On the Victory Trail by Marsha Hubler

spitting out hay dust. Then all in one motion she scooped up a handful of hay and pitched it toward the first target in her line of fire — Chad. Her reward was a handful of itchy hay dust down her sweaty back.
    The wagon bounced along the trail with squeals of laughter and a dustbowl of flying hay. When it rounded the corner through the woods and pulled into Piney Hollow, Mrs. Chambers and Mrs. Salem were placing heaps of food on a large table in front of the chuck wagon. With the smell of hot dogs, baked potatoes, and roasted corn in the crisp fall air, the hay fight ended as fast as it had started.
    The kids jumped off the wagon, dusted each other off, and gathered in a circle as Mr. Salem led them in prayer. Shoving each other in line, they filled their plates with the best that Piney Hollow’s chuck wagon could offer and sat on sawed-off stumps around the campfire.
    Skye, Melissa, Sooze, and Morgan sat in a cluster eyeing Chad and Bobby, who were engaged in a corneating contest. By the time supper came to an end, Pastor Newman pulled up in an RV. After a quick cup of coffee, he presented a short message to the group at the chapel. A question-and-answer period about the book of Jonah followed. Then the group was dismissed for some time to socialize.
    Chad and Skye made their way back to the campfire. Chad poked at a cluster of coals in the fading flames.
    â€œPastor Newman sure knows his stuff. I always wondered why Jonah was so mad at God for sending him to Nineveh,” he said. “I guess those Ninevites weren’t exactly your friendly next-door neighbors. They would’ve chopped your head off pretty quick.”
    Skye grabbed a stick and stuck a marshmallow on the end. “Yeah, it does make more sense now. I always thought that story was a fairy tale. But a big fish really did swallow Jonah. Can you imagine being in a fish’s stomach? Gross!”
    They were both laughing when Sooze approached and sat down next to Skye.
    â€œHi, Sooze,” Skye said with more enthusiasm than she actually felt. This is so not the time to be crashing the party, Sooze! she thought ungratefully.
    Chad looked over past Skye. “Hey, Sooze, how are you doing?”
    â€œSo-so,” Sooze forced out.
    Skye smiled weakly.
    Sooze smiled back. “Skye, I need to talk to you.”
    Skye ignored her and turned to Chad. “Bobby told me you just got hired at Jacob’s Hardware Store.”
    Chad smiled. “Yeah, I’m saving for a car.”
    â€œSkye,” Sooze said softly.
    Skye turned toward Sooze and gave her a can-this-possibly-wait look. “What?!”
    â€œI really need to talk to you — now.”
    Without wanting to, Skye noticed Sooze’s posture —slumped over, the brim of her Stetson pulled down, tears dropping on her shirt.
    â€œExcuse me, Chad.” Skye was already turning toward Sooze.
    â€œNo problem,” Chad threw his stick in the fire and stood. “I’ll go see what the guys are doing.”
    â€œOkay, everybody!” Mr. Chambers announced right behind Skye. “Time for the scavenger hunt! Meet me over by the hitching post under the pines.”
    â€œScavenger hunt?” Chad responded. “It’s almost dark!”
    Mr. Chambers’ mustache twitched playfully. “I know, my good man. That’s what makes it so much fun. Trying to find an acorn with the sun sinking fast is very tricky. But at least the bears don’t usually come out until after dark.”
    â€œBears?” Chad’s smile melted into mock fear.
    â€œAh, he’s just kidding,” someone called out. But the tone didn’t sound reassuring.
    â€œI sure hope so!” Chad’s glance swept the scene. “Whatever, I’m ready. Let’s go — and in the opposite direction of the bears!”
    â€œAre you two coming?” Mr. Chambers asked.
    â€œIn a sec,” Skye said. “We have to do something