Chapter 2: The Fishermen
So far Moira's vacation was turning out to be more than she had expected. Her main plan when she decided to get away from the stress of her job was just to enjoy the solitude of the family cabin. She took a deep breath, taking in the smells of the woods as she gingerly made her way down the path barefooted towards the glistening lake below.
She stopped by the pump, opening the lid to show a barrel right beside it to get some corn for the ducks, scooping up a few handfuls and placing the corn in a piece of cheesecloth which she then twisted to close. She grinned at the start of a creatures nest in the corner of the wooden box enclosing the pump & barrel and removed it to keep it from becoming a hassle in the future. She remembered as a child how her Dad had swore when the pump had broken down due to a nest of chipmunks clogging the mechanics.
Continuing down the trail to the waters edge, she stopped at the small beach to throw the corn out in an arc for the ducks that would come later, wiping her hands on her denim cutoffs, she paused, looking at the 6x6 floating dock that was her job for the day. Getting it out to the anchor 75 yards away would be a task, but something that she could do, and the rewards of having it out there for her to sunbathe on would be well worth it. Distracted by voices, she raised her hand to shield her eyes from the glare of the sun reflecting off the water and noticed the boat out by the point, fishermen out having a good time, doing more than fishing from the laughter and loud boisterous voices. She had recognized Toivo's voice earlier and looking hard she had seen his blond hair and licked her lips unconsciously as she remembered yesterday. She saw him waving and waved back, then went ahead about her business, slipping out of her shorts to her bikini she wore underneath.
Walking to the edge of the dock, she gathered her breath and dove into the cold water, not yet warmed from the morning sun. Breaking the surface she swam out to the bouy, which was only a plastic gallon bleach bottle, where the chain was hooked that would keep the dock from floating away. Swimming back with long, strong strokes to the left side of the dock, she emerged from the water and grasping the metal rings, dragged the dock into the water, then getting behind it, started pushing it towards the bouy. She hooked the dock to the chain and climbing up, a bit tired from the exertion, lay on her back, relishing the feel of the sun as it shone down on her, already warming her and drying the water glistening on her body.