Summer Camp Adventure (8 page)

A
t dawn, Skye again positioned Champ in a horse lineup outside the barn. Jonathan had now been missing for twenty-four hours. Overhead, a helicopter chopped the air, already searching the woods. Volunteers from nearby fire companies were scouring the Shamokin State Park within a five-mile radius of Camp Oneega. Skye and her search team checked their gear and prepared to comb the trails around the camp one more time.

Mr. Wheaten mounted his horse and squared his hat. “It doesn’t matter if you have to backtrack over ground that’s already been covered. Some of these trails inter twine for miles. This time take a good, hard look at any bluffs, high and low. There are a half dozen hollowed out rocks and caves where Jonathan could have sought shelter overnight.”

“Mr. Wheaten?” Skye couldn’t help interrupting. “Yes, little lady?”

“Chad and I covered the area up by Oneega Falls yes terday, but I’d really like to check it out again. It seems to
me that Jonathan would want to go somewhere he’s been before. Just last week he was at the falls campsite.”

“Good point,” Mr. Wheaten said.

Chad pulled his horse alongside Champ. “Mr. Wheaten, we didn’t have enough time to check every corner of the campsite on foot. Didn’t you tell us there are trails that lead away from the top of the falls?”

“Yes, indeedy,” Mr. Wheaten said.

“Well, we never got that far yesterday,” Skye said. “Today we’ll make sure we cover those.”

Mr. Wheaten tugged the brim of his hat down firmly. “Fine. Thank the Lord we’ve had warm weather. Jonathan will be mighty hungry, but at least he won’t suffer from exposure. I want you all to blast your tweeters every ten minutes. Buddy will pick up that sound even if he’s half a mile away from you. Any other questions?” he asked everyone.

“No,” they all answered.

“Remember teams, keep in touch by phone, especially if you see anything that looks like Jonathan has been where you are. We’ve got to find him soon. Even though we’ve got sunny skies now, the weather forecast calls for severe thunderstorms later today. Lightning in these thick woods is no laughing matter. If you hear thunder, even if it’s in the distance, you all head back here on the double.”

“Yes, sir!” they all yelled.

“Be back here at 11:00 a.m. or before, depending on the weather. Let’s move out!”

Skye and Chad wasted no time riding past the lake and heading up the trail to Oneega Falls. Every ten min utes, they stopped to tweet a megaphone. They climbed the mountainside, checking and rechecking every trail for several hundred yards on both sides of the main trek.

Nearing the wooden bridge right below the falls, Skye glanced at her watch. “Three hours already gone!” she said more to herself than to Chad. A sharp breeze whisked
through the ravine, sending the treetops into a frantic dance. Skye looked up at a sea of dark, fast-moving clouds. Under her tied-down Stetson, her hair blew wildly.

“Chad, look at those clouds,” she said. “Those thunder storms can’t be too far away.”

“Those clouds spell nothing but trouble. We better keep moving.” Chad squared his hat tightly.

The two of them rode their horses across the bridge and brought them to a stop. A rush of colder air shook the trees around them. Again, Chad studied the sky. “This is definitely not good.”

Skye’s cell phone rang.

“Hello, Skye speaking.”

“Annie, this is Mr. Wheaten. I don’t like the looks of those clouds. Keep an eye on them. At the first sound of thunder, you two head back.”

“We will, sir. Over and out,” she said in a brief attempt to lighten the mood.

“Was that Mr. Wheaten?” Chad asked.

“Yep. He’s warning everyone to watch the weather.”

“We’re too close now to turn back. Let’s check the campsite.”

“Good idea.” Skye glanced down at the banks on each side of the bridge. “Remember what happened here with Jonathan last week?”

“How could I forget!” Chad moaned.

“That kid sure is—hey—Chad, look down there, on the left bank.”

“Where?”

“There. Next to that cluster of pebbles.” Skye jumped off Champ and ran down to the water’s edge. She picked up an object from the mud and wiped it on her jeans. “Chad, look! Jonathan’s big sunglasses! He was here!”

“But when?” Chad grabbed the megaphone. He pushed the tweeter button and let out three long, high-pitched blasts. Then he phoned Mr. Wheaten.

Skye ran back up the bank and mounted Champ. “He’s got to be somewhere near here. I just know it.”

“C’mon,” Chad said. “Let’s check the campsite.”

Prodding their mounts carefully, Skye and Chad hur ried on down the treacherous trail. As they rounded the last bluff before the falls, a black horse trotted right up to them and stopped.

“Buddy!” Skye yelled.

“But where’s Jonathan!” Chad said.

Skye grabbed the horse’s dangling reins. Tying them into a knot, she reached over and slipped them around the horn of Buddy’s saddle. “Okay, boy, now it’s time for you to use that special training. Take us to Jonathan.”

“Where is he, Buddy?” Chad said.

“Chad, listen!”

Rumble, rumble
rolled the distant thunder. Another wisp of wind chilled the air.

“Let’s go, Buddy,” Skye said.

Buddy turned, backtracking on the trail. Crossing the gravel shoreline in front of the falls, he continued toward the bluff that hid the campsite. But he didn’t stop there. Squeezing his way through a narrow opening between towering pine trees and gigantic boulders, he doubled back behind the falls on a pathway of slippery stones. Staying close to the black horse, Skye’s and Chad’s mounts followed.

“Where’s he going?” Skye asked. “I didn’t even know this trail was here.”

“I wonder if Mr. Wheaten knows about this one,” Chad said.

Carefully, the horses made their way on the slippery path.

Rumble
,
rumble
. Another roll of thunder sent a faint warning, despite the competing, nearly deafening roar of the falls.

“The storm is getting much closer!” Chad yelled as he scanned the clouds again.

“We’ve got to keep going!” Skye’s voice could scarcely be heard. “Jonathan’s got to be here somewhere! He’s got to be!”

At a snail’s pace, Buddy led them through a narrow crevasse to the side of the towering falls. Skye’s eyes widened as she studied the scene before her. A flood of powerful water tumbled from the shelf of rocks high above. The ground trembled from the roar of the falls crashing just below. Skye stood in her stirrups, her eyes scouring the area for any sign of Jonathan. She spotted an opening behind the falls, a hollowed-out rock formation large enough to park a truck.

“Chad, look! Behind the falls!” Skye dismounted. “Pray that Jonathan’s in there. Get Mr. Wheaten on the phone and tell him where we are. I’ll check it out!”

Chad was already pushing cell phone buttons. “Skye, be careful.”

Gingerly, Skye balanced herself on the next few feet of slippery stones that led behind the falls. Billows of mist filled the compact space like fast-moving fog. She stopped to listen, and a shiver charged through her as droplets covered her like a wet blanket. No sound, not even thunder, could now penetrate the deafening crash of the falls.
If Buddy was here yesterday, I understand why he didn’t hear our tweeters
, she said to herself.

Skye searched every dark corner as she slid along the humongous hollowed-out rock. Suddenly, her heart pounded like a drum, her whole body racked with its beat. She stopped and stared into the darkness.
Wild animals could be lurking in this black hole
, she warned herself.

There! Off to the side! Something! Or could it be someone lying in a curled-up ball?

Skye inched forward. Studying the form. Hoping. Searching the shadows. Listening.

One more brave step forward and—

“Jonathan! I found him, Chad! He’s in here! Can you hear me?”

“Yes! Just barely! I’ll phone Mr. Wheaten again, and I’ll be right there!”

Hurrying toward Jonathan, Skye took a deep breath and sent up a silent prayer.
Please, God, let him be all right
. Kneeling down, she squinted, scanning the boy’s silent body. She spotted one sock and pant leg saturated with blood. Carefully, slowly, she reached out and touched Jonathan on his knee.

Jonathan jumped, and Skye’s nerves jumped too. The boy bolted upright, his eyes wide with panic. Scrambling backward, he pressed tightly against the dark wall of the niche.

“Jonathan, it’s me!” Skye signed and then opened her arms toward the boy.

For a brief moment, Jonathan sat frozen on the spot, his eyes wide with fear. Then he broke into a smile, and with a deep, shaky breath, he reached toward Skye. Before she could respond, he threw his arms around her neck. Like a cold, wet sponge, he clung to his rescuer, embracing her as though he would never let go.

“Thank you, God!” Skye drew the boy into a bear hug, wet and cold. But at that moment, wet and cold didn’t matter. Nothing mattered but Jonathan. Skye had found him, and he was safe. “Oh, Jonathan,” she whispered, hugging him tighter. “You crazy kid.”

Moving back, Skye looked into Jonathan’s eyes. “Are you okay?” she signed.

“My ankle.” The boy grimaced in pain. “I can’t walk on it.”

“Chad!” Skye yelled. “Bring the first-aid kit!”

“I’ve got it with me!” Chad yelled as he joined Skye.

Skye’s gaze never drifted from Jonathan’s face. “How did you get here? And how long have you been here?”

“I like water, so yesterday I rode Buddy up to the campsite,” he signed. “We found this new trail leading back here. He tripped, and I fell off. I landed on my ankle. Then I crawled in here because I couldn’t get back on my horse.”

As Chad approached, Skye took a second look at Jonathan’s leg. “The way that’s swollen, it must be a bad sprain,” she signed. “Or maybe it’s broken!”

Tears flooded Jonathan’s eyes, running in deep tracks down his dirty cheeks. “I’m sorry,” he signed, crying. “I’ll never do this again. I don’t hate you. I’m sorry.” Releasing a painful moan, he reached toward his ankle.

With a reassuring smile, Skye helped him position his injured leg. “I don’t hate you either, Jonathan. I love you,” she signed.

Chad handed Skye the first-aid kit. “We need to get him out of this dampness!” He was hoarse from trying to make himself heard. “You take the kit and get the blankets off our horses. I’ll have to carry him out of here. Mr. Wheaten said the storms are about half an hour away. He’s sending a truck and a horse trailer down to the campsite. The men should be here in about twenty minutes!”

“The campsite is partly hidden under this huge bluff!” Skye yelled. “If it rains before they get here, we can stow away under there!” She turned to Jonathan. “Chad’s going to carry you back to the campsite. Okay?”

“Okay,” he signed. “I’m sorry.”

“I know,” Skye said.

Skye carefully supported Jonathan’s leg. As though the boy were a feather, Chad gently swooped him up. Still wincing in pain, Jonathan forced a smile. His eyes, searching deep into Skye’s, seemed filled with a new understanding of God’s love and true friendship. “I don’t hate you anymore,” he signed. “I love you.” He pointed to both Skye and Chad.

“What did he say?” Chad asked.

“He said he loves us,” Skye said.

“Tell him I love him too,” Chad said.

“We love you,” Skye signed. “And your parents do too. They’re waiting for you at Camp Oneega.”

“My father too?” Jonathan’s face beamed. “My father came to camp?”

“Yes,” Skye signed, “your father too.”

“But he doesn’t care what I do,” Jonathan signed.

“Oh, yes, he does, Jonathan,” Skye signed. “Both your parents are worried about you. They can’t wait to see you. And when we get back, they have a surprise. A very big surprise. Don’t they, Chad?”

“One he won’t believe.” Chad gave Skye the dimpled smile that made her heart flutter.

Skye blinked back a flood of new tears. Her whole body revived with joy, and her heart filled with brand-new emotions. “Thank you, God,” she whispered as she turned to walk out. “Jonathan’s not the only one who learned a lesson. Now I know what friendship and team work really mean, with others and with you. God, you are so awesome!”

Skye followed Chad and Jonathan out of the cave, glanced back at the falls, and smiled.