She folded her arms. “Iamfurious with you.”
“That’s why this plan wasn’t ideal,” Conleth said dryly. “But it was the best I could do under the circumstances. At least I have some time to change your opinion of me. And Archie’s, as well.”
Paige wasn’t sure which of those was less likely. “You realize he’s going to torment you, right?”
The corner of his mouth twitched up. “You said you wanted him to have a good summer.”
“If you knew my brother at all, you’d be running for the hills right now.”
“I can handle whatever Archie can throw at me,” he said, with what Paige felt wasfartoo much confidence. “I’m just relieved he was able to persuade Leonie to rearrange the pack assignments. I’d hoped she would view it as a fitting and hilarious punishment for my previous interference, but I wasn’t sure. She’s watching us right now, by the way. No doubt hoping to enjoy my reaction.”
Turning, Paige found that Leoniewasstaring across the square at them. Conleth raised a hand, giving her a little wave. The head counselor didn’t respond. Paige had the impression of a cat waiting patiently by a mouse hole—or perhaps a lion lurking in long grass, tail twitching in anticipation.
“Sorry to interrupt,” Nancy popped up between them, looking a little worried. “But more kids are joining us, right? Because this feels like a really small group compared to all the other packs. And also, uh, kind of tense.”
Paige looked around. All the other counselors were now surrounded by campers, handing out name tags and fielding questions. Only a few stragglers were still making their way to their groups.
“Weshouldhave more campers than this,” she said, frowning. “Leonie wouldn’t only give us three kids. Where’s the rest of our group?”
No sooner were the words out of her mouth when four kids barreled across the square, heading straight for them. Beth led the group, with Estelle hot on her heels. They were closely followed by two boys—one dark and lean, the other blonde and stocky. Paige hadn’t met either of them before, but she guessed they had to be Finley and Rufus. Archie had told her that the four kids were a close-knit gang, thanks to them all having parents on the same wildland firefighting crew.
“We’re here, ma’am!” Beth skidded to a halt, the other three kids nearly piling into her. “Sorry we’re late.”
Conleth’s smug smile vanished.
Archie narrowed his eyes at his former pack mates. “What are you doing here?”
“What areyoudoing here?” Beth glared right back at him. “Paige and Conleth areourcounselors.”
“No.” Conleth had the expression of a man whose day was abruptly not going as planned. “No, we absolutely are not.”
“It’s all right, Uncle—” Beth stuttered, hastily correcting herself. “I mean, counselor Conleth. We cleared it with Leonie.”
Paige glanced across at Leonie.Nowthe head counselor waved back. She also appeared to be taking pictures on her phone.
“But Leonie said I could be in this pack!” Archie was starting to go red-faced, in the way that indicated his bear was close to the surface. “I called dibs first!”
“Wow.” Nancy looked between Conleth and Paige with newfound awe. “You two must bereallypopular counselors.”
Archie ignored this, squaring up to Beth. “I know what you’re doing. You’re here to help stupid Conleth! He put you up to this!”
“I really, really didn’t,” Conleth said fervently.
“All right everyone, calm down,” Paige said, trying to regain control over the situation. “This clearly isn’t going to work. I’ll go have a word with Leonie and get things sorted out.”
“Yeah.” Archie planted his feet. “Tell her I got here first, so Beth and the others have to go to a different pack.”
“What an excellent idea.” Conleth turned a winning, somewhat desperate smile on his niece and her friends. “Wouldn’t you four like to be in a different pack? I’m sure I could arrange for you to join Moira and Ragvald’s group.”
Estelle looked like the heavens had just parted to reveal Santa Claus, descending on a dozen reindeer to bring peace and goodwill to all humankind. “We could haveRagvaldas a counselor?”
“Estelle!” Beth hissed. “We don’t want to change counselors, because Conleth’s amazing and we’re so excited to be in his pack.Aren’t we.”
“Oh, yeah,” Estelle said, with marked lack of enthusiasm. “Conleth. Yay.”
“Wouldn’t you like to be in Ragvald’s pack, Archie?” Paige entreated her little brother, since Conleth’s plan had clearly failed in the first five minutes. “Doesn’t that sound like more fun than hanging around with me all summer?”
From the way his expression wavered, it did. Then Archie’s mouth firmed. With the air of someone making an enormous sacrifice, he shook his head.
