Dreamwalker's Bride - Chapter 333

Chapter 333: Slippery
Mia’s sudden scream sent a jolt through Ford. She bolted from the water so quickly that she slipped, and he lunged forward to catch her.

He was able to keep her from landing fully in the water, managing to use the momentum of her dash to haul her mostly onto the land before they landed roughly in a heap next to the water’s edge.

Both their horses had backed up, startled by the humans’ odd behavior.

“Are you all right?” Ford demanded anxiously, searching Mia’s face for any sign of injury. She looked more startled than anything.

“Mia?” Seth questioned from the water as he waded slowly towards them. “Are you afraid of frogs now?”

“Frogs?” Mia squeaked, disentangling herself from Ford to sit up and look to where she had just been standing. A small amphibian was hopping its way towards the forest, through the ponds of shallow water.

Most of Ford’s attention, however, was on the subtle expression on Seth’s face. The man seemed to be trying very hard not to glare, but couldn’t quite contain all the emotion he felt.

Ford’s mouth pressed into a thin line. It hadn’t been his fault! It was a reaction to get Mia to safety from whatever had startled her, and keep her from falling face-first into the water!

He helped Mia to her feet as he slowly stood, relieved that she wasn’t hurt.

“Sorry, everyone,” Mia ducked her head as her face turned pink. “That was an overreaction.”

“I would have done the same if something brushed my leg in unknown water,” Anaisa sympathized. “It’s a normal impulse.”

Daniel snickered, and Mia frowned, avoiding eye contact with anyone.

Ford took a step to reach for the horses, in case they should be tempted to wander off, and his socks audibly squelched within his boots. Daniel’s chuckle bloomed into full laughter at the sound, with half the group joining and half grimacing in sympathy.

“I’m…. I’m sorry,” Mia swallowed, still refusing to look at him. “If you take them off now, we can hang them on a saddle in the sun and get them dried out.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time we’ve had to dry some things out,” He responded softly as he bent down to take off his boots and socks. Mia’s eyes finally met his, round, and with a warning in them.

He felt the slight grin on his lips as she obviously suppressed a retort, her face coloring further.

The last time they had to dry some things out had been the night of the torrential downpour that had moved the river. The night they had curled together for warmth against the cold, when Mia had slept in his arms.

Ford tied the shoestrings to the saddle and wrung the socks out as best he could.

“I guess I’m ready,” He announced, “What about you, Storm?”

His horse didn’t respond to his new name, but Mia’s blush seemed to deepen further, amusing Ford.

“The way is… a bit slippery,” Mia said to the others tightly.

“That’s true,” Seth nodded as he got to the edge of the water and emerged. “I would hate to be on one of the horses if they slipped. Leading them, at least through this first pool so we can see how their hooves make traction against the unfamiliar surface, might be most prudent.”

“Sounds good to me, My feet could use it,” Grandpa said enthusiastically. “These long days in my boots with no fresh socks… maybe we can do some laundry tonight.”

“By ‘we,’ you mean…” Anaisa cast a sly look at her father-in-law.

“Of course I’ll do my own, unless you’re offering,” He winked back at her.

“I’ll do it, Grandpa,” Mia volunteered.

“Sweet girl, you’re too good to this old man,” Grandpa smiled.

“I hate laundry, I’m not even doing my own, much less anyone else’s,” Daniel wrinkled his nose, while Anaisa gave him a stern glance that made him shrink a little. “Well… maybe I should at least rinse some things.”

Everyone removed their footwear who hadn’t already, and otherwise prepared to wade across the water. Ford averted his eyes as Mia adjusted her skirt to not get any more soggy than it already was from her slight tumble.

“Well?” She took a deep breath and glanced around the group. Her face had returned to its normal color by now, but she still seemed to avoid looking directly at Ford after his cheeky comments. “Is everyone ready?”

It made him chagrined and pleased in equal measure that he could provoke such a reaction out of her.

“Lead on!” Grandpa smiled broadly, and the young woman turned toward the water. Without looking at Ford, she extended one hand towards him, and he tried not to smile too widely at her continued avoidance of his eye line.

He took her hand, and together they stepped into the water. It was warm, and very clear, almost as if it weren’t there at all. Only a slightly bluish tinge gave it away as being different than the air around it on sight.

Ford kept his steps steady and firm; the floors of mine shafts were sometimes wet and required extra caution to keep from slipping, so he adjusted his steps to compensate for the lack of friction beneath his feet.

Mia’s right foot slid out from under her, and he braced his hand to keep her from tumbling into the water. She grimaced, and glanced at him.

“Sorry.”

“That’s what I’m here for,” He shrugged. “Would taking my arm be easier than holding my hand?”

“I don’t want to pull you down with me,” She protested.

“You won’t,” He promised.

“I did a few minutes ago,” Mia recalled.

“Maybe I let you,” He teased lightly.

“Oh? And why would you do that?” She finally looked at him more openly, and he took a moment to compare the blue of her eyes to the blue of the water around them. Her coloring was deeper and more beautiful. It was several seconds before he answered her.

After all, he hadn’t really let her knock him over, it had been a reflexive reaction to her fall in an attempt to catch her. But that didn’t sound nearly as good as he wanted.

“Maybe you’ll figure it out eventually,” He shrugged off her curiosity with a smile.