Fort Laramie (3 page)

She slung her backpack onto her shoulder and started towards the front of the room with Carrie shadowing right behind her. At the door, Mr. McKay stopped them.

"It's good to see you again," he said to Carrie. Carrie shrugged, mumbling something incomprehensible through her scarf.

"I'm glad you applied for this," he continued. "I wasn't sure that you would - since I know how you feel about me. But this is a chance of a lifetime, and I'm sure we can find a way to work together. Right?"

"I don't know," Carrie confessed.

"You have to come," Mr. McKay said. "You were the only one who knows how to spin - you're in charge of the spinning demonstrations. That's always a big hit at any public history event. Please tell me you'll do it."

"I'll think about it," she said. "I've got to run! Bye, Mr. McKay." She dodged out the door, tugging Julie along with her.

They ran down the hallway, down the stairs, and halfway across the block before Julie planted her feet, bringing them to an abrupt halt.

"Okay, Carrie. Spill it! You've wanted this summer internship ever since you first read about it. You were driving me nuts during the weeks we waited to find out if we were chosen or not, and you were thrilled before we got to the informational meeting tonight. Now all of a sudden you don't want to go? What's with you!"

"It's him," she blurted.

"The teacher? Mr. McKay? I thought he was kind of hot," Julie said.

"That's Thomas I-Don't-Take-No-For-An-Answer McKay," Carrie said. "The T.A. who was hitting on me last semester."

"The graduate student who wanted to date you last fall? Really? Isn't that like forbidden by campus rules or something?"

"A T.A cannot date someone in his class, but he can date other students," Carrie explained. "He wasn't teaching my section, but the one before mine."

"So why didn't you want to date him? He's cute. And he's obviously smart, motivated - he's doing exactly what you said you wanted to do. Sounds like you two have a lot in common," Julie pointed out.

Carrie punched the elevator button for their floor, hissing between her teeth. "You'll laugh at me," she said.

"That's never stopped you before. I laugh at you every day."

"It's not that I don't want to go out with him," Carrie said slowly. "I just don't want to go out with him now."

"Why not?"

"Because he's too nice."

Julie laughed and Carrie punched her arm.

"I told you you'd laugh at me."

"Not dating someone because you think he's too nice is just ridiculous! You're ridiculous."

"Just listen to me, okay? I'm not ready for a nice guy. I'm not ready to meet "the one" and go steady or get engaged. Tom is. I can see it in his face every time he looks at me. He's not thinking "let's have some fun." He's thinking, "let's get married and make babies." I don't want that yet!"

Julie continued to laugh. "I think you're making this up. You've invented some fantasy in that overly imaginative brain of yours. I think he's just a nice-looking grad student who finds you attractive. Maybe that's what's wrong with him. How anyone could be turned on by your wild mane and lack of style, I don't know."

"You're just jealous," Carrie said. "Did you fail to notice his assistant checking you out?"

"What? No! You're making that up," Julie said.

Carrie shook her head firmly. "Am not. What was his name? Ashton? Adrian? That's it. The blacksmith. He couldn't take his eyes off you."

"Ew," Julie said, shuddering. "He's creepy-looking."

"No, he isn't," Carrie said defensively. "Not everyone can have a perfect complexion, you know. He was kind of cute, in a Ron Weasley way."

"I never liked Ron Weasley."

"Sure you did. Everyone likes Ron Weasley. Now hand me that contract. You're right. I'm not going to let Tom McKay, or any guy, keep me from making the most of this summer."

Julie pulled the contracts out of her backpack and set them on her desk. Carrie's desk had been buried under clutter since the first week of classes. "I'm having second thoughts, girlfriend," she said hesitantly. "I didn't know about the campground stuff. That's so... so primitive. I don't know if I can do that."

"Don't be so O.C.D. Everyone goes camping," Carrie said.

"Not me. I've never gone. I like flush toilets and an innerspring mattress. I need my morning shower, and fresh brewed coffee. Sleeping in a tent with a bunch of horny college students is just not my thing."

"But it's really going to be a lot of fun," Carrie insisted. "And maybe we can take a motel room on weekends, and get a television fix. You know? Maybe we won't have to camp the whole summer. What do you say?"

Julie hesitated, staring at the contract until the lines blurred.  "I guess," she said slowly.  "If you can stand spending the entire summer with your Tom McKay, I can survive tent camping." She took out a pen and signed.

Carrie signed, too, before she changed her mind again.

Julie folded both contracts and tucked them into her backpack. "I'll make sure these get to his office tomorrow. Now, let's get some sleep."

* * *

Tom rubbed his eyes with his palms, wishing the pressure could do something for the headache he'd been nursing the past couple of hours. Seeing Carrie's face when she realized he was in charge had nearly floored him. She looked like she'd seen a ghost, like she might not even do the summer internship at all. He must have really misjudged that one. He thought she'd been attracted to him, even though she'd turned him down. He wasn't sure if she just thought he was too much older, or what was keeping her from going out with him, but her look today was more like she didn't ever want to see him again. How could he have been so wrong?

Carrie checked off a lot of items on his "must have" list for a perfect partner. She loved history. She was smart, modest, and according to her application, she knew how to cook. She was so tiny, he felt an instinctive need to protect her every time she was around. He didn't actually know what it was about her that he found so attractive, only that he really wanted to know her better. But somehow, he must have scared her off. This summer would be a lot longer if he had to keep his distance from her - and how was he going to do that, now that she'd been assigned to be his wife?

Maybe it wasn't too late to change things around?

There were two other girls going - Julie Martin and Vicki Hastings. Julie was going to be the blacksmith's wife, and Vicki Hastings, an education major, was going to be the teacher in the one-room schoolhouse at the fort. Vicki was the best choice for the schoolteacher, which meant he could only swap Julie and Carrie's assignments around. But somehow, sending the girl he found attractive to his best friend for the summer just didn't sit right. Adrian could be a flirt, even though he didn't mean anything by it. But Carrie wouldn't know that. What if she fell for him, and he broke her heart? No, if Carrie signed the contract, she'd have to be his wife. He'd just try to limit their contact as much as possible. At least she'd have to sign the contract before she found out what part she was playing.

Adrian knocked on the doorframe, then entered through the open door. "Hey, buddy," he said, slinking into a chair. "I thought that went well."

Tom shrugged. "I guess."

"So which one was she?"

"Who?"

"Don't play games with me. The girl - the one you like so much. The tall, slender brunette? No - the redhead. That's it, isn't it? You got a thing for redheads, don't you?” Adrian ran his fingers through his own scruffy strawberry-blond crop.

"No, she's the blonde," Tom said heavily.

"A blonde? I didn't even see her. The short one hiding at the back of the classroom? Geesh, she didn't look old enough to date. Are you sure she's even legal?"

"She's a sophomore, you dope," Tom said. "Her application says she'll be twenty next month."

"Maybe she lied," Adrian insisted. "People lie on their applications all the time."

"It doesn't matter. She's made it clear she's just not interested."

"Like I said before. She can't be that smart, then."

"Thanks," Tom said, forcing a smile. The sooner he got rid of his friend, the sooner he could start on a real sulk. "I'm heading out there over spring break to speak to a contractor about getting the educational center up. Do you want to go with me?"

"Sure thing. I can't wait to get a look at the blacksmith shop. When I'm not hammering horse shoes for the tourists, I can work on other stuff, right?"

"That's right."

"So, you're going to pay me to be a blacksmith, and I'll get paid for the products I sell. Nice gig. Wish it was full time and not just for the summer."

* * *

A week later the girls were on time for the second meeting for the summer internship. This time the fickle Wisconsin weather brought forth warm spring winds, the scent of tulips and hyacinths, and even a few kites soaring above the shops on State Street. Eleven of the chosen twelve had signed the summer commitment contract. One student had to regretfully decline, as a death in the family meant he was needed at home. A new student had already been selected to fill his position - a tall, silent computer nerd who was going to develop and maintain the web page and social media for the program, and sometimes double as another soldier.

"I hope I get to do something exciting," Julie said.

Carrie shrugged, fiddling with her jacket zipper.

"Like, maybe I could be the wrangler, and ride horses off into the sunset every night," Julie continued, grinning impishly. She was treated to another indifferent shrug. "Maybe we'll both take a rocket to the moon - Carrie! You aren't even pretending to listen to me. What's wrong now?"

Carrie sat up straighter, tossing her tangled main over her shoulder. "Nothing," she said. "Everything. I'm nervous. Okay? I've never done anything like this before. It's all a bit much - going so far away, away from everyone I know, for a whole summer. Camping with a bunch of boys. Working without air conditioning. What if I hate it?"

"I forget that you're actually from here," Julie added. "Haven't you ever gone anywhere before?"

"Sure I have. But always with Mom and Dad. I know that sounds pathetic to a world-traveler like you, but the farthest I've ever been from home before was Girl Scout camp. And that was only three hours away. This is four states away! And we committed to the whole summer. Twelve weeks. What if I'm miserable?"

"Then at least you'll have me for company," Julie said cheerfully. "Now pay attention - looks like things are about to begin."

Julie was right, as Tom McKay called for everyone's attention. His voice was deep and confident, easy to listen to. Carrie felt something shiver down her spine. Yes, he was definitely dangerous. She could picture herself with someone like him so easily! Why did she have to meet him now? Why couldn't he just go away and come back in a few years? After she'd lived a little - maybe did some traveling, met new people, had some fun?

He turned his gaze on her directly, as if he knew she hadn't been paying attention. She squirmed, hoping she wasn't blushing, but her cheeks felt too warm for that to be true.

"Originally called Fort William, it was purchased by the American Fur Company and the name changed to Fort John," Tom continued.

Carrie saw Julie write it down, as though they were going to be tested on it later. She focused on Tom then, trying to listen to the rest of his presentation.

"Later the Army took over the fort, providing protection to travelers along the Oregon Trail, and later the California and Mormon Trails. Fort Laramie is probably a shortened version of Fort John at the Laramie River. Those of you selected to portray soldiers will be posted at various places throughout the fort - the military barracks, the jail, the store, and on Vicki's day off, at the school.

"The school had a difficult time keeping teachers. When there were no civilians available, a soldier was assigned to teach for an additional thirty-five cents a day. It was very unpopular among the soldiers. According to historical records, when a soldier got sick of teaching, all he had to do was get drunk on the job and he'd be fired. There were a few times when deserters were caught, brought back in shackles, and made to teach. One young man wrote in his diary that nothing the deserter could say was as interesting as seeing him in shackles."

One student waved his hand excitedly. "I'll play him - the teacher in shackles!"

Several others snickered.

"Deserters were usually horsewhipped first," Tom said dryly.

The student lowered his hand, suddenly less enthusiastic.

"Twice a day all soldiers will muster - they will assemble on the parade grounds for formal inspection. We'll raise or lower the flag, depending on the time of day. We'll have a firing demonstration, so each soldier will learn how to load, clean, and shoot their weapon.

"Chayton, will you stand up, please?"

An older student stood, waved, and slunk back down into his chair. Carrie had never seen such long, dark hair on a man before. It fell down his back, touching the seat of his chair. For that matter, she'd never seen such long hair on a woman, either, except in pictures.