Eleanor Tatum

Trevor steps into a world of oddities: rude women, random gunfire, and bare feet. He decides it is worth it.

pages 32-33

Thankful for slipping out without being stopped for ridiculous conversation, he marched down the long front porch and passed two women employed by Mercer, but definitely not in his kitchens.

Much to Trevor’s surprise and mortification , one woman raised her gown and displayed a knickers-free show. The other glared at him, while the first laughed at his startled and fearful face. She then turned her lusty display toward the lake.

Yelling out at two fishermen in a small nearby boat, she declared, “See what you’re missing? Seeing what you’re giving up for a dead fish?!” She disgustedly tossed down her skirts and continued, “Well, it’s the last time, fool.” Together, the women marched past Trevor and entered the lodge, one still laughing and the other still in a bit of a snit.

His thankfulness for knowing Catherine sent him swiftly down the steps. The little bits he knew of her told him of her goodness as well as her beauty, which exceeded far and beyond anything he had just witnessed. Elation returned as he followed the sandy road with the grassy center line. During his rapid march, he couldn’t help from forming a comparison between Catherine, Eloise, and Mercer’s women. Good Grief!

The target range could be heard on his left as he admired the breeze dancing on the lake off to his right. He heard the tree limb snap before the gunshot registered his fear, before he dove for the grass, and counted his loud heart beats.

Again? He had been shot at again? No, Mercer’s laugh and those of a few others could be heard through the woods. The target practicing fools had taken too much special lemonade.

This time it was an accident. Right?

He stood slowly, then walked quickly to Catherine. He found her below the high road and down the bluff, sitting on a fallen tree trunk, sinking her delicious bare toes in the lapping shore waves. Would Eloise ever have taken off her shoes? Would she ever go bare footed?

Egad! and Enough! For now.