'How is your wife?' he asked politely.
Jake looked startled but quickly recovered, then said, 'My wife passed on, God rest her soul, a good while back.'
'I'm sorry to hear that,' Theo said, growing more confused. 'If you don't mind my asking, who is Ellie?'
'My wife.'
'Oh, then you remarried.'
'No, I never had the urge to marry again after my Ellie died. I didn't think I could ever find anyone who could measure up to her.' He paused to smile. 'I just knew you'd show up on your own. I thought about calling you, but I knew Mike would have my hide if
I did, and besides, I figured you'd find a way to come out to Bowen.'
Theo didn't know what to make of the old man's comments. Then Jake said, 'I knew once I put the notion of fishing in your head, you'd figure out a way to take a couple of days off. A true fisherman can't ever say no, no matter how long it's been since he's held a fishing pole in his hand. Isn't that the way of it?'
'Yes, sir,' he said.
'If you turn out to be a natural-born fisherman- and I've got a feeling you are-then I may have to pair myself with you in the tournament coming on next weekend. I've always partnered up with my friend Walter, but Mike had to yank his gallbladder out yesterday, and he isn't going to be in any shape to pull his weight. He's already told me to find someone else. You'll still be here, won't you?'
'I hadn't thought about how long I'd stay in Bowen.'
'Then it's settled. You'll stay on.'
Theo laughed. 'What kind of tournament are you talking about?'
'Oh, it's a big affair around here,' he said. 'Once a year, all the fishermen come from miles around to compete. Everyone puts
in fifty dollars cash,' he added. 'It adds up to quite a hefty prize, and I've been wanting to beat old Lester Burns and his brother Charlie for the past five years. They've taken the ribbon and the cash prize every single year since we started the tournament. They've got the fancy equipment, which gives them the advantage. The rules aren't complicated,' he added. 'You just catch
your quota, and the judge weighs them out in front of the crowd at the end of the day. Afterwards there's a party with good
Cajun food right here at The Swan. Say, what do you think of my place?' he asked. He made a sweeping gesture with his arm. 'It's nice, isn't it?'
Theo looked around with interest. The sun streaming in through the open windows beat down on the hardwood floors. Tables
had been placed against the wall, their chairs stacked on top. There was a bucket with a mop propped against the corner of the bar, and to the left was a jukebox. Overhead fans made a clicking sound as the blades slowly circled. The room was surprisingly cool given the temperature outside.
'It's very nice,' he remarked.
'We do a heck of a business come the weekend,' Jake said. 'Yes, sir, it sure is good to see you, son. Michelle's going to be pleased too. She's mentioned you more than once.'
For some reason that bit of news was inordinately nice to hear. 'How's she doing? I saw Dr. Cooper and he told me her clinic was vandalized.'
'They tried to destroy the place is what they did,' he said. 'No rhyme or reason to it. They didn't take anything, just turned it upside down. Poor Mike hasn't had time to do more than look over the wreck. She saw the clinic this morning. Just as soon as
she got home and changed her clothes, she got called back for another surgery. She hasn't had a minute to sort out the mess
and tell her brother and me what she wants us to do to help clean it all up. I'm telling you, she's been run ragged. I expect her
to keel over any second now.'
'I'm doing just fine, Daddy.'
Theo turned at the sound of her voice, and there she was, standing in the doorway, smiling at the two men. She was dressed in
a pair of khaki shorts and a burgundy-and-white rugby shirt that was spotted with paint.
He tried not to stare at her legs, but, damn, it took work. They were incredible. Long, shapely… amazing.
'What are you doing in Bowen, Mr. Buchanan?' Michelle asked, hoping to heaven her voice was calm. Finding him in her
father's bar had shaken her, and when he turned and smiled at her, she thought her knees were going to buckle. Her heart
started fluttering, and she was pretty sure she was blushing. And why not? As the nurses in the OR had said, Theo Buchanan
was drop-dead gorgeous.
'Is that any way to treat a guest, asking questions like that?' her father said.
She couldn't get past the shock of finding Theo there. 'Did you call him and ask him for his help?' she asked her father with
an accusing scowl.
'No, young lady, I did not. Now, stop giving me that glare and remember your manners. When Theo was resting up in the
hospital, I invited him to come fishing with me.'
'Daddy, you invite everyone you meet to come fish with you,' she said.
She turned back to Theo. 'You really came to fish?'
'Actually, I-'
Jake interrupted. 'I just told you he did, and you know what I just decided? I'm gonna let Theo partner with me in the
tournament next weekend.'
'How are you feeling?' she asked Theo, retreating to the comfortable, safe role of physician. 'Any complications?'
'I'm as good as new thanks to you. That's one of the reasons I drove out here… besides fishing. I wanted to pay you for
the dress I ruined, but mostly I wanted to say thank you. You saved my life.'
'Isn't that nice to hear, Mike?' Jake was beaming like a neon road sign. 'It's why you went into medicine, isn't it?
To save lives?'
'Yes, Daddy,' she said.
'Are you hungry, Theo?' Jake asked. 'It's past noon, and I'll bet you haven't had lunch yet. I've got some gumbo simmering
in the pot. Come and sit at the bar and pass the time while I finish up. Mike, why don't you get Theo a nice cold beer.'
'Water will be fine,' he said.
He followed Michelle to the bar, noticing that her lopsided ponytail bounced with each step she took. Just how young was she? God, maybe he was going through a midlife crisis. Yes, that was it. Michelle made him feel young again. Except that he was
only thirty-two. Wasn't that a little early for a midlife anything?
Jake placed a big bowl of thick gumbo in front of Theo and handed him a napkin and a spoon. 'Be mindful,' he warned. 'It's hot.'
Theo thought he meant that the gumbo needed to cool for a minute. He stirred it and took a big bite. He swallowed. Two
seconds later his eyes were tearing, his nose was running, and he was coughing and trying to catch his breath at the same time. He felt as if he'd just swallowed molten lava. He grabbed the glass of water and gulped it
