Time for a break
Chapter 2 Mystery
They landed in a secluded spot on the beach.
"Follow me," Max said as she set off toward the town. 'If I can get this card to work I should get us a place with beds, real beds.' Max thought.
They walked past a handful of nice little cabins that were built along the beach. 'Wow, I wish we could live in one of those.' Fang thought as he took in the fresh scent of the ocean that the salty breeze wafted to his nose. As the group continued they also passed an office, which Max figured must be where they rented out those cute little cabins, before they reached her goal. Max walked confidently up to the ATM that sat in front of the town's grocery store. She inserted the credit card from her pocket. 'Whoa,' thought Fang, 'where did she get that, and what is she up to now?'
'I hope it has the same password as the last one,' Max silently prayed as she typed m-o-t-h-e-r in with the key pad. Max released the breath that she had not realized she had been holding at the sound the money made as the machine spit it out into her outstretched hand. "Iggy, can you come over here for a minute?" Max called out.
"Sure," Iggy said with a shrug.
"Over here Ig," Max said as he got off track a bit. Iggy shuffled to his right to correct his path.
"So Max, what's up?" Iggy asked.
"I would like you to go with Fang and get all the ingredients you need. You are the only one of us that can actually cook and you will be able to use a kitchen. I'll make sure, okay?" Max whispered. Then Max walked over to Fang leading Iggy along. "Here Fang, take this and the group and buy some food. Get everything Iggy tells you to." Max told him as she handed him the two hundred dollars that she had taken from the ATM. "I have to go do something real quick but I'll be back. Then I can tell you about it," Max promised.
"Max, I am going with you," Angel stated in a voice that said this was your only option and arguing would get you absolutely nowhere. The demanding tone sent a shiver along Max's spine.
"I guess you could come along, Angel," Max gave in quickly knowing she would have lost the fight anyway.
Angel held Celeste, her bear, tightly in her right hand and slipped her free hand into Max's as they walked back the way they had just come. Total made his own decision and trotted after Angel. Fang threw Max's retreating back one last confused glance before he herded the rest of the flock into the store to start the important job of shopping for food.
Max and Angel arrived quickly at the office. The bell jingled as Max pushed open the door. "Stay out here Total." She said as they entered.
"Hello, Can I help you?" asked the sweet looking woman nestled behind the counter.
"Hi, do you have a free cabin? I would like to rent one," Max replied as she flipped the credit card onto the counter.
"We have a couple. Do you have any preferences, Sweetie?" Her name tag read Mabel.
"I would like a secluded one, if you have it. We would rather not have any loud obnoxious families near by."
"How many people will there be?"
"There are six of us."
"Oh, I have the perfect one for you!"
"Great! Does it have a kitchen?"
"Yes deary, all the cabins do," Mabel said with a good natured laugh.
"Thanks!"
"How long will you want it for?"
"A couple of days, a week maybe, I don't know for sure."
"I'll charge your card daily. Then if you have to leave abruptly you won't have paid for too many days,"
"That would be wonderful! Oh, thank you Mabel!"
"Here are your keys. Your cabin is number one. You'll find it at the end of that trail," Mabel said pointing to a footpath that rambled off to the left.
"Angel, do you want to check out our cabin before we go back and get everybody else? Max offered.
"I want to go! I want to go," Total squealed, jumping up and down in excitement.
"Will we be able to sleep in real beds again, Max?" Angel questioned.
"Yep," Max replied before setting off down the path that Mabel had pointed out.