New and Strange Book 2

An Old Spark

"C'mon Will, hurry up!" Eliza called behind her, moving through the trees barefoot, the hot summer heat  turning the air humid, making her tied back hair stick out a little at ends.

"I'm hurrying-" William insisted, struggling to keep up like any city boy who'd never stepped foot in real nature would.

Eliza laughed, pulling up her green skirt  and tying it up, revealing her drawers as she continued ahead, keeping her shoes held under her arm. Will, upon seeing more leg then he'd ever seen on a woman given the times, turned bright red, averting his eyes to the ground as he followed behind Eliza. As he and Elizabeth had started an unlikely friendship, Eliza had revealed more and more of just how fearless she was. Currently, she was leading William to an old spot she'd visit in her youth that was guaranteed to save them from the Louisiana heat.

"Uh- Eliza- you're skirt."

"Boy, it's hotter than the devil's ass, don't expect me to sweat like a sinner in confession."

That was something else Will was getting used to, hearing words put together in ways he never would have thought to put them. It made him smile a little when Eliza would talk with that charming sass, finding her overall character to be one he was absolutely infatuated with. He knew already that he was in love with this woman, but he didn't want to tell her until the timing was more appropriate.

"We're almost there, just a little further!" Eliza called over her shoulder, an angelic smile gracing her face.

"Good-" Will loosened his tie, letting it hang over his shoulder as he met Eliza at the crest of the hill they'd been climbing, revealing a large, sparkling pond at the top.

The body of water was sparkling like crystals, and looked like it belonged in a fairy tale instead of the Louisiana wilderness. He could see small, colorful fish here and there, but there didn't seem to actually be any large animals nearby, leaving the pond peacefully quiet. It was baffling to Will how serene this whole landscape was, like something from a good dream.

"Eliza, how is this place so..." Will trailed off, looking over to where there was now a dress on the ground where Elizabeth had been.

"How's this place so darn pretty?" Eliza's voice called from on top of a large boulder that sat on a bit of a drop off along the pond's edge, standing with her hair down, completely in her undergarments, "My mamas' had a hand in that."

"Oh Jesus, Mary mother of God-" William squeaked, face turning bright red as he stared at the ground.

"Oh come on, Will!  So ya can take a gander at my bare arms and legs, it ain't like ya can see my lady parts!" She rolled her eyes, "Now take that shirt off and get in before the sun burns ya to a crisp!" Elizabeth smiled, and dove into the pond, Will's eyes following her graceful dive.

After a moment, Eliza came up for air, William's breath hung in the air. He'd read the stories of King Arthur getting his sword from the Lady of the Lake, it was one of his favorite stories, yet none of those depictions of the Lady could ever be so beautiful. As Eliza came up in a spot where she could stand, she brushed her hair back with her hands, face sparking with the water from the pond, shining in the beautiful light of the afternoon sun. William couldn't help but wonder if Eliza was a descendant of the Lady of the Lake, looking like a being too beautiful for this world.

"Well," Eliza spoke in an amused tone as she stared at him, her fingers brushing through her hair, "Hurry up and get in, the water's nice and cool~"

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Eliza had been thinking over this particular memory while she fought off the current heat in the kitchen, currently like the inside of an oven due to all the cooking being done to meet the needs of the hotel guest. As much as she didn't want to admit it out loud, she couldn't deny that the memory was one that she still thought of fondly. It had been such a simple day...yet a lot of things were simple between them at the time.

They'd only ended up there because they'd been walking a trail when hit with sudden heat, and Elizabeth happened to know the terrain of their surroundings. The heat had soaked into her very marrow,  so she'd talked William into changing their plans to see a play, instead they ended up sharing a swim. He'd been so nervous to even look at her, as if he'd spill his feelings right then and their...it had been so endearing and cute. Never had anyone made her feel so...treasured, and simply by looking at her.

"Are you alright, Auntie Eliza?" Nifty asked, coming in to grab the next order for room service, noticing the distant look on the woman's face.

"What- oh- I'm alright, Nifty." Elizabeth put on a pretty convincing smile, handing her the order, "It's just been a long day, dear."

"Are you sure? I can handle things by myself if you need a break."

"No hun, I'd never leave a job half finished. Just give me the next order, and I'll get to work while ya take this up to the right room." Eliza's tone was insistent, taking the order from Nifty while she handed the maid a covered plate.

"Alright...but take it easy, okay?"

"I will dear, now hurry along." Elizabeth waved her out the door, her smile faltering the moment Nifty was out of sight, leaning against the counter.

"This is such a mess."