Chapter 27
Sabrina stuck her head out of the kitchen. “Korrie, you’re sure you want to do this?”
He and Trip were sitting on the couch, watching The Rifleman. Well, Trip was chewing on his foot. Korrie was riveted, though. He turned around and nodded. “Yes. Very sure.”
“Okay.” On the way home, they’d stopped at the Bargain Bin again, just to see if Stella had any wetsuits. She didn’t, but she had given Sabrina a bag with some more men’s clothing in it, on the house, because Stella said she’d probably need it later.
Whatever that meant.
What Sabrina did understand was that Korrie was going to have to tough it out if he really planned on swimming in that cold water. Stella had managed to find a couple of men’s bathing suits, which she declared were half price since it wasn’t the season.
The one Korrie picked out ended up costing Sabrina two dollars. A small price to pay to cross one more thing off the list, which was happening even if he decided the water was too cold. Whether he swam or not, this item was getting red-lined.
She filled a thermos with hot chocolate, then checked to see if the brownies she’d made were cool enough to cut.
They were. She cut them into squares and bagged them up.
Taking the whole pan was probably overkill, but better to have too many than not enough.
She also bagged up some mini marshmallows for the hot chocolate.
All of that went into an insulated bag, along with cups and napkins.
With that taken care of, she changed into jeans and short boots, keeping on the same sweater she’d worn to work. This time, she added a fleece vest and tucked a hat into the pocket, just in case. She also grabbed a towel for Korrie.
Trip was snoozing when she came into the living room. “All right, Korrie. Time to go swimming.”
He hopped off the couch and into the air. “I’m ready.”
“See you when we get back, Trip.”
Not even an ear twitch. Smart cat. He wasn’t risking getting roped into anything that involved water.
They got in the car. She put the picnic bag in the back seat, then drove to Gideon’s. He stepped onto the porch as soon as she pulled up.
He had on a peacoat and jeans. He looked nice in casual clothing. He looked nice dressed up, too. Pretty much he looked nice in everything.
“Hi.” She smiled as he got in the car. He smelled good too.
“Hi.” He glanced back at Korrie, who was sitting on the picnic bag. “Evening, Korrin.”
“Good evening to you, Gideon.” Korrie giggled, but Sabrina failed to see what was funny about that.
“Off to Miller’s Lake.” She watched the streets carefully, following Julia’s directions. Fortunately, they were spot-on.
“Are you sure this is right?” Gideon asked as she slowed.
“Yep. Julia said it would be a dirt road.” And boy, was it. Sabrina slowed down even more, concerned the small ruts might damage her vehicle, even if it was an SUV. Finally, they arrived at the lake. “Wow, it’s beautiful.”
It was, too. The glassy lake reflected the moon, turning the water silver. An old wooden pier jutted out into the water. She pointed to it. “Maybe we can sit there while Korrie swims.”
“Works for me.”
They all got out. Korrie hovered excitedly. She hefted the strap of the picnic bag onto her shoulder, then grabbed the towel.
Gideon stuck his hand out. “Here. I’ll carry the bag.”
She gave it to him. “Thanks.”
They walked out onto the pier. Near the shoreline the water was crystal-clear. She could see tiny fish meandering through the shallows, the moonlight making them flash sliver in the water. “I can’t believe I’ve never been out here before. It’s so pretty.”
Gideon nodded. “It is. Even at night.”
She glanced up. “Maybe especially at night. I don’t think I’ve seen the stars so clearly anywhere else.”
He gazed skyward. “Me either.”
They sat cross-legged on the pier, the bag between them. A little pair of pants dropped into her lap, followed by some more clothing. Korrie was above her, changing midair.
She glanced up, saw a naked sprite behind, and quickly looked away. “I could have done without that.”
Gideon looked up, laughed, and shook his head. “That image isn’t going away anytime soon.”
“Nope.” Smiling, she gazed out at the water. “Maybe I’ll come swim here this summer. Might be fun.” And a cheap way to cool off.
“And there might be snakes. Water moccasins, that sort of thing.”
She looked at him. “Hush. You’re ruining my fantasies.”
“Sorry.” He leaned back on his hands. “It’s bigger than I thought it would be. By a lot.”
“It is. I wonder how deep it goes.”
Korrie zipped past them, his whole body practically vibrating with excitement.
“Korrie?”
He glanced at Sabrina. “Yeah?”
“Don’t go too far out. It’s dark, and I don’t want to lose sight of you.”
“Okay.”
Gideon leaned in slightly. “He does know how to swim, right?”
She thought about that. “I hope so. This was his idea.”
Gideon sat forward again, and together they watched as Korrie went slightly higher, hovered, then did a perfect swan dive into the water. The small splash barely caused a ripple. She held her breath.
He popped back up again, smiling a few yards out from them. He went into a backstroke.
She exhaled.
Gideon nodded. “Good thing. I was not about to go in after him.”
She looked at him, smirking. “I think you’re lying. I think you would have.”
One side of his mouth quirked up. “Maybe. But I wouldn’t have liked it.”
She laughed. “That’s fair.” She turned to watch the water again, feeling very much like she needed to keep an eye on Korrie. Her eyes were still adjusting to the dark, aided by the light of the nearly full moon.
He was swimming along, splashing the water with his kicks, and occasionally spurting geysers of water into the air. He was most definitely having fun and somehow didn’t seem to be bothered by the water’s chill at all.
The water rippled farther out. Too far away for it to have been caused by Korrie. She leaned forward, narrowing her eyes. It wasn’t in rings, like a fish jumping. And she would have noticed a fish.
“What is it?” Gideon asked.
“Look at the water behind Korrie. It looks disturbed. Or it did. It’s already flattening out aga—wait, there it is again.”
Small, undulating waves peeled across the surface as though something below had disturbed it.
Gideon let out a soft curse. “What are the odds that there’s a fish big enough in this lake to think the sprite might be dinner?”
Sabrina sucked in a shuddering breath. “Korrie!”
Gideon was on his feet, shedding his coat, toeing off his shoes, and diving before she could yell a second time.
She got up, heart in her throat, pulse pounding. A shape was rising up from the water. All she could do was pray that Gideon got to Korrie first.
And that both of them survived.