Emmalee Read Online Free PDF Page B

laughed.  “Ladies do not walk
backwards.”
               
“All right.  Well, then, I guess that means we’ll
have to do it Georgia’s way.  Sorry, Emma.” 
Chase grinned as he released my hand and broke the circle.
               
“That’s okay.  I would rather holdGeorgia’s
hand anyway, huhGeorgia?”
               
“Come on.  Let’s go already.  We’ve gotta
get to the lake!” Georgia demanded as she pulled us both toward
the back of the house.  Chase and I chuckled as we followed her
short little legs.
               
Within minutes we were at lake, with life vests on.  I was
trying to control my unease as Georgia coaxed me to climb onto the
shaky paddleboat with her. 
               
“Just step down, you’ll be fine.” She waved her
little hands in front of her life vest.  “Come on. 
You can do it.”
               
Great.  I’m getting encouragement from a six year
old.  Okay, I can do this.  Look, it’s only like two
feet from the dock.  See?  Two feet.  Just step.
               
Just as I had convinced myself to gingerly take a step forward, I
felt Chase’s arm wrap around my side and with one large bound
we both landed into the rocking boat.
               
Ahh! 
In confusion, my heart jolted within my chest and
I tried to recover my balance.
               
“There, wasn’t that easier than worrying about it?” 
Chase’s voice near my ear caused me to let out a delayed
scream.  The boat pitched wildly to the side when he dodged my
shriek and I clung to him.  “Whoa!  Okay, calm down. 
Hang on.  I’ve gotcha.”
    I felt Chase’s strong arms
wrap around me.  After a moment the swaying stopped and I felt
secure enough to relax a bit.  “Thanks,” I mumbled
into his shoulder.
               
“You’re okay, now?”
               
I’m such a wimp.
  “Yes, I think so.”
               
“Okay, here’s the deal, we’re going to both sit
down together.  On the count of three, okay?”
               
No!
  I clung tighter and nodded yes.
               
“One.  Two.  Three.” 
    In less than a second Chase had
glided us easily down to the wide bench.  As I felt the solid
plastic beneath me, I let go of his shoulders, first one hand and
then the other and gripped the seat. 
    “There you go.” He
chuckled.  “Now try opening your eyes.”
               
Huh?
  Surprised my eyes flew open and I was assaulted
by the sun bouncing happily off the water. 
Ugh.
 
I didn’t even know my eyes were closed.  Seriously, I
have got to get a grip. 
               
I heard a soft giggle and focused my squinting gaze on Georgia next
to me.  “You really are afraid of the water, aren’t
you?”
               
“Not the water.  Just the lake.”
               
“But why?”
               
“Because sweets—” Chase leaned over me and ruffled
her hair. “—when Emma was little, her boat had an
accident in the water.”
               
“It did?”  Her eyes became huge.
               
“Yeah, I almost drowned.”  I attempted to laugh; it
sounded more like a croak.
               
“Wow!  Really?”
               
“Yep, Chase rescued me.”  I tried not to look at the
vast amount of water all around us.   
               
“Chase did?  My brother’s a hero?”
               
“Well, yeah he is.”  I looked over at Chase.
               
All at once he became a flurry of activity as he got the boat ready
to set off.  “Don’t believe it.  I’m not
a hero, just a knight doing my duty.”  He untied the rope
from the dock and pushed.
               
I held on tighter while the boat rocked a bit and glided away from
safety. 
Why did the Anderson’s have to make such a
large lake