"Go ahead," Dean said quickly. "Maria has things under control. It will do you good to get away from Bird Song for a while."
"It's only up to Yankee Boy," Westlake prodded. "We'll be back in an hour or two."
"Besides," Dean added, "I have a little errand to run. I want to stop down and see Jake Weller about Martha's bony little problem."
Cynthia agreed and as if in penance, gathered up plates and coffee cups while Westlake assembled his equipment. After donning a heavy jacket against the mountain chill and continuing dampness, she kissed her husband goodbye.
"Say hi to Jake for me," Cynthia called as she left.
Dean telephoned the sheriff's office, crossing his fingers that the redheaded deputy Lady Larkin was out bagging the ten most wanted speeders. He lucked out. A female voice he didn't recognize-but definitely not Larkin's-told him the sheriff would be available in thirty minutes. He made a photocopy of the map Martha drew, trying to construct how he would explain the situation to Jake Weller and minimize the hassle he knew Jake would give him.
Pumpkin Green returned while Dean was killing the few minutes before he left. The young man sulked in, humbled in hoops by high school star Billy Langstrom. But his distress was short-lived, and he talked a number of lodgers into a late afternoon dip at the pool. In spite of the dreary weather, Pumpkin's enthusiastic description sold the venture to all but Joseph Dawkins and two senior ladies. He even waved off the excuse of no bathing suits, telling them rentals were available. Dean was enlisted as part of the convoy to the popular spot.
On the way to the pool, with Pumpkin and the Texas widow as his passengers, Pumpkin told Dean that Langstrom had recruited him for the Fourth of July water fight. He asked Dean what the event was all about.
Dean chuckled to himself. "You'll find out soon enough."
For decades, teams of three hardy fools had tried to knock each other senseless with high pressure fire hoses, while the spectators tried to escape the cross fire. In spite of the protective gear worn, the challenge definitely excluded the weak of heart, and, in Dean's estimation, the strong of brain. It was one of the highlights of the town's robust Fourth of July celebration.
In spite of the inclement weather, there was a large crowd of bathers frolicking in the earth-warmed water of the million-gallon facility when Dean dislodged his passengers. He promised to return in an hour and ferry the group back to Bird Song, which was less than a mile away. With a wave, he left to meet with Jake Weller.