Unfounded Fears

Part 20

"It's not funny, Peter," Kwai Chang Caine scolded. However, such action was ineffective, as he was grinning himself. He looked at his son, who was bent double, holding his sides, trying to fight the overwhelming laughter and pain. It was a losing cause. Every time he looked up and saw Paul Blaisdell standing next to the tree, the laughter returned twofold, as did the sharp pain.

Blaisdell looked at his work and shook his head. "How in the hell am I supposed to get that down?" he muttered. He squatted down to look at the two-foot gap between the stump of tree trunk sticking out of the ground and the rest of the trunk, hanging in midair, its limbs caught up in the neighboring trees. He wanted to be angry, but when he looked at the Caines, each reacting to his predicament with laughter, he couldn't help but join them.

Peter wiped the tears from his eyes. "Guess you can just cut the wood off that you need from the bottom. . .at least until you can't reach anymore."

"Ha, ha. . ." Paul responded snidely.

The sound of a pick-up truck drew their attention. It carried the mark of the State Park Service. A blond woman, dressed in green pants and shirt, climbed out of the vehicle. "Captain Blaisdell?"

Paul smiled at the woman and approached her vehicle. "Claudia."

The woman looked at the man, standing with chainsaw in hand, and then at the tree dangling in mid-air. She tried to keep her reaction to herself, but knew she had failed when Peter Caine took one look at her face and busted out laughing, holding his ribs as they flared in pain again.

"Playing mountain man again, Captain?" she said as the corners of her mouth tugged up.

"If that's all the help the Park Service can provide for me, you can just get back into that truck and leave, young lady," Blaisdell said in mock-defensiveness.

Claudia Well's family had been long-time cabin owners. They were the Blaisdell family's nearest neighbors, owning the land just to the south of the Blaisdells', adjacent to the park entrance. Paul's children had grown up with Claudia. Peter and she were the same age. After college, she had taken on a permanent position in the park, deciding on a career in forestry and land management.

Peter finally quelled his laughter and approached the woman, bringing her into a firm hug. "Missed ya," he whispered when his mouth was next to her ear.

She smiled at the affectionate gesture. "Same here. How long has it been?"

"Too long." Peter admitted.

Paul cleared his throat, breaking the two apart. "So, Claudia, what brings you up this way?"

"Rounds. . . and poachers," she said as her face turned serious.

"Again?" Peter commented.

"Yep. Found a bear trap covered in blood a few days ago. We've heard gun shots echoing through the Park. No luck in catching them yet."

"Poachers?" Caine said from his position behind Blaisdell and Peter.

Peter, recognizing his bad manners, made the introductions. "Claudia, this is my father, Kwai Chang Caine. Pop, Claudia Wells." Claudia had a confused look on her face as she stretched her hand out to the priest. Peter, understanding the problem, immediately explained. "He's my natural father."

The woman's eyes grew wide. "Oh. I didn't. . ." then her words stopped.

Peter picked up the slack. "Dad, Claudia and I spent our teenage years. . .uh. . .hiking in the forest around here."

"Nice save, kid," Paul muttered under his breath. Peter grinned, feeling the heat of embarrassment on his cheeks. Looking at Claudia, he saw the same reaction on her face.

"It is an honor to meet a friend of my son's," Caine said with a slight bow. Peter sighed in relief, as his father did not appear to pick up that Peter and Claudia had done a lot more than hiking in the woods.

Paul stepped forward. "So, is there anything we can do to help?"

"Hmmm?" Claudia said, averting her gaze from Peter's.

"The poachers. Is there anything we can do to help?"

"Just let us know if you spot any suspicious activity," she responded.

Paul nodded. "We can do that." He then looked at the tree hanging in mid-air beside him. "Uh. . .could I ask you for a favor?"

The woman looked at his predicament and laughed. "I'll get the rope, you tie it to the tree."

Paul's flushed face matched his foster son's. "Thanks," he responded flatly.

Within minutes, Claudia's truck had pulled the tree loose from its neighbors and it collapsed to the ground with a thud, kicking up dust and leaves.

"Thanks, Kiddo," Paul said to the woman.

Claudia leaned out the driver's side window and nodded. "No problem. Glad to be of service."

Peter approached the truck. "You wouldn't happen to be free sometime this weekend. Maybe spend a few hours catching up. . .reliving the good old days?" he grinned and winked.

Claudia laughed. "I would make time to do that. How about I stop by tomorrow afternoon."

"Perfect. The boys here will be fishing. We'll have the cabin to ourselves," Peter plotted.

"What about you?" she asked, knowing that Peter Caine never passed up a fishing rod.

"Nope. Can't. Against medical orders." The woman frowned at his words. "I'll explain tomorrow."

She smiled and nodded. Then she cast her eyes at Paul and Caine. "Have fun. It was nice meeting you, Mr. Caine."

Putting the truck into drive, she left the men alone with their tree. Caine approached his son and placed a gentle hand on his uninjured shoulder. "She appears to be a nice woman."

Peter watched as the truck disappeared from view. "Yeah, she is," he mumbled.

"It appears that she would be a good. . .hiker," Caine commented. "But remember my son. . .hiking is against medical orders as well," Caine glanced at Paul, his laughing eyes telling the truth.

Peter turned to his father, utter shock showing on his face. Blaisdell heard the words, saw Peter's response, and couldn't stop the explosion of laughter.

End Part 20

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