Fourth Lake, Chapter 5

Eventually, Phil left the divided highway at Exit 23 and headed into the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains.  In 1894, this mountain range became the first and only wild land preserve in the United States to gain protection within the confines of its own state constitution.  It contains about six million acres, which makes it larger than Yellowstone, Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, the Great Smokey, the Everglades National Parks combined.  It is also larger than each of the seven smallest states that make up the USA: Hawaii, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and New Jersey.  The rocks making up the Adirondacks are among the oldest on Earth, about one billion years old.

Finally, Phil took New York State Route 28, heading west.  It would be about 70 miles before they would reach Fourth Lake and the tiny little town of Inlet, New York, just outside of which Judy had rented a cottage for their two-week vacation.  Its residents like to say, it’s a destination for visitors who want to enjoy the nearby wilderness.  Their motto is “where mountains and memories meet.”

Driving along Route 28 was at times a slow and laborious process on treacherous turns with many hills and valleys.  While Phil had to pay close attention to the road almost every second, Judy could sit by and take in the magnificence of the landscape.  She noticed how sweet the air smelled.  Then, there were the trees everywhere, lush and green.  The leaves were so plentiful that often you couldn’t see the brown bark of the trees.  Occasionally, Judy noticied clear water, both in the form of still lakes that reflected the images of the trees on the far side and bubbling brooks where the current seemed to dance off the rocks that were small impediments to the water.  She thought of James Fenimore Cooper’s masterpiece, The Last of the Mohicans, which was set in these mountains.

In the late afternoon, they reached Inlet, a town you could easily drive through in less than one minute.  Judy pointed out the sign for Woods Inn, the restaurant where she wanted to have dinner and Phil pulled into its parking lot.  The temperature was a few degrees cooler than it had been in New York City when they left that morning.

Woods Inn dated from 1896, eight years before the town even existed.  It was actually a magnificent, white, four-story structure with a green roof that faced out onto Fourth Lake.  The bottom floor housed a tavern called the Laughing Loon.  On the second floor was a reception area plus a large, elegant dining room.  Instead of the dining room, Judy preferred sitting at one of the tables that were set up on the long terrace overlooking Fourth Lake.  The reflection of the sun’s rays as it was setting glistened on the water’s surface.  As Judy looked around, she could only see trees and more trees hugging the water’s edge.  Phil ordered the 14 ounce prime rib, well done, and the mashed garlic potatoes.  Judy’s choice was very unconventional, the grilled venison with long grain and wild rice.  They shared a classic caesar salad, a bottle of merlot, and a large piece of home-made apple pie.

After a marvelous dinner, Phil and Judy got back into their car for the thirty-five second drive to their cottage.  As they were walking to their car, the two walked past Mitch Riley, the fifty year-old bartender at the Laughing Loon.  They didn’t notice him, but he definitely noticed Judy.  Mitch, a slim, bald man, had an eye for the ladies and knew few women who looked as good as Judy did.  He hoped she would pass his way again.

The keys for their cottage were in the virtually identical cottage next door where their landlords, Harry and Peg Williams, lived year-round.  While Phil tended to the luggage, Judy knocked on the front door. 

“Hello.  Who’s there?” asked a male voice.

“It’s Judy and Phil Black.  We’ve come for the keys to our cottage,” she replied.

“I’ve been expecting you.  Come on in.”

Judy entered the beautifully decorated cottage.  There she saw a handsome young man, perhaps the age of a graduate student, who greeted her with a big, toothy smile.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Judy.  Unfortunately, my aunt and uncle couldn’t be here because of a medical problem.  Nothing serious, but they had to go to Albany.  My name is Joe Williams.  I’m sure you’ll be very happy with the cottage.  If you need anything, just come over and I’ll take care of it.  Here are the keys.”

“Sorry to hear about your aunt and uncle.  I’m sure we’ll have a great time.”

Judy noticed a twinkle in Joe’s eyes that caught her special attention.  Before she left the cottage, she turned to look back at Joe who was still looking at her with that same toothy smile. 

Their cottage was just what Judy had wanted for their romantic getaway.  It was rustic both inside and out.  To the right and left of the cottage were trees.  In back was the road to Inlet and in front was Fourth Lake.  The cottage was simple, but decorated in a similar fashion to their landlord’s.  It was basically a very large room with a separate full bath.  The large room included an area for their bed, an area which included a small round table, two chairs and a TV, and a separate kitchen space with a refrigerator, a sink, and a stove.  Toward the lake was a patio with lounge chairs and a barbeque.  After unpacking, they sat on the patio, relaxing and admiring the view.

“It’s beautiful, Judy.  You picked a winner.”

I’m glad you’re not disappointed.  I’m sure we’ll enjoy ourselves here.  We have everything we need.”

“Let’s just relax now.  I’m kind of tired now from the drive up.  And I didn’t get much rest yesterday, or all last week for that matter.”

At 7:00 PM, Phil and Judy watched the only television they would see that day, Sixty Minutes, which was one of their favorite programs.  Mike Wallace was interviewing President Nixon’s White House Chief of Staff, General Alexander Haig.  The General claimed that Nixon was hanging tough throughout this difficult Watergate ordeal.  He expressed confidence that they would have the votes to win once the impeachment issue would get to the full House of Representatives.  Any resulting decision by the President would be based on what would be in “the best interest to the American people.  That will be the criterion on which Richard Nixon rules, governs, if you will, continues in office or might decide not to.”  The interview was very troubling to both Phil and Judy.

After the program was over, they returned to the patio to enjoy the sights and sounds of the lake.  Later, she asked Phil to fix her a whiskey and soda from their well-stocked bar.  He agreed, but after ten minutes, Judy wondered what had happened to her drink.  She entered the cottage and saw Phil fast asleep, face down on their king-size bed.  Judy had a fantasy of both starting and ending the day by making love with her husband.  It was not to be.  She left Phil where he lay.  She fixed her drink herself and returned to the patio to look out over her view, which was diminishing rapidly.  Judy was still thinking about sex.  She enjoyed it.  She needed it.  What had occured that morning had only whetted her apetite.  She was so disappointed that Phil had let sleep overtake him before they had a chance to make love again on their new bed.  Tonight it was too late for Judy and Phil.  But as Scarlett O’Hara said, “Tomorrow is another day."