Free Green Lake by S.K. Epperson Page B

couldn't help noticing. Could you use some extra hands?”
    “How many have you got?” asked the woman with a wide smile.
    Madeleine lifted her hands and then offered one to the woman. “My name is Madeleine Heron.”
    The woman shook her hand. “I'm Denise Lansky. Can you build a sand castle, Madeleine?”
    “Give me a bucket and a shovel and I'll do my best.”
    “Great.” Denise turned to the children. “Hey, kids, this is Madeleine, and she's going to help us out. Why don't you count off, and the first six of you go with her to that side, and the other six stay here with me on this side. Okay? Ready, now. One… two . . .”
    Six children bumped and jumped to their feet to go with Madeleine down the beach a few paces. She caught the bucket and shovel Denise tossed her and received another broad smile from the attractive redhead.
    For the next hour she helped build sand castles, wetting the coarse sand and shaping it, helping small fingers poke holes and smiling at their grins of delight. She couldn't believe how relaxed she became, or how quickly the children seemed to take to her. Madeleine had never been around smaller children, though she liked them and enjoyed spending time in their presence, she simply didn't know anyone who had children. She had always believed she would have little patience with them when tested, but she had never been given the opportunity to find out.
    “Want a job for the day?” asked Denise when it was time to dole out snacks for the children.
    Madeleine looked at her. “I was just wondering if I could hack it.”
    “I'm serious,” said Denise. “I'm supposed to have two assistants, and the only one who showed up went to the hospital last night with colitis. I've called and sent for someone else, but I could sure use your help the rest of the day.”
    “How long are you here with them?”
    “For the week. It's a camping adventure we do every year. I thought I'd have to take them all home early, but my husband agreed to come out and help me with them. What do you say, Madeleine? I'll pay you for a full day.”
    Madeleine looked at Denise's earnest blue eyes and ginger red hair before giving a brief but firm nod. She didn't exactly have pressing business back at the cabin. “What do we do first?”
    “We feed them, apply another dose of sunscreen, and take them on a hike. Later on this afternoon, after lunch, we meet someone from the park who tells them about good camping habits and gives them all stickers then we go on a short boat ride, courtesy of a friend with a pontoon boat. After that it's supper and a sing-along before bedtime.”
    ”A big day,” commented Madeleine.
    “I show them a good time,” said Denise, “and wear my butt out in the bargain. But it's worth it. Just look at those happy faces.”
    Madeleine looked and had to agree.
    “I need to run back to my cabin and leave a note,” she told Denise.
    “I'll be right here,” Denise told her. “Slathering on the sun block.”
    “Be right back,” Madeleine said, and she jogged up the path that led to the cabins. She dashed off a quick note to Jacqueline and Manuel and then hurried back down to the swimming beach. Others had arrived by this time, some throwing distasteful glances and others indulgent as the children squirmed about on the small sandbar. Denise had three more bodies to apply sunscreen to, and she looked tremendously relieved when she saw Madeleine.
    “I had this terrible feeling you weren't coming back. You're either incredibly bored or very naive about kids.”
    “I'm both,” said Madeleine. “Where do we hike?”
    “Not far. We're actually camped near Diamond Bay, but there's no swimming beach. The minibus is up in the parking area. I thought we'd go on a little nature walk then look at the trees and rocks and such. Are you ready?”
    Madeleine was already panting from her first jaunt, but she could do more. She thought she probably shouldn't have sold her exercise bike and treadmill. A