Mac and Jo were on their way into town. "So, who do you think your secret admirer is?" Jo asked.

"I don't have a secret admirer," Mac replied.

"Oh, yes you do. Somebody is sending you flowers."

"This is kinda confusing. I thought we had already caught the one who was sending me flowers."

"Maybe it was two different people."

"But they were from that same flower shop. That first bouquet I got came from there too."

"Maybe this woman sent them from there because she thought it would be hard for you to track down who sent them."

"But why would Ella even send them?"

"Oh, more confusing plots. Sometimes I think there is someone somewhere writing all this and making it up as they go just to see how we can get out of it."

Mac chuckled at that. "Maybe they are. Maybe we're just characters in a big plot."

"I am ready for a more peaceful plot."

Mac leaned back on the seat. "Maybe we will find a more peaceful one in town."

"I am going to take you to my favorite restaurant today for lunch. We're going to go fishing at the town fishing hole and there will be no stills around."

Mac smiled. "I hope not. I was kinda surprised when I smelled that but I knew what it was."

"How did you know?"

"I had smelled it before. When I was stationed in Pensacola, Florida, we kept smelling something on the base when the wind blew a certain way and finally we found out that someone had a still out there on the other side of the fence but that wasn't our property so we had never found it before."

"You never know what is in your back yard."

"If we ever have a place of our own with woods, we better keep an eye out there to make sure no one is raising marijuana on our land. I have heard of that happening and the homeowners were in trouble and they didn't even have anything to do with it."

"Did they prove it?"

"How do you prove it?"

"Oh I know. Everyone is guilty of something."

Mac looked at her with a mischievous grin. "What are you guilty of?" he asked.

"If people only knew." Jo looked at him. "I'm definitely guilty of being in love with you."

"Well, if they put you in jail for that, I'm in trouble."

Jo laughed. "How did you ever stay single so long?" she asked.

Mac considered that. "I played hard to get?"

"You were pretty hard to get. I had to force myself on you."

Mac looked at her. "You didn't force yourself on me," he said.

"I just took advantage of you."

"Yes, I am such a sucker."

Jo laughed out loud at that. "That could be considered dirty," she said.

"Hmmm. Maybe I meant for it to be dirty."

"You have a devious mind."

"Do I? Maybe that is what makes a good detective."

"Are you saying I have a devious mind too?"

"Well, you knew how to lure me into your chamber."

"And trapped you and you'll never get out."

"I don't want out."

"I'm glad. Maybe we won't have any fights."

"I don't know of anything I want to fight about."

"Me either."

As they were entering Montgomery, Mac was surprised that it was not a very big city but he could see the capital building. "How long did you live here?" Mac asked.

"I lived here since I was fifteen. Mama wanted to move here after my grandparents died. I didn't move out till I got married and then I moved to Washington and finished my degree and became an agent."

"So you married before you finished your degree?"

"Yes. We were in love."

"I married Claire before I shipped out the second time. Then after I went to the war, I decided that it was time for me to stop leaving her and we moved to New York. I became a rookie cop and worked my way up."

"To the head of the crime lab. It's amazing how you did that."

"It wasn't easy."

Finally they came to a lake that was sparkling with the sun and looked like it was well cared-for. There were a few big trees around it and a walkway that went all the way across. Mac had not seen anything quite like it. He and Jo got out of the SUV and got the lawn chairs out. "This is a perfect spot," Jo said as she walked over under a big Oak tree. "I just love these big old Oaks. They give the perfect shade."

"They're nice alright," Mac agreed.

They got their fishing gear out and sat down under the tree. Mac pulled out a Styrofoam box. He looked at Jo and grinned one of his mischievous grins. "Are you going to bait your own hook?" he asked.

Jo looked at him with a knowing look. "I know what you're getting at, Taylor," she said. "Don't even try that on me. I'm a country girl and I was probably handling worms by the time I was three."

"So I can't have any fun with you, huh?"

"Not if you're wanting me to scream."

Mac opened the box and pulled out a big fat worm. He held it over in front of Jo while she was looking down so that it would be right in her face when she looked up. Jo looked up and saw the worm and almost jumped. "Mac Taylor!" she said.

Mac laughed and leaned away from her as she tried to hit him on the shoulder. "I thought you weren't scared of them," he said. "I was just trying to give you one."

"Oh, don't even try that innocent act. I know you."

Mac laughed out loud. "You're so cute sometimes," he said.

Jo's mouth dropped open. "Cute?"

"Yes, just darling."

Jo narrowed her eyes at him. "I'll show you cute," she said.

"Oh, don't make any threats now. I've got a hook here." Mac held up the hook on his line.

"Are you going to hook me with that?"

Mac could see the amusement in Jo's eyes. "You already have me hooked," he said.

Jo leaned toward him. "I want a little smooch," she said.

Mac leaned toward her. "I wouldn't mind that."

"Aren't you afraid someone might see our passion?" Jo whispered.

"They'll get over it," Mac replied.

They shared a semi-long kiss and then baited their hooks. Mac leaned back in his chair and stared at his cork in the water. "I did get a friend request on that profile page that you and Lindsey so jokingly set up for me."

"You did?" Jo asked. "From who?"

"A woman named Christine Whitney. She was my partner's sister. She used to make spaghetti and meatballs for him and I always got a taste."

"Are you sure it wasn't for you?"

Mac smiled. "I was married at the time. I was pretty young then."

"Maybe she didn't care if you were married."

Mac looked at Jo. "Well I did."

"Oh I know you did but she might not have."

Mac considered that. "She always did act a little strange when I was around but we used to go out together and…"

"You and her?"

"No. Me, Claire, Christine and her brother."

"Oh. So she went out with her brother?"

"Well, he usually brought a date."

Jo leaned back in her chair. "Did you accept the friend request?" she asked.

"Yeah. I didn't think it would matter. I mean we were friends a long time ago."

"And she wants to rekindle the flame?"

"What flame? There was no flame between us."

"Oh, there might not have been one for you but I'm sure there was one for her or she would not be trying to get to you now. No woman comes back after a man years later unless there was something before." Jo looked at him. "And after all, you are so irresistible."

Mac shook his head. "Oh, you're kidding now."

"No I'm not."

"Jo, you have to admit that I am starting to look a little older."

"That doesn't matter and besides you look a lot better than a lot of men your age."

"Thanks…I think."

"Well, I'm only a year younger than you. What do you think of me?"

"I think you are one sexy woman."

Jo smiled. 'That's good to know but I think you better watch that woman. She's after more than a friend."

Mac looked at her. "You think she can steal me away?" he asked.

"Oh, Mac, surely you haven't forgotten what happened with Ella McBride."

"Jo, I don't think Christine would do that."

"Don't kid yourself. Like I said, after all these years…"

Mac considered that as he thought of those flowers. He and Christine had never spent a night together. He remembered that they had all gone out together several times but he and Claire had finally drifted off from the others. They did not have much time together after he worked his way up the ranks and he had wanted to spend what time he had with Claire, not with anyone else. He thought they had grown closer after that. Claire would always come up with something special when they had a night together and he had finally decided to take her to the opera…

Mac frowned as he remembered their plans they had for that night…and never got to fulfill them. However, they had spent many happy times together. He tried to dwell on that but sometimes that hurt as bad as the thought of the things they did not get to do together.

"Mac?" Jo said.

Mac looked at her. "What?" he asked.

"Are you daydreaming?"

Mac realized he had been in deep thought. "Yeah, I guess," he said.

"Do you want a bottle of water?" Jo asked and offered one.

"Sure." Mac took the bottle of water and drank some of it. "I was just thinking."

"This is a perfect spot to do that," Jo said as she leaned back and closed her eyes. "I may just take a nap."

Mac smiled. He thought he could do that too. The wind was blowing enough to make a good breezed but he could hear cicadas in the trees singing their song. He remembered when he was a kid and they visited his grandparents out in the country and he would catch June Bugs. He had not seen a June Bug in years. He had already met an ant while he was sitting here and knocked it off his leg.

"Fire ants," Jo said. "I hate those things. I know why they call them fire ants. That little bite of theirs is like fire."

Mac scratched the bite on his leg. "Sure does," he agreed.

Mac leaned back again. "You ever seen June bugs down here?" he asked.

"Mmm, hmm," Jo replied lazily. "Not many but se see them. People don't like their larvae too well because the grub worms eat their plants from the roots up so they kill the grub worms."

"Oh."

"Those old pine trees used to be just full of June bugs. I guess they liked that pine scent or they ate the seeds or something. But they were always on the Pines and nowhere else. And dragon flies…Oh, you should have seen how many we used to have. They would be lined up on the light wires and antennas like little airplanes waiting in line for takeoff."

Mac smiled. "I remember the dragon flies being in a swarm in the evenings. It was like thousands of them flying around and no matter how hard you tried, they would not let you catch them. They would swoop down close and then go back up. They would even land on the clothes line but if they knew you were getting close, they would fly right then."

"My favorite was always the big, light blue ones. Oh. They were so beautiful."

"I remember those. I liked those light blue ones with the striped wings."

"And there were some of these smaller ones that were impossible to catch. They were green and blue. The blue ones were worse than the green ones but they were both impossible. My sister would spend the better part of a day chasing those things."

Mac chuckled. "Well, I am guilty of that too," he said. "The ones with the striped wings were impossible to catch too."

"Mama had those Rose of Sharon trees and they would just be covered with yellow butterflies. I would fill up a gallon jug with them and there would still be thousands."

"Uh huh. Mother wouldn't let me catch the butterflies. I played with pollywogs in the creek though."

Jo laughed. "My mama would have a fit if we played with a frog," she said. "Frogs caused warts."

Mac laughed. "Actually a fungus causes them," he said. "But the frogs may be carrying it."

"Anybody who got a wart would say 'I haven't been handling any frogs'."

Mac yawned as he leaned back further. He thought he could just sleep lying here too. It was actually a little cool under the tree.

Jo was relaxed too but then she thought she heard Mac snoring softly. She opened her eyes and looked at him. She had not heard him snore before even with all the times they had slept together. She thought she must have been really deep asleep or he was just resting well now or he rested well when they were in bed. She hoped he rested well with her. She rested well with him and stayed warm. She supposed Mac was sleepy like he always was though. He thought he had to go none stop on that job but she had made him rest more and stop trying to be there 24 hours a day. She thought he might have collapsed by now if she had not started making him leave that office. She did not think he was realizing what he was doing to his body.

Finally Mac stopped snoring and Jo started watching her cork. She looked out across the lake, which was not a huge lake but big enough. There were lots of people around it and some were even swimming. She supposed they would be lucky if they got a fish with all that going on but she did not really care. Just being out here in nature was enough. She had brought Ellie down here many times just so she could run around out here in nature.

Mac woke up a little later not knowing where he was for a moment. He could not believe he fell asleep out there. He looked to see that Jo's chair was empty. He looked and saw her walking by the lake. He relaxed further into the chair and just went back to sleep. Why should he not relax? After all, he was on vacation.

When lunch time came, Jo woke Mac up. "Wake up, sleeping beauty," she said.

Mac opened his eyes slightly. "What?" he asked.

"You know, I came down here to spend time with you, not to listen to you snore or watch you sleep."

"I'm sorry."

Jo realized Mac was about to go back to sleep. She hit him on the shoulder. "Will you wake up?" she asked.

Mac sat up then. "I'm awake."

"Oh, sure you are. It's time for lunch."

Mac yawned and stretched. "I was comfortable," he said.

"I guess that's what I get for keeping you awake half the night."

Mac stood up and started helping to pack everything up. "I don't think we did much fishing," he said.

"No, we didn't. You snored enough to scare all the fish away."

Mac looked at her. "Did I really snore that loud?" he asked.

"They probably heard you on the other side of the lake," Jo said trying to contain her smile.

Mac picked up on her humor however. "I don't snore. You're just pulling my leg."

"You don't snore? Are you kidding?"

"Well, I've never heard myself."

Jo laughed at that. "I was kidding about the loud part but you were snoring. Next time I'll record you."

"Oh please don't. I believe you."

"You don't want to hear yourself snore?"

"No, it's embarrassing. You don't want me to try to stay awake all the time again, do you?"

"You're terrible."

They got everything into the SUV and then headed out. Mac yawned as they were pulling out. "So where are we going?" he asked.

"I am going to take you to my favorite restaurant," Jo said. "They have the best catfish you ever tasted."

"I kinda like steak myself," Mac replied.

"Oh, you have to eat some of these catfish. They will be the best thing you ever ate."

"I might try some but I have ate catfish before."

"Oh, but have you had them raised in the south?"

Mac considered that. "I don't know but they were raised in the United States."

Soon they arrived at the restaurant which was back in the small town. Mac was surprised at how small it was. "I have not been to a restaurant this small in years," Mac commented.

Jo smiled. "You won't be disappointed," she said.

They got out and started toward the restaurant. Jo slid her hand into Mac's. She looked at him with a smile. "It may be old-fashioned but I still like to hold hands," she said as she laced her fingers with his.

Mac smiled. "I'm an old-fashioned guy," he replied.

They went into the restaurant and ordered at the counter and then sat down at a table to wait. Mac smiled and shook his head. "What is it?" Jo asked.

"I can't remember the last time I went in a restaurant that didn't have a hostess that seated you where they wanted you to sit and brought you menus," Mac said.

Jo smiled. "This is a small town. There might not be more than six or eight people in here at a time sometimes but I have seen it really crowded but a lot of people get their orders to go."

Mac sighed with contentment. "I like small towns. You don't have to be in such a hurry cause you know you're not going to have to wait two hours."

"Uh huh."

A waitress brought them their drinks they ordered. Mac sipped his Pepsi. "I have not had soda in a while either," he said.

"I love Doctor Pepper," Jo said as she took a sip of hers.

"So, what are we doing tonight?"

"There is a concert in Montgomery and we are going to have a good time. Country music."

"Oh, so we're going?"

"Yes. I have been wanting to see this guy in concert for a long time. I think you can stand some modern music for just one night."

Mac smiled. "You think I don't like anything but old music?"

"That's what you like most."

"I think you do too."
"That's right. You have seen my big collection."

"You might be embarrassed by my crazy dancing."

Jo laughed. "No more embarrassed than you will be if I dance with you."

Mac laughed at that. "We might be the worst dancing fools they've ever seen."

Jo leaned on the table. "In that crowd of young people? We might just get a little attention. You don't have to be twenty to have fun."

Mac leaned on the table. "I agree," he said with a mischievous grin.

"I see that look."

"What look?"

"I know what you're thinking about."

"I know what you think I'm thinking about too."

"I think you're an animal."

Mac's smile became even more mischievous. "I would growl at you if we were not in such a crowded place."

Jo laughed out loud and sat up. "You mean if we were not in such a small place that everyone would hear you."

"That's probably right."

Soon, their orders came. Mac looked at the pile of catfish fillets on his plate. "Wow, they're not stingy with them, are they?" he asked.

"Not at all," Jo replied as she took a bite. "You have to have enough to satisfy you. Probably won't need any supper after this."

"Probably not."

"After this we can go home and get ready for the concert. It's going to be so much fun."

"I can't wait."

"For what? Getting ready or going to the concert?"

Mac looked at her. "Hmmm. Both could be interesting."

"Sure could."