a bass boat’s wave caught the canoe from the other side, pushing against Howie’s thrust and tipping the canoe precariously. Before the boy could regain his balance, he’d toppled into the water and the shift in the weight flipped the canoe.
Rick gulped in a deep breath as he hit the water. He was only under for a split second, and when he broke the surface, he immediately took a head count. Four small heads bobbed around the canoe, stunned and silent.
But that lasted only for a split second also, before Carlos yelled, “Yeah, man! Whoo-hoo!” and the other three boys joined him in his excitement. They swam toward the shore with wild strokes and spraying kicks while Rick grabbed the overturned canoe and sidestroked behind them.
As they waded onto the shore, applause and catcalls floated across the cove. The boys traded high fives all around and slapped one another on the back, giddy and silly from the attention they’d garnered.
Rick gave in to the excitement of the moment and laughed with them. “Howie, I know you were trying to help, but remember next time that you can’t stand up in a canoe. Anyway, I’m proud of you guys and the way you didn’t panic. You followed my directions and swam directly to the nearest shore. Great job.”
He glanced back toward the opposite shore where Summer still stood on the platform, watching.
He wasn’t definite because of the distance, but he thought he could see a delighted smirk on her face.
* * *
“SO MR. RICK’S IRON FIST doesn’t keep the boys under control, even when they’re within arm’s reach,” Summer muttered under her breath. Her lifeguard training had her ready to dive in, but the boys all appeared to be good swimmers. And Rick—naked back muscles bulging as he paddled the canoe—drew way too much of her attention. The stirring in her body bothered her more than a little.
One unhappy child could spell disaster for the camp, so she’d made it her job to keep a close eye on Rick and stop trouble before it happened. But she had to remind herself that the eye she kept on him couldn’t get distracted by his appearance.
Rick Warren, with his military ways, was trouble for Camp Sunny Daze with a capital T.
On the opposite shore, the boys climbed back into the canoe, and Rick pushed them off. Satisfied all was well, she turned her attention back to the girls in the roped-off swimming area.
Anne, Becca and the twins, Braelyn and Kaelyn, were excellent swimmers, venturing out into the deeper water near the ropes with Tara watching from close by. Shannon, Lucy, Amanda, Elise and Greta were a little closer to shore and had a game of hot potato going with a small beach ball.
Mary Margaret sat on the sand alone, glumly tossing pebbles into the water.
“Do you want to start your swimming lessons today, Mary Margaret?” Summer waded toward her.
The child shook her head.
“Do you want to get the sand out of your swimsuit?”
Mary Margaret shrugged, which Summer took as a yes since it wasn’t a definite no.
She went over to the hooks and picked out one of the smaller life jackets. When she turned back around, Rick and his crew had just beached their canoe and were switching places. Rick flashed a sheepish grin, which immediately made her start to feel all melty inside. She hurried back to Mary Margaret.
“Here, put this on, and you can go in the water with me.”
The child stood obediently, and Summer dropped down in the sand to get her buckled in.
Taking the child’s hand, she slowly led the way into the water, aware that the little hand inside hers trembled.
“I don’t want you to be afraid of the water, but I do want you to respect it.” She’d taught lots of children how to swim over the years.
They waded to where the water was knee-deep, and she sat down, letting the water ripple around her chest. Mary Margaret stooped, taking short gulps of air each time a wave passed.
Summer let her get used to the water and then she asked, “Are you good?” Mary Margaret nodded. “Okay then, give me your hands, and we’ll go out a little farther.”
Little by little, Summer coaxed the child deeper until she could float if she bent her knees.
A look of astonishment passed over Mary Margaret’s face when she realized the life jacket would hold her up. “Wow!” she said, which brought a laugh from Summer.