“I know,” the older woman answered. “The waiting is the hardest part.” Then she ducked her head. “I suppose in a way that I have the easiest task, what with Charles being left here to supervise the camp. But he wanted to go with them so badly that I—”

“I know. He’s still over there banging things around in frustration.”

“He’s too old. That’s what he thinks, no matter what Eric said.”

Shirley straightened, holding her breath. “Say, would you like me to take your turn? You could go be with him.”

Mrs. Metcalf looked up, startled. “Oh, no, I couldn’t do that. You already had your watch today.”

Shirley pressed in, trying not to appear too eager. “That’s okay. There’s no way I’m going to sleep anyway. I may as well sit here as in my tent.”

“Well, I don’t know if I should.”

Shirley felt her heart leap at the hesitation in the woman’s voice. “Go on. Your husband needs you. Really, I don’t mind.”

“Are you sure?”

“Really.”

Mrs. Metcalf stood up and brushed off the back of her skirt. “Well, he does need some cheering up. Thank you, Shirley. Thank you for being so thoughtful.”

Not until the woman was out of sight did Shirley let out her breath in an explosive burst of relief. “Thank you, Mrs. Metcalf,” she whispered triumphantly. “Thank you very much.”

Madeline Lloyd sat staring into the small campfire, lost in her thoughts, her face lined with worry. As Stephanie came across the clearing and into the firelight, Madeline looked up. “Are they asleep?”

“Yes, finally.” Stephanie sank down onto the log next to her mother.

“How many stories did they worm out of you?”

“Well, actually it wasn’t stories. They wanted to talk about Eric and Nicole.”

“Ah,” Madeline said with a smile.

“How come Nicky had to go with the men? Does Ricky like her? Will they get married? Will I get to be a flower girl?”

“Married? Aren’t they rushing things a little?”

Just then Adrienne Robertson came out of a small lean-to and walked over to join them. “Who’s getting married?”

“Eric and Nicole, if our children have their way,” Madeline answered.

“And me too,” Adrienne said firmly. “I’m all for it.”

“Well, they’re hardly to that stage yet,” Madeline responded.

“The children saw Eric kiss her last night,” Stephanie said. “That’s what started all the speculation.”

Adrienne nodded. “I saw it too. I don’t think Eric realized that half the camp could see them there in the trees.”

They all chuckled and then gradually fell silent.

“And so,” Madeline said, after a few moments, “here we all sit and worry about our men.”

“And one woman,” Stephanie shot back. “Why did Eric take Nicole down?”