This was quite possibly the most ridiculous thing he had done in years – and Malachi had done a lot of ridiculous things. Splashing around in the river, drenching his vestments, laughing and playing like a child instead of a dignified priest.

It was so refreshing.

Another tiny wave crashed over his face, and he couldn’t tell if he’d sent it or if she had. He shut his eyes against the water, tiny droplets clinging to his lashes while bigger ones were falling from his hair. Never too much of a good thing, huh? That sounded entirely untrue, and he had no desire whatsoever to dispute it.

Malachi pushed himself to sit when Mable stood up, holding an arm out near her in case her balance shifted too far to one side or the other. When it didn’t, he took her hand and straightened up fully, and pushed a hand back through his hair to get it off of his face.

“Worry not,” he met her gaze with a small (but confident) smile. “I am a very fast learner.”

Pausing only to take and hold his breath, Malachi leaned down, threw his arms around the girl’s waist, and lifted her right up. One spin around, and he threw himself backward, crashing once more through the cold surface of the water.

And what a jolt it was! Even after falling into it once, it was still such a shock to his system when the cold leeched through his skin into his bones. At least he had not dropped Mable in the process, still holding her almost protectively in his arms.

“Well-” he released her and lifted his head, spitting out water. “How did I do?”