Jeffrey opened his mouth.
“And”—she stopped him from speaking—“we could let Claire and the baby and Beth sleep in the trailer.”
“Oh, no,” Claire objected. That was too much. She couldn’t put them out of their beds.
“We couldn’t possibly,” Beth said firmly.
“We insist,” Dottie said, although Jeffrey didn’t look like he agreed. “We’ll be up for ages yet, and babies need their bedtime.” She gave Beth a kind smile. “And you look tuckered out.”
As much as Claire hated to impose, it was what Beth needed. “You’re so kind,” Claire said, relief in her voice. “That would be wonderful.”
After Jenny had her bottle and was back asleep, Dottie led them to the trailer. It was a kidney-shaped four-wheeler, the kind Claire saw every day going in and out of the park. Dottie pulled open the aluminum door. “It’s nothing fancy,” she said.
Claire went up the two steps. Inside was a tiny kitchenette with a table attached to the wall and two upholstered benches in sunshine yellow. A small countertop with a sink and a one-burner stovetop was in the center, and the rear was a double bed made up with a quilt and pillows. Outside the small back window, the river sparkled in the moonlight.
“Are you sure, Dottie?” Claire asked a last time, hoping she wouldn’t change her mind.
“Absolutely.” Dottie gathered a few blankets and an extra pillow from a storage cupboard. “Sleep tight.”
Claire settled Jenny in the middle of the double bed while Beth sat down at the dinette. When Claire came back, Beth was dabbing at her tears with a kitchen towel. “It’s been so horrible since Dell. With Pete and Iris. But you and your sister, and now this—” She nodded to the snug little trailer. “I can’t help it, but I’m still afraid something terrible will happen.”
Claire reached out and took Beth’s hand. It was ice cold. With everything that had happened to her, of course she was fearful. “We’re safe,” Claire said. The Henshaws would never find Beth here, and in the morning Claire would get her home to her parents. “Let’s get some sleep.” Claire squeezed her hand. “I promise you, things always look brighter in the morning.”
chapter 38:FRANNIE
Frannie squirmed down in her sleeping bag.
She had stayed up late, drinking beer with her friends and gabbing with Dottie and Jeff. Frannie told them goodnight as Vicky and Jerrylynn stumbled off to the tent.
“We’re going to go for a walk downstream,” Dottie said, holding Jeffrey’s hand. “It’s such a beautiful moon I want to enjoy it a little longer.”
Frannie helped Paul douse the fire with river water. He spread his sleeping bag down a couple yards away from the tent and said, “Sleep tight.”
“Don’t let the mosquitoes bite,” Frannie answered.
But Frannie couldn’t sleep. She lay awake with her thoughts swirling like a tornado. Was Claire leaving Red? Did Paul like her as more than a friend? Was anyone going to do something about the dog barking at the Wilsons’ campsite? She thought about Dad, and how terrible she’d been to him. It gave her a queasy feeling, thinking of him home alone and probably worrying about her.
Frannie gave up trying to get any shut-eye. She slipped out of her sleeping bag and quietly undid the tent flaps. She’d just go see if Claire was awake. As she walked toward the trailer, a movement down by the river caught her eye. It was Paul standing by the water. She walked between the clumps of silvery grass and whispered, “Is that dog keeping you awake?”
“Nah.” He stuck his hands in his pockets. “Just thinking.”
Frannie looked over the sparkling water to the dark rise of the canyon wall above them. “You worried about Sam and Ernie?” She was proud that Paul had finally stood up for himself, but maybe they had been a little mean to dump Sam and Ernie in the middle of nowhere like they did.
“Heck no,” he said. “I bet they’re sleeping like rocks in a motel.”
He was probably right. “Thanks for being so good about my sister and her kid,” she said, nodding toward the trailer.
“She’s swell,” Paul said.
“She’s a pain,” Frannie retorted and Paul laughed.
“You look like Claire,” Paul said. “I could see the resemblance right away.”
Frannie was glad the dark hid the heat on her cheeks. Claire was beautiful, everybody said so. “I can’t see it.”
Paul made a sound of disbelief. “Wish I had a sister.”
Aw, that just made her feel even worse. She’d never doubted that Claire and Bridget loved her—Dad, too—and she’d been a brat to all of them. She glanced over at the trailer. The lights were out and Claire was probably asleep. She’d get up early and talk to her sister tomorrow, before they headed off to Ennis. Claire would forgive her—she was good that way. And maybe she’d even help her smooth things over with Bridget and Dad.
