A Soldier's Journey (18 page)

“Right.” He went inside, put his cup in the kitchen sink, then came back to the leather-bound volume. Andy knew from her own experience that he would become engrossed in it.

She fed Joseph, then poured herself another cup of coffee and sat in one of the big chairs and watched Nate. Joseph settled down next to her.

She noticed the bandage on his head was still there. He barely limped, although she knew how painful his ankle must be. He probably still had a headache, as well. He should be home in bed.

It felt pleasant having someone in the room with her. Nate was easy to be with.

She didn't know how long she sat there. An hour, maybe, before he lifted his head. “You're right. You're with him every mile. I see exactly what Sara has in mind.” He reluctantly closed the book. “Have you had dinner?”

Andy shook her head. “I had a large lunch. I'm really not hungry.”

She was. In fact, she was ravenous. But he was arousing feelings in her that frightened her. She wasn't ready for them. She didn't know what to do with them.

He gave her a lopsided smile. “Then I should go.”

She swallowed. She didn't want him to go. But Jared intruded in her thoughts. He was standing there. Dominating the room.

Andy stood and walked to the door, leaving Nate to follow. When he opened it, he turned and looked at her. He started to touch her face, but she flinched and stepped backward.

She couldn't believe she was tempted, that she wanted his touch, wanted the tenderness that was in his smile.

But Jared was there, too, with his lopsided smile.

“Good night,” she said, more curtly than she'd intended.

“If you need anything...” he said softly, then he left.

CHAPTER TWENTY

T
HE
FIRST
MEETING
of the Covenant Falls Event Committee took place at 4:00 p.m. at the community center the next day. Maude sent sandwiches and drinks.

Bill was at the center when Andy and Sara arrived just minutes before the meeting. They'd spent the morning scanning and copying passages from the journals. They wanted everyone to get a feel for Angus's words.

Louisa and Ames Daniel arrived next and Bill introduced them to Andy. Louisa was the drama and music teacher and her husband principal of the school. Nate arrived next with Josh and Eve.

Louisa looked like a drama teacher. She had dark hair and vivid blue eyes and radiated energy. Ames had the look of an all-around good guy with a ready smile and hearty handshake. “Glad to have you in town,” he said. “Covenant Falls has grown better with the arrival of each vet, and I hear you're no exception. Welcome.”

Louisa leaned over and gave Andy a peck on the cheek, startling her. “Nate told us about your idea. It's an exciting one. I was planning a concert for the end of the year, but I'm really excited about the possibilities of an outdoor play. I think my kids will love it.”

“It's sort of a joint idea with Nate,” Andy said. “I really had very little to do with it...”

“More than a little,” came a voice behind her, and she whirled around to face Nate. He'd offered to drive her to the meeting but she'd declined.

Josh and Eve arrived next, followed by Clint and Stephanie.

Josh grinned. “Clint just graduated from the police academy, and he and Stephanie are engaged. He told me I can tell everyone.”

“I did no such thing,” Clint said, but he grinned and put an arm around Stephanie. “She wasn't easy to persuade.”

Stephanie smiled. “He's a hard guy to say no to, and if you're wondering why I am here, I'm told I'm the camel person.”

Eyes widened around the circle.

“More about that later,” Nate said. “In lieu of anyone else stepping up, I guess I'll call this little gathering to order, so to speak. I think everyone knows everyone now, but I want to explain why you in particular were invited.

“This started as a discussion about entertainment for the opening of what is now the Camel Trail Inn. We were able to get commitments for at least ten travel officials and/or writers, which was far more than I thought, and we were trying to come up with ways to entertain them.

“At the same time,” he continued, “Sara Monroe was sharing Angus Monroe's journals with Andy Stuart, who recently came here. While talking about the entries, Andy came up with the idea of an outdoor play or pageant about the founding and early years of Covenant Falls.

“While it would benefit the inn, the idea grew. Covenant Falls has so much going for it—the lake, the mountains, the waterfall and its history—but no one knows about us. We are losing population and we are losing our young people. To be frank, we are dying out.

“I know there are some who don't want the town to change. I understand that, but with a healthy tourist industry, maybe we can maintain our town much as it is and develop enough jobs to keep our children here. I don't mean anything brassy or cheap, but activities based on outdoor adventure and historical interest. We have the falls, lake, streams, abandoned gold mines, even the remnants of a ghost town if you count one broken-down cabin.

“But we think the biggest draw is our falls and our history. We all know the legends, but it took a newcomer to believe that our history is something to be shared, because it's not only our history, but the history of Colorado and the West. The question then was how best to showcase it.

“So I called several people.” He looked at Louisa. “First call was to Louisa to determine whether she thought it was feasible. I wasn't prepared for her enthusiasm.

“Sara Monroe offered to share the entries in Angus Monroe's journals, which would be the heart of any play or pageant, and she agreed to help write the play. If you are not aware, she has a degree in English and has a deep interest in history.

“Clint is here because he plays the guitar and has written several great songs. He could help develop the music with Louisa.

“Stephanie will work with any animals, including, as she said, maybe even a camel. Sara has agreed to work on a script. My mom has volunteered her sewing circle for costumes.

“Saying all that,” Nate said, “This is obviously a wild idea, which will take a huge amount of work and might well bomb. I also might be volunteering some people who have not exactly agreed to any part in this harebrained scheme.”

“Gee, you're convincing,” Clint said, prompting chuckles.

Louisa raised her hand. “I, for one, like it. I've seen all my promising students leave town. This will give my seniors a project into which they can pour their hearts. I have a senior who can do anything with lighting and a young lady who is great in staging. This would give them great experience.”

“Will they be willing to give up part of their summer for this?” Nate asked. “It will be all volunteers.”

“Some will. It will give them experience if they try to find jobs in the entertainment field,” Louisa said. “But the script will be the heart of this.”

Nate broke in. “Andy will pass out copies of a few entries in Angus's journal, thanks to Mrs. Monroe.”

After she passed out the copies, Andy watched the faces as the pages were circulated and read. She saw the growing interest in the room. The first excerpt was the opening entry in the first journal, when Angus prepared to leave Scotland. The second detailed finding his brother in New York, the third was an account of a raid on the wagon train they had joined, the fourth covered the death of Angus's brother and the last was on establishing the trading post on the lake.

Louisa's head was nodding as she glanced through the three pages. “This is good,” she said.

“This is just a sampling,” Andy said. “Mrs. Monroe—”

“Sara,” corrected Sara Monroe. “It's Sara.”

“Sara, then,” Andy said. “She thought of having a narrator read passages from the journal, maybe in a study above the stage, and then the actors could enact the scene.”

A smile spread across Louisa's face. “Or maybe Angus is writing the entry when he is older? And a younger Angus acts out the scene? I like it. I like it very much.”

“Would you be interested in helping to write it with Sara?” Nate asked. “You know scripts and drama.”

Louisa turned to Sara. “How do you feel about that?”

“I would like it very much,” Sara said.

The drama teacher's gaze went to Andy. “And you?”

“I'm not a writer, but I'll do whatever I can to help. I'm good at research.”

Nate turned to Daniel. “Can we use the school's facilities and equipment?”

“If it's a community-sponsored project.”

“Is it?” Nate asked the group.

Andy was seeing another side of Nate. He was sharp, decisive and manipulative in a good way. A little like Eve but more laid-back.

“It is,” Bill said. “We can coordinate it here at the community center, and the high school can be our partner.”

“I'll run it by the school board, but I don't think there will be a problem,” the principal said.

“We need a chair for the project,” Nate said.

“I think we already have one,” the principal said.

Nate looked questioning.

“What he means is you seem to be doing just fine,” Clint said lazily.

“I agree,” Louisa said.

“I do, as well,” Sara added.

For a moment, Nate looked trapped, then shrugged. “Time is our biggest problem. We need a rough script in, what, three weeks?” He glanced at Sara, who looked at Louisa, who looked at Andy.

“We'll try,” Louisa said.

“Clint, can you put together some possible songs from the mid-1840s? Maybe something original?”

Clint nodded. “The state song, for sure. And you and the vets can build the stage and help with the sets.”

“Bill, can you work with Andy in combing through the stuff we have in the museum and come up with items we can use?” Nate asked.

Bill nodded.

“Susan, who is managing the inn, is really competent at advertising and public relations,” Nate continued. “She can also design a program.” He looked around the room. “Any questions or comments?” he finished.

“What's this about a camel?” Louisa asked.

“Ah, you didn't grow up here,” Nate observed, “so you don't know about the camels.”

“No, I'm an import. I'd heard you changed the name of the inn,” she said. “I didn't know why.”

Nate explained how Angus had bought the camels and how they'd made quite an impact on Covenant Falls.

Louisa laughed. “I love it, but are you really going to try to get camels? I mean, should they be in the script?”

“That's kinda up to you three,” Nate said.

“You're giving us that much power?” Louisa quipped.

“Hell, it seems I'm king of the world,” Nate said, “and I have no idea how it happened.”

Everyone laughed. Andy looked around and saw the obvious affection everyone had for him. And respect. It was the other side of the easygoing Nate she was getting to know.

Then Daniel asked the next question. “Are you proposing to do this one night, a weekend or a week?”

“Sorta depends on how well this goes,” he said. “Ideally, I would like to see it be a weeklong annual affair, something entertaining enough to bring visitors from throughout Colorado and even farther. I've noticed that many towns have really revived after holding events for Western storytellers, rodeos or music festivals.

“We don't have much in rooms,” he continued, “but maybe we can convince some residents to provide bed-and-breakfast rooms. We have some grand old homes here.”

“What would Covenant Falls offer in addition to the play?” Daniel asked.

“Jeep trips up to the abandoned gold mine and ghost town. Horseback riding. Fishing. Swimming later in the summer. Hiking. Rafting down the river. We're planning a Maude-catered brunch at the waterfall, which could be an ongoing offering for tourists.”

Heads nodded.

“I would love to see the other journals,” Louisa said.

Sara piped up. “I've made a list of pivotal entries,” she said, “and I suggest we start with those because time is so limited, but you can come over anytime and look at the journals.”

“Why don't we meet Monday after school,” Louisa said, “and you can show me the entries you think will work.”

Sara nodded. “That will give me time to select, and copy, usable passages.” She looked at Andy. “Four p.m. okay? You can have dinner with us.”

Louisa nodded. “Daniel has a school board meeting that often runs late.”

Andy nodded as well, but added, “I think I'm here under false pretenses. I'm not a writer.” She had said that over and over again and no one paid any attention.

Sara smiled. “This was all your idea,” she said.

Andy's instinct was to run away from home—or her temporary residence that was fast becoming home. What had she gotten herself into? What had she gotten Nate into? And Eve? What if it was a giant flop?

What if...?

The meeting broke up then. Sara left for home, but the rest stayed and ate Maude's sandwiches and coleslaw, then the others left as well, leaving Bill and Nate and Andy.

“How's your ankle?” she asked for lack of anything better to say when Bill disappeared to turn out lights everywhere.

“Better.”

“You should stay off it, you know.”

“Somehow that's difficult around you. You seem to stir things up.” He grinned. “If you told me two weeks ago I would be chairing a committee to produce a pageant in seven weeks, I would have thought you were crazy,” he said.

She stood and put the sandwich wrappings in a nearby trash can. “But you were good. Really good. Everyone seemed on board.” She frowned as she said the last. “But can it really be done?”

He shrugged. “There's a lot of talent here, and the people usually rise to a challenge. The community center, for instance. No one believed it could be done. Still,” he added, “I know it's a very short time, and a lot of people could be disappointed.”

That was the Nate she liked. There were so many things to like, and she was finding more every day. He had a natural leadership. She hadn't noticed it until tonight. But then, she hadn't seen him in that role before. She had seen the sensitive guy who'd welcomed her and the relaxed one with his friends at Eve's house and with Eve's son. There was the man who was fixing a home for an elderly friend and the one completely abashed by his fall and injuries.

She liked all of them.

“Did you walk?” he asked.

She nodded.

“Joseph?”

“I wasn't sure he would be welcomed by everyone. I noticed Josh didn't bring Amos.”
Small talk. Keep talking and don't look into those warm hazel eyes and strong chin and a smile that would charm gargoyles.
“Do you always take charge like that?”

“No one else was going to do it,” Nate replied.

“What about Josh?”

“He likes to be in the background.”

“And you don't?”

He shrugged. “I grew up with most of these people. Josh is a newcomer.”

Bill came in. “Closing up now,” he said.

“It looks as if we're being run out,” Nate said.

“No longer king of the world.”

“A quick reign. All work. No respect. No glory.”

“Poor baby,” she observed.

“See, that's what I mean.” He folded the last of the chairs and placed it against the wall. “Can I drive you home?”

Caution told her no. Fear told her no. Good sense told her no. She nodded.