with a smile.
Allie nodded, “I didn’t realize how much I really do. I can hardly wait to walk some of the old trails and check out some of my favorite spots along the river.”
“Well, I’m glad we’ve got a good cook,” Trudy said. “The outdoors always makes me ravenous.” She stuck her hands in her ample overalls. It was clear that having lots of good food for a healthy appetite was the most important thing as far as Trudy was concerned.
“Hiking over some of these hills will give you an appetite, all right.”
“Hiking?” Trudy mimicked. “Who said anything about hiking?”
Allie laughed as they mounted the steps to the dining room, and then sobered as the door flew open and Scott came out.
“Oh,” she said with a start of surprise. “I thought you weren’t here. I mean, we stopped at the house and I was thinking that you might have left the O’Tooles in charge, and locked up the house, and—” she caught herself. Quit babbling. What was there about him that flustered her so much that she sounded like a ninny?
“I’m still here, obviously.”
“Yes, obviously,” she said collecting herself. “This is my friend, Trudy Daniels.”
“Nice to meet you, Trudy,” Scott said politely.
“And you,” Trudy responded with a smug smile. Allie could tell that Scott didn’t look like anything Trudy had imagined. He wore jeans and a tight knit shirt that molded his well-conditioned muscles, and a deep tan testified to hours on the beach or on the water, and skiing. The veiled look she sent Allie, said, “Wow!”
“Wouldn’t have missed it, Mr. Davidson.”
“Scott,” he corrected.
Trudy cocked her head and studied him with her large guileless eyes. “I have a feeling this will turn out to be the best outing our church kids ever had.”
Allie hid a smile. Leave it to Trudy to put a positive spin on his reluctance to have them here.
“I hope that’s the case, but we’re playing catch-up,” Scott answered honestly. “I’m really depending upon Pat and Dorie to run things.” At that moment a sleek Mercedes came into view on the river bridge. Scott frowned as he looked at his watch. “I guess hauling in that load of firewood took me longer than I imagined. I’ve got some business appointments that will keep me busy. Why don’t you check with the O’Tooles and see what needs to be done? Please excuse me.”
With a thin smile, he brushed by them, and strode quickly toward the house where two men in business suits were getting out of their car.
“So that’s the heartthrob,” mused Trudy. “He’s got a way about him, all right. No wonder you’re having trouble closing the book on young love.”
“I told you, we enjoyed an adolescent friendship for one summer. That’s all, for heaven’s sake. Will you quit trying to make it into some Romeo and Juliet drama?”
“I will, if you will.”
“What?”
Trudy laughed. “I’m betting that the shiny flush on your face has nothing to do with the sun, nor is the high mountain air responsible for your quick breathing. You like this guy.”
“Sure, I like him,” admitted Allie. “At least, I used to, but that’s water under the proverbial bridge. Scott’s gone his way, and I’ve gone mine. Really, Trudy, I don’t want to discuss it any further. We’re here to help get things ready for the church camp. What Scott does or doesn’t do isn’t any concern of mine.”
“Uh-huh,” Trudy said.
“Let’s go see what they have for us to do.” She led the way into the dining room, and her breath caught as she looked around. The place looked as if a whirlwind had swept through it. Nothing was set up for the feeding of a crowd of hungry campers. Chairs were stacked, tables shoved together and all the counters loaded down with stacks of trays, cups and dishes. Only the floor looked bright and shiny from a recent scrubbing.
At that moment Dorie appeared in the kitchen doorway. “I thought I heard voices,” she said as she greeted them with a merry wave of her hand from the kitchen. “Come on in. I’m busy putting away all the foodstuffs that have just been delivered.”
“Can we help?”
“Sure.” She looked as happy as a busy bee flitting around a field of clover. “I like to set up the kitchen myself.” She nodded toward the connecting door between the dining room and the activity room. “I think Pat’s been needing some help. Why don’t you gals give a look-see?”
“Okay. We’re here to do whatever needs doing.”
“I’ll let you know when I need an extra pair of hands,” Dorie promised.
They left her happily humming to herself as she filled the freezer, fridge and cupboards. When they entered the recreation room, they saw that the same happy mood did not apply to her husband. Pat O’Toole was sitting on the edge of a raised dais that served as a stage, staring moodily around the room, as he filled his pipe.
“Oh, oh,” murmured Allie. The recreation room was in a sorry state. All but one wall and the ceiling showed ugly watermarks around the windows and on the ceiling. Only one wall had been freshly painted a pretty rose color, and a heap of painting tarps and paint cans pushed to one side were evidence of an interrupted project.
Allie wasn’t sure that Patrick O’Toole really remembered her. Unlike his wife, he had no welcoming smile on his lips nor recognition in his eyes as she introduced herself and Trudy. He just nodded at the introduction, and continued to give his attention to a pipe that he was trying to light.
“It’s nice to see you again, Mr. O’Toole,” Allie said brightly, ignoring his distant manner. “We’re from the church. Just tell us what you want us to do. We’re here to help.”
He peered at her from under bushy eyebrows. “So you’re the lass that talked Scott into keeping the camp open?”
“Yes, thank God,” she said, relieved that he was speaking to her at least. “We appreciate your offer to handle everything for us.”
“We’ve got some nice kids who are looking forward to coming to Rainbow Camp,” Trudy said.
Patrick shook his head. “Well, ladies, I reckon I forgot how many things were left half-done after Sam’s passing. Look at this room, would you?” He got up and walked around the room, pointing out the unpainted walls and ceiling. “We got all the leaks fixed and were starting to paint when Sam had his spell.” He shook his head sadly, and Allie heard the break in his voice. “It’s a disgrace to his memory to have anybody even see the place like this.”
The two women exchanged glances, and Allie wasn’t surprised when her friend spoke up. “Well then, Mr. O’Toole, I guess we’d better get to painting,” Trudy told him in her take-charge manner. She eyed the ceiling. “A nice tall ladder will do just fine.” In a few minutes she had organized the whole project. Allie knew that she was the one responsible for redecorating all the Sunday school rooms. Trudy could wield a paintbrush roller with the best
