Riding the Flume by Patricia Curtis Pfitsch

Abraham.” She could feel tears welling up in her eyes and she shook them away. “How can you even consider it! This is Carrie’s tree!”
    Charlie held up his hands. “Calm down. We haven’t cut it down yet.”
    Francie gathered up her skirts and jumped off, landing lightly just beside him. “Charlie, if you tell anyone about this tree Carrie will come back and haunt you. I’ll haunt you. I’ll . . .” She searched her mind, trying to think of something that would stop him.
    â€œOkay, okay.” Charlie grinned at her. “I get the point.” He took off his hat, smoothed his hair back, and replaced the hat on his head. “But the lumber company will find this tree eventually It’s only a matter of time.”
    Francie felt the blood rush to her face. “They won’t! It’s been here for thousands of years. Carrie knew about it six years ago and nobody else found out. The only way they’ll know is if you tell them!”
    Charlie snorted. “If you’re crazy enough to believe that, then the next thing we know you’ll be trying to ride the flume.” He kicked at one of the cones scattered at the base of the tree and tiny sequoia seeds scattered everywhere. “They haven’t been up this way yet because the trees in the rest of the basin are easier to reach. As soon as the company has cut them all, they’ll go for the smaller stands and the ones that are harder to get to.” He glanced up at the tree. “And they’ll come here.” He looked down at her, and she thought she could read sadness in his eyes. “They’ve almost cleared the rest of the basin, Francie,” he said softly. “It won’t be long. I know what I’m talking about.”
    Francie sighed. He was right and she knew it. She leaned up against the base of the old tree and crossed her arms. Then she stood up straight. “But the diary said this tree belongs to Carrie. Old Robert left it to her in his will. It doesn’t belong to the lumber company. So even if they find it, they can’t cut it down.”
    Charlie was shaking his head again. “Old Robert was a crazy hermit. He probably didn’t know what he was talking about. If the lumber company owns the land, then they own the trees, too.”
    â€œIf!” Francie pointed her finger at him. “If the lumber company owns the land. But maybe they don’t. How do you know?”
    â€œThey own the whole basin and all the land around it. Everybody knows that. They bought it all just after the government opened up the land for sale.”
    â€œThat’s what everybody says,” Francie countered. “But how do you know it’s true?”
    Charlie sighed. “It’s all on record at the land office down in St. Joseph. Go down and take a look if you don’t believe me.” He squinted up at the fast darkening sky. “If we don’t get going it’ll be midnight before we get home and Uncle James will have my skin and yours, too!” He turned and headed down the path toward Connorsville.
    Francie went past him, stamping her feet with each step. “ ‘Go down and take a look,’ ” she mumbled. “How can I get to St. Joseph to take a look? Should I just tell my father I’m taking the stage tomorrow? Do you think he’ll let me borrow his horse?” She grunted. “Not likely.”
    Charlie chuckled. “Well, you’ll just have to take my word for it, then,” he said.
    Francie turned to him. “Do I have your word you won’t tell anyone about the tree?”
    They walked on in silence for a moment. “I reckon,” Charlie answered finally. “But as soon as anyone gets wind of it, I’m going to be sure I’m on the team to bring it down. That’ll be something to tell my grandchildren about.”
    Francie looked back. Charlie’s head was up and