“I can take you,” Cole offered.
She cocked her head and sent a quizzical look his way. “Do you really want to?”
He shrugged his shoulders. “It’s not like I’m doing anything else.”
“You could go fishing or swim in the pool while I’m gone.”
“Too hot,” Cole told her. “The fish aren’t biting.”
“I don’t even really want to go,” Maggie said. “It’s just I need some things.”
“Wouldn’t you rather go see the Ralph Foster Museum with me?” Cole asked. “Kiefer’s not coming home tonight, Kaitlin’s staying late at the amusement park. We could go wander around the museum, grab a bite out and pick her up. You can go to the store tomorrow.”
Maggie’s expression changed and he remembered she’d briefly attended College of the Ozarks, where the museum was located. She’d met Dwight Brown there, too. Maybe he should’ve suggested something else. Cole opened his mouth to make another offer when she said, “All right, you’ve persuaded me. I still like the campus even though I dropped out of school. Let me go clean up and change, you too.”
“All right,” Cole said, feeling very happy. “Can you be ready in forty minutes?”
“Make it an hour,” Maggie said.
The quiet tree lined campus hadn’t changed much except for the big new visitor’s center, restaurant and lodge near the entrance. A sign in front proclaimed it to be The Keeter Center. Cole drove through the streets, admiring the clean look traditional for the college long nicknamed “Hard Work U” because students could work off their tuition. “Do they still have everything they used to?” he asked Maggie. “The farm, the jelly kitchens, the fruitcake kitchens, and the clinic?”
“As far as I know, they do,” she said. She’d worn navy blue slacks with a print blouse for the outing, casual but very attractive. “I don’t come over here very often although Kaitlin’s talked about coming here. I’m trying to talk her into trying SMSU in Springfield instead.”
“It’s a good school,” Cole said as he wheeled into the museum parking lot. “Here we are.”
He paid the modest admission and insisted they have their picture taken in the rattletrap old car used for the Clampett clan in the old television sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies. The vehicle seemed a strange addition to the museum billed as ‘The Smithsonian of the Ozarks’ but Cole guessed Hollywood sparkled gold even here. As they walked away from it, Cole remarked, “You know I used to watch the reruns of the show even though it was pretty corny.”
“You did?” Maggie asked. “I didn’t. Mom and Dad thought it made a joke out of the Ozarks.”
“Well, it did,” Cole said. “But I loved the episodes when they went back to the hills because they filmed them here, a lot of it at Silver Dollar City. I loved being at home in the city, back in Bevo and seeing one of my favorite places. It made me homesick for Branson and Lake Dreams, though.”
Maggie laughed. “You’re not serious?”
“I am.”
“I used to watch anything I could involving St. Louis,” she said. “I remember buying a ratty old VHS tape of a movie called ‘Meet Me In St. Louis’ with Judy Garland. It was set around the big 1904 World’s Fair but I wore it out wondering if any of the places in the movie were real or if you knew them. And the one time I went to St. Louis, I stared over the city from the top of the Arch wondering where you lived and what you were doing.”
Flattered and pleased, Cole said, “I didn’t know you’d come to The Lou. When was it?”
Her bright expression dimmed slightly. “My honeymoon,” she said. “I made Dwight take me to St. Louis which was silly because I was pregnant with Kaitlin but I figured it’d be my one shot to see it. I thought about trying to call you but I didn’t.”
Cole almost asked why but didn’t. The reason was obvious. A pregnant bride on her honeymoon didn’t call up her old friend, not when their childhood play developed into something deeper the last few summers.
“So what did you think of my town?” he asked, wanting to know. “And where else did you go?”
Maggie smiled. “We drove up and back in a single day, a very long one so not much. We went to the Gateway Arch, down to Laclede’s Landing, and drove miles out of our way. We had a bite to eat at a Long John Silver’s somewhere. I didn’t like it much. The traffic scared me, the big Mississippi River awed me and I felt just like what I was – a dumb little country girl lost in the big, bad city.”
A wave of affection rushed through Cole at her honest assessment. He couldn’t really imagine Maggie living in any part of St. Louis because she belonged among the rugged hills, beneath the blue skies reflected in Taneycomo, and with the land. “You were never dumb, honey.”
Her grey eyes met his with candor. “I must’ve been, Cole, or I wouldn’t have been in the situation I was but thanks. Come on, I love this display.”
Maggie led him to an intricate large circus display, once a child’s toy. The big top stretched out and all around it animals and circus performers cavorted, frozen forever. Her rapt face as she talked about it indicated this was an old favorite. “It’s cute.”
“As a little girl I thought about growing up to run away with the circus,” Maggie told him. “I never did, though.”
“Do you still want to?”
She turned around to face him with the slow half grin he called her Mona Lisa smile. “No, I grew out of the notion a long time ago. I like it here and I belong here, I think.”
Cole agreed but he said nothing. Instead he bent down and grazed her lips with his. “Come on, we’ve got a lot left to see according to this brochure.”
Three stories of memorabilia later after viewing everything from firearms, a white Polar bear standing upright, dolls, Native American items, and much more, Cole picked up their picture and they exited into the sunshine. The afternoon rays highlighted her beautiful hair. On impulse Cole caught her and held her in his arms beneath a tall old tree. Shadows danced through the curtain of green branches as he kissed her, his mouth possessing hers. Taken by surprise Maggie clung to him but she returned the kiss, their mouths lingered with a heady combination of reverence, affection, and sensual fire. Some students walked past and alerted by their voices, Cole released her.
“What’s gotten into you?” Maggie asked with pink cheeks and a huge grin.
“Donald thinks I’m going native,” he said, answering with the first thing popping into his head.
She laughed aloud, a delightful outburst of mirth. “Worse things could happen,” she said. “So why don’t you take me over to The Keeter Center and buy me an early dinner? The food’s good even if it is a little pricey.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
In the Keeter Center he discovered Dobyn’s Dining Room wasn’t the rustic restaurant he’d envisioned but a nice, upscale venue. Although the prices might be high by Branson standards, Cole thought they were reasonable. Despite choices including salmon filets, steaks, and other fancy fare they dined on homemade beef pot pies with side salads. He offered dessert and although at first Maggie declined, he talked her into sharing a piece of chocolate peanut butter cake, rich and delicious.
“Here, honey,” he said as he spooned the last bite into her mouth.
“Ooh, it’s so sweet,” Maggie said.
“It’s not half as sweet as you are,” Cole said and meant it.
Chapter Twenty One
After the Fourth of July temperatures soared and hovered around the century mark. No rain fell and farmers muttered about drought. At Lake Dreams Maggie couldn’t shake her dark feelings. She feared fire even more than storms, something Cole hadn’t known until now so he studied weather data online, using every resource available. He decided the dry spell wouldn’t last long and predicted the heat would break with a major storm in a few weeks. He presented his information to Maggie. She smiled but the happy expression didn’t last long.
Between the never ending stream of guests who came and went Cole took Maggie a
nd her kids to see the show at Dixie Stampede. Another day they spent at Shepherd of the Hills. One evening they went to one of the oldest country music shows on the Strip and although the humor couldn’t be cornier, Cole laughed. Once or twice he coaxed Maggie to go out with him for another meal, once to a movie. She slipped up to his cabin and joined him in bed one late night, surprising and thrilling him.
Most of the time she laughed and talked, smiled and joked like the old Maggie but as July wound down Cole noticed she wore a worry line down the center of her forehead. Sometimes in idle moments he caught her picking at her fingernails or twisting her hands with nervous agitation. His concern grew as he wondered what her foreboding might portend and wished whatever it was would happen so they could move past it.
“It’d be easier if I could pinpoint whatever it is,” she confided in him one afternoon while he tried to fish from the dock without success. Fish wouldn’t bite in the extreme heat but went deep into the lake waters to stay cool. “But I can’t.”
“You’ll worry yourself sick,” Cole told her. “Honey, I wish you wouldn’t work yourself up this way.”
“I don’t do it on purpose,” Maggie said. “I get these feelings but this is one of the worst I’ve ever had, Cole so it scares me. I keep thinking if I can figure it out, I can change whatever it is so it doesn’t happen.”
They hadn’t talked again about what might occur when his three month leave of absence ended but Cole thought it weighed on her too. He’d all decided to stay or at least go home long enough to tie up loose ends and finish his business before returning. Every day he woke up with the idea he’d tell her today he loved her and they could discuss it but Cole didn’t do it. Either she was fretful over the coming event or one of the kids distracted them or something else happened.
Two days earlier he killed a copperhead, a large one near the playground. Cole almost stepped on it, its bright banded pattern blended with the woodchips scattered out on the ground but he saw it, went back for a hoe, and killed it. The incident concerned him because Cole wouldn’t want a child to suffer a snake bite but he’d hoped it might be the source of Maggie’s distress. Although the incident upset her more than he figured it might, it proved not to be whatever she feared because her black sense of doom didn’t diminish at all. Reflecting, Cole reeled in his line and turned to her, “I’m done for the day, honey. Is there some iced tea?”
“I made some this morning,” Maggie said. “I’ll go pour some.”
He stole a quick kiss. “I’ll be right there soon as I put up my gear.”
Cole walked into the kitchen and picked up the sweating glass of tea, the ice tinkling against the glass. Maggie’s voice drew him into her living room and although she waved, he saw the phone against her ear. He sat down and sipped tea, listening to her end of the conversation.
“Well, that was Stacy,” Maggie said afterward as she sat down on the sofa beside him. “You know, my cousin who lives in Springfield, Uncle Ronnie’s daughter.”
He really didn’t have a clue but Cole nodded. “Yeah.”
“She’s called three times wanting me to come to the Tatum reunion this year and bring the kids. I keep telling her ‘no’ but she won’t give up.”
Cole remembered Kiefer’s hopes of going so he said, “Maybe you should go, let the kids hang out with some of their family.”
“I don’t know,” Maggie sighed. “I guess I could but I don’t really want to attend.
I never have anything in common with any of the others. They all grew up and moved away. If I do, I’ll be bored, I’ll end sitting in a lawn chair all by myself with a plate of food or struggling to make small talk with someone I don’t like.”
He laughed. “It wouldn’t be so bad, would it?”
“No, I bet it’d be even worse,” Maggie said.
“When is it?”
“A week from tomorrow,” she said. “It’s on Saturday from ten in the morning until midnight. I won’t stay very late if I go. Do you think I should, Cole?”
“The kids would like it,” he replied.
She hesitated for a few moments and said, “Will you go with me?”
Inwardly Cole groaned. He loathed family reunions but he’d go for Maggie’s sake. Cole would do worse to restore some sparkle into her eyes and lilt to her step. “Sure, honey, if you want, I’ll be there.”
She rewarded him with a smile. “Thanks. Now I’ll have someone to talk to.”
“You’ve always got me,” Cole replied.
This time her smile didn’t touch her eyes. “I do for now,” Maggie said.
“I hope for a lot longer than that,” he told her.
She faced him with interest, hope and wariness mingled in her expression. “Are you thinking about staying?”
He shrugged his shoulders. “I might be. Do you want me to?”
“It can’t be what I want,” Maggie answered with her level headed wisdom. “It’s not my call Cole so what I want shouldn’t matter.”
“It does to me,” he said. “It matters a lot and you haven’t answered the question.”
“I can’t.”
“You could.”
“Then I won’t.”
Frustrated Cole cupped her chin with one hand and stared into her face. “Why won’t you?”
Her gaze never wavered. “If you decide to stay, it’s got to be your decision and choice. If you stay because you think I want you to, it’s not good enough and things might not work out. It’d be a major change for you and you shouldn’t do it for me or anyone else.”
“Maggie, Maggie,” Cole said, with tenderness. “Don’t make this so hard. I’ll tell you right now I plan to stay.”
“I’m not trying to be difficult,” she replied. “I’m trying to be fair and practical.”
He opened his mouth but the back screen door slammed hard and Kiefer burst into the room. He panted hard and his red cheeks indicated he’d run all the way. “Mom, Cole, you’ve got to come quick. There’s another snake up by the pool.”
“Oh, my God,” Maggie cried. “Is it a copperhead?”
“I think so, Mom. Come on, Cole.”
“Stay here,” he told Maggie. “I’ll take care of it.”
She shook her head. “It’s my resort. I’m coming too.”
Cole didn’t wait for her but dashed for the shed and the hoe. Kiefer trailed him as he approached the area between the playground and swimming pool with caution. “Show me where it’s at,” he told the boy.
“It was right there.” Kiefer pointed at a strip of grass between the pool fence and the wood chips beneath the swing set. “I don’t see it now.”
Maggie hurried up behind them and Cole held up a hand to halt her. “Stay back, Maggie. We’re not sure where it’s at.”
Standing still Cole searched the entire area with his eyes until he caught a glimpse of the bright copper and dull brown colors of the snake. This one stretched out longer than the first, beautiful but venomous. He pointed it out to Maggie and took slow steps forward until he stood within a foot of the reptile. Just as he raised the hoe to kill it, the snake undulated forward moving in his direction. Cole held his breath as he struck and worried he’d miss. If he did, it might escape.
His stroke hit the snake full on and decapitated it. The long body writhed headless in the grass and Cole stepped back, releasing his breath. “It’s dead,” he called to Maggie. “Have Kiefer bring me a shovel.”
He used the broad shovel to scoop up the two pieces of the copperhead and carried it to the lake where he pitched it into the waters, same as he’d done with the first one. Cole turned around to find Maggie. He handed the shovel to her son and opened his arms. She ducked into them and burrowed against him. “Hey,” he said. “It’s over now. It’s okay.”
“I don’t like snakes,” she told him. “I was afraid it might bite you.”
“It didn’t.”
“But it could’ve bitten me or one of my kids or a guest,” Maggie said with a shudder. “Oh
, dear Lord, if any of the guests even saw it, I’d lose business and we’re barely breaking even now. Do you think there’s any more?”
Cole had no clue. He studied weather not snakes in college but he dug deep into his brain for something to reassure her. “I doubt it,” he told her. “I’ve always heard the old wives tales snakes run in pairs. I’ve killed two so that should be it.”
“I hope so. Now I’ll worry about snakes, too.”
“Don’t,” he said, gentle. “Maybe the snakes are what your premonition warned about.”
Maggie’s voice muffled against his shirt as she answered, “It’s not that. I’m not sure what it is but I can tell what it’s not. But snakes can be a bad omen, Cole.”
“Honey, its natural there’d be a few snakes around,” he said in an attempt to reason with her. “Even in St. Louis they find a few. Haven’t you found any snakes here before?”
He knew they had. He remembered Maggie’s dad killing one and Pop warning Cole to watch where he put down his feet. In the lake there’d always been the occasional water snakes swimming with graceful ease.
“Well, yeah.” Maggie sounded a little less frantic as she lifted her head from his chest.
“See? There’s nothing to worry about. Why don’t you get cleaned up and we’ll go someplace?”
“Why?” Maggie glanced down at her clothes. “Am I dirty or what?”
Cole laughed. “Honey, this is Friday night. I’d like to take you out on a date, just me and you. Would you like that?”
“I’d love it.”
“Then go get around.”
In the hour and a half before they left Cole squared things with the kids, all but bribing them so they wouldn’t complain. He searched his mind for somewhere very romantic to take Maggie, a special place but he couldn’t think of anything different. Remembering Maggie loved seafood, especially shrimp he decided to take her to a local seafood restaurant. Afterward if he could find somewhere where they could dance, slow and close it’d be perfect. He asked Kaitlin’s advice, looked up some spots using his long neglected laptop, and by the time they motored across the lake bridge, Cole’d planned their evening.
Lake Dreams Page 20