Case of the Glacier Park Swallow (7 page)

S
ophie was still there by the bank of the river when Juliet returned in the spring.

Juliet heard her harmonica as she came through the woods with Max, and when she heard the swan's reply, she knew that everything was all right.

It was the same whistling swan. The X was still on his band and his G-note was loud and mellow and perfect.

Juliet came and sat beside Sophie and said, “He came back.” Sophie noticed her then for the first time, and she hugged her tightly and Juliet could see that there were tears in her eyes.

“You see,” Sophie said, “everybody comes back in the spring.”

Juliet laughed, and said, “Any sign of the swallow?” and when Sophie shook her head and said “No” she felt sad.

“Don't worry too much about it,” Sophie told her. “It wouldn't have stopped on its way home anyway. He's probably somewhere up in Canada building a nest under the eaves in a barn.”

Juliet felt better then.

“It's nice that spring is here,” Sophie said. “All my friends have come home again. Here you are, and the elk are back, and my friend the swan over there has come home, and so have all the other birds. It's been a long, lonely winter, but it's just fine now.”

Max cocked his head at her, and when she nodded he went to the water and ran up and down the bank barking at the swan. Across the river, the Indian paintbrush was turning scarlet and purple blossoms were beginning to bloom on the lupine.

Juliet wanted to stay there forever, but she knew that she couldn't. Katie needed her now, and she had promised Cam that she would stay through most of the summer.

“Have you seen Tom?” Juliet asked.

Sophie nodded and said that she had. “He came here in February and he asked if I had heard from you. I hadn't received your letter yet, so I said no. He said that it was lonely in the cabin, and then he said that he was thinking of getting married. Later, I heard that he had.”

Juliet felt suddenly sad. She was surprised that she felt that way, and for some reason she didn't want to ask about Tom's wife. She had planned on visiting him, but she decided not to, and that night she slept on the ground under the stars beside Sophie and Max.

They made a campfire and roasted potatoes and peppers and sausages, and the next day she decided to stay another night, and the day after that she decided to stay one more.

But the time came when she couldn't put it off any longer. She left quickly because she didn't know how to say goodbye, and she knew that Sophie would understand.

As she was driving toward the highway she decided to stop at Tom's after all, so she turned back and went to the cabin. He greeted her at the door and hugged her like a friend, and then he introduced her to his wife and brought her a cup of tea.

His wife was a small, gentle woman with kind eyes, and when she held his hand he smiled. Juliet could see that he was happier now and for a brief moment she was filled with sadness.

His wife noticed it. “I hope you'll come to visit us often,” she said. “Tom says you're a very good friend.”

Juliet felt better. “I'd like to come back in the summer,” she said. “I've always wanted to see a pronghorn.” She looked down at Max and laughed. “And I'll bet Max would like to chase one, too.”

“He wouldn't have a chance,” Tom said. “A pronghorn can outrun anything in the northern hemisphere.”

“I know.”

Tom walked her to the door. “Please come back,” he said. “There's always a couch for you here.”

Juliet thanked him and went to the jeep. When she was settled beside Max she started the motor, turned, waved, and drove toward home.