The Cast Net

by Mille West

  The formal dining table was set with exquisite place settings of china and silverware. “Who set the table?” Vivien inquired.

  “I did,” Cooper responded.

  “Most of the men I know barely know the difference between a fork and a spoon,” Vivien laughed.

  “My mother insisted that my brother and I know how to do things like this. She wanted us to be cultured.”

  “I think she succeeded.”

  They all helped Cooper set the dishes on the buffet, and after a prayer led by Williston, they served their plates with the wonderful meal of tenderloin with mushroom sauce, mashed potatoes, and salad. Mills knew that the meat had to be venison, but she didn’t mention it to Vivien. She would surprise her later with that information.

  “Cooper, is this china a family heirloom?” Vivien asked.

  “No, my father purchased the china and sterling silver in New York as a wedding gift to my mother.”

  “The silver even has an H monogramed into the handles.”

  “Our family heirlooms vanished during the Civil War.”

  “How did that happen?” Mills inquired.

  “After Savannah, Georgia, surrendered to General Sherman around Christmas 1864, there was concern that he would make his next call on Charleston. My ancestors sent all their finest possessions to the home of an unmarried aunt who lived in Columbia. By early 1865, Charleston was deemed no longer of strategic importance, and a visit by the general would have been purely symbolic. He took his two columns of sixty thousand men from the Georgia coast and marched to Columbia where he annihilated the town, burning a large portion of it to the ground. Our heirlooms became the spoils of war, and the unmarried aunt in my family was burned out of her house and forced to sleep on the grounds of the lunatic asylum. She always said after her experiences with Sherman’s men, she needed to take a room there.”

  “Did you ever recover any of your possessions?”

  “Not one item.”

  “That’s terrible.”

  After dinner, Mills and Vivien offered to clean up the dishes. As a trade, Cooper agreed to play the piano for them while they worked. The first two songs he played were Williston’s favorites, two Chopin classics.

  The sisters finished their work in the kitchen and came into the living room to listen to Cooper play. After playing a few songs, including music from Broadway musicals, he explained that he had a song for Mills. He proudly pointed out the painting that Mills had given to him for his birthday to Vivien and Williston, and then began a song that he had composed.

  “This song is entitled ‘Mills’s Song.’”

  The jazz composition was upbeat, with deep chord combinations and an inspirational melody. Mills sat in awe of his talent and gesture of kindness toward her. When the song was finished, he handed Mills the sheet music, which had written on the front: “To my dear friend, Mills Taylor, on the occasion of her 26th birthday. Cooper Heath.”

  What a lovely gift. I don’t want this day to end. She felt herself blush.

  Cooper rose from the piano bench and went into the foyer. He returned with a large box, wrapped in beautiful gift paper. He smiled as he handed it to her.

  Carefully opening the package so as to not rip the paper, she gasped with excitement when she saw a pair of magnificent black leather riding boots inside the box. “Cooper, thank you—the boots are beautiful!”

  “I’m glad you like them.”

  She slipped off the shoes she was wearing and put the boots on, tucking her pants inside. The fit was perfect and she walked across the room, enjoying the feel of the leather.

  “I love them. How did you know my size?”

  He winked at her and explained, “I know your size because I helped you carry in twenty boxes of shoes when you moved into your cottage.”

  “Open this one too!” Williston said and handed her gift to Mills. Inside was a silk scarf depicting a riding scene.

  “Thank you both so much.”

  “One more to go,” Vivien said, as she handed her a present.

  “What wonderful surprises!”

  Vivien’s gift was a handsome leather riding satchel that could be placed on the saddle horn or worn over the rider’s shoulder. It was made of black leather, the same as her new boots.

  “You three know I like to ride Ginger! Did you plan this?”

  Williston smiled at her. “Don’t you know? Great minds think alike.”

  Mills hugged each one of them before Cooper added, “There’s one more birthday gift for you.” He went into the kitchen, and when he returned, he held a chocolate cake with lighted candles on the top.

  They sang “Happy Birthday,” and Mills made a wish and blew out the candles.

  “Marian made this cake for you; I told her you like chocolate. What was it that my cousin Margaret called the dessert you enjoyed at my uncle’s home, ‘Death by Chocolate’?”

  Mills smiled as she recalled the delicious torte. “I’m speechless. I’ve never had such a wonderful birthday.”

  After the cake was cut, Cooper told the sisters to meet him at the stables at eight the following morning and be ready for horseback riding.

  That night, while Vivien and Mills talked in the living area of her cottage, Mills asked, “How did you like your steak at dinner?”

  “I thought it was delicious.”

  “That was venison steak.”

  “You’re kidding.”

  “No, I’m not.”

  “Well, I did want to try different things.” Vivien said raising her eyebrows. “What did you wish for tonight?”

  “You mean, when I blew out the candles?”

  “Yes.”

  “I wished that Elise Heath could be found alive and unharmed.”

  The next morning, when the sisters arrived at the stables to ride, Cooper was there and the horses were saddled. “Good morning, Mills and Vivien. Mills, why don’t you ride Ginger and Vivien can ride Blitzer?”

  “Blitzer. Is she a calm horse?”

  “Yes, despite her name.”

  “I’m proud of my boots,” Mills told Cooper as he helped her mount Ginger. He smiled at her and then helped Vivien into the saddle.

  The horses followed Mephisto out of the stables and into the pasture. A group of about ten deer ran across the trail in front of them and disappeared into the forest. “That was a big herd of deer! I believe even I could shoot one,” Vivien exclaimed. “It would be like shooting into a crowd.”

  “They’re hard on crops. Even an electric fence won’t keep them out.”

  As they descended into the forest, the trees were leafy green with new growth and rays of sun shone through the boughs, illuminating the forest floor with gentle waves of light. In the near distance, the ruins of the old plantation appeared.

  “Oh my God!” Vivien exclaimed.

  They dismounted the horses and tied them to the remnants of the old brick entranceway.

  “Snakes are out now, so be careful where you walk or put your hands,” Cooper warned th
em.

  They slowly explored the grounds, and Vivien said, “This must have been palatial when it was in its prime.”

  “Yes, I think it was,” Cooper responded.

  The daffodils in the meadow were past their peak, and while their greenery remained, the golden petals had dropped. The rosebush on the cabin had an abundance of new growth and was about to burst into a multitude of blossoms. At the top of the new growth was a single rose with rich, white petals. Cooper gently bent the limb of the bush down so they could smell the deeply scented bloom.

  “We’ll walk back this way after we visit the river.”

  Vivien had gone ahead of Cooper and Mills, and she walked onto the deteriorated dock.

  “Vivien, we should stay off the dock,” Cooper quickly warned as he moved in her direction.

  Before he could reach her, her leg went down between some rotted boards and she lost her balance, falling backward. Within seconds, an occupant of the dock, a large snake, emerged from a missing plank.

  “Cooper, Mills, come quick!”

  Apparently, the serpent was as frightened of the situation as Vivien, and it slithered into the water and vanished from sight. When they reached her and began to pull her leg from the boards, she slowly asked, “What kind of snake was that?”

  “You don’t want to know.”

  “Poisonous?”

  “I’m afraid so. Fortunately, it wasn’t in the mood for a challenge.”

  Vivien had calmed down by the time they returned to the cabins, and she insisted that there was no pain in her leg from the accident. Cooper cut the first rose of spring from the bush and handed it to Mills.

  “I want you to have this.”

  “Won’t it wilt before we get back to the house?”

  “No, it will be fine in the morning air.”

  After horseback riding, they took the Miss Elise to the Bohicket Marina. Cooper had arranged to take the sisters on a sailboat that belonged to Jeff and two other partners. As they passed by Rockville on Bohicket Creek, Mills noticed the Sea Island Yacht Club and remembered meeting Joshua White while exploring her first weekend in town.

  As they entered the harbor, Cooper pointed out the Theodosia, which was a sleek navy-and-white sailboat with teak accents and clean lines.

  “Jeff wants me to buy out his share in the boat partnership, but he knows that I don’t purchase any type of property with partners.”

  Two young men were waiting on the deck of the Theodosia as Cooper docked his motorboat.

  “Good afternoon!” one of the young men shouted.

  Cooper introduced everyone and explained that the young men were from the Abbott family of Charleston and longtime friends of the Heath and Radcliffe families. Both young men were working on their captain’s licenses and planned to crew a ship in the Bahamas during the summer.

  Once under way on the Theodosia, one of the Abbott brothers acted as ship’s captain, while Cooper and the other youth performed the duties of crew members.

  The afternoon was unusually hot and humid, and both sisters took off their bathing suit cover-ups to bask in the warmth of the sun. As they sailed up the coast, Cooper pointed out the islands Seabrook and Kiawah. Mills noticed that Cooper would occasionally confer with the young man who acted as captain.

  The winds were brisk, but by the midafternoon, both of the Abbott brothers had removed their shirts. Cooper was the last to follow suit and, when he removed his polo shirt, he revealed a chiseled chest and sculpted arms. Oh my—he’s gorgeous.

  “Mills, where did the name for this boat come from?” Vivien asked.

  “Hmmm?”

  Vivien shook her arm. “Mills, look at me. Where did the name for this sailboat come from?”

  “I don’t know. Cooper’s busy right now; I’ll ask him later.”

  “Shall I go tell Cooper to put his shirt back on?”

  “Vivien, please don’t embarrass me.”

  “I won’t, Mills,” Vivien said, smiling at her sister.

  When the sailing trip was complete, the Theodosia was moored back at the dock and Cooper went inside the Bohicket Marina, leaving the others on board.

  “I enjoyed sailing this afternoon,” Mills told the brothers.

  The boy who had served as captain said, “We had a good time ourselves. Cooper helped me with my sailing technique. He’s the greatest.”

  The other brother added, “Jeff and Cooper won just about every race they competed in. They’re sailing legends around Charleston. Cooper helped us get our jobs at the city marina and also the summer job sailing out of Harbour Island in the Bahamas. I can’t wait for school to get out.”

  On the trip back to Cooper’s property, Mills asked Cooper, “Where did the name Theodosia come from?”

  “Theodosia Burr Alston.”

  “Who was she?”

  “Theodosia was the daughter of Aaron Burr and wife of a former South Carolina governor, Joseph Alston. She was lost at sea during the War of 1812. Remember? Alston Station bears the name of the late governor.”

  “Don’t you think it is bad luck to name a ship after someone who was lost at sea?”

  “I don’t believe I would have chosen that name, but Jeff and his partners must not be bothered by it.”

  When they returned to Cooper’s home, the three of them made a quick dinner and Cooper showed them an itinerary he had drawn up but explained that these were just some suggestions. He planned to be away for several days to visit upstate shipping clients.

  The weekend was capped by the viewing of Mills’s favorite movie, The Gods Must Be Crazy. Cooper said that he had rented the film because he knew she enjoyed it. A Land Rover similar to Cooper’s, called the “Anti-Christ,” was a focal point of the humor in the film, and for the first time since Mills had known Cooper, she heard him laugh out loud. He’s laughing. I don’t think I’ve really heard him laugh since I’ve been here.

  After the movie, Mills thanked Cooper for the wonderful weekend. “I don’t think I’ve heard you laugh like you did tonight.”

  He smiled and responded, “I’m sorry, Mills, but I haven’t had a lot to laugh about lately. I’ll try to laugh more often.”

  “I didn’t mean to—”

  He patted her hand. “No, no, it’s okay. Your observation is correct. I’ve had a wonderful weekend. Thank you for allowing me to entertain you and Vivien.”

  “Cooper, this was the best birthday I’ve ever had. Thank you!”

  Before they all went to bed, Cooper discussed the itinerary he had made for Mills and Vivien. The trip included two canoe outings, one on the Edisto and the other on the Combahee River, which would conclude at a property owned by Cooper. He explained that a couple named Adams lived at the entrance to his property, and they helped him maintain his property in exchange for hunting privileges. They would drive the sisters upstream on the Combahee for their trip.

  The next morning, after a large breakfast at Cooper’s house, he asked Mills into his study. Cooper placed a revolver into a satchel and handed it to her. “I want you to take this with you. You can never be sur
e what you’re going to encounter, and I’d much rather know you can defend yourself. And Mills—don’t get too far off the waterways.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “You don’t want to disturb someone’s still or marijuana field. You never know how they might react.” He smiled at her as he spoke. “Can you recognize this property from the Edisto? I don’t want you to end up in the Atlantic.”

  “I think I can.”

  “You’ll pass underneath an old bridge trestle that’s no longer in use. It’s still marked ‘Patterson’ on the side for its former owner, then you have about a mile to go.”

  “Cooper, do you think we could be in danger?”

  “No, Mills, you could get robbed at Alston Station while buying a quart of milk. I just prefer that you have protection.”

  When they returned to the kitchen, Charles and Marian had just arrived for the day. Mills walked up and put her arms around Marian and thanked her for the cake and picnic basket.

  “Baby, I hope you had a wonderful birthday,” Marian told Mills, kissing her on the forehead. “Miss Vivien, I hope you’re having a nice time.”

  “Oh, yes, ma’am.”

  Cooper told the sisters, “I’m leaving the Suburban for you to use, and Charles is ready to take you upstream. I’ll see you Wednesday.”

  Charles drove them to Micah’s Point and helped them put the red canoe into the tea-hued water. “Miss Mills, be very careful, and we’ll see you this afternoon. Let us know when you get home.”

  “Thank you, Charles.”

  “My pleasure, Miss Mills. Miss Vivien.”

  He pushed the canoe off the bank, and within moments, the craft caught the current downstream. Mills sat in the rear of the canoe paddling with a j-stroke to steer.

  “What makes the river look like the color of tea?”

  “Cooper says the color is caused by the breakdown of leaves, especially cypress leaves.” She pointed to a stand of trees along the bank. “Those are cypress trees and the stubs around them are called knees—they stabilize the root systems.”