certificate in American Indian studies, with a double major in History and Theater. He'll be presenting Northern Plains culture for the tourists this summer."
"Now he's cute," Julie whispered, nudging Carrie's shoulder.
"He looks like trouble," Carrie answered. Chayton had a few tattoos and a scar on his forearm.
Tom McKay continued speaking, ignoring the girls' back-row chatter.
"Finally, Julie Martin will play the blacksmith's wife. She will present civilian life at the fort, while Carrie Carson, who portrays the base commander's wife, will be posted at the Burt House where she will demonstrate spinning and weaving."
Base commander's wife? Carrie sat up straight, her hand shot into the air. "A wife? Why can't we be widows? I didn't sign on to get married this summer."
Some of the boys whistled and joked, offering to take her on as their wife. Tom shushed them. "As I said, she will be the base commander's wife. I am the base commander."
Carrie felt herself shiver. Her grandmother would've said someone had walked across her grave, but Carrie was sure her physical reaction was an intuitive feeling of impending catastrophe. She was just Irish enough to trust her intuition.
"I thought you were the administrator. Why are you playing a role too?"
"Limited funds. I'll be doubling up as administrator and Fort Commander. William Burt was either in charge, or second in command during his tenure at Fort Laramie. I'll be kept pretty busy with running the fort, working with the soldiers, but we may have to work together for a few activities. I trust that won't be an issue?"
Carrie sniffed, feigning an indifferent shrug. "Pretend husband," she muttered. "Don't get any ideas!"
"Of course not." Tom bowed his head briefly in an old-fashioned gesture of respect. "Well, ladies. Let me know if you have any questions between now and then. If I can be of any service, please don't hesitate to ask. Ms. Martin. Ms. Carson."
"Damn!" Carrie said, as soon as she thought he was out of ear shot.
Julie tugged on her arm hard enough to nearly pull it out of socket. "Carrie Anne Carson! Did you lie on your application form?"
"Huh?"
"Did you put down that you know how to spin? My gosh! Why would you do that! Now you have to demonstrate that all summer long - how are you going to pull that off?"
"I've got time to learn," Carrie said. "You know how important this internship was to me! I had to make sure I'd be chosen."
"And what do you think Tom McKay's going to do when he finds out you don't know a thing about spinning?"
"Nothing. Because you're going to help me learn."
"Oh, that's a great plan. I know even less than you do. You're on your own for this one. I bet you would have been chosen even if you hadn't lied, you know. Especially since you think Tom likes you. I just don't know - I don't know what you're going to do now," Julie warned. She tucked her notebook into her backpack and slung it over her shoulders.
"At least I know how to sew," Carrie murmured. "I can adjust our costumes so they fit better."
* * *
The morning finally arrived. Twelve students gathered in the parking lot outside the Humanities building with all their luggage. Tom McKay strutted around with a clipboard and pen, checking things off, going through their luggage and telling them what they could or could not take. He eliminated iPods, iPads, notebook computers, and all sorts of electronic equipment that he deemed unnecessary. They had one van for passengers and one for equipment - space was limited. Most of students grumbled as they handed the forbidden contraband off to a friend or family member to keep for the summer, but it shouldn't have come as a surprise to them. What they were allowed to pack had been clearly listed in the handbook they'd all received at the start of the program.
Carrie hadn't understood Tom's reticence for electronic gadgets at first. Of course, they wouldn't be allowed to listen to their iPods while in costume - but what would
"Now he's cute," Julie whispered, nudging Carrie's shoulder.
"He looks like trouble," Carrie answered. Chayton had a few tattoos and a scar on his forearm.
Tom McKay continued speaking, ignoring the girls' back-row chatter.
"Finally, Julie Martin will play the blacksmith's wife. She will present civilian life at the fort, while Carrie Carson, who portrays the base commander's wife, will be posted at the Burt House where she will demonstrate spinning and weaving."
Base commander's wife? Carrie sat up straight, her hand shot into the air. "A wife? Why can't we be widows? I didn't sign on to get married this summer."
Some of the boys whistled and joked, offering to take her on as their wife. Tom shushed them. "As I said, she will be the base commander's wife. I am the base commander."
Carrie felt herself shiver. Her grandmother would've said someone had walked across her grave, but Carrie was sure her physical reaction was an intuitive feeling of impending catastrophe. She was just Irish enough to trust her intuition.
"I thought you were the administrator. Why are you playing a role too?"
"Limited funds. I'll be doubling up as administrator and Fort Commander. William Burt was either in charge, or second in command during his tenure at Fort Laramie. I'll be kept pretty busy with running the fort, working with the soldiers, but we may have to work together for a few activities. I trust that won't be an issue?"
Carrie sniffed, feigning an indifferent shrug. "Pretend husband," she muttered. "Don't get any ideas!"
"Of course not." Tom bowed his head briefly in an old-fashioned gesture of respect. "Well, ladies. Let me know if you have any questions between now and then. If I can be of any service, please don't hesitate to ask. Ms. Martin. Ms. Carson."
"Damn!" Carrie said, as soon as she thought he was out of ear shot.
Julie tugged on her arm hard enough to nearly pull it out of socket. "Carrie Anne Carson! Did you lie on your application form?"
"Huh?"
"Did you put down that you know how to spin? My gosh! Why would you do that! Now you have to demonstrate that all summer long - how are you going to pull that off?"
"I've got time to learn," Carrie said. "You know how important this internship was to me! I had to make sure I'd be chosen."
"And what do you think Tom McKay's going to do when he finds out you don't know a thing about spinning?"
"Nothing. Because you're going to help me learn."
"Oh, that's a great plan. I know even less than you do. You're on your own for this one. I bet you would have been chosen even if you hadn't lied, you know. Especially since you think Tom likes you. I just don't know - I don't know what you're going to do now," Julie warned. She tucked her notebook into her backpack and slung it over her shoulders.
"At least I know how to sew," Carrie murmured. "I can adjust our costumes so they fit better."
* * *
The morning finally arrived. Twelve students gathered in the parking lot outside the Humanities building with all their luggage. Tom McKay strutted around with a clipboard and pen, checking things off, going through their luggage and telling them what they could or could not take. He eliminated iPods, iPads, notebook computers, and all sorts of electronic equipment that he deemed unnecessary. They had one van for passengers and one for equipment - space was limited. Most of students grumbled as they handed the forbidden contraband off to a friend or family member to keep for the summer, but it shouldn't have come as a surprise to them. What they were allowed to pack had been clearly listed in the handbook they'd all received at the start of the program.
Carrie hadn't understood Tom's reticence for electronic gadgets at first. Of course, they wouldn't be allowed to listen to their iPods while in costume - but what would
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