Page 114 of Cavern of Silence

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"Please, call me Julieta. Ma'am makes me feel old."

"My wife says that, too," he replies.

"She sounds like a smart woman."

He grins. "Yes, she is."

Julieta holds up the bag. "I'm going to go change." She goes into the cabin.

My stomach growls, so I dig into the food bag and pull out a wrapped breakfast sandwich. I stand next to William. "How hard is this?"

"A few casts, and you'll get the hang of it."

I have half my sandwich eaten when Julieta comes back out in a similar outfit to the men. I wiggle my eyes. "You look hot."

"In this?"

"Yep. You want a sandwich?"

"I'll just take a bite of yours."

I feed her my sandwich and go into the cabin and put on similar clothes. When I come back out, James is showing Julieta how to cast.

She throws it out.

I tease, "You look like a pro."

"Ha, ha."

"That was great for your first cast. Can tell you've done this before," James tells her. "But you should pull your scarf up. The reflection off the water will get any part of your exposed skin."

She does as he says, and so do I.

James gives me a lesson, and I cast. It only goes about a quarter as far as Julieta's went.

"Don't try so hard," James instructs. "Reel it in and try again. Lighten up on your throw."

I obey, and it goes farther. "Good. Did you feel the difference?"

"Yep."

I cast several times, getting the hang of it, when Julieta's pole bends. She excitedly cries out, "I think I have one!"

We huddle around her and James instructs, "Pull up a bit."

"I can't. It's too heavy. Ryker, help!" she squeaks out.

I stand behind her and circle my arms to the front of her and hold the pole. "You got this, baby!"

"Looks like a big one," William yells out.

The pole dips farther, and I do my best to hold it up as Julieta reels and the fish fights.

"Holy moly! This fish is a fighter!" she exclaims.

"You're doing great," I boast.

"Pull up more," James instructs.

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