They would be here soon.
Naomi willed herself to stay focused. The children had had a rough day, too, fleeing a wildfire, seeing the adults around them driven to near-panic. She divided the kids into four groups, settling each with a camp counselor. They were playing games suggested by Esri, who was a trauma therapist, to help the kids process their experience today—games about feelings and games like Simon Says to help kids focus on the here and now by using their bodies.
Everyone was being so kind. One of the local churches had brought hot meals for the kids—spaghetti with meatballs and salad. A daycare center had donated some storybooks and toys. A local grocery chain had brought breakfast cereals, cookies, and milk.
Kat’s two older kids sat in a circle with the younger children, participating in one of the games, while Kat helped a soldier set up cots for the kids, little Noelle playing with toys Kat had brought inside from her vehicle.
Naomi walked over to Kat, spoke quietly. “I’m going to go splash water on my face.”
Kat fluffed a pillow. “You’ve done a great job, Naomi. Go take a break.”
Naomi stepped inside the bathroom, leaned back against the door, and exhaled, rubbing a hand over her belly, the baby kicking restlessly.
Had she been crazy to think she could run a camp like this?
Someone with more experience and training might have thought to keep a vehicle on hand that was capable of transporting everyone. Maybe they would have thought to have a satellite phone rather than relying on a landline. Maybe they would have noticed one of the children running away and hiding.
If Chaska and Grandpa Belcourt and the others had died…
She would have had to go on without Chaska for the sake of the baby, but she would never have been able to forgive herself for their deaths.
That’s not how it turned out. Don’t dwell on things that didn’t happen.
Naomi splashed cold water on her face, dried off with paper towels, and stepped back out into the main room.
One of the groups was playing the Gratitude Game.
“What are you grateful for, Mona?”
Mona smiled shyly. “Pusketti.”
“You like spaghetti, don’t you?”
“How about you, Alissa?”
“My daddy is going to come home.”
And then Chaska was there, standing just inside the doorway, his dark hair tousled, soot on his face. Dean stood beside him. Behind them came Grandpa Belcourt with his drum, Gabe Rossiter, and the three camp counselors.
All conversation in the room came to a stop, kids craning their necks to see.
Naomi bit back a sob as Chaska came to her and lifted her off the floor. She wrapped her arms around him, held on tight. There was so much she wanted to tell him, so many things she wanted to say, but now wasn’t the time. “Chaska.”
He set her on her feet again, touched a hand to her belly. “Are you okay?”
She blinked back tears, nodded. “I am now.”
“There’s a party going on out there. Have you seen? The Mudbugs are playing, and people are dancing. It’s crazy out there.”
“I’ve been busy here.”
Little Alissa squealed, jumped up. “Daddy!”
Kat dashed out of the back room, hurried straight over to Gabe, who scooped up his daughter and drew his wife into his arms, neither of them speaking.
Naomi reluctantly let Chaska go, knelt, and hugged Dean. “I’m so glad you’re safe! You gave me such a scare. I want to hear about your adventure today.”
Dean grinned. “I rode with the hotshots. Tall Bull said I can be a hotshot, too.”