“Not sure we’re that funny,” Crawford mutters.
“We’re wandering in the middle of nowhere with you as our guide. The fact I’m still going along with this strange trust exercise speaks to my dedication for the cause.” Could I peek through his fingers and ruin the surprise? Well, duh. But I find myself wanting to go along with whatever he’s planning.
“Your faith in me is remarkable. I can hardly handle the weight of that responsibility.” His tone is drier than the dead foliage littering the ground.
“Not sure what more you want from me.” It might be my imagination, but I’m certain he presses his hips into me. I only feel the evidence of him for a moment before he’s backing off. It’s plenty to give me a hint of exactly what he’s interested in.
“Don’t fret, Kee. It’s worth the wait.”
Not even thirty seconds later, the sound of flowing water hits my ears, and I slam on the brakes. “I swear on everything holy, if you’re about to dump us in—”
He squeezes my shoulder. “Relax. This is the finish line.” His hand disappears from my face. “Open and see.”
I follow his orders instantly, shielding my eyes to block the harsh light. A loud gasp immediately follows as the breathtaking view spans out in front of me. The wide creek commands first notice. Deep blue and rippling, the surface glistens in the sun. I follow the glittering pattern along the weaving stream until the lazy current disappears from view. A thick wall of trees lines both sides, protecting this slice of wonder from the harsh reality looming just beyond the forest edge.
When I glance at Millie, her gaze is darting from one surface to the next. She can’t seem to decide where to focus her attention first. I can empathize.
Crawford moves to stand beside me, joining in the staring contest. “What do you think?”
I return my sights to the gleaming river. “Definitely worth the build-up.”
“It’s so beautiful,” Millie adds.
Static erupts across every porous inch of me. “I’ve never been here before. You’re showing us all the best secrets in Silo Springs.”
He squints at me against the bright reflections off the water. “Ah, it’s kinda off the beaten path.”
“That makes it more special. A secret,” I muse.
“Not many even know how to reach this part of the shore.”
My daughter wrinkles her freckled nose at him. “Is that why there was no peeking? I wanted to take just a little look so bad.”
He chuckles at Millie. “No. That was just to add some flash to the big reveal. Did it work?”
“Uh-huh, yeah. I’m super surprised.”
Crawford nods toward the sandy bank. “You can go straight in. It’s not very deep in this section. Your knees might get splashed a bit if you wade into the very center.”
She whips her gaze to mine, pleading with every sparkle in those green irises. “I wanna swim now. Please, Mama?”
I glance at Crawford. “Millie is a mermaid, as I’m sure you’re aware, but she has a floaty if needed. It’s safe without?”
“Very much so. There are no rapids or sink holes. Sitting in the low depths is the best compromise of hot and cold.” He points between the cloudless sky and inviting brook. “The better spot for swimming is upstream a few miles. But that’s overrated. This area is the true gem of the river.”
The way he speaks about this place makes me want to listen. It’s clear he’s sentimental and personally invested in this private grove. There’s a lot of history buried beneath the sand, no doubt.
“Speaking from experience.” It really took all of my detective skills to dig up that obvious tidbit. I internally roll my eyes.
He nods. “I’ve been coming here since I was a kid.”
Millie spins around to face us, quick feet kicking up droplets. “Like me?”
Crawford sends her a grin. “Yeah, right around your age.”
“Wow, that’s cool. Maybe I’ll still be visiting this creek when I’m old.” Her grin is more radiant than the midday sun.
Crawford hangs his head, but he’s still smiling. “I hope for that, too.”
A loud peal of laughter has me refocusing on Millie. She’s hopping in a circle, pointing at the glassy surface. “There’s a fish!”
“You’ll see a lot of them in there,” Crawford informs.
“How many is a lot?” I do my best to peer into the river from a safe distance. My efforts are not very successful. All I catch are rocks and a few patches of weeds. I must be making a sour expression because he quirks an eyebrow at me.
“What’s wrong?”
A shudder rocks through me. “The vision of fish nibbling on my skin has always made me squeamish.”
Crawford snorts out a chuckle. “Don’t be ridiculous. They’re totally harmless.”
“Hey!” I poke his stupidly chiseled pec. “How about you don’t ridicule me? I’m well aware that it’s a silly fear, but that’s my issue.”
He holds up his palms. “Fair enough. I’ll be nearby to save you if the fish form a mob and stage an organized attack.”
“So gallant,” I mutter.
He winks. “Glad to be at your service.”
“Don’t be scared, Mama. I’ll catch all the fishies.” Millie returns her admiration to the stream, sloshing and laughing and soaring high on jubilation. Her pigtails twirl with each bubbling motion. She lifts my spirits right along with hers.
I allow the moment to loop around me until my body is absorbing nothing except warmth and fresh air. Birds sing a tune from their perches. The languid tide at the riverbend babbles along the shore. Everything else is quiet and calm, peaceful to the very roots we stand on.
“This seems like a safe choice for you, Ford.” What I don’t reveal is how fast my pulse is racing or how being this close to him scrambles me all up inside. The thing that stands out most
