Worthy of Riches (20 page)

“You talking to me?” Ray asked.

“Yep. You've lived here longest.”

“Well, that's hard to answer. This is a big country; I like lots of places.” He thought a moment. “I've been up to McKinley and down to Cordorva and Seward. I've even been all the way up to Barrow. Can't say I like it up there much. Too empty and cold.” He scratched his dark beard. “I guess I'd have to say Fire Island.”

“I remember. We saw it from the train. How come you like it so much?”

“Well, late in the summer it looks like it's on fire because of all the fireweed growing on it. Ellie and I used to take Celeste there for picnics.”

“Who's Ellie?” Brian asked.

“She was my wife.”

“Where is she?”

“She died,” Ray said, his voice glum.

“Oh.” Brian was quiet a moment. “So, you're like Mama. Are you lonely too?”

“Brian, that's enough questions.”

Brian sat back against the seat.

“It's all right,” Ray said. Then he asked, “Have you been to Fire Island?”

“Nope.” Brian leaned forward again. “I just saw it from the train when we first got here, and I heard about it. But I'd like to go. Could you take us?”

“Brian,” Jean cautioned.

“Can we?” Susie asked, looking up at her mother.

Ray cast an easy smile at Jean. “I don't mind taking you as long as your mother doesn't mind,” he said, certain Jean would decline. He'd
just been making polite conversation. He didn't really want to go back there and hadn't gone since Ellie's death. The memories were still raw.

“Please, can we go?”

“I don't even know where it is.”

“It's on Cook Inlet. Remember, we saw it from the train,” Brian said impatiently.

“Oh.” She glanced at Ray Townsend. “Well, I suppose we could. But I'm sure Mr. Townsend is too busy to take us.”

“You're not too busy, are you, Mr. Townsend?” Brian asked.

“Please, Mr. Townsend,” Susie added.

Ray cleared his throat, searching for a way out. “Well, I have been pretty busy.”

“But there's no trapping or hunting right now.”

“No. Well, I suppose we could go.”

“When?”

“I don't know, uh, sometime this summer.”

“OK. When?” Brian pushed. “Can we go tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow? Sorry, partner, but I can't.”

“Brian, Mr. Townsend is a busy man.”

Ray looked at Brian in his rearview mirror. He sat with arms folded over his chest, his mouth in a pout. Ray didn't want to disappoint the boy, especially since he was a changed man and he liked the youngster. He figured Will Hasper would have made time. “I s'pose we could go, but not for a while.”

“Next week?”

“Brian,” Jean said.

“No. I've got things to do next week. How about the week after?”

“Great! I can't wait to tell Luke! He'll want to go! I remember when we were on the train he said he wanted to go there!” Brian returned to staring out the window.

Ray could imagine what would happen when Brian told Luke they were going to Fire Island with him.
How did I get myself into this one?
he wondered, trying to concentrate on the road.

A CAR HORN BRAYED FROM OUTSIDE. “ADAM AND LAUREL ARE HERE!” BRIAN called, dashing for the door and yanking it open.

“Brian, come back here,” Jean said. Brian reluctantly returned to the kitchen. “I need you to carry the extra clothes.”

He picked up the box, headed for the door, and disappeared outside.

Susie followed. “Camping. I like camping. We're going camping.”

“Luke, could you get the box of food? I'll carry the bedding.”

Luke glowered at the box of provisions sitting on the floor beside the door. “I'll carry it out, but I'm not going.”

“No one said you had to go.”

Picking up the box, he asked, “How can you go anywhere with that man?”

“He invited us. And Brian and Susie want to go. It will be good for them.” Jean settled her eyes on Luke. “I'm not going to let hatred control me, and neither should you. We have to go on and accept that what happened wasn't anyone's fault.”

“I don't know how you can say that. He could have done things differently, but he didn't. He let Dad die.”

Adam appeared at the door. “You two going to take all day?” His smile faded when he saw the intensity of Luke's expression. “Sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt.”

“No. It's fine,” Jean said. “We're ready.”

“
You're ready,”
Luke corrected.

Adam took the blankets from Jean. “You're not going?” he asked Luke.

“Nope.”

“I was hoping you'd join me for some beach fishing. I brought my pole.”

A glimmer of interest touched Luke's eyes. “Beach fishing? I've never done any. Heard it could be good.”

“Well, get your pole then. We'll learn together.”

“I don't know.”

“Brian's going to be real disappointed if you don't go. He's out there talking about all the things you two are going to do.” Adam rested a hand on Luke's shoulder. “Weather's good, the food will be great, and the fishing ought to be interesting at the very least.”

“Nah, I don't think so.” Luke walked to the truck and set the provisions in the back.

“You're really not going?” Adam asked, placing the box of bedding beside the food.

“You think I'd spend a night camping with Ray Townsend? I wouldn't go anywhere with him.”

“I was counting on your company.”

Luke shook his head. “If he wasn't there, I'd go, but…”

Adam folded his arms over his chest. “I thought you read everything I write.”

“I do.”

“How about the article I did on your father?”

“That fable?” Luke said with a smirk. “I'd pay attention to it if it were true. I suppose the drips back in Chicago eat that stuff up. Too bad it's drivel.”

“It's not. You've seen the changes around here.” Fixing his eyes on Luke's, he continued, “You can't carry a grudge forever.”

Luke glared at Adam. “I'll decide what I do and when.” His gaze faltered. “You don't know what it's like.”

“I don't, huh?”

A flicker of realization touched Luke's face.

“I understand hate and fear. I've seen what it can do. The devil uses it to tear us down, and if we're filled with hate, we leave no room for God.”

Luke looked like he was about to retaliate, then unexpectedly, his hostility slipped away. “All right. I'll go.”

“Great!” Adam said, clapping him on the back.

“I better pack.”

“Don't bother,” Jean said with a smile. “I already did it.”

“What?”

“I thought you might change your mind.” She hugged Luke, then turned to watch Ray Townsend's car turn into the driveway.

“I'll go, but I'm not talking to him.”

“No one said you had to, but you will be respectful. You're still my son and your father's.”

“All right. I'll try.”

“So, Ray's been to Fire Island?” Adam asked.

Jean leaned against the door of the truck and patted Laurel's arm resting on the open window. She smiled at her daughter. “That's what he said. I guess he and his wife and Celeste used to visit during the summers. When I first said we'd go, I figured it would just be for the day, but Mr. Townsend said it wouldn't be a real visit without a night on the beach around a campfire.”

“It's a long way to go for just one day anyway,” Laurel said. “Besides, summer's almost over, and it's time for a little adventure.”

Ray stopped his car and climbed out. After retucking his blue flannel shirt, he ambled to Adam's truck.

Celeste walked beside him. “Hi, everyone.”

“Morning,” Jean said. “Nice to see you.”

Celeste leaned on the pickup door. “Laurel, I'm so glad you're coming with us.”

Looking a little ill at ease, Ray said, “Mornin',” and shook hands with Adam and nodded at Jean and Laurel. His eyes found Luke. “Mornin' to you.”

Luke didn't answer.

Brian bounced up to the man. “Good morning, Mr. Townsend.”

He looked down at the boy, then kneeled in front of him. “Howdy. You ready to see the island?”

“Yep. I got my stuff.”

He tousled the boy's hair.

Susie stood at his feet and looked straight up at the big man. “Good morning, Mr. Townsend,” she said with a smile. Ray bent and picked up
the little girl. “Well, good morning to you too.” He turned to Jean. “We better get moving. Daylight's burning.” He set Susie down. “Did you bring some warm blankets and clothes? It'll be cold.”

“I did.”

“So did we,” Laurel said.

“Good.” Ray headed for his car. “Who's riding with me?”

“Me!” Brian yelled, running after the man. “You have a neat car. I like it.”

“Thanks. I like it too.”

“I'm riding with Adam and Laurel,” Luke said.

Jean followed Ray. “I s'pose Susie and I can ride with you.”

Ray opened the back door, and Brian and Susie climbed in. This time Brian knew better than to bounce, and he sat with hands tucked between his legs, his feet dancing.

“Can I sit with you?” Celeste asked.

“Sure,” Brian said.

“No, Celeste. You sit up front. I'll sit in back with the children,” Jean offered.

“No. I'm fine back here.” Celeste slid in beside Brian. “So, you ready for an adventure?”

“Yep. I'm ready,” Jean said, not at all certain she was.

“Me too,” Susie said.

Ray climbed in behind the steering wheel. He pushed in the clutch, started the engine, then shifted into first and set off toward Anchorage.

Brian was out of the car almost before it stopped. He ran for the dock.

“Brian! Get back here!” Jean called, climbing out of the car. “Oh, that boy.”

Adam's pickup pulled in beside Ray's car. He leaned out the open window. “He's not excited, is he?” he chuckled.

Planting hands on hips and wearing a small grin, Jean watched Brian skip back toward her. “I don't know, what would you say?”

Brian jumped with both feet and landed directly in front of his mother, then turned to look at the quay. “Which boat is it?”

“I don't know.”

Ray opened the car trunk. “I've just got a dory, but it ought to carry us all.” He hefted a duffel bag out of the car. “It's that one there on the right,” he said, nodding at a wooden boat tied to the pier.

“It's not very big,” Laurel said, worry in her voice.

“It's a big dory. We're not going far, and it's sturdy—we'll be fine.” Hauling the duffel bag plus another satchel, Ray headed for the boat. “Let's get it loaded.”

“Brian, give me a hand,” Adam said, grabbing a box out of the back of the pickup. He handed it to the boy.

They all pitched in to assemble the supplies on the dock, and Ray methodically stowed them. He knew just where everything belonged, and surprisingly, everything fit. “All right, time to climb aboard. Who's first?”

“Me!” Brian said, jumping in and ignoring Ray's hand. The boat rocked wildly, and Brian ended up sitting on the floor.

“No more of that,” Ray said sternly. “You've got to move more slowly, or you'll end up in the drink.”

“I'm sorry.” Brian slowly stood. “I'll be careful.” He climbed over the seats to the bow. “This is my spot. OK?”

“Sure,” Ray said. “All right, let's get a move on. I'd like to beat the tide change.”

Laurel and Celeste sat together on one seat, Jean sat with Susie on her lap on the wooden bench in front of them, and Luke took the space beside her. Adam found a spot in back, alongside the engine.

Ray untied the boat, pushed them away from the dock, then sat on the other side of the engine. He pulled on a rope starter; the outboard sputtered, then died. He pulled again, and this time the nine-horse Johnson lit. Ray turned the rudder, and they moved into the inlet, the small engine straining under the load.

Mists sifted over the water, and sunlight splintered in the haze. Squawking seabirds investigated the small craft. “Watch this,” Celeste said, grabbing a piece of bread and tearing off a piece. She threw it into the air, and a gull swooped down, caught the bread in its bill, then flew off to enjoy the tidbit. Celeste tossed more bread and more gulls flew in to grab their share.

“Can I do it?” Brian asked, standing.

“All right, but sit down. I'll bring you some.” Moving carefully, she maneuvered to the front of the boat and handed Brian a chunk of bread.

“Me too,” Susie said, holding out her hand.

Smiling, Celeste gave the little girl a slice.

Susie took a bite and chewed happily, then tore off a piece and tossed it into the water. She giggled when a bird immediately retrieved it.

Brian tossed the last of his and asked, “Can I have another one?”

“No,” Jean said. “That's enough. The rest is for eating.”

His smile became a pout, and Brian leaned on the edge of the boat, watching the water in front of them.

Jean rested against the side of the dory, taking in the view. Like a white and purple citadel, mountain ranges bordered the landscape beyond Cook Inlet. Whispers of clouds touched their peaks. The last of the morning mists evaporated with the sun, and the bay's waters rose and fell in soft, glistening waves. A breeze stirred, caressing Jean's face, and she felt the tension leave her. Until this moment she'd been unaware how anxious she'd felt.

“This is a beautiful place,” she said to Ray. “Thank you for bringing us.”

“You're welcome.”

“Will would love …” Jean started, then let the sentence hang, realizing he would never see it. An uncomfortable quiet fell over the boat.

Finally Ray said, “Yeah, he would have liked it. Everyone does. Even my Ellie, who never had a fondness for the ocean, liked this trip. Every time I'm out here, I think of her.”

Luke glowered at the swells. “Too bad my father never got a chance to see it.”

Jean felt the prick of alarm at his words. He was cultivating his hatred. She glanced at her son, wishing there were some way to remove the hurt and anger. But the only one who could change it was him.

“What's that?” Brian asked, pointing at something bobbing in the water.

“An otter!” Adam called. “How about that. I've never actually seen one.” He put his camera to his eye, aimed it at the brown furry creature, and clicked off a picture.