Sydell Voeller Special Edition

by Sydell Voeller

  "Who's there?" she called, her voice quavering. She held her breath. Silence was her only answer.

  Without further warning a dark hulking form loomed up on the other side of the window.

  Logan screamed.

  In seconds, the intruder jerked back the screen, threw up the sash, and clamored inside.

  Somehow Logan managed to flip on the switch of her bedside lamp. A bear! A big, lumbering black bear!

  She screamed again. Her body felt frozen. A cold, clammy sensation gripped her. She couldn't move an inch further if her life depended on it—which it very well might any second now.

  Ignoring her, the bear lumbered across the room towards the small refrigerator in the far corner. What's he going for? she wondered desperately. What would be her best plan of escape?

  All the horror stories she'd heard about bears ransacking the food left by careless campers raced through her mind. But she and Maggie hadn't been careless, had they? Besides, this bear had no business even setting foot in camp, much less their bedroom.

  The bear stretched up slowly, balancing on its haunches. Sure enough, it was opening the refrigerator door. The peanut butter, she thought with new terror. Bears were supposed to like peanuts. It must've been able to detect the smell. Why, oh why, couldn't they have had the good sense to keep the refrigerator empty?

  But maybe this was her chance. While the bear was preoccupied munching the peanut butter, she could make her get-away. She had to run down to the camp fire and spread the warning—that is, if the bear didn't manage to mangle her first. Had anyone written up a bear alert drill in the procedure manual?

  Scrambling to her feet, she stumbled into her slippers. The flashlight, she reminded herself. She mustn't forget the flashlight she and Maggie kept on top of the filing cabinet. Crouching low, scarcely breathing, she padded across the room and reached for it, gripping it till her fingers ached. Now. . .now for the doorway.

  Hesitating for only a fraction of a second, she cast one last desperate glance over her shoulder. Wait a minute! Were her eyes playing tricks on her? The bear wasn't eating the peanut butter at all. Instead it was smacking its lips loudly in between long gulps of soda!

  Logan flung open the door, shot across the porch and down the main trail. The fire-ring was only a short distance away, but right now it felt like a hundred miles.

  Nearly catching her toe on a tree root, she lunged forward then quickly righted herself. Run! Run! her mind screamed. Past the recreation hall. Behind the main lodge. She could see the glow of the campfire. She was almost there. . .

  "Listen up!" she hollered as she burst onto the scene. "This is important! An emergency! Bear on the loose—"

  Before she could utter another word, something grabbed her from behind and let out another fierce growl. She gasped. The bear! She'd never even heard it charging after her.

  Instantly the furry creature swept her off her feet, threw her over its shoulder and began sprinting around the fire-ring to the rising laughter of the staff and campers.

  Her head whirled in confusion. Why was everyone laughing—even the bear? And why did it run with a slight limp and smell suspiciously of Wild Country aftershave?

  She felt a hot flood of embarrassment wash over her as reality took hold. She'd been the victim of a prank. The bear that still gripped her firmly was none other than Zachary Dellinger. The laughter continued. "Put me down!" Logan screeched, wriggling to free herself. "Zachary Dellinger, you put me down this very moment!"

  Darn that Zack! Darn that miserable, irresistible, heart-stopping prankster. Maybe the other first-time staffers had been the target of such benign jokes, but she'd bet her last dollar none had felt as foolish as she did.

  In no time she was back on her feet, but Zack had managed to duck onto a bench next to Kimberly.

  A counselor started singing, "For she's a jolly good staffer, for she's a jolly good staffer. . ." and others joined in. When they'd finished the last round, Logan had no choice but to throw her hands up in a gesture of admitted defeat and attempt a grin. Camp initiation rites. Hadn't Maggie forewarned her?

  "All right, everyone," she announced. "There's no denying, I fell for it. I made a fool of myself. But now I'm an official camp nurse and we can get back to business. Right?"

  "Hold on! You're not getting off that easily," Betty Jo said, appearing at her side. She slipped a leather cord with a blue ribbon around Logan's neck and laughed. "You've just been given Camp Rippling Water's Best Sport award!"

  "Oh. . .well. I'm honored, I guess." Logan gulped. "Thanks, everyone."

  "We knew you'd go for it hook, line, and sinker," Maggie put in from her spot in the front row. "Why do you think I was so quick to give you a night off?"

  Logan attempted another wan smile, though her pride was shattered. How could she pretend to be nonchalant while she was standing here like a blundering fool, clad in her pajamas, wearing not even one trace of make-up?

  "Or why Dr. Dellinger was so efficient at fixing the infirmary window," Logan added, quickly coming once again to her senses.

  "And guess what?" Kim's voice squeaked. "Dr. Zack and I thought the whole thing up! I even helped him find the bear costume!"

  Logan felt a new rush of indignation flood over her. Inhaling deeply, she punched Maggie playfully in the arm. "Well, imagine that. Maggie, my little sis, and Dr. Dellinger master-minded the whole thing. Last time I'll ever trust you. Any of you." As her gaze swept the sea of faces gawking back at her, she zeroed in purposely on Zack. Still clad in the bear costume—minus the head gear—he was grinning back at her like a mischievous schoolboy. It was all too apparent he didn't believe a word she'd said.

  * * *

  "You!" Logan exclaimed hotly, stopping to jab a freshly painted fingernail into Zack's furry costumed chest. "How could you have humiliated me that way? You nearly trimmed five years off my life—then added the finishing touches by making me look like an utter fool!"

  Awaiting the right moment to confront him, Logan had lingered behind while the counselors whisked the children back to their cabins. Now she and Zack were standing face-to-face next to dying embers of the campfire.

  "Poor Logan." Zack's eyes seemed to tease and caress her at the same time. He reached out to plant both hands firmly on her shoulders. "But I doubt with your stubbornness, anyone could shorten your life."

  "Oh, get your furry paws off me!" she snapped, pushing him away. "And the least can do is apologize—especially for getting Kim mixed up in this."

  "Why?" His voice turned serious. "She had a blast helping me. I've never seen her this excited—not even when she made her team win the last volleyball tournament."

  "Oh, really?" Logan's voice rose.

  "Yes." In case you haven't noticed, Logan, Kim's starting to come out of her shell. I think she's finally ready to buy into the program." His words only fueled her mounting choler. Of course she had noticed. There he was again, making presumptions she wasn't necessarily ready to accept. But now a new obstacle had emerged. From that first day she and Kim had arrived at camp, she sensed Kim was sidling up to Zack. Undoubtedly over the past several days, their camaraderie had grown—driving the wedge even further between Logan and Zack.

  "What makes you so sure Kim's ready?" she asked, crossing her arms over her chest. From somewhere off in the distance, a train whistle echoed off a hillside.

  "Because while Kim and I were rummaging through the storage shed, looking for this bear costume, she asked me to talk to you. She doesn't want to wait for the last week of camp to start horseback riding. And I want to take advantage of her eagerness. She's ready, Logan. The right time is now."

  Logan's head throbbed. "And why can't Kim talk to me about this herself? Why did she go to you first?"

  "She knows you'll try to hold her back. She thinks there's a better chance you'll listen to me."

  His words hit a raw nerve. "Don't get me wrong, Zachary. I appreciate what you're trying to do for Kim. But just don't get too chummy wit
h her. Understand? There are plenty of other kids at camp who also need your help."

  "Listen." He spread his hands wide. "I won't deny I promised you I'd go slowly with Kim. That's exactly what I've done. But now things have changed. Kim's scoring more points in the volleyball games than practically any kid on her team. The other day when Betty Jo took her for still another wheelchair hike, she said she grown bored with that too. She needs more, Logan. She needs a challenge."

  "So you promised her she could get started right away?"

  "As soon as possible. I may not have the opportunity for another few days, but I don't want to put it off any longer than necessary." The artery in his neck throbbed. His voice was controlled, tight—like staccato notes in a musical score. "As I'm sure you're well aware, Logan, trust is foremost in any good relationship. If I'm going to be of any help to Kim, I can't violate that trust now."

  Logan swallowed hard against the lump rising in her throat and averted her gaze. It wasn't fair to burden her sister with her own fear of horses. After all, Kim had known little fear of any kind before the accident. Without her hard work and competitive spirit, she'd never made it to the regional gymnastics competition.

  She turned her gaze back to him. "You're right. Trust is important." Inhaling deeply, she forced herself to continue. "So. . .I guess there's nothing left for me to say. Go for it, Zack. Do whatever you think you must do to help Kimberly."

  There—it was out, though her heart twisted with new misgivings. Zack's words made sense, there was no use denying it. But that was her head speaking, not her heart. And her heart still battled to take control.

  His voice softened. "Thanks. That's much better. But there's something I need to know, Logan. Something that's been bugging me for quite some time now."

  "Yes?"

  "Why can't you trust me like your sister does?"

  She struggled against tears. "For Kim, it's much simpler, Zack. It's true she's been injured physically, but she's still a child. She hasn't lived long enough to be hurt in other ways. She doesn't understand about broken relationships much less broken dreams."

  "And you do?"

  "Yes," she whispered, looking away once again.

  "Who was he, Logan?"

  "A heart surgeon. My ex-husband."

  He exhaled a slow, ragged breath. "Oh. I'm beginning to see. Someone I knew?"

  "I doubt it. Our marriage ended two years ago. We lived in Los Angeles. After the divorce, I moved to Washington so I could be closer to Mom and Kimberly."

  "Want to talk about it?"

  "What's there to tell?"

  "Judging from our previous conversation, I'd say there must be plenty." He took her hand in his and squeezed it. His grasp felt warm and protective.

  Logan bit her lip. "All right. Let's. . .let's sit down."

  While the glowing embers from the campfire continued to dim, she and Zack lingered, talking. Logan told him about her empty marriage, her longing for children, and Matthew's growing disinterest in family matters.

  "He was a busy, busy man, Zachary, just like you. He said he didn't have time to be side-tracked by raising kids. Truth was, I don't think he even liked them much." Her voice dropped. "After a while, he didn't even have time for me."

  "Ah, Logan. I might be a physician, but I'm not Matthew." Tenderly he traced a finger down her cheek. His touch made her want to melt, to immediately shed all her carefully plotted defenses.

  "Yes. Maybe that's true—but it still doesn't change how I feel. I have to stay focused. Kimberly's my responsibility now. Aside from my career, there's little need for anything else."

  "Not even this?" He drew her closer, took her in his arms and pressed his lips against hers in a long, lingering kiss.

  As a whirlwind of emotions washed over her, Logan submitted to the ecstasy of his embrace. She could no longer resist, nor had she any desire to. She wanted this as much as he did. Zack's lips were hungry and searching and at the same time sweetly tender. His arms urged her closer. His heart beat strong and steady against her.

  At last he broke the contact and drew back. His eyes were searching. "Isn't there room in your life for just one little kiss like that every now and then?"

  "Zack, we were talking about relationships—not just kisses."

  "Yep, but—" He stopped short, narrowing his gaze on some undetermined spot beyond. "Holy smoke."

  "What's wrong?" she asked.

  "Oh, nothing." A corner of his mouth lifted in a smile.

  "You sure?"

  Not answering, he got to his feet. With long easy strides, he ambled over to a bucket filled with water. In seconds he'd doused the campfire. The wet charred remains sputtered and sizzled and the thick smell of wood smoke hung heavy about them.

  "There," he said, still smiling. He brushed his hands on the sides of his jeans and avoided her gaze. "I guess Smokey the Bear has to set a good example."

  "An example? An example for whom? You and I are the only ones here."

  "I wouldn't be too sure about that. I hope you have a good answer tomorrow when the kids want to know what it's like to be kissed by a bear."

  No sooner had he spoken, they heard a round of muffled giggles from somewhere at the edge of the shadows. In a flash the sound of small running footsteps faded into silence.

  Chapter Five

  "Sissie loves Dr. Zack! Sissie loves Dr. Zack!"

  "Kimberly, you stop that. You stop that this very minute." Logan shot a perturbed look at her little sister who was hard at work in the crafts cabin making a coin purse from odds scraps of leather. Several other girls sat stationed about the large, wood paneled room engaged in everything from tie-dying to arranging wild ferns, leaves and berries for a nature display.

  "Well, it's true, isn't it?" Despite Logan's reprimand, Kim beamed from ear-to-ear. "Richard and Danny even saw you kissing last night. And they've told everybody! The whole camp's talking about it."

  "Nonsense!" Logan's face flushed with mortification as she drew up a chair alongside Kimberly. "Those boys were just seeing things. Or more likely—making up stories." Guilt nagged at her. She'd never before lied to her sister this way. She'd always been adamant about setting a good example. But last night's initiation rite had been humiliating enough without having to deal with any extra complications.

  "I'm glad to see you're taking it easier today," Logan said, nodding to her sister's handiwork. "You look tired, Kim. Perhaps too much time in those volleyball relays?" she added with forced light-heartedness.

  The child's grin quickly faded. "But I'm not tired! I'm not tired at all. And by the way, some of the kids are going hiking again Friday morning—this time a real hike. May I go too?"

  "Hmm. . .I don't know, Kim. What exactly do you mean by a real hike?"

  "Two big groups are getting together right after morning chores. The kids in the wheelchair group are going as far as the waterfall. Betty Jo says the others are hiking with their counselor a little ways past the falls to explore an old Indian cave."

  "You mean on that new trail that was just recently cleared?"

  "I think that's the one."

  Logan pursed her lips, stalling for time. The sloping trail leading to the cave was still in its fledgling stages of construction, deeply rutted and narrow in spots. Though Kim would be staying behind with the other children in wheelchairs, for her the hike still wasn't a good idea. Last night she'd had her first nightmare since they'd come to camp—a sure sign that she was overdoing.

  "So can I, Sissie?" Kim's pleading pulled Logan out of her thoughts. "Will you let me go?"

  "No, Kim. Not till you've caught up on some rest. There'll be more day hikes next week."

  "But this is only Tuesday! Friday's still three whole days away. I can be rested a bunch by the time Friday comes."

  "I said no."

  "See! There you go again! Treating me like a baby. Why can't I go? Why won't you ever let me do anything?"

  "I already told you, Kimberly Corbett. There's no room fo
r negotiation. When I say no, I mean exactly that!"

  "You're mean. You're a mean big sister who never wants me to have any fun. Just like the mean step-mother in Cinderella."

  Logan breathed in slowly, then squared her shoulders. "Why, you know that's not true. Of course I want you to have fun. Why else do you think I let you come to camp?"

  "But you wouldn't let me come by myself! You had to come, too, so you could check up on me—just like you're doing right now!" Kim's voice rose to a fevered pitch. Soon she was sobbing. "I hate you. I wish Mama were here instead. She'd let me go on that hike! I just know she would!"

  Logan's breath caught. Her head reeled. She felt as she'd been struck by a sledge hammer. Never before had Kimberly tested her this way, nor hurled such bitter words of accusation. Small miracle the other campers hadn't seemed to notice—or if they had, they were pretending not to.

  Summoning her last ounce of courage, she forced herself to look Logan squarely in the face. "Please try to understand, Kim. It's for your own good. Really it is."

  Kim hiccoughed. "That's what you always say. Everything's supposed to be for my own good." She hiccoughed again. "And I suppose you also won't let me go horseback riding when Dr. Zack wants to take me."

  Logan drew in a steadying breath. "Dr. Zack and I did talk about it."

  "Then you'll let me? You won't make me wait any longer?" Kim's voice was cautious.

  "Yes. I won't go back on my word. I'm sure he planned to go easy for your first lesson anyway." Logan paused, measuring her next words. "One more thing. . .are you listening to me, Kim?"

  "Uh-huh. What?"

  "Pay attention to what he tells you. Do everything exactly as Dr. Zack says."

  "Oh, don't worry. I will!" Kim's blue eyes sparkled with anticipation, her former outburst apparently forgotten. She picked up a leather strip and knotted the end then added, "Dr. Zack already let me help brush Midnight's coat and watch him pick out her hoofs. I get to brush Midnight's lower part—the part I can reach from my wheelchair."