through the cabin window. She pursed her lips, thinking. What Logan was about to say was important. She would need to block out the excited chatter from the other girls.

  "You're right, Kim. This is what I wanted. This is what Dr. Zack wanted," she qualified. Now at this eleventh hour, she wasn't so sure about herself anymore. Was Logan really ready to entrust Kim's care totally to Zack for three entire days and nights? Typically every year, the only staff who participated in the outing were the counselors of the older children, the camp director, the physician and the 4-H volunteers. The nurses always stayed behind to tend to the rest of the campers.

  "I already know Dr. Zack wanted me to go," Kim said. "He's been trying to talk me into it ever since Midnight kicked me in the head. Dr. Zack is also talking about a special place in the country where he wants me to take more horseback riding lessons after I get back home." She stopped and wrinkled her nose. "The Lazy Z Ranch. . .or something like that."

  "That's right, Kim." As Logan proceeded to tell her sister more about the program, a spark of interest sprang to Kim's eyes.

  "Will Dr. Zack be there too?"

  "Well. . .maybe part of the time, but he won't be your teacher like he is here at camp. Dr. Zack said, since it's so far away from Westland, he could help drive you."

  Kim's frown melted into a smile. "Cool! I think I'd like that!"

  Logan got to her feet and bit back the temptation to give her sister a barrage of last-minute advice. Perhaps little-by-little she was learning how to let go, though she had to admit it was still difficult.

  Later, the sun warming her back, Logan stood on the front steps of the infirmary watching the happy commotion in the parking lot. The older campers were seated in mini-vans and the bus owned by the medical center. Counselors were dashing about, hefting wheelchairs, walkers, feed for the horses, and camping and riding gear into larger trucks while the 4-H volunteers helped load the horses into the horse trailers.

  "Look at all that stuff!" Logan said to Maggie, who had just walked onto the porch to join her. "They look like they're leaving for three weeks, instead of three days."

  "It's like this every year," Maggie replied with a smile. She slapped at a fly that had landed on her arm. "No, I take that back. Actually, it appears they take a little more every year. Typical campers, I suppose."

  Logan laughed. "I'll have to take your word about that. Till yesterday, I never camped a day in my life."

  "And now Zack's got you hooked." Maggie's voice held a hint of amusement.

  "Maybe not hooked completely, but I'm certainly changing my opinion about—" she broke off as she spied Kim waving to get her attention. Quickly she waved back. Her sister was riding in Zack's van with Renee and four other girls from her cabin.

  "Bye, Sissie!" she called through the half opened window. "See you in three days!"

  "Bye, Kim. Have fun!"

  Logan's heart twisted. Yes, Kim's spirits had definitely picked up again. So had the color in her cheeks and the sparkle in her eyes. Those were encouraging signs and Logan was thankful. Yet part of her still held back. What if something terrible happened? What if Zack, now well removed from Logan's watchful eye, pushed Kimberly beyond her limits? It seemed strange to see her little sister sitting up there in the passenger seat next to Zack. Almost as if they were meant to be family. . .

  The sound of Dan's voice cut through her thoughts. He was calling out some last minute instructions to the drivers while the ambulatory children, who'd waited till the last, were piling into the bus. "If there's anyone who's never been to the Sutherland property before, listen up. We'll head west out of Mapleton on 419 for about twenty-five miles till we come to Merimore Falls.”

  "Gosh, that's almost half way back to Westland," Logan said, turning to Maggie.

  The other nurse nodded. "Yeah, admittedly a distance. The Sutherlands used to have a little boy who attended the camp years ago. Later he died, but they wanted to make a contribution to the hospital in his memory. Their property not only provides one of the best views in the region, but also has excellent riding trails."

  The door of the bus snapped shut. From inside one of the trailers, a horse whinnied. Engines revved. More shouts rose up. Then in a cloud of dust, the caravan of buses, vans, trucks and trailers inched out of sight.

  As Logan turned back to the infirmary, her thoughts were bittersweet. Soon this last summer session at Camp Rippling Waters would be done. She would miss camp a lot. The sunrises over the foothills. The breeze sighing through the treetops. The evening campfires. But most of all, she would miss the children, especially those whom she knew she wouldn't see again till next summer.

  Yes, without a doubt, she would return. Hopefully for many summers. But what about Zack? Would Camp Rippling Waters always be a part of his summers too? Surely it wouldn't take many more years till his practice had grown to overwhelming proportions. Would he be so busy he'd decide he no longer had time for camp—just like Matthew never had had extra time?

  In the two days that followed, while she wasn't worrying about Kim, she thought about Zack constantly. What was he doing right now? Building a lean-to? Leading the campers on a trail ride?

  A picture of the firelight flickering across his face as they watched the meteor shower hovered on the fringes of her mind. Each night, too, she'd kept the beautiful riding hat he'd given her on the bedside stand. It was the last thing she saw at night before falling asleep and the first each morning when she awoke.

  By Sunday morning, Logan's anticipation nearly overflowed. In only a few short hours after the older campers returned, it would be time to pack up and go home. While the prospect filled her with sadness, she was also so eager to see Zack and Kimberly, she could hardly contain herself.

  Meanwhile the flurry of last day details helped keep her thoughts in check. In addition to morning medications and a steady trickle of campers who needed attention, there were supplies to pack up, extra cleaning to do, and the last load of instruments to be sterilized in the autoclave. Around eleven, while Logan was busy assisting one of the med students with one of the asthmatic children, Maggie tapped her on the shoulder. "Logan, there's a call for you. It's Dan."

  "Dan?"

  "Right. He's calling from his cellular phone. He says it's an emergency."

  Logan's stomach lurched. "An emergency? Oh. no, it's not Kim is it?"

  "He didn't say." Maggie reached for the nebulizer tubing that Logan had been fitting together and added quickly. "I'll take over. Go!"

  Logan rushed out of the exam room and straight to the wall phone near the front door. "Dan!" she gasped, her heart pounding. "What's wrong?"

  "It's Kimberly. Zack asked me to phone. She's taken a bad fall. Zack left about five minutes ago to drive her back to Children's."

  Logan gripped the back of a chair. She thought she might get sick. "But how. . .how did it happen? Was she riding Midnight?"

  "I'm not sure. Zack didn't have time to give me any of the details. He wanted to transport her as soon as possible. All I know is he said she'll need x-rays and possible surgery. Since it's only less than an hour's drive to Children's, he decided to take her there."

  "Surgery! It was that bad?
"

  "I'm sorry, Logan. Like I said, I don't know the details. But Zack did mention before he left that Kim was in quite a bit of pain."

  Her head throbbed as a picture of Kim and Midnight flashed through her mind. That had to be it. How else could Kim fall? She'd warned Zack a thousand times, hadn't she? She knew that horse wasn't to be trusted. No horse was!

  "Thanks, Dan," she managed somehow. Her hands shook. "I'll be on my way as soon as I can."

  "Yeah, and tell Maggie and everyone else, we should be back there no later than noon—that is, everyone but Kim and Zack, of course. We've got one bunch of worn-out campers who could stand hot showers before their parents show up."

  "Yeah. Sure. I'll tell them." Hanging up the phone, Logan slumped into the chair and held her head in her hands. A kaleidoscope of emotions flooded over her. Fear. Anger. Mostly anger. Zack had lied to her. He said he'd be careful with Kimberly. Why had she ever trusted him in the first place? Why had she let him talk her into letting Kim come here, much less go on the camp-out too?

  "What's the matter?" Maggie said, rushing to her side. "You don't look so hot. Do you need to lie down?"

  Logan shook her head. "No. I'll be fine in just a minute. I. . .I just need to get hold of myself." Fighting back tears, she repeated Dan's message. "I'm going to get my things together right now, Maggie. It'll only take a few minutes. Then I'll have to head right out."

  "Would you like me to get someone to drive you? Are you sure you'll be all right?"

  "Thanks. . .but I'll be fine."

  "Well, don't panic," Maggie said as she began massaging Logan's shoulders. "You know as well as I do, with Zack there, Kim's in the best of hands."

  Logan's voice broke as a tear splashed down her cheek. "I don't think so, Maggie. I don't think so at all."

  Chapter Ten

  Dazed, Logan gripped the steering wheel. Dense stands of evergreens whizzed past. A lake with a solitary island in the middle. A rocky outcropping. On the hill to the south, vine maples were splashed in oranges, reds and greens—a poignant reminder of the rapidly approaching autumn. Yes, these past weeks. . .a senseless summer romance. But the summer was nearly over. It was time to get on with her life.