The Star of All Valleys

by Vicki H. Cutler

  Chapter 12

  Morning came and the sun was high before anyone stirred. When Willy finally turned over and checked her watch, she saw that it was after nine o'clock. She sat up, not believing she had slept so late. Usually she was an early riser. Remembering their guest on the floor, she was careful to keep the blankets around herself. She needn't have bothered, though, because Max was gone. There was no sign that he had ever been there.

  Willy got out of bed and dressed and by then the others were awake. They made their usual trip to the "John" as Aggie had christened it and had breakfast.

  "Let's get everything taken down and packed away so we can move," Willy told them. They set to work and soon the campground looked as it had when they came. Aggie made sure that it was clean and they were leaving it better than they found it.

  "We'll check out at the ranger station before we head for Afton," said Willy. They drove the short distance and everyone got out to say goodbye. Willy was hoping Max was there so she could see him again, and hoping he wasn't there because she was afraid he would read the feelings she had for him in her eyes.

  He was there. When he saw them pull up, he came out. "Decided to move to less terrifying surroundings, did you?" he asked, a smile on his face.

  "Mostly we need to be close to a laundromat and grocery store," countered Willy. "I've taken all the pictures I need of this area. We'll be leaving in a couple of days and there are some other views of the valley I would like to shoot."

  "Leaving before you've canoed on Salt River or seen the buffalo herd in the Narrows or smelled the sulfur hot springs over in Auburn?" he asked. "Surely you can't make a complete article about Star Valley unless you've seen all it has to offer."

  "We'll see all we can between now and when we start for home on Friday," Willy said decisively. "There's a lot to do to get ready for Allison to start school and we need to take Aggie back home."

  "Well, I won't say goodbye yet," Max answered. "I come to town almost every day so I'll stop in and see you. Are you going to stay at the campground in Afton?"

  "Does it have a swimming pool?" asked Aggie. She had gone over a week without a swim and was feeling deprived.

  "No, but there is a nice public pool north of Afton you'd enjoy," he said. "It's even indoor so you won't get sunburned." 

  Willy told him she needed to go check out and entered the ranger station followed by the kids who wanted to say goodbye to the other rangers. Just as they walked in the door, Jeffy said in a loud voice, "Mr. Rangerbell, how did you get out of the camper this morning without waking us up?"

  "Out of the camper?" asked the pretty, young female ranger on duty, her ears pricking up. "Are we required to protect the campers as part of our job now, Boss?" The irony in her voice sounded like she was affronted that Max had shown special attention to anyone else.

  Willy looked around at her, surprised at her tone. Her wonder grew even greater when she saw Max walk around the counter and put an arm around the young lady's shoulders.

  "No, you just tend to business here and I'll protect the campers. These particular ones saw a bear up Grey's River and were still spooked so I slept on the floor to put the kids at ease."

  "The kids at ease, huh?" she said, her eyes swivelling around to study Willy. The look on her face clearly showed disbelief in his motives and Willy was shocked and nervous to find herself mixed up in what appeared to be an obvious lover's tiff. Wondering what it all meant, she completed the form, turned it in and, with a word of thanks over her shoulder, shooed the kids out the door. After all he had said and done, she had thought she herself was the current object of his gallantry. She shook her head in disbelief at her gullibility. And her envy.

  "Boy, am I ever dumb," she told herself as they climbed in the truck. "It's good I haven't let him know how I feel. He must be laughing behind my back. He’s obviously a pretty good charmer with all the ladies and I fell for it."

  Her preoccupation with Max and his love life was quickly dispelled as she had to turn her attention fully to driving on the rough, winding road down the canyon. When at last they reached the main road, she had managed to get her mind on the tasks ahead and plan the activities of the day with the children.

  They found the new campground just outside of Afton and backed into their assigned spot. It was a pleasant open area with grass and flowers. Upon exploring the place, they were pleased to see a small building with showers and even flushing toilets. No more dust, campfire smoke or chilly, tiny showers. There were even washers and dryers available so they set about getting their laundry done. Between loads, Willy watched the children play on the playground and called her parents and her neighbor in Kent. All seemed to be fine. When the laundry was finished and folded, Aggie watched the kids while Willy walked to the store nearby and bought groceries.

  They asked the campground operators about the county fair and found that it was open all day and there was a rodeo at night. They decided to walk over after supper and go on a few rides then watch the rodeo.

  As the day passed, they explored the stores in town and enjoyed buying postcards and sending them to their friends back in Kent. Each one found a few souvenirs to buy and they returned to the camper in good spirits. They ate a quick supper then began to walk the few blocks to the fair grounds.

  Their time at the carnival was wonderful. Allison and Jeffy hadn't been to one before and they stared with wonder at all the attractions. They rode all the rides they were tall enough for then wanted to ride them all again. Not having unlimited funds, Willy steered them away, bought them some cotton candy and said they needed to buy their tickets to the rodeo since it was almost time to start.

  The amazement in all their hearts at the size of the bulls being ridden by the cowboys, the speed of the calves being chased by lariat-tossing men, and the antics of the clowns was only exceeded by the height of the falls taken by the ones riding bucking broncos. The longer it lasted, the bigger their eyes got and the more awe they felt. Willy had heard of rodeos and thought she knew what they were about, but it was a revelation to her to see the danger involved. A couple of men were carried off the arena on stretchers after bad falls. Bulls chased and would have severely gored more riders except for the wild gestures of the clowns whose job was calculated to draw the attention of the bulls until the riders could reach safety. The crowd shouted advice and were loud in their approval when anyone managed to stick on the back of a bucking animal for the required eight seconds.

  Aggie was quite torn between what she thought was cruelty to animals and her admiration for the riding skills displayed. Her favorite event was the young girls and boys who competed in the barrel races. They rode superbly and their well-trained horses performed flawlessly. The family cheered when all 3 barrels were circled and the riders whipped up their mounts for the gallop back across the finish line.

  All of them greatly enjoyed the youngest riders in the barrel race. One little guy was only 3 years old, just Jeffy’s age, and was riding a big white horse that was so well-trained and careful of his tiny rider that he barely moved. He knew his way around the one barrel required for this age group but it took forever for him to carefully plod around it and then gently walk to the finish line. It was so cute and Jeffy asked if he could do that someday.

  When the finale came, they all rose to their feet with the rest of the crowd and applauded and cheered loud and long. As they moved slowly out of the grandstand, each one enthusiastically told about their favorite parts and relived the beauty and fear of the whole thing. A vendor, hoping to sell the last of her food, offered half price on yummy looking hot dogs on a stick that had been dipped in batter and deep fried that she called pronto pups. Willy gave in to her apparently starving family and they all enjoyed one. They finally reached the exit to the fair grounds and started down the street toward their camper. It had been a fun and exciting day.

  The little ones were ready for bed as soon as they got there. It was such a luxury to have electricit
y and flush toilets. They soon got cleaned up and their teeth brushed and climbed into warm beds. The kids dropped off to sleep quickly and Willy and Aggie talked quietly as they changed into pajamas. Aggie told of her lifelong desire for a horse of her own. "I wonder if there is anyplace around here that we could rent horses and have a ride," she remarked.

  "Maybe we could ask the lady in the campground office," Willy told her. "I'm sure she'll know. You need to have something fun to do. You have been such a lot of help to me this summer. I am really happy you came."

  There was silence for a long time and Willy thought Aggie had fallen asleep. Then she heard her clear her throat and hesitantly say, "Willy?"

  "Yes?"

  "Do you like Max?"

  Willy was quiet for a moment. "Why do you ask that?"

  "He's so nice. And so good-looking. I was just wondering if you had noticed."

  "I've noticed and I've appreciated all his help, but I think he's pretty well taken already. Little Miss Forest Ranger acted quite possessive today when he put his arm around her."

  "Well, you could get him if you wanted to," decided Aggie. "I've seen the way he looks at you. It makes me shiver. He's got nice eyes."

  "Yes, he has got nice eyes," agreed Willy. "He looked at that girl with them today and the look that passed between them told me a lot. There's not much chance for anyone else--even if I had the smallest desire to try to make him interested."

  "You really aren't interested?" asked Aggie. "I wish I was a few years older. I'd sure be interested."

  Willy laughed at her. "In ten years you'll be an old married lady with kids and a gorgeous husband. Whatever happened to that Norton kid? Shawn?"

  "Oh, he decided Patty Nelson was cuter than me when she had a pool party at her house. She dumped him after three weeks and he called and asked me out again, but I wouldn't even look at him. Such a dweeb!"

  "Well, there are bound to be lots of others. Are you glad to be going back to school so you can see all your friends?" Willy asked.

  "Yes, I miss all the kids. I know another boy will come along. I've already got my eyes on a few. You always have to be ready in case someone comes along that looks good." She paused then said in a big-sisterly way, imitating Willy, "You need to keep your eyes open, too, and not let any opportunity slip by. Max is a big opportunity."

  "It hasn't been long since Ryan died," answered Willy. "I'm not ready for any of that. Once you’ve loved someone, your heart is pretty well taken forever. It wouldn’t be right for me to even think of loving anyone else.”

  Aggie seemed to accept her comment and soon Willy could hear her breathing deepen and knew she was asleep. Willy lay in her blankets and let her mind dwell for just a minute on a tall, dark-haired, broad-shouldered, capable, loving, sweet-kissing man. "I have found somebody I could have loved, but it’s just not possible. I’m staying committed to keeping my promise to Ryan," she reaffirmed.

  She turned over and recited the Preamble to the Constitution until finally she fell asleep. She didn't know that not too far away, there was another sleepless person whose thoughts were on her face and whose ears were hearing her laughter and whose lips felt again her soft ones.