Rachel had been looking for Petey and did not consciously realize it. She scanned the roads for her truck and Mule for almost a day and there was no site of the lanky blonde. Rachel checked the dock and the pontoon boat that was still tucked under its tarp. She checked the Lodge, the dinning room, the office. Petey was no where to be seen. It had become frustrating and as she and Dory drove and drove round and around the unmarked roads and trails Rachel became just a little more focused on finding some glimpse of Petey. At first, Dory was oblivious to where they were going and what they were doing. She had her ear buds to her iPod plugged into her head and she was bobbing to the unheard tunes thundering through her mind. But after aimlessly driving for about three hours she popped the ear buds out and looked at Rachel. “What...or….who are you looking for?” Dory narrowed her eyes toward Rachel. Rachel kept her eyes on the road and did not even register Dory’s words. Her facial features did not flinch. Her breathing did not change. Finally they came to a fork in the road and Rachel jerked right on the wheel of the cart and they headed down a steep road. It was a good thing that the cart had a governor on the engine or they would have been flying! Dory grasped the handle on the seat and let out a hair rising scream as the cart seem to take on a life of its own. Even Rachel was holding on for dear life, pumping the brakes and desperately trying to keep the tires on the road. Finally, as the decent turned into an ascent, the laws of physics took over and the cart slowed down to a manageable putter. After catching their breath from screaming and laughter at the impromptu carnival ride the road gave them they found them selves at a crossroad. Before them, in a huge oak tree, was carved face. It was wizen and time worn, the eyes were weary but on second look, it actually showed them the way to go. Rachel threw her hand up to the carved face and headed left and sure enough, they were very quickly back on the main road. It was definitely time to head back to the camper. “I’m gonna take a nap…..wanna join me?” Dory licked her lips invitingly. Rachel shook her head no. “I’m going to set out and enjoy the afternoon sun for a bit.” Dory just shrugged her shoulders and headed into the trailer. Rachel went to the back of the truck and pulled out a folding camp chair; from the cab of the vehicle she grabbed a paperback book. Just as she settled in to read, she could see Sara’s camper door open as Sara carefully made her way out side. She put some objects on the railing of the porch rail and then sat back in a deck chair and gave three sharp piercing whistles’. Rachel almost dropped her book as a Red-Tailed Hawk came down and perched on the railing. It eyed Sara and the rest of his surroundings carefully. With great caution he accepted the treats that Sara had put on the railing, Holding each piece with a raptor’s talon and stripping away pieces for his gullet. When he was done his feast, he preened his feathers, walked back and forth along the rail as is on duty. He turned and nodded to Sara and spread his wings and was off in a flash! Rachel walked over between the two campers and to the edge of the deck. “That was pretty amazing!” Rachel laughed. “Come on up and set with me and I will tell you the story of Hawk!” Sara invited. “I don’t want to take up any of your time Sara, especially if you are supposed to be resting.” Rachel almost turned to go back toward her camper. “I have all the time in the world to rest, but I don’t have all the time in the world to talk to people, I have just gotten up from a nap and am good to go for a bit. Come and sit for a while.” Sara invitation was heartfelt and Rachel climbed up the steep steps to get on the deck. She sat down in a chair next to Sara. “Hawk and I met about 10 years ago; I was planting some flowers in my garden when this dark shadow swooped down from nowhere. It scared me senseless. I didn’t know what to think, it brushed right by me in a blur a feathers. It wasn’t until it rested on top of the shed that I realized that the Hawk and seized a copperhead that had apparently been near me as I was planting. Even since that day…..I set out pieces of steak, chicken of fish on the last day that we are hear. As a thank you for being such a diligent life guard while we are here. We have come to an understanding over the years, snakes, young skunks, feral cats, moles are all fair game in our little corner of this park, but song birds, bunnies, chipmunks, squirrels and etc are off limits. We have had quite a few summits him and me over the years. But we have a great respect for each other.” Sara waved as the big bird sailed upwards into the cloudless blue sky. “Oh My God….you have snakes here?” Rachel’s face paled at the thought. “Only on the other 500 and some acres, this little block is snake free.” Sara laughed and laid her hand on Rachel’s for reassurance. “After all this is West Virginia….. moonshine and snakes sorta go hand in hand….” Sara laughed. Sara looked at her watch and then back at Rachel. “Right about now, Petey should be at the Lodge….” When she looked up, Rachel had already jumped down the steps and was crossing between their campers. “Ummmm……wonder if what the snakes…..or Petey….that drove that woman away?” Sara smiled as she headed back in the camper to wake up Rita. Click On The River To Chapter 76 Labinky Park 2008 Labinky Park Enterprises 2008 Check Out River's Designs! If you take a Pic using any of our Products we will host you on the site for the World to See! Just submit pics to www.labinky@labinkypark.com Writer's Blog Sign The Guest Book See The Slide Show See The Labinky Park Painting Come To Life By D. Stone |
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Chapter 75
