Joy in His Heart by Kate Welsh Page B

drying out in the sunshine. Several backpacks lay in a pile under a tree that shaded a grassy part of the clearing. The rest of the clearing was in the sun and was covered by grass and brush. The stream and banks were littered with storm refuse, giving every indication that it had receded in the past days. It looked like as good a place as any to spend the next few days.
    “Now that we all know each other, boys, suppose you get that pad off the top of my pack and help Joy settle down over here by Dan’s head. Then I’ll have a job for each of you. We’re going to camp here for a few days, gain our strength, then see what we can do about getting us all home. How does that sound?”
    All the boys nodded but little Candy stepped forward, a pugnacious look on her face. She reminded him so much of Joy at that age. “What about me?” she demanded. “I’m not so little that I can’t help. I help all the time when Daddy and Mommy and me go camping.”
    “Yeah, right. They probably tie you to a tree to keep you from getting lost,” Kevin Jaffe sneered.
    Joy visibly bristled.
    “That’ll be enough of that,” he said and glared at Kevin, who turned and went with the others. Brian returned his attention to Candy. He didn’t know how much help she could be when you measured it against how much danger she could get herself into if they let her out of their sight. Brian glanced at Joy. She merely shrugged but he knew she waited with interest as he debated what to say. Finally he said, “Suppose you collect firewood and bring it over here. You’ll be looking for any wood that’s lying around dead. But stay within sight of the camp and away from the water. Okay?”
    All smiles, Candy skipped off but she stopped and ran back to young Dan. She whispered something in his ear, gave him her bear, then set about her assigned task. Brian grinned, noticing most of what she picked up were twigs. “At least, I’ll have plenty of kindling,” he muttered.
    He heard a chuckle and he looked at Joy. He realized he’d scored a point with her when he saw her bright smile. “You’re good with kids,” she said. “You made her feel like part of the solution and not a burden.”
    Brian stared into her pretty face and had to swallow another apology for the damage he was afraid all that childhood teasing had done to her. There was a sadnessthat lay deep in her soul. He saw it in unguarded moments like this one. She might face each day with confidence and determination but that was in spite of something that burdened her heart. He wished he knew what it was. He wished he knew if he was the cause.
    Joy had a stubborn pride that bordered on dangerous, besides that hint of sadness. She still hadn’t mentioned her fever and he was nearly sure she wasn’t entirely comfortable in the wilderness. There was even a possibility that she’d been willing to face almost certain death to avoid facing that fear in front of him.
    He sighed. “It looks as if this crew has been working overtime to make Candy feel like a burden. And some of them have been teasing her unmercifully. My money’s on Kevin. I never knew that what seemed like fun for me could hurt you. I said this once before when we were younger, but maybe it needs to be said again. I’m sorry for all the ribbing and practical jokes, Joy. I was a rotten kid.”
    “Yes, you were.” She smiled sadly. “But I usually gave as good as I got, Bri. And I forgave you long ago.”
    He didn’t think she had. Brian also noticed that, as had happened in the past, she hadn’t admitted or denied any hurt feelings and added that to his growing list of things he needed to sort out with her. They couldn’t go on the way they had been for the past twelve years.
    But personal matters between them would have to wait for another time. He had four boys standing around watching them from across the clearing and awaiting instructions. This wasn’t the time to debate ancient history and settle up old scores or