“I’d really appreciate that,” Paige said gratefully. “Thanks, Moira.”
“Let’s find a time in Archie’s schedule where I can work with him one on one.” Moira stiffened, eyes narrowing. “Though not right now. Barny, Esme! What did I say about ambushing other children in your shift forms?”
Blowing a short blast on her whistle, Moira hurried off to scold a pair of sheepish-looking hippos. Which reminded Paige that she was supposed to be monitoring the swimmers too. Shading her eyes, she searched the laughing, splashing mob for her own campers.
Estelle and Beth floated a little way off from the other kids, conferring in low voices. From the surreptitious looks they kept throwing her way, the topic of their discussion was no mystery.
The rest of her campers seemed to be having fun, at least. Archie and Nancy shrieked with laughter as they floundered around in some complicated water game. Rufus and Ignatius were playing too, though not without constant exasperated (and, she suspected, wholly fictitious) complaints from the latter. Finley glided through the water as if he’d been born in it, effortlessly evading any attempts to splash him.
Hetta, however, was still on the dock.
Paige went over to her, leaving a trail of wet footprints on the warm wooden boards. “Hetta? Aren’t you going to swim?”
Hetta shook her head firmly. “The water looks cold.”
“It’s not cold. I was just in there myself. It’s nice and refreshing, I promise.” Something occurred to her. “You do know how to swim, right?”
“Yeeeeeees,” Hetta said, drawing out the word dubiously. “But only in a pool. It’s not the same.”
“That’s true, but this is better. Trust me, you’ll love it.” She certainly had. “Look at how much fun everyone is having. Don’t you want to join in?”
Hetta eyed the raucous game without enthusiasm. “I don’t want to get splashed.”
“Then why don’t you swim with Beth and Estelle? They aren’t playing either.” Paige raised her voice to carry to the pair. “Girls, can you come give Hetta some encouragement? She’s feeling a bit unsure about swimming.”
“Of course, ma’am.” Beth swam over, followed by Estelle. “Don’t be afraid, Hetta. Moira’s a sea dragon. She can control the whole lake with her magic. Nobody can come to harm while she’s watching.”
Hetta made no move to join the two girls. “But the water’s all brown and dirty.”
“Don’t be such a baby.” Estelle flicked a spray of water at Hetta, making her flinch. “See? It’s fine.”
“That’s not helping, Estelle,” Paige said firmly. “Though she’s right, Hetta. The water really is fine. It just looks brown because of the mud at the bottom.”
Hetta drew back even further. “I don’t want to get muddy!”
“You won’t get muddy,” Paige said. “The silt stays at the bottom. Think of it like a giant pool filter. I promise you, the water is perfectly clean.”
“Well, at least until the campers get in,” Estelle said under her breath.
“Moira wouldn’t let us swim if it wasn’t hygienic,” Paige said hurriedly. “If you’re not sure about jumping from the dock, youcould wade in from the shore. That way you can get used to the water at your own speed.”
“But what if there are fish?” Hetta was clearly not going to be swayed. “I don’t want a big, cold, slimy fish nibbling my toes.”
With an effort, Paige held onto her patient smile. “Fish don’t like a lot of noise and splashing, Hetta. They won’t go anywhere near you, I promise. They’re probably all hiding in the deepest parts of the lake, waiting for us all to go away. Look, why don’t you try going in just a little? Nothing is going to be able to swim up to you in two inches of water.”
“An alligator could,” Hetta said stubbornly. “What if there are alligators? Or crocodiles?”
“Oh, comeon,” Estelle said.
Paige was starting to feel a lot of sympathy for Estelle. “This is Montana, Hetta. Not Florida. I can say with absolute certainty that there are no alligators in this lake. Or crocodiles.”
“We’ve got sharks, though,” Estelle said, a wicked gleam lighting her mismatched eyes. “You gotta watch out for those.”
Hetta let out a squeak of alarm. “There aresharkshere?”
Paige was somewhat regretting enlisting Estelle’s aid. “She’s just teasing you, Hetta. There are no sharks in the lake.”
“There are too,” Estelle insisted. “This entire lake is full of sharks. Absolutely packed with ‘em.”
