Chapter 32

"Lord have mercy, it's as hot in this house as it is outside," Gabby said to James as she fanned herself with a small decorated fan. I was sitting at my desk trying to read as she paced back and forth in my small office. "I do not know how we are going to stand it, it's only the middle of June and with no rain at all the dust just hangs in the air when you go outside. Of course there isn't any reason to go outside but it's just the idea. I don't think I have seen a single piece of grass or anything move in days, no wind at all." Gabby kept talking, not paying attention as I laid down the new medical book I was studying and watched her pace.

"Where are the children?" I asked. "Bet had Thomas pull an old wash tub up on the back porch and fill it with water for them to play in then he rode off somewhere." Gabby replied. "I hope you don't expect anything for supper other than some egg salad sandwiches and sweet tea, we are not going to crank up that stove until December," she said, as she flopped unlady like into a chair. I raised my eyebrows. "I wonder what the fine town ladies would think if they saw you flopping into a chair like that, with your top buttons undone and your hair coming loose from your bun?" I asked. Gabby rolled her eyes, "I don't give a flit right now what anyone thinks and what is proper, it's just too damn hot." I rose from my chair and walked around the desk towards my wife. She rose to meet me as I held my outstretched arms to her. I pulled her close and whispered into her loose flowing curls, "I think you look rather wanton and a slight bit on the loose side and I like it," I said to her. She tapped me lightly on the shoulder with her folded fan, "It's to hot for that, too," and kissed me lightly. I let go of her and reached for her fan, unfolded it and begin to fan her face. "I may just have a surprise for you," I said to her as I moved the fan closer to her. "What?" she asked, turning around and stretching her neck so that I could fan the back of it. I leaned over and kissed her lightly on the neck and whispered, "It's a secret." As she spun around to face me, I quickly folded the fan and stuck it into her exposed cleavage between the tops of her breasts. "I'm not telling," I said and stepped around her and headed out the door.

I headed towards the kitchen with my wife right behind me. "You had better tell me what is going on James, you know I can't stand a secret if I don't know what it is about?" she pestered me as I looked round the kitchen for something to snack on. I spotted some biscuits and ham left from breakfast and headed towards them. Gabby slipped around the table and stood in front of the counter where the plate was sitting piled high with fluffy biscuits and sweet tender ham. "Oh no you don't," she said as she used herself to block me from the food. "You had better tell me now." I reached around her waist, picked her up and moved her to the side then used my body to block her while I grabbed a biscuit. "James I need to know, do I need to plan something, is someone coming, what is it?" she pleaded. I quickly split open a biscuit piled it high with ham turned to her and said, "Where's the jam." She crossed her arms and just looked at me. "I will not budge until you tell me," she declared, stomping her foot and putting on her best pout. I smiled at her and shook my head. "Now you know that pout only works on your father. I know that look and it won't work on me." I slipped around her and headed towards the back porch. I could hear the splashing and playing and it sounded like the kids were having a wonderful time. I turned my back to the screen to push it open and winked at my wife as I backed out the door.

"My goodness," I said as I surveyed the children. "Is there any water at all left in the whole county?" as I eased myself into a rocker. "Daddy," said Ivy, "don't 'cha want to play with us?" she asked. "It feels real good and when you get wet and then run around 'til you get dry, it gives you chilly bumps on your arm. Then you get hot again and you just jump back in." "I believe," I said, "I will just sit here and watch you show me how." And with that Ivy laid down in the water, then stood up, jumped out of the tub and ran all around the porch.

Gabby walked out to the porch and handed her husband a glass of sweet tea. She gave him a big smiled and never breaking eye contact she said, "Ivy, guess what, daddy has a secret." And with that statement she watched her husband's eyes get wide. I heard my daughter squeal as she ran towards me, "A secret you have a secret, tell me what it is, is it Santa Clause, is it a present, is it a horse, tell me daddy tell me," she pleaded in one big long sentence. I looked back at my wife and said, "Thank you, dear," and Gabby replied with a smirk, "No problem."

Bet reached for a towel and picked up Jimmy, "I believe I will take this little man in and get him dried off, he looks like he is ready for a nap. Now play nice, all of you," she said with a big smile as she carried the wiggling little boy into the house.

Ivy was persistent, "Tell me daddy I need to know right know, puleezee tell me, puleeze," she went on and on. I sighed deeply, looked at the two women in my life and replied, "I will give you a hint and that's all and if you keep asking me, I just may change my mind." They both looked at me, innocent as lambs and waited. "We are going on a vacation," I said. Gabby looked surprised and Ivy looked confused. "What's that," she asked. I reached for the little girl and pulled her into my lap, "It's a surprise trip to somewhere we really like." Just about the time I got the words out Thomas rode around the house on his horse. "I made it back," he said as he dismounted and tied the horse to the railing. He handed me a folded letter. "Have mercy," Thomas said. "That woman done fed me so much food I thought I was going to take a nap and fall off of my horse trying to get back here." He sat down on the steps and removed his hat to wipe his forehead, "It's so hot and dusty, I thought I wasn't ever going to get back."

"What is it," Gabby asked as she tried to look over my shoulder as I read the note. "It's our vacation plans," I replied, as I handed it to my wife. "Pack your bags darling, the McAllister family is heading for the hills." And with that, I went down the steps and said to Thomas, "We had better get, because there is fixing to be a flurry of packing and I don't want to get caught up in the storm." Thomas and I untied the horse and headed towards the stable.