And some things, he was better off not knowing.
To her relief, Archie seemed to take her statement at face value. He nodded in relief, looking happier. “Okay. Just stay away from Conleth, okay?”
“Archie, he’s my co-counselor. I can’t avoid him entirely.” She fixed him with her bestI’m-not-kidding-about-thisglare. “And you really can’t keep trying to monitor his every move. You signed the pack contract, and I expect you to stick to it. Including the part about being considerate of other campers. No more disturbing the other boys at night, okay?”
Archie glowered in the direction of the oblivious Conleth. “I don’t trust him.”
“Then trust me,” she said firmly. “I’ve already told him that nothing can happen between us. Believe me, he’s not going to change my mind.”
“Right, campers!” Conleth sang out, striding back. He clapped his hands, all brisk enthusiasm. “Who wants to go swimming?”
CHAPTER 15
“Uncle Conleth,” Beth said in a low, urgent whisper as she joined him on the dock. “What’s the plan?”
“Plan?” Conleth flipped his towel off his shoulder, tossing it over a nearby post. “The plan is to go swimming, Beth.”
“I mean, what’s therealplan?” Beth glanced around furtively, or at least as furtively as it was possible to be while wrapped in a giant beach towel printed with turtles. “You must have one. If you tell me what it is, I can help.”
“That’s very sweet of you.” Conleth gave her an affectionate smile, while inwardly screamingOh God, no. “But you don’t need to worry. I have the situation under control.”
Beth did not look reassured.
“Hey, Conleth!” Estelle bounced over, all eagerness and incipient disaster. “What’s the plan?”
Not you too.“Why would I have a plan?”
“Because you always do,” Estelle said, matter-of-factly. “We’re not actually swimming, are we?”
“We’re dressed in swimsuits and standing next to a lake, Estelle. What do you think we’re going to do? Engage in a cut-throat game of chess?”
Estelle rolled her eyes. “Yeah, but we’re notjustswimming, obviously. This is all part of some genius scheme to impress Paige and make her fall madly in love with you. What do you need us to do? Pretend to drown?”
“Estelle!” Beth yelped.
“What?” Estelle shrugged. “It’s a great idea. Conleth can leap in to save us. That’s bound to make Paige fall in love with him.”
Conleth sighed. “Please do not pretend to drown, Estelle. Or, anticipating your next suggestion, actually drown. Or attempt to drown anyone else.”
“Yeah, I suppose that wouldn’t work,” Estelle conceded. “Moira would ban our pack from swimming for the whole summer. So what is your plan, Conleth? You must have one. Come on, spill the beans.”
“There are no beans,” Conleth said, with the sinking feeling that this was a futile argument. “I am entirely bean-less. And if I had beans, I would be keeping them safely to myself, not scattering them about with reckless abandon. Look, we really are just going swimming.”
Beth bit her lip. “But Uncle Conleth, you know Archie is going to try to cause trouble.”
“I have no doubt,” Conleth replied. “But that’s my concern, not yours. Remember the pack contract? All you kids have to do is have fun and enjoy yourselves.”
“Ohhhhhhhh,” Estelle said in tones of dawning enlightenment. “So you need us tohave funandenjoy ourselves.”
“Yes,” Conleth said. “Only when you say it, it somehow sounds much more ominous.”
“So that’s your plan.” Estelle winked at him, like the world’s worst secret agent.“I got it now.”
Conleth’s sense of impending doom deepened. “I really don’t think you have.”
“Don’t worry,” Estelle said, which had precisely the opposite effect to the one she’d intended. “I’ll let the others know. We’ve got your back, Conleth.”
“I don’t need you to—” Conleth started, but she was already darting back to the boathouse, where the other kids were finishing getting into their swimsuits. “Beth, can you go after her? Stop her from doing whatever she’s planning to do.”
