Hands shot up, the children’s faith in themselves bolstered by Mona’s example.
Gabe found himself smiling as he tied child after child into the harness and watched them confront their fear. He couldn’t think of a better way to spend the day than up here in the mountains with Kat, the kids, and good friends.
More than half of the kids had successfully crossed the high rope when Gabe spotted Naomi walking toward them, a hand on her rounded belly, a worried expression on her face. She waited until the child on the ropes had reached the other side then asked to speak with Chaska.
“The phone is dead. I just tried to call Food Mart about the cake for our end-of-camp party, but I couldn’t get a dial tone.”
Cell phones were of no use up here—not until a person got out of the canyon and down the road to the main highway.
Kat walked up to them. “It was really windy last night. Maybe a tree fell on the lines.”
Gabe nodded. “When we’re done here, I can drive into town and find out what’s going on. When I get down to Scarlet, I can let them know the line is dead.”
Naomi looked relieved at this. “Thanks. I appreciate it. Sorry to interrupt.”
She turned and walked back the way she’d come, while Chaska and Gabe got back to the kids and the ropes course.
“Who hasn’t gone?” Chaska turned toward the kid who’d started the fight this morning at breakfast. “Dean?”
Dean glowered at the ground. “I don’t want to do that.”
“He’s afraid,” offered the kid with the fat lip.
Chaska nodded. “It’s okay to be afraid. Do you know what courage is?”
Dean said nothing, but a few of the kids nodded.
“It means not being afraid.”
Chaska shook his head. “Hey, Old Man, what is courage?”
Grandpa Belcourt stepped up to Dean, put a hand on his shoulder. “Everyone has their own ideas about things these days. But back when I was a boy, I was told by my elders that courage is doing something you need to do even though you’re afraid.”
Chaska knelt in front of Dean. “You can do this, buddy. I know you can.”
Dean looked like he wanted to cry, then an expression of fury came over his face. “Fine. I’ll do your stupid high rope.”
Gabe tied him in. “You’re going to do great.”
Dean climbed the ladder, stood on the platform looking down like someone about to leap from a cliff. Gabe could almost feel the kid’s heart pounding. But this was a leap of faith.
Dean took one step and another and…
He slipped and fell with a shriek.
Chaska stopped his fall. “It’s okay. You’re okay.”
“I want down! Put me down!”
Chaska lowered him to the ground.
Gabe saw shame on his face. So far, he’d been the only child to fall.
It couldn’t end this way.
Gabe knelt in front of him. “You’re okay. You’re safe. Do you want to try again? You can do this, Dean.”
Dean looked up, something desperate in his brown eyes. “I’m scared.”