AFTER HER CHILLY BATH, Melony walked back over to camp, leaves rustling beneath her sneakered feet.
Hunter looked up from his spot before the fire, abandoning his whittling as he saw her approach. “Feel better?”
She smiled and it felt as equally forced as his question had sounded. “Much, although the water was a few degrees cooler than I would have liked. Just above freezing was more like it. I thought about diving right in, but I wasn't quite so brave. Inch by inch was more like it.”
“Sorry, there’s no control knob to adjust the river's temperature. Besides, cold water is good for the circulation.” His tone was playful and held no hint of his usual air of sarcasm. Somehow, this threw her off-kilter.
“At least I'm clean.”
When she stood there staring at him for several seconds he said
