The gifts time was always something special. Kusa had Jie sitting alongside her helping her open up all the beautifully wrapped things. "Wow, these are all for you?" Jie said looking at the mound of colorfully wrapped boxes. "They must really like you! And you know I do, too!" She wrapped her arms around Kusa, as everybody ahhhed.

Gia handed Kusa the gift from her and H. Kusa opened the box, with Jie's help. It was a weekend getaway package for the Canyon Ranch Spa in Miami. Kusa read the pamphlet, "Ooh, this looks nice, but um does this gift come with a babysitter?"

"Sure! Absolutely! We'll take Ashley for the weekend!" G gushed excitedly. H was silent, maybe speechless, which made Sam laugh. Jie set the box on the side, but G piped in, "Hey, um there's more in the box, you know."

Kusa reached inside and pulled out a frame and an envelope. The silver frame had an inscription: Families are like fudge, very sweet but with a few nuts; with a picture of all the gals on one of their camping trips with Kusa in the center. She burst out laughing and hugged G then H . But G whispered, "And that one's from the heart" pointing to the envelope. Kusa opened the card and pulled out the certificate: In honor of Mrs. Brandy Axe, A donation has been made to A Child is Waiting - Adoption Agency.

Gia knew some of Kusa's family history and that adoption was near and dear to her heart. Kusa looked at her and shook her head, smiled, and hugged her again. Gia hugged her back, "To many more wonderful times and in celebration of your wonderful family! Love ya girl! And yes, I do know I am one of those nuts!" Kusa laughed all the more.....

"We're next!" Cee walked over and grabbed a present and handed it to Jie. Jie took the bow off first and handed the box to Kusa. Cee leaned over and took the bow out of her hand and put it on her little head resulting in some giggles from her. Kusa smiled happy that the little one was having a good time. She picked up the card and read it was from Eli & Cee, then she opened the box and held it up as everyone oohed!



"Oh my gosh, Cee, this frame is beautiful! And.." She then looked at the picture and smiled. It was one of Sam holding Ashley.

Cee leaned over and hugged a quiet Kusa, and whispered, "Your welcome...Sis!"

Kusa opened Deb and Gary's gift next, an antique mother-daughter cameo that could be used on a necklace or as a brooch. Tears came to her eyes when she unfolded the tissue paper and saw it. She went over to hug them both. "You have no idea how special this is," she whispered to Deb.





Jie helped Kusa open a framed art piece Jen and Ric had found of a little girl taking her first step. Jie said immediately, "Ooooh, it looks like Ashley!"

"We thought so, too," Jen told her.




Bill and Jackie, Maddie and Virgil, and several of the other couples went in together to give Kusa and Sam a four-day trip to La Samanna Resort on St. Martin in the French West Indies. Bill and Jackie assured Kusa they would be the designated babysitter so Sam and Kusa could get away for a few days sometime during the summer...

http://www.lasamanna.com/web/omar/la_samanna_resort.jsp


La Samanna Resort, St. Martin


View outside their private villa


Private pool at villa

-----

Sam held off until everyone else had given Kusa their presents. "Just a reminder of what it took to remind us of us," he whispered as he handed her the wrapped package.

Kusa gave him a slightly puzzled look as she tried to interpret exactly what he said. Giving up, she tossed her head and laughed, tearing into the package. "May I wear them now?" she asked, giving him a quick kiss.

"Not sure it goes with the whole Scarlett O'Hara thing, there," Sam countered.

"I don't care... the bracelet and earrings are lovely."

"Then, may I?" her husband offered, picking up the ring of charms and putting it on her wrist for her.

Within two hours of being corseted, and especially after eating dinner and cake, Jen couldn’t take it any longer. Neither could Gia. Before the waltzing started, they sneaked upstairs to rid themselves of the despised undergarments and let nature take its course. The only drawback was having to button all the tiny buttons on their dresses again. They helped each other and were finally ready to make their entrances at the ball again, wanton as they may be in their corsetless state.

They left Gia’s room at the end of the hall, chatting as they went. A peculiar whooshing noise sounded behind them and a cold breath of air swept over them. They both turned, startled, just in time to see an image materialize at the end of the hallway.

They stood, speechless, not believing what they were seeing. As the apparition took shape, they noted flashes of a military uniform. Jen grabbed Gia’s arm and Gia reached with her other hand down toward her waistline checking for her handgun. She wasn’t carrying one and her hand flopped uselessly against her side as she stood, mesmerized by the ghostly figure.

"I don't think a gun would do any good, Gia," Jen whispered, suddenly shivering.

"What do we do? What do you think it wants?" Gia asked.

"I don't know," Jen said under her breath. "It was outside your room. Do you think it was having a looky-looky while we were changing?"

"Maybe his name is Tom, as in Peeping," Gia laughed, shivering herself.

It took a little time, but when the figure had fully materialized, down to the boots on its feet, the phantom stretched to full size and took a giant step in their direction. Both girls screamed at the top of their lungs, backing up and tripping over each other as they did so. A door opened across the hall and Michael burst out into the hallway.

“What is it?” he asked, gun in hand.

“Michael...Michael!” the girls screamed, jumping his direction. Gia clung to the front of him and Jen moved around to the back, her arms wrapped around him in terror.

“What the…what is it?” he asked again, not knowing what to do with either his handgun or the clinging girls.

“Look!” Gia said, pointing behind her down the hallway.

“Look at what?” Michael asked.

Gia turned to look, while Jen peered over Michael’s shoulder. Nothing was there. Just hallway and closed doors.

“It’s gone,” Gia said, sinking into Michael’s arms. Jen kept a tight hold on him from behind, trying to catch her breath. She let go in a minute and stepped out beside Gia.

“It...it was a figure,” Jen said, still breathing hard. “It appeared suddenly and the image kept getting stronger. It was a man in a Revolutionary War uniform, I think.”

“Come on, Jen, think about it,” Michael said, "All the talk going on about ghosts on the island has over-stimulated your imagination. That’s all it was.”

“Michael, I saw the same thing,” Gia told him. “How do you explain that?”

“Group hallucination? I don’t know. Are you both okay?”

Gia looked at Jen. “Yeah, we’re okay. I just don’t want to ever be up here alone, though.”

“Me, either,” said Jen. “Maybe we should let Di, Deb, and the others know, too, just in case their bedrooms suddenly get a little more crowded during the night.”

"Oh, please, no ghosts in my bedroom," Gia responded.

"No ghost is going to be invading anyone's bedroom," Michael told them. "Now stop worrying. Want me to walk you downstairs?” They both nodded and grabbed an arm each.

“Thanks, Michael.”

“Yeah, thanks, Mike.”

As they left, the girls peered over their shoulder for one last look. As soon as they turned the corner by the staircase, the image began to materialize again. It passed silently through the wall into Michael and Fiona’s room.

Once the cake had been served and Kusa had opened her presents, the tables and chairs were swept aside to allow for ballroom dancing.

"Who did the research on the waltzes?" Cee asked, and the girls just blinked at her. She shook her head and tsked and was about to say something when a dark-haired young woman walked up to her side. No one from the group recognized her, but she was beautifully dressed in a blue period gown and carried a fan. Her hair was swept up and curled, and she wore a velvet choker. "Do you know anything about waltzes?" Cee asked her, assuming she was one of the regular staff from the Island.

The woman curtsied, and the girls followed suit, bobbling up and down until Michael finally grabbed Deb by the shoulder to make her stop and glared at the others until they stood still.

"Yes, ma'am," the woman replied, giggling at the antics of the girls. "I know the Virginia Reel, the Tampette, and the Spanish Dance, as well as the waltz. There's variations of them all, of course."

"Would you teach us?" Jen asked.

"I would love to," she replied. "But, I need a partner."

"I'll do it!" Shawn announced, stepping up to take her hand.

The woman curtseyed to Shawn, and he bowed in response. Michael got a good glare in before any of the girls had a chance to bobble-body again. "We can start by creating two lines, ladies on the right, gentlemen on the left." When everyone had assembled, the woman continued. "This is the Virginia Reel. It's a quite lively dance, but a lot of fun. We'll begin by walking through the first set, then my gentleman and I will start over, and we'll do it to the music." She nodded to Shawn, and he took her hand.

The gang didn't have too much trouble going through the Reel without music, stepping up, stepping back, twirling and sidestepping, but once the music started, the couples sometimes found themselves grabbing on to their partner for support to keep their feet from flying out under them. By the time the Reel was finished, more than one of the group was left gasping for air.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx2YYb54cwU

"That was wonderful!" The woman clapped and laughed when they were finished. "How about a Tampette next? It's similar to the Reel, but a little slower."

"I definitely vote for slower!" Maddie said, fanning herself briskly.

The woman giggled. "The Tampette is a two couple dance, so my gentleman and I will need someone to demonstrate with." Di grabbed Q and dragged him to the front. "Again, we'll step through so everyone can see." The woman patiently helped Shawn, Di, and Q through the steps of the dance. "Is everyone ready?" she asked once the dance had been shown.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtV_YJSeAx0

"Slower!" Maddie shouted when the dance was finished, and Kusa popped her in the arm. "Well, I'm getting too old for this!" she laughed.

The woman giggled. "Shall we do the Spanish Dance, or are we ready for a waltz? You're already portioned off for the Spanish Dance."

"Sounds good!" Kusa said, and this time it was her dragging Sam to the front for the demonstration. Another walk through before the actual music. This one was a little slower, or maybe it was just that the dancers were getting tired.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYNCPMCC1Qo

"You are all superb!" the woman announced when the dance was finished. "It's getting late, shall we finish with waltzes?" When the group all nodded and agreed, the woman continued. "Please, then, find your partner." The woman then went around to all of the couples, asking politely if she could move hands if she found them in the wrong position and complimenting everyone's outfit.

"Remember, gentlemen, begin by stepping and sweeping to your right," she reminded before the music started.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6K2VXy-t2QI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntHzVQWBdnQ

Since the couples weren't in organized groups, there were several near-collisions, but no fatalities. Sometime during the second waltz, the whole group found their rhythm and the dancers floated over the floor in coordinated movements.

The quartet played on beautifully for along time. When they finished their last classical piece, the head of the group, the violinist, motioned to the girls, they were about to play their special pick. Gia and Jen stood up, Jen spoke up, "Ok Kusa this one is for Sam!" Gia nodded adding, "And Michael, well all the guys for being such great sports about this evening."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdF6U0UVajs...feature=related

Sam took Kusa's hand and walked her out to the dance floor again. As the quartet played, she stopped and looked over at the girls confused. It took only about two bars before Sam, then Nate, then Gary and slowly all the guys recognized it! H just shook his head laughing. Jen & Gia gave Kusa the thumbs and then they flashed her their best Angus Young hand in the air but shake impersonation. Sam burst out laughing at them, and leaned into Kusa, "Oh babygirl these gals are something else! But they really went all out for you!"

The whirlwind of dancing seems to go on for hours.

There wasn’t a lull the whole night; someone was always on the floor. After the musicians left, cd’s were turned up and dancing continued.

Deb danced with just about every male there, several times over and felt the only way to take a break was to be unseen. Trinity had the same idea and the two of them headed toward the French balcony doors, then outside to the veranda for a breath of cool air.

They sat on the edge of the railing and watched someone walking away.

Deb would later describe seeing a blonde, with her hair up, tendrils hanging down the side of her face, the hat hugging her head, she was wearing a light green dress, more of 1940’s flapper style dress.

But what Trinity saw was a raven-haired woman, her hair tied back with a scarf, wearing a riding outfit, white gloves and holding a riding crop. “Awfully late to riding tonite isn’t it? Maybe she’s just checking on some horses.”

“But all the horse here are wild.” Deb adds while fanning herself, this fan sure has come in handy. “Besides what makes you think she go riding in a dress like that?”

Trinity looks at Deb in confusion and was about to ask when they hear a masculine voice “Good evening ladies.”

This is what they would both agree on.

The girls turn to find a gentleman they hadn't seen before addressing them, he was in a three-piece suit, addressing them from the grounds, he was wearing a fedora and smoking a pipe, the pipe smell of tobacco wafts toward them.

Mmmmm... the smell of pipe tobacco smoke is warm and inviting, creating such a nice cozy atmosphere.

“Good evening Sir” They reply and nod lightly, keeping in with their roles and keeping their guards up, ready to strike at any moment.

“Lovely evening.” The manm with a heavy northern accent, tips his hat at them.

“Yes, yes it is.”

Soon they trio were having a nice conversation as the man tells them he and his family would vacation on the island in the summers, how the only time they saw nature at its best was when they vacationed here, they were from up North where the city was busy and dirty. He spoke of the games they played and the fun they had, riding the horses for miles.

“Then the nanny fell and twisted her ankle chasing the kids on the beach one day.” He continues to weave his tale as the girls laugh at the antics, but at the same time felt sorry for the Nanny. “They felt so bad, took her meals to her for a week.”

"What happ - - " Deb begins to ask when she and Trinity hear a noise and another voice.

“There you two are.” Virgil appears through the doors. “Was doing a head count and the two of you were missing.”

“We were just…” Deb turns to point in the direction they were talking …. but he was gone.

She and Trinity look at each other, then look left and right. There was no sign of the man…only the faint smell of the pipe.

“Must’a been too much sugar in the iced tea.” Deb fans and mutters to herself and she takes one of Virgils arms, Trinity takes the other one, but looks back one more time to see…

Just to see…

What she knew wasn’t going to be there.

"May I have another waltz?" Shawn asked the mystery woman, bowing deeply before her.

"I-I'm afraid I must go," she replied. "My time here is short."

Shawn looked around the room. "May I escort you to wherever it is you're going?" He offered her his arm.

She smiled. "Yes, of course." She put her gloved hand in the crook of his arm and he led her outside.

"I had a lovely time," she began.

"So did I," Shawn said sincerely.

"You are such a gentleman. Surely you have a special one waiting for you at home?"

Shawn stopped and looked at her. He hadn't thought of Elena all night, but the memory of her saying goodbye suddenly slammed him hard.

"Oh, goodness," the woman said to the change of his attitude. "I fear I have overstepped the lines of politeness. I am so sorry. Please say you forgive me. I would hate to cast a sullen haze over this lovely night."

"No, no... It's okay," he responded, patting her hand on his arm. "There's nothing to forgive."

"You lost your special one?"

"I-I messed up."

"How so, if I may be so bold to ask?"

"There was a conflict. I thought her brother disapproved, so we got together only by sneaking around. She... she got a little tired of it and broke off the relationship."

The woman tsked. "A woman, no matter how independent, needs to feel she has a champion, someone who will stand up for her, fight for her. If you feel her in your heart," she said, putting her hand on his chest, "then you will do what's right. Show her how you feel about her, but show the world as well."

"Your hand is so cold." Shawn took his jacket off. "Here, you must be freezing out here." She allowed him to drape his jacket over her shoulders. "May I?" he asked, reaching for her hand again.

She smiled. "Of course." She put her hand on his arm again. "And, thank you."

"Thank you for the advice. I will take it to heart." He looked around. They were just past the garden. "Excuse me, I'm thoroughly enjoying the walk... but, where are we going?"

"To my resting place," she answered. "Oh goodness!" she followed up quickly, her hand flying to her mouth. "I forgot my fan!"

"We're not far from the mansion. If you sit here," he instructed, leading her to a bench next to the garden. "I''ll run right back and pick it up for you."

"That would be splendid," she agreed, sitting down. "I'm sure it's on the refreshment table, next to the punch bowl."

Shawn sprinted back to the mansion, entering the ballroom. But he had trouble finding the fan. It wasn't on any of the tables, and he looked under a number of them as well.

"What's up, Shawny?" 23 asked, just off the dance floor with Deb.

"I can't find her fan," he mumbled in reply, checking beneath another table.

"Whose fan?" Trini asked, Nate close behind.

"The lady's... You know, the woman who taught us the dances."

The group suddenly realized they hadn't gotten the woman's name. Still, they all started looking for the missing fan.

"I need to tell her we can't find it!" Shawn realized, and ran back out to the garden bench where he'd left her. But, she wasn't there. "Hey, lady! Dancing lady! I'm sorry, I don't know your name. We can't find your fan, but we're looking for it!" He stumbled into the garden, looking around. After a few minutes, he scratched his head and made his way back to the mansion.

Kusa met him just inside the ballroom entryway. "We can't find her fan anywhere," she told him.

"That's okay," he said. "I can't find her."

"Can't find who?" asked a regular staff member from the mansion. He was tidying up some of the cake plates from one of the tables.

"The lady," Shawn tried explaining, but he was getting exascerbated. "You know, the one teaching us the dances! I was walking her to her place here on the island, but she said she left her fan. I came back in here to get it, now I can't find her!"

"I'm sorry, I was in the kitchen filling the dishwasher and helping put the supper food away while you all were dancing," the Island worker replied. "But, where did you leave her?"

"In the garden, the north end. We have to find her!"

The worker smiled. "You've all met Bonnie Blue. You'll not find her, at least not 'in the flesh'. She's a ghost."

"Are you crazy?" Shawn insisted, gesturing toward the garden. "I danced with her for over an hour! She walked with me outside. She was cold, I gave her my jacket."

"Ah, well, your jacket may be gone. She's taken off with more than one 'momento' of her night's adventures. I've heard tales of Bonnie showing up at parties. I've never seen her, myself." The worker looked around. "You must be some special people," he said. "I've heard of the ghosts over the years, but I've never heard of so many sightings in such short a time. The ghosts must be especially attracted to you."

Cee shivered, thinking back on their first night on the island. "So, tell me, you don't have a polo field here, do you?"

The worker laughed. "You must have met the polo player. There was a polo field here a long time ago, when the Carnegies still lived here... but not for many years. The man you saw was killed in a fall from his horse decades ago."

"No! No! She's real. I'll prove it to you! I'll find her and bring my jacket back." Shawn turned and sprinted out of the ballroom.

"I'll make sure he doesn't get lost," 23 called back as he ran after him.

The rest of the group stood around and discussed the different sightings, noises, events, and spooky feelings most of them had experienced since coming to Cumberland Island. They barely noticed when Shawn and 23 rejoined them almost an hour later.

"You found your jacket!" Ric slapped him on the back. "Did you find the girl?"

Shawn didn't reply, walking past the group in a daze. "I'm going to my room," he softly called back when he reached the interior ballroom door.

The group turned their attention to 23, all giving him curious looks.

"Uh, we didn't find her," 23 explained. "We did find his jacket... hanging on the gate of the cemetery."

After everyone else had gone to their rooms, and the staff had returned to the kitchen to finish cleaning and putting away, Sam and Kusa were still sitting at a table in the corner of the ballroom, holding hands, and gazing into each other's eyes under the light of the moon outside.

"We should be going upstairs," Kusa said with a sigh.

"Yes, we should. Time to commence with all that ravishing and ravaging... and whatever whatnot," Sam replied dreamily.

Kusa giggled. "You are such a whacko... but you're my whacko, right?" She reached out to touch his cheek.

"All yours, baby girl." He leaned in for a kiss. "Want me to carry you up the staircase, ala Rhett Butler, my dear?" he whispered when the kiss was completed.

"Heavens, no!" she exclaimed with mock indignation. "With all the dining and dancing we've done this evening, I don't want to take the chance you'll turn your ankle with me in your arms. I've got better ways of taxing your strength in mind."

He laughed, stood up and took her hand while she got out of her seat. "Happy birthday, baby girl," he said, putting his arm around her and leading her upstairs.

Kusa blinked and looked around. She suddenly found herself right inside the door of the mansion. But how did she get here? The last thing she remembered... She quickly looked down at herself and breathed a sigh of relief. She was wearing the beautiful ball gown she'd had on earlier this evening. Still, she didn't recall putting the outfit back on, and she'd had to have help dressing herself earlier... all the women had needed help putting on the bulky gowns with the unfamiliar fastenings.

She put her wonderings aside when she heard the knock on the door, and she went to answer it. On the other side stood a gentleman, or so she thought. He looked familiar, just an added mustache, but the dark hair and eyes were the same. He was dressed similarly to the way her husband had been dressed earlier, hat and all... but not quite the same. In fact, nothing felt quite the same.

“Sam?” she asked, and opened the door wider.

The man entered. “Sorry, ma'am, my name is Beauregard Culpepper. I'm here for some unfortunate business, I'm afraid.” He closed the door behind him and produced a folded piece of paper from inside his coat. “You are overdue on your mortgage, ma'am, sorry to say. I'm here to either collect the past due or serve foreclosure.” He took off his hat and tipped his head. “Such bad news for such a beautiful lady. Some days I do not enjoy my job.” He tsked and looked around, putting the paper back into his jacket. “But, business is business, you know.” He reached for her hand, pulled it to his face, and kissed it. “However, there is nothing that couldn't wait until we had a spot of tea.” He looked at her curiously. “You had to know I was coming. There was a series of letters that preceeded me, none of which you responded to, I'm afraid.”

Kusa shook her head, rubbed her eyes, then her forehead. Exactly how much had she had to drink the night before? “I-I don't remember any letters. Did you say your name was Snidely Whiplash?”

He shook his head. “No, ma'am, Beauregard Culpepper. Please, call me Bo.” He took her hand into his, tucking it into the crook of his arm. “I believe you do need something to clear your head, my dear.” He led her into the study, showing her a chair and waiting for her to sit. He then proceeded to walk over to the table where the liquor was held and displayed.

Well, he definitely knows where everything is, she thought to herself. “Did you say your name was Bo Duke?” she asked, taking a small glass of cordial from the man.

“No, my dear,” the man answered, going back to pour himself a sturdy amount of bourbon. “Bo Culpepper is my name.” He came over and sat down next to her. “Drink up, my dear. The stress of the hard times this plantation has fallen on must be playing on your mind.” He downed his drink in one short gulp, then looked at her. “You've not taken a sip yet.”

He put his hand over hers and pushed the glass to her lips. She opened her mouth and drank. Strangely, the liquid had no flavor. As soon as her glass was empty, he took it from her, stood up, and went back to the liquor to pour both of them another drink.

“T-that was stronger than tea,” she said, her toes suddenly feeling warm.

“Yes, it was.” He turned with the two drinks and came back over to sit next to her again, handing her the second cordial. “I'm afraid your condition requires something stronger.”

“Are you trying to get me drunk?” Kusa asked.

“My dear, I would not be much of a gentleman if I were to attempt such a dastardly deed.” He actually smoothed his mustache while speaking the last two words.

She looked down at the filled glass in her hands, still confused. “How, how much do I owe?” she asked.

“Ah, I see the cordial is doing its job,” he mused, sipping at his bourbon and placing the glass next to his chair. He pulled the papers out from his coat once again. “It's not a formidible amount, dear. But, I would think if you had it to pay, you would have already, and avoided this terrible confrontation.”

He opened the paper and showed it to her. She took it from his fingers and tried to read it. The letters were recognizable, but none of them seemed to be in the right order for her to make any sense of what they were trying to say.

She pushed the document back to him. “How, how much exactly?” she asked, standing up and walking over to put her glass of cordial down on the table next to the array of liquours. If she was so broke, why did she have a fully stocked bar?

“Three hundred dollars,” he replied, watching her. “As I said, not a formidible amount... if you have it available.” His voice lifted at the end of the sentence, turning it into a question. He picked up his bourbon and joined her at the table, placing his glass next to hers. “There is the other option we've spoken about so many times,” he nearly whispered, putting his hand on her shoulder.

She felt the warmth of his fingers through the fabric of her gown. “And, what would that be, Bo?”

He smiled and turned her toward him. “Well, your head must be clearing, my dear. You correctly remembered my name.” He stepped closer to her and drew her face up to his, cupping her chin in his hand. “The option of our, uh, merger, my dear. You remember? You taking my name and me taking your hand in marriage?” His face closed in on hers.

“This has to be a dream,” she whispered as she closed her eyes.

“Of course it is,” he whispered in response, then covered her mouth with his.

She enjoyed the pressure of his lips on hers and allowed herself to melt into him when he put his arms around her. Suddenly, she realized what he had said, and she stiffened, pushing away from him. “What did you say?”

His eyes twinkled, and he kept his hold on her. “Of course it is... a dream.” He smiled. “What'd you expect, baby girl? The island, the mansion, the ball, your birthday... Pretty cool, eh?”

She giggled and touched his mustache. “What's with the get-up and the fake name?”

“Just part of the ambiance.” He wiggled his eyebrows and touched his forehead to hers. “Now, about that... merger?”

“You told me you were a gentleman,” she countered.

“Oh, I can be a gentleman,” he replied, stepping away from her. “I can be a gentleman, a rogue, a scoundrel, a hero... What's your pleasure?”

“What do you mean?” She scratched her head.

He snapped his fingers. Immediately, his clothes changed into the familiar Tommy Bahama style Kusa was used to see him wearing. “Sure, I could do this, but it doesn't really fit into the surroundings, right?” He snapped his fingers again. This time he wore a dapper suit, but totally different than the Civil War-era garb he wore before. “'Charles Finley' is more appropriate, but not the right timeframe.”

Another snap, and he was dressed in chaps, a leather jacket, blue shirt, bandana around his neck, and a cowboy hat on his head. “Okay, closer to the right timeframe, but...” He looked down at himself. “My sister would be more interested in this, and... we just aren't going there.” He shuddered and lifted his finger. “You might be more interested in this,” he said, with another snap.

With a flourish of his hands, he presented his latest look: a cape, mask, boots, and a feathered tri-corner hat. “What do you think? Is it a keeper?”

Kusa laughed outloud. “Just might be, Jack,” she said. But then she looked around and replied. “I think we better go back to Bo. He is definitely the best fit here.”

He bowed deeply before her. “As milady wishes,” he said, standing up again and offering one last snap. Beauregard's “trappings” returned, mustache and all. He stepped close to her one more time. “And, just how much of a gentleman do you wish me to be?” he asked, pressing his face toward hers.

She allowed him to steal another kiss and lingered breathlessly in its afterglow. “What-whatever,” she responded, trying to remember to inhale.

He swept her off her feet, carrying her out of the room to bottom of the grand staircase. They both looked up the vast rise of the stairs leading to the second floor.

“I think I've seen this in a movie somewhere,” Kusa said, her arms securely around Bo's neck.

“Yeah, but we're going to be creating scenes that weren't shown on the silver screen, baby girl.” He chuckled and gave her a quick kiss. “Shall we?”

She giggled and clutched tight, burying her face into his neck. “Proceed, Mr. Culpepper.” She closed her eyes, and when she opened them, she was in bed with Sam. His eyes were closed and he was snoring softly. She reached over and drew an imaginary line from his forehead, down the side of his face, to his prominent chin. She giggled softly, remembering her dream, and pushed her face to his, stealing a kiss of her own.

He was awake and looking at her when she pulled away. “Hey, baby girl,” he said softly, bringing his hand up to encircle her wrist with his fingers, and pulling her palm to his face and gently kissing it. “Did you have a fun time? Was it a good birthday party?”

“Yes,” she answered, a sly smile curling on her lips. “But I'd like one more present...”

Happy Birthday, Dear Kusa!!!!

We Love You...The Q Gang



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGyFG4QFWOs

one of your favorites:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0RcJYQbRNI

you laughing yet?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUBxP-O2tZQ&feature=related

how about now:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuSAuXqwEBA&feature=related

Ok, Really -hope you have a great fun wonderful birthday!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwEMxYggoKQ

(videos courtesy of Gia )

Gals!!!! UNBELIEVABLY AMAZING!!!!!!! It's like my bday's been going on all week...I'm definitely rereading this (when my computer's back, I'll need a lot of 'alone' time to throughly enjoy it )


THanks again! YOU GUYS ARE FABULOUS!!!!


KA23

Love ya, Kus!! Hope you had a happy day with lots of cake!!

Madeline woke up and couldn't get back to sleep. Peering over at the digital clock on the bed stand, 3:14 a.m.

She lay there with her eyes closed for a few minutes but couldn't get back to sleep.

She crept out of bed, trying not to disturb Virgil who would normally wake up at the slightest noise.

But tonight he was sleeping soundly, laying stomach down, the pillow half off/half on the bed.

The party must have tired him out...she didn't doubt it with all the dancing and chaperoning he was doing.

She carefully pulls the covers up over him and pulls on a robe to go down to the kitchen to get a glass of warm milk.

The nightlights illuminate the stairwell as her padded feet take her down the hallway.

She pushes open the door to the kitchen and is surprised to find that she's not alone.

Wolves is sitting there at the table finishing a sandwich.

"There you are." He smiles his subtle, but disarming smile.

"You've been waiting?" Madeline asks, cautious but intrigued, trying to keep the emotion in her voice to an acceptable level, she didn't want to seem too eager. This was a coincidental meeting.

"I figured if I waited long enough someone would come to keep me company, and alas my wish came true."

"In your dreams." She answers pulling her breathing and heartbeat back in check...pulling the robe tighter around her, she was wearing pajamas...but she still felt underdressed around this man....though she was hoping to get a few minutes alone with him...but not here...not now.

"Suppose one of the girls had walked in." Madeline chides him.

"But they didn't, you did." Wolves gets up and puts his plate in the sink before turning back to her, extending his hand. "Come walk with me."

"But it's the middle of the night." Madeline protests.

"That it is. You won't be alone; I'll be at your side to slay the offending dragons or wayward birds."

Madeline contemplates the offer for a moment.

A quick walk won't hurt. It may tire her out enough so she can get back to sleep.

"Just for a few minutes," she reminds him.

"A few minutes is all I ask." He walks over to the door and holds it open, waiting for her...then quietly closes the door behind him; taking her hand in his...she doesn't resist...and leads her down the moonlit path.

They made small talk and before she knew it they were walking down a small dock jutting out from the shore. Wolves sits on the edge, taking his shoes off and leans back, dangling his toes in the water.

Madeline pulls up her robe enough so it won't get wet and takes her place beside him, her legs, too, dangling off the dock...her feet tickle as the fish nibble and swim around them. She lays her head on his shoulders as they listen to the sound of the nightlife…frogs, birds, the hoot of an owl every now and then, cranes and herons high-stepping it in the shallow waters near the shore.

The couple is quiet enough to see and hear a couple of manatees surface and swim around. It is so peaceful she rests her head on his shoulder as his arm reaches around to hold her.

Above them clouds play peek-a-boo with the night moon, hiding it, then slowly drifting away, letting it come out to shine again.

"This reminds me of that time we were in the swamps of Louisiana." Wolves recounts. "'Member?"

"How could I forget, two days of sitting in that shack in the bog waiting for someone, and then we were witnesses to the guy falling out of the airboat and going toe to toe with a gator." Madeline shudders at the memory.

"It was disappointing because I really wanted to have some fun with him." Wolves sighs.

"You mean you didn't have fun anyway?"

Wolves raises an eyebrow at her. "Oh, it wasn't a total loss was it? And it was your birthday, as is today."

"Yes, it was."

"I didn't have a present for you then, but we made do."

"Oh yes, I remember it well." Madeline remembers an old song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ipg_7ly8HoM

"I was early."

"You were late."

'I was hampered by a fence."

"It was a gate!"

"Ah yes, I remember it well."

"It was stormy."

"It was clear."

"I had wine."

"You had beer(s)."

"Ah yes, I remember it well."


The moon peered out from the clouds once again; Madeline felt a slight shiver as she looked up to see Wolves intently staring at her. His fingers moved, lightly tracing the features of her face, stopping to hold her chin, then he reached over to kiss her and soon they fell back onto the dock in a passionate embrace, she couldn't help herself, she was melting at his touch.

He paused and pulled his lips away for a moment, a moment to push away some tendrils of her hair from her face, then he starts kissing her forehead, and nose, and eyes...pausing before taking she feels the pressure of his lips against hers...the heat they are emitting is becoming overbearing...his wandering hands move....She closes her eyes and drifts with the feelings surging in her body as she feels her heart beating so fast and so loud...she wanted to relive those moments from years ago.

She was losing herself in the moment...thinking back to that hot afternoon....when she…

When she hears a door open...

A door??!!

Madeline's eyes pop open and instead of seeing Wolves...she sees the ceiling.

She was back in her bed...

in the room…

in the Inn.

Sunlight was streaming in through the window, the fresh smell of the morning air filled the room, and Virgil, trying not to be too clumsy or loud as he brought in a tray with breakfast and a vase with a single flower, was trying to shut the door with his foot.

"We got everything?" Deb asks quietly, looking over the scene that lay before them.

"Think so, how many are we supposed to have?" Kusa asks counting, following a second and third count.

"Enough." Gary groans.

"Shhhh!" Nate whispers from his lookout spot by the door. "Someone's coming."

The group immediately takes their places, covering all the baskets with blankets, and placing themselves in the line of sight.

"It's ok, it's just Virgil." Nate moves away from the door as Virgil walks in.

"Breakfast ready?"

"Almost," Deb tells him as Di hands him a breakfast sandwich and glass of juice, while Deb and Jen finish the breakfast, and Trinity sets the tray with juice, coffee and a vase. "She still asleep?"

"Yep." Virgil nods as he swallows the last mouthful of the sandwich. "She fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. Didn't even get a good night kiss."

The girls giggle, oohhh and awwww over breakfast in bed and giving Virgil the once over, straightening his hair and clothes, as the guys turn away and start to fold blankets again.

"Now shoo," Gia pushes him toward the door. "23 the door...." Then turning back to Virg, handing him the tray. "You know what to do?"

"Yes, yes." Virgil walks slowly out the door as the group gets ready to go. Before stepping out they coat each other with sunscreen and bug repellant. Those skeeters are persistent little buggers.

"You guys want us to help you?" Deb blinks innocently.

"No, thank you, we're trying to keep this g-rated…thank you very much." Ric smirks at them, enciting another round of giggles.

The group sneaks out of the hotel, carrying their baskets and quietly make their way down the lane.
-
-
-
... Virgil was trying not to be too clumsy or loud as he brought in the tray with breakfast and a vase with a single flower, trying to shut the door with his foot.

"Breakfast, my dear."

Madeline smiles at Virgil, who turns carefully, trying to balance the breakfast tray.

It was just a dream...a silly...lovely dream...

"You were sleeping so soundly I wanted to surprise you." Virgil carefully places the tray on the bed, plucking the lone flower out of the vase and handing it to her with a kiss. "Happy Birthday, Darlin'."

"Thank you." She blushes trying to put the dream out of her mind as she sits up. "I am suprised."

"Any sign of life?" Madeline finally asks as she stretches under the warm covers, thinking…and hoping…the rest of the group is too tired from last night's activities.

"Nope, not a peep, they must be sleeping in. We can sneak out and be on our own, they won't be looking for us for awhile."

"I like that idea." She smiles warmly at him, as he sets the tray across her lap.

After eating, she and Virgil warm up the bed a little more before she finally gets up, showers, dresses, and is escorted by Virgil to the veranda.

"Let's go for a stroll to the beach and work up an appetite. We don't get the chance to have much privacy," Virgil lustily grins. Madeline agrees, looking forward to where this was going.

They walk hand in hand for a bit along a path, then venture off toward the beach. Madeline breathes in the salty air and looks out at fluffy cloudy sky, hearing the waves cresting on the beach, seeing the birds call as they dive in and out of the water before the trail takes them back into the trees.

Madeline and Virgil walk slowly along the path when she sees picnic baskets and umbrellas set up and the rest of the group gathered in various stages of sunbathing and quietly playing games.

"You're here!" A chorus of excited voices greet her when Virgil clears his throat, announcing their arrival.

Wicker picnic baskets had been opened and were standing by, half of the baskets lined with freeze gel that would keep cold things cold.

The baskets were filled with various sandwiches (chicken salad, ham and cheese sandwiches, veggie wraps, fried chicken, potato salad, bowls of sliced fruit while other baskets carried the more nonperishable items, plates, utensils, bottles of water, with individual little packets of flavor powders to add to the waters and assorted soda.

Large red and black blankets were spread out on the ground as the finishing touches to the layout.

"Remember to pick up after yourselves. Cumberland Island is a national seashore, we need to leave it as we found it," Michael reminds them as they gather to eat.

Madeline was quite pleased that everyone (read the girls) were well behaved and she hadn't heard of any mishaps…which she was sure there was….she would find out later.

But later it would be.

"Oh, the picnic is missing something." Trinity tosses a couple of packets around. "Ants."

"Ants?" Madeline looks around…confused..she hadn't seen any crawling around them or the food. Virgil grabbed the packet that was tossed his way, reading it quickly, laughing before Madeline gabbed it from him.

Ants…chocolate covered ants.

She was hoping her birthday would go unnoticed since they were so involved with Kusa's.

But they were full of surprises. And she was enjoying herself.

Virgil was tempting her with grapes as she leaned back, sticking her legs out from under the shade of the umbrella into the warm sunshine…she dozed, half listening to whispers and giggles as sunscreen and bug repellant was reapplied before they were planning on walking on the beach to let their lunch settle.

Then she hears the soft chorus of "Happy Birthday to you!"

She sits up quickly to see a tray of beautiful birthday cupcakes.



"You said you didn't want a big deal and we didn't want to go against your wishes." The girls smile shyly, holding out the cakes, hoping it met with her approval.

"That's a first." Michael mutters under his breath, but loud enough to get a poke in the ribs from Kusa and Fi.

After the cupcakes, came gifts. The agents knew that the birthflower for May was Lily of the Valley and that Maddie had a special affinity for it. They had gone in together to buy her a tea set...



Jie and Ashley gave Maddie a Lily of the Valley body lotion set...




Michael, Nate, and Fi gave Maddie an antique bracelet featuring the flower, with H and Gia giving her matching earrings...




Kusa and Sam, along with Cee and Eli, presented Maddie with a gorgeous antique Lily of the Valley vase...




Wolves, later that evening, gave Maddie a leather bound journal, knowing that she loved to write in them when she had the chance...




As emerald was the birthstone for May, Virgil presented Maddie with a beautiful gold emerald necklace, bordered with diamonds. He had saved long and hard for it and hoped she would like it. She gasped when she opened the box. Although she generally frowned on public displays of affection, she gave Virgil a most rewarding kiss and promised him more later...

"Girls, I can't tell you how impressed I am!" Madeline was truly pleased with all they had done…not only Kusa's party, but her picnic…"I don't know how you managed to keep it from me." She eyed the girls, who were standing quietly, hands behind their backs, looking sheepish.

"There is…just one more thing." Deb speaks quietly as she lowers her head, kicking at the dirt with one foot.

Madeline begins to fear the worse. What happened? Did they break a window? Pull the curtains down? Break some priceless piece of china? So help me, she thought, this was coming out of their checks.

"It's a four-day weekend to the historic city of Savannah, Georgia!" Deb excitedly hands her the first envelope.

"They've got all kinds of things to see and do. The Tybee Lighthouse...




and, A riverboat cruise on a real paddleboat!"




Jen bounces excitedly as she talks, "Horse-drawn carriage rides to tour the city!"



"They filmed the movie 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil' there." Trinity gives her the wrapped CD. "Excellent movie, watch it...you can pick out some of the locations while you're there."

"And..." Gia makes the grand announcement. "Drum roll, please....." The group makes a miserable attempt at drum rolling. "You'll be staying at The Mansion on Forsyth Park in the historic district!"



"The hotel comes with a spa, art gallery, and you have the culture package, which includes a gourmet breakfast, a three course dinner, and a specialized cooking class at the 700 Kitchen Cooking School located right in the hotel." Di grins as she hands over an envelope. "You could probably show up in your jammies."

"If Virg doesn't wanna go with you, I will," Jen quickly volunteers.

Virgil grins, thinking he dodged that bullet, but the smile slowly melts away as Madeline makes the decision for him. "Oh, he will be going with me...it'll be wonderful, just the two of us."

"Great! Now I'll never get out of the kitchen," Virgil mutters as the guys laugh and tease him.

"Hey, Virg, I like my toast lightly browned."

"And I like my eggs over easy with a side of hash browns."

"Oh, look a complimentary apron, too!"


*Will have to rework the links on this...only one goes through. Am so sorry, Deb!

To add to Maddie's birthday picnic, the girls thought it would be fun to engage in some vintage outdoor games popular in the 1800's. Greyfield Inn had the equipment available for guests to use, now all the girls had to do was brush up on the rules. That lasted about two minutes. They threw the rule books aside and went looking for Michael.

"Michael, we want to play croquet. Will you help us set it up?" Jen asked.

"Yeah, and maybe teach us?" Deb asked sweetly.

Mike, who always enjoyed knocking a ball around on the grass, readily agreed, and then it hit him like a ton of bricks. What? Was he crazy? Too much fresh air? Hung over from the old-fashioned cordials Fi made him drink at the ball last night?

"Uh…ladies, I promised Mom I would—"

"It's okay, Michael, your Mom's playing, too," Maddie answered in response, coming up behind him.

She flashed a huge smile at the girls. "Thanks so much for asking me. It's been years since I've played croquet! Michael, go set up the wickets, will you?"

Michael shook his head, rolled his eyes, and went off to place the wickets. "Where's Trinity, girls?" Maddie asked. "Isn't she going to play?"

"No, she's teaching Captain Wolves about antioxidants," Gia informed her.

Maddie's eyebrows shot up. "Antioxidants??? Why would Captain Wolves want to learn about those?" She looked around suspiciously and discovered the man in question sitting in a lawn chair talking with Trini and Nate.

Secretly, she had been sneaking glances at Wolves all day. Whenever he'd spot her looking his way, he would wink, sending her temperature rising and her heart palpitating. How Virgil didn't notice her Wolf-induced hot flashes was a mystery indeed.

"Okay, well, that's fine," Maddie said, casting another look Wolves' direction. "There's six of us and there's only six balls to put in play, anyway."

"Where are the balls?" Di asked, anxious to check out their size.

"Michael will bring them over when he's through with the wickets," stated Maddie. "So…while he's doing that, why don't I teach you how to play croquet?"

"Sure," the girls chorused, shrugging and nodding.

"It's a very easy game," Maddie told them. "What you want to do is hit the ball through the wickets and hit the stakes. If you hit another person's ball you get two extra shots. How good is that? First person finished wins. Ready to play?"

The girls looked at each other. "Easy as pie," Jen told Maddie, figuring she'd feel good about any reference to pie. "Thanks for explaining the rules to us so easily, because the rule book was darn confusing."

"Guess we're ready, then," Maddie said. "Here comes Michael with the balls and mallets." She smiled proudly at her handsome son.

Mike dumped the balls out of their holder and the girls gasped. "Michael! See...we knew you had big balls!" Di exclaimed.

"Diana, watch your language!" Maddie scolded her. "Honestly!"

"What do you mean my language? They're called balls aren't they?" Di asked innocently.

"Yes, of course they're called balls, but it was the way you said it," Maddie responded.

"How should I have said it?" Di asked.

"Well, you could have said 'Michael, those are big balls,' or, 'What big balls those are, Michael,'" Maddie suggested.

"Mom, you're making it worse," Michael said after clearing his throat and turning crimson.

"Think I've got it now," Di said. "Michael, those balls are—"

"That's enough, Diana! We know the balls are big. Now, let's choose colors, shall we?" Maddie suggested.

"Well, I just wanted to say that if Michael had balls that big at Sawgrass, I might have been able to hit one," Di pointed out.

"Feeling lucky today?" Deb asked her, grinning.

"Hey, Michael, where's the sand traps?" Jen asked. "I am going to stay OUT of the sand traps because it took forever to get the sand out of my shoes at Sawgrass, if you know what I mean."

Michael sighed. "Croquet doesn't have sand traps, Jen. Although, if an opponent roquets your ball into the bushes or something, you may have a problem."

"What's roquet?" Gia asked. "Is it like the opposite of croquet?"

Michael smiled. "No, when you hit another player's ball it's called roqueting. When that happens, you get two extra shots."

"I explained that to them, Michael!" Maddie said, getting impatient. "Let's start playing, shall we? Choose your balls, girls."

The girls scrambled for the balls. "I want green!"

"I get the red one!"

"Michael, do you want the blue ba--"

The girls stopped suddenly, elbowing each other and lowering their voices to a whisper.

"Jen!" Maddie heard somebody giggle.

"I didn't say it on pur--"

"It's okay, Michael, I'll take the blue ball," Di told him, standing up with it in her hand.

"Okay, has everyone selected?" Michael asked. He picked up the remaining ball, which was orange. "Di, you're first," he said.

She paled. "Why me?" she asked.

"Because you have the blue ball," he stated with a smile.

"Blue balls go first?" she asked, swallowing hard.

"Yes, followed by red, black, yellow, green, and orange. I'm orange," he said, holding up the ball.

"Where's the tee?" asked Di.

Michael's eyes widened. "There is no tee in croquet," he said, his mind reeling in shock. "Place your ball about midway between the stake and the first wicket, then hit the ball."

"Ooookaaay," Di said. She placed her blue ball where he showed her, picked up her mallet, and took her stance, then readied her swing.

"Uh…Di…Di…NO!!!" Michael yelled as he watched her swing the mallet as though it were a golf club, sending not only the ball, but the stake and the first wicket flying across the lawn.

"Did I do it wrong?" Di asked.

Michael rubbed his forehead and sighed heavily...

Roqueting was both exhilarating and exasperating for the girls. Once they caught on, they aimed for Michael's ball every time. He ended up in the bushes, the terrace, the flower garden, and the fountain. The girls' shots were nothing like his, though. Once he caught on to their little game, he sent their balls halfway to Miami.

"Michael!" Gia griped, trying to get her ball back into the playing area out of a ditch.

"Come on, Mike, that wasn't nice!" Jen told him, climbing out of a particularly thorny shrub.

"That blows, Michael!" Di complained, having to retrieve her ball after he roqueted it down an embankment.

"You owe me a new pair of shoes, Michael," Deb told him after she sank in a muddy spot in the flowerbed.

With all the retaliation going on, Michael and the girls quickly lost focus on the actual strategy of winning. Maddie hadn't lost her concentration one bit, however. She sailed through to a great victory. The girls and Michael congratulated her and she told them what fun it had been.

As she leaned over to pick up her ball, she asked brightly, "Would you like to play again?"

Hearing no answer, she stood and looked around. Michael and the girls had completely disappeared, evidently in all directions. "Hmmmm…" she said to herself. "Oh, Virgil!" she yelled across the grass.

“How about a rousing game of shuttlecock?” Sam asked Kusa, arching his eyebrows up and down in her direction with a devilish smile.

“Sam!” she said, swatting his arm. “Not here…not now!” She tsked, tsked at him.

“Badminton, baby girl! What did you think I meant? Eli and I just put the net up…come on, he’s grabbing Cee to play with us.”

“My feet are killing me after all the waltzing last night,” Kusa told him.

Sam wouldn’t take no for an answer. He pulled her up out of the chair, swatted her on the behind to get her going, and then literally pushed her in the direction of the badminton court.

“Our daughter!” Kusa told him, trying to turn herself around and retreat to her chair.

“Phi,” Sam called over his shoulder.

“On it, Sam. I’ve got her,” Phi answered, picking up Ashley from her stroller.



At the badminton net, Cee was explaining to Eli that she really didn’t like the idea of jumping around trying to hit a little white plastic thingie with a ball attached.

“It’s called a birdie,” Eli told her. “Come on, darlin’, you just might like it.”

“She’s gonna love it,” Sam said, coming up with a reluctant Kusa in tow.

Kusa and Cee exchanged a look. “Let me get this straight,” said Cee. “You two have played this game before, I take it.”

Both men nodded yes. “It’s been a while, though, darlin’,” Eli told her.

“It’s been a while for me, too, but I’m a natural at this kind of game,” Sam told them.

Kusa rolled her eyes and gave him a swat with the racket he had just thrust at her. “Like my backhand?” she asked.

“Uh, yeah, that hit the spot, baby girl,” Sam said, rubbing his upper arm and checking for bruises.

“How about you give Kusa and me a little bit of time to practice and get the hang of this?” Cee suggested to them. Actually, it was more of a demand.

Sam shrugged. “Sure, we can give you some time. Want some pointers?”

“NO!” both women chorused together.

“Explain the rules quickly, please, Eli,” Cee asked.

He did so, explaining the basic object of the game and the serves, then demonstrated various types of shots, such as the lob, drop shot, and the smash and drive. He handed Cee a racket and a birdie, and the two men left to relax in lawn chairs for a while.

“Shall we give it a try?” Cee asked.

“Might as well,” Kusa said, “but you know, if we play poorly, maybe they’ll change their mind about wanting to play with us. Then this whole experience can be put to rest.”

“I was kind of thinking it might be good if we beat the socks off them,” Cee told her.

Kusa brightened. “Not a bad idea,” she stated, visions of the guys going down in defeat speeding through her brain like a locomotive. “Let’s do it.”

After a half hour or so of practice, both women were feeling pretty darn good about their newly discovered sporting ability. “We’re better at this than we thought,” Kusa told her, feeling pumped.

“We may be tremendously overconfident here, but should we call them over?” Cee asked.

“I’m primed for victory, Cee,” Kusa exerted. “They’re not gonna know what hit ‘em!”

Cee waved across the grass area in Eli and Sam’s direction.

As the men rose to join the women, Sam chortled to Eli, “Did you see how they were lunging for those shots? Never seen anything so hilarious in my life!” Sam slapped his leg as they made their way across the grass.

“And when they did make contact, the birdie sailed the wrong direction,” Eli added. “Well, at least they’re giving it their best shot.”

“Best shot!” laughed Sam. “Would hate to see their worst one…”

“Hey!” he said, as they neared Kusa and Cee. “That practicing looked darn good from where we were sitting.”

“You want to take us on?” Cee asked. “Instead of mixed doubles, how about Kusa and me versus the two of you?”

“Oh, darlin’, are you sure you want to—”

“Sounds fair to us!” Sam interrupted. “How about we give you a three point lead?”

“Of course not,” Cee told him. “We’re making this fair and equal all the way around.”

“Okay, coin toss for first serve then,” Sam told her. “Get ready to admit defeat, ladies!”




An hour later, Sam was walking over to the picnic table with Eli to get a beer. “I didn’t see that coming, did you, Eli?”

“That was a blindside if I’ve ever seen one,” Eli admitted.

“They’re gloating. Did you see them gloating?” Sam asked.

“Hard to miss,” Eli responded.

“Unbelievable,” Sam said, shaking his head.

“Believe it,” Eli countered.

No old-fashioned picnic would be complete without homemade ice cream. The hand-cranked kind. Greyfield Inn provided the ice-cream makers, the ice, and the rock salt. When presented with the idea of an ice cream "taste-off" two days before, the group had decided to compete in pairs. The groups contemplated, planned, strategized, and finally came up with their chosen flavors. The only rule for the competition was that the ice cream had to be edible. Enjoyably edible.



Two staff members at Greyfield went to the mainland on Saturday to purchase the ingredients each team would need. There was only one request that threw them for a loop and sent them all over the city searching. When they finally found a supply of the mystery ingredient, they transported it extremely carefully.

Off and on during the day the teams were given kitchen time to mix up their ice cream flavors. Finally, late in the afternoon, with the outside temperature toasty enough to make the saliva glands drool for an icy cold treat, the ice cream cranking taste-off competition began.

The picnic tables had been cleared, ingredients had been mixed and placed inside the metal canisters, and rock salt and crushed ice were standing by.



Fiona gave the final command, "Okay, gentlemen…CRANK YOUR FREEZERS!"

With the gals shouting directions and assisting with the ice and salt, the men began to crank. Vigorously. There were calls of…

"Faster…FASTER!!!"

"Get it movin', Mister!!"

"Woohoo! Look at those biceps haulin'!!"

"Work it, Baby, work it!!!"

"Come on, Honey Buns, bring it home to Mama!!!"

There was silence amongst the gals for a moment as they all looked at Maddie. "Honey Buns? You call Virgil Honey Buns???"

"Hell, yeah." Maddie answered, totally unfazed.

Shrugs all around. "Cool."

"Feel the burn, Babe, feel the burn!!!"

"Lovin' the arm action…crank it…crank it!!!"


After sampling was done, extra last minute ingredients added, and finishing touches were complete, each team was ready to present and serve beginning with…



Bill and Jackie – "Of course we checked with our little one on her favorite flavors," Jackie announced, looking proudly at Jie, who was grinning from ear to ear. "We present to you…Hubba Bubba Bubblegum ice cream with Gummy Bears and Sprinkles!" Everyone cheered, applauded, tasted, and high-fived Jie, who giggled delightedly. She lay down on the grass with her ice cream cone and promptly began to share it with the Inn owner's puppy. Jackie jumped up quickly and put a stop to that...



Nate and Trinity – "We have got Rocky-Road-to-the-Maximum-Supreme-Ice-Cream for your tasting pleasure. Not just marshmallows and toasted almonds inside…we've got Mallomar cookie chunks and swirls of dark chocolate fudge!" The crowd went wild.

Eli and Cee – "Okay, folks, you know it had to come to this…none other than Peanut M&M's ice cream with chocolate mocha fudge ripple and a touch of Chocolate Liqueur!" Eli received an elbow jab from Cee. "Oh, right, I almost forgot…extra green ones were added." The crowd hooted, applauded, and whistled, not at all surprised. "We knew there had to be M&M's in there somewhere, Cee," the girls called. "Woohoo on the extra green ones, girl! Way to go, Cee!"

Gary and Deb – "High-brow ice cream for ya'll today," Gary said, reverting to a southern accent. "Hope you're ready for…drumroll, please…Chocolate-Covered-Strawberry-Ice-Cream-With-a-Splash-of-Champagne!!!" The taste register and applause went off the scale on that one, with everyone wanting seconds and insisting the two should market that flavor.

H and Gia – "This, I promise you, will not come as a surprise," H said, smiling fondly at Gia as he addressed the crowd. "We present to you Blueberry Mojito Ice Cream with Mint and a Touch of 10 Cane Rum!" Again, the crowd went wild, with Sam standing on his chair, hooting and whistling through his fingers. "Gia…gotta love that gal!!" he hollered.

Q and Di – "Okay…okay," Q said, calming down the crowd who were applauding before their flavor had even been announced. "Time to come down to earth a little bit and dry out on this one. We have a mixture of flavors and cultures here," he said, leaning over to kiss Di. The crowd cheered again.

"Get to the flavor, Q!" Sam called.

"Was just experiencing it," Q answered, leaning in for another Di kiss.

"Hey, yeah, best flavor of the day!" Sam called out again.

Licking his lips after the Di kiss, Q looked at the crowd and said, "Now where was I?" More cheers from the crowd. "Right. Blend of flavors and cultures…we have got here Brazilian Chocolate Ice Cream with bits of New York Cheesecake, Toasted Brazil Nuts, and Salted Cashews…how about that for flavor???" After tasting, the crowd hands down declared it the winner...

Michael and Fi – "Hey, wait," Fi told the group. "You can't declare a winner until you've tasted all the flavors." Applause from the crowd. "We bring you a little bit of culture, too…how about Bailey's Irish Cream Ice Cream with Kahlua, swirled with Butterscotch Sauce and Cinnamon?" Wild applause from the crowd.

"Spiiiicy!" Sam called. "Hey, Mike, are you the butterscotch or the Irish Cream?"

"That's a good one, Sam," Michael said dryly. The flavors were a perfect mix and the crowd once again had their taste buds catapulted into overdrive.


Ric and Jen – "Who can forget Germany?" Ric announced. "Remember the castles? Munich? Oktoberfest?"

"I'd prefer to have that particular occasion scorched from my memory bank forever," Wolves spoke up, remembering his not-too-pleasant encounter with make-up and feminine hygiene products in the ladies' restroom courtesy of the gal pals.

"Sorry about that, Captain Wolves," Jen spoke up contritely.

"Hey, we never got to see the photos," Sam called out.

"And you're not going to," Wolves stated matter-of-factly.

"Pushing forward…remember the inn in Bavaria where the girls went nuts over the Black Forest Cake?" Ric asked. Several of the gal pals cheered and hooted.

"Reminiscent of that experience, we bring you Black Forest Torte Ice Cream with Black Cherries, Brownie chunks, Chocolate Fudge Swirl, and a splash of Black Cherry Liqueur!"

Loud cheers from the ladies. "Where's the beer?" Sam asked. "Thought this was about Germany."

"No beer, Sam."

"Hey Ric, how about a beer and pretzel ice cream next time?"

"I hear ya, Sam. Hey, Sam, I think it's your turn."


Sam and Kusa – "Well…ahem, ahem," Sam said, clearing his throat. "In honor of my two Georgia Peaches, I suggested Georgia Peach Ice Cream with Peach Schnapps. Plenty of it. However, my baby girl would like our baby girl to have her first taste of ice cream made from her daddy's own loving hands, so I left the Schnapps out. Hope you all understand…"

"No beer, Sam?" Ric asked.

"No beer, Ric," Sam said. "Plain and simple Georgia Peach Ice Cream!"

The crowd applauded loudly and lots of "ahhhhhs" were heard. Everyone quieted and watched as Ashley took her first taste of Daddy Sam's Georgia Peach Ice Cream. The coldness was a shock to her at first, but she nose-dived in for more after a moment. She came up with an ice-cream-covered nose and a big grin. The crowd went wild.



Barry and Phi - "We're also taking you back in time a little bit," Barry announced, "to New Orleans!" Loud cheers on that one. "May we present, in honor of Chef Paul and Brennan's Restaurant in New Orleans….Bananas Foster Ice Cream complete with Brown Sugar, Cinnamon, and Nutmeg swirls, Banana Liqueur, and Meyer's Dark Rum!!!" There was foot stomping, table pounding, and rowdy behavior exhibited, especially from the guys.

"Flashing by the girls is optional," Barry announced.

"What do you mean optional?" Sam responded. "It's mandatory! Get to it, girls!!"

Sam was booed down on that one, but Barry and Phi's New Orleans flavor was highly praised and quickly devoured.


Virgil - "Quiet down…quiet down," Virgil requested as the cheering began when he stood up. "As you know, this picnic today was a birthday surprise for Maddie and so I developed a flavor for her on my own." More applause and cheers.

"This is what I did," he said. "Made up the recipe for vanilla ice cream and froze it. Then I took an apple pie, squished it up, and threw it in. You know how Maddie loves her pies." The crowd nodded. "Well, then I melted some Kraft caramels. Scorched the first round, had to throw it out and start over. Threw in the caramel sauce. In looking around for something else to put in, I came across a bag of Hershey's Kisses. So, I melted the kisses and threw them in, too. And this is what came out…I like to call it Maddie's Caramel Apple Pie Kiss!"

Virgil received a standing ovation, Maddie was moved to tears, and despite the slightly yucky color of the ice cream, it tasted scrumptious. Everyone thought so. Virgil was one proud man and whispering in his ear, Maddie promised him a personalized thank you later. Virgil's eyes widened enormously, not to mention his smile.

23, Shawn, and Wolves - "Last, but certainly not least," Fi announced as 23 and Shawn made their way to the picnic table to present their flavor. Wolves didn't join them and everyone turned his direction.

"I had absolutely nothing to do with this," Wolves told them. "Absolutely nothing!" The crowd turned back to 23 and Shawn, a little suspicious now.

"What??" 23 asked, reacting to the audience's growing doubts about the guys' ability to produce a worthwhile ice cream product. "It's good, guys. You're gonna love it. Explain it, Shawn."

Shawn, who was showing his first bit of recovery after mourning his breakup with Elena, said, "Uh, well…we didn't exactly know how to make ice cream, so we used the same vanilla recipe Virgil used and we threw in some of our favorite things. Before we tell you what's in it, we want you to taste it."

The crowd looked dubious as the samples were handed out to them. The ice cream was purple, for one. It had little multi-colored chunks in it and roasted nuts on top. "Heck, I'm goin' for it," said Sam, digging in. Crunching down, he immediately yelled, "Owwwwww! Think I just broke a tooth."

"Oh, yeah, everyone, forgot to tell you…it's got hard candy in it. Don't bite down too hard…just like, suck, you know."

Everybody sucked. While doing so, some eyebrows shot way up. "Wow…talk about sour!" Virgil exclaimed, spitting the hard candy out of his mouth.

The crowd was mixed. Some loved it, some hated it. Hardly anyone was neutral.

"Warheads…it's Warheads!" Jen laughed.



"Oooo, you're right," Deb responded, making a face over the sour coating surrounding the candy.

"We thought we would bring you a combination of taste sensations," 23 explained. "Sweet, sour, and salty…what else is there?"

"Beer," Sam answered. "This has beer in it. Finally!"

"Yep, you're right, it's got some beer. Make that a lot of beer. What else?"

The group pondered and finally Maddie spoke up, "Welch's Grape Jelly!"

"Bingo!" said 23. "Yeah, beer, grape jelly, and Warheads. Now, what about the topping?"

"It's salty all right," Bill spoke up.

"I don't think it's nuts, though," Phi said, studying the topping up close. "It's good, but I don't think it's nuts."

"Is it crackers or chips?" Fiona asked.

"Not even close," 23 answered.

"Is this a—," Kusa began. She reached in and held up a tiny piece of something. "Oh my ged…is this a leg???"

Everyone stopped eating and scrutinized the topping of their ice cream. "What the heck, boys?" Maddie asked.

"It's totally nutritious," Shawn spoke up.

"And absolutely harmless," said 23 in a placating voice. "Shawn and I learned to love this snack in Costa Rica."

"Oh my ged," Kusa said again.

"Let me explain how we prepared them," Shawn spoke up.

"Them?" Gia asked, suddenly sickened.

"We buy them live and stick them in the refrigerator to immobilize them. Then we roast them in the oven, salt them, and they're good to go."

"I think I'm going to throw up, Bill," Jackie said, leaving Jie with him and running toward the house.

"Are we talking crickets here, guys?" Bill asked.

"Got it!" 23 said proudly. "Roasted crickets. Good, huh?"

"You might have told us first, young man," Maddie spoke up.

"Yeah, I'm a vegetarian," Trini said, spitting the last bite out of her mouth. "Does anyone know if I can sue?"

"I kind of liked them," Sam said.

"You would!" Kusa remarked. "Just don't go asking me to prepare them for you, Sam. I'm not serving up crickets with beer. You can stick to pretzels."

"The Warheads were yummy," Jen spoke up. "Not sure how I feel about the crickets, though."

When the guys took a vote, the response was about 50/50 in favor of the Grape Jelly-Warhead-Beer ice cream flavor and the cricket topping.

"50/50! We nailed it!!" Shawn exclaimed, pumping his fists in the air.

"No, dude…a hundred percent would have nailed it," 23 said. "Next year we'll make a killing on the vote."

"Just don't kill us in the process," Kusa advised them.

"Speaking of which, all that ice cream today has my arteries hardening as I speak," Bill announced. "Think I'll go see how Jackie is and then take a walk. Come on, Jie." He took her hand and led her toward the Inn.

"A run would be good," Deb spoke up.

"A run would be great," Michael agreed. "Anyone wanting to go, change and meet back here in ten minutes. Agents, I expect to see all of you."

His request was met with groans by some. Ten minutes later, the majority of the group had changed, put on running shoes, and were stretching on the front lawn. Michael led the way for a ten-mile run along the beach.

The wait staff at the Inn packaged up what ice cream was left and placed it in the freezer to save for the following day. They had been invited to try any of the flavors they wanted and the chef was gung-ho to try them all, always looking for a new taste sensation.




When it came to the gooey, smelly, purple mess with insect parts floating on top, the staff unanimously voted to dump it. "The freezer's full, anyway," the head chef said, turning up his nose and shaking his head. "No more roasted crickets in my kitchen…EVER! Am still chasing the ones that got loose…"

After ice cream and the run on the beach, the group settled down for some afternoon relaxation, resting in the shade of the massive oak trees, drinking lemonade and iced tea. Not for long, however. In the spirit of old-fashioned picnics, the girls had some more old-fashioned games.

“Sack race time!” shouted Trini. “Grab your potato sack. Line it up, everyone!”

As the guys and gals lined up with their sacks at the starting line, Wolves slipped over Maddie’s way.

“You going to race?” he asked.

“Are you kidding?” she laughed. “I’m sitting right here to enjoy my fun.”

“Would love to get you in the sack, though,” he said called over his shoulder as he turned and walked toward the others.

As her mouth dropped open, he turned again to give her a wink and a smile. Her heart nearly exploded out of her chest and she took a long swallow of iced tea to cool down. That man would be the death of her yet.

No sack race with the group would be complete without mishaps. Gia overshot a jump in her sack, knocking into Ric, who went flying into Jen, who slammed up against 23, who fell forward onto Deb, who tripped up Gary, who nose-dived over Phi and Barry, rolling in for a first place win at the finish line.

“And it’s Gary, by a nose!” Trini said, lifting the victor’s arm. “Thanks to Gia!!” Everyone applauded as both Gary and Gia took a bow.



Next was the egg race. Everyone steadied their spoon, complete with raw egg, and went fast-walking it to the finish. Weaving his way expertly around broken eggs and fallen victims, H was declared the winner, no thanks to Gia this time. She was halfway back picking up eggshells off of Virgil’s new shoes.

Gia was, however, able to give the winner a congratulatory kiss. A big one. A long one. Wet and passionate. The good kind. Everyone cheered and several people took digital photos.



“All feet on deck for the three-legged race!” Trini yelled. She was getting good at this. Virgil went and plucked Maddie out of her chair for this event.

“You have to do at least one of them,” he told her.

“Virgil, you had better NOT step on my feet!” she told him adamantly. “I’ve got corns and callouses today like you won’t believe from all that waltzing last night!”

“I’ll be careful, Sugar Pie,” he told her.

“Don’t make me run, Virgil,” Maddie told him. “I can’t run.”

“We’ll just go at a fast trot, Sugar Buns,” he promised.

“For pity sake’s, I’m NOT a horse, Virgil!” she exclaimed, crossly.

“I know that, Sugar Lips. You set the speed, okay? It doesn’t matter if we come in dead last.”

“Dead last??? No way! You put a foot on it out there, Vigil, and I mean the pedal to the metal!”

“Yes, Sugar—”

“And stop calling me Sugar, Virgil! We need to set an example for the girls. All this ‘babe’ this and ‘babe’ that stuff they do. Plus all the kissing going on around here day and night no matter where. You’d think sex is all they think about!”

Virgil only raised his eyebrows in reply and didn’t say a word. Not a word.

Beating unbelievable odds, Maddie and Virgil came in first place. Maddie had her suspicions that the girls and their boyfriends let her win, but she wasn’t one to complain. No complaints at all.



In the late afternoon, the group made its way down to the beach. First off, they engaged in a rowdy, competitive game of tug-of-war which involved lots of brawn and muscles. It was Shawn, Gia, H, the agents and boyfriends vs. the bosses, including Michael, Fi, Phi, Barry, Sam, Kusa, Eli, Cee, Virgil, Bill, and 23. Things got heated fast, and we’re not just talking rope burn. It was a bitter fight to the end, but the agents, Gia, and the guys prevailed…the girls turning cartwheels on the beach when it was all over.





“Congratulations, agents, I’m pleased to inform you that as your grand prize you have a very special trip coming up this Tuesday,” Michael informed them. “Gia’s going, too.”

The girls looked at each other excitedly. All sorts of fantastic locations were dancing in their heads…the Caribbean, Costa Rica, Rio, Paris, Rome…

“Tell us where, Michael,” they asked. “Pleeeeeeeease!”

“You’ll know tomorrow afternoon,” he said. “Meeting at Maddie’s office—two p.m., once you all return to Miami,” he told them. The agents grinned and high-fived, knowing it had to be somewhere good.

The sun was setting low on the western horizon and as there was just a short period of daylight left, everyone seemed to want to take a little bit of quiet time with their children or significant others.

Sam played with Ashley...


Jackie stole kisses from Jie...


Maddie and Virgil walked on the beach hand in hand...


As did Cee and Eli, relieved to finally get some time to themselves...


Cee delighted in the discovery of some of the island's wild horses down the beach in a quiet spot...



Most of the couples went off for some time to talk...or kiss...




Some couples sat together, reminiscing about the weekend...


Sam and Kusa took Ashley, who still needed support to take steps, down to the water...

Just before darkness fell, a couple of staffers from the Inn came to set up a campfire on the beach. There was one area in the reserve where this was allowed. A table was set up with condiments for hot dogs, and the group had a weenie roast for dinner (vegetarian hot dogs included), followed by toasting marshmallows for S’mores. Beer, soft drinks, and water bottles were available in icy tubs.



After dinner, they sat on the beach and talked, enjoying the sound of the waves and each other’s company. “And what is it we’re waiting for?” Maddie asked Michael. “This has been the loveliest of days, but I’m beginning to fade fast.”

“Can’t go in yet, Maddie,” Sam called. “We need to sing Happy Birthday before you go. Can't end the day without Happy Birthday!"

“Well, sing it and get it over with,” Maddie told him.

Sam cleared his throat. “Okay, everyone ready to sing to Maddie?” he asked.

“Not yet, Sam,” Kusa spoke up, knowing they needed to stall. “Jie and I aren’t finished with our S’mores.”

“My throat’s clogged up from the beer,” Jen said, getting up. “I think I need some lemonade.”

“We’re roasting more hot dogs,” Nate announced. “You want another one, Mom?”

“Whoops, Maddie, I think Ashley needs a change. You’re going to have to hold on a few minutes,” Sam told her.

Bill kept looking at his watch, waiting for a call on his cell. It rang about a minute later. He made the call short and nodded to Sam.

“But, you know,” Sam said, putting the diaper bag back down. “She’s had poopy diapers before. Nothing new. So, everyone…let’s sing Happy Birthday to Maddie and sing fast!”

Maddie looked at him strangely. “But I thought everyone needed to finish their hot dogs and S’mores first,” she said.

“Heck, no, we can eat anytime. Okay, everybody, on the count of three…one, two, “Happy Birthday to you….” He rushed it. Oh boy, did he rush it.

Everyone sang to Maddie at the top of their lungs and not a moment too soon. As planned, as soon as the last note of the song ended, fireworks erupted from the neighboring island.



Maddie, the most surprised of all, turned to look. “Happy Birthday, Maddie!” everyone shouted.

She gasped. “This is for me?” she asked.

“All for you, darling Maddie,” Bill announced. “From the group.”

Maddie stood with tears in her eyes watching the display across the water. Virgil had his arm around her, but stepped aside as both Michael and Nate came up to stand on either side of her, giving her a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek as she watched in amazement as fireworks filled the sky.

The group watched, too, from the shore, arms around their boyfriends, girlfriends, or spouses. Jie jumped up and down, oohing and aahing over the sky show. Ashley was a little scared and tearful at first, but when she saw that everyone was laughing and happy, she watched, too, safe in her daddy’s arms, finally raising a finger to point at the pretty lights.



The grand finale filled the nighttime sky...the perfect ending for a perfect weekend.



~The Q Thread Gang~

The Monday morning flight back to Miami was short. The group headed back in various cars to the condos for a couple hours before heading to Maddie's office for the meeting at two that afternoon.

"Are we going to your mom's to pick up the pugs and Plopper?" Jen asked Ric as they pulled out of the terminal. Nate and Trini were in the backseat and the two girls had left the animals with Consuela Ibarra last week. Ric's mom had a good-sized backyard, and the dogs and the pig were well-cared for whenever they stayed with her.

"Not when we're heading out again so soon on another trip," Ric said. "Did you want to go by to see them?"

"We're leaving today?" Jen asked.

"Tonight, I think," Nate spoke up.

The girls both looked at him. "How come you guys know so much?" Trini asked, suspiciously.

"Yeah, hmmm, Ric…what else do you guys know that we don't?" Jen asked him, giving him a little finger poke in his rib.

Ric shrugged and smiled. "You'll have to ask Mike," he said.

"So will we have time to pack before this mystery trip?" Trini asked.

"Mike's gonna let you know," Nate assured them.

"Not fair!" Trini said, punching him in the arm. "Well, I just hope the spa is going to be first class."

"With really good shopping," Jen added. "And restaurants."

The guys just smiled.

-----

At two o'clock the agents were either sitting or standing in the lobby of Maddie's downtown office suite. The boyfriends were there, too, along with 23. Gia and H walked in and greeted the others.

"So what do you know about this, H?" Deb asked him.

He smiled and shook his head noncommittally.

"He knows, but he won't tell me a thing," Gia said.

"Same here," Deb said, nodding her head toward Gary.

"It's so sweet of you guys not to ruin the nice surprise Michael has planned," Jen spoke up, not at all sincerely. "And it is nice, right?" She asked with just the tiniest bit of trepidation. Sometimes Michael's surprises came like a kick in the pants, especially when a mission was involved.

"This isn't another mission to Russia, is it?" Di asked.

The guys just clammed up, smiled, shrugged…wouldn't say word. Every gal sat there thinking a kick in the pants might be headed the guys' direction soon, if they didn't get some answers fast.

The door of Maddie's conference room opened and Michael called them in. Extra folding chairs had been set up along the perimeter. Michael asked the four agents and Gia to sit at the table along with Cee, Kusa, and Maddie. Eli and Sam rose to take seats along the wall along with 23 and the other men.

"Agents," Michael addressed them, "and Gia," he said, nodding her direction, "I realize that you have barely had time to get settled in after our trip to Georgia, but we are on a tight schedule here as far as an opportunity that has arisen."

"Was the spa booked, Michael?" Trini asked.

He threw her a puzzled look. "Spa?" he asked.

"The one you promised us as a reward for winning the tug-of-war," Jen spoke up.

Sam and 23 were both heard snickering from the side. Michael closed his eyes and continued. "We have a flight scheduled to Phoenix, leaving at midnight. You need to be packed and at the airport by ten-thirty this evening."

"I've heard Arizona spas are world class!" Di spoke up. "Lots of the rich and famous go to spas in Arizona."

"Yeah, lots of celebrities," Deb said.

"And rock stars," added Gia.

"Girls!" Michael interjected. "Stop the spa talk and listen up! Here is a list of the items you will need to bring with you to Arizona. If you don't have these items, you'll need to plan a quick trip to REI or another sport-clothing shop to find them. It is imperative that you bring a good pair of hiking boots. Do NOT run out to buy new designer ones or your feet may not forgive you for it. Wear boots that are broken in and comfortable on you. I know you all have them, so dig them out of the closet or wherever."

"But, Michael—" Deb began. Michael ignored her and continued on.

"Secondly, you will need comfortable, lightweight hiking clothes that breathe easily and cover most of your body. No…and I mean NO short shorts and tank tops unless you have a long-sleeved shirt to put over your top. You will need comfortable hiking socks and a hat, plenty of sunscreen, and bug repellant."

"Are we hiking into the spa resort?" Jen asked.

"Will we get to shop in Phoenix?" Di asked. "I want to check out what shoe stores are like in the Southwest."

Gary, Ric, and Q cracked up this time. Jen and Di turned around and shot them dirty looks.

"Michael, is this a mission or training or something?" asked a perceptive Gia. "I'm not quite understanding why I'm part of this."

Michael looked uncomfortable for a moment. "All I know, Gia, is that Captain Wolves wanted you to come along," he told her, exchanging a look with H.

"Wait!" Di interjected with some concern in her voice. "This is a mission? What kind of mission?"

"A mission to find the best masseuse in Arizona," Deb laughed. "That's all I'm interested in."

"And mud wraps," said Jen. "Or do they do sand wraps there?"

"Maybe it's red mud wraps. You know all those red rocks they have in the desert," commented Trini.

"Oooh…and cactus flower, aloe vera, and jojoba skin exfoliants!" Di offered.

"STOP!!!" Michael looked like he was going to blow a fuse. "I DO NOT want to hear one more word out of any of you!" He threw the lists on the table and walked out of the room.

The girls fell silent and looked ashamed. "I think you pushed one too many buttons this time, girls," Maddie told them. They were surprised that she hadn't lost her temper with them, but she seemed to be feeling relaxed and carefree in light of her birthday party the day before. "Please take a copy of the items you need to bring, purchase whatever you need, and be at the airport by ten-thirty. The flight information is listed here, too."

"We're sorry, Maddie," said Deb immediately.

All the girls murmured apologies, looking sheepish.

"Wish he would explain to us what we're doing, though," Jen said.

"He was about to, agents," Kusa spoke up. "It looks like he's planning to wait now. You probably won't find out until you get to Arizona."

The girls exchanged embarrassed looks. They knew they'd blown it and would now have to mend fences with Michael.

"Girls, check over the list carefully before you leave here today. If you're needing any of these items, you can come along with Kusa, Maddie, and me to REI. We're heading over there now," Cee told them.

The girls studied the list, all of them deciding that a little shopping was going to be necessary for whatever Michael had planned for them. As they were leaving the conference room, they took a detour into Maddie's office, where they figured Michael would be.

He was. He looked up briefly from Maddie's desk, where he was signing some forms. "Help you, girls?" he asked, turning his attention back to the papers.

"We're sorry, Michael," Di spoke up first.

"Yeah, Mike," Jen said. "We know we crossed the line and we're sorry."

"We won't do it again," Trini added.

"You know how we are when we get together," Deb told him.

He looked up again and a quick smile crossed his face. "I know all too well," he responded. "You're forgiven. However—" he cleared his throat and raised his voice a little to be more emphatic. "However…I expect you to take this assignment seriously. Yes…it's an assignment of sorts," he said, noticing raised eyebrows.

"It is imperative that you take it seriously," he continued. "You will be out in temperatures of over a hundred degrees in the desert sun. Health risks can be at issue here. That's all I want to say at this time. See you at the airport tonight."

The flight was five hours long, but with the time difference, they landed in Phoenix at a little after two in the morning. Michael had urged the group to sleep as much as possible on the flight.

"Will we have some time to sleep when we check into our hotel?" asked Gia.

"We're not checking into a hotel," replied Michael.

The girls looked exchanged looks. This trip was getting more freaky worrisome by the moment.

So, they all slept on the plane. Or tried to.

Jen, head resting on Ric's shoulder, ran her hand back and forth across his chest. "Tell me what we'll be doing this time tomorrow," she said, feigning drowsiness and hoping he'd bite.

"You'll just have to ask Michael," he answered.

"I hate when you're not straightforward with me," she yawned.

"Sorry, babe. Michael doesn't want us to give anything away."

"So who do you care more about…me or Michael?"

"Don't do this…" he laughed, kissing the top of her head. "Now go to sleep."

- - - - -

It was three a.m. before they managed to retrieve all their luggage and make their way to the rental cars. Michael had rented four-wheel drives and they piled into the vehicles, stowing their gear in the back.

He conferred briefly with Sam, Eli, and 23, who were driving the other three SUV's. They pulled out of the airport and headed toward Phoenix. Once in the city, Michael pulled into the parking lot of an all-night diner. As soon as everyone was gathered in the parking lot together, Michael finally gave the girls some information.

"We'll be heading out of the city in about an hour or so, heading toward the Superstition Mountain Wilderness area. Sunrise is at 5:15 a.m. and we'd like to get out there about that time. We are being met by a friend of mine, Jeff Haywood, from the National Outdoor Leadership School. He'll be supplying us with some equipment that we'll be putting into use for the next few days."

"And what exactly is it we'll be doing for the next few days, Michael?" Deb asked him.

She was unbelievably sorry she asked. As Michael explained the agenda, the girls' faces looked bright and attentive enough. Smiling, even. They didn't want another Michael meltdown. In actuality, they were in shock. Pure, unadulterated shock.

Michael ended by telling them all to eat a huge, hearty breakfast. Lots of protein, lots of carbs. Disregard caloric intake--make it as high as possible. Lots and lots of fluids. He reminded them this might be their last full meal for an indeterminable amount of time.

The girls lagged behind as the group walked into the diner. Once the rest of the group was inside, Gia, Deb, Di, Trini, and Jen all looked at each other.

"There's only two words to say about this," Deb announced. "Who wants to say them?"

"Let's say them together," responded Di.

"They're already poppin' out of my mouth," said Jen.

"Ditto," said Trini.

"Ready?" asked Gia. "On the count of three…"

"Ohhhh...SH*T!!!!"

"You need to be eating, Darlin'," Eli urged, watching Cee push the eggs on her plate around without taking a bite. They'd picked a table for two just off from the rest of the group, close but separated.

"I don't know about this, Eli. I know what I need to do, but I've got no practical experience with this," she replied. "Put me in the middle of the worse part of a city, and I can get out alive... maybe even teach the locals a thing or two." She sighed. "But, in the middle of nowhere? I mean, one of the girls may need to depend on me for their life. I've never actually done anything like this."

"You're telling me you won't fight tooth and nail to keep one of your girls alive if it came to that?"

"Of course not," she answered.

"You just need to keep a good head on your shoulders, watch what's going on around you. You'll be fine." He pushed her plate closer to her. "Eat."

Cee speared a forkful of eggs and put them in her mouth. She picked up a brochure she'd found on a rack just inside the door of the diner. "You got a copy of the schedule?" she asked after she swallowed.

"Right here." He tapped on a few papers next to his plate. "What do you need to know?"

"After this part of the training is done, will we have a day to spend some free time?" She picked up her juice glass to take a drink.

Eli glanced over the papers. "Not a day, Darlin'."

"An afternoon? Morning? Couple of hours?"

He looked up. "It's pretty tight. What do you have in mind?"

She looked out the window. They were here, only a few miles from Goldfield, Arizona... so close. How many times had she gone to the website and planned it all out? All she had to do was tell Eli she wanted a "cowboy" wedding, and they could take off for a few hours and get married. If the others wanted to come, that would be fine. All she had to do was ask...

"Darlin'?" Eli's voice interrupted her thoughts. "Is there something you want to do?"

She blinked a couple of times and turned away from the window, looking at him. "No, just some sight seeing. You know, there's been a lot of movies and television shows made around here. There used to be a film studio, even, but it burned down in 2004."

"Cowboy shows?" He chuckled.

She smiled. "Yes, cowboy shows, what else?"

He leaned forward. "Then, you're in your element. The girls don't have a thing to worry about. You've already seen what's out there."

"This isn't a movie, Eli."

"I know. You'll be fine. Where do you want to go?"

"Doesn't matter," she said, picking up some more eggs on her fork. "There's no time."

He picked up the brochure she'd been looking at and leaned back in his chair. "Keep eating," he told her, as he opened it up. She did, watching him read through the leaflet. "This is where you want to go?" he asked, and she nodded. "Any particular reason?"

She swallowed, and took another drink of juice. "You won't laugh?"

"No, I won't laugh."

"I want us to get married there." She'd said it. She couldn't believe she'd said it, but she had.

"It's a little late to be planning a wedding, isn't it? Why didn't you say something before?"

"I thought you might think it's silly."

"I take it you want the whole package, cowboy hats and all?" He jiggled her plate again. "Keep eating."

"Yes, that's the whole point." She forked some hash browns and popped them in her mouth, chewing while she watched him watching her.

He put the brochure down on top of the papers. "Schedule's pretty tight. I'll see what I can do." He leaned forward again. "I need you to promise me you won't be thinking about this," he said, balancing the tip of his finger on top of the information for Goldfield. "I'll do my best to clear a place for a wedding, but I can't guarantee anything. You and the other ladies have to get through this in one piece, understand?"

Her face broke out in a wide smile. She leaned forward. "Yes, sir, Mr. Eli, sir," she said, punctuating the last sir with a quick kiss.

"Don't call me sir. I'm not an officer," he chuckled, then tapped her plate. "Finish your breakfast."

- - - - -

Stuffing their bellies at four a.m. was not the girls' idea of dining enjoyment, but most took Michael's word for it that it might be their last full meal for a while. After staring at the menu for a while, they decided to go with it…pancakes, waffles, omelets, bacon, sausages…bring it on. Some asked for doggy bags and took the leftovers with them.

"You say you want a box for your scrambled eggs?" the server asked.

"Yes, ma'am," said Deb.

The server shrugged and brought her one. "That's a first," she said.

"Can we order breakfast sandwiches to go?" Jen asked. "And maybe some pie?"

"No!" was Michael's one word answer.


After a long line in the women's restroom and plenty of impatient guys waiting outside, the group was on their way again. The SUVs headed out of Phoenix on U.S. 60 East. A little over an hour later near Apache Junction, they pulled off onto FS77, following it to the Superstition Mountain Wilderness area.

Superstition Mountain


Superstition Mountain is a majestic three thousand foot monolith rising above the Sonoran Desert just east of Apache Junction. A wilderness area of approximately 160,000 acres, it contains close to 180 miles of maintained trails. The vegetation in the area is typical Sonoran—ocotillo, cholla, saguaro, and palo verde. Higher up is chaparral and semi-desert grassland, with ponderosa pine at the highest elevations.

The Spanish were probably the first Europeans to discover Superstition Mountain, which had long been revered by the Apache as sacred grounds. The mountain is known for its myths and legends, most notably that of the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine, a motherlode revealed by German immigrant Jacob Waltz on his deathbed in 1891. His mine has long been sought, but never found. So many deaths have occurred in subsequent years because of the search for this treasure trove, that Arizona state officials have outlawed any serious mining efforts on Superstition Mountain since 1983.

The terrain is harsh and rugged, with extreme heat during the summer and also during those months, the area is devoid of water. It was into this wilderness that Michael was sending the gal pals for over forty-eight hours of survival training...

The last 7.2 miles of their journey was dirt road. The sun was just rising in the east, giving the mountains a purple glow. Michael, in the lead vehicle, pulled into a parking space in the Peralta Trailhead parking lot next to a white van. A man around Michael's age stepped from the vehicle and the two shook hands, greeting each other like friends who hadn't seen each other in a while.

As the group gathered, stretching legs and arms, Michael made introductions. "Meet Jeff," he said, "Jeff Haywood. He's a director at the National Outdoor Leadership School and has brought the equipment that we're going to need for the next few days. I owe you big time, Jeff."

"Oh, you'll get my bill," Jeff laughed. "Good to meet you all," he said, raising a hand in greeting.

Everyone chorused hellos and waited for instructions from Michael. Never one to waste time, Michael had the guys hauling gear to an open area away from the parking lot and offside the trail itself.

"We use this area frequently for instructional purposes," Jeff told Michael. "Thought you'd probably approve."

"It's great," Michael told him. The girls watched as he directed the guys to various locations to set up equipment. All of the girls were really quiet, which came as a surprise to the men. Truth be told, they were definitely feeling as though they'd strong-armed and were now walking the gangplank to their doom. There was hardly a happy, optimistic soul amongst the female contingent.

Maddie was somewhat chipper, though. She, they had found out, had come along on this training after being dared by both Virgil and Sam, who said they doubted there was any way she could handle this kind of physical activity. She was there to prove them wrong against Michael's wishes.

Looking at the terrain now, however, she said to Kusa, "I thought there'd be more trees."

Kusa raised an eyebrow and sighed, "Maddie, there aren't any trees."

Assembled together after everything was set up, Michael laid out the agenda for the morning. "As you know, this is going to be a survival training exercise for our agents. The first of several. Gia is joining us, too, at the request of Capt. Wolves."

Gia looked straight ahead with a slight smile, but inside her brain, her lip was curled and smoke was rising from her head. It wouldn't be hard at all for her to start a damn campfire at this point, she thought to herself.

"We have several guys on our staff who have had significant training in survival techniques in both Special Forces and Navy Seals. We felt it was time to utilize their expertise and train our female agents, as well. As you probably know, after his military service was complete, Ric taught in several survival training programs and he, with the help of the others, have outlined and will be presenting the skills you will learn today.

"Traitor," Jen thought to herself. "How could you do this to us, Ric? How about outlining a nice spa package? I could definitely wrap my brain around that." She kicked a stone in front of her and hoped the gal pals wouldn't blame her for Ric's avid interest in starvation, thirst, and Tarzan-ing one's way out of the jungle.

"You will undergo a four-to-five hour training today for survival in the desert. Because of the extreme heat at this time of year and because this is your first experience in wilderness survival, we will be modifying the program some. Water, for instance, will be provided for you not only today, but on your second day as well. You will not be expected to find water on your own. Also, a minimal amount of food will be provided for you in the way of energy bars, but you will still be taught about some of the edible plants and animals of the area. Any questions so far?"

"Are we expected to kill animals?" Trini asked. "I'd have a problem with that."

Michael shook his head. "No, not at all. Girls, the protein bars we're supplying for you should be enough to get you through. Most of the animals and cacti in this region are protected, so we're certainly not expecting you to hunt and prepare food. You will, however, be learning about the 'Universal Edibility Test' for plants found in different ecosystems. Also about which insects and arachnids in this area are edible."

The girls looked at each other, but didn't react too much. They were still trying to be on their best behavior for Michael's sake, even though they felt like hog-tying him, stealing his car keys, and high-tailing it off into the sunrise like Thelma and Louise on a mission.

The girls got through the morning in a daze. From Sam and Ric they learned about fire building. Fortunately, they would be given flint and knives. But they still had to learn how to get a spark, what to use for tinder, what kind of plants to use as fuel, how to keep the fire going, and how to "leave no trace" afterwards. So, they practiced. And practiced. Until they got it right. Sam was hilarious. He kept telling the girls how hot they were and to make it burn, baby, burn. Kusa rolled her eyeballs a lot, but she was grateful for his humor, which was contagious.

Next class? Dealing with desert heat. Gary was their instructor. He had lots of experience with heat in Afghanistan in Special Forces and was a trained medic and wilderness first responder as well. They learned what times of day to travel. When to rest. How much water to drink. Signs of heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. What to do about them. What not to do about them.

Each of the gal pals would be carrying a back pack provided for them by Jeff's organization. In their packs were packages of oral rehydration salts. Gary taught them how to mix the salts with water and how to use the mixture for replacement of water and electrolytes lost due to dehydration or diarrhea. That was a disturbing thought.

And, oh, yes…what to do with one's feminine products in the wilderness. How to bury body wastes. "What do you know about catholes?" Gary asked them. He proceeded to teach them how far from camp to dig them and how deep down to dig. And, how to disperse the waste instead of concentrating it. The girls were all itching to roll eyeballs and it was taking every ounce of strength not to.

Gary also taught them how to use the irrigation syringe in their packs for cleaning wounds without touching them. Each gal would have a basic WMI wound pack, containing gauze, closure strips, Op Site, and Compound Benzoin Tincture, along with Wet Prep Green Soap Sponges for cleaning wounds. Kusa would carry the Base Camp First Aid Kit with more supplies inside. They each would have a Women's Care Module ("just in case") and backcountry lip balm.

Eli taught them what to do in case of lightning storms and flash floods, which could happen quickly in a desert terrain and be deadly. He taught them how to identify arroyos and washes, and how to tell along the sides of cliffs if flash floods had come through that area.

Q and Shawn acquainted the girls with detailed use of the GPS system, but also how to orienteer without it. Each gal had a compass in their pack, was taught how to use it, and then given practice exercises. Q also taught them about use of the SAT phone, which Cee would carry with her. Michael made sure they knew that the phone was for emergency use only. They were not to call to say they were hungry or wanting to tell boyfriends goodnight. The girls threw all caution to the wind and rolled eyeballs like crazy at that comment.

H and 23 instructed the girls on using their utility knives properly and how they might build a travois using desert plants to transport an injured person in case of an emergency.

Virgil, having done a lot of hunting in the past, taught the girls about the animals of the desert…furry things, scaly things, and crawly things, and how to defend themselves against them. Gary taught them what to do in case of snake bite, scorpion stings, and so forth.

Hours later, the moment came they had been dreading. Even though the guys wanted to get snuggly and do some kissy-faced goodbyes, the girls were having none of it.

"Guess it's time for you to go," Di told Q. "See ya."

"No kiss, baby?" Nate asked Trini.

"Jen," Ric said, pulling her aside. "I thought you were really into this stuff. The survival stuff, I mean. Remember the Everglades? Thought you enjoyed learning these things."

"I do, Ric," she told him, "but I guess I'd rather do a trip like this with you along."

He studied her for a moment. "You mean because I'd be doing the work?"

She tried to stay serious, but then laughed. "Yeah," she said. "That's the part I like."

He shook his head and grinned. "You're gonna feel good, though, when you find you can do this by yourself."

She shrugged a little. "I guess so."

At one o'clock that afternoon, the guys drove off in the SUVs. The four agents, plus Gia, Kusa, Cee, and Maddie, stood at Peralta Trailhead. The temperature was ninety-eight degrees. They were carrying a gallon of water each in their packs and little else. They had eleven miles to hike before they could make camp for the night.

"Well, let's get this over with," Maddie told them. "Who wants to take point?"

Deb volunteered and the others fell into single file behind her on the trail. Cee decided she would take up the rear. She knew the girls ran all the time in the heat in Miami and could probably withstand. It was Madeline she was the most concerned about and couldn't help but feel that Michael should have insisted harder that his mother not go. Maddie was determined, though, and could not be talked out of it.

About an hour in, the women stopped to rest in a shady spot under a cliff. Cee moved up beside Maddie to check on her. She was perspiring some, but not outrageously, and she didn't seem to be out of breath…a good sign.

"Hey, girls, want some gum?" Maddie asked digging through her backpack.

The girls looked up in amazement. "You've got gum?" Di asked. "How did you manage that? The guys checked our packs before we left." She made a face showing just how much she thought of that despotic action.

"When they started checking packs, that's when I excused myself to the outhouse at the trailhead," Maddie told them. She laughed. "Actually what I did was go back to the car and stuff my pack with these…" She pulled out a handful of packaged food items.

The girls shrieked for joy, which echoed across the empty desert landscape. "Maddie, you unbelievably rock!!" Gia said excitedly.

"You go, boss!!!" Di exclaimed.

"What all have you got there?" Jen asked, wide grin spreading across her face, "And how did you manage? The guys were watching us like hawks ever since we left the airport."

"Remember that stop we made for gas as we were leaving Phoenix? I told Virgil I needed to go into the convenience store to buy something and he told me that Michael didn't want any of us women going into the store because he didn't want us buying food items to take with on the survival hike. So I told Virgil fine…he could go in and get me some pantyliners. I told him to make sure it was the kind with wings."

The girls howled. "What'd he say?" Deb asked.

"He stepped out of the car to let me out and told me to hurry. While I was in there, I picked up a bunch of packages of beef jerky…" she picked one up to show, "….packages of crackers with cheese, Tootsie Roll Pops…now who doesn't love Tootsie Roll Pops?…and…peanut M&M's!"

Cee cheered. "Maddie, bless you!" she said.

"Well, I wasn't going to have anyone, not even my own son, dictating to me what I can and can't eat on a hike. So, girls, let me know when you're hungry. And we definitely have dinner tonight!"

The girls sitting closest to Maddie high-fived her. "We love you, Maddie!"

"Yeah, Maddie, you rule!"

They drank water, Maddie passed out sugarless gum, and in a few minutes, they rose to continue the hike. Eleven miles wasn't far…the girls often ran more than that with 23, but in this heat, it was exhausting. They weren't perspiring much because of the dry air, nor did they need a bathroom stop. Their bodies were definitely responding to the need to keep fluids inside. Cee continued to watch Maddie for any signs of heat exhaustion, but the woman, so far was doing amazingly well.

As soon as they started out again, the SAT phone rang. Cee removed her pack, knelt down, and started to unzip it to retrieve the phone.

"Don't answer it!" Maddie said immediately. Cee looked up at her questioningly.

"They're probably just wondering if we're tired yet or scared and want to come home. Don't give them the satisfaction. Let 'em sweat a little," Maddie told her.

Cee looked up at Kusa, who shrugged and smiled. Cee rose and the group traveled on, the phone ringing two other times in the next hour. The agents and Gia were absolutely loving this kickass Maddie. They'd definitely have to make her a charter member of the gal pals at this rate.

When they stopped around four o'clock that afternoon, the phone rang again and Maddie griped, "Here give me that!"

Cee pulled the phone out and handed it to her. Maddie answered and said, "Michael, is that you? You are totally pestering us with these phone calls and you need to just back off and let us hike in peace!"

Silence for a moment as she listened to the other end. "Heck yes, I'm fine. A little heat never hurt anyone!"

More silence. "What do you mean you found a package of beef jerky on the floor of the car? How should I know where it came from? No. Absolutely not. None of the girls have beef jerky in their packs. Of course I would know if they did. You can smell that stuff a mile away! Michael, I'm hanging up now. Michael…I mean it!"

She hung up the phone with an exasperated sigh and handed it to Cee. "Honestly!" Maddie said, facing the group. "Come on, girls. How many miles do we have left? I'm dying for junk food!"

The scenery they passed throughout the day was breathtaking in many places. As they continued along the trail, they had excellent views of Peralta Canyon and Weaver's Needle. Weaver's Needle is a thousand-foot high column of rock that rises from the desert floor and can be seen easily for thirty miles around. The surrounding desert landscape was rich with cactus, particularly towering Saguaro cacti, and mesquite bushes.


Weaver's Needle


Saguaro and Mesquite


They passed hoodoos along the ridge to the west of them, which are columns of unusually shaped, weathered sedimentary rock.


Hoodoo Cliffs


Hoodoo Forest

They recognized a Century Plant as they passed it. This plant is part of the agave family, closely related to the Blue Agave, from which tequila is made. The plant flowers only occasionally, but when it does, the spike upon which the cyme of flowers rests can reach 25 feet in height.

"They advertised a Century Plant wrap at that desert spa I was reading about," Trini told them.

"Mmmm...what I wouldn't give for a relaxing wrap right now," said Di.

"A deep tissue massage," said Jen.

"I'd settle for a shower," said Kusa.

"A nice bath," said Cee.


Century Plant


By six p.m., they were close to their destination for the night and began looking for a good place to build a fire and camp for the night. Once they decided on a location, they went out in search of dead desert brush and limbs from bushes.


First night's camp

"So girls, who wants to demonstrate their fire-making abilities tonight?" asked Cee.

They tossed a coin. Di and Trini won. They sat down with their knives, flint, and dry tender to try to get a campfire started as Kusa and Maddie watched, breaking up twigs for the girls to use as kindling.

Deb and Jen dug in their packs for toilet tissue and went about two hundred yards from the camp to use the "facilities." Cee grabbed her pack, deciding to accompany them as well. As Jen finished up and was readjusting clothing, she heard two sounds...one a slight rattling noise, and two, a yell from behind her. She sensed a quick swinging motion as though someone was using an axe. She jumped forward with a yelp and looked over her shoulder.

Deb was behind her with a long limb she had picked up from the desert floor. "Don't move backwards, Jen!" Deb ordered.

Jen turned around slowly, almost afraid to see what the commotion was about. About three feet behind her on the ground was a rattlesnake. She jumped a mile in the opposite direction.

"It's dead," Deb told her. "At least I think it is. What do you think, Cee?"

Cee approached cautiously to look. "I'd say so...but maybe you better whack it again just to make sure."

Deb did, and the snake didn't move. "What should we do with it?" Deb asked.

"Just leave it!" Jen exclaimed. "Deb, thank you, thank you, thank you!! It probably would have bitten me, right?"

Deb nodded. "Too close for comfort. Jen, I don't ever want to hear from you that I've never saved your ass!" she laughed. "That thing was so camouflaged, I didn't even see it until it started to move toward you."

"Deb, do you think we can cut its upper body and head off so we can take the rest back to camp?" Cee asked.

"You planning on cooking it, Cee?"

"We could. Just to say we did it and know what it tastes like."

Deb shrugged. "Okay, let's try. You have your knife?" Cee rummaged in her pack, pulled it out, and handed it to her. Deb knelt down, away from the snake, and looked up at Cee. "How about hold its head down with that stick, just in case it has some life left in it?" she asked.

Cee did so and watched as Deb took a deep breath. Deb used the knife just above the fullest part of the snake's body, well below the head. The knife was sharp and made a clean cut. With the stick, Cee pushed the head of the snake to the far side of the rock. Deb picked up the rattler by the tail and carried it, gingerly.

Screams were heard from the other girls as she walked into camp.

"Heeeeeeeere's dinner!" she told them.

As night fell, the desert began to become alive. They heard birds tweeting, saw bats flying overhead, and watched what looked like a Western Spotted Skunk mosey its way across the trail in the distance.

Cee and Deb together figured out how to skin and gut the snake, then made a little roasting perch out of rocks and green branches. They feasted on jerky, cheese crackers, and rattlesnake, with peanut M&M's for dessert.

"The guys won't believe this," Jen told them.

"You mean that we ate rattlesnake?" Deb asked. "I saved some of the skin to give to Michael. He'll believe it."

They watched as the sun set in the western sky and as the night darkened and the air chilled, were grateful for the warmth and glow of the fire. They sat for quite some time talking and laughing. Maddie shared a lot of stories about her past, which the girls found remarkable.





Wrapping their jackets around them and using their packs as pillows, they turned in sometime before ten that evening, watching the stars overhead and listening to small desert noises.

"What's that?"

"I don't know. Did you see anything?"

"There it goes again."

"Yeah, I hear it, too."

"I hope nothing crawls on me."

"I hope nothing bites me."

"I hope I don't have to get up and pee...there's no way I'm going two hundred yards out there tonight. Not by myself, anyway.

"I'll go with you."

"Yeah, me too."

"I hope no extraterrestials land around here tonight."

"Stop scaring me!"

"Girls! Go to sleep. There's nothing to be afraid of."

They awoke at dawn, at least those who slept did. Others had barely dozed. The night had been rough, particularly the desert floor.

Maddie stretched, trying to loosen the kinks in her body. "I think I'm going to have permanent indentations from every rock I slept on last night!" she said.

"I hear that," Kusa said. "This is not the first night I've spent without a proper bed, but it's certainly one of the worst."

They looked over where Jen and Deb were trying to get a fire going. "Sure you want to do that?" Kusa asked. "Shouldn't we just be heading out to First Water?"

"Thought we'd make some coffee," Deb said drowsily.

"What coffee?" laughed Cee.

"We don't have coffee?" Jen asked.

"Knew I forgot something at that convenience store…" Maddie grumbled.

"I want pancakes and syrup with my coffee," said Gia.

"Spinach and mushroom omelet, please," Trini requested.

The girls and Maddie left together to tend to mother nature. Kusa sat with her back against a boulder while Cee rummaged through her pack.

"I thought I had moleskin somewhere," Cee mumbled.

"Getting blisters?" Kusa asked. "Let me check the first aid kit." As she was doing that, Cee zipped up the front pocket of her pack, her hand brushing against something hard in the lining. Investigating, she found a loosened area inside the bottom corner. She stuck her finger in and pulled out a small, round object.

"Well, looky what I found!" she said, holding it up for Kusa to see.

Kusa reached out and examined it, glancing at Cee with a look of surprise. She shook her head and put one finger up to her lips. Opening the pocket on her own pack, she discovered an identical device. Standing up, she put both listening devices under the heel of her boot and smashed them.

"CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?!" she asked Cee incredulously. "They send us out here hot as hades, telling us to evaluate the agents' skills, and then they check up on us???"

"Evaluating the evaluator, so to speak?" Cee asked, feeling disturbed at this latest development. "Or do you think they're just worried about us?"

"I think this is totally a ruse." Kusa answered. "Sam gave me the same business the other day that he gave Maddie, that he didn't think I could handle the rough outdoors anymore. I told him my survival skills were just fine, thank you, and to forget any training on my behalf. So what do they do? Send you and me along as evaluators!" She gave a sarcastic laugh. "What a load of garbage!"

"Do we tell Maddie and the girls?" Cee asked.

"I'll let Maddie know. We'll leave it up to her as to what to tell the girls." She sighed and left to pull Maddie aside to deliver the news as the agents and Gia joined Cee at the campsite. Under Cee's suggestion, the girls began clean up the fire pit they had made the night before, making sure there were no burning embers left.

Their heads turned sharply a few moments later when they heard Maddie yell, "WHAT THE…??!!!"

"Something wrong?" Deb asked Cee.

"Nothing Maddie can't fix," Cee responded.

The group feasted on the last of the cheese crackers and jerky, saving their energy bars for later in the day. Maddie handed them each a Tootsie Roll Pop. "Eat it now or save it for later," she told them. They each decided to save it. With only two energy bars apiece left for almost a day and a half of travel, it might be important to save the sugar boost. And they seriously doubted they'd be having rattlesnake dinner again anytime soon.

They had very little water left, but enough to get them through until they reached First Water Trailhead, which was an hour hike north. There, they'd be provided with another gallon of water each to last them for the last leg of the trip.

Maddie was on the SAT phone immediately. It was five-thirty in the morning and she hoped she was waking someone up.

"23? Is that you? Get Michael for me, will you?"

A few seconds later she spoke again. "Yes, we're fine. All of us!" she said in an overly cheerful voice. "We have an hour's hike to the First Water Trailhead. Michael, who are you sending out to deliver the water? 23? Good. He's the only one we want to see, do you understand me?"

"What? Did we get anything to eat? Of course we did, Michael…the protein bars are scrumptious. But, we had meat last night. No, not jerky! Rattlesnake. You heard me… rattlesnake. Deb killed and cooked a rattlesnake. It was fine. A cookout's a cookout. We've gotta leave, Michael. We'll be expecting 23 and the water. And don't be calling me every ten minutes today!"

At First Water Trailhead, 23 was waiting to replace their water. He eyed them up and down and asked, "You girls doing all right?"

"Doing great, 23!" Deb answered. "The workout we're getting on the trails is first rate magnificent."

"Yeah, look at the definition in my thigh muscles," Di showed him.

"Not to mention the upper body strength workout we're getting from carrying these packs," Jen brought up.

23 raised an eyebrow and whistled. "You gals are full of it, aren't you?"

Maddie spoke up, "The only thing we're full of now is water, so we're revved and ready to go. Come on, girls, time to head out. Later, 23. Tell Michael we'll see him tomorrow at Canyon Lake."

- - - - -

The hike from First Water to Black Mesa took them partway up a trail toward Battleship Mountain. The trail was steep and a vigorous workout. There were two redeeming features…one, it was early morning and the temperature hadn't hit astronomical readings yet. Two, the view…



Battleship Mountain with Weaver's Needle in the background



Battleship Mountain is a fortress-like rock formation rising to 4,127 feet above the desert and named for its battleship appearance. The climb, by trail, follows a 45-degree slope of loose rock that has fallen away over the centuries. The women were in no mood for such a climb that day, so bypassed the opportunity for spectacular views from the top in favor of a less demanding trail leading to Black Mesa.





Soon, three trails merged, Black Mesa in the middle. The women instantly lost their bearings as the trail disappeared into a wash. "This can't be right," Di said. Cee handed her the GPS and they all took turns staring at the confusing coordinates.



"It looks like we head directly through this area although there's no sign of the trail." Jen remarked.

"What if we follow it for a while and if we don't pick the trail up again, head back," Kusa suggested. They all agreed and set out, creating trail markers as they traveled. The vegetation was close on either side of them and they carefully wove their way in and out of the cacti.

"Watch out for the—" No sooner were the words out of Deb's mouth than Maddie yelped in pain. The group came to a standstill and turned to see what was wrong.

"The Jumping Cholla got me," she said, shaking her hand and then examining it more closely. "I assume that's what you were telling us to watch out for."




"Yes...oh, I'm so sorry! Kusa, we need first aid up here."

"Ouch, Maddie, does it hurt?"

"Not as much as childbirth. Yet."

"It kind of looks like you have a Wookie stuck to your hand."

"A what?"




The group moved carefully to a cluster of rocks and sat while Kusa began the process of removing the barbs. Many people swear that Jumping Cholla barbs do exactly that…jump at you when you pass by. Their spines go deep into the skin and the barbs hook in tight. Kusa had her work cut out for her.

She looked up at the group. "Don't forget to stay back. You know removing these takes force and the joint can fly several feet and lodge in another person's skin. "

"Yay for Gary," Jen smiled at Deb. "His knowledge is going to good use here."

They watched as Kusa followed Gary's directions of placing a haircomb around the cholla joint and jerking it away quickly. It was a teeth gritting job because the barbs didn't want to release. Maddie, a trooper up to this point, let loose with a scream that echoed across the wash and faded into the vast wasteland of Black Mesa.

"Now that felt like childbirth!" Maddie exclaimed.

The girls, utterly sympathetic, yet struck by the comedy of it all, doubled over in laughter.

"Give it hell, Maddie," Di told her, unable to resist laughing. Di moved in to help by disinfecting Maddie's hand and applying a light wrapping of gauze.

The group moved like soldiers through a mine field until they finally found the trail again.

Jen, I just have to say, this story is turning out to be FANTASTIC!!!!!!!

I'll be back on....soon as I can find my USB drive with ALL MY STORYLINES ON IT!!!!!!

By the way....did anyone notice

QUESTIONS NOW HAS OVER 100,000 HITS!!!!!!


WAY TO GO GALS!!!!!!!!!




KA23

By mid-afternoon, the sun was blazing hot. It felt at least ten degrees hotter than the day before. They rested in a shady spot beside some mesquite bushes, being careful of the thorns. They ate an energy bar, drank water, and tried to get a few minutes of shut-eye against the glare of the sun.

There was the droning of flies surrounding them, lulling them into a drowsy state when all of a sudden a scream split the sweltering air. Eyeballs popped open and several girls jumped up.

"Oh, wait…sorry I screamed," Gia told them. "It's kind of cool, actually…look!"

The others peered across her to see two scorpions doing a mating dance in the shade of the mesquite.



"I thought Gary said scorpions only came out at night," Jen said.

"There's no accounting for love," Kusa answered. "When the mood hits, the mood hits…"



They watched the dance for a while and then headed into their last two miles of the day, blissfully uneventful except for the tarantula. He watched them from a rock, while they rated him high or low marks on the gross-o-meter scale. He finally tired of the fanfare and scurried off, depositing himself quickly in a hole in the ground, most likely his nest...

Between the heat and the exhaustion the expedition was wearing thin on all of them. Even Maddie was starting to let it show. They had stopped to take a much needed break and have some food. Well if you could call it food.

"Where'd G go?" Deb grumbled, undoing her boot to retrieve a small rock.

"I don't know? She seemed aggravated to me." Trin said looking around for her.

"Well hell we're all aggravated." Di sighed plopping down on a rock and taking a sip of water, and then staring at her disgusting looking protein bar. "How you can call this thing food I will never know..."

Jen dropped her backpack down next to them, "I think I saw G go up that way. I'm gonna see if I can catch up with her and tell her we are stopping for now."

***

G was staring into the bottom of her backpack and fired up, "Hmm let's see going shoe shopping with me? Um no! Making margaritas every night? Uh no! I know! You're doing my next set of monthly reports for me?"

Jen came into the clearing, just in time to see G yelling... to herself.

"Oh, you so owe me for this Caine!" She dropped the bag, then slumped down onto the ground leaning back on a pile of boulders. She rolled up her sleeve and started the process of re-wrapping the gash she had on her arm.

"G what are you doing? Talking to yourself?" Jen sat down on the rock ledge next to her, and helped her with the bandage.

There was a small incident earlier, when G prevented Maddie from taking an accidental nose dive. They were on a section that had a pretty steep terrain. Maddie had one small misstep, lost her footing and almost went face first down a hill. G reached out in time and caught her, but cut her arm up in the process. She was sore from head to toe and completely annoyed. But after just finding H's hidden mike in the bottom of her bag, she was now re-energized by sheer aggravation. She was determined to complete this trial successfully and hopefully along with everyone else.

She wasn't normally on Michael's training expeditions seeing as how she was long past the trial time. But since Captain Wolf was currently angry with her, he saw it as the perfect "re-training" expedition.

Back down in Georgia, Gia and H had gone one night for a midnight stroll. They came across Wolf and Maddie on the docks, unspotted. Gia tried to drag H away but he just couldn't believe his eyes and wouldn't budge. He was shocked, more shocked that G already knew. "Why on earth didn't you tell me?" He could barely get it out without snickering.

G smacked his arm, "Stop it. I think it's sweet. They have a history."

"Are you kidding me? With all the busting he does on you, how come you never used this? This is too good to be true. Give me that.." He took G's cell and quick snapped a picture of them, as they were walking the opposite way, hand in hand.

G snapped the phone back off of him, "You are like a little kid, stop that. They have the right to privacy." G looked down at the picture "Ahh that is so sweet and with the sunset in the background... ahh."

"You should totally bust him for this!" H poked her in the ribs laughing. "Come on you gotta!"

G just laughed it off. But the next morning against her better judgment and his pestering. She printed the picture out and took it to Wolf. She really thought he might genuinely like it. It was sweet and he knew she wouldn't say anything to anybody, she hadn't said anything for all these years. .... But Wolf went ballistic... and in a chance to get "even" signed her up on Michael's expedition.

****

"You mad at Wolfie for signing you up for this?" Jen asked as she handed G back what was left of the bandage. Gia was staring down at the rock next to her as a cute Arizona lizard was crawling on by

She smiled at it. "Nope not Wolf. Just H."

"H? Why H? What did he- " Jen's voice suddenly dropped off and with a small desperate whisper "G do NOT make any sudden moves."

G slowly looked in Jen's line of sight, and was staring at a wild Arizona coyote. It was about 8 feet away but slowly approaching them. G reached her arm out to the side and grabbed some loose rocks and cracked them down on the ground. Then picked up two larger ones and started clanking them loudly. The coyote stopped his forward movement and froze. "Jen noise we need noise NOW!"

Jen looked for another loose boulder but couldn't find a close one so she gave an ear piercing whistle. The coyote turned tail and ran off.

"Wow G that was a close one I didn't know it was noise I thought you were to....Why are you still staring like that?"

G hadn't moved from holding the two rocks and staring at the spot the coyote came from. "Because if I remember correctly no one comes. They always-"

She didn't have the words out and out came another. The girls made all kinds of noises, banging, cracking sounds, and the second one high-tailed it out of there, just like it's predecessor.

"Jen which way did you say they made camp? And please don't tell me-"

Jen pointed in the direction Gia feared. A coyote could travel at vast speeds which means they'd never make it there fast enough to warn them... and no cells means........ G quick leaned down and snapped her bag open, "H need assistance. Heading towards the camp. There's a coyote situation. We are in the clear but looks like the others need help. Can you give me some kinda signal you read me, and are on this. Please."

Within seconds you could hear far off in the distance a sudden shot ring out. G sighed "Thanks." She strapped on her backpack, grabbed the rocks, as Jen found some twigs, and they headed down the trail to help.

***

As Jen and Gia were nearing the camp, they could hear alot of noise. They were figuring the worst. But as they came to the clearing the girls were all high-fiving each other. They had successfully gotten rid of the coyotes. And were now cheering.

"We kick as$!" Di shouted.

"Damn straight skippy!" Kusa nodded.

"Yes we did but man my ears!" Deb said sticking her finger in her ear.

"Hey Debra! It wasnt that bad!" Maddie protested.

Gia and Jen looked at each other confused. Trin explained "Well we knew noise is what we needed... and we were all banging rocks and branches and well.. ...Mrs Westen didnt have anything so ...she ....um....sang. And you are right it was not bad."

"Oh suck up!" Di shouted.

Gia couldnt help but ask, "Um what exactly did you sing?"

Maddie turned to Gia proudly answering, "I sang Happy Trails thank you very much!"

Jen burst out laughing then the rest of the girls. Gia took her backpack off, unzipped and shouted "No need for assistance. I repeat no need for assistance. Apparently Dale Evans got the situation under control." Kusa couldnt hold it in and burst out laughing too.

"Fine ladies you can laugh all you want. But you know what," Maddie turned smiling at each one of them, "We are a mighty fine team!" Again there was a rousing high-fiving and hooting. As they all packed up their stuff, got their backpacks back on, and headed back on the trail, a round of giggling occurred because Cee unconciously started whistling:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcYsO890YJY

"Owwww"

"Slowly move your fingers….ok now your wrist."

Deb complied and slowly moved said fingers then slowly and painfully her wrist.

"Not broken." Madeline finally decides. "Just sprained. Think you can make it?"

"Of course." Deb nods gritting her teeth as Gia splints her wrist as well as she can.

The trip wasn't without incident Madeline thought as she looked over the tattered and tired group.

Deb had been standing on a rock getting a better view when she slipped, landing on her wrist as she tried to break her fall. She would wince so often but after that she carried on..she was probably saving her whining for Gary.

So far Gia got her leg cut, Jen and Di…how they got poked in the nose and scratched on the face as the tried their hand at cutting up a cactus arm for water and its flesh. It wasn't as easy as it sounded. They had to watch for the needles then painstakingly pluck them off. But they were rewarded with the juice and flesh of the desert standard.




During dry periods the folds pucker up into ridges and when there is plenty of water available the cactus absorbs it until it becomes plump and round and the ribs almost disappear. It takes about fifteen years for a young saguaro cactus to reach one foot in height, and forty years to reach ten feet in height. It is about then that they begin to bloom. They continue to grow for 100 years and may live for 200 years. They can reach about thirty feet high when full-grown.

The cactus they found was nice and plump. "The cactus, like a camel, absorbs water when it can, storing it for future use." Cee talks while they take pull the needles off. "A mature plant can hold as much as 200 gallons during a heavy rainstorm. And the cactus flower is state flower of Arizona."




"What?" Cee laughs as she feels them looking at her. "I read a brochure on the plane."

Madeline had noticed that she was always placed in the middle of the group, it was subtle, but obvious. They were acting as protectors. She wasn't going to say anything, she thought it was sweet.

Even though they had a deadline to be at the other end of the trail so they couldn't help to stop every so often to gaze at the natural beauty and splendor of the land. Even thought it was beautiful it was also rugged and dangerous…in the infancy of space travel NASA trained the future astronauts there.

"Come on girls. We can't expect to find something all the time...sometimes you have to make do with what you have." Madeline tries to keep their spirits up after they fruitlessly searched for eatable plants and berries to supplement their supplies. Well they had to honestly tell the guys they tried to eat nature's bounty.

They had moved on and were hiking up a slight incline when they heard it...a deep masculine voice "Come on Bessie, almost there."

The girl's exchange glances and quickly put up their guard... They expected other vacationeers but still were wary. Gia was reaching for her gun as Madeline silently signals the others to flank around her.

Several hundred feet ahead, around a curve she sees it...or them.

A man leading was leading a pack mule down the trail in front of them..talking to said mule. Madeline blinked to make sure she was seeing what she was seeing. When she opened her eyes he was still there.

"Excuse me." Madeline calls to him from a safe distance.

The man turns around quickly and sees her, Kusa and Cee…the other girls were spaced around.

His skin was tanned and leathery, his hair... graying and shaggy, his beard scruffy... was also showing signs of graying, his denim overalls were dusty, dirty and well worn, a long sleeved shirt covered his arms from the sun and sting of the bugs and limbs that reached out to the hikers. They could tell by his build he wasn't a regular tourist.

Sturdy hiking boots peered from the bottom of the pants, but his hazel eyes were clear as day. "Well hello. Thought there I had company, wondered when we'd find each other."

"We..." Madeline stutters for second. "We're on a hike and didn't expect to see anyone else either."

Madeline gives a signal and the other girls reappear.

"Name's Elk." He shakes hands as introductions...with fake names... are made.

"Elk as in - -"

"Elk as in Elk, Moose, Caribou. Been prospecting these hills for couple of years now." He answers as he spits on the ground. "And this here is Bessie" The mule turns his head to glance at the guests.

As Madeline, and company talk to Elk, the girls talk amongst themselves, keeping an eye on then.

"You think he's a criminal?" Di asks watching their body movements.

"I think H and Michael sent him up here to check on us." Gia confesses.

"I wouldn't put it past them." Deb agrees.

"What if tries something?" Trinity asks.

"Like he'll have a chance with us?" Jen jokes. "Would be a good takedown. Maybe they have a reward offered."

"Well they didn't say we couldn't have help." Di suggests. "Maybe he's going to report back on how well we adapt?"

"So we're in agreement?" they hear Madeline say before walking over to join the girls. "We can talk to him and feel him out..." Madeline blushes. "Rhetorically of course…as long as you girls are comfortable with it." The girls nod and took places to discretely interrogate their guest.

Gia held back a little, started to open her backpack and say something to H, then changes her mind. "Nah, I'll play his little game." She muses.

Elk was kind enough to share his water, even though the girls resisted at first he insisted. Better you drink it than to let it go to waste. The girls agreed only if he agreed to shared their food.

"Why did you become a prospector?" Jen asks after during a break after a couple of miles of walking and talking.

Elk sighs then is quiet for a long time before answering. "Had a good...no great paying job in a big city, lots of money, perks, but no time to use them or share them with others. One day, was watching a nature show and the talk of "gold in them thar hills" and just decided to quit and come prospecting and here I am."

His evasion of the subject told them enough, don't ask to many questions.

"How do you survive?" Di asks, swatting at some bugs buzzing around her head as she led the mule, each of the girls clamored for the chance to be upwind of the group. "Live off the land?"

"Get lucky every now and then; pan some gold to sell, got friends who bring me supplies every couple of weeks."

"The animals?" Trinity blurts out.

"I don't hunt the wildlife, they and I have developed a special relationship." Elk reassures her. "Oh I still have some money in the bank from investments and such, have a an old two way radio to call them if need something urgent. Other than that it's just me, Bessie and nature. What more could I ask for?"

"You ladies?" He finally asks questions in return.

"We're on a girls retreat." Kusa quickly explains. "Thought we'd try something different. We're meeting friends at the end of the trail."

"They're keeping track of us through GPS satellite." Cee adds to make sure this Elk character knows they are being monitored and not to try anything.

"I know the trails like the back of my hand, will guide you as far as I can. That is if you don't mind the company."

The girls look to Madeline for a decision. Madeline didn't notice them looking at her at first.

"She's flirting with him." Deb whispers as they watch Madeline play innocent.

"Isn't it cute." Kusa whispers back before clearing her throat to get Madeline's attention.

Madeline looks up with a slight frown before smiling back at Elk. "Not a problem, we've encountered quite a bit of nature so far."

"Do tell." They walk together as Madeline tells him of their walk so far.

They walk, take turns guiding Bessie over the path, inhale the humid woodsy air. Since he was a stranger they weren't as apt to complain in front of him; he points out birds and reptiles, they find and pick plants and berries to eat on the way, making sure to identify poison oak and ivy vines. "They'll leave a nasty rash on you."

"And we've had experience with the rashes." Kusa laughs remembering some of their antics.

Later he veers off the trail and leads them to what appears to be a dead end canyon. He walks right up to it and starts to pull on a rock and to their surprise the rock moves…it's a fake front. He pulls it away and they see an abandoned gold mine. "I created the illusion to keep my privacy. Lots of tourists could take away from the intended meaning of nature loving."

The girls hold their ground and he pulls Bessie in and starts to pull off the bags from the saddle. "We can roost here for the night, if you like….this is pretty safe. In the morning I'll show you the rest of the way."

"Is it safe?" Kusa holds back with the rest of the group.

The campground is unassuming, you'd never expect anyone to live there. It was well camouflaged. There was a stall for Bessie nearby, a quick glance showed that the mule was well taken care of and hidden.

"Safe as anything else, can't rule out hurricanes, earthquakes or tornadoes, though. I'll even give you ladies a quick lesson in panning for gold. Wait right here." Elk disappeared into the mine and the girls, on instinct spread out, taking tactical positions in case they needed to strike.

He emerges with several old and battered dinner sized metal plates,





Then looking around at the sight of them spread out. "You gals are too citified and scared." He mutters to himself as he walks away toward a small stream and they tag not to close behind him.

"Had a flash flood the other day….the heat melted some blocks of snow up in the mountains and this creek gets pretty full and fast." He kneels down and digs up some on the silt on the bottom of the creek with the worn metal pan. "Can't predict when that's gonna happen and gotta take advantage of it when it does. That rush of water brings more silt and rocks downstream, and sometimes you get lucky and find some gold specks." He swishes the water around. "Takes time but enough of them add up."

"Looks easy." Cee takes a pan and tries her hand at it, but her twisting motion had much to be desired as everything went flying out of the pan.

The rest of the group tries their hand at it with much the same results.





"Like this." Elk comes up behind Madeline and Kusa. The girls are on instant alert as he wraps his arms around each of thm, but he just holds her hands and the pan, slowly sloshing the water and sand out. "The gold specs are heavier than the water and sand and it will sink to the bottom of the pan."



-
-
"Think that's enough for today." He stands up after about 30 minutes. "You aren't used to the heat and humidity. Don't want you to overheat."

"Not a problem." Deb groans as she stands and stretches with the others…she wasn't able to slosh much because of her wrist and she…like the others…ended up with nothing but sore muscles and wet clothes.

"We do need to call it a night, we still have time to make up tomorrow." Kusa reminds them and looking at her watch.

"Again, you're more than welcome to stay near the mine. I'll sleep inside so you won't have to worry about me."

As the sun fell the temperatures fell with it. But staying near the rocks and the cave kept its warmth...for a little while as they rested.

"Oww." Madeline yelps, as she brushes something from her leg, then proceeds to step and squash it.
"It was a spider!" She says as she continues to squish it into a paste.

"What kind?" The girls gather round to help.

"I dunno, it's to squished to tell." Trinity stares at the smear that remains.

"Is it starting to swell?" Kusa is at Madeline's side getting the first aid kit out.

Elk calmly sits Madeline down and rips her pant leg, eyeing the bite. "Don't look to bad." then he proceeds to pull some chewed up tobacco out of his mouth and pastes it to her leg. "That'll take the sting out," he says as Cee quickly wrapped a length of gauze around it.

"It feels better already." Madeline smiles at him and his old-fashioned folk medicine ways.

The girls couldn't help but notice the pink glow in Madeline's face when Elk was touching her leg. "And she talks about us"

Sleeping arrangements were quickly discussed before they unpacked and shared their supplies, even managing to show off their skills by creating fire on their own. Elk seems to be impressed and offers a metal pot and some canned goods for dinner. Spam and canned potatoes were turned into a makeshift hash. The wandered in a few feet into the mine to see his setup, pantry, bed, books, lanterns. Current books, food items that are relatively new on the market confirms his story that he has contact with the outside world.

"This is nice." They were in awe at how simple, yet functional the setup was.

"We had cactus earlier today." Deb laughs as she described it. "Tasted like chicken."

"Two hour watches" Madeline reminds them, before they set up camp by the mineshaft opening. Normally they wouldn't do watches but she didn't want any surprises and they didn't argue, they were thinking ahead too, a secondary reason was to the motion would keep creepy crawlies away from the campsite. "We need to get to sleep early so can have an early start in the morning. Make sure you do your call of nature before going to sleep. Don't want any of you wandering around out there alone."

"I'll sleep outside too, the fresh air will good for me and I want to make sure you girls don't wander off." Madeline picks up her sleeping bag and moves it to the shaft opening as Elk entertained them with some stories.

"And the man turned to his wife and said..." Elk suddenly stopped and turned to Madeline. "Oh sorry, Ma'am, I forgot there was a colorful part to the story, didn't mean to embarrass you or the ladies."

"That's alright, they've probably heard worse." Madeline gives them a glance before turning on the charm to her host again; he smiled and began to tell another story. "So have you heard of the story of the story of "The Lost Dutchman's Gold? And there is a museum nearby dedicated to the legend."

Going to sleep wasn't easy that night either as the they tossed and turned on the hard ground and the night becomes alive with the sounds of the nocturnal animals, the girls were wide awake and giggle and chatter.

"Don't make me get up and separate you girls." Kusa warns before Madeline has the final word for the mto settle down and they settled down to a giggle now and then.
-
-
"What are you doing up? Deb asks Di, who crawled out her sleeping bag and was standing and stretching. Deb shook the environmentally friendly flashlight they were using, the batteries recharged by the shaking motion and in seconds the light grew brighter.

"Couldn't sleep." Di answers as she walks over to Bessie, giving her a pet and a carrot then picked up a brush and started brushing the mule. "I'm on watch in an hour anyway."

"Bessie is gonna be spoiled by the time we leave here." Deb stops to rub the mules head as Di brushes away.

"Ya know, I'm glad Madeline picked us for her team." Di confides to Deb.

"Me too, just think of where we'd be without her."

"Or where she'd be without us."

"She means well, we just can't help being us."

"We are doing better, I want her to be proud of us."

"Me too. Ya know when she wants to, Madeline can charm the spots off a leopard."

"The stripes off a tiger."

"The scales off a snake."

Deb and Di laugh quietly at their jokes.

Madeline, who had woken up when she heard Di moving around, listened for a few minutes, then closed her eyes, smiled and drifted back to sleep.
-
-
"How's the leg?" Elk asks the next morning as Madeline removes the gauze to reveal the swelling in her leg was gone, the only evidence was a small puncture mark.

"Remarkably better."

"Make sure you have that looked at when you get into town."

Elk was busy pulling out a portable fire pit emerges from the cave, fueled by a small propane tank, and soon was fired up and as Elk prepared coffee and shared breakfast with them.

"You coulda told us about that last night." Deb laughs nervously as she sees the propane set up.

"You ladies were so intent on starting the fire yourselves, I didn't want to ruin your fun." Elk explains while trying to keep from laughing.

After the girls paired off and discretely completed their morning routines, digging catholes holes and diffusing their footprint so as not to adversely affect the nature, they pack, making sure the impromptu campsite was back to it natural state, and followed Elk and Bessie down the trail to their original trail, Kusa and Madeline were checking the compass headings making sure they were going the right way.

"This is my stop ladies." He points toward another path. "Keep following this path, another two maybe three miles and you'll see the civilization. It was a pleasure to meet your acquaintance."

Murmurs of thanks you and pets of Bessie were in order.

"By the way could you do me one more favor?" He asks before they finally part. "Would you mind keeping my presence a secret? Don't want people trying to bring me back to civilization or trying to do one of those made for TV movies about me. All I ask is to be allowed to maintain my privacy."

"Of course." They agree wholeheartedly.

"They probably wouldn't care for the likes of an old man like me anyway, they'd turn away before I could..." He stops to look out at the trail as his voice fades away. "Hell, I'd probably scare the kids, so the less people know about me the better."

"Don't say that." Trinity argues. "They need to look inside a person instead of outside."

"And see what a wonderful person you are." Di speaks up as Deb and Jen add their two cents.

"You ladies are very kind." If they could see underneath the beard, he might have been blushing.

"Not a problem....really." Madeline again speaks for the group. "We promise."

"Well…bye now." Then without another word, he and Bessie turn and head off on another path.

"Why would someone walk away from their life like that?" Trinity asks after they get out of earshot, Kusa leading them down the trail once more.

"Well it's not all that uncommon." Di begins to explain. "Sometimes the mind gets to a point where it can't take anymore. And he did the right thing; he walked away…he left all the material things and found happiness living off the land. He has friends and communication if be needs anything."

"How long does it last?" Jen wonders, they are learning quite a bit on this trip.

"Some people avoid contact for a few days, weeks, months. A mental break… but extreme cases like his…can last years."

The girls are quiet for a long time as they absorb that information.

"I'm glad you guys have my back." Deb finally breaks the silence.

"And we've got yours." They say in unison to each other, high fiving all around.

It was an unspoken rule, and it was the truth.

They link arms for a couple of steps before breaking apart and walking double file down the path.

"We've got it lucky in a way." Gia tells them. "We work hard and play even harder. Maybe that's why we play so hard..maybe subconsciously we are trying to keep balanced."

Madeline and Cee were walking quietly behind them, listening and observing the natives, something they rarely got a chance to do.

Before Madeline could say anything, Di made one last observation "And I wonder what we did to pi$$ Weston off to send us off on this extreme nature hike."

Soon they see the end of the trail and arrive the pick up point. "Yes, we made it with 32 minutes to spare."

"I want to dump a pitcher of ice cold water over me." Deb sighs as she drops the backpack.

"With a twist of lemon." Jen adds.

"They'll have to carry me to the hotel room, I'm not walking another step." Trinity starts to unlace her hiking boots.

"Now we wait." Madeline announces as the rest of the group collapses on the ground and waits for their pickup. "They should be proud of us."

After waiting 45 minutes after pick up time, Madeline started calling, and the guys weren't answering the sat phone.

What started with worry soon turned to anger then annoyance.

"What the freak is your problem?" Gia was pacing up and down…again..this time she had move away from the group was talking into her backpack. "Horatio Caine, I know you can hear me and I am going to sugar coat this but you had better have a good reason for leaving us out here this long. Answer the dang phone! You think I've been mad at you before, well be prepared to meet Hurricane Gia and you won't know when and where she'll strike!"

Gia calms down before rejoining the group. "They'd better have a good reason for being late."

Ideas as to why there ride was late were bandied about.

"Rockslide?"

"Avalanche?"

"Flat tire(s)?"

"Sports game?"

"Food poisoning?"

"Hurricane?"

"An hour and a half late - - no excuses… they better have a doctors note, even if they ALL were in the hospital the could arrange for someone to call us." Kusa fumes as well, they were hot and thirsty, having finished the last of the water and the snacks shortly after getting to the pick up point.

"Ok." Madeline and Kusa confer coming up with the only two options they have. "Wait or walk!"

After a quick vote… majority rules - - it was unanimous…they would start hitchhiking….after they left the guys a little present.

Taking all their compasses, wrapping them in a plastic bag and burying them with a little note. "Can you see me now?"

Within minutes of thumbing, an old pick-up truck hauling vegetables stopped and listening to their plight, offered a lift to the Lakeside Restaurant at the Canyon Lake Marina.

Kusa and Madeline sat up front with the driver, making sure they were going to get where they were going. The rest of the group squeezed in the back, trying to get comfy and not squeeze the fruits and veggies.

The truck finally pulls up to the cantina, and the driver jumps out and helps the rest of them out of the back, offering them some fresh fruit as they offer to pay for his assistance.

"No thank you ladies." He waves away their offer. "Just paying it forward. Someone helped me and I am proud to help someone else in need."

The girls took a large table out back of the cantina and were enjoying the view as they rested abd perused the menu.

Madeline stepped away from the table to field sat phone calls from Michael about where they were; Gia had stepped away again with her backpack..she was still fuming that Michael had the nerve to call and ask where they were. Kusa and Cee were taking their turns in the ladies room freshening up.

The four agents were gathering around a table and reading a local paper when an article caught their eye.

The sideline read: "Three years later and still no closer to an answer."

Three years ago Robert Dyers left work for the day from a major financial institution. His plans for the evening consisted of dinner at home and watching a football game on TV.

Two days later his car was found, unlocked and ransacked, in the parking lot of a local grocery store.

Cell phone records reveal no activity since he left work that day. A credit card had been used two days prior to buy some dinner items that were found in his home, no other transactions have been made since.

"His home appears to be just as he left it the morning he disappeared, we have reason to believe he never made it home that day." An anonymous police source told this reporter. "There were several messages on his home phone voice mail and cell phone that were never retrieved."

"We don't have anything else to go on." Local Police Detective Hander stated for the record and reminded the public that "even if you don't think the info you have is important, it just might be to us. Every little bit helps."

Friends and family have been cooperative with authorities.

"Bobby didn't have any enemies, he'd give you the shirt off his back, that's the kinda guy he was." His best friend Randy Morrow told reporters. "Maybe that's what happened, he was nice to somebody…and they took advantage of him."

Close friends fear that Dyers may have had a mental breakdown because of the high stresses of his job. Thousands of tips and sightings have turn up nothing.

Foul play has not been ruled out.

A picture accompanied the article, and if you added longer hair...a scruffy, graying beard... you would have Elk.

The girls exchanged glances; conferring quietly and quickly, agreeing that they couldn't tell anyone. They understood the power of virtue and integrity.

Because each of them carried their own secrets, not to mention those who carried secrets about them.

Because Madeline would probably do the right thing and report that he was spotted and where. Their paths could be traced via the GPS, pinpointing where they stayed the night before and…and they promised him they wouldn't tell.
Even though they felt they made some headway with Madeline, they didn't want to break a promise.

"We'll talk about it later?" One of them mutters under her breath. They wanted to respect Elk's request for privacy. He hadn't done anything wrong…he just wanted to get away. He had friends who looked after him…so it's not like he was totally isolated.

The rest of the group nods and she tosses the paper into a trash can. That secret would remain a secret. Michael had unknowingly gave them a life lesson.

When Cee and Kusa came back to the table, pitchers of tea, water and juice (nothing alcoholic!) were set on the table, as the girls kept quiet and tried to listen in on the phone calls.

"Well they are on they way, and tonight you'll be able to relax in a hot spa and massage those aches and pains away." Madeline smiles knowing they are looking forward to some pampering. " Seems that Michael decided to throw a change in plans in at the last minute…not showing up at the pick up site as part of the training. They wanted us to be prepared for anything… maybe even staying another night out there. So they naturally thought we would be waiting until we made camp for one more night."

Madeline noticed they were somber and quiet. "Anything wrong?" She wasn't expecting the responses she got…

"No ma'am, just tired from the hike is all."

"I just want a hot shower."

"And a comfy bed"

"And a good nights sleep."

"Alcohol isn't good for us right now, our bodies need to rehydrate and rest before drinking."

Exchanging glances as they took a seat, Madeline was glad they listened to the temperance lecture and attributed their moods to a combination of the coming down from the euphoria of the hike. They knew it was the end of the training and they were ready for it to be over. She knew they could have lasted another night if they had to.

"Remember not to mention our friend during debriefing." Madeline quietly reminds them before the waitress brought their orders of simple appetizers.

She didn't have to worry because they already made up their mind not to.

The group was waiting outside on some benches when the SUV's pulled up, Madeline jumped up was the first to intercept. She already gave Michael and Virgil and earful over the phone about abandoning them, and she wasn't through yet.

The girls slowly walked over, backpacks and all. "How'd you do?" Virgil asks after he breaks away from Madeline, who was focused on Michael now, and was helping them put the backpacks in the car.

He wasn't used to them being so quiet. The rest of guys didn't come to pick them up, they were waiting at the hotel to surprise them...to wait until the storm was over.

"Not bad, we made it through."

"Do we get an "A" for effort?"

As soon as they got to the hotel, the girls were quickly debriefed (leaving out the detour with the prospector) then they made it to their rooms, where they took long hot showers, crawled into bed quickly fell asleep with their partners…who too were wondering if this was payback for the hike and picking them up late..and what other payback they were plotting.

Though the next morning they were more or less back to normal.

Lovin it gals!!!! Now when do we kick their BUTTS!!!!!!