"Good evening and welcome to the Gardens. My name is Scott Young, and I am the manager and owner of the Gardens. I hope your trip up to our fine resort was uneventful because we have a full schedule of activities for you in the coming two weeks." He stepped away from the mic stand and strolled to the front of the stage. "One of the first activities is this dinner where you have the opportunity to meet your fellow guests and our staff. Unfortunately, Timothy the head waiter tells me there are a few concerns about the food. I can personally assure you that the food is cooked beyond where any harmful bacteria could survive, and medium-rare meat is a specialty we offer our guests that's infused with unique nutrients and sauces to give you the energy and vitality we guarantee will make you feel years younger."
"Why can't we have it well-done?" the gruff male guest spoke up.
Young smiled at his guest. "A good question. If we were to heat the meat to a higher temperature than the nutrients would be destroyed. However, if you still prefer to have your meat cooked beyond medium-rare, or prefer not to have any meat at all, we can certainly oblige. Unfortunately, our guarantee that you will feel years younger is no longer valid."
A ruckus erupted from some of the more vocal guests, particularly the vegans and the heavy-set gentleman. The manager set the mic back on the stand and walked into the crowd to address each complaint individually with the head waiter at his side. Susie and I watched the circus as angry voices shouted objections and hurled insults at the manager. Linda reappeared with our plates full of steaming meat and side orders of the salad.
Linda set our plates in front of us and the aroma of the food was enough to stimulate my appetite. "Fresh off the grill and the vine," she assured us.
"It looks great!" Susie replied.
I glanced around and noticed the vegan pair glare at us. "It looks like some other people disagree," I mused.
Susie picked up her knife and fork, and dove into the food. "They don't know what's good cooking," she returned through a mouthful of food.
I leaned toward Susie and lowered my voice. "All this stuff about the food is in the contract, isn't it?" I asked Susie.
She shrugged. "Yeah, but I guess they don't get a lot of people who read it."
"Or maybe they have a friend like mine," I teased.
Linda glanced around the room and lowered her voice so she couldn't be heard over the ruckus. "My-um, the manager, Mr. Young, told me most of the guests these last few sessions come here looking for a quick cure."
"So this spiel is for the guys who think they can get the youth guarantee without any of the pain?" Susie asked her.
I shot daggers at my friend. "You never said anything about pain."
Susie grinned at me and waved off my concerns. "There won't be much for two beautiful, athletic ladies such as ourselves."
"You're always so modest."
"I try."
Our conversation was interrupted when the manager returned to the stage and removed the mic from the pedestal. The grumblings from the irate guests were down to a dull drone and he smiled at the crowd. "If there are any further questions you can speak to me after the dinner, but I have a few important rules to set down before we let you enjoy our fine facilities. If these rules are broken then it's immediate expulsion from the camp without your money back. You may also never be allowed here again." There was a twitter of whispering at the severity of his tone. He held up a finger and the crowd silenced. "The first is that the other side of the lake is off-limits to everyone except staff. That's where they reside during their employment with us and they would like some privacy." He held up a second finger. "The second is don't try to swim outside the designated areas. Those are the areas cordoned off with floating lines. The reason is that we've had trouble with an invasive weed. If this weed wraps around your ankles or arms you could become trapped and drowned." There were several gasps from the audience. "There are no weeds in the designated areas, so you have nothing to worry about so long as you stay inside the floating lines." He held up a third finger. "Third and finally, there is no hiking allowed after dark, especially on the trails that lead west of here past the other side of the lake." He paused a moment to let the three rules sink in. "Are there any questions before I let you enjoy your dinner?" he asked the audience. A woman's hand raised, and he pointed at her. "Yes?"
"Does the water here really make you feel younger?" she wondered.
He smiled. "That's part of our guarantee, or your money back."
"So I'll feel like a horny teenager?" a man of about seventy spoke up. The audience roared in laughter.
Young chuckled. "Close to it, and on that note I have to warn you that with all this new energy that fighting isn't allowed. Anyone caught creating a disturbance of any kind may be expelled. After a thorough investigation, that is. We can't have all those raging hormones causing a problem with the tranquility of the Gardens. Are there any other questions?" Nobody else raised their hands. "Good, now enjoy your meal and welcome to the Gardens." He bowed his head and walked off the stage.
The clamor of the room resumed and I dug into my plate. Susie wasn't just being nice when she commented on the deliciousness of the food. The meat was tender and juicy, and there was a strange but tasty spice injected into the muscle that invigorated me. I felt more active at the end of the meal than before, and I reluctantly pushed away my empty plate.
All the while Linda stood aside and saw to our needs. I glanced around and noticed a few spare chairs along the walls. "Why don't you take a seat?" I suggested.
Her eyes widened and she shook her head. "No, I couldn't do that."
"Yeah, pull up a chair," Susie insisted.
"No, I really couldn't. I'm supposed to attend to your needs," Linda argued.
I caught Susie's eyes and nodded at one of the empty chairs. She returned the nod, stood, and scooted the seat over to our table so it sat on her left. "We can't be comfortable if you're not comfortable," Susie told our attendant as she gently grasped Linda's upper arms and plopped her into the chair.
Linda's face paled and she fidgeted in her chair. "But I really do need to-"
"Stay right where you are and enjoy yourself," I interrupted her. I pushed my bowl of salad toward her. "I've had as much as I can eat. Why don't you have some of my salad?"
Linda's lips curled up in a smile, but she shook her head. "I'm fine. I don't usually eat salad."
"Too bad, this stuff's great!" Susie spoke up. She broadly smiled and showed off a piece of lettuce stuck between her teeth.
Linda covered her mouth with one hand to stifle her laugh and I sighed. "You have something in your teeth," I told my friend.
Susie squinted and tilted her head to one side. She reached up and picked at the leaf, and managed to retrieve half of the piece. "Did I get it?"
Linda choked on her laughter and I rolled my eyes. "No, but we'll get it later," I replied.
"How are you ladies enjoying your meals?" a voice spoke up.
Linda jumped to her feet and Susie and I turned to find a man standing between us. It was the manager, Mr. Young. "I-I'm sorry, Scott-Mr. Young. I didn't mean to sit on the job," Linda told him.
He smiled and waved off her concerns. "You don't have to be worried. It's great to see our attendants getting along so well with our guests." He glanced between Susie and me. "You must be Miss Lee and Miss Baker." Young turned his full attention on Susie. "I remember your last visit a few months ago. I hope this one will be bringing you back in a few more months."
"If you keep with the same cook I might have to come back here every week," she quipped.
Young chuckled. "I'm glad to hear that." His gaze fell on me, and I blushed and looked down. "And you must be Miss Lee. It's a pleasure."
I noticed he held his hand out toward me, and I hastily shook it and my hand retreated to my lap. "A pleasure," I mumbled.
"If there's anything I can do for you lovely ladies just tell me," Young insisted.
"Well, I was hoping for some personal s
wimming lessons with your cutest swimming instructor and a massage session with your most handsome masseuse," Susie replied.
I shot daggers at her, but Young only rubbed his chin and there was a twinkle in his beautiful blue eyes. "That's a tall order to choose between our men, but I'll see what I can do."
"Oh, and-" I jabbed Susie in the ribs and let all the steam out of her endless demands. "On second thought, that's enough," she squeaked.
"I'll see who's on your schedule and look into your requests. Good evening, ladies." Young bowed his head to us and disappeared into the lobby.
Linda ran a hand through her hair and sighed. "He is so going to kill me later," she mumbled.
"He'd better not," Susie growled.
Linda shook her head and took our empty plates. "It's fine. I'll deserve whatever punishment I get because I should have known better than to sit down on the job. It's just that-well, I'm a little new on the job."
"How new?" I asked her. She blushed and mumbled something. I leaned one ear close to her. "I didn't catch that."
"This is my first session," she admitted.
Susie snorted, wrapped an arm around my shoulders, and hugged me to herself. "That's okay, it's Abby's first session, too. You two are both noobs compared to me."
I glared at her and disentangled myself from her grasp. "Thanks, that makes us both feel so much better."
Linda smiled at our antics. "It makes me feel better, and I'm really glad I have two great guests to be my first attendees."
Susie beamed. "That's us! The perfect guests!"
I stood and grabbed her arm. "Uh-huh, now these perfect guests should get some sleep. That was a long drive here and I'm exhausted."
"Did you want me to walk you back to your cabin?" Linda offered.
"No, I think we've got it," I told her.
"Then I'll see you tomorrow. Did you need me to call you when breakfast is served?" she asked us.
"That'd be great. See you tomorrow," I called to her as I dragged my troublesome friend from the dining hall.
"But don't you want to meet our lovely fellow guests?" Susie quipped.
I snorted. "No, I've got a big enough headache in my hands."
Chapter 5
Susie couldn't free herself until I dragged her outside the lodge. She yanked her arm from my grasp. "Not so hard. It's the only right arm I have," she protested.
"And I have only one brain, but you keep killing the cells with your insanity," I countered.
We walked toward our cabin and Susie shrugged. "It's the least I could do for a friend."
"Yeah, thanks," I replied. I paused and glanced up at the sky. The sun had set during our half-long dinner and a show, and over our heads was now the clear night sky. The bright moon hung just above the horizon and hinted at a full moon in the near future. A few loose gray clouds lazily wandered by and a small breeze wafted by us. I sighed and couldn't help the smile that slipped onto my lips.
"I forgot how fast the sun sets here," Susie mused.
I gazed at the western sky and noticed the tall, shadowed mountains that stood there. They set the sun a few hours earlier than was usual. "This place seems to have no end of beautiful views," I murmured.
Susie grinned and prodded her elbow into my side. "Liking this place?" she teased.
I straightened and coughed. "Well, maybe just a little," I admitted.
"It's a great view, isn't it? Not something we can get from our apartment window," she agreed.
"Yeah, we'd better enjoy it while we can. We've only got two weeks here," I reminded her.
Susie rolled her eyes and gently wrapped her hands around my arm. "You're such a spoiled sport," she commented as she pulled me along toward our cabin.
I shrugged. "It's the truth. This is only a vacation."
Susie leaned toward me and wagged her eyebrows. "But what if you got sweet with that manager? I bet he stays here year-around and then I could visit you two in your love nest."
I snorted. "Uh-huh, and I bet he has a gorgeous dumb blond waiting for him at his place."
"And she probably has some assets on mortgage, too," Susie added.
We cackled and reached our cabin in a few moments. Susie flopped herself on the bed, laid her hand on her stomach, and sighed. "You know, I don't know how I lose weight here with all the food they give us."
"Must be all the mountain air," I commented. I sat at the end of my bed and pulled off my shoes. The stiffness of my feet told of the long day. I studied my shoe and glanced over to Susie. "Did that manager go around the tables the last time you were here?"
Susie shook her head. "Nope." A grin slowly crept across her lips and she rose onto her elbows. Her eyebrows wagged at me. "Maybe he saw you staring at him and wanted to get your number."
"Or maybe he was just being nice and saying hello to everyone," I argued.
She snorted. "He didn't go to any other table after ours and the way he snuck up on us I'd say he came from the lobby or some place like that."
I shrugged. "Well, whatever he was doing we'll see if we meet him again. He's going to have his hands full with all those other guests."
Susie sat up and frowned. "Yeah, they weren't very easy to get along with. I'm glad Linda got stuck with us so those guys didn't chew her up."
I yawned and stretched my arms over my head. "Well, whatever happens it's going to have to happen tomorrow. I'm going to hit the hay."
Susie jumped up and grabbed her bag. "Ditto."
In a few minutes we slipped into our beds and fell asleep. Whatever they put in that special sauce on the meat must have been part-waking powder because I slept horribly. I tossed and turned for a few hours, long after Susie was out like a light. There was a nightstand between our beds with a simple clock, and I glanced at the time. Midnight. The witching hour.
In this case it became the howling hour as a sound like the wailing of a wolf wafted came to my ears. I sat up and so did the hairs on the back of my neck. My eyes flickered between the window and my friend. Neither moved. I flung aside the covers, slipped on my slippers and shuffled to the window. I looked out the glass, but still nothing came to my sight. Another howl was heard, and this one sounded like it came from the direction of the lodge. I grabbed my coat and went for the door. I could have woken Susie, but she was impossibly slow in an emergency and I was curious.
I slipped out the front door and crept onto the gravel road that ran along the cabins. The moon was still low in the sky but on its downward march to disappearing. I turned my head to the left and right. Nothing. Not even a twitch of a shadow.
Wait. There it was. The howling. It definitely came from the lodge. I strode down the road toward the shadowed building. Everything was shadows. Only a few stars dared show their faces against the light of the moon. I wish I hadn't been in such a hurry and forgotten to bring a flashlight.
I reached the front doors of the lodge and a few dim interior lights allowed me to see into the lobby. Nothing again. I turned back to the main road and the forest that lay beyond it. "I swore the noise came from here," I muttered.
"Good evening, Miss Lee."
I yelped and spun around. My arm was outstretched for a fight, but a hand caught me by the wrist. I pulled and yanked. "Let go of me!" I yelled.
The man stepped closer to me and by the weak lights of the lodge lobby I realized it was Mr. Young who held me. He had a wide smile on his face as my cheeks blushed crimson. "I'd like to be sure you don't try to hit me again before I let you go," he teased.
"I-I'm sorry, Mr. Young. I didn't-"
"Scott."
I blinked at him. "Beg your pardon?"
"My name is Scott. I prefer that one to Mr. Young," he explained.
"Well, I didn't mean to try to hit you. You just sort of came out of nowhere and I was following this strange sound-" I glanced behind him to the lodge doors. I had not idea how I'd missed him. "Where did you come from?" I asked him.
He chuckled. "The darkness, of course, but you forget
that I know this place much better than yourself." He released me and scrutinized my face. His lips twitched up in a sly grin. "Miss Lee, it seems to me your cheeks are always red when we meet. Do you have a fever?"
I spun away from him and turned my face from his prying, dashing eyes. Even in the dark their blue color sprang out of the night shadows. "I-it's nothing, I'm just-um, cold. You know, not used to this night air or something."
Scott chuckled. "Well, whatever your reasons I must remind you that you're out after dark, and that's prohibited."
I glanced back to him and raised an eyebrow. "No, you said being on the trails after dark was against the rules." I pointed down at the gravel beneath my slippers. "I'm on a road."
Scott grinned and bowed at the waist toward me. "I stand corrected. However, I must ask that you return to your room. It isn't safe to be walking around an unfamiliar area in the middle of the night, and I'm sure you must be tired."
I shrugged. "Not really. I couldn't get to sleep."
He raised an eyebrow and his lips thinned to a line. "I'm sorry to hear that. Are you often unable to sleep in new places?"
I shook my head. "Nope. Usually I'm asleep faster than Susie, and that's saying something. Maybe it was something I ate."
His smile returned, but not as wide nor as jolly as before. "Possibly, but I hope that won't stop your eating our diet. It's very important for the guarantee."
I snorted. "You honestly believe in your guarantee?"
"Absolutely." He spoke in such a firm tone that I furrowed my brow.
"But how do you guarantee that?" I persisted.
"Through fun and vigorous exercise, a strict diet, and relaxation in-between," he told me.
I crossed my arms and raised an eyebrow. "And that's somehow supposed to make people years younger?"
"You can ask any of our previous guests in our sessions. I'm sure Miss Baker will agree," he insisted.
I sighed and shrugged. "Yeah, Susie told me about the place and got me to come, but I still don't believe it, and I don't think you'll be able to use this session for any advertising posters. You almost had a mutiny on your hands during dinner."
"Not all our sessions are a complete success, but every round has their jewels among the rocks," he argued. His eyes wept over me and my damn cheeks performed their blushing routine. "But it is getting late, and this night air, refreshing as it is, isn't always the warmest," he warned me.