Class Clown (The Thornback Society #4)

11. Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Ruby’s Truth: If a well-formed shoulder presents itself, there’s nothing wrong with giving it a little squeeze.

It was raining. It had started out as a drizzle, and I’d willingly turned my sweat-drenched face to the sky, but now it was a deluge. Nice prank, Arizona. Desert my foot.

“My mom said it wasn’t supposed to rain,” one of the little hikers grumped.

Yeah. My internet searches had said monsoon season came in August or September and other than that I could expect very little rain in the Flagstaff area. Too bad this was now the second time it had rained. Proof that Mother Nature will not be locked down by the internet’s predictions.

The trail had turned to mud, and the kids weren’t even interested in singing Boom Chicka Boom with me. The world might as well have tipped on its axis. Boom Chicka Boom was a classic enjoyed by all ages, in all circumstances, as far as I was concerned.

I wiped at my eyes and looked ahead to where Nico was marching along as though it were another balmy day in paradise. He had shortened his steps, at least, to accommodate the slippery spots and little legs following him, but he seemed totally unbothered. How would it be to walk through life that way? I’d never know. I experienced all of it.

Gina was in the middle of the line with her head down and shoulders ed as she plodded ahead. She had been dimmed by the challenges of hiking for an hour in the rain with eight kids, and I couldn’t blame her. I felt like I was about to become a fairytale villain myself.

A cracking sound from the trees behind me had me spinning around, startled, knees clenching together in protest. I made a surprised noise and waited to see how my life was going to end. Spoiler alert, it did not end.

I squinted into the darkened forest, but couldn’t see anything. Figuring the rain had made a branch extra heavy and it had broken – it seemed scientific - I unclenched my knees and took a small step backwards, then another. Safety first means not turning your back until you’re completely sure that the cracking noise wasn’t a rabid bear on the hunt. On my fourth step backwards two things happened.

First: several people called my name in warning. Second: I slipped off a small ledge – small, people, not worth all the commotion it caused – and tumbled first onto my rear, and then straight back onto my pack. The pack formed a sled and I skidded downhill for a few yards on the wet ground until a rock bonked me on the back of the head and stopped my momentum. From this viewpoint, with my chin slightly tipped backwards, the rain had the opportunity to go up my nose. All-in-all, I’d call the experience delightful .

From up on the trail the weeping and wailing had begun, as the kiddos cried out that I had plunged to my death. Their caterwauling made me chuckle. I was for sure going to have a few bumps and bruises, but I was okay and wanted to hurry to reassure those poor littles. I tried to sit up, but my feet were uphill and my back was arched over my pack, so I was in an awkward position – think turtle flipped onto its shell. I rolled toward my side at the same time that Gina called my name. I was able to lift my head enough to see her coming toward me.

I knew for a fact that she was going to slip, and that the ground was rocky, so I called out a warning for her to stay put, that I’d get myself back up, but she didn’t listen. Sure enough, she was nearly to me when she slipped, stepped strange, and cried out in pain. Then, she was lying next to me moaning.

In my opinion, a rescue operation should not involve the rescuer becoming more than the rescuee. Just saying. Yet here we were.

“Are you alright?” I asked her, rolling my head to the side. “That didn’t look good.”

“Something cracked,” she replied, her voice thick with pain .

“Crack kills,” I replied with a smile, having been well-trained to lighten the mood.

While it’s not a good sign when things crack on a hike, it wouldn’t be helpful for me to be upset too. I managed to get onto my side and push myself up onto one arm right as Nico called my name from where he was standing above, still on the path, surrounded by crying campers.

“Ruby?” he called. “What’s the situation?”

I appreciated him asking before launching another rescue.

“I’m okay. Gina is injured,” I called back to him.

He nodded and slid his pack off his shoulders. Crouching down he unzipped it and I got to work shifting around until I could sit up and assess Gina. She was holding her ankle and doing her best not to cry. I honestly wasn’t sure if she was trying to save face with Nico or keep the kids from freaking out, but I’d take the win.

“Let me see what we’re dealing with, and then we can decide what to do to,” I said to her.

She bit her lip and nodded, pushing herself into a sitting position across from me, and stretching out her leg with a wince. I left her shoe on and gently probed above it while moving it slightly to see what caused pain. She sucked in a breath and whimpered a few times and I knew she wasn’t walking out of here.

“I can’t tell you for sure if it’s broken or sprained without a closer look and possibly an x-ray, but I don’t want to take off your boot and have it swell up. For now, the boot will stabilize it while we get you back to the health center,” I said. “I want you to keep your weight off of it.”

She swallowed hard. “Alright.”

“Ruby,” Nico called again. “Do you need help?”

I looked up and he waved a rope at me, with the end already knotted in a loop. It was good of him to be prepared, and I nodded at him to toss it down. The area was only a slight incline, but it was slippery and Gina was only able to use one foot. I could tie it around her and use Nico’s help to keep her moving forward and not slipping downhill again.

Nico circled the rope a few times over his head like a total cowboy, and tossed it our way. It landed within reaching distance, and I helped Gina ease it over her head and secure it around her waist.

“Okay, Gina, I want you to wait for me to stand and then I’ll help you up,” I instructed, wiping again at my face. Stupid rain .

“Okay. Be brave little bird,” she muttered under her breath.

I smiled to myself as I moved first to my knees and then to stand. I reached for her and we managed to get her standing without touching her injured leg to the ground. I waved at Nico that we were ready to proceed and he backed the kids out of the way as he put some tension in the rope.

Gina hopped along beside me with an arm around my neck and mine around her back. She was enough shorter than me that I had to hunch a bit, but Nico kept the rope steady, and it provided a good anchor for Gina. My feet slipped once or twice, the mud-soaked bottom of my boots not providing enough traction, and both times I caught Nico starting forward as though to intervene, but he stopped when I waved my free hand in his direction. No sense in all three of the adults being in this ridiculous situation.

“Rain, rain, go away, come again another day,” I sang as we reached the group of silent kids and Nico.

A few of them smiled at me, but they mostly watched with worried eyes as Gina hopped one last time straight into Nico’s arms. Based on his expression, I didn’t think he’d expected to find her plastered against him with her arms wrapped around his torso and her head against his shoulder. She looked so tiny, and I wondered briefly how it would feel to be in her position. That kind of safe haven was truly appealing.

I bent and put my hands against my knees, working to catch my breath as the kids crowded around me and offered pats and hugs. It was sweet. Kids really are the best of us.

Then, because Mother Nature took pity on our bedraggled group, the rain actually lightened up. We were all drenched and cold, and a few of us were going to be really achy the next day, but we greeted the shift in weather like the miracle it was.

I stood tall and moved my limbs, making sure I really wasn’t injured now that the adrenaline was wearing off. There were a few twinges, but overall I couldn’t complain. I was lucky.

I met Nico’s eyes and offered him a smile. “As far as backpack mud sledding goes, I give myself a six out of ten.”

“You’re alright?” he asked.

He raked his eyes over me and I nodded. We both looked down at Gina’s head where she still clung to him, his arms dangling unsure at his sides, and then back to each other. I pulled a grim face .

“She can’t put weight on her foot,” I stated.

“We’re probably a mile and a half from camp,” he responded. “This distance isn’t far, but our slow pace makes it take a long time.”

I glanced down the trail and back at the kids. And then I remembered that I’d wanted to get Nico and Gina alone, and suddenly my fall seemed like the amazing opportunity I’d been looking for.

“You could sit here with Gina and I could take the kids back to camp, get a UTV and come back for you,” I offered.

“That sounds good to me,” Gina piped up. In my head we were giving each other love connection high fives.

Nico looked again at the top of Gina’s head, and his hands flexed a little, but he made no move to wrap his arms around her. I gave him a look and mouthed ‘hold her’. His expression closed off and he shook his head. I rolled my eyes. How was he not taking advantage of this romantic rescue moment? He was thicker than I’d thought.

“I’ll use the satellite phone to call ahead and make Cole aware of what’s happened,” he said, “but we have a ways before the trail opens up wide enough for a UTV to get through. In the meantime, everyone is wet and cold without shelter. That’s dangerous at these elevations. Better for all of us to keep moving.” He thought for a moment and then added, “I could carry her on my back.”

“That’s a long way for you to piggyback someone,” I said.

“I don’t mind,” Gina piped up from the shelter of Nico’s chest.

She shifted so her nose was pressed to his pecs and I was willing to bet five bucks she sniffed him. I did not laugh even when his shoulders bunched as though in reaction. She’d sounded awfully peppy about how things were playing out.

I gave Gina a once over. She was pretty small. Nico had been a Marine. They probably trained by carrying each other on their backs during hikes and marches. Maybe. Seemed like a thing they’d do.

I looked at Nico and assessed him. He looked confident and ready, and in that moment I fully trusted that he could do what he said he’d do. He wouldn’t have offered if he hadn’t meant it. For the first time in my knowing him, Nico’s reticence didn’t feel annoying, it felt like he was a person who considered things fully, which made him someone reliable. Once upon a time, reliable would not have been an attractive trait to me, but these days it seemed like the most desirable trait in the world .

I played with my lip. It may not be the stranded scenario I’d planned, but a man carrying you out of the forest after an injury was about as swoony as things could get. So, I pivoted and gave him a thumbs up.

“Okay,” I said. “I’ll carry both yours and Gina’s .” I turned to the campers. “Nico is going to carry Gina down the trail, which means I need you to stay together in line and watch for anything that might trip them up. Can you guys do that?” The kids immediately agreed, happy to help in some small way.

While Gina continued living in her fantasyland, stuck to Nico like glue, I untied the rope from around her waist and re-coiled it. Nico made a quick call using the satellite phone to alert Cole to our situation, and before too long we were ready to go.

I put Nico’s pack on my front and took Gina’s off her back, hoping to lighten Nico’s load, holding it in my hand by its top strap. When I was sufficiently pack-muled, I signaled that it was time to march out. Nico had to gently pry Gina’s arms from around him before he could turn and crouch down in order for her to climb aboard. In a fluid move she was in piggyback formation, with Nico’s arms wrapped around her legs, and we moved out, letting a couple of the kids lead the way. They perked up pretty quickly, kicking rocks and twigs out of the way as Nico set the pace and I brought up the rear.

Sure, it was still lightly drizzling, but that didn’t mean we couldn’t try to salvage this day. I made those kids sing The Ants Go Marching until they were once again giggling and happy and I was completely out of breath.

We had left the narrow forest trail and entered the sweeping valley of the camp when there was a distant shout followed by the sound of an engine being kicked into gear. I looked past Nico and Gina to see a side-by-side UTV come roaring across the wet meadow toward us.

The kids all stopped to watch, and Nico gently helped Gina slide off his back and stand on one foot. I caught up to the group and put Gina’s pack on the ground. I flexed my hands, both of which were weary from alternating the load of her gear.

“I’m glad you thought to call ahead,” I said to Nico as I came to stand by him and Gina.

“We have radios for a reason. It’ll be good for her to ride the last little bit. My back probably wasn’t very comfortable,” Nico replied .

Oh, friend, I’d guess Gina would tell a different tale. She’d cuddled right in and had her cheek pressed against his shoulder for the entire time. The staff would be hearing all about this for weeks. Gina, who’d already been nursing a crush, was now a goner. Full infatuation had commenced.

“That was smart to call ahead,” Gina said, gripping him like she’d tip over without his support. Maybe she would. I’d never judge her. I’d been known to not-so-innocently rub a well-formed shoulder now and again. “You’re so good in an emergency. And so strong. I can’t believe you carried me all that way.” Gina looked over at me. “I swear, he wasn’t even breathing hard.”

I made my eyes big and rounded my mouth. “Wow. Talk about a Hercules.”

Nico shot me a look over her head, but Gina beamed. “Seriously,” she replied.

A breeze carried over the meadow as the UTV arrived next to us, and I shivered. Sweaty clothes that had gotten wet, plus cool mountain air, it wasn’t a great combo. Even though we’d been moving, I needed some and a big steaming cup of cocoa. And if I felt that way, I’d imagine these poor kids were ready to crash.

“Why don’t you get a ride with Gina?” Nico said to me.

I threw him a questioning look as Cole bounded out of the cab and hustled around. “Who’s hurt and how badly?”

The kids, not unsurprisingly, were more than happy to tell him exactly what had happened. I laughed as they tumbled over each other, making it sound like we’d fallen off a cliff and Nico had pulled us both up, one-handed, with nothing more than a leaf and a piece of chewing gum. Gina joined in, talking about her hero carrying her and I glanced at Nico once more, grinning even as a shiver chased up my spine.

“Here,” Nico said, gesturing toward his pack that was stuck firmly to the front of my body. I’d forgotten it was there. “Let me take it.”

I nodded, still smiling at the kids and Gina, and slid my arms out of the straps. Nico snatched it up before it hit the ground, and I rotated my shoulders, happy to have the extra weight off. That cool post-rain breeze cut across my torso, chilling the places where my wet shirt stuck to my body.

“Ruby needs to ride along too,” Nico’s voice interrupted the tales. “She hit her head and she’s getting too cold. ”

Cole glanced my way as I shook my head. “I’m fine. We’re all a little cold, but these kids need to get back to their cabin and I can help with that.”

But Nico pressed. “Take Ruby with Gina straight to the health center. Gina needs a full exam. Send Kristy to the cabin. I’ll get the kids there and Kristy can take over while they get cleaned up.”

“Nico, you’re cold and wet too,” I argued. “It’s not that far. Kristy can help Gina and I’ll get the kids settled in.”

“I’m used to bad weather, and pushing through it,” he stated. “Kristy is already dry, so she won’t be uncomfortable while helping the kids.” I started to shake my head, but he took a slow breath in and mouthed, please , and I caved.

His argument made sense and his plea had gotten to me, so I made my way over to the machine, giving each camper a high-five as I walked past the line.

“You’re all heroes today,” I told them. “I’m so proud of how you helped each other, and looked out for Gina. You guys are the best!” I shot my fist in the air at the end and gave a nice wolf cry to really seal it.

They all wolf-cried too. I loved it.

Nico helped Gina over and loaded her into the front seat next to Cole, and as I pulled my arms out of the straps of my own pack, he somehow managed to help me maneuver out of that at the same time. I thanked him with a smile and climbed into the back seat. I had to admit, it felt good to take the weight off my feet and back.

“That was cool, how you sang with the kids and helped them forget to be worried,” he said under his breath.

I looked over at him, but he was looking at Cole and tapped the roof of the UTV to signal that we were all ready to go. I swallowed, warmed by his kind comment, and waved at the kids as Cole started it up and we headed away. The last person I looked at was Nico. He stood there, his tan skin a little more pale than usual, his pack sitting at his feet, watching me. I shivered again, and he waved his fingers, barely noticeable, as we picked up speed and went barreling across the meadow.

The UTV was too loud for me to hear much of what Cole and Gina were talking about, but I didn’t mind. I hugged my arms around myself to try to fight off the icy fingers of wind whipping over me while I replayed the afternoon in my head, thinking about what a rollercoaster it had been, and about how much I wished our little cabin had a tub. I’d give my left pinky toe for a hot bath right now.

Some staff had gathered around the health center and reached out to help with carrying our wet packs inside. The heat from the small building wrapped around me in total welcome as we entered, Cole carrying Gina bridal style. He sat her directly on the exam table and I went to the sink to wash my hands. Cole met me there and put an arm around my shoulders.

“Gina told me you fell too, and Nico mentioned your head,” he said. “Are you hurt?”

I shook my head, which was aching now, and put on my brave face. “A few bruises, but nothing that won’t heal quickly. I’m okay. It wasn’t a big deal.”

He nodded and squeezed, then let go. “You’re soaked, and no offense, you smell oddly chemical.”

I turned and held up my freshly washed hands, ticking off my fingers. “I hiked, which means I got sweaty. It poured rain, I fell down a muddy path, I carried three packs all the way down. And, I did not have time to wash these pants before first use, so they smell funky.” I pointed at my very cute purple zip away pants that had arrived last week. “Be nice.”

He cracked a smile. “I’m always nice.”

I shook my head and pushed around him to go see to Gina. “Thanks for the ride,” I called to him. “I’ve almost never been happier to see you.”

“You’re welcome. Let me know what you find out about Gina.” He moved back to where Gina was laying, staring forlornly at the ceiling. “I’m glad you’re back safe. Hope you feel better quickly.”

Gina managed to give him a thumbs up as he left the room. Right as he disappeared, Kristy busted over to the exam table with a squeal. Apparently, she’d been holding it together in front of Cole.

“Ohmygosh, ohmygosh,” she said, patting Gina’s arm. “I have to go to your cabin, but it’s all over camp that you were hurt on the hike today and you’d better tell me every single detail about all of it.”

Gina’s entire countenance returned to glowing and, seeming to forget Kristy had to leave, she jumped straight into gushing over Nico and getting carried down the mountain. There were a couple pauses as I gently worked off her wet boot and socks, and a few tears and gasps when the pain hit, but overall she kept a pretty steady dialogue going. Turns out, getting carried is highly romantic stuff. I wouldn’t know from personal experience, but it sure made me swoon when I’d read about it or watched it in a movie. And if I’d sneaked a few peaks at how Nico’s muscles shifted while he carried Gina today, well, sue me.

As I looked Gina over my mind wandered to how tired Nico would be when he finally got the kids settled back in their cabin. In fact, with Gina here and the other counselor having a stomach bug, Kristy really needed to get moving. I wished I’d thought to mention to Cole that Nico needed dry clothes and a warm drink as much as the rest of us did.

With that thought I interrupted the giggle-fest. “Kristy, Nico is waiting at the cabin with the kids. Can you please go relieve him so he can get cleaned up and dry too?”

Kristy’s eyes grew big at the realization that she’d lingered too long. She nodded and rushed out without another word.

I didn’t think Gina had broken her ankle, but it was definitely sprained, and so I washed the area and bandaged it well. I gave her some pain medication and instructed her to ice it and stay off of it for the next two days, after which we’d look again to make sure it was healing properly.

Together we got her off the exam table and I helped her hobble down the path from the health center to the cabin she was staying in that week. Kristy was there helping the campers get clean and dry and I was more than happy to hand Gina off at that point.

My head had gone from achy to throbbing from hitting it on that rock, and my back and hips ached for a variety of reasons. My clothing had begun to dry, but now it was in that sort of damp state that made you feel like clawing something. I knew my back side was muddy, so rather than head back to the health center I made my way to my cabin. Someone would just have to come find me if I was needed.

I trudged down the short path to Funky Bunks, imagining a hot shower and warm cocoa, and fresh, dry, fluffy clothes, and wrapping myself up in my gigantic comforter, and laying my head on something soft. I couldn’t wait.

Nico was standing in the kitchenette stirring something in a mug when I entered. His hair was wet, but he was wearing fresh clothing and I could smell his shampoo and soap, and I was relieved to see he’d been able to clean up. He deserved it.

“Oh,” he said when he saw me.

I paused halfway to my bunk area. “Oh? ”

“Yeah, um . . .” He pointed to a stack on the small kitchen table. “I was bringing you some dry clothes. And, uh . . .” He held up the mug he’d been stirring. “Hot tea.” Speechless, I simply stared at him until he set the mug down. “You don’t like tea?”

I frowned. “I love tea. Especially with burnt toast.”

“Burnt toast?”

“Yeah. I don’t even scrape off the black bits.”

“Okay.” He held the mug back up and I stepped forward to take it from him. “I didn’t know people ate it burnt on purpose.”

Our fingers brushed and I shivered again. “You’re missing out.”

“Is Gina okay?” he asked.

I nodded, sipping at the tea and closing my eyes as the heat flowed right into my very grateful stomach. It was delicious. Minty and citrusy, with some lemon. I’d never had this blend, but I wanted more every day of my life.

“This is amazing,” I said, sipping some more. “Does this mean you went through my drawers?” I teased lightly.

I watched his jaw work as he seemed to battle between being a little embarrassed, and yielding to practicality. In the end, he simply nodded, owning it. I pictured him choosing clothes for me and didn’t hate it.

“Do you have a middle name?” I asked.

He blinked, confused. It happened a lot. But my thought train didn’t run on normal rails.

“James.”

“Is Nico short for something?”

“Dominic.”

“So, Dominic James Crawford?” I asked, sipping again. He nodded. “I like it. It has a nice ring to it.”

“Thanks.”

“Did your dad call you by your full name when you were in trouble?”

“I . . . not really.”

I smiled. “That’s a nice way of telling me you didn’t make trouble as a kid. I don’t know how you got yourself mixed up with my brother.”

He smiled, and I finished the tea, handing it back to him with a smile of my own. He took the mug and the cabin felt smaller all of a sudden. Sounds disappeared and I stared into his eyes, wanting to know what his thoughts had been when he was packing me dry clothes and making me tea. He watched me back, silent as ever, until the cold in my bones began to warm and my chest and fingertips tingled.

I took a step back and grabbed the clothing from the table.

“Thanks,” I said, as I hustled into the bathroom.

“Next time I’ll burn you some toast,” he replied in a voice that barely carried far enough for me to hear it.

But I did.