Guthrie left after breakfast to go get Kristin for the day. I helped Hannah and Clare get a bunch of food together, packing it all in
coolers.
Hannah and Clare were talking about how Crane was going to pick Cindy up, and bring her back for the picnic, too. I could tell from the way
they both talked that they liked Cindy, and thought she was a good fit for Crane. I began to think about Crane, and about Evan, too.
Where would we put everybody in the house, when one or both of them got married at some point?
By late morning, everybody, including the extra non-McFaddens, were headed to the creek for a picnic. Blankets, and it took several,
were spread under the shade of trees, and a game of horseshoes ensued. Kristin and Guthrie and I went to dig up the old canoe, taking it
for a float, and all three of us ended up wet pretty quickly.
When we trudged back up to where the rest of the family was, Crane gave us all a raised eyebrow look.
"Did you go out in the canoe?" he asked.
"Yeah," Guthrie said, with a laugh.
"You knew that there's holes in it, and it wouldn't stay afloat," Crane said.
"That was part of the fun," Guthrie said, and flopped down on a blanket, tugging Kristin down beside him.
I wanted a chance to have the sun dry my wet jeans, so I went to sit, cross-legged, and watch while Daniel and
Ford, Brian and Adam played horseshoes.
Crane and Cindy were sitting on one of the blankets, talking to Hannah and Clare. I didn't know where Evan and Nancy
had gotten to. Probably off making out somewhere, I thought, and then was surprised at myself for being so hateful. I mean, if they
were making out, it was their business. They were almost engaged, after all.
We ate our lunch in one huge circle, settled on adjoining blankets. Once lunch was over, a new game of horseshoes was
started. I was sipping at my Styrofoam cup of sweet tea when I felt a poke in my side, and looked up at Nancy.
"Want to go for a walk with me?" she asked.
I wanted to say no, that I did not want to go for a walk with her. She was, I figured, going to jump me about Evan and I's ongoing
situation. But Adam, lying on his back with his head in Hannah's lap, turned to look at me. Hannah was watching and listening, too.
Thinking there was no graceful way to refuse without drawing a bunch of unwanted attention, I got to my feet, taking my unfinished
apple with me.
We'd walked for just a couple of moments when she said, "This is nice. Everybody being together."
"Uh huh," I said, biting into my apple.
"Everybody's sure glad to have Daniel home," she said next.
"Yeah," I agreed.
"It's a long drive from here to Tennessee," she said. Her tone was casual, but I looked at her, feeling suspicious, wondering
what she was getting at.
I took another bite of my apple, and said nothing.
Finally, so suddenly that I was startled, she grabbed hold of my wrist, and stopped, coming to a complete stand-still. Once she
succeeded in pulling me to a stop, too, she put her hands on her hips and faced me down.
"You want to tell me what in heck is the matter with you?" she demanded.
I spit out the two bites of apple that were filling up my mouth. "What?"
"Don't play dumb with me, Harlie," she said. "You avoided me last night, and you're doing it again today. If you're mad at me about
something, then just come out and tell me."
She was making no attempt to be quiet, and I hoped that we were out of earshot of the rest of the family.
"I'm not mad at you," I said.
"Well, it sure seems as though you are."
"I'm not," I denied.
"Then why the cold shoulder?" she asked.
"I figured you were mad at me," I said, in explanation.
"Why would I be?"
"Because of Evan," I said.
Nancy rolled her eyes. "Oh, that."
"Come on," she said, and we started walking again. After a couple of moments, she said, "I'm trying to stay out of it. It's really between
you and him."
"Yeah. But I thought you might have an opinion about what I did to him," I said.
"Well, yeah, I have an opinion about it. But that doesn't mean that I'm gonna take it out on you, or treat you like you've been
treating me," she said.
Ouch. I winced at that, mindful again of just how blunt Nancy could be.
"I'm sorry for not talking to you last night. And today," I told her.
"You could have just got me alone, and asked me straight out. Or told me you didn't want my opinion," she said.
"Okay. I'm sorry," I said again.
"Alright," she said.
We stopped to pick a bunch of wildflowers, both of us rolling up the legs of our jeans. When we were starting the
walk back to where everybody was, I asked her just what her opinion actually was.
She gave me a long look, and then responded in typical Nancy-fashion.
"Well, I think it's mean what you did to him. He felt so bad because he was the one here at home with you, and that's when you
took off. He felt responsible."
"I know," I said glumly. "He doesn't have to feel responsible, though. I was going to do it, no matter what."
"Even if he tells himself that, he still feels responsible. And he's hurt. I mean, his feelings are really hurt, Harlie."
"I know," I said again, feeling miserable. I sighed. "I've tried talking to him. I've tried apologizing. I made him cookies, even. And
he just thinks I was trying to work him, and get around it."
"I'll try talking to him," Nancy said.
"No, don't do that," I said quickly, and she gave me a puzzled look.
"How come?" she asked.
"Because. It's like Daniel said, it's my place to take care of it. Even though he tried to talk to Evan about it. Daniel doesn't know
I know that," I added with a shrug. "Anyway, if it gets fixed with us, it'll be because I did the work for it, and because Evan wants
it fixed."
Nancy gave me a look, and shook her head a little. "You McFaddens," she said. "You're really quite a group, you know that?"
"Maybe you should run from us while you still can," I said, jokingly.
"Not a chance," Nancy said, and looped her arm around my shoulders.
When we all got back to the house, there were some chores to do, and then Guthrie proudly showed everybody his
"find" of the day, from a garage sale in Murphys that morning. A croquet set, with four mallets and all the balls, and the little
wire things you knock the ball through.
"I'm gonna set it up," he said, and ambled off to do just that in the side yard. Daniel and Kristin, Crane and Cindy and I stood
watching him, while Warrior began to pick up the wire things as soon as Guthrie set them down. Prancing off with them in his mouth,
and then dropping it, looking over to see if I was proud of his trick.
"Stop it, you dumb dog," Guthrie hollered.
"Don't call my dog dumb!" I hollered back at him. "That's really intelligent, what he's doing!"
"He's dumb!" Guthrie insisted. "Come and get him, or I'll never get this set up."
"Go get your dog, peanut," Crane said, while he was laughing. "I'll help Guthrie."
I went to get the offending dog, taking him off to the barn, where I put him in one of the stalls.
"I'll let you out in a little while," I promised him.
We played croquet, and pretty much everybody took a turn. Hannah was laughing so hard she kept missing
most of her shots. I was glad to see most of the sad, haggard look was gone from her face.
We ate a simple supper, of leftovers, and snacks, and nearly everybody gathered on the front porch in the late part of the
afternoon, while Daniel played his guitar. When the mosquitos got really bad, we moved inside.
I was tired, and mostly happy when I headed up to bed. The rollaway cot was all set up for Kristin in my room like it always
was when she spent the night. I thought if every weekend could be like this one, full of people, and friends over, then
I just might be able to survive until Adam let me off of my grounding.
7
We made quite a crowd the next morning at church. Cindy wasn't with us, but Marie was, and Nancy and Kristin. We filled
two pews with just us. That afternoon it started to rain, so we stayed inside mostly, playing board games. Ford planned on
going back to college the next morning, and that night after supper and showers, Ford came in and laid on my bed, on his back with his
arms under his head, and I read out of our mother's journal to him. I had already read most of it, but I didn't mind reading it
again. I was laying the opposite way from him, so that my feet were near his face.
When I'd read up to the part where Daniel was born, my voice was getting sort of raspy.
"You can stop there," he said. "We'll read more when I come home again."
"Okay," I said, closing the worn journal. I fluffed up the pillows under my head, and looked up at my ceiling.
"It's so great to have that," Ford said.
"Yeah," I agreed.
Ford was so quiet for awhile that I sat up to look at him, thinking he was asleep.
"I'm awake," he said, opening his eyes when I poked him.
"Okay, cause it'd be super rude to fall asleep when you're supposed to be talking to me," I informed him.
"Yeah?"
"Uh huh. I'll make you smell my feet if you try to sleep," I said, giggling, and poking my bare foot up near
his face.
"Get that out of my face, or I will go to sleep," Ford threatened. "The smell will knock me out."
I laughed, and moved my foot, sitting up, and pulling my legs up.
"You're coming home for the whole summer, right?" I asked him.
"Well, duh. Why wouldn't I?" he asked.
"I was just hoping you weren't going to get a job and stay there this summer," I said.
"Naw. I'm needed here. Roundup and all. I've only got two more weeks, and then I'm done for the year at school."
"Good," I said with satisfaction.
"How's it going?" he asked me then. "Working stuff out with everybody since you got home?"
"It's going alright," I said. "For only a week, I mean. Brian and I are okay, I think."
"What about Adam?" he asked.
"I think alright. He doesn't act like he's angry with me. I mean, he gave me a big punishment, but he talks to me
about other stuff, and he took me out to eat."
"That's good. Adam's fair," Ford said.
"Yeah," I agreed.
I was going to bring Evan up, but I didn't. Mainly because I didn't want to bring Ford into it. At least not yet. And also
because I was tired of talking about Evan. I only had Ford for a little while longer, and I didn't want to ruin my time with him.
The next morning, before Guthrie and I left for school, we said our goodbyes to Ford.
He was standing on the porch with Guthrie and I, and Adam, still in his sweat pants and barefoot. Guthrie gave him a
brief hug, and then went to wait on the bottom step for me to say my goodbye, and Adam followed, talking to Guthrie.
I hung onto Ford so tightly that he groaned a little. "Loosen up a little, Har," he told me.
"No," I said stubbornly. "I don't want to let you go."
"I'll be home in two or three weeks," he reminded me. "And then I'll be around for the whole summer."
"Okay," I said, still hanging on.
"What's the matter?" he said, lowering his voice, to where I was the only one who could hear him.
"I don't know," I said. "I just feel funny about saying goodbye to you."
"You're alright," he said, and pried my arms loose. "You're alright," he said again, firmly.
I looked into his blue eyes, and shrugged.
"You are," he insisted. "Just keep doing what you're doing, and don't do anything dumb."
When I just looked at him, he said, "Nothing dumb. Promise."
"I'm not going to do anything dumb," I told him.
"You'd better not," he said. "I'd hate to have to get tough with you."
That made me smile. "Okay, Ford," I said, doubtfully.
"You think I won't?" he threatened, and doing his best to make a fierce face at me.
"Come on, Har," Guthrie called out. "We're gonna be late."
I gave Ford a last hug, and went down the stairs to walk with Guthrie.
"Have a good day at school," Adam said, just like he did every morning.
7
The Wednesday night of that week signaled the end of my evening English class. Cindy told me that I would
be ending the class with a B-plus.
"Only three points from an A-," she told me, when we were walking out together to the parking lot. "I know that seems
sort of unfair-" she added.
I could tell she felt bad about it, and I said, "No. A B-plus is okay," I told her. "Crane will be happy with that."
"Well, you've done very well, for being only a sophomore in high school," she said. "Have you thought about taking more
college classes this summer?"
"I've thought about it," I said. I didn't want to explain to her that I most likely wouldn't be doing that, since I probably wouldn't
be allowed to drive there. And in the summer, my brothers would all be too busy to drive me to and from a class.
"I'll get you the list of classes that are going to be available this summer," she said. "So you can look them over and decide."
I wondered if I should just speak up and tell her not to bother.
I studied her as we walked. She really was nice.
"I'm not sure if I'm going to be taking any this summer," I said. "I'm grounded from driving, for probably a while, and there's nobody
that would be able to bring me back and forth every single week."
"Oh." She looked thoughtful, but not judgmental. We were waiting for about another five minutes or so when the Jeep
came pulling into the parking lot. And, no big surprise here, Crane was the one driving. It figured that he would take
an opportunity to see Cindy.
He pulled up and stopped, turning off the ignition. He gave us both a smile, and got out.
Cindy smiled back at him, but they didn't kiss hello or anything like that.
"How was class?" he asked, to both of us in a general way.
"Good," I told him.
"All wrapped up," Cindy said. "I'll be mailing out the grade cards in a few days."
"Cool," Crane said.
She smiled at Crane again. "I've got to get going. My roommate needs a ride home from work." To me she said, "I'll let you
tell Crane how you did."
I told her goodbye, and went to get into the Jeep. They stood together for a few minutes, talking, and then Crane walked her
to her car. When he was in the Jeep, and starting the engine, we both waved as Cindy drove past us.
As we drove, out of Angels Camp, Crane said, "Well, you did it, huh?" and patted my knee.
"Yeah."
"How does it feel to have your first college class under your belt?" he asked.
"It feels good," I said. "Cindy says I'm getting a B-plus."
Crane whistled. "Good job, girl."
I gave him a long look. "You're not disappointed, are you?" I asked him.
He turned to me. "Why would I be disappointed?"
"I might have gotten an A, if I hadn't gotten so wrapped up in the whole Karissa thing," I explained.
"A B-plus for a college class, is good for anybody. Add in that you're two years away from even being college age, and
that makes it more than good. That makes it darn awesome," he said. "I'm really proud of you."
"Thanks," I said, and smiled at him a little. I hesitated and then said, "Cindy asked me if I was going to take any
more classes this summer."
When Crane didn't say anything, I added, "I told her probably not, since I may not be driving, and everybody will be too
busy to take me."
He gave me a look. "I'd say that was the correct answer."
I sighed a little. "Yeah." I could tell by the way that he answered, that he wasn't going to encourage me taking any
summer classes, and maybe being allowed to drive myself there. He was more than likely in agreement with Adam about my
heavy grounding.
"There's no reason you can't do stuff on your own this summer," Crane said. "You can ask Cindy about some of the
reading that's assigned in the next class, and get those books from the library. Have Ford help get you acquainted with geometry.
There's lots of things you can do on your own to prepare."
I could tell he wanted me to be positive about his suggestions, so I obligingly said, "Okay. I'll do the reading. I'm not
sure about the geometry part, though. Just the word geometry gives me the heebee jeebies."
"Ford can help you. It's what he's good at," Crane said.
I nodded, and leaned my head back a little, suddenly tired.
When we got home, Daniel was sitting on the front porch swing in the beginnings of dusk, guitar in hand.
"Hey," he greeted both of us.
"How's our college gal?" he asked Crane then.
"She's doing great. B-plus on her first class," Crane said, sounding proud.
Daniel whistled. "I knew you could do it, squirt."
"Thanks," I said.
Then it seemed to me as if Crane and Daniel exchanged an unspoken message between them. Crane gave me
a pat on the back, and said, "I'll let you two talk for awhile," and went inside, letting the screen door flap shut.
I looked at Daniel, and he was leaning his guitar against the porch railing in front of him.
"What's going on?" I asked, feeling a pit begin in my stomach.
"Come sit with me," Daniel said, patting the spot beside him in the swing.
"You're leaving," I said, with a heavy sigh. I knew it instinctively.
"Come on," Daniel said, and held out an arm to beckon me over.
I went to sink down heavily beside him in the swing. I could already feel my emotions running rampant.
He put his arm around my shoulders. "I've gotta get back," he said.
"I know," I said, in resignation, and sighed again.
"I'll be back in a month, though. For the summer."
I turned my head to look at him. "For the whole summer?" I specified.
"The whole summer," he promised.
"Okay," I said quietly. "When are you leaving?"
"Tomorrow morning. Early."
"In the morning?" I asked him incredulously. "You could have given a person some notice, you know."
"I didn't really decide until today. I talked to Red. And then I talked to Crane. And then I talked to Adam. They say
I'm needed here this summer, so I'm comin' home."
"What about your gig at the Palamino Club?" I asked.
"We only signed on until the end of the month, anyway. The run was about up," Daniel said.
"What will you do when the summer's over?" I asked.
"I'm gonna work on some songs this summer. We'll see how things go."
"But you'll go back after the summer?" I asked insistently. "To Nashville?"
"More than likely, I will."
I nodded. "Okay."
"I'm leavin' real early. Four or four-thirty in the mornin'. So I thought I'd say my goodbyes to everybody tonight," he said.
I gave him a serious look. "I hate to think of you driving all that way alone."
Daniel leaned over and kissed the top of my head. "Thanks. That's sweet."
"Well, I mean it," I said. "Now that I know how horrible it is-well I just hate it that you have to do it
by yourself."
Daniel squeezed my shoulders. "I'll be fine."
"I'm going to be worried every minute," I went on.
"Listen to you carry on," he said, sounding amused.
"Well, I will be. Will you call when you stop at a motel for the night?" I asked.
"I will, unless I drive straight thru."
I sat straight up, and away from him. "Daniel, please don't!"
"It's alright, squirt-" he began.
"No! It's not alright! It's a terrible trip-it's long and you'll get too tired. You might fall asleep and have
an accident or something! Promise me you won't!"
For a moment or two Daniel was quiet, and then he said, "I promise."
"Okay," I said, and relaxed a little, leaning back again.
"Now you promise me something," he said.
"What?"
"Promise to keep doin' what you're doin'."
"What do you mean?" I asked him, taking his loose hand in mine, and rubbing my fingers over his knuckles.
"You know what I mean," he said.
"Yes. You mean behave myself. Right?"
"Right. Keep talkin', and sharing how you're feeling with everybody. If something's bothering you, then speak up.
And no lying," Daniel said.
I leaned my head back against his arm. "I promise to keep trying," I said, still rubbing his hand.
"Okay," he said, and then we sat, not talking anymore, and watched the stars begin to come out.
7
