Camp Mendingwell Part 7/?
Rated: T
Disclaimer: I don't own the O.C. characters or actors. This is a work of fiction and not meant to infringe on any copyrights.
Summary: This is an AU in which Ryan meets the Newport kids at a tough love wilderness camp.
Unbetaed: (Because I don’t have one.)
Taylor lifted the ripped and bloodied t shirt over his head, trying not to stare at the ugly bruising that marred his pale flesh.
She didn’t know how A.J. would react when he saw Ryan, and she was having serious doubts over Ryan’s participation on the hiking trip. His best bet was a trip to the infirmary, even if the nurse was barely qualified to put on a band aid.
“Ryan?” she said softly, gently dabbing a cloth at the cut above his eyebrow.
He opened his eyes, which had been beginning to close, and looked up at her. Her skin was so soft, and her voice was like honey, being with her made him forget where he was- which wasn’t such a bad thing, not at all.
“Do you think you can make it down to the nurse’s office, if Luke and Seth help?”
Ryan shook his head no; he had expected this kind of response. All he wanted was Taylor and some time to rest- a trip to the nurse was out of the question. He had been brazen enough to come back to camp at all after A.J. had left him in the well. The nurse would undoubtedly ask questions, bringing Bob into the picture…
…
Michael Green slid his pickup into park, and got out to marvel at the sunrise; he’d missed mornings like this.
He had always loved horses.
From the first time he’d fed a sugar lump to Bessie, an old mare with liquid brown eyes and a velvet muzzle, he’d been hooked. His parents had been long-time friends of the previous owners, and he had worked in the stables every chance he got.
Then his parents’ friends retired to a condo in Palm Springs, and the Eagle Feather Ranch became ‘Camp Mendingwell’, an outreach program for troubled teens.
A senior at Berkeley, he had kept his summer job as a ranch hand to make some extra cash during his time off school. The teenagers were responsible for the daily feeding and watering of the animals, and they were allowed into the field to graze.
Michael filled in between sessions of campers and when they went on their hiking trips; he also mended tack and gave guided tours in a package with Shasta Base Camp- rock climbing/horseback riding day trips, which were fun and lucrative, and allowed him to catch up with his friends from high school.
The campers weren’t technically leaving until just before noon, but he’d arrived early to go for a private trail ride.
Opening the stable door, its’ squeak roused the animals from their slumber, as Michael breathed in the familiar aromas of straw, feed, and horse.
He saddled up a young mare, and rode into the quiet dawn.
The cool, and misty, mountain mornings were perfect for riding.
…
The other Lions watched as Ryan fell into a restless sleep. Taylor had cleaned him up as best she could with limited supplies, but she couldn’t wipe away the bruises or the swelling, and no one could deny that he they’d never seen anyone look so bad in real life.
“He’ll never make it,” Summer whispered to Seth and Anna. “Hiking in the mountains with huge packs for days and days…”
“I’ve already put most of his stuff into Luke’s or my packs… he probably doesn’t even need to bring his. I sure wouldn’t be able to do it in his condition… but he’s tough as nails, and if we help him…”
They heard some fumbling around outside the tent, and Luke stood up.
It appeared the beast had awoken.
…
Bob removed his spectacles and rubbed his eyes, tired from the combination of lack of sleep and lawyer-speak.
His mind kept drifting back to Ryan Atwood, and the conversation they had had the day before. The boy had been polite and well spoken, if not a little uncomfortable, and Bob had liked him. Discounting A.J.’s conjecture, Ryan’s story was plausible…
He didn’t know the boy very well; most of his insight into Ryan’s life came from his journal. The boy’s entries were frank and to the point, honest but guarded.
They only revealed a part of who their author really was, but what came through was pure and wholesome, more a case of ‘fucked up life’ than ‘fucked up kid’.
A.J.’s background check and references had been clear, and he was easily the best counsellor on staff, reporting the fewest behavioural incidents, managing to earn the respect of his campers without dragging Bob into their affairs…
But when it came down to it, Bob didn’t trust the man.
He’d only hired him because Kenneth had injured his back working construction and was on worker’s comp, the staff shortage had left him in a pinch- he’d tried having larger groups in the past, but it had been disastrous. Then A.J.’s resume had been forwarded to him, and the problem had basically solved itself.
Now Bob was wondering if he’d created an even bigger one.
…
Luke stepped out of the tent, his adrenaline pumping as he prepared for a fight. He didn’t think A.J. would stick him in a well- he had a family who cared about him and would fight back- but he couldn’t be too careful.
Standing between imminent danger and the tent enclosing his pseudo family, he couldn’t help but marvel that he was going to bat for people who really felt like friends.
Including Seth Cohen… he never would have believed it.
A.J. wasn’t up yet- his feet and audible snores still issued from the pup tent- but Oliver was up and tending to the fire, in an odd display of normalcy.
Taking a few strides towards the other boy, he realised that what he was doing wasn’t normal at all.
…
The young mare begged to canter, and Michael compromised at a trot, not wanting to race by all the beautiful scenery. The trails were a bit of a maze to a newcomer, but he had grown up in these mountains, and he navigated them easily, like streets in a familiar neighbourhood.
Completing a loop of the outer perimeter, the horse stopped suddenly, pawing the ground anxiously as it threw back its head in a cry of distress. Michael dismounted, inspecting the saddle for burrs, and hooves for stones.
The mare wandered off a bit, and he had to jog to catch up to her.
He reached her by wading through the lupins and fireweed to the bushes where she stood. Patting her flank reassuringly, he took the reins in his hand; it wasn’t uncommon for a horse to spook, but usually there was clear reason for the animal’s anxiety- a loud noise, even a seemingly innocuous piece of trash could be the catalyst.
About to lead her back to the trail, he paused as something caught his eye- smooth and white, the end of a bone protruded from the brush. Parting the tall grasses surrounding it, he found more bones- the remains of a ribcage and a skull.
The flat teeth, and large orbital bones confirmed his suspicion; it was definitely a horse.
…
Oliver turned his kill on a spit he had fashioned from a bent rod.
The boys’ tent sagged to one side behind him, struggling to remain erect minus a pole.
Blood applied like war paint graced his cheeks.
“Good morning,” he said evenly, nodding in Luke’s direction.
“What is wrong with you?” Luke asked disgustedly, pointing at the small animal (maybe a squirrel?) that Oliver was roasting.
“Don’t worry, I got enough for everyone.”
Luke turned around as Summer screamed at the mound of tiny corpses piled near the tent opening.
“Shut up!” growled A.J., crawling out of his shelter and pointing at Summer. He was tired and hung over and consequently grouchy.
A.J.’s beeper went off- he had a new message from Bob.
We need to talk.
Talking was never good.
He needed this job; it paid well enough that he could start paying off his debts, which were always dragging him down.
“We’re leaving for the hiking trip in twenty minutes- pack up the camp,” he barked.
It was now or never, his pulse raced with adrenalin- if he played his cards right he could pay off his debts and not have to spend his summer running after snot nosed kids, or kissing Bob’s ass.
He pulled out Bob’s map and started making some adjustments.
TBC
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Also, if anyone could tell me how to get a sidebar to post links/organize past entries that would be great. I’ve finally got enough entries that they don’t all fit on one page. I’d like to make it easy for readers to access old stories without having to dig through everything.