Web of Dreams (Casteel 5)

"Oh Leigh," she called, "look, there's even a small stage out here for a band to play while people swim."

"That's right," Tony said. "We have wonderful pool parties all summer: sumptuous foods and dancing into the night. Did you ever go swimming under the stars?" he asked me and pointed to the sky as if it were the middle of the night and the stars were out. I shook my head, but just talking about it sounded wonderful.

Troy tugged my arm and I looked down at his pleading eyes.

"Tony, would it be all right for me to take Troy just a little ways into the maze on the way to the stables?" I asked and nodded toward him.

"All right," he told Troy. "You can take Leigh into the maze. Enter just over there," he said pointing, "but don't go beyond the first turn," he instructed me.

"You make it sound as if it can swallow you up," I exclaimed.

His face grew serious, his cerulean blue eyes narrowing. "It can," he warned. I nodded, impressed with his concern.

"All right, Troy. We can go, but you heard what your brother said. Hold my hand and don't run off in there, understand?"

"Uh-huh." He shook his head emphatically.

"Momma?" I thought she might want to come along. "Go on," she said. "We'll wait for you."

I took Troy's hand and we walked across the grounds to the maze.

I saw from the precise, careful way little Troy entered it that he was quite taken with the maze. There was suddenly an expression of reverence and awe on his face. He held my hand tightly, and for a moment, I felt as if I had entered a church. It was so quiet. Even the chirps of the small garden birds sounded distant and faded, and the melancholy cries of the sea gulls flying overhead were muffled, faraway. The hedges were so tall that at one point, they shut of the warmth of the sun and cast long, dark shadows in our path. Yet, I found the maze serene, quietly beautiful and mysterious. When we arrived at the first turn and I looked down the next pathway that had branches leading off right and left, presenting choices that could lead a wanderer around in circles or eventually to a destination, I realized the challenge and couldn't help being just a bit excited and curious. This was probably what Tony meant when he warned the maze could swallow you up. It had a way of tempting, drawing, daring any intruder to solve its secrets. I thought I would love to come back some day by myself and try it.

"Have you ever gone farther in, Troy?" I asked.

"Oh sure. Tony takes me to the cottage sometimes. He can go right through," he said illustrating by zigzagging his palm in front of me. Then he leaned toward me, his eyes bursting with excitement, and whispered, "Wanna try it?"

"You little devil. You heard what your brother said. Now come on, let's go back. I want to see the horses next."

He pulled back and smirked like a young man at least four times his age. Then, his mind switched excited thoughts instantly, and-he started me back toward the entrance.

"Come on, show you my pony, Sniffles, and you can ride him, okay?"

"Sniffles?" I followed him out, my laughter trailing behind, left to fade in the shadows of the maze.

Tony and Momma had walked on a ways and were having one of their animated talks again. Butterflies started in my stomach at the sight of Momma throwing back her lovely head and laughing her beautiful throaty laugh at something Tony had said. I tried to tell myself that I was just hungry for lunch. But oh, part of me was enthralled by everything in this fairytale kingdom and part wanted to run from its mysterious spell.

"TONY! TONY!" Troy cried releasing his hold on my hand and running toward them. "Leigh wants to ride Sniffles. Can she? Huh? Can she?"

I shook my head.

"Leigh wants to ride? Or you want her to ride?" Tony asked him. Troy shrugged, not seeing the difference. "Now Troy, you know it takes time to get the pony ready. We've got to tell Curly first and Leigh really isn't dressed to ride a horse anyway, is she?" he asked. Troy looked back at me. I was wearing one of my new cashmere sweaters, but instead of one of the new slim skirts, I wore one of my flared skirts.

Momma snapped her fingers.

"I knew there was something I forgot. I was going to buy her a riding outfit for her birthday."

"Her birthday?" Tony said. "Oh, that's right, yesterday was Leigh's birthday." He winked at Momma and stepped forward. "I knew there was some reason I was carrying this," he told me and took a small box out from his jacket pocket. It was wrapped in gold foil with a black ribbon tied in a bow around it.

"What's that?"

"It's obviously a birthday present, Leigh," Momma said, a little snappishly. "Take it and say thank you."

"But . ." I took it slowly.

"What is it? What is it?" Troy demanded.