March 3-4, 2000--Day 1: As Mark and Andy apparently drink cups of coffee at the table, Cherry leans around the corner from the kitchen and tells Mark that Randy Shaw is coming over for a visit. He wants to talk to Mark. Mark replies, "Good, I'd like to see him!" Cherry (looking extremely attractive in a beautiful closeup of her face) notes that she hasn't "seen Randy since his wife died last year!" She adds that it must be tough raising a small son alone. Mark is sure it is, but Randy is a very capable young man. Mark tells Randy it's good to see him again. Randy replies that it's good to see him and Cherry. He asks if Mark remembers his son, Robert. Mark does. He says Robert is a fine looking fellow and bets he keeps Randy busy. Cherry asks Robert if he would like to see some of the animals at Lost Forest. Robert would like that. Mark and Randy take a walk.
March 6-11--Day 1: As they take a walk, Randy tells Mark that he must make a decision which will affect both Robert and himself. Mark says he will help if he can. Foreground Squirrel watches. Randy says he has been rather low since his wife died last year. Mark says that is understandable. Everything in Randy's house, the flowers, the curtains, etc. remind him of his wife, Sue. He has been offered a chance to transfer and thinks it might be good for him and for Robert. But he does not want to leave his friends. Mark is sure Randy will make new friends wherever he goes. Mark thinks Randy should take the job. Foreground deer watches as the men sit on a park bench. Randy says that he is hesitant to take an assignment at Bald Mountain. Mark says, "Why?" Randy replies that the people living in that area have the reputation of being very clannish towards outsiders, and especially towards government workers. Randy is more concerned for Robert than for himself. Mark says that he has friends from that area and that they seem to be nice people. He adds that there will be troublemakers wherever Randy goes. Randy knows that's true. Mark urges Randy to consider taking the job. Robert tells Mark that his daddy is the best ranger in the whole world. Mark agrees. Randy and Robert leave as Mark and Cherry wave goodbye. Mark notes how proud Robert is of his father. It must be hard to raise a son by himself. Cherry thinks he is doing a fine job.
March 13-18--Days 2 to 3: Mark meets Randy at the Post Office. We assume that this is now Day 2. Randy has decided to take the job, but he will miss fine friends like Mark. Mark approves of the decision even though Randy's sunday school students will particularly miss him. Mark reminds Randy that there is a good trout stream in the Bald Mountain area. Randy hopes Mark will visit and fish with him. Mark tells Randy to count on it. Randy will be leaving tomorrow. As Day 3 rapidly arrives, Randy tells Robert that they will leave as soon as they visit Robert's mother in the graveyard. At the grave, Robert tells his mother that he and Dad are moving away but that they will visit her. Soon Randy and Robert are driving to Bald Mountain. Randy remarks on the scenery. Robert sees some men. Randy stops and introduces himself and Robert. A bearded man with a gun hopes that Randy will work out better than the previous ranger did. The bearded man says they call him Bud McCord. His silent partner is Al Decker. Al's nose looks like it may have been broken, once upon a time. Randy says it was nice to meet the fellows and that he will probably see them again. The men are sure he will. In the car again, Randy points out a church to Robert. It may be the church they will attend. Randy hopes it has a bible school just like their old church did. Robert hopes so too.
March 20-25--Days 3 to 7: Robert asks Randy if they will love their new home as much as their old home. Randy says they will come to love it just as much. Randy and Robert wash the dishes in their new home after a "few days have passed." (I define "a few" as 3 or more. At the Post Office, Randy had told Mark he would be leaving "tomorrow." Let us assume that this meeting was on a Monday. Tuesday, Day 3, was moving day. As we will see, Randy and Robert haven't yet been to church, and today plan to enroll Robert in school. Therefore, it must now be Friday, Day 6.) Randy suggests they go to the church to see if it has a bible school for Robert. After that they can get Robert registered for grammar school. Robert is glad because then he will have someone to play with. At what appears to be the grounds surrounding the rectory, an attractive woman with dark hair introduces herself as Elizabeth McCord--her friends just call her Beth. Beth tells Robert she will be his bible school teacher and asks how old he is. Robert is 6, going on 7. When he grows up, he wants to be a ranger just like his dad, who is the best ranger in the whole world. Randy asks if Beth is related to Bud McCord. Beth replies that he is her father and that he mentioned meeting Randy. Beth tells Robert that she will be his school bus driver for grammar school, so she will be seeing a lot of him. Robert likes this idea. Al Decker shows up, and says he has come to take Beth home. Al has already met Randy and wished him luck. He says that he is going to need it. On Day 7, the new ranger of Bald Mountain decides to read his mail. He learns that he must close a portion of a popular fishing stream temporarily.
March 27 to April 1--Days 7 to 10: Ranger Randy puts up signs closing part of the stream, telling himself that it's not a very good way to begin his duties in the area. A few days later (given no other hints, I will define "few" here as three days, which brings us to Day 10. During such an extended stint it's unlikely that Mark is simply sitting at home with Cherry. What, exactly, our hero is up to is up for grabs at this point.) he spots Al Decker fishing in the prohibited area and tells him that he's had to close the stream. Al asks if that is so. Randy tells Al that there is a water study being done and that he has been instructed to close the stream. Al, continuing to fish in mid-stream, says he saw the sign. He has been fishing here his whole life and he's not about to stop because the government says so. Randy replies that he will have to insist that Al obey the law. Al says Randy can insist all he wants. Randy informs Mr. Decker that he has the authority to arrest him if he doesn't stop fishing. He asks if Mr. Decker heard him. Al replies, "YOU arrest ME...THAT'S A JOKE!" Floating "HA HAs" are also shown in the background of this frame. As Foreground Squirrel watches with open mouth, Al tells Randy that if he wants him "outta here," he'll have to come and get him! Randy says that he will if Al insists and begins wading out into the stream. Al was hoping Randy would insist. He says that it will take more than a pipsqueak like Randy to remove him. Al swings a roundhouse punch as he drops his fishing pole. Randy ducks and grabs Al's arm, calmly throwing him into the middle of the stream! Randy and Al drive calmly to see the judge, Al still complaining. Randy says that he was just doing his job and that he will tell Al when the stream reopens. The judge says that Randy did his job properly. Al complains that he was only fishing where he's fished all of his life. The judge fines him $100.00 and tells him he must obey the law whether he likes it or not.
April 3-8--Days 10 to 11: The boys, including Bud McCord gather around as Al tells them he got arrested just for fishing where he always has fished. Another man says Rocky Creek is his favorite fishing stream and it isn't right. Randy asks Robert if he likes his new school. Robert says it's alright. Randy tells Robert that he hasn't had a great day; he had to arrest a man and was not too happy about it. But he knows that the law must be enforced. Next morning (Day 11) Randy escorts Robert to the school bus stop; he will say "hi" to Miss McCord. Randy explains to her that Robert will know what to do that afternoon when she drops him off. Randy's voice appears to emanate from Beth McCord! Beth says that Robert will be alright. On the bus, a boy asks indignantly why Robert's dad arrested a man just for fishing. Robert aggressively maintains that his daddy didn't do anything wrong. As Robert arrives home, his dog runs to greet him. Robert is saying to himself that his daddy is the best ranger in the world and that he will show them someday if there's ever a fire. Randy asks him how his day was. Robert says ok, but some of the kids were kidding him. Randy says that's going to happen but that the boys will probably end up being his best friends. As he returns to his repairs of an unidentified piece of machinery, Robert has tears in his eyes.
April 10-15--Days 11 to 15: According to our reckoning, Day 11 was a Wednesday. Beth McCord has come to tell Randy that Robert is doing well in bible school. Since both Randy and Robert are home, this may well be Sunday, Day 15 in this fast-moving epic. Beth says that Robert told her that Randy sang in the choir in their old church. Since she needs another singer in the choir, she wonders if Randy would like to join. Randy would. As the Shaw family dog and a cow gaze intently into each others' eyes, Robert asks his Dad why they are looking at cows. Randy replies that he is actually examining the pasture. With the current drought, it is becoming over-grazed, and since it is state land, Robert will have to ask the owner of the cows (Bud McCord) to move them. Randy says hello to Mr. McCord, who is sitting on his porch, reading a bible. Bud asks what he can do for Randy. Randy asks him to move his cows. Bud wants to know WHY; the cows have always been in that pasture. Bud says that Randy got Al in trouble too. Randy just wants what is best for the pasture and the cows, Bud says Randy is a troublemaker. The previous ranger wanted Bud to move his cows too, but he changed his mind. Bud goes on about how no government man is going to tell him what to do with his cows. Beth indignantly interrupts, saying that Ranger Shaw is only trying to help. Bud should be more civil. She then apologizes to Randy, saying he's not as bad as he seems. Randy thinks Bud is prejudiced against rangers.
April 17-22--Days 15 to 18: Amazingly, several more days have passed, bringing us to at least Day 18! A man comes to ask Bud why the ranger and some men are moving his cows. Bud, enraged, says that he will teach the ranger a lesson. He leaves with his gun. At the pasture, Randy tells Bud to relax, the new pasture has better grass and will be better for the cows. Bud points his gun at Randy, still ranting, but Beth shouts at him and takes his gun away angrily. Beth chides Bud, a church deacon, for pointing a shotgun at Randy. Randy doesn't understand; he was only trying to help the cows. Bud remains silent. Beth tells Randy that some area residents dislike government agents. Randy wants to know why, but Beth tells him it's a long story; she'll tell him later. Al tells Bud he will give the ranger some work that will keep him busy and out of their hair. Beth looks forward to having Randy at choir practice tonight. Randy has a sitter for his son; he asks if he can drop by and pick up Beth. Beth would like that. Later, Beth was embarrassed to see her dad waving that gun around. What came over Bud? Bud wasn't going to hurt the young man; he just wanted him to know that Bud can make his own decisions about what's good for his property.
April 24-29--Day 18: Mark calls Randy. He wants to see Randy's new area if it's not inconvenient. It isn't. Bud McCord is again reading his bible on the porch as Randy arrives to collect Beth for choir practice. Bud is incredulous; Beth told him nothing of this. Randy says Bud's cows will fatten up quickly in the new pasture. Bud will believe this when he sees it; the next time the ranger wants to interfere in Bud's business, he'd better tell Bud first. Randy replies, "Yes'ir!" Randy notices that Bud is reading a bible. Bud shouts that this is something that Randy should be doing! Randy refers Bud to a bible passage about herdsmen getting along. Bud is amazed. Randy tells him that he used to teach a bible class. Bud asks Beth why she never told him this. Beth replies that he never asked. Bud tells the kids to have fun at choir practice. Beth thinks that Randy has impressed her father. At choir practice, the reverend is glad to have Randy's voice. Randy is glad. He likes to sing. Al shows up to take Beth home, but she says she will ride home with Randy.
May 1-6--Day 18 to Day 19: Al says that he will pick up Beth from choir practice next time, but Beth says Randy will give her a ride. She hopes she isn't being too forward. Randy says she isn't and thanks her for the company. A man tells Al that the new ranger is a smooth operator, stealing away Beth like that. Al says he will fix the ranger. Another man warns Al not to do anything he will regret. On Day 19 Mark Trail finally arrives with a box of candy for Robert from Cherry. Cherry and Rusty are fine. Robert goes to school. Randy shows Mark a map of his territory which includes many acres of old-growth pine forest. Mark asks how Randy is getting on with the locals. Randy has made some friends, but some people don't like him. Mark wants to know their reasons. Randy has found that many of the locals dislike anyone from the government. Mark may know why. Many years ago animals and people in the Bald Mountain area were becoming sick and Mark visited the area to do a story.
May 8-13--Day 19: Mark tells Randy that years ago the government chose the area as a hazardous waste dump over local opposition. People and animals became sick, and it was discovered that the barrels of toxic waste were leaking. After the chemicals got into the food chain several people died. The government cleaned up the site and removed the toxins, but people have never forgotten. Randy knows he will have a hard time convincing people to trust him. (To speculate and depart entirely from the storyline: How many people see a forest fire coming? How many see Al Decker being responsible for it? Consider that Robert grumbled that people would like his daddy if there were ever a forest fire. Also, note that we are in a drought and that Al has said he will give the ranger something to keep him busy. I see a forest fire starting the very evening of the next choir practice!) At school Robert's classmates say that his daddy wouldn't know what to do if there was a forest fire and that the ranger is a wimp who arrests people for fishing. Robert has tears in his eyes. That night the police chief calls Randy; there is a fire practically next door. Randy dresses in his firefighter's shirt and hardhat and tells Mark he must leave to fight the fire. Mark, in bed and wearing only his shorts tells Randy to wait; he will come along. At the scene, Randy tells Mark that this is only a brush fire; they can handle it themselves. Mark wonders how it started. Randy says it was probably started by someone throwing a cigarette out their car window; the area is very dry lately.
May 15-20--Day 19: Randy says that he will come back later to find out how the fire started. As he and Mark arrive at the ranger's house, Robert appears. Randy is sorry he had to leave Robert alone, but he had to fight the fire. Robert is excited that his father fought a forest fire. Randy says Robert had better get ready for school, so we are now at Day 20. In town, a man tells Al that everyone has heard about the fire. The man guesses Al did what he said he would do. Al leans comfortably against a gas pump, his dangling left hand appearing very small. Al wonders what the man's talking about. Another man continues the dialogue asking Al if he didn't start it. Without waiting for an answer he goes on to say that no matter how much Al dislikes the ranger, he can't go around starting fires. A look of consternation clouds Al's face. Al seems to indicate that he is responsible. At school, Robert brags that his daddy fought a forest fire. A classmate says that it was only a tiny fire. Robert angrily disagrees. The teacher, who looks like Beth (if so, this is bible school), says that she has good news for the children. Next week they will be going on a picnic. As the children leave school, Al says he must speak with Beth about something important. She suggests he come to her home that evening.
May 22-27--Day 19 to 26: At home, sitting on the swingset, Al tells Beth that the ranger is someone who was already married and has a child. Is this really what Beth wants. Beth says that she and Randy are not serious; she just likes to be around him. She knows that Al has a difficult time with government people since his mother died as a result of government mistakes, but Randy is a good person. Al says that he really likes Beth. Beth is surprised, having considered Al simply a good friend. Al, appearing aggravated, says that he expected a bit more out of Beth than simply a friendship. Bud knows that Al doesn't like the ranger, but he urges him not to do anything that could get him in trouble. Al should try to see the ranger's side. It is tough for him being in a new territory. As Al leaves Bud, he says he didn't think his friends would turn against him. It's been a bad day for Al. He will do what he thinks best. Al tells Bud "so long, OLD FRIEND!" Robert asks his dad if he can bring some of the candy Mark brought to the class picnic. Randy gives permission, adding that Robert can tell him all about it tonight. This tells us that several days have passed (It is still not clear to this chronicler if we are viewing the bible school class or the grammar school. The teacher looks like Beth, who teaches the bible school and drives the grammar school bus. The class looks like it is not at bible school, but at grammar school. The teacher told the class that the picnic would be "next week," and so if this is bible school, seven more days have passed. I will assume that this is the case for the time being;your opinions on this grave matter are invited!). The next day, at school, Beth tells the children they can get on the bus when she calls their names.
May 29-June 3--Day 26: Beth abandons her roll call and tells the children to get on the bus. (A mysterious, nameless woman of rather stout build hovers in the area (One Trailhead's opinion is that this woman is the bus driver. However, if this is bible school, then the teacher is Beth, and Beth is also a bus driver for the grammar school. The question arises, why does Beth then require another bus driver? Trailheads?). Al's nephew taunts Robert on the bus. He then spots Uncle Al in the woods and wonders what he's doing there. Uncle Al appears to be waving and smiling, but he is not looking at the bus, which is behind him. In Frame 1 of Monday's strip, the bus has 9 rows of windows. By Frame 3 it has 12 rows. At the site, Beth instructs the children to each carry something to the picnic area. Robert grabs a basket and a boy asks if he needs help. Al's nephew notes that Robert is just a little squirt like his daddy. Beth gives Robert matches to start the fire. They will roast marshmallows later. Nephew says the campfire is just the size fire Robert's daddy can handle. Robert is hurt and withdraws from the other children towards the edge of the forest, still holding the matches. He says that his daddy will show them. Beth asks where Robert is. One of the children report that he is near the woods. Beth tells him he shouldn't be there alone; he could become lost. Robert says he was just looking around. The picnic begins and soon a small fire begins to the great alarm of Foreground Squirrel. Fanned by winds, the fire becomes larger. The group sees smoke. Randy receives a call from the Bald Mountain tower reporting the fire in the Misty Falls area. The wind is picking up and it could be serious. Randy notes that this is the site of the class picnic. Mark, who is still hanging around the office with Randy, watches inscrutably (Exactly why Mark has been visiting Randy for such a long time is not explained. Mark does not seem to be working or fishing or doing anything except hanging around the ranger office and sleeping a lot. The symptoms could indicate clinical depression.).
June 5-10--Day 26: (Trailheads, please read the revised past two weeks log and, if you can, help me clear up the school/teacher/bus driver confusion!) Randy tells Mark that the fire control people will send him a helicopter to help him view the fire. Meanwhile, the fire is out of control at Misty Falls and has cut off the picnic group from the bus. The teacher (Beth? Her double?) tells the children that their only chance is to climb up a steep ridge and that they had better hurry. Joe, in the chopper, radios to Randy that the children are trapped on a ledge. Randy tells Joe to pick him up so he can see. A little girl asks Beth (?) if they are going to die. Beth says they will be fine as the flames roar about them. In the chopper, Randy tells Joe he will have to go down on a rope to save the children. Robert shouts that daddy will save everyone. Randy hangs from a rope and rescues everyone. Beth (pretty obviously Beth unless Randy is also romancing the grammar school teacher who looks just like Beth) hugs him and tells him he was wonderful. The local folk seem grateful too.
June 12-17--Day 26: The locals continue to thank Randy. A man says that they think they know who set the fire and that he won't get away with it. He can't set fire to their woods and endanger their children. Meanwhile, Mark looks for the source of the fire, wearing a F.S.S. hardhat. He finds the place where the fire originated and spots a match and an aluminum wrapper, which he finds interesting. An unidentified man goads the townspeople into confronting Al Decker. They are convinced that he set the fire. Bud McCord says Al wouldn't do such a thing. The crew confronts Al at his house. Al notes their sour expressions and deduces that they are getting up a posse. The unindentified man tells Al that they know he set the fire. Al says he didn't start the fire. Beth drives to Randy's house where Mark and Robert are in the yard. She needs to see Randy in a hurry, but Mark reports that he left and that his whereabouts are unknown. Beth tells Mark that some of the men are accusing Al of starting the fire, but Al's not that kind of a guy; Al would NEVER do somehing like that. Beth is worried about his safety because the men are all worked up and went to Al's house; there's no telling what will happen. Mark will try to find Randy and tell him what's going on.
June 19-24--Day 26: Mark tells Robert that a man is being blamed for a fire he didn't set. Does Robert think that's alright? Robert looks uncomfortable, but agrees with Mark that it's not right. Mark says that Robert must tell the truth, and Robert confesses to the arson. Mark wants to know why Robert would do such a thing. Robert wanted everyone to see that his daddy was the best forest ranger there is. Beth tells Mark that the men are in an ugly mood; they must go to Al Decker's house immediately. At Al's place, the men accuse Al of setting the fire, endangering their children. Randy stops them, saying that his 6 year old son did it because he felt like an outsider.
June 26-July1--Day 26: Randy apologizes to Al. Robert also stammers out an apology as Al looks on impassively. Randy tells Robert to come along home. Al says it took guts for Randy to apologize; he guesses he was wrong about Randy. Randy says he is there to serve the people and he wants to be friends with everyone, including Al. He adds that Al's favorite fishing stream is open again. Al would like the ranger help him do some controlled burning on his property. Randy will help anytime. Mark notes that Randy seems to have made some friends. He will like living here. Mark dries the dishes as Randy washes. Randy hopes that he and Mark can get in the fishing Mark mentioned months ago. Mark would like to, but he must return to Lost Forest to catch up on his chores. Mark says goodbye, adding that he will help Randy whenever he needs it. Randy doesn't think he will. Mark also says goodbye to Robert. Back at Lost Forest, Mark tells Cherry that Randy will be fine. Cherry is glad that Mark is home. She likes happy endings.