Page 73 of Hearts Aweigh
“Somehow I don’t think that’s a compliment.” Althea held the mask to her face and made a wailing sound.
“Won’t it give him nightmares?” asked Gerry.
“Not Jayshawn.” She chuckled. “He was born for trouble. I bet he’ll have a heap of fun scaring his sisters.”
Lips twitching, Abby met Spencer’s gaze.
“Let’s not waste time.” Emily pushed Abby toward the trail. “We want to visit the waterfall and get back to the ship before dark.”
The ladies took off. Spencer moved to follow but stopped when their guide didn’t join them.
He eyed the young man. “Aren’t you going to show us the way?”
Fernando shook his head with a grin. “I must do a favor for Mrs. Emily. Do not worry. I will be here to drive when you finish.”
Spencer studied Fernando as if the man were a hostile witness. Something was off. Spencer looked over his shoulder and noted the women disappearing with Maddie among the trees. He considered Fernando. “I expect to see you when we return.”
“Yes, sir.” His smile was a little too broad.
Spencer hesitated but took off after the women, hoping against hope the pinch in his gut was wrong.
CHAPTER 37
ATWENTY-FOOT CLIFF. BUSHESand brambles stuck from the uneven surface. A rough-hewn rock wall stood in front of an indentation in the ground that might serve as a pool if there were water flowing.
But there wasn’t.
Not a drop.
Abby swatted a fly. She hoped Maddie wouldn’t be too disappointed. The girl stood by her side, eating the lollipop Daisy had purchased for her from the convenience store.
Maddie stared at the dusty mountain with confusion. “Where’s the waterfall?”
Spencer shifted the step stool. “My thoughts exactly.” His sarcastic tone didn’t help the situation.
The four Shippers huddled around a sign stuck in the ground near the wall. It was made with a piece of poster board and a thin wooden stake. The font was neat and meticulous.
Emily pointed to the words. “This explains it. We might have to wait a while.”
“I hope it isn’t too long.” Althea waved an empty water bottle in the air. “I need to tinkle.”
Abby drew Maddie closer, then walked to the sign and read the precise lettering. “It says the falls appear on certain days after heavy rains. During a dry summer, the location is an ordinary cliff. The townspeople named it Cascada Sorpresa—Surprise Waterfall. If you make a wish when the waterfall is visible, it will come true. And if a couple share a kiss in front of the pool, their love will last forever.” She squeezed Maddie. “Isn’t that cool?”
“Do you believe everything you read?” Spencer bent and dropped the stool on the ground. “I suspect the store owner invented a romantic story to rope in the tourists. Why is there a makeshift sign instead of a permanent one? And why is it only written in English when we’re in Mexico?”
She gave him a warning grimace. Glancing at Maddie, Abby kept a cheerful attitude. “Let’s wish for something.”
Maddie licked her lollipop. “I wish I could eat this candy a lot.” She wandered to her colorful stool, climbed up, and raised on her tiptoes to search for the nonexistent waterfall.
Ten minutes passed while they waited. The Shippers chatted. Maddie wandered around with her lollipop. And Spencer checked his email on his phone.
Abby kept her sights glued to the top of the cliff. When she spotted the first few drops trickle over the edge, she hooted. “Maddie, look!”
The girl ran and hopped on her stool again. Everyone joined her at the wall.
The paltry dribble became a stream until a gentle cascade of water poured down the cliff.
“Wow!” Maddie clapped. “A waterfall.”
