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“Ah, you’ll be fine, you big ninny.” Marge wafted a hand at her.
Grant cast a glance back at us. “I think you ladies are mistaken. There’s running water and plumbing at McCallum Castle where you’re staying.”
“What?” Marge, Alice and I echoed.
“Are you certain?” Alice sat up straight. “They have toilets? Running water?”
Grant nodded. “Yes, I’m certain. They’ve had indoor plumbing for at least fifty years since the big renovation there. They’ve even got Wi-Fi.”
“Damn it,” Sylvie said on a chuckle. “I was hoping to keep you all panicking a little longer.”
“Youknew?”Alice spun toward her. “You knew this whole time there was plumbing, and you just let me freak out over here?”
Sylvie winked. “It was fun. When you asked me if there was plumbing, I was only going to scare you for a moment and say they had none, but the way you reacted was too funny not to draw it out a bit. I wasn’t planning on keeping the ruse going so long, but your expression every time we discussed it made it far too funny to tell you.”
Alice gave her a swat on the arm. “Sylvie! This level of treachery I would expect from Marge, but not you! How could you let me panic like this?”
Marge chuckled beside her then slid a fist toward Sylvie. “Well, played. The student has become the teacher.”
Sylvie bumped her fist. “Thank you very much. I’ve been watching and learning. You’re onto something here. Hassling Alice really is fun.”
“There will be payback.” Alice lifted her chin. “Bigpayback.”
“Bring it, sweetcheeks.” Marge crossed her arms. “I’ve got Sylvie’s back. She’s got a bodyguard for life in me after making you squirm so badly for so long.”
I let out a big breath. “I must say, I am relieved to hear it. I do want to experience life like they lived it back in the day, but every time I go on a cattle drive with Axel, I miss the luxuries of the restrooms so much. I’m glad you found one with a bathroom.”
“I’m not into using an outhouse either.” Sylvie puckered her nose. “Don’t worry, girls. This place is very authentic but with a few modern upgrades for basic comfort. In fact, I didn’t tell you yet, but it’s so authentic that they have historical outfits we get to wear.”
My heart leaped inside my chest. “What? We get to dress up like historical ladies?”
Sylvie beamed at me. “Yep. I thought you would like this part. They dress us and feed us like we’re in the seventeenth century when the castle was built.”
I squealed and shimmied in my seat. It was even more of a dream than I’d imagined. I got to dress and act like a historical lady.
“Costumes?” Alice arched an eyebrow. “We’re wearing costumes?”
Marge let out a sigh. “Don’t act all fussy about the costumes. You danced on stage in costumes every night. Be a good sport.”
“Oh, I’m not upset about me,” Alice answered. “You’re right. I love a good costume. It’s just realizing that you will also be in costume that has me smiling. A dress, Marge. They’re going to strap you into a dress. With a corset. Imagine ... undergarments like prison cells for your bits.”
Marge’s face fell, and when it did, Alice’s lifted.
“No,” Marge breathed.
Alice tapped Marge’s thigh and gave her a sinister smile. “Be a good sport, Marge.”
Before Marge could argue anything back, Grant turned the car around a corner, then slammed on the brakes. We Widows all jolted forward, our seatbelts yanking us back against the seats.
“Sorry,” Grant said as he shifted the car into park. “Sheep.”
“Sheep?” I asked, righting myself. “I love sheep! Where?”
“Ugh. Everywhere,” Alice answered on a groan.
I looked up and saw a sea of white crossing the road, growing thicker by the second, and in moments, it surrounded the car completely.
“Sheep!” I clapped and squealed as I looked at all the cute, white balls of fluff surrounding us as they parted around the car while they crossed. “This is so neat!”
