“Ah. Sure,” he acknowledged lightly. The woman – girl, more like, judging by what little he could make out of her youthful face from where he was – did turn around though, and Malachi observed as she drew herself out of the water.

It must have been cold. Even in the dead of summer, the water looked too cold to entice Malachi into its embrace. He knew how to swim, but he had not seen many opportunities.

He continued his leisurely stroll down the beach, moving closer to where the woman emerged from the sea. Pulled his long, loose sleeves down over his forearms to cover them. Once he was near to her, Malachi leaned casually against one of the other large rocks, and cast a curious glance her way.

“What are you doing out here on your own?” he inquired, noting her appearance. She was pretty. Not in a way that particularly appealed to the priest, but he could recognize it all the same. Very pretty, even in her current pregnant state.

Years of preaching had him hoping that she was at least married.