She made a face at him. “Ragvald is swimming withhiscampers.”
“I am trying very hard to pretend I can’t see that.”
This was almost as hard as trying not to stare at Honey, though for very different reasons. Apparently, in Ragvald’s mysterious homeland, a leather thong was considered perfectly adequate swimwear. The resulting sight, Buck feared, was going to haunt him for some time. The man wasastonishinglyhairy.
“Honey, Honey!” Estelle squealed as Ragvald scooped her up. “Watch me, Honey, watch! Honey, are you watching? Honey!”
Honey obligingly turned, treating Buck to a much more delightful rear view. “I’m watching!”
“Now, Ragvald!” Estelle commanded, and the big man swung her round, launching her like a frisbee. Screaming in delight, she flew through the air, disappearing under the surface of the lake with an almighty splash.
A second later, Estelle resurfaced, beaming ear-to-ear. “Did you see, Honey? Did you see how far I went?”
“I saw,” Honey said, laughing. “Don’t keep Ragvald all to yourself, though. Let someone else have a turn, okay?”
“Hey, Ragvald!” Flora tugged at his arm. “Throw Honey next!”
“Ah…” Ragvald hesitated, casting a sidelong glance in Buck’s direction. “I think perhaps not.”
“Enough horseplay, kids,” Moira called. She was patrolling along the shoreline, keeping a close eye on the swimmers. “Remember the rules. No ducking, no dunking, no diving. Ragvald knows how to throw someone safely. I don’t want to see anyone trying to copy him.”
“Aww.” Archie reluctantly let go of another kid’s ankle. “Iwanted to yeet someone.”
“I’ve got an idea,” Honey said, her mouth curling in a smile that instantly had Buck’s senses on high alert. “How about a different game, kids?”
“YEAH!” they all cheered.
“I already dislike this game,” said Buck.
“Oh, hush.” Honey took firm hold of his wrist. “You won’t have to go in the water, I promise.”
She dragged him over to the dock. The long wooden pier ran out into the lake, where the water was deep enough to be well over even Ragvald’s head.
Honey parked him right at the end. “You stand right here. We’re going to have a competition, and you’re going to be the judge.”
Buck eyed the murky depths warily. “This competition had better not be ‘Who can push Buck into the lake.’”
Honey rolled her eyes. “Isaidyou wouldn’t have to go in the lake. All you have to do is stand right here on this exact spot. But you have to promise you won’t move, okay? It won’t be a fair competition if you do.”
“Why do I have a sudden feeling of impending doom?” Buck muttered. At Honey’s exasperated glare, he relented. “Fine. I promise.”
Honey gave him a sweet, innocent smile. Buck regretted all his life decisions.
“Kids!” Honey turned to address the gaggle of dripping campers that had gathered to see what was going on. “Let’s see who can get Buck wettest!”
It actually wasn’t so bad. They were just kids, after all; most of them scrawny little things, all feet and elbows. Even tucking themselves up into cannonballs, they couldn’t make much of a splash. After a few rounds, he was still dry from the knees up.
“Two out of ten.” Buck took a calm, unhurried sip of coffee as water sprayed across his boots. “Keep this up, kids, and I may start to enjoy myself.”
Flora hauled herself back onto the dock, shaking droplets out of her curly hair. “Honey, it’s no good! None of us are big enough!”
Honey had been whispering to Ragvald as the kids took it in turns to jump into the water. From the gleam in her eye, Buck could tell he wasn’t home and dry (literally) yet.
“Keep trying, kids,” she called to them. “I’m sure you can get Buck wetter than that.”
“You jump in, Ragvald,” one of the kids from the other pack urged. “You could get Buckrealwet.”
Ragvald shook his shaggy head. “This is your battle, younglings. You must find a way to overcome this foe on your own.”
