Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
The Investigators, Inc. The Case That Is Not. Chapter 1. Marriage.
Well, it has been quite a while now since our last case, I am nicely healed from that stab wound. Almost, anyway. I still have to use a cane for walking, seems some nerves, and muscles, were damaged. Hopefully the cane will not be a permanent addition, though it does have a few advantages. Especially as a secret weapon. Tomorrow is the big day, and the weather is going to be great, so the wedding will be outdoors like Jennifer was hoping for.
I do not know why I am nervous, I have been through this twice before. Actually, this will be the second time marrying Jennifer. Kind of odd, but the first time really did not count, it was done for a cover on a case, and there was no wedding. Everything was done legally though, just in case someone checked our background. So I guess it is three times. Oh well.
Mandar has given us a free honeymoon at one of his private resorts. Then we can truly relax for a while before taking on any more cases. I am looking forward to this honeymoon. We will not be quite alone on this honeymoon, however, Baldwin and Mandar did not think that was a good idea. So Muffin, MC, and Storm will be with us. Plus, Sigurbjorn, Carine, Angel and Galyna.
I was beginning to think Baldwin would send the whole team. Oh well, he might be right, better to be safe. The team members coming with us will keep their distance most of the time, but if we go off the resort grounds for a walk on one of the many trails, then they will come along with us. Mandar has security guards around the resort itself, so we should be safe there. The cats will stay with us at night. Well, I slept good, amazingly, and today is the big day. The weather, and everything else, went perfectly.
Now we are on our way on one of Baldwin’s planes. Then it is just a short 5 mile trip by boat to the resort. “It was a perfect wedding Steve,” said Jennifer, “I am so happy.” “Yes, it was certainly perfect,” I agreed, “I was sure nervous though. And for some reason I still have that nervous feeling, it does not make sense.” Jenny looks at me. “I am the same way Steve,” she admitted, “I just feel that something is not right.” I called Muffin over.
“What do you cats think about our trip?” I asked her. She put her head down slightly. “Honesty, Muffin,” I said, “an honest answer.” Meow,meow.=Me think something not right. Same so with MC and Storm. We have nerve in us. “That is nervous,” I told her. Meow,meow.=Me just say that. Jennifer chuckled. “Well, I think we should forget about everything else for a while and enjoy our honeymoon,” I said confidently.
Soon we were landing at the airport and a car from Mandar’s resort was there to meet us. We were driven to a marina where we would take a boat, large yacht actually, to the resort 5 miles away. Rock, John, Ilda and Cindy had come with us this far, they will stay in a hotel in the city and head home in the morning.
Meanwhile, back in London, Mandar gets a phone call. “What?!” he exclaimed, “that cannot be possible!” The voice on the other end kept talking for a bit, then hung up. Mandar immediately phoned Baldwin, who was enjoying a fresh cup of coffee. “What?!” he exclaimed, “that is impossible!” Mandar kept talking for a bit, then hung up.
Baldwin called Rock right away. “What?!” he exclaimed, “that is not possible!” Baldwin told them to stay there until the rest of the team showed up. Poor Rock, he just paced back and forth in the room he shared with John. Ilda and Cindy had gone to get some food for them all. When they got back, they could barely believe what they heard.
Baldwin did allow them to get a couple of planes and get out looking. Both Rock and John were pilots. Ilda went with John and Cindy went with Rock. They stayed out looking as long as they could, then headed back. Our boat never arrived at the resort. It was one of Mandar’s yachts and he had men that he trusted on board to make sure we got to our destination safely.
But instead, we disappeared without a trace. Since we did not show up when we should have, the manager of the resort had called Mandar. Poor Mandar had a hard time believing how this could happen. He really wanted Jenny and I to have a wonderful honeymoon. We kept our plans a complete secret, how could anyone know where we would be? Mandar decided to come and oversee the search…
To Be Continued.
©2022 Steve McLeod.
Midweek Coffee Chat. #22
Good morning to all of you! It is another bright and sunny morning! Still a bit on the chilly side though with a temperature of 28F (-2C) earlier this morning. But it is warming up and should get to 45F (7C) by this afternoon. It then keeps warming up each day until Sunday. Then it gets colder again. Actually, this up and down temperature is hard on the aches and pains.
But it will give me some time to get the second feeder pole done and put in place. The first one is finished except for attaching the platform feeder to it, which I will likely do today. I have been using it the last week or so, but I will just use something else instead until the bears have gone into hibernation and I can begin using my new feeders which will then be in place.
The bears have not been around lately, so maybe I could begin using the new feeders now, but I have lost so many feeders already, I hesitate to start using them too early. But then I look at 2 of my neighbors. They feed birds too, though most of the birds come here. But their feeders are only about 5 to 6 feet high. That means the bears could easily get at them, but they do not touch them. They come after mine instead.
Mine are harder to get at. Maybe it is the challenge that they like and that is why they come after my feeders. I mean, the food is the same, so why not go after the easier feeders? Oh well, guess it is just the way bears think. Or something. Hmm, suddenly the clouds have moved in, that is not supposed to happen until this evening. With some showers overnight.
I was hoping for some photo time this morning. But I like sunshine. Even the birds that are mainly black and white, like the chickadees, look better in the sun. It is also warmer to sit in the sun. I find it hard to stay warm when I am just sitting, so having the sun shining on me helps a great deal. Even though there is no snow on the ground, the cold of the last week has made this look and feel more like winter than fall.
The ground is solidly frozen, the temperature stays below freezing night and day. To me, that is winter. However, fall returns for a few days, then back to that winter feel. The winter forecast for us is for below normal temperatures with times of bitterly cold.
Sounds like last winter. And lots of snow. Sounds somewhat like a normal winter, except colder, with more snow. Or maybe less snow. They were not too certain about the snow forecast. Whatever the case, it is a beautiful day! Hmm, I spent too much time talking about the weather. Oh well. It is that time of year. Time for more coffee! Have a great day and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
©2022 Steve McLeod.
