Cabin Girl by Kristin Butcher Read Free Book Online

straight-faced when he says, “Okay, girls, you better be ready to do some serious fishing, because I hate to lose.”
    April laughs. “Hey, you’re the guide. You take us to the fish, and we’ll reel them in.” She turns in her seat and grins at me. “Right, Bailey?”
    That catches me off guard. Lately, all April’s done is scowl at me, so I’m not sure what to make of her smile. Is she saying she wants to be friends again? I guess time will tell.
    I nod and smile back. “Absolutely.”
    We don’t win the derby, but we do catch fish, and we have fun doing it. In fact, we laugh so much that by the time we get to George’s lunch spot, my stomach hurts. April is back to her old self, and that is a huge relief. Taking on two jobs and having to train me was a lot of pressure. She was probably just stressed. I know I was.
    â€œThat walleye was so good!” Ed groans as he loosens his belt. “I wish I could eat it all over again.”
    â€œIt was wonderful!” Cook exclaims. “I could use you fellas in my kitchen.”
    A few of the guides smile sheepishly.
    â€œWell done, everyone,” Gabe says. “But there’s a ton of paperwork to do and somebody needs to man the phones, so I have to get back to the lodge.”
    Although I’m having a really good time, I think I should go back too. It’ll give me a chance to tell Gabe about Dennis Savoy. I open my mouth to ask for a ride, but Winnie beats me to it.
    She hauls herself up from the picnic table and says, “I’ll come with you. I still have laundry to finish.”
    So much for that. I watch as Gabe and Winnie speed away, and then I help with the cleanup. Afterward, one of the guides pulls out a guitar, and everyone settles around the fire. Before you know it, we’re singing up a storm. I notice April and Sloan are missing, but I don’t think much of it. They probably want some time to themselves.
    When Ed announces we’re leaving in fifteen minutes, I head into the bush to get rid of the three cans of soda I’ve drunk. I’m not looking for company while I do my business, so I walk until I can barely hear the singing. Up ahead there’s a monstrous rock. Perfect.
    But as I undo my jeans, I hear voices. They’re close, so I refasten my pants and listen. It’s April and Sloan, and from the sound of it, they’re on the other side of the rock. I start to tiptoe away, but when I hear my name, I stop.
    â€œI have never seen anyone as superstitious as Bailey.” April giggles. “Tricking her into thinking I was the witch was the easiest thing I’ve ever done! I wish I could’ve seen the look on her face. The way she took off, she could’ve won the Olympics. It was all I could do not to burst out laughing.”
    â€œYou should’ve been in my shoes,” Sloan says and snickers. “She ran into me like she’d been shot from a cannon. Then she started beating on me with everything she had. I’ve got major bruises.”
    â€œAw, poor baby,” April croons.
    Suddenly it gets quiet, and I’m pretty sure I know what’s happening. I should leave, but I’m too stunned to move. Although I heard April with my own ears, it takes a while for the truth of her words to sink in. There was no witch. It was just a mean trick.
    April sneers, “The little princess has absolutely no clue. She’s more trusting than a puppy.”
    â€œWhy are you so hard on her?” Sloan says. “She’s a kid.”
    â€œYeah, a spoiled kid. The only reason Gabe took her on is ’cause she’s his goddaughter. I worked as cabin girl for two whole summers before I got promoted to waitress. Bailey’s here barely three weeks, and she gets moved up! She’s used to being a guest—not staff. Working at the lodge is a game to her. She doesn’t need the money.”
    â€œMaybe not like some