Class Clown (The Thornback Society #4)

10. Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Ruby’s Truth: A little sweat can heal what ails you.

On Monday morning, the first day after a fresh batch of campers had arrived, one of our camp counselors dropped with a stomach bug. I examined her and sent her off to the recuperation and quarantine room in the health center.

“Hope you’re prepared for a barf fest,” I told Kristy as I left the room and made my way back to the main exam area where I washed up thoroughly. “There’s no way that bug isn’t going to rip through camp.”

“You don’t think we caught her fast enough?” Kristy asked as she sanitized the exam table, wearing a mask and latex gloves that matched her blue pants.

“The problem is that she spent the whole night around people and slept in the same cabin with everyone. I hope I’m wrong, but I’ve seen it happen before.”

A knock on the doorjamb had me and Kristy looking that direction. I assumed it was already our next patient, but Cole stood in the doorway with his clipboard and a frown. I’d be frowning too if I was running a camp from printed out schedules and clipboards, but Cole insisted the ancient methods served him best, especially considering the WiFi situation.

His black hair was rumpled, which really complimented his wrinkled shirt and shorts. The guy had a serious need to pull himself together, but I’d kept my mouth shut because the measure of a man isn’t in his clothing, and camp was running smoothly so far. If his insides were a mess, I’d have staged an intervention.

“Can one of you go on today’s hike with cabin six?” he asked, flipping pages fast enough that I doubted he was able to read any of them. “We’re short one counselor thanks to sickness, and no one else can get away.”

Hiking? I could hike, but I was much better at meandering. Kristy was fit and chipper, and would probably enjoy the chance to leave the health center and socialize a bit. I looked her way, expecting her to jump at it, but she was looking down at her feet and frowning.

Cole stopped flipping papers and glanced between us. “Okay. Since neither of you are jumping in here, I guess Kristy? Can you go? That way Ruby can stay here to staff the health center.”

“How long is the hike?” Kirsty asked hesitantly.

Confused, I gave her a thorough once-over. Kristy was usually up for anything, and asked no questions. Why would she be hesitant about this hike?

“It’s about a four hour round trip, but it’s not hiking the whole time. They go slow, they eat lunch and explore for a while. There’s a lesson on the native plants and animals. The other counselor will cover that. It shouldn’t be strenuous,” Cole replied, obviously as confused as I was.

Kristy blushed and held out her ankle. “The thing is, I sort of twisted my ankle on a hike Saturday. It’s okay for regular activity, as long as I sit a bit, but I’m not sure if I can push it that hard yet. I’m walking with a limp.”

Oh boy, I was winning oblivious award. How had I not noticed her limping around this morning? I looked at her ankle to give it my own assessment. I didn’t see swelling or bruising, but I also wasn’t right up against her ankle area with a magnifying glass and she had on boots.

“I feel bad leaving you to handle anything that happens in here today,” I said. And just to be extra clear on what that meant, I mimicked someone heaving.

She smiled at my antics. “I’ll be fine,” she replied.

“You okay with me being off site for half the day?” I asked Cole.

He tapped his foot. “I don’t like it, but I don’t see much of a choice. It’s a girl’s cabin, which means we need a woman to step in.”

“Alright.” I nodded. “What do I need to do to prepare?”

“Nico is in the cafeteria helping the campers pack their lunches. You have time to run back to our cabin and change into your hiking boots, grab your day pack, and meet him there. I’ll let him know you’re coming,” Cole instructed as he scribbled something on his clipboard.

“Nico? Is he leading the hike?” Kristy asked.

Cole nodded, still looking down at his papers. “Yeah. He enjoys hiking so he’s the official trail guide. It leaves the two counselors free to focus more on the kids rather than map reading.”

It explained why I didn’t see him a lot during the day. It also explained his general chill level. If I spent all day hiking, I’d be more Zen, that’s for sure. Or at least too tired to make trouble.

Kristy sank down onto the stool near the exam table. “Who is the other counselor going?”

“Gina,” Cole stated.

This was good news for me. I’d planned to get to know her better, but she’d been gone all weekend. Now I’d been thrown a bone. It would be good to see how her and Nico interacted too.

Kristy’s body language, however, screamed crestfallen . Nico aside, Gina was her best friend up here and it would have been a fun opportunity to hang out mid-week.

Cole popped out abruptly after that and I gave Kristy a commiserating glance. “I’m so sorry. Are you sure your ankle can’t handle it?”

She nodded sadly. Poor Kristy. She was about to miss out on a golden opportunity, and then get to hear all about it from her friend. Gina had been low level flirting with Nico for weeks now, and he’d been oblivious to it. I had a feeling that today she was going to turn up the heat and I would have a front row seat. Best day ever.

“Well, have fun,” Kristy moped. “I can’t wait to hear about it.”

“Good luck here,” I responded, and headed out the door with a smile in spite of the fact that I wasn’t a tip-top shape hiker. I was a smell-the-roses kind of person. Easily distractable , was how some of my teachers had put it.

I did as Cole instructed, changing my jeans into the new purple quick-dri pants I’d ordered and slipping on my good hiking boots. I was excited to try out the new breathable pants, knowing I was going to sweat. Look, I’m a curvy girl and I know women like to say they glisten, but I sweat. I’ve accepted it, I’ve moved on from the years of hating it, and I’m prepared for it. Double swipes of triple strength deodorant would help. So would pulling up my hair and tying a bandana around my forehead to keep the drips from going into my eyes, because sweat stings. It didn’t hurt that the bandana made me look tough.

I rubbed on some sunscreen and slung my pack on my back. I had pre-loaded it with supplies before coming to the camp and was secure in my preparedness level. No one was going to go without medical attention on this hike.

I hustled up the path, throwing a scowl at porcupine Quinn as he hobbled along to the side of me, and joined up with the crew in the cafeteria as they were finishing up lunch prep. Nico looked up from where he was helping a young boy put the straps of his small pack over his skinny shoulders.

“Cole told you I’m the substitute help today?” I asked. He nodded. “What do you need?”

He directed me to my lunch, which someone had already made, and a filled canteen, which I strapped over my shoulder letting it bump against my hip. Gina gave me a friendly wave, her face light with the joy I knew she must be feeling. I waved back as I tucked my lunch into my pack, and before too long we were in a single file line marching our way into the forest.

Quinn followed.

Darn that rodent. I wished he’d just quill me, stink me out, and put me out of my misery, because this waiting for the attack was shredding my nerves. I’d tried to internalize Nico’s advice and strive for a peaceful ignoring, but I was half afraid to walk under any trees. The forest rangers were taking their sweet time to re-home him. Every day they didn’t show up was a day Quinn grew more confident. He was no longer hiding in the long grasses. He was out in the open. And believe me, our relationship was public knowledge. The entire camp staff found it hilarious to watch this big round ball of death-needles waddle around camp after me. Cole even said he hoped the forest rangers didn’t come, because Quinn was great at letting him know where I was. They clearly didn’t see the malevolence in his aura. (Not that I see auras, I simply felt like being super dramatic there.)

Nico was at the front of the line, striding along confidently, a ball cap tugged low over his eyes. He had on athletic wear, and moved with the confidence of a man who’d hiked many miles over various terrains. In my private thoughts I’d stopped pretending that I didn’t enjoy the way he moved. He was nice to watch. Gina seemed to agree, because she’d taken up a spot in the middle of the line and not looked away from Nico’s back even once.

Meanwhile, the kids - who I’d learned were in the youngest cabin of campers, making them eight years-old - were chasing grasshoppers and pointing out butterflies, and falling out of line. Nico didn’t notice, probably because he was used to military life and expected to be followed with no questions asked. Gina didn’t notice because she was laser-focused on Nico. I noticed, and followed them to see all the things they were pointing out. There were eight of the little scamps and I found their gap-toothed smiles and shouts of excitement irresistible.

We were all huddled around an ant hill several minutes into our hike, crouched down to see better, when our fearless leader and his number one fan finally noticed they were on a hike for two.

“Oh,” I heard Gina call out.

I looked up in time to see Nico stop and turn around. They were far enough ahead of us by that point that I couldn’t see the looks on their faces. Gina laughed and began to jog back toward us, but Nico stood still, watching and waiting.

I raised from my crouch and adjusted my pack. “Alright, kiddos, it looks like Nico and Gina got ahead of us a bit. Let’s keep going. I’m sure there will be other things to see on the way.”

“But if we walk too fast that porcupine friend won’t be able to keep up with us,” one of the campers said, pointing to where Quinn had laid down to sun himself.

“I think he’ll be okay,” I replied with an eye-roll, not at them, but at the porker on the ground. “Let’s get moving.”

Gina had rejoined us and she cheerfully herded the kids back into their number order and marched them forward to catch up with Nico. Her hair blazed bright in the sunlight and I thought it was so beautiful against the backdrop of green forest and blue sky. Her fiery coloring mixed with Nico’s dark, moody looks would create stunning children. My mind whirled with the possibilities.

“Sorry,” she said to me with a sheepish grin. “I can’t believe I lost track of the kids.”

I wiggled my eyebrows and looked ahead meaningfully. “I’m sure the view was taking up your attention. ”

She giggled. “No complaints there, right?”

The kids stayed in line better once we reached the trees, simply because the path was narrow and there weren’t as many animals and things frolicking around. The shade felt wonderful, and the scent of the pine all around me had me falling into my own sort of trance. The crunching of footsteps on the dry pine needles, and occasional bird calls were heavenly. I looked up, enjoying peeks at the deep blue sky, and reached out my fingers to run them over the rough bark as we passed through, zig-zagging lazily.

I wondered how I could get Nico on a private hike for two with Gina. Maybe I could offer to take the kids back early, or leave something at the picnic site that only Gina and Nico could retrieve. I knew that neither of those plans would work, but I wasn’t afraid of a little brainstorming.

“How much further?” the little girl in front of me asked.

I shrugged. “I have no idea. I’ve never been on this hike. But I think it’s really pretty.”

“Yeah. My mom would say that too,” she grumped.

I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing. “Do you want me to teach you a song to sing while we walk? It might make it more fun.”

She lifted her shoulders up and down quickly. “If you want.”

More squelched laughter. “Alright. Here we go.” I launched into song, and the entire line stopped and turned to look at me as I did. “Do your ears , do they wobble to and fro, can you tie them in a knot, can you tie them in a bow, can you throw them over your shoulder like a continental soldier? Do your ears, hang low?”

I looked around at the group and was happy to see the kids and Gina laughing. Nico was doing his typical observation technique, but with one side of his mouth pulled up, and his smile grew when some of the braver kids joined me for the last line.

Seeing that they liked it I kicked it off again. “Let’s walk while we sing. Join me this time!” The line turned and little feet began marching as we sang the first verse again. “Do your ears hang low, do they wobble to and fro, can you tie them in a knot, can you tie them in a bow, can you throw them over your shoulder like a continental soldier? Do your ears, hang low?”

I taught them the second verse and we all sang that before moving along to Baby Bumblebee, and On Top of Spaghetti. By the time we broke from the trees into a large, high meadow near a pond, I wasn’t sure my vocal cords would make it. Yet, I hadn’t felt so free and relaxed in a while. As we’d hiked through the gorgeous scenery, singing at the top of our lungs, with lots of giggling in between, my burdens had lightened.

Sure, life could be lonely for a romance-obsessed thirty-something, but it was definitely not empty. There were happy moments all the time.

The kids scampered away toward the pond, dropping their packs here and there, with so much energy you’d never guess we’d spent the past hour hiking. Nico set down his pack and followed after them. Probably smart to head off any water incidents. Gina and I fell into step side-by-side and she watched it all with a big smile.

“The singing was fun,” she said. “If you’re not careful you’re going to get asked to come on all the hikes.”

“I’m afraid that this was a one-time performance. I don’t think I have the stamina to do that repeatedly,” I replied, whipping off my backpack and moving my shoulders in satisfaction as a breeze blew over the sweaty patches. “This, right here,” I said to Gina, pointing to the damp bandana on my forehead, “is the only way I keep all the guys from knocking on my cabin door day and night. Without my sweat issues I’d be a straight 10.”

We laughed together as we began gathering up the little backpacks the kids had flung in all directions and moved them toward a flat spot near the edge of the pond. Gina opened one of the packs and pulled out a lunch, and I followed suit, until all the lunches were laid out and ready for a picnic.

As we did it, I drilled her with questions. If she thought it was strange, she didn’t ask. I’d had a lot of time with Kristy, but hardly any with Gina and I needed to know about her. All her answers were good enough for me. She had parents, she was an only child, she loved nature and was carefree but organized. Plus, cute babies would be made.

I wondered if I’d been thinking about this the wrong way. Maybe I should set Nico up with both Gina and Kristy. I’d arrange chance encounters, and talk them both up. Then, he’d pick the one he liked best, thus allowing him to think it was all his idea. Hmmm. There might be something to that.

“I honestly do not know how you get anything done while Nico is sharing your cabin,” Gina said under her breath as she took a seat on a rock. I sat too and watched with an inward smile as she once again stared longingly at the man in question. “I would be so self-conscious all the time, making sure my hair was brushed and my breath was fresh, wondering if I snored or not.”

“It really helps that I don’t like Nico that way, so no biggie. The other day I had to use the bathroom while he was shaving and I ran in there doing the potty dance and basically shoved him out the door.”

Gina laughed and Nico looked back toward us as I joined in. I took the opportunity to wave at him. He lifted his chin in greeting and went back to watching the campers as they tried to skip rocks.

“So, Gina, what are you looking for in a guy?” I asked, not even attempting to be subtle.

She tilted her head toward Nico. “Whatever he’s got, I’ll take it.”

I smiled. “The quiet, strong type, huh?”

She nodded. “His silence makes him more mysterious.”

Mystery Man himself blew a whistle that got everyone’s attention and the kids started heading back our way for lunch. They got settled in a semi-circle and Gina launched into her talk about nature and the plants and animals we saw on the hike. She was a natural with the kids, and as they watched her I watched Nico. He seemed interested in what she was saying, and his expression was relaxed. I could build on that.

One of the kids shot her hand in the air. “Do you think animals have meetings like this where they learn about people?”

I bit my lips together to keep from laughing out loud. When I looked away from the kid, my eyes caught Nico as he glanced my way. He offered me a small, amused smile. My smile grew, until I realized we were sharing a moment. I blinked and hurried to look back at Gina, wondering when we’d formed that type of comradery.