Catching Attention

PART SIX

On the second to last day of the Vaughn's visit, everyone, including Nick, Asia, Franz, went for a picnic by the stream.

"Come on, guys. Let's go!" Tommy shouted, running ahead. Jo smiled, distracted for a moment from Amy and Victoria's conversation.

"Should we set up here?" Nick stopped and looked back at the woman for their input.

"This is a lovely spot! You have some beautiful land, Jo." Victoria commented, surveying the landscape around her.

"I'll take that as a yes." Nick grinned, and set down the heavy picnic basket that was making his arm ache. Jo smoothed out the blankets, while Amy and Victoria began setting out the food and dishes.

As the children began to wonder off in all different directions, Jo called out to each of them. "Don't wonder off too far. We'll be eating in a short time." She smiled and turned back to what she's been doing.

"You guys want to go this way over where the boulders overlook the stream?" Nan began to walk forward, not waiting for any answers.

As long as Dan doesn't do anything stupid! Bess muttered, following close behind everyone. But as quick as they got to water, Dan began his 'daring' escapades. This time he did them against Daemon…

~*~

"So Daemon, you ever jumped off a rock into the water before? Or is it too much for yer pretty shoes?" Dan smirked, looking up at Daemon with gleaming eyes.

Daemon smiled politely. "Daniel, really. Don't you ever get tired of these childish pranks? Obviously no one really finds them all that fascinating. Especially not Elizabeth and I."

Dan ground his teeth, balling his fists tightly. Daemon turned back to Bess and pointed to a tree nearby where a mother bird had just flown to her nest and was feeding her young. "I think that's a Robin. See it's dark orange breast?" He asked, looking down at her.

Bess shifted on her feet and forced a polite smile. Only another day…She shaded her eyes and strained to look at what he was talking about. "Y-Yes, I see it now."

"Isn't that fascinating?" He inquired, casting a glance in Dan's direction.

Bess rolled her eyes and dropped her hand. She could tell just by the look on Dan's face that trouble was well on its way. "Why don't we return back to the blanket? I'm sure we'll be eating in a matter of minutes." She took hold of his arm and gently tugged.

"No, Bess, I'd prefer to stay up here. You can see fascinating things from this rock." Daemon looked out and around, observing the landscape.

Dan snorted.

"Look at that. He can't even walk her back to the blanket. Wants to stay and observe the fascinating landscape." He snickered to Tommy and Emil who were standing not too far from him. They both raised their brows and stifled a laugh. But it wasn't what Dan had said that made them laugh. Jealousy showed through and through.

"I-I think we should go down now." Bess said anxiously, casting wary glances below.

Just then Jo called.

Everyone hurried over, stepping cautiously down the side of the rock and jumping to the ground. Bess bit her lip, holding her arms out to help her balance. But it didn't work. In a second, she slipped catching herself with her left arm.

"Ieh-" She screamed as her grip on the tree branch slipped and she fell with a splash into the water below. Bess choked, her mouth filling with water. Hastily swallowing it back, she tried to swim to the surface. But it seemed the harder she tried, the less headway she was making.

"Aren't ya gonna jump in after her?" Dan asked, shocked that he hadn't dove in right after her – like he would have done.

"Me, jump in after her? Can't she swim?" Daemon asked incredulously.

All nodded at the question.

"Then there is no need to ruin my new suit, just to jump in after a wailing female that can swim." He shrugged.

Dan clenched his jaw.

"She still can't swim very well. Go in after her!" He growled.

"Then why don't you just go get her?" Daemon snapped, annoyed by Dan's persistent questions.

Dan stopped, taking a quick glance below. Why hadn't he dived in? Because she would prefer that Daemon did it. After all, he is the story book prince!

Bess still hadn't come up to surface.

Without further hesitation, he ran forward and dived into the deep pool, soon meeting the water. He pulled himself under, frantically looking for Bess who was no where to be seen. After a minute he swam back to the surface, looked around and after getting a breath, dove back under.

~*~

"Mrs. Jo! Nick!" Nan and Nat ran back to where the adults were talking.

"Come quick! It's Bess! She's fallen in the water." Both children arrived out of breath at the blanket where eight pairs or startled eyes met them.

"Hurry! She hasn't come up yet and Dan can't find her!"

~*~

Bess's lungs screamed for air as she continued to try and fight her way to the surface with one arm. Her left arm was throbbing painfully and she couldn't do anything but let it hang to her side. I'm going to die…I'm going to die! She thought frantically. Just as she was about to give up, something grabbed her waist and was yanking her up. As the water from over her head, Bess breathed deeply getting all the air she could. She hiccuped, still trying to fill her lungs with air.

"Dan…" Bess murmured as tears of relief began to roll down her cheeks.

"Come on, we're almost there." He held tight to her as he swam over to the water's edge.

"Bess are you okay?"

"Are you hurt?"

"What happened?"

"Dan saved you!" Rob chimed, adding to the 'list' of questions and comments.

Bess gratefully sunk into her mother's warm embrace. She trembled from head to toe, still shaky from the accident a moment before. Goose bumps covered her arms and legs as her cold, water drenched clothes stuck to her.

As her mother started to walk with her back to the wagon, she heard Daemon talking.

"Yes, it was all so quick. I insisted upon going down and saving her, but that wild necked Daniel pushed me away and jumped down instead." Daemon smiled proudly as the adults praised him.

"Dan, I want to speak to you later." Jo looked sternly in his direction.

A frown settled over Dan's face as his anger welled up inside. "That's not true! I asked him if he was gonna go after her and he said no cause she could swim and he didn't want to ruin his new suit!" Dan's tone turned rather snobbish at the end of the sentence, imitating Daemon's.

"He's not telling the truth, Ma'am." Daemon said evenly, pointing an accusing finger at him.

Jo didn't know who believe. Dan had been so strange lately, but what if Daemon wasn't telling the truth? What was she going to do?