The Star of All Valleys

by Vicki H. Cutler

  Chapter 11

  Willy walked around to the other side of the truck to gather her shattered emotions. Why did she always cry? Why couldn't she just get control of herself? Why couldn't she just let herself go and love him? NO! Cancel that last thought! "I've got to be true to Ryan!" she reaffirmed. “I promised.”

  Taking a shaky breath and wiping her tears away, she waited a moment to be sure her voice was steady and then walked toward the river, calling the children to come. "It's getting late and we still have a long way to drive. Let's go so we can get there before dark."

  "Why didn't Mr. Bell wait for us?" asked Allison. "He came and told us goodbye and then he left."

  Willy told them that he had been needed at the ranger station on Grey's River so he had to leave. She was worried about the close relationship that was developing between Max and her family. They would be leaving in a few days, after all.

  The trip back to the campground was beautiful. They passed the two lazy moose in their regular place by the road and called a cheerful greeting to them. They found their camp as they had left it and jumped out, eager to see if all was well. The bottle of wildflowers had been knocked over by the wind or some animal and the flowers were all dried and dead. Allison persuaded Aggie to go with her to find some new ones for their centerpiece.

  Jeffy had fallen asleep on the way and Willy let him sleep while she sorted out her cartons of film and made some notes about all that they had seen. She took stock of their supplies and decided that Tuesday needed to be spent in town buying groceries and doing laundry. Maybe they would make a day of it and spend some time at the county fair Max had told them about.

  Max. Just the name sent shivers up her spine. Would the yearning for his arms around her never cease? "It's not his arms I want," she told herself firmly. "It's Ryan's arms. But his aren't available so I just latch on to the nearest ones. How despicable! Keep your mind on your work, Willa Milton! Get a grip!"

  She decided that a walk would help clear her mind. Aggie agreed to stay with the kids for a while so Willy put a casserole in the little propane oven and figured she had about half an hour to walk the confusion out of her mind.

  She headed in the direction of the ranger station with the intention of looking at their big wall map. She needed to get a better idea of the area they had travelled in yesterday. She didn't have to worry about Max being there since she knew he was still in Grey's River. The walk did her good. She checked the map and exchanged a few words with the ranger on duty then started back to camp.

  She hadn't gone far before she heard hurrying footsteps behind her. She turned, jumpy because of animals, but it was the human variety that was trying to catch up to her. Max. Why did her heart leap just at his sight? Clamping her wayward heart shut and gritting her teeth, she turned to continue on her way.

  "Mrs. Milton," he called. "Wait just a minute."

  Unable to be rude, Willy waited in the trail, different emotions crashing through her being. "Just be polite and cool," she told herself.

  When he came up to her, Max, in a business-like manner, stated his purpose in stopping her. "I just wanted to return your frying pan," he said. "Remember that I took it to rub the grease out with sand. I forgot to give it to you before you left."

  Relieved that it was something commonplace, Willy thanked him with her eyes down and started to turn away. She couldn't meet his eyes but curiosity got the best of her. "What are you doing back already?"

  "It's time for my shift at the station," he said. "I’ll be there till closing time tonight."

  "Oh," she said, embarrassed that she had showed any interest. "Well, I left supper in the oven so I've got to hurry. Bye!" Turning on her heel, she went on her way. Why did she wish he would follow her? Why did she want to invite him to dinner? Why did she want to turn and run into his arms?

  Quickening her pace and chanting, "NO! NO! NO!" under her breath, she practically ran the rest of the way back to the camper. Aggie had the table set and Willy put the supper on the table.

  After they ate, they talked about their plans for the next day. They spent the next hour cleaning out the camper. Dust from their travels had penetrated everywhere and the grit needed to be wiped away. They gathered all the dirty clothes, changed the beds, swept and washed the floor. They planned their menus for the next several days and listed all the supplies they needed. Water was heated for showers and that time-consuming activity was accomplished. The work forced Willy to get her mind off her troubles and she was tired and ready for sleep when it was time for bed.

  After the normal preparations and trips to the restroom and the reading of the bedtime story was done, they all settled in for the night. When the lights were out and everyone was comfortable, Aggie commented, "I hope that bear stays up there and doesn't bother us here."

  "Will he, Mama?" quavered Allison?

  “I want to see that bear!” Jeffy declared in his bravest voice.

  "I don't think we need to worry about bears in this campground," she told him, not at all sure herself that her words were true. It was so dark. The loud hooting of an owl in a nearby tree brought them all up in their beds, Allison screaming. Jeffy joined in but Willy, with great self-control, swallowed her terror and tried to calm them. Even Aggie was nervous.

  They heard running feet outside and the screams started in again. There was a banging at the door and Max's voice calling, "What is it? Are you all right? What happened? Let me in!" The door was locked again in Willy’s usual careful habit or he would have wrenched it open.

  The strong bass voice instantly relieved everyone and the clamor stopped. "We're scared of bears," quavered Jeffy in a small voice.

  Willy started to call out that they were all right but Aggie was out of bed and opening the door before Willy could stop her. Max filled the doorway and found the light switch. He looked around at the big eyes and scared faces. "It sounded like you were being attacked," he said. "What happened to scare you like that?"

  "Aggie reminded us about the bear and we heard some noises," Allison said, her eyes big and scared. She crawled to the edge of the bed and held out her arms for the safe haven of Max's chest. "Is there a bear out there tonight?"

  He drew her to him and wrapped a blanket around her. "There's no bear out there," he assured her, his voice calm and quiet. "I just walked all through the campground with my dog and she would have smelled any bears. They are pretty rare in this campground anyway, and rangers know these things."

  "I still don't want to stay here anymore," Aggie said. She was not easily frightened, but the high current of emotion had badly shaken her. "Isn't there anywhere safe we can go where there aren't any bears?"

  "I'm afraid!" piped Jeffy as he snuggled up to his mother.

  "There is a campground just outside of Afton," Max told them. "There are street lights and lots of neighbors and the owners live right there. You wouldn't have to be afraid right in town."

  "Oh come on, kids," Willy said, trying to be brave but badly frightened herself, remembering the terror of the night before. "We can last out the night here, can't we? Tomorrow we can move to Afton when it's light so we can see to load up the canopy and the other stuff we've got here."

  "But it's a long time until tomorrow," Allison said, her voice quivering.

  "I'm too scared," Jeffy admitted in a whisper.

  "I’m off duty in a few minutes so I can bring my sleeping bag and sleep right outside if you want me to," Max offered. "I'll bring Suzy, my dog, and she'll let us know if even a squirrel wakes up in the night."

  A chorus of agreement and relief greeted this proposition but Willy objected, saying that that would be two nights he had spent on a hard floor and they couldn't inflict that on him again. "Please don't worry," she told him. "We'll be all right. We're calm now and I'm sure every one will settle down."

  "I don't mind at all," said Max. "I sleep out a lot under the stars and I'm used to it. Don't worry on my account."

  W
illy was determined not to get any more in his debt than she already was. "I can't let you do that," she insisted. "We'll be fine. Come on, where are all my brave warriors? Let's just talk a few minutes and get our minds on something more cheerful."

  "Let's play 'I'm Thinking Of'!" volunteered little Allison, naming her favorite game. "That always makes me cheerful!"

  Max played along with them and after a few minutes everyone was giggling and seemed to be much more calm. "What I would like to know is where the names Willy and Aggie came from," he said. "They are unusual in this day and age."

  Aggie rolled her eyes and sighed. "You tell him, Willy. I don't even like to talk about it."

  "Our father is an English teacher and loves literature. He decided to name all his children after famous authors so I am Willa for Willa Cather, our brother is Chaucer--Chaz for short, and Aggie is Agatha as in Christie. Our last name is, appropriately, Stevenson. When I met my husband, Dad immediately approved when he found out his last name was Milton."

  "Dad always wanted to change his name to Lord Byron, but he had to stick to George instead," threw in Aggie. "There must be some authors named George."

  "That explains it all," laughed Max. "I think that is great to be named after some famous people. It gives you something to reach for."

  "I hate my name!" protested Aggie. "I've always been teased about it and when I get old enough I'm going to have it changed!"

  "I used to hate my name, too, but I've gotten used to 'Willy' and I kind of like it now. It's not so bad."

  "Tell us about you now, Mr. Bell," Allison asked. "Do you like your name? Why do you still live with your parents when you're all grown up?"

  "Allison, some questions are not polite to ask," broke in Willy.

  "No, that's okay," Max assured her. "I like to talk about myself. Let's see. Yes, I do like my name. My full name is Maxwell Huffington Bell, and I only live with my parents when they visit me in the summer. I own the house now and some of the land and my mother and father live in Arizona. They come up for a month or two every year because they love it here so much. My mother has arthritis and the cold winters in Star Valley are too hard on her. Arizona is a much warmer place so they moved there a few years ago. They decided to divide up their property while they are still alive because both Lloyd and I plan to live here in the valley."

  Max stood up and stretched as well as he was able under the low ceiling of the camper. "Well, what's the plan? Do you want me to go get my sleeping bag or what?"

  Aggie whispered in Willy's ear, "Can we ask him to sleep on the floor again? We'd all feel so much safer. Please, please, please?"

  She could see that Willy was going to refuse so she took matters into her own hands and blurted out the invitation herself. "Mr. Bell, will you just sleep on the floor in here with us again tonight? Please?"

  Max looked to Willy for approval and saw the doubtful look in her eyes. "Maybe you'd be more comfortable with me outside," he said.

  The younger kids joined Aggie's request in a chorus of pleas. Willy was overruled and she finally said that it would probably be necessary if anyone was going to get any sleep. Max went out to finish his duties and close up the ranger station. He settled Suzy outside and got his sleeping bag and soon everyone was settled down for the night and asleep except Willy.

  She couldn't fall asleep for a long time. She lay curled in her bed next to Jeffy and tried to sort out her feelings. If only they had chosen somewhere else to research this summer, then she would never have met this man who had brought so much turmoil into her life.

  Still, she knew she would always treasure the way he made her feel. The strength and courage he had lent her when she had needed it would be remembered and appreciated. Then, just as sleep overtook her, she opened her heart a tiny crack and, looking inside, knew that what she felt for Max Bell was the beginnings of love. Real, true, love. Somehow, it didn't diminish the love she had known for Ryan, but it was as real. Willy accepted this new-found knowledge and, letting her heart and head rest in the peace it brought her, she slept.