instinctively started to dog-paddle, reveling in her newlyfound ability. When Shannon yelled at her to come join their game, and Mary Margaret did, Summer watched with pride.
The bell sounded, warning lunch was a half hour away. It was time to head back for quick showers.
For the first time, the boys and girls mingled as they headed up the path, most of the conversations centering on the overturned canoe.
“Summer,” Rick called, “could I speak to you a minute?”
She waited as he hurried to catch up, relieved he’d put his shirt back on.
“I noticed you were working individually with Mary Margaret.”
“She’s a nonswimmer, but not for long. She already shows promise.” Summer kept her answer short, anxious for the conversation and the close proximity to be over.
“Well, I used to work as a lifeguard, so I taught a lot of swimming lessons, and it’s not a good idea to allow her to wear a life jacket in the beach area. You don’t want her to get a false sense of security with her ability.”
He was trying to tell her how to teach swimming lessons? Summer was incredulous. “I worked as a lifeguard, too, for several years, and I’ve taught lots of kids to swim. You have to get them over their initial fear of the water before you can make any headway.”
Rick’s face tightened. “And if they get used to the life jacket keeping them afloat, they won’t trust themselves without it. Those damn water wings they put on kids are the absolute worst things ever invented. The kid gets used to them holding him up, and he jumps in the pool the first time without them only to sink immediately to the bottom.”
Heat crept into Summer’s face. “I always start out the little ones with water wings. It gets them comfortable with the texture of the water. Water in their face. Water in their eyes and ears. Once they get used to all that, then we ditch the wings, and they find out what they can do on their own. I’ve never had any problem teaching like that.”
They reached the clearing where the path separated, leading to opposite sides of the camp.
Summer stopped and faced him, fists on hips and chin jutted toward him in a stance Rick had already grown accustomed to when she was challenged. He was reminded of Charlie’s pronouncement that morning. Wild child. Willful and used to getting her way, too, Rick concluded.
“Also, I just wanted to mention that I noticed your canoe instruction lacked finesse.” Summer arched one golden eyebrow defiantly. “So I’ll tell you what. You use your techniques with the boys. I’ll use mine with the girls.”
Rick could see this was a sticking point with her. He hadn’t meant to start an argument, merely to offer some advice, but he’d obviously rankled her. Choose your battles carefully, man. “Okay. I suppose that’s fair.”
Her hands dropped to her sides, though they stayed doubled up into fists. He got the distinct feeling she’d love to punch him right there and then.
“And I really didn’t intend to make you mad.”
“I’m not mad.” She swung around and stomped toward her cabin.
Once she got out of earshot, he allowed himself a disgruntled sigh. He was the assistant director and he wouldn’t let her have her way next time...even if she was cute when she was angry.
Damn woman would probably want to dust everybody with magic fairy powder next.
* * *
TEACHING THE GIRLS TO CANOE turned out to be easy and uneventful. Tara’s group paddled back into the beach three times, and Summer’s group got turned around backward, but none of the groups turned over or hit the stump. Summer couldn’t have been more proud of them...or relieved, since Rick was on the beach the entire time.
The one disappointment was Mary Margaret, who was too afraid to get into the canoe, even with a life jacket on.
Rick was giving Daniel some individual swimming lessons while the other boys swam supervised but on their own, and he offered to include Mary Margaret.
Summer agreed to the plan but kept a watchful eye from the canoe.
The hour was a complete bust as Rick couldn’t get Mary Margaret into the water without a life jacket and obviously wouldn’t let her in with one. Daniel, on the other hand, seemed pleased with the dogpaddle Mr. Rick taught him as a first stroke.
After dinner, Rick led both groups on a short nature hike that scored an owl sighting—a first for all the kids. But even their