Wow, I feel blessed with all these wonderful reviews.
"Joe!" was last he heard as his brother and friends ran toward him.
Frank reached his brother first and gently turned him over. He tore off his shirt he hadn't taken off yet and wiped the sand off Joe's face.
"Bro, speak to me, come on Joe" he whispered as he wiped. Joe groaned in response as the little girl's father came to help.
"He hit the sand pretty hard, we should get him away from the water" the man said to Frank and he nodded.
"I'm Bill, your brother is very brave" the man, Bill, said as they hoisted up the unconscious Hardy with Frank by Joe's head and Bill with Joe's feet.
"Yeah, Joe's always doing crazy things, he loves playing hero" Frank answered. Bill chuckled as they got to the groups spot.
When the girls saw Frank could handle his brother they ran back to their spot and set it up so Joe could lay down.
Frank didn't notice the small gash right by Joe's hair till they laid him down.
"He must have hit a rock or shell, he's bleeding" he told the girls. Bess had taken extra band aids from the tent and placed one on Joe's head.
"Our hero" she gushed and everyone laughed. Annie dropped to her knees and tousled Joe's hair.
"Thank you so much mister Joe, please wake up" she said. Frank could see the worry in the little girls voice.
"I know what will wake him up" he said. Annie turned to him and Frank held out his hand. He helped her up and crouched to her level.
Then he whispered his plan to her. Annie giggled and agreed.
Joe Hardy groaned again a half hour later. This time his eyelids opened and he moved a hand and sand shifted off him.
"This isn't my blanket" he said and a girls voice giggled. "Not your bed either Joey" Bess said.
Joe blinked and lifted his head slightly to see he was covered almost completely in wet sand.
"That little sneak" he muttered. With a few failed tries, Joe finally managed to get up and groaned as sand slipped down his trunks.
"Yikes that does not feel good" he said and shook it out but not before laughter was heard.
"Your awake!"
The laughter belonged to Frank and the voice belonged to the girl now hugging his body.
"I'm so glad your okay, so so glad" Annie cried out. Joe patted her hair and lifted her up.
"Yeah kiddo, nothing can take down the great Joe Hardy" he said and she giggled.
"Except a wave, it knocked you flat" she said and laughter exploded from behind him.
"She got you there Joe" Frank said and Joe stuck his tongue out at him.
"Yeah, well the ocean is very tough, and you shouldn't be messing with it either" Joe answered, partially scolding Annie.
She nodded, looking away from him. "I know, I'm a bad girl, I'm sorry you got hurt Joe" she said. She then burst into tears without warning.
Joe pulled her against him and hugged her. "It's okay Annie, I'm not mad, I even forgive you" he said.
Annie hugged back, sobbing. "Re…really?" she stuttered and he nodded.
"Come on kiddo, please stop crying, why don't we build a sand castle" he suggested.
Annie leaned back, rubbed her eyes and nodded. Joe set her down and Annie went for her pail and shovels.
She brought her pail, plus another and two shovels and the two got to work.
Joe never left her the rest of the day, he grew fond of the seven year old and made sure to hold her hand in the water.
"Joe, I'm not going to use my brothers board no more but you can" Annie said as they jumped waves together.
Joe agreed. Annie ran out of the water to her brother who was laying on his board getting a tan.
Charlie pulled off his glasses and agreed. He stood and picked up the board and first decided to show off.
"Let's see if your better" he challenged Joe and then the thirteen year old paddled out a little and stood, easily catching the wave.
He came back in and Joe clapped the took his turn. He misjudged and fell into the water and came up spitting salt water.
"Not bad for an amateur" Charlie grinned and left.
"Told you he was annoying" Annie said when he came out and Joe nodded.
He scooped her up and walked out. "Big brothers always are" he said.
He went to his groups area and let Annie bury him again with the girls help while he napped.
Joe woke a few hours later to Annie dripping water on his face.
"Wake up silly, I'm leaving and I want you to come to my house" she said.
Joe blinked his eyes and sat up, pushing off the sand.
"Really?" he asked her and her dad strolled up.
"Yes sir, you saved my daughter Joe, I want you, your brother and your friends over for dinner" Bill said and Joe nodded.
"Sure mister…"
"Bill please…this is my wife Chelsea…and you know Charlie and my little Annie bug" Bill answered.
Chelsea walked over looking worried. She pulled him away but Joe could hear a few words.
"What about that mystery Bill? Is it safe for them?" she asked and he nodded.
"I'll lock up that room Chels…she's calmed anyway" he said.
He went back and Joe stood and shook his hand. "We'd be delighted to come Bill" Joe said.
He went and found his friends in the water and told them of the invitation and the mystery.
"I thought you three were here to relax?" George asked and all three looked at each other and shook their heads.
"Nah" they all said and laughed.
"We have to get them talk about it, I heard Bill say something about locking a room and a girl calming" Joe said.
"A ghost you think?" Bess asked and he shrugged.
"Whatever or whoever she is…I'm in for finding out" he answered and his partners agreed.
You all still with me? I haven't bored anyway have I?
Isn't Annie so cute?