Summer Mix
Chapter 35
The Castles awoke as the gentle pink of the sunrise streamed through the windows of the house. Taking no chances on missing their prize, Castle made breakfast without his usual flourish. Extra strong coffee, toast, and fresh fruit were sufficient fuel to set the couple on their way. Mist hung over the trail with morning light flashing from diamond droplets of moisture. The falls were magic, with water splashing off the rocks into the watery fog. Castle held his camera at ready, to catch the appearance of a multicolored treasure. Kate had brought towels which they placed over the rocks to provide a relatively dry place to sit. They took up posts at opposite ends of the falls and waited for something to appear.
The sun rose higher in the sky and the temperature with it, with no sign of a path to their pot of gold. "Castle," Kate declared, stripping off her light top and shorts to reveal her bathing suit underneath, "I'm going to take a swim."
"And it will be my pleasure to watch you," Castle replied.
Kate carefully entered the churning waters. The pool at the foot of the falls was not deep enough for her to actually swim, but she splashed enough water to cool herself until she caught sight of rocks, different from the others at the bottom of the pool. "Castle come and look at this," she called.
"Kate, you're not dunking me again, especially when I've got the camera," Castle protested.
"No, really," Kate argued. "There are a bunch of colored rocks in the bottom of the pool. They look a lot like a rainbow. They weren't here when we were hunting for the coin."
Castle took off his shoes, rolled up his shorts and waded in. "I see them," he confirmed as he reached the spot, "but it's supposed to be a double rainbow. Where's the other one?"
"Maybe these rocks mark where it's going to appear," Kate suggested. As if hearing her words, a shimmer of color formed in the droplets suspended in the air. After quickly rewarding Kate with a heartfelt kiss, Castle took as many shots as he could, framing the rainbow in the air and its copy in the rocks.
Castle left a stack of photos on the porch and returned to the kitchen where Kate was making thick sandwiches. Castle pitched in, preparing salads and icing coffee. Kate again filled the painted bowl with chips and they took their meal enjoying the lush view, yet comfortable in the coolness of the house. "Have you noticed those two birds?" Castle asked. "They've been here every day. I've even seen them outside the windows of the bathroom and our bedroom. I'd almost swear they were watching us."
Kate laughed, almost choking on her chilled latte. "Castle, it's nice to know that your imagination is as vivid as ever. The birds are just looking for food. Maybe they're hoping we'll throw some out to them. There've been lots of guests occupying this house. Some of them might have decided to feed the birds."
"I think I'll do that," Castle decided. "There's not enough of that bread left to do much of anything with. I can give it to them. Maybe they'll stop looking at us for a while."
"Or maybe they'll come around looking for more," Kate said doubtfully, "but whatever makes you happy."
Castle wiggled his eyebrows. "I'll hold you to that later."
Castle grabbed the leftover bread and took it out to the porch where he tore off bits he tossed in front of the house. As he returned inside he noticed that the photos he had put out had disappeared and another scroll taped to a small tin had been left in their place. He brought it back to Kate.
"What are those on the ribbon?" Kate asked. "They look like polka dots."
"More like chocolate chips or Hershey's kisses," Castle replied. "Let's see what it says." He read the rhymes out loud. "The task I give will test your skill, if to complete it is your will. With nuts you'll make a blossom bite and top it with a sweet delight. For me just leave a tasty test and happily enjoy the rest." Castle grinned. "I know what this means. They want us to bake peanut blossoms."
"My mother must have missed those in my culinary instruction. What are they?" Kate asked.
"They're every kindergartener's dream - unless they have a peanut allergy," Castle explained. "You make peanut butter cookies and then form the center of the flower with either kisses or a grouping of chocolate chips. It depends on whether you get the recipe from Hershey or Nestle. I know we didn't have any kisses in our chocolate stash, not that there would be any left to bake with, but I think I saw chips in our baking supplies. I'll check." Castle opened a cabinet and pulled out a large bag of extra dark chocolate bits as well as a jar of peanut butter. "We're set!" he announced gleefully.
"Castle do you have a recipe?" Kate asked.
"Recipe," Castle snorted, "I've done these for enough school parties and trips that I could do them in my sleep."
"Castle, maybe the problem is that you're awake," Kate suggested, surveying a cookie sheet full of overspread cookies with dark brown edges.
"Too much shortening," Castle said, shaking his head. "I couldn't remember if it was a half a cup or three quarters. It's all right. We have enough for another batch." He pried a cookie off the sheet and sampled it. "They taste good though."
The second time proved to be the charm. The aromas of peanut butter and warm chocolate mingled in the air as Castle produced several dozen treats. "I gotta admit, Castle," Kate said sampling one of his creations, "these are great."
"All we have to do is fill up the little tin and put it out on the porch and the rest of these are ours!" Castle proclaimed.
"Castle unless you want to eat yourself sick, what are we going to do with all of them?" Kate asked.
"There is actually something to be said for eating yourself sick on cookies," Castle offered. "I have extensive experience. But they do keep, and I have an idea, especially for the first batch."
"I'm almost afraid to ask," Kate told him. "What?"
"Poker," Castle replied, "we can use them for chips."
"And if the cookies crumble?" Kate asked.
"Well then," Castle whispered, fingering the button that secured her top, "we'll just have to find something else to play for."