Page 59 of Lady and the Camp
He blinked. “Herbal salve?”
“Her skin showed irritation, so I applied a salve. Maggie thinks it's a heat rash, not hives. It’s all natural and great for sensitive skin.”
“You.” He pointed a stern finger my way. “Are not toapplyanything to a child. Ever. That is Nurse Rena territory.”
“The salve is hypo-allergenic. It—”
“No.”
Ah, so grumpy, pointing Lucas had replaced comforting, rain shelter Lucas.
“I’m sorry.” And here I’d thought I’d healed a child.
Lucas appeared to be internally assessing. “No, I’m sorry. Just…don’t put stuff on campers.”
He looked at Maggie, then at me.
Maggie whistled loud, using only her mouth—impressive. “You! There! Halt and do not touch the turtle!” She barreled toward a cluster of campers gathered around a girl holding up a tiny turtleLion King-style.
I shook my head. Camp life.
With Maggie’s attention now taken, Lucas leaned in. “I’m sorry. About the pointing. I’m trying to cut back.”
“You’re right about not using untested salves on campers. I should only product test on adults.”
He snapped his head toward me. “Product test? What do you mean?”
Oops. I’d been experimenting with essential oil recipes using ingredients Twila found at a health food store the next town over. Oils and natural ingredients were fascinating to learn about. Key word being learn, and I was a far cry from an herbalist. “Never mind.”
That evening, the adults and a handful of the college and teen counselors gathered to talk strategy for the upcoming Summer Trail Games. Lucas managed to get a few friends from his outdoors meet-up group to join us as fake staff for the games. We now had Shawn, Preston, and Meg as part of the group. Three sturdy, fit adults to balance out our competition ranks.
After a round of introductions and initial discussion, Lucas clapped his hands for our attention. “Let’s set up a relay race and play out some possible team combinations.”
Lucas exuded confidence as he spoke. He had an understated charm. With his friends here, he smiled more. I liked seeing him smile.
He caught my eye as he spoke. Was it me, or did his gaze linger?
I kind of hoped it lingered. Okay, not kind of. I hoped. I hoped for the linger. I couldn’t stop thinking about our time together in nature. Both gentle and extreme. I liked the multiple versions of Lucas I’d witnessed in the wild: the thoughtful exploring of wildflowers version and the threatening phantom murderers with an ax version.
My focus landed on Meg, one of Lucas’ friends from his outdoors group. She wore cute athletic gear highlighting toned arms and muscular legs. She had a carefree look about her. She in all likelihood knew how to canoe without going in circles.
Which was what happened to me earlier today in a boat with three ten-year-olds. Bianca had to row over and save us.
Lucas and Meg had way more in common than he and I did. Not to say Meg took any interest in him, but if not, what was wrong with her? Lucas was a catch. Grumpiness aside, he had a lot going for him.
“Hudson?” Maggie’s voice cut into my thoughts.
“Yeah?” Everyone grew quiet. And looked at me.
“We’re counting off.”
“Oh okay. One.”
“No, you’re three. Pocket Pete next to you is two and I’m a one.”
Sounded like she could have counted for me then. “Sorry. Three.”
I scanned the group as they completed counting off into randomized teams. They were all sporty types. They knew the games we’d be playing because they’d done them or similar.
