1915, cont.
It had been a stupid idea. Colin shifted restlessly from foot to foot, wondering how he had ever been convinced to agree to such foolishness. It had something to do with Mary, and the spell she cast over him whenever she smiled that special smile, the one that made him agree to anything she asked, no matter what his better judgement might be telling him.
Now, his eyes were fixed ahead of him, to where Mary was making her slow, laborious way across the old tree trunk that had fallen across this particular stretch of the river, the same tree trunk Dickon had proposed they cross in order to save themselves a long walk to the ford and back. Never mind that the tree trunk looked about a century old, slick with water and lichen, and that the drop from there down to the rapids below was some twenty feet. No, once Dickon had suggested it there was no way Mary could be persuaded otherwise, and so there she was, balanced so precariously on the wood that it hurt to watch her, her arms held out to either side for balance and her small frame tense with concentration.
Dickon was walking backwards in front of her, his eyes watching sharply lest she should trip or stumble, and his hands held up ready to catch her. He himself appeared as relaxed as though he was walking on cement, his feet finding purchase on the slippery surface as easily as any wild creature's would. Colin sighed. He hated watching like this, feeling so useless; but Dickon hadn't wanted all three of them on the log at the same time, and they all knew that of the two of them, Dickon had the better balance.
"This is stupid!" he called out, unable to stop himself. They were barely halfway across and it felt like he had been waiting forever. He tapped his foot impatiently. "I told you this was a stupid idea!"
Mary stiffened at his words, and swayed abruptly as though she had tried to turn but couldn't. Dickon's hand shot out to steady her, and his eyes lifted to Colin's, surprisingly angry.
"Quiet, Colin!" he said with uncharacteristic sharpness, and Colin felt his cheeks flush in anger. How dare he speak to him like that… but he grit his teeth because deep down he knew Dickon was right.
They continued; a slow, agonising process that made Colin twitch. He could see Dickon's lips moving, no doubt whispering words of encouragement to Mary, and rolled his eyes in annoyance. And then the unthinkable happened.
Mary laughed and shook her head at something Dickon had said, and for just a moment he straightened, his lips quirking as he gazed at her with fondness and affection and something else that made Colin's blood boil and thump in his ears. Then, almost as though it had been waiting for Dickon's lapse in concentration, a gust of wind blew through the gully, surprisingly strong. It caught Mary by surprise, and Colin watched as though in slow motion as her body tilted down and sideways, and her foot slipped on the precarious surface. And just like that, she was falling.
Dickon was fast. His arms shot out to grab her, but she had already moved too far away from him; he fastened both hands around one of her wrists instead, falling over himself as her weight dragged them both sideways. For a moment it appeared as though they would both tumble over the edge and down to the water far below; but somehow Dickon managed to hook his left leg around the tree trunk just in time, locking it there with grim determination and stopping their fateful slide. Mary hung like a ragdoll in mid-air, the only thing stopping her from falling twenty feet Dickon's grip around her wrist.
It had all happened so quickly, Colin barely had time to react. He lurched forward, knowing there was nothing he could do but powerless to stop himself nonetheless. Dickon's face was ghost white, his lips pressed in a thin line as he struggled to hold her and stay upright on the log at the same time. If he should let go… Colin felt his stomach churn, and made to step onto the log, desperate to help, to do something. But as soon as he put his weight upon the trunk it creaked dangerously, and Dickon's head snapped up, his eyes wide with alarm.
"Don'!" he called out in a hoarse voice. "I don' wan' t' risk it."
"Risk it!" cried Colin hysterically, stepping back off the log with a groan of frustration. "I think you've already risked it, Dickon! Look at her!" He didn't like the fact that Dickon had taken his eyes off Mary while she was still just dangling there. If he dropped her…
Dickon looked back at Mary, who had her eyes shut and seemed to be praying. "S'alrigh'" he said in a valiant attempt at calm. "I got 'er."
"Oh yes, you got her alright," seethed Colin, unable to keep silent. "By the skin of your teeth, you got her, and only barely at that!"
Dickon ignored him, his attention now solely focused on Mary. He said something under his breath that Colin couldn't hear, and Mary nodded once, her face pale but stoic. He had to marvel at her calm; most other girls he knew would have been sobbing in terror by now, and he wouldn't have blamed them.
Slowly, Dickon began to pull her up, his jaw clenched and the muscles in his arms straining with the effort. When she was high enough, he lifted one hand from her wrist to scoop under her other arm and around her chest. He dragged her up and over his lap, unceremoniously, until she was draped across him like a naughty child about to receive a smack. Then he turned her over, and she put her arms around his neck and her head against his shoulder, and his arms wrapped tightly around her, squeezing like he would never let go. And the danger was over.
It all took less than a minute, but Colin felt as though he had been waiting in agony for hours. Neither Dickon nor Mary paid him any heed; they seemed completely lost in each other, in the embrace they were sharing. Dickon had one hand wrapped around Mary's waist, another stroking her long hair in a smooth, rhythmic fashion. His eyes were closed, and his lips close to her temple, moving softly. Colin could only imagine the sorts of things he was whispering in her ear.
He felt a furious rage course through him as he watched them, frightening in its intensity. Mary had been in danger, real danger, and it was all because of Dickon; Dickon and his idiotic suggestion that they cross to the other side of the river. And now Dickon was the one comforting her, cradling her against his chest as though… as though… and it had been his idea that put her in danger in the first place! It wasn't fair and the injustice of it made Colin's fists clench.
At that moment Dickon's eyes opened and met Colin's where he still stood on the other side of the bank. Colin could see his own fear echoed there, along with a strange sort of defiance, as though Dickon knew exactly what Colin was thinking and was replying in kind. I love this girl, Dickon's stare seemed to say. I love her and I'm going to comfort her and there's nothing you can do that will stop me. Colin blinked and looked away, pursing his lips.
By the time they had all crossed to the other side, Mary was smiling again, and already laughing about her near fall. For once, Dickon and Colin were united in their disapproval.
"S'no' funny, Mary," said Dickon sternly. "Tha' could've fallen."
She smiled at him. "I knew you'd catch me," she said, and the gushing adoration in her voice made Colin's gut squirm.
"Nonsense," he snapped angrily. "You didn't know that at all. Dickon's just human, like the rest of us. He's not an angel."
She glared at him fiercely. "It's your fault I even unbalanced in the first place," she retorted. "If you hadn't been acting so impatient, I would never have tried to hurry."
He spluttered in incoherent rage, dismayed that she had somehow managed to twist things so it was his fault. "That's – that's ridiculous," he said at last, feeling his whole face heat. "Maybe if Dickon had been paying attention, instead of – instead of – "
There was a dangerous silence. "Instead of what?" hissed Mary, positively spitting with anger. "Instead of what, Colin?"
"Never mind," he scowled, breathing heavily to try to get a hold of his emotions.
Mary opened her mouth to speak, but Dickon cut her off.
"Leave it be, Mary," he said firmly.
She looked at him, nodded, and closed her mouth. Colin glowered at a rock, hating that it was once again Dickon who defused the situation. But he said nothing, because really, what was there to say?
A/N: Thanks to my lovely reviewers. You guys are the best :)