Mike worried that the patrols were not covering the Brown farm. One day, he thought about the RV that was still in the biker’s clearing. He asked Hector to see if the RV could be started. It could, but just barely. The cold winter had damaged the motor. But Hector got it started, and he and some of the kids managed to roll it down to the junction of the gravel road and the logging road, before it overheated and died for the last time. It became a guard house, and Mike asked for volunteers to man it. Those who were willing to stay for forty eight hours had to walk to and from the RV. Those who were willing to stay for a week were taught to ride a motorcycle and were allowed to ride. The tribe referred to them as ‘RV guards.’ There were several who volunteered to stay for a week, and after a vigorous discussion during Meeting, Mike relented and allowed girls to be RV guards. This meant that one of the motorcycles was stationed about half way between the Lodge and the Brown farm, and the Council agreed that this was a good way to speed communications between the two communities in case of an emergency.
By the end of May, Hector and Kathy finished shingling the roof of the Lodge. Hector told Mike that he wanted to take a stab at building a fireplace on the east end of the Lodge. Mike agreed to give him forty five days after which, if he was not finished, he would replace the wood wall that he had removed. Hector began to gather stones and to tear down the wall.
Lily’s latrine duty was finally over. During the day she was busy making drawings in charcoal of the various historical sites of the camp, including the infamous Hanging Tree and the graveyard. The kids also insisted that she make a drawing of ‘Mike’s Throw.’ At night, she had been helping Howard to develop drawings of plants that could be harvested for food. Howard knew most of them by sight, but he wanted to wait until Jean confirmed their accuracy before he used the drawings. Together, they worried about Jean and Jacob. When the middle of June arrived, Howard and Lily went to see Mike.
“Where are they?” Lily asked demandingly.
“Good question,” Mike replied. “We knew that this might take some time. They know what they’re doing. Let’s give them another week before we panic.”
Except for worrying about the two scouts, the year was passing pleasantly, so far. The grain was growing well in the meadow. The hunters had brought back another buck. They were getting regular shipments of vegetables, milk, butter and bread from the farm. There were the usual squabbles but nothing too serious. Even Tyler and Gabby were behaving.
But another week passed, and there was still no sign of the scouts. Seven weeks, thought Mike with a heavy heart. Seven weeks. Howard was grim faced, and he was becoming unpleasant to be around. The only person he would speak to was Lily.
Another week passed, and the whole camp was worried, now. At Council, Howard demanded that Mike send him and the Spears up to the Retreat to look for Jacob and Jean. Mike agreed to discuss it that night. After talking it over during Meeting, there was a unanimous consensus that they would have to go in strength to the Retreat.
But the next morning, as they were making preparations to depart, the motorcycle from the RV guard post came roaring into camp with the message that Jacob and Jean were at Davis Brown Farm. Ralph had ridden one of the horses to the RV guard post, and the guards had agreed that this was an emergency, so they used the motorcycle to deliver the messenger. Jacob had twisted an ankle, and they were both bone tired and in need of a long rest.
“They got in late last night,” Ralph said. “Mary is planning to bring them home in the wagon tomorrow. They really need to sleep today.”
The community was filled with relief.
“Thanks, man, for coming to tell us so quick. I really appreciate that,” said Howard, as he shook Ralph’s hand vigorously.
Lily wanted to ride the motorcycle up to the farm, but Ralph convinced her that the two desperately needed to sleep.
“I promise you, Lily, that you’ll see them tomorrow,” he said, and then to Mike he added, “I hope you can make sleeping arrangements for all of us. The girls are coming, and so are Comet and Star. I’ll leave the boys to watch the farm and to do the chores. I need to get back, now. We’ll need the horse for the wagon tomorrow, and I want her rested.”
“Anything you need, Ralph. Anything,” Mike responded, and he waited at the small bridge until Ralph and the RV guard disappeared over the rise.
There was joy in the camp that day. Desi and Yuie suggested that pound cakes should be baked to celebrate. Mike agreed, but he suggested that they wait and bake them in the morning, so the cakes would be fresh for the scouts, who were expected in the late afternoon.
The next day, everyone waited impatiently for time to pass. The pound cakes were baked, and then fresh butter was spread on top while they were still hot. Mike allowed people to wait at the top of the hill, but they were forbidden to go down to the Hanging Tree, because he was afraid someone’s foot would get run over by the heavy wagon, if there was a pressing crowd on the narrow road.
As darkness arrived, the wagon appeared on the road below, and a cheer went up from the waiting crowd. Jacob and Jean were sitting on the bench next to Mary. Paige, Kylie, Star, Comet, and Ralph were riding in the back. The cheering got louder as the wagon approached. Jean waved to the crowd. Jacob appeared to be startled and annoyed at the fuss. The wagon came up and over the hill, and the boisterous crowd followed it down to the parking lot.
Jean and Jacob jumped down, and then were immediately surrounded by the mob. Mike had to yell at everyone to let Howard through. Howard got to Jean and lifted her in his arms. He couldn’t speak. He just held her for a long time. She put her arms, around his neck, and she buried her face on his shoulder. Finally, he placed her on the ground, took her face in his hands and kissed her; a long kiss. A cheer went up, and there was some good natured razzing.
When he finished kissing her, he growled, “Eight weeks?”
“Hey, you said it was okay if I went with Jacob,” she replied, laughing.
He was clearly not amused. “Eight weeks?”
“What can I say? The kid held me up.” She shrugged her shoulders and smiled. “Sorry.”
They went up to the dining hall. Mike decided that he would talk to the scouts later. He followed a crowd to the dining hall to have a piece of cake. Eventually, only Jacob and Lily were left, standing together. She wanted to hug him badly, but for some reason she felt too shy. She noticed he was limping.
“How’s your foot?” she asked.
“Sprained it. Had to get back. Need to rest it,” he replied.
“Lean on me,” she said.
“Alright.” He leaned on Lily, and they made their way over the bridge.
“They have cake in the dining hall,” she said.
His eyes lit with pleasure. “Cake?”
“Yes. I missed you,” she dared to say.
“I missed you,” he acknowledged, as he and Lily entered the dining hall where they were allowed to cut the line that had formed to receive a piece of cake.
After the party, Jean was tired and needed to rest. She and Howard walked back to the Lodge in the growing darkness. Suddenly she stopped.
“Holy, smoke,” she exclaimed. “A fireplace.”
In place of the wooden wall on the east end was a stone fireplace. Smoke was curling out of the chimney. “That is so cool. Does it work?”
“Of course it works,” said Kathy, who was following close behind the couple. “Hector built it.”
“I was only asking, because I thought that maybe you built it,” explained Jean.