Upon noticing the girl start to remove her shoes, he figured he ought to do the same unless he wanted to track water and mud through the presbytery. Keeping his arm held up steady for Mable, he took off his shoes and socks and tossed them over to where she’d set hers.

A similar sound escaped him in the form of a quiet gasp when he touched the water. God, she was right, it was cold. But if that fact alone was not enough to deter her, then he would not let it shake him either. He took another step beside her, and felt the hem of his trousers cling to his legs as they were soaked with water.

“That must have been nice,” said Malachi, keeping his eyes on Mable for any signs of imbalance.

“I am sure you’ll see plenty of fish here. Perhaps not while it’s this dark out, of course…”

Might feel them, though. He was pretty sure there were fish that nibbled on people when given the chance.

He took another step farther, and the bottom of his cassock was wet too. At least there was a refreshing quality to it, in the summer night’s humid air.

“What kinds of things did you have on the farm?”