Joanne's Cabin - Part 3

Liz looks over her hand of cards with pure mischief. She has what her cousins don't: four aces and all the high hearts. She will finally win a game of 9-5-2. It has been pretty even until now. Kath’s kitty was a total waste because Liz has everything good.

“You look pretty confident, Liz.” Allie jokes.

“Do I?”

“Well, I am definitely not confident.” Kath states matter-of-factly. Kath is rarely rattled. “I think this will be the last hand.”

“You are probably right,” Allie replies with a sigh. “I’ve got nothing either. Liz, did you do some card voodoo on this hand?”

“Yup.”

“Ah, you’re a terrible cheat.” Kath mocks as Liz stacks another trick in front of her.

“I’ve got to win somehow.” Liz says with a smile. “After this, do you want to boat over to Big Wolf?”

“Oh, you want to win and then quit? Good thing we are not playing for money.”

“What money? I haven’t babysat for months. The best we have here are pin up posters.”

“True. Next time I win, I get your new Corey Haim poster.”

“No way.”

“Allie, you better not get into that now or Liz will be taking one from your new Teen Beat magazine.”

“No way! I haven’t even finished looking at it.”

“Then zip it Sis!”

“That’s good advice.” Allie says with a laugh. “Good thing we don’t gamble.”

“Yes, good for you.” Liz laughs as she steals the last trick. She won all but three.

“Ready to hunt out Jo’s cabin?” Kath asks, lifting her eyebrow as she scoops up all the cards to put back in the box.

“Yup.”

“Do we have a plan?” Allie asks.

“I guess we will take the path and see if it’s there.”

“Big plan.”

The back door slams. Allie jogs over to help Liz’s mom, who's arms are stacked to her chin with firewood. “Who won?” She smiles at Allie as she makes a neat pile beside the wood stove.

“Me.”

She looks at Liz with brows raised as she wipes her dusty hands on her jeans.

“Yes, I actually won.”

Her mom laughs and rustles her hair with a wide smile. “I guess miracles do happen.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

“Where are you going?” her mom asks as the girls slip into their flip flops.

“Big Wolf.”

“Bring a berry pail.”

“No, Mom.” Liz whines. “We are going to look for Joanne’s cabin. We don’t have time to pick berries.”

“No? If you do, I’ll make blueberry muffins.”

“Deal,” Kath interrupts. “Where’s the pail?”

The girls fly out the door but before Liz can follow her cousins, her mom pulls her over and gives her a squeeze. She whispers, “Liz, don’t go in the cabin.”

“What cabin?”

“You know which cabin.”

“Mom, the likelihood we find it is slim.”

Her mom’s eyes are far from her, fixed on something out the window behind her. Liz swivels around but sees only her cousins hopping into their boat at the bottom of the hill. Her mom mumbles without shifting her gaze, “I don’t think it is that slim.”

"Liz, Are you coming?" Allie yells from the dock over the hum of the boat motor.

Liz backs up towards the door without turning from her mom. As her hand falls on the door nob her mom’s eyes return to her. She says brightly, “Have fun Sweets. Be careful on the rocks.”

“Oh.oh..okay, Mom.”

“Don’t forget the berries.”

Liz turns on her heals and flies down the stairs. Her mom can be so weird sometimes. Maybe Liz doesn’t want the charm.

Liz's Cabin