Part 9 (1/2)
”It's hard to tell on the map, but it can't be more than a few miles. Five at the most.”
That seemed reasonable, although she had to wonder if they were heading toward a designated picnic area or invading personal property. Well, they'd find out soon enough.
Minutes later, they reached the lake. There wasn't a picnic table-or a picnicker-in sight. They saw the remains of a campfire someone had made some time ago, but no other evidence of anyone's presence. Using the hood of the car as a table, Ruth spread out their feast and they stood in the shade and ate their sandwiches and chips. Lingering over sodas, Annie and Bethanne walked along the lakesh.o.r.e.
Annie removed her shoes and waded in the water. ”Wow, this is cold.”
”It isn't called Snow Water Lake for nothing,” Bethanne teased.
”Come on in, Mom,” Annie said, and kicked her feet at the water's edge, splas.h.i.+ng onto the sh.o.r.e.
Although they'd been out of the car for less than thirty minutes, Bethanne roasted in the early-afternoon heat. Sitting on the sand at the lake's edge, she slipped off her shoes and waded ankle-deep into the chilly water. After the initial shock she quickly grew accustomed to the cold.
She got up and, with her arm around Annie's waist, ambled through the water.
”I should probably call Dad,” Annie said. ”He'll want to know we've changed our plans.”
Bethanne didn't comment.
”Dad talked to you about Andrew's wedding, didn't he?” Annie asked. ”We can sit together as a family, can't we?”
Bethanne hadn't given Grant her final answer. ”I suppose.”
”Good.” Annie rested her head on Bethanne's shoulder. ”I want us to be a family again.”
”I know you do, honey,” Bethanne said in a soothing voice. ”Annie, you have your own own life now. Your own place, a promising future... And your dad and I both love you.” life now. Your own place, a promising future... And your dad and I both love you.”
”Yeah. But nothing's been the same since Dad moved out.”
Moved out, divorced her, remarried and gone through a second divorce, Bethanne added to herself. The man who'd walked out the door wasn't the same person anymore, nor was she. A lot had changed, and Bethanne wasn't sure either of them could return to the past. Perhaps that was a good thing; she didn't know.
”Dad's different,” Annie continued, almost as if she'd been reading Bethanne's thoughts.
”We both are.”
”Dad's learned his lesson. He's humbled. You know that can't be easy for him.”
What Annie said was true. With Grant's pride, it had taken a great deal for him to admit he'd made a mistake and seek a reconciliation.
”You don't mind if I call him, do you?”
”Not at all.”
Annie reached for her cell and punched a couple of b.u.t.tons. After a moment, she muttered in frustration. ”We don't have coverage here.”
”It can wait. In fact, if you call him now he'll only worry. Why don't we call once we're in Vegas?”
”Okay.”
By the time they returned to the car, Ruth had cleaned up their leftovers and they were ready to go back to the highway.
”I'll drive,” Annie said.
Bethanne was happy to relinquish the wheel. If she was going to finish the wedding gloves, she'd need time to knit. She'd made progress their first day on the road, but none today. She was counting on the trip to afford her knitting time she didn't generally have.
Ruth climbed into the back, while Bethanne sat in the pa.s.senger seat next to her daughter. Annie inserted the key and the engine turned over once and then quit.
Frowning, Annie looked at Bethanne. ”What's wrong?”
Bethanne's heart slowed as she remembered what had happened at the gas station in Wells. ”Try again.”
Annie did, and the engine caught right away. Bethanne relaxed, giving her daughter a rea.s.suring smile. The last thing they needed now was to get stuck in the middle of nowhere with a broken-down vehicle and no cell coverage.
The car lurched forward and died again.
”Is there a problem?” Ruth asked anxiously from the backseat.
”I'm not sure,” Bethanne said.
Annie tried again. Nothing. When it became apparent that no amount of cranking was going to start the engine, Bethanne placed her hand over her daughter's.
”Now what?” Annie asked.
Bethanne's head was spinning. They didn't have a lot of options. ”How far are we from the main road? Isn't it about five miles?”
”Yup. Farther than I'd want to walk,” Annie said, ”especially in this heat.”
”I agree. It's too far to walk in this heat,” Ruth said emphatically.
”Then we're stuck until someone comes along.” Annie dropped her hands from the steering wheel. ”Does anyone know anything about fixing cars?”
Bethanne shook her head.
”Not me,” Ruth said. ”I left all that to Richard. After he died I had to learn how to fill my own gas tank. But that's about all I can do.”
”We could be here for days,” Annie moaned.
”Why don't we wait until it cools down and then walk to the highway.”
”This is all my fault,” Ruth wailed. ”I was so eager for adventure that I put us in danger.”
”I was the one who suggested we eat lunch by the lake,” Annie said. was the one who suggested we eat lunch by the lake,” Annie said.
”Stop,” Bethanne told them both. ”This isn't anyone's fault. We'll be fine. There's nothing to worry about. Besides, there are worse things than being stuck by a beautiful lake on a summer afternoon.”
”Right,” Annie said, instantly perking up. ”Let's go swimming. We have our swimsuits, don't we?”