Summer's Loss

Chapter 7

Abigail

Two days later

The last two days Abigail had been working with the YCC crew. They were the only ones able to take her since everyone else seemed too busy and Brice had been gone. The YCC crew was a group of four kids who had been hired from the local school to do odd jobs here and there with one of the full time forest service employees to supervise them.  There had been five of them but one kid had quit. There was Drew, a short, thick built girl with bright orange hair and a snorty laugh, Kendall who had medium length brown hair and too much energy, Lindy, with her plain brown eyes and ringlet curl hair, and Conner who had short black hair and green eyes like her own, only with more brown. Conner was sitting in the middle next to her in the back seat of the big Ford F-250 work truck. He was talking to the other girls but Abigail wasn't listening.

Working with them had been fun and she liked it.  Over the last two days they had took out trash at camp grounds and raked pine needle covered paths.  And after they did the easy work, they swam.  There was a lake only fifteen minutes away in one of the surrounding hills that was frequented by the locals and the forest service.  She hadn't swam in it, only watched, although it was fun to listen to Conner pester her about her being a kill-joy.  He was a nice guy, Conner.  He was her age and a senior at the local high school.  He was funny and had been the first person in the crew to become her friend.

Her thoughts were disturbed when Conner lightly elbowed her in the side.

"Ow, what?"  It didn't really hurt but she said it just to go along with it.

"Earth to Abby."  Conner said.  They had taken to calling her by her nickname, even though she told them that not many people did. She didn't mind it, though.

"What do you think about when you space out like that?"  This time it was Drew asking her.

"I don't know" Abigail smiles, "nothing really."  Really, she had been thinking about Brice.  Two mornings ago her uncle had dropped her off at the work center, instead of taking her to the ranger station like he had the first day.  When she asked him why, he said that Brice had called in and said he wouldn't be here for a few days, and that Tom should just let Abigail work with people her own age.

"Whatever," Drew cut in again, "we're gonna go swimming again today."  She smiled at Abigail.

"After we do a little work."  Mike, the man who was in charge of YCC, chimed in.

"Like what?"  Conner asked.

"Campgrounds for today. We're going to take it easy today because tomorrow is going to be a little rough."  Mike said while driving to one of the local campgrounds.  "We're hiking to Coyote Point."

"Sounds great."  Kendall added, sarcastically.  Abigail liked Kendall as well. She was a year younger than Abigail but she was really nice.

The truck they were in was spacious enough, but every seat was full so it was hard to sit without your leg touching someone else, and Abigail's leg was still somewhat tender from her previous fence incident.  She tried not to wince when Conner's leg would bump hers but it was starting to get harder.

"Does your leg hurt?"  Conner asked quieter, so only she would hear him. They all knew about the cut, it was one of the reasons she didn't swim.

"Only a little, it's fine, though."  Abigail looked at him and he smiled at her.

"Sorry if I'm touching it, not a lot of leg room."  He gestured at the seat in front of him where his knees rubbed against it. 

"It's all right." Abigail looked back out the window, but Conner wasn't finished talking.

"So do you have friends in Montana?"  He asked her.  Abigail smiled and looked back at him.

"Of course, what kind of question is that?"  She laughed.

"Just wondering."  Conner smiled again. Abigail liked how it was easy to make him smile. After a pause, Conner piped up again, "Do you have a boyfriend?"  He asked bluntly.

Abigail laughed again, this time louder, causing Drew to look at them. "No, I don't."  Even though Abigail knew it was a well meant question, she felt her face get warm. The truth was, she had never actually had a boyfriend before in her life.  There were lots of boys in her home town, but none of them had ever really appealed to her.

"Oh my God, Con, you can't just ask a girl if she's dating someone."  Drew said, smiling.

"What, I was just asking."  Conner laughed.

"Enough," Mike butted in, "We're here, everybody out."

And with that, we all spilled out of the truck and proceeded to put on our gear.  The campground they were at happened to be the one at the lake they always swam in. It was a small campground so it never took long to finish the job.  Soon enough the work was done and they were ready to change into their swim wear, while Abigail found a bench to sit at and watch.

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Authors note: to those of you have read this story so far, first of all, thanks! All reads are very much appreciated. Secondly, I changed Jacksons name to Conner. I don't know why, but the name just wasn't working for me, so I just up and changed it before I got any farther! Better late than never!
- Sincerely, B.W. <3