His Tempest by Candice Poarch Page A

dining and entertainment hall, which was closer to the lake. A few smaller cabins, mainly for the workers, were farther away. Noelle went to the girls’ dorm first, but the door was locked. The cafeteria was also locked. She went to the last building, the boys’ dorm, and found that door unlocked.
    â€œHello?”
    â€œBack here,” a voice called out.
    Noelle followed the voice and ended up in the bathroom. The dorms were on two levels with several rooms on each floor. Each room slept eight. There was a communal bath on each floor with six shower stalls and eight commodes.
    A man of about forty came out of the shower area.
    â€œI’m Noelle Greenwood,” she said, extending her hand.
    The man held his hands up. “I’m too grimy. Benjamin Gaines, but everyone calls me Carp.”
    â€œPleased to meet you. So, how does it look?”
    â€œBetter than I expected. A few boards need to be replaced in the dining hall and part of the roof. Something must have fallen on it.”
    While Noelle fought a shiver from the cold temperature, beads of sweat had gathered on Carp’s forehead. A strong forehead with lines of concentration. The planes of his face appeared as harsh as if he’d lived a hundred years.
    â€œMost of the work will be minor. It’s going to need a lot of landscaping, though. You’re going to need to hire someone full-time from spring until late summer to handle it anyway. I know someone who won’t charge you a fortune. He’s retired, but he works with kids who need summer jobs. Don’t worry about your kids because he keeps a strict eye on them.”
    â€œAll right.”
    â€œI used to come here during the summers when I was a kid. My parents couldn’t afford to pay the full price, but your grandparents gave my folks a discount. They even gave me the camp clothes so no one ever knew I couldn’t afford to be here. I’m just grateful I’m getting a chance to pay them back. I’ll do a good job for you and I’m not going to charge you an arm and a leg. I won’t fix things that don’t need fixing just to make more money. I’m going to save anywhere I can.”
    â€œThanks, Carp. I really appreciate it.”
    They moved from the bathroom to one of the bedrooms. The room was an empty shell.
    â€œI hope I don’t have to buy all new beds,” she said.
    â€œI found some in a shed. You’ll probably need new mattresses. But you can probably buy them in bulk.”
    Noelle glanced out the window. She had a good view of the camp. It resembled a ghost town. Deserted. The bare trees and rolling mountains behind it made it seem isolated. She looked past the broken windows and weather-roughened buildings and imagined smiling children horseback-riding, swimming in the lake, swinging on old tires, sitting at computers while she taught them something new and exciting.
    â€œYour grandparents had the gift of love and excelled at making people believe they were special,” Carp said. “Deep in my gut I know you’ll make this place as successful as they did.”
    â€œI hope so,” she said. She had been apprehensive when Colin had first suggested Carp, but now she was glad he’d chosen him. The man had a history here. He’d liked her grandparents. This had been a special place for him. He’d help her return this place to its former glory.

    â€œHey, George, could you take a look at Ranger’s leg? Looks a little swollen.” Colin had grabbed a sandwich from the kitchen and was eating it on his way back to the barn when he spotted George gazing out the window. If somebody didn’t intervene, he’d be there for hours.
    â€œThe trainer can handle it,” George said.
    â€œI know, but he could use a second opinion.”
    It was true. The trainer could handle it, but Colin wanted to get George more involved in something. He spent most of his time moping around. And that