"This is the only crossin’ fer two miles in either direction. Unless ye want tae walk that far out of our way?"
"Nay, but…"
"Just trust me. Take it slow."
Mhairi drew a breath and stepped onto the first stone.
It was solid beneath her boot, exactly as it had looked. She stepped to the second stone, then the third, gaining confidence with each successful crossing.
The fourth stone was where things went wrong.
It looked stable enough, a wide, flat rock barely covered by water. But the moment Mhairi's weight settled on it, her boot slipped on algae she hadn't seen.
Her arms windmilled as she tried to catch her balance, and her foot plunged into the river with a splash that sent cold water spraying up onto Alpin's legs.
"Mhairi!"
His hand shot out, grabbing her arm and hauling her against him before she could topple completely into the river.
She crashed into his chest with enough force to make them both stagger, but he held firm, one arm wrapped around her waist while the other gripped the stone outcropping beside them for balance.
"I've got ye," he said, his voice steady despite the way they were both breathing hard. "Ye're all right."
"I'm sorry, I didnae see—the stone was slippery and I dinnae see it."
"I told ye to be careful."
"I was being careful!"
"Clearly nae careful enough." But there was amusement in his eyes now, and something else, mischief, maybe. "Though I suppose I should thank ye."
"Thank me? Fer what?"
"Fer giving me an excuse tae dae this."
He released his grip on the outcropping and deliberately swept his hand through the water, sending a spray directly at her face.
Mhairi gasped, cold water hitting her cheeks and dripping down her neck. "Ye didnae!"
"I did." He was grinning now, that rare, full smile that made him look years younger. "Consider it payment fer soakin’ me boots."
"Payment? I'll show ye payment!" Mhairi bent down and scooped water with both hands, flinging it at him with as much force as she could manage.
It caught him square in the chest, soaking through his shirt. His eyes widened in mock outrage.
"Oh, that's how it is?"
"Aye, that's how it is!"
What followed was chaos.
Alpin splashed her again, and she retaliated immediately, both laughing as they tried to drench each other while maintaining their precarious balance on the stones.
Water flew everywhere, in their faces, down their clothes, soaking their hair.
"Truce!" Mhairi finally gasped, her sides aching from laughter. "Truce, I surrender!"
"Dae ye?" Alpin took a threatening step toward her, water dripping from his hair. "Because it sounded like ye were just sayin' that tae get me guard down."
