Chapter 23
Back at the Cabin
The night was almost over. It was like the cord connecting the moon to the dark sky was about to be cut. No one slept well because they were haunted by the memories from base camp. Fidgety, Eugene, Charlie, Jorgina, and the others, anxiously waited for Jack’s return.
Cody was sitting in front of the fire Eugene and Luna had made. He, like everyone else, was wondering when C.J., Jacob, and Jack would arrive. He became skittish as he watched Jorgina unwrap the bandages on her scarlet feet to air out her wounds. They were tender and looked as if they had been cut with a razor. Watching her traumatized him. Next, he looked over at Sarah Beth who was sleeping. She tossed and turned like she was having a nightmare, but she never opened her eyes.
Cody was worried about Maria, and the fact she never returned. “Do you guys think we can trust Jack? Do you think he did something to Maria, or do you believe she just left?” he asked.
Eugene said, “I know what you mean. It’s creepy Maria never came back. She never hinted she would ever do such a thing. I hope she made it back okay. I miss her.”
Cindi nodded, as did Charlie and Luna. Panic was nothing new to the group. Every creak and noise put nerves on end. Jorgina drifted back to sleep but was awoken by heavy footsteps and a rustling of leaves outside. The racket got closer, but no one could see anything. Cindi slightly slid the living room curtains open and peeked outside in the dim light. She saw branches a few feet from the cabin being slung from side to side. The brush of ivy was being trampled and moving like waves in an ocean. Her heart raced as she saw a bulky mysterious figure approaching that looked to be as huge as a bear.
Panicking, Cindi said, “Bolt the door, someone. There’s something coming towards us, but I can’t see who or what it is. I don’t know if it’s a wild animal or someone trying to harm us. We must all be on full alert.”
“Do you think it is Jack?” asked Luna.
“I don’t know. He was on a four-wheeler, and I don’t see it or hear the sound of his engine, which disturbs me. All I can see is something thrashing around. Turn off all the lights quickly. Get still and quiet and maybe whoever is out there will think no one is here. Maybe they won’t even be able to tell this is a cabin in the darkness,” said Cindi more afraid than rational.
Cody fainted. Jorgina put her head down quietly on top of her knees, but her eyes were wide opened. Sarah Beth was still asleep and unaware of the drama.
Like an attentive puppy, Charlie stayed close to Sarah Beth and wondered if she would even remember all the ways he had cared for her while she was injured. Will she even like me whenever she healed, he thought. He still longed to be home, but felt like he had “man-upped” quite a lot since coming to the camp. That made him feel happy and proud which was a weird feeling considering all the bad things that happened since he had been there. Also he could tell he had lost weight.
His pants had been a little tight when he arrived, but now they were much looser, almost about to fall off him. Before he arrived at Camp Clearwater, one of his biggest thoughts was what he was going to eat for his next meal. Now there was a gnawing feeling in his stomach, but adrenalin was his major food source and worry overtook his appetite. He wanted Sarah Beth to get well even if there was no chance they could be together. He loved her spunk. The old saying, “Opposites attract” was true in their case. No two people were more opposite than the two of them. Charlie brought out a sweeter side of Sarah Beth, and she brought out a more manly courageous side of him.
“What do you see?” whispered Luna. “Can you tell who or what is out there?”
“No, shhhh, please! Everyone, stay quiet and still,” Cindi said. She hoped no one saw her trembling legs and arms. Can anyone hear my heart pounding like a drum? she thought as she waited intently, and she stared into the darkness.
“Cindi! Eugene! Cody! Luna! Sarah Beth! Jorgina! Charlie! Is anybody there?” yelled a familiar voice.
“Jacob, is that you?” cried Cindi as she opened the curtain wide like cat eyes peering into the fog-like sky.
“Turn on some lights, so we can see where we’re going,” yelled Jack as he, C.J., and Jacob came stumbling closer to the house. They looked like a giant blob, struggling to put one foot in front of the other. Happily, Cindi turned on the kerosene light and opened the front door. She went running towards C.J., Jacob, and Jack. Everyone except for Jorgina and Sarah Beth ran to greet them. They all embraced like long lost relatives.
“We didn’t think we would ever see you guys again,” said Luna who was laughing and crying all at the same time. Cindi hugged each one of them and wept with gladness. Every camper embraced one another and was genuinely happy to see each other.
“I know,” said C.J. “It seems like a long time since we left. I’m so glad to be back inside a shelter.”
“Yeah me too,” said Jacob. “C.J. took good care of me and laid me on the softest moss she could find, but that bed looks good.” He hobbled up the two front steps and when he entered, he noticed Sarah Beth asleep on the bed. “Is Sarah Beth going to be alright?” asked Jacob.
“I think she will be,” said Charlie as he looked longingly towards her.
“I hope so,” said Jacob. “I’ve always had a secret crush on her. That’s why I treated her so mean.”
“Boys are just plain weird!” said Luna flabbergasted. “I don’t understand why they play games. If you like a girl, why don’t you tell her instead of treating her like dirt?”
“I don’t know. You know how Sarah Beth is. I didn’t know how she would react to sweet talk,” said Jacob as he scratched his head. “Move over Charlie, I need to lie down,” ordered Jacob.
“Don’t bother her,” said Charlie protectively. “She’s had a hard time and has lost a lot of blood.”
“I’ve lost a lot of blood too! I said move over,” stormed Jacob.
“Please move Charlie. It’s obvious Jacob is injured and needs to get off his leg,” said Cindi.
C.J. and Jack told the group about their experiences, finding and losing the raft, Jacob’s injuries, and when Jack found them. Jacob was too weak to talk. He and Sarah Beth slept side by side on Jack’s bed. Not even Jacob’s snoring woke her up. After sharing their adventures, Jack and C.J. grabbed a pillow and a quilt and lay on the floor in front of the fire. No one noticed when the fire went out because they were all resting peacefully.
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