Page 74 of Cowboys at Coconuts

After finishing the wine, they closed the picnic basket, and Cole reached for her hand. “The spring is over yonder.”

Cheri chuckled. “I like the way you talk. Sometimes it’s almost a foreign language.”

“Sometimes you talk too much.” Cole kissed her cheek, catching the side of her mouth.

She squeezed his hand. “That was nice, cowboy.” She tugged on his arm. “How far are we going?”

He pointed. “Just over the hill.” They continued to walk hand in hand until they reached the edge of a small body of water.

Cheri peered at the spring. “I can see my reflection. The water’s crystal clear.”

“We used to drink it as kids.” Cole squatted down and dipped his fingers in the water.

Cheri followed suit. “It’s cold. Really cold.”

“Springs are refreshing. Many come from caves. We have several thousand caves in Missouri.”

“Really? Have you explored any?”

“Sure. I’ve spelunked a few times. We’ll have to do that someday.”

“Maybe.” She grimaced. “Aren’t there bats?”

He heehawed. “Only the ones who want to drink your blood.”

Her eyebrows shot up.

“I’m joking. Bats keep to themselves unless you disturb them.”

“I don’t think I want to find out.”

Leaning over, Cole cupped his hands and drank the cool water.

“Is it safe to drink?”

“You never know if there’s a dead cow or another animal on the other end of the water but I’ve drank out of springs my whole life.”

“Dead animals?” She wrinkled her nose. “I’ll pass.”

While squatting, Cole sorted through the tan gravel along the creek bed beside the spring. After examining several rocks, he selected a flat, smooth rock slightly larger than a half dollar. “Watch.” Holding the rock between his index finger and thumb, he threw it sideways, flat side down, across the water. The rock skipped across the top of the water, leap frogging three times before sinking to the bottom.

“That’s so cool.” Hands on her knees, Cheri said, “I want to try.”

“Look for a flat rock.”

Cheri searched and searched until she found an oval-shaped rock about two inches long. She held it in the air. “Will this work?”

“It should. Give it a try.”

Throwing the rock into the water, it sank immediately. Her shoulders dropped.

Cole chuckled. “It takes practice. Here, let me show you.” He sorted the rocks and found two more good stones. Bending down behind Cheri, he took her arm and placed the rock between her finger and thumb. Holding her hand sideways, he pulled it back. “Before you throw it, make sure the flat side is down. Then toss it across the water from the side.”

She tried, but again, her rock sank straight to the bottom.

Cheri frowned. “I can’t do it.”

“Keep tryin’.” Cole skimmed a few more rocks that skipped across the top of the water three to five times each.

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