Standing in the middle of the dark drive leading to the primitive campsite on Wa-Wilkin Road, Lina folded her arms across her chest. It was early evening on the first day of the New Year, and her breath formed slow white puffs in the frigid air.
“Sure you want to do this, Angel?” her father asked for the third time, shining the flashlight below her face to avoid dazzling her eyes.
“Don’t talk to me,” Lina replied, continuing to watch Kolt wave hand-signals at Luke, who was backing Chad’s sky-blue travel trailer into place beneath two tall fir trees. There was a loud wrenching crunch and the tree behind the trailer shook.
Leaning out the Bronco’s window, Luke cursed, “I told you to signal, butthead!”
Lina and her father remained silent, rigid, like two fence posts split from the same tree; their emotional barbed wire the only remaining tie that bound them.
Watching the trailer move into place, Lina had a startling revelation. This is my new beginning, but it ain’t what I thought it would be. Least Luke’s gonna take care of me now, but I ought a be living ‘cross the road, ‘stead of dumped by my own family like trash in a tin can. Shivering, she felt the night’s cold bite for the first time. This gotta do ‘til Luke get’s his place back. And the sooner I help make that happen, the better.
“You sure you won’t stay with your aunt over on Sauk Prairie? At least there you won’t be so close to temptation,” Cecil offered.
“I ain’t staying with that weasel’s relatives,” Lina gave a snort.
“I’ll not hear no name-calling. And I want you to promise you’ll leave the Renshaws’ place be.” Lina remained silent and Cecil turned to face her. “I’m not leaving this trailer less you promise. No good’s coming from you going over there, and I might not be here for you next time you stumble into trouble.”
“Whatever,” Lina said, dodging her father’s demand. He cain’t keep me from the only place I’s ever happy and the love I’s meant for.
“Good. Just remember, sometimes the threads in life unravel, but with a little hard work you can weave ’em back even stronger.” Cecil relaxed and tenderness returned to his voice. “Kolt or I’ll bring JD out on Saturday mornings like we agreed. If you need anything, you know your brother and me will be here. That’s what family does.”
Lina looked at her father. “Like you done for our family so far?”
Her father’s shoulders drooped. “Sometimes you’re more like Holly than what’s good for you.” He turned away to watch the progress with the trailer.
Near the edge of the campsite, Kolt stepped aside while Luke finished placing the trailer so the front door faced the camp and the rear window looked out on the county road. After putting the Bronco in park, Luke climbed out and strolled over. In the distance, Kolt lumbered around to inspect Lina’s new home.
“Okay, old man,” Luke said, “That does it.”
“Let’s block it up and then you can take off,” Cecil said, looking warily at Luke. “Then me and Kolt can get Lina settled in for her first night.”
“Get to it,” Luke said with a slap to Cecil’s back that made the elderly man wince. “Glad to get this tin can off Grandfather’s place. My old man was gettin’ damn near unpleasant ‘bout it.”
As Cecil ambled toward the trailer, he mumbled, “Not as unpleasant as I’m gonna be if you don’t do my daughter and grandson—your boy—right.”
Lingering for a moment, Luke leaned close to Lina and whispered, “Hear that? I’m supposed to do you right.” He placed his tongue between his lips and slapped her on the butt. As he strutted off to join Cecil, he called over his shoulder, “Make yourself useful while you’re out here and keep an eye on my place.”
Lina’s eyes followed Luke.
Anything to get you and our home back.
-- : --
Six days later, on the first full weekend of the New Year, night had fallen when Lina woke from a restless sleep in the cold, dark trailer to the sound of a truck passing by on Wa-Wilkin Road. Grumbling in irritation, she snuggled into the meager warmth of her bed and pulled the familiar thin pink blanket up around her neck.
Drifting toward sleep, her thoughts wandered over the first few days in the trailer. Excited, she had reorganized the cramped space, making it her own; even creating a curtain from one of two dingy white towels she had found in a cabinet. Using colored markers from a drawer in the kitchenette, she added bright yellow and red flowers along the border before proudly pinning the curtain over the front window. Once we’re in the cabin, I’ll get Luke to buy me thin white sheers with stitched flowers trimmin’ the border, like a sunny garden—like Mama’s curtains.
The wish trailed off as her memories moved on to the last time she spoke with Luke. He had taken her into Darrington on Friday to call Chad on the pay phone at the Deli-Mart. Spending time alone with Luke had been the highlight of her time since the move. In her mind, she fondly replayed the sound of his voice and her chest ached. Luke’s falling for me again. I can feel it.
In contrast, her conversation with Chad had been unbearable. His obvious adoration for her was annoying, but she chose to be patient. Where would I go if he kicked me out of his trailer? I gotta be good, least until our new cabin is finished. Moving forward to the last two days, her thoughts darkened. That was when her marijuana had run out.
Returning to the present, the constant craving for a high gnawed at her mind. Maybe Chad stashed some weed in the trailer.
-- : --
In the workshop’s loft, Warner roused at the sound of a vehicle. Nestled in his sleeping bag on a thick air mattress on the floor, he raised his head and felt a stiffness in his neck. At the foot of the makeshift bed, Bella chuffed lazily without rising.
Sitting up and leaning forward, he peered out the window into the darkness cloaking the valley. A black Ford Bronco crept down the road. When the vehicle turned into the property, Warner’s heart raced as he recalled the last time an unfamiliar black truck had visited him. The truck’s headlights washed the front of the workshop as it rounded the curve of the drive. What’s it going to be this time?
Sitting atop a short wooden side table next to the bed, a clear glass kerosene lamp shed light on the cedar interior. A book his father had given him laid forgotten beside him—Sunset’s Complete Home Wiring. Prior to falling asleep, he had been studying for the next construction project. After I finish the roof.
Bella rolled over with a bark when the truck outside stopped, shifted gears, and slowly turned around. Still at the window, Warner watched the intruder drive back up the road, pass the corner hemlock, and turn into the distant campsite. Barely discernable through the trees, Warner saw the truck follow the small circular drive. Then the headlights came to rest on the faint outline of a sky-blue trailer. Is someone camping over there? How did I miss that? Warner frowned as the truck went dark and a distant flashlight wove its way to the mysterious trailer.
Well, it’s forest land… and they probably won’t be staying long.
-- : --
Having scrambled out of the warm bed to search for marijuana, Lina was anxiously rummaging through drawers with her wind-up flashlight when she heard the sound of the truck return. Its headlights briefly brightened the interior walls of the trailer. Peeking out the small kitchen window, she saw Luke’s Bronco pull to a stop, pinning the trailer with its headlights.
Maybe Luke’s got some weed!
Her heart raced as the craving for what Luke might have battled with her fear of what he might do if he were drunk. She switched off her flashlight.
Wearing a skewed, sweat-rimmed ball cap and his racing jacket crookedly pulled over his shoulders, Luke staggered out of his truck. Slamming the door, he switched on his flashlight and wove toward the trailer. He drunkenly garbled “Follow Me” by Uncle Kracker, strumming an air guitar and sloshing beer down his leg.
Darting toward the bed to throw on her robe and slippers, Lina sat in the dark on the thin, stale mattress. After a moment, she jumped up to lock the door then returned to perch on the edge of the bed and wait.
She heard Luke’s heavy footsteps reach the door and the flimsy outer screen pull back, then the sound of him sloppily jangling his key ring. Waiting motionless, she watched while the light beam outside wavered with each jab at the lock. Successful on the third attempt, he unlocked the door with a grunt of satisfaction. Lurching one step inside, he paused for a long drink of beer. A full minute passed, letting out what little heat remained in the trailer, before he closed the door.
“Ssshit… it’s… it’s freeshun in here… or… what…,” he slurred.
The flashlight spilled through the tiny interior of the trailer, erratically hunted past the miniature dining-nook, and wove down the worn gray-and-white speckled linoleum floor. The uninvited light stopped on the dingy pink of Lina’s fluffy house slippers.
“There’s my mama.”
Even from her seat at the back of the trailer, Lina could smell the reek of Luke’s stale sweat and cheap beer breath. Her face remained shadowed, emotionless.
“Why’s she shittun in the damn dark? Don’t ’member how to greet her boy?” Tottering forward, Luke steadied himself against the corner of the phone booth-sized bathroom, while Lina waded through a fog of conflicting emotions.
“Say what?” he asked, confused.
“I been sleeping,” she said softly, grabbing the front of her robe.
“Back in the shack. That’s… I’m gonna… do….” Luke took another drink from his bottle and the dim light glinted off his eyes.
“Got a joint?” she asked, surprising herself.
“Yeah, I gotta joint,” he said, fumbling at his crotch while spittle glistened on his chin.
Lina’s cheeks flushed and she stared at the rough outline of the lover that had become her torment. Put it aside. He’s here, and that means something.
While Luke finished the remaining beer in one sloppy shot, Lina reached behind and pulled back the blanket. She moved aside and Luke’s grin widened as he stumbled forward and collapsed onto the mattress. It creaked under his weight, and she thought she heard him whisper ‘Holly….’ Without bothering to remove his filthy cowboy boots, Lina hoisted his legs and shoved them onto the mattress. Curling up against Luke’s back, she covered them both with the pink blanket.
Is this really my second chance?
Trembling, she reached out and slipped her hand under his shirt.