The Reservoir (2 page)

Once she was back on solid ground, the group headed for the cabin, deciding to unload their gear later. 

“Rustic,” Kendall said of the cabin’s interior, doing a slow circle to take in the antiquated room.  Two small bedrooms could be accessed through a single, narrow doorway leading to a tiny hallway just off the main living room.  The kitchen was situated on the east side of the cabin, affording a view of the lake from the small window above the sink.  Unfortunately, the bathroom was through a door off the screened-in back porch. 

Holly had found this particular construction oddity a real pain—literally.  Mosquitoes converged in the evening, so a late night trip to the powder room turned the restroom goer into a midnight snack for the little bloodsuckers.  It wouldn’t have been so bad, had the screening been intact, but instead, big, gaping holes allowed the bugs ready access. 

The condition of the cabin seemed curious to her, since David was such a stickler for cleanliness at home.  It wasn’t that the cabin was dirty, but it was simply … worn.  She couldn’t help but wonder why he hadn’t done extensive repairs.  She had intended to ask him if he planned to remodel it at some point, but the opportunity hadn’t presented itself.

“Well, it beats a tent,” Kendall declared drolly, after her perusal of the cabin.  Her pretty features crunched in disappointment.  “I’m not sure what I was expecting, but…”  She gave a dismissive wave.  “No, I know what I was expecting.  I was expecting something nicer than this.  Sorry, Holly.  Nothing personal.”

“You’re right, Kendall.  It
does
beat a tent,” Niqui said pointedly, shooting her a look of daggers.  “It’s nice of Holly’s stepdad to let us use his cabin for the week.  Right, Kendall?  Now, this is where you thank Holly, and ask her to convey your gratitude to her stepfather.  Right?”

“Oh.  Yes.  Right.  Thanks,” she said without enthusiasm.

“I’m famished,” Niqui said suddenly, and headed for the refrigerator.  She poked her brunette head inside and began pulling out sandwich makings.  She had a bologna and cheese assembled in no time.

“Did you guys stop at the grocery store?” Holly asked, noting Niqui had taken the last two slices of bread. 

“No time,” Kendall told her.  “We can run back to Amboy if we need anything.”

“We’ll be going soon then.  I told you guys we need bread.”

“Later,” Daniel said, tearing off his t-shirt.  “Let’s go swimming.”

“Shouldn’t we wait for Zack?” Kendall said. 

Daniel shrugged.  “Why?  We’ll be able to see him from the dock when he pulls up.  Heck, we’ll hear him from a mile away.  That big diesel truck he drives roars like a bear.”  Suddenly, he narrowed his eyes, his expression impish.  “Hey, let’s take the boat out!  Now!  Let’s do it!”

“Oh, no, we’re not,” Holly said.  “Only Zack is cleared to drive the boat.  And me, of course.”

“Ah, come on.  I’m a quick learner.  I drive a car like a pro, don’t I?”

“Not even on a good day,” Kendall said, rolling her eyes. 

“Hey, I’m not that bad,” he said, in mock seriousness.  “Driving is a privilege, you know.”  He cracked up laughing at the declaration, which alerted his friends to the fact that he considered driving a God-given right. 

“Sorry, Daniel, but you won’t be driving David’s boat.  Not this trip, anyway,” Holly said.

“Whatever.”  He dropped into a well-worn recliner that no longer reclined.  Unfortunately, he didn’t know that, and practically went into orbit trying to tip the chair back.

“Daniel!  The chair doesn’t work!” Holly cried.

“Oh,” he said numbly, settling into it and giving his friends a chagrined glance.  “This is really roughing it, dudes.  No working recliner.  That really sucks.”

“We’re not dudes!” the three girls cried in union.

“Why again was it we invited him?” Holly teased.

“Because you all love me!” he cried, launching from the chair and snaking out his arms and pulling all three girls into a hug. 

“We do love you, Daniel,” Holly told him, laughing good-naturedly.  He was a good guy.  Loud, sometimes obnoxious, always high strung, but… loyal to the end.

“Swimming then?” he implored, making a sweet, pathetic face that wasn’t fooling anyone.

“Oh, why not?” Holly acquiesced.  “He’s right.  We’ll be able to see, and hear Zack, from the water when he gets here.”

“Meet me at the dock!” Daniel instructed as he headed out of the cabin. 

The girls hurriedly changed into their swimwear and dashed outside.  They found Daniel waiting for them at the end of the dock.  His back was to them and he was staring intently at the slightly murky water.  Apparently he hadn’t heard the girls approach since he didn’t turn around when they reached the dock.  When Holly tweaked his side, he spun around, eyes wide with fright.

“What’s up, Danny Boy?” she asked, frowning at the distressed expression on his usually jovial face.  In his eyes, she registered abject terror, despite the fact that he tried to hide it.  Unfortunately for him, she knew him too well.

“Nothing,” he said too quickly.  “Nothing’s up.  Hey, uh, I’ve changed my mind about swimming.  Let’s go back to the cabin.”  He gestured for the girls to follow, and turned and began walking back. 

“Daniel, why don’t you want to swim?” Holly called.

“I just … don’t.  Come with me, you guys.”

“Not a chance,” Kendall said as she waded into the water.

“This was your idea, Daniel,” Niqui reminded him, as she followed Kendall into the water.  “Come in with us.”

He shook his head.  “Uh, maybe … later,” he murmured.  “I think I’ll go inside and wait for Zack.”

Holly watched after his retreating figure, confused by the sudden shift in his manner.  What was wrong with Daniel?

“Holly, come in!” Niqui called.  “The water feels great.”

Holly stood at the end of the dock, staring at the green water below her.  Although it was murky from pollen and floating debris, it was shallow enough here for her to see to the bottom of the lake.  She spied several shadowy rock forms, a cleanly cut tree trunk, and a small trout swimming toward the underside of the dock.  Just beyond and to the left, she spied the grove of tree stumps David had warned her about. 

What had alarmed Daniel? she wondered, because, something had.  She knew it.  She felt it. 

One minute, he had been cheerful and upbeat, the next—terrified.  And he wasn’t pretending.  Of that, she was certain.  She hadn’t known him since he was five without having learned his personality quirks.

“I’m going to check on Daniel.”

“He’s just being a pooper,” Kendall declared.  “Sometimes that boy can be so melodramatic.  Come on, Holly!  The water is perfect.”

“I’m worried about him,” she mused aloud.  “One minute, he couldn’t wait to go swimming, the next, he refused to go near the water.  What’s up with that?  He loves the water.”

“Ah, he’s just pulling a fast one,” Niqui said.  “Just trying to worry us.  He’s probably hiding behind a tree right now and ready to jump out and scare the bejeebers out of us.”

“I don’t know,” she said doubtfully.  “He seemed really … upset.” 

She turned toward the cabin.  She spied Daniel’s face in the window above the kitchen sink.  He stood stiff as a board, watching them. 

With a sigh, she called to her friends.  “I’ll be right back.”  She headed for the cabin and entered.  Daniel had left the window and was slumped in the recliner.

“What’s up, bud?” she asked.  “You’re acting weird.”

“This isn’t an act,” he said, attempting a smile.

“Well, true.  Acting equates to pretending, and you don’t pretend to be weird.  You are weird.”

She’d hoped to manage a smile from him, but no go.  He looked stricken by her remark.  “Oh, Danny Boy, spill it.  You have me worried.”

He shook his head, rose from the chair, and walked to the window.  He was silent for a long moment, his back to her.  “Holly, tell ‘em to come out of the water.  Please.”    

“Daniel…  Talk to me.”

He turned and made a play of checking his watch—which wasn’t presently on his wrist.  “What time is it?  Shouldn’t Zack be here by now?” he murmured.

As if on cue, they heard the sound of a big diesel engine.  Holly was sure she saw Daniel sigh with relief.  “Get the girls!” he commanded.

“They’re happy where they are, Daniel,” she said in a soothing voice.

“I don’t care!” he snapped.  “Didn’t you say we need to pick up groceries at Amboy?  It’s as good a time as any.  Get the girls and we’ll get our shopping done.”

Daniel spun on his heel and strode out of the cabin.  Holly hurried after him and stood back as he jogged to Zack’s truck.  The lean boy was dwarfed by the big Ford.  Once the roar of the diesel engine cut off, Zack dropped out of the driver’s side and strode over to greet his friend. 

Zack, who was several inches taller than Daniel, and powerfully built, bent to listen to his friend speak.  They stood as still as statues, talking for several moments.  Finally, Zack gave a swift shake of his head and draped a brotherly arm around his best friend.   He didn’t immediately release him, but instead, pulled him into a quick embrace. 

Holly watched, her eyes narrowed with curiosity.  What was up with Daniel?  It had to be serious, since he’d turned to Zack for comfort.  The two were like brothers. Zack, probably due to his sheer size, often assumed the big brother role, but Daniel could step into the role just as easily. 

He finally released Daniel, giving him a playful push toward the cabin, while he went the other direction, toward the water.  A minute or so later, the girls followed him back to the cabin, where Holly and Daniel stood nearby the back porch, unspeaking.  It was so unlike Daniel to be so quiet.

Holly sent a hesitant glance his way.  His eyes were red with unshed tears, and she had absolutely no idea why.  He’d performed a quick change when it came to temperament, and it wasn’t a change she was familiar with in him.  Surly and melancholy were two adjectives that had never described her life-long friend.

“Get dried off, ladies,” Zack commanded.  “We’re heading to the grocery store.”

“Can’t it wait?” Kendall asked.  “I want to swim some more.”

“Nope, it can’t wait,” he said, suddenly sounding like a drill sergeant.  “According to Daniel, we need groceries.  Dry off.  We need to pool our cash, make a list, and drive back to Amboy.  If we’re back here early enough, maybe we can take the boat out.” 

The latter was said with a hopeful look at Holly, who didn’t miss the stark look of apprehension that flashed in Daniel’s eyes when he heard boating might be on the evening’s agenda.  Earlier, he had been so excited about the prospect of boating.

“Sure,” Holly said tentatively, not wanting to upset Daniel.  “But we need to hurry.  I’m not comfortable boating in the dark.  Too many hazards in the water,” she added.

“Hazards,” Daniel repeated softly.

The girls turned toward him, each giving him a speculative look.  “Daniel, spill.  What’s up with you?” Niqui said.  The statuesque brunette draped an arm over his shoulders and gave him a squeeze.    

He shrugged in response, stepping out from under Niqui’s arm to cross his arms over his chest.

“Nothing’s up with Danny Boy,” Zack quipped, giving his friend a good-natured shove that sent him tumbling toward the base of a broad-trunked evergreen.  Daniel righted himself just before he slammed into the tree. 

“Whoa, sorry, dude,” Zack said earnestly.  “You’re just so light.  We need to get this kid a Twinkie.  No, we need to get him a couple boxes of Twinkies.”

Even the mention of his favorite snack cake didn’t cheer Daniel up as he walked slowly toward the vehicles parked several yards away.  “Who’s driving?” he called over his shoulder in a fatigued voice.

“I will,” Kendall said, and he walked dejectedly toward her car and took a seat in the back.

“What gives, Zack?” Holly asked.  “Daniel is really upset about something, but he refuses to talk about it.”

He waved a dismissive hand and flashed a high-voltage grin.  “Danny Boy’s all right.  Don’t give him a thought.  We’ll be waiting for you girls in the car.” 

***

On the way to the grocery store, the kids compiled a shopping list.  Later, at the market in the small town of Amboy, Holly tore the grocery list into several pieces, giving each individual an item or two to find.  They made it out of the store in record time, and it looked like they would have an hour or two of boating ahead of them. 

Back in Kendall’s car, Holly shot a worried glance at Daniel.  Would he come boating with them?  Sadly, he had remained quiet on the drive to the store, and was equally subdued now. 

Finally, Niqui pressed him for answers about his odd behavior.  “Daniel, if you don’t open that mouth of yours and tell us what the heck happened back at the water, I’m going to hold you down and tickle you until you talk.”

“Yeah, Dan,” Kendall added, “and you know I’m relentless when it comes to tickle torture.”  Suddenly, Kendall appeared to have an idea.  “Heck, I’ll take you down to that water, toss you in, and hold you under until you signal you’re ready to talk…”

“Kendall,” Zack said sternly, “knock it off.”

Holly, who sat in the middle seat in the back, felt Daniel stiffen beside her.  Niqui, on her other side, nudged her, lifting her brows in question at Daniel’s odd behavior.  She shook her head worriedly, meeting Niqui’s concerned gaze.

Finally, Daniel sighed.  “I … saw … something in the water.”

“Yeah, so?” Kendall prompted.  “What’d you see?”

Zack, who was sitting up front in the passenger seat, turned around in the seat to watch his friend.  He gave him a warning glance.  “Dan—iel…” he said, drawing out his friend’s name.

He sent an anguished glance at his friend.  “Zack, you know it’s happening…”

“Daniel, enough!” he snapped.  “We’ll talk about this later.  You’re wrong.  You’re so wrong.  I know you.  Do you
hear
me?”

Daniel glanced frantically around, his eyes lighting first on Niqui, then on Holly.  Holly caught sight of Kendall’s frightened blue eyes in the rearview mirror.