of campers assigned to gather firewood for the big fire pit to provide light, heat, and cook their supper. George was part of the group unloading the chuck wagon, and he seemed perfectly at ease with Hugo, Faith, Rey and the Harrison teens.
Reyes oversaw the firewood collection with the wagon’s shotgun in his hand, muzzle pointed at the ground. “Only dry wood, please,” he said. “Don’t break anything off a tree, because it won’t burn and it hurts the tree. We need all sizes, so carry what you can manage best.”
Mrs. Porter didn’t seem thrilled with picking up sticks and mostly poked around. Levi rolled his eyes and collected the larger pieces that would keep the fire going throughout the night. When Reyes deemed they’d collected enough, the group headed back to the main site where the wood was sorted into piles based on size. Mr. Harrison asked about “personal business” and Hugo pointed out a rocky area with a few thick scrub trees as the watering hole.
Good to know.
“This is one of our traditions with new campers,” Reyes said. “Who here knows how to build a campfire properly?”
Levi resisted raising his hand, curious about the other guests. Miles looked like he was trying to hide a smirk.
Faith’s hand shot right into the air and she bounced on her toes. “I’ve been watching videos online to learn. I know.”
“All right, Miss,” Reyes replied. “How about you build it and I’ll light it for you?”
“Okay.”
Reyes handed her a wad of newspaper, and Faith quickly began to build it, using the paper and some dry grass as the tinder, smaller sticks for the kindling, constructing a textbook perfect pyramid of sticks that got bigger with each layer she added. The largest of the logs were left for later, once the fire really got blazing.
“Very good job,” Reyes said. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Faith scooted back, and Reyes used a barbecue lighter to catch the tinder. It began to burn and grow, until soon a crackling fire warmed the chilly winter air and heated Levi’s face and bare hands.
Hugo got a big, cast-iron pot situated over the fire and heated up bean and beef chili. After traveling all over the country, and especially the south, for most of his life, Levi had tried and appreciated a lot of different chili over the years. Texas-style meat only. Blow-your-head-off spicy and sweet, mild, smoky versions. Beans and meat. Even a few vegetarian chilies. But he definitely ranked Patrice’s at the top of the list. Reyes toasted up crusty bread over the fire, and it was the perfect accompaniment to the meal.
All Levi needed to make it outstanding was a beer. But—out camping or not—he also didn’t drink anymore for very good reasons.
After everything was cleaned in the creek and stored away in the wagon, Hugo brought out a few decks of cards and a box of matches for betting. Levi was pretty good at poker but he didn’t like to gamble anymore, not even for matchsticks, so he wandered a bit, looking up at the beauty of the star-filled sky. Admiring the gorgeous sight he was blessed to sleep beneath tonight.
“Thank you for this moment,” he whispered. “Thank you for your beauty.”
He swore one of the stars winked.
“Do you know any constellations?” George asked, his soft voice a pleasant sound on the night air. He stopped an arm’s reach from Levi, hands stuffed in his jacket pockets.
“A few. Columba is one of my favorites. It means dove, and it’s named for the mythical dove that Noah sent from the ark during the great flood to search for land. The dove brought back an olive branch and hope. It’s hard to see from here but—” Levi pointed “—it should be right about there.”
George’s gaze followed his direction. “I never used to notice the stars. But I grew up in the city and with all the light pollution, stars were things you saw in movies, not real life. This sky is incredible. I really wish Orry was here to see it, because no picture I take on my phone will ever capture the true glory of it.”
“You’re right. Pictures can capture moments in time but they can’t often capture the emotion of the experience. Only the human heart can do that.”
“You know, you could probably make extra money writing poetry and inspirational quotes.”
“I kind of already do.”
George tilted his head, his blond hair seeming to glow under the starlight. “How’s that?”
Levi hadn’t kept his blog a secret on