Misty Lake: Book One in the Misty Lake Series (10 page)

Sam nodded. The fact that everyone seemed to know more about her house than she did bothered her. She wanted to ask questions, find out how long construction took, when it started, if anyone had seen her grandfather when he visited, but she didn’t know if she really wanted the answers so she remained silent.

They floated for a few minutes, studying the house. When Sam didn’t say anything Joe gave Jake a questioning look, tilting his head toward the open water. Jake answered with a short nod and Joe announced, “Hold on!” before he started the boat up again and they took off flying across the lake.

Sam appreciated the gesture. At the moment, she just wanted to put some distance between herself and the house she knew so little about. She lifted her face to the wind and let it blow the tension away.

“How about a ride?” Joe asked as he slowed the boat once again. Sam was about to ask what he meant when Jake got up and went to unstrap the giant tube from the back of the boat.

“I’m ready,” Jake said.

“We’ll see,” Joe answered.

The look that passed between the brothers wasn’t lost on Sam. She had spent enough time in competition with her brother and her cousins to recognize a challenge when one was given. The men continued to grin and eye one another as Jake wiggled into a life jacket and Joe secured the rope to the hooks on the back of the boat.

Karen moved up to the front of the boat next to Sam while Jake and Joe continued their preparations. “You should see it when all four of them are together,” she said with an exaggerated eye roll. “Everything from who can eat the most hotdogs to who can tell the best joke to who’s driving the fastest car is a contest with them.”

“I remember doing the same thing with my cousins when we were kids. I guess we eventually outgrew it,” Sam said with a laugh.

“Maybe when you have three brothers the competition never ends. I don’t get it but they seem to thrive on it.”

“Sounds like a close family,” Sam said soberly.

“Very close. Joe and I started dating in high school. Once they realized I wasn’t going anywhere they started treating me like a sister. The McCabes are a crazy bunch but there’s nothing they won’t do for one of their own,” Karen said looking lovingly at her husband.

Joe, catching her looking at him, came over and planted a kiss on her lips. “Love you, baby, now hold on, I’m going to give my brother a ride he won’t soon forget.”

Jake looked at Sam as he stood on the edge of the boat. “He’s going to try his darnedest to get me off that tube. In case I decide to let go and let him think he succeeded, make sure he doesn’t leave me in the middle of the lake.” With that, he was in the water swimming for the tube. 

Joe threw his head back and laughed and Sam couldn’t help joining him. This afternoon was just what she needed, she decided. She watched Jake skim and bounce across the water holding on to the tube for dear life. Joe sped up, slowed down, drove the boat in tight circles and, as Jake had predicted, did everything he could to throw him from the tube.

Sam saw Jake bounce several feet into the air only to come crashing back down again. At times, when Joe took the boat into a tight spin, he slid so far off to the side of the tube she had no idea how he managed to hold on. It looked horrible to Sam but Jake laughed during the entire ride.

Finally, Joe slowed the boat and Jake let go, sliding into the water. He was floating on his back, breathing heavily when Joe circled back around to pick him up. “Looks like that’s one for me, little brother,” Jake grinned as he heaved himself back into the boat.

“Hmpf. I took it easy on you, didn’t want you to embarrass yourself in front of Sam,” Joe shot back. “Now give me that jacket and get behind the wheel. It’s my turn out there.”

The brothers switched places and Jake gave Joe a ride as wild as the one he had just had. Joe slid, bounced, and even flipped over once on the tube but, like his brother, managed to hang on. Sam was convinced they were both crazy.

“I guess it’s a draw today unless you’re up for another round,” Joe said as he toweled off back on the boat. “Or a go on the skis?”

“No, once is enough for me,” Jake replied, subtly rubbing the marks on his legs where the tube had done a good job of scraping up his skin. “What about you, Karen, are you ready for a spin?”

“No, not today,” she replied looking toward Joe. Sam caught the look that passed between the two but couldn’t quite figure it out.

“I’ll give it a try,” Sam said earning her curious stares from the others.

“Really, Sam? Have you done this before?” Jake asked, sounding unsure.

“Oh, nothing like the rides you just gave each other,” she said, “but the neighbors here on the lake used to take us once in a while when we were kids. The boat was much smaller, I’m sure it didn’t go nearly as fast as this one, and the tube was nothing more than a rubber ring,” she continued with a look at Joe’s tube complete with a nylon cover and cushioned hand grips, “but it was fun. I’d like to go for a ride. You have to tone it down a little, though,” she said pointing at Joe.

“Don’t worry. My brothers are the only ones who get rides like that. Well, maybe my sister if she gets a little too big for her britches.”

Sam tossed her hat and sunglasses in her bag and peeled off her t-shirt and shorts. It had gotten hot and she could hardly wait to cool off in the lake. As she stepped up onto the side of the boat preparing to jump in, Jake stammered, “You, ah, um, the life jacket…have to wear one.”

Jake thought he might have to jump back into the lake himself to cool off when Sam took off her clothes and he got a look at her in her swimsuit. The electric blue bikini didn’t leave much to the imagination. Her long legs were capped off at her hips by blue strings holding the suit bottom together. The top was more strings with two tiny blue triangles covering her breasts. He struggled mightily not to stare as he held the life jacket out for her.

“In a minute,” she mumbled quickly. Then, before Jake knew what was happening, she dove into the water and swam with long, sure strokes away from the boat.

The cool water felt heavenly on her burning cheeks. Sam had forgotten she was wearing the silly bikini. It had been the only suit she could find in the few minutes she’d left herself to get ready for the afternoon with Jake. The far more sensible racing suits she wore when she swam laps were packed somewhere along with her goggles and other swim equipment but without digging through countless boxes, she didn’t know where. The bikini had been a gift from her cousin Susan when she had dragged Sam to Florida last winter for a long weekend following her grandfather’s death.

Now, she wished she had thrown the ridiculous thing away. The weekend had been a disaster, neither one of them had really enjoyed it, the only consolation being they were able to spend time together. She had only put the suit on once and had shoved it in a drawer when she returned from the trip. Remembering the look on Jake’s face, she swam harder trying to swim away the embarrassment.

What must Joe and Karen have thought? she wondered. Probably that she was trying to seduce Jake when that was the farthest thing from her mind. She pounded out a few more strokes before flipping and heading back to the boat. She’d just ignore the whole thing, she decided, then put her clothes back on once she got out of the water.

Jake was still standing in the same spot and holding the life jacket when she swam up to the side of the boat. He seemed a little dazed as she treaded water and looked up at him. When he didn’t say anything she asked, “Can I have the life jacket?”

Jake snapped out of his stupor when she spoke. Realizing he was acting like a fool standing there holding the jacket as she waited, he muttered, “I’ll help you,” and jumped in beside her.

Both sensed the other’s unease as Jake helped Sam get her arms in the life jacket and tighten the straps. Desperately trying to come up with something to say, Jake asked, “So, are you a swimmer?”

What? she thought to herself. What was he asking her? She couldn’t seem to make sense out of anything. Something about swimming. “Um, yes,” she finally replied, hoping her brief answer fit his question.

“I could tell,” Jake said awkwardly.

After they looked at each other for a minute, both unsure what to do or say, Joe saved them further humiliation by waving his arm and shouting, “Tube’s that way!”

They both looked up at him as if they had forgotten anyone else was there. After a moment, they both turned and swam for the tube. Once they were away from the boat Karen looked at Joe and burst out laughing. Joe just shook his head and said sadly, “Oh, God. What an idiot.”

Jake helped Sam up onto the tube, showed her where to position her hands, and asked again, “Are you sure about this?”

“Absolutely. I’m already wet, what’s the worst that can happen?”

With one last look, Jake turned back for the boat. When he was back on board he looked out over the lake and told Joe, “Be sure to take it easy. The lake’s busy, I’m willing to bet there are more than a few careless drivers out there.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll give her a nice, easy ride,” Joe answered. Jake was right, he thought, seeing the number of boats nearby. It was always a little trickier pulling someone when there were this many boats on the water. Noticing Jake’s nervous look, he said again, “Don’t worry, she’ll be fine.”

Joe turned and called back to Sam, “Ready?” When she gave the thumbs up sign he pushed down the throttle and sped off.

Sam felt the pull on her arms as the front of the tube submerged slightly before popping out of the water and skimming along the top. She moved her legs and readjusted her grip trying to find the best position to stay atop the tube. It was harder than it looked, she thought, as she slipped from one side to the other before figuring out how to balance her weight and steady herself.

Then she looked out and enjoyed. If the boat ride was exhilarating, this was doubly so. It was the closest to flying she had ever come, she decided, as the tube picked up speed and slid across the wake when Joe turned the boat sharply. It was incredible.

Jake felt like his head was on a swivel trying to keep one eye on Sam and the other on the nearby boats. He wasn’t sure why he was so nervous, he’d been in the boat countless times when his brother was pulling skiers or tubers. He was an excellent, and careful, driver. It was the other drivers he was worried about. He could tell Joe was just a little tense, as well. He saw his eyes dart from one side to the other then skip to the rearview mirror to check on Sam.

For her part, Sam seemed to be having the time of her life. Jake could see her grin as she flew across the water and he watched as she tentatively let go of one of the grips to give a quick wave. Just as he turned back to look off the front side of the boat, he caught a flash of color as a boat full of loud teenagers whizzed past. They cut far too close to Joe’s boat and were now turning back their way, oblivious to the boat in their path.

Jake turned to scream at Joe but Joe was already yelling to Karen to hold on as he had no choice but to turn sharply into the other boat’s wake. Jake looked back at Sam, still smiling, unaware of what was happening up ahead. He saw her expression change instantly to one of confusion as the boat jerked sharply to the left and her tube zipped across the water to the right. Jake saw the wave before she did and was on his feet pulling his t-shirt over his head. There was no way she was going to be able to hold on when the tube hit the swell head-on.

Sam didn’t know at first what Joe was doing when the boat suddenly veered sharply to the left, but then saw the boat heading toward them. She could tell Joe had turned in time to avoid a collision, but could also see the giant wave the wakes of the two boats combined had produced. She held on with all her might as she was thrown into it.

She felt first like she hit a wall and then felt weightless as she tumbled head over heels above the water. She was pretty sure she skipped across the surface at least twice before coming crashing down on her back. It was like hitting solid ground and she felt the wind rush out of her lungs.

For a moment she was unsure of which way was up. She tried to open her eyes but was met by water and closed them again. She started to move her arms and kick her feet as the life jacket did its job and slowly righted her. When her head finally emerged from the water the first thing she saw was Jake, swimming furiously toward her.

As she struggled to catch her breath, Jake grabbed her around the waist and eased her onto her back. She rested her head against his shoulder and slowly started to relax and breathe deeply.

“Are you okay, Sam?” Jake asked, panic written all over his face. He was brushing the hair out of her eyes and willing her to answer him.

“I think so,” she replied slowly, moving her neck gently from side to side. She felt a little sore and was sure tomorrow would be brutal, but she seemed to be in one piece. “I…that was a little scary,” she finally managed. And then she began to shake.

Joe had pulled the boat around and was slowly maneuvering toward them. Karen was on her feet, throwing out a life ring which Jake grabbed and used to pull them both to the side of the boat. With Joe’s help, he got Sam in and onto the seat. Karen gathered towels and covered Sam who was shaking even harder.  Jake kneeled beside her and gently dried her face and hair. “Where does it hurt, Sam? Can you move your arms and legs okay? Are you dizzy?” His fear that she was badly hurt had him firing questions at her faster than she could possibly answer.