“The prowler strikes again!” Jessie exclaimed as she jumped into the pool and grabbed one orange after another, which she placed on the edge of the pool.
Benny, holding his nose, waded into the shallow end. He reached out and tried to catch an orange, but it rolled out of his hand.
Henry and Violet captured oranges, one by one, and set them on the grass above the pool.
“The oranges will soon dry in the sun,” Violet said, jumping up and sitting on the pool’s edge. “I wish we could catch this prowler.”
“That’s the last one,” Henry said, getting out. “We’d better tell Kay.”
“Do we have to?” Violet asked, a note of regret in her voice.
Jessie jumped out, too, her wet skin glistening. “I agree with Henry,” she said. “Kay needs to know what’s going on at her own motel.”
Violet breathed in deeply. “I suppose you’re right,” she said to Jessie, “but I’m afraid she’ll become discouraged and sell to the Adventure Hotel chain.”
Just then Catherine appeared. She was dressed in white pants and a yellow top, and she wore a red scarf around her head. Her smile was puzzled. “What are you doing with all these oranges?”
“Somebody threw them in the pool,” Benny shouted, climbing up the ladder at the shallow end. “And after we picked oranges all day yesterday!”
Catherine’s eyebrows rose. “That’s strange,” she said, sitting in a canvas chair.
Violet, her feet in the water, said, “It’s very strange!”
Jessie vigorously dried down her brown hair. “We intend to find out who’s doing all these things to Kay,” she said.
Catherine was silent. Too silent, Violet thought.
“I’ll meet you back at the motel for breakfast,” Henry said. “I’ll run up and tell Kay the bad news.”
Catherine rose. “I must go, also.”
“Are you visiting the Seminoles today, Catherine?” Violet asked.
“Yes, I’ve almost completed my paper so I only need to visit them two more times.”
“What do you write about them?” Benny asked.
“I write about their habits and their camps,” Catherine answered. “You know, Benny, the Seminoles who lived in Florida in the nineteenth century were forced to leave and re-settle in Oklahoma. Some, under their great chief, Osceola, tried to fight, but when Osceola was captured they hid out in the swamps and they still live there today.”
“Wow,” Benny said. “You’re lucky, Catherine, to have Indian friends.”
“I know, Benny,” she said, glancing at her watch. “I’d better leave. Lacota will be waiting for me at the dock.” She hesitated. “I’ll be gone for a couple of days.”
“ ’Bye, Catherine,” Violet said. “Thanks for taking the time to tell us about the Seminoles.”
“I was glad to,” Catherine said with a sweet smile.
Violet watched Catherine’s car leave. Catherine was such a lovely girl. She certainly couldn’t be guilty of doing anything bad.
“Do you think Catherine would introduce me to Lacota?” Benny asked.
Violet shook her head. “I doubt it, Benny. The Native Americans are friends with Catherine, but they might not like a stranger coming into their homes.”
Disappointed, Benny said only one word. “Oh.”
“Are you hungry?” Violet asked, standing.
“Breakfast!” Benny said. “I almost forgot.”
“Come on, then, let’s give Jessie a hand.” Violet and Benny dashed back to their unit.
When they arrived, they found Jessie mixing pancake batter, and Henry, who had returned from Kay’s, broiling sausages.
“Just in time to eat,” Henry said, dishing up the sausages. “Sit down, Benny.”
Violet set the syrup and butter on the table and poured the milk while Jessie placed a steaming stack of pancakes before Benny.
“How did Kay take the news about the oranges?” Violet asked.
Henry helped himself to several sausages and passed them to Jessie. “Kay wasn’t happy about it, but she’s determined to go ahead with redoing the motel.”
“Good,” Violet said, breathing a sigh of relief.
“Aunt Jane is going into Lyndale this morning with Kay. They’re stopping at the bank where Kay plans to ask for a loan,” Henry added.
“I hope she gets it,” Jessie said.
“I hope so, too,” Henry replied. “After they go to the bank, Aunt Jane and Kay are staying in town for shopping and lunch.”
“Good for them,” Violet said.
“W-e-ll,” Jessie said, drawing out the word and smiling slyly. “Kay did say the bedspreads and drapes will arrive today and if we wanted to—”
“If we wanted to!” Violet said eagerly. “Of course we want to!”
“Want to what?” Benny said, licking his fork for the last drop of syrup.
Violet’s brown eyes twinkled. “Want to unpack the bedspread and drapes and fix up each room.”
“Yes!” Benny said. “We’ll have a big surprise for Aunt Jane and Kay.”
“We sure will,” Henry said with a chuckle. “Kay said we all needed a break and that we should loaf today and go biking and swimming.”
“We can do that and put on the spreads, too,” Jessie said, clearing her plate and glass. She smiled at Benny. |