Ezza inhaled deeply. He loved the smells here. Zas was unloading the luggage from the trunk. Dina was standing a little ways away talking to Katrina. It had taken a bit of time to get here, but now that they were at Granite Falls it was going to be fun.

“I don’t care Dina. Look at it!” Katrina spat out loudly. Dina cringed and then shook her head. Katrina looked at the large cabin, a look of horror on her face. Zas finished putting the luggage on the front porch and then went over to the girls. He slipped his arm around Katrina’s waist and pulled her into his side.

“What’s wrong Love?” He asked her giving her a squeeze and a smile.

“Everything.” She replied sullenly. Dina let out a disgusted sigh and walked over to Ezza. Ezza wrapped her up in his arms and rested his chin on the top of her head as she cuddled into his chest.

“What’s going on over there?” He asked her.

“My Sisters usual issues. I love her but she needs to learn there’s more to life than fancy things and money.” Dina said. She pulled away and held out her hand. Ezza looked at her for a moment before it dawned on him what she wanted.

“I don’t have it. We need to wait for the ranger. Shouldn’t be long now.” He smiled at her.

“Well lets check it out from the outside while we wait.” Dina grabbed his hand and tugged him off the porch and around the side of the house towards the back.

Zas watched Ezza being led towards the back and wished he could trade places with his friend. Katrina was still extolling all the issues of this whole vacation together and why they should leave and go to a hotel.

“Katrina, can you please stop? We can’t always do what you want. This place is special to Ezza and I. Ezza wants to share this place with Dina. So suck it up Buttercup, we’re here.” He said starting to walk towards the cabin. Where the heck is the ranger?

“I’m beginning to think you like Ezza more than you like me.” Katrina said snippy. She crossed her arms over her chest and let out a small huff.

“Right now I do.” He said sitting on the front porch step. He could hear Dina and Ezza laughing in the back. How he wished things were still like that between himself and Katrina still.

He heard the crunching of boots and looked up. A man in a Rangers uniform came up to him, he held out his hand to Zas.

“Marquise Franklin. Welcome to Granite Falls.” His voice was deep and steady and he studied Zas as if he might do something unsavory right then. Zas sighed inwardly and shook the Rangers hand.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Zas and this Katrina. Our two friends Ezza and Dina are around the back checking things out at the moment.” Zas said. Then he turned to Katrina, “Could you go get them, Love?”

Katrina gave him an incredulous look, clenched her jaw and stomped off towards the back yelling for the two of them. Marquise, who was watching Katrina leave, turned to Zas and gave a low whistle while removing his hat to scratch his head. He grinned at Zas.

“I don’t know whether to congratulate you or give my condolences.” He said with a small laugh. Zas chuckled and smiled back.

“Tell me about it, I’m not sure myself half the time.”

Ezza rounded the corner of the cabin to find Zas and the Ranger “Mark or whatever” chatting with each other amicably. He walked up and introduced himself. Marquise gave them the keys to the cabin and left them with some advice about the area. Then he patted Zas on the shoulder and wished him good luck. That made Zas and Ezza chuckle a little until the ranger left their view.

“So we can go in now?” Dina asked walking up to them. She grabbed onto Ezza’s arm and smiled at him.

“YEAHY.” Katrina said sarcastically. “Lets go see what a great rat infested place this is going to be!”

They watched as Katrina headed up the porch steps towards the door. Dina sighed and took the keys from Zas and went to open the door. The two men followed behind and soon they were all standing inside the spacious living room.

Katrina didn’t seem any happier about the furnishings inside anymore than she had been happy about the outside. Zas seemed frustrated with her. Ezza was feeling good about being there and pleased with the joy Dina was expressing as she yelled claimed it and jumped on the bed of the only downstairs bedroom. Katrina rolled her eyes and huffed and then started heading upstairs.

“Are you planning on dressing downstairs in front of everyone Sweetie?” Zas called after her as he picked up his own luggage.

“No. Bring it.” Katrina hollered down the stairs.

“Sorry what was that?” Zas asked going up the stairs with only his luggage. When he reached the top he dropped his bags off in the room by one of the beds. Katrina looked at him while tapping her foot impatiently on the floor. As Zas sat, Katrina let out a huff and then headed for the stairs. Zas hung his head and ran his hand through his hair and then across his mouth. This is going to be a long week, he thought.

Downstairs Dina was unpacking both hers and Ezza’s clothes and toiletries. Ezza smiled as he watched her moving around. As she passed he reached out and caught her hand and drew her to him. He wrapped his arms around her hips and leaned his head into her body. Dina giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck. She leaned down and placed a kiss on the top of Ezza’s head.

“Hey now,” Ezza said looking up at her, “Keep that up and we won’t get out of her to enjoy the lovely views.” Dina kissed him again, and then pushed him back on the bed. Ezza smiled up at her and then held out his hand to her. Dina took his hand and crawled up on the bed.

 

Ezza wandered over to the kitchen where Zas stood making some food.

“Looks good.” He said. Zas turned and gave him a little smirk.

“Feeling a bit hungry?” Zas asked him. Ezza blushed and then nodded. Zas held out the spoon he was using to make a sauce. Ezza leaned in and took the spoon into his mouth. He let out a small moan and nodded his agreement that it was delicious.

“Hey! Your not allowed to make that noise without me.” Dina said wrapping her arms around Ezza from behind. Zas snickered.

“Shouldn’t that be the other way around?” Zas asked her. Dina laughed and slapped him on the arm. Zas held out the spoon to her too. Dina opened her mouth and then smiled as the sauce hit her tongue.

“Very good.” She said, then she looked towards the stairs. She looked back at Zas questioning where Katrina was. Zas turned his face away from her and concentrated on his cooking. It was all the answer Dina needed. She gave Zas a quick squeeze and then headed for the stairs.

“I’m sorry.” Ezza said to Zas. Zas shut out off the stove and began to plate the food.

“Nothing to be sorry about my friend.” Zas said. He turned and punched Ezza in the shoulder lightly. Dina came down a few minutes later and shook her head when both men looked at her. Zas looked down and then three of them went into the backyard to enjoy their meal.

The three of them sat and talked the night away. Finally Zas started the walk upstairs, it felt like a long walk down death row to his end. Ezza and Dina went into their room downstairs and Zas could Dina giggling. Zas opened the door and crept into the dark room. He got ready for bed as quietly as possible and then slid into bed.

The next morning Ezza and Dina were eating cereal and talking about their plans for the day when Zas came downstairs. They said good morning as Zas sat with them.

“Where’s Katrina?” Ezza asked.

“Gone.” Zas said.

“What do you mean?” Dina asked.

“She gone, she left sometime in the night.” Zas said.

He got up after a moment and poured himself a bowl of cereal while Dina got up and ran up the stairs to check for herself. A few moments later she came running back down and out the front door. The car was gone; Katrina really had left.