Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
When the water is turbulent, do not attempt to clean it. Let it settle, and it will become clear on its own.
David
“I think we’re set,” Travis said with a grin. “Even though I almost spilled the beans when Elise was so concerned about having nothing to eat but peanut butter, I don’t think our campers suspect a thing.”
“Me either. Though didn’t they seem a tad too eager to offer a solution?”
Travis chuckled. “They’re Littles, eagerness is one of their traits.”
David nodded. “You’re right. And if I haven’t mentioned it before, I’ve had a great time working with you.”
Travis cocked his brow. “You say that like you’re surprised.”
David smiled. “I guess I am, a little.” He shook his head.
“Wait, let me rephrase that. I’m not surprised at enjoying working with you, that was pretty much a given.
But to have such a blast with an entire giggle of Littles let loose into the wild?
I admit, that surprises me. Can you say it doesn’t surprise you at least a bit?
To be honest, I expected to be tested a lot more than that one time. ”
Travis nodded. “Yeah, me too as that is another trait Littles seem to share. But I seriously think we kept them so busy they were too exhausted to get up to any mischief.” He tossed the rest of his coffee on the ground.
“Take it from me, now that you’ve got your own Little girl, there will be plenty of opportunities to be tested. ”
“I don’t know, Tula didn’t purposefully test me. She was just preoccupied with everything that was happening between us.”
“Granted, that played a part I’m sure, but she is not only a Little, she is now a Rawhide Ranch Little. I mean, this isn’t just a summer romance, right? She’s staying?”
“Tula definitely wants to stay. Not only are Moses and Jayne here, she’s made forever friends.
If Derek concurs, I’d like to buy a house up on the Ridge.
Until then, we can stay at my place in Porter’s Corner.
Tula can take her time finding a job if she wants or just let herself soak up all the perks the Ranch offers. ”
“Good, I’m glad, and like I said, you’ll have lots of opportunities.”
David chuckled and nodded and then cocked his head, “Speaking of Littles, I haven’t heard anything out of them for a while. Have you?”
Travis looked around and shook his head. “No, but the river is a little further away than our other camping spots.”
“True enough but tell me, when was the last time you’ve been around Littles when not a single one is giggling or squealing?”
“Can’t say I remember a time unless they were asleep.”
“I’ve got an uneasy feeling. No matter the distance, they are Littles. They still have a few more minutes of swim time before we said we’d head out to fish. Unless they all fell asleep while floating, shouldn’t there be some noise?”
“Maybe they just decided to start foraging a little earlier than planned. Let’s not borrow trouble,” Travis said.
After grabbing some poles and the tackle box, they headed for the river.
Stepping from the trees, Travis looked around and grinned.
“See, I told you. Did you see Elise’s face when Tula mentioned strawberries.
She’s probably already sitting in some patch making sure the others don’t decide to smush them up for sunburn relief but are stuffing themselves instead. ”
“Let’s hope you’re right,” David said, looking up at him. “Seeing as how we don’t have any lures, it’s going to be kinda hard to catch a fish, much less enough for everyone.”
Travis joined him to look into the tackle box. “What happened to them? I know there were several in here.”
David shrugged as he dug through the box. “No clue, but I found a couple of regular hooks. We can go old school as long as Payne and his fellow worm-wranglers came through.”
“No need. I found the lures.”
“You did?” David stood to join Travis. They moved toward the edge of the river where feathered lures had been laid neatly out along a log. The only thing brighter than the feathers and shiny spinners were the worms that had been hooked on to each one.
“Seems your spidey senses were spot on. Everything points to the fact we’ve got a giggle of Littles who decided this was their last opportunity to test us.”
“You mean to pull a prank,” David countered.
“Isn’t the first time, won’t be the last.”
“All of them, though?” David asked.
“Most definitely. Remember, these are Rawhide Littles who are not only infamous at pulling off some epic pranks, they have a code. They don’t just play together, they prank together.”
“So Blake’s all for one and one for all is a real thing?”
“Very much so.”
A sound had both men looking across the water. After a moment, Travis asked, “You heard that, right?”
“Yes, but it sounded funny.” David looked at the water and movement caught his eye. He nudged Travis and directed his attention to a small protrusion above the river’s surface.
The first notes of another whistle sounded but abruptly cut off. After a moment, Travis said, “I’ve heard of flying fish, but this is the first time I’ve heard one whistle.”
David picked up one of the lures, shaking his head when he realized the worm didn’t so much as wiggle. A memory had him chuckling. “I don’t seem to recall Peggy’s name being mentioned, but I do believe the only digging involved was in a bag of candy belonging to a baby chicken.”
“Well, they didn’t specify what type of worms,” Travis said with a grin.
“No and I must say, they managed to find ones that a fish isn’t going to regret grabbing hold.
” He showed Travis the lure. Looking closer, he saw the long gummy worm hadn’t been pierced by the hook on the lure.
Instead, it had been wound around and around the hook, as if protecting whatever was lured to it from getting pricked.
He had a pretty good idea of what species would be doing the worm nibbling… and it wasn’t one with fins.
“So, seeing as your instincts seemed to know they were going to test us, what do you say? We can either handle this on our own, or”—Travis looked at his watch—“we give them a few minutes to wonder why they haven’t been discovered while we welcome our reinforcements?”
“Considering I’m the newbie Daddy here, I’ll yield to the expert.”
“That honor goes to our boss,” Travis said as he slapped David on the back.
With a last look toward the river, David vowed that innocent prank or not, surrounded by her friends or on her own, his Little otter was going to learn that he’d never failed a test before and he had absolutely no intentions of starting now.
After they’d met the others and briefed them on the situation, David and Travis stepped back out of the woods. Accompanying the counselors were the Bigs attached to each Little camper. As was often the case, Lori tagged along, her hand held firmly by Beverly MacIntosh.
“But where are they? I don’t see anyone, Mommy,” Lori said as she looked around the swimming hole.
“You sure this is the spot?” Beverly asked.
Her husband, Gordon, walked closer to the water to scan downstream. “I don’t see anyone.”
“Are you sure they are swimming? You said they were going to forage for supper,” Tiago asked.
“Yes,” David said. “Even if they’d given up on swimming, and been okay walking off without their clothes, there is no way they’d leave their shoes.
Not with all they’ve learned about insects, thorny plants, or venomous snakes.
” He gestured to where clothing and shoes were scattered on the riverbank.
“And while they might want to pull a prank, I just can’t see them being willing to put anyone in danger.
” He turned and surveyed the water. “They’re in the river playing fish. ”
“The only question is where,” Thorin said.
Before David could clarify, Moses straightened from the crouch he’d dropped into as if wanting a different perspective to survey the river.
Lifting his hands, he first pointed across the water and then his hands flew.
David’s admiration for the man grew as he specified that the “reeds” they were looking for would be distinct. Not brown or even a pale tan.
“Did he sign red and white? Like a candy-cane?” Wylde asked.
Derek chuckled. “Yes, but not with a hook. A peppermint stick.”
“Like my lolly sticks!” Lori said enthusiastically. “I kept them because they are so pretty.”
David looked from the Little girl to the river. “That makes sense seeing as how I never did get that bag of lollipops back after giving them to Bambi.”
“Bambi’s here?” Lori asked, her head on a swivel as she stared into the trees as if expecting the Disney character had come to life and would be stepping out of the woods to join them.
Travis chuckled and reminded her that the campers were in animal groups and that Chloe was one of the Deer.
At the clarification, Lori nodded as they all looked to the water again.
“Okay, our Little pranksters took the time to prepare their lures, so everyone take one and let’s go fishing,” Travis said.
Shoes were kicked off, shorts and pants were dropped to join the clothing already piled up and one by one, the Bigs chose a lure and spread out along the bank. It was time to turn the tables.
At Derek’s nod, they slipped silently into the water.
Within moments, the silence was broken as shrieks and squeals were given by each Little as they were plucked from the water.
“Ohhh, Daddy caught one!” Lori said, clapping so enthusiastically she splashed water on them as their Daddy pulled him from the river. “What kind of fish are you?”
“I’m not a fish, I’m a turtle.” Blake gave his sister a grin.
“Well, well, seems I’ve caught myself a mermaid.” Travis lifted Sadie out of the river. When a spurt of water hit him in the face, he growled. “Make that a very naughty clam.”
“Sorry, Master Travis, I didn’t mean to squirt you. I was trying to whistle but my stick is too soggy now.” Her attempt to wipe the water off his cheek proved quite useless as she was dripping.
“I have a certain fondness for clams,” Derek said. “How about we trade?”