Stepping Stones

Shrick, tunkle, splash!

Justin Baring could hear the sounds of stones being moved about in the creek ahead of him, but couldn’t see anything. He knit his brows and drew closer, wondering what was going on.

In a broad, rock strewn creek the water ran swiftly, though not terribly high. The rains the other day had tumbled the rocks about before flowing off to meet more waters in the river and then finally emptied out into the lake.

What was this? A rock moving other rocks about? Justin squinted in the bright, late afternoon light, he wouldn’t have seen the girl if she wasn’t moving. The jacket she wore was the same colour beige as the clay banks rising up around her, only the flash of her black cuffs and collar and the noise betrayed her.

Justin smiled, gazing down at the figure below, “what are you doing?”

“Building bridges.” Calluna grinned at his lilting voice and continued shuffling the squarish blocks around, without even glancing up.

Justin chuckled, “dreams of an engineer?”

“At least I have aspirations.” She took a quick glance up at her interlocutor high the the edge of the bank.

Justin scrambled down the bank and paused on the edge of the water. “What are you doing?”

Calluna hissed and shook her hand. “Building stepping stones.”

“Pass through here often?”

“Yes, and by the looks of that campfire circle up there, I’m not the only one.” Standing upright on the stone, she paused for a short break, taking in her watcher.

It still had a wobble.

She pursed her lips, got off and tried shuffling the base stones around to support the top stone. Unhappy with her building materials, “would you help me? I would like to try that stone over there.”

Justin took a few careful steps from gravel ridge to stones. She really doesn’t know who I am, he thought to himself and turned his face away for a moment, smirking. He took a glance up the bank, warning Rhett off with a look. Justin didn’t want to scare off his quarry. “This one?”

“Ah, the flatter one to your left.”

He grabbed the heavy rock that Calluna had indicated and scrambled across the uneven stones with his awkward load and placed it down where she indicated, amused at her exertions as she shoved the heavy top stone this way and then back again, getting up on the stone, finding it rocked a bit, repeating the procedure all over again to find that it was worse.

Once Calluna was happy with the state of this stepping stone, Justin found himself roped into helping her with a second and then a third, but he didn’t mind, let her exhaust herself, he thought.

The sound of voices alerted Eric and Eugene to people ahead as they pushed along the narrow, shady path which ended abruptly at the edge of a high bank in bright sun.

Eric’s breath caught in his chest. Down below he saw Calluna messing about with rocks, stones and Justin Baring!

“Eric, this way!” Eugene hissed from behind, parting a few bushes and sliding down the steep, muddy bank.

“Calluna!” Eric bellowed across the chattering brook.

Justin froze at the sound of his voice a heavy block in his hand.

Calluna turned to look over her shoulder, wrinkling her eyebrows by Eric’s sudden appearance and manner. What’s wrong? she wondered. Then it slowly it dawned on her who her building partner was.

Justin and Calluna moved at the same time, Calluna spinning around swiftly and one, two, three, hopped over and around Eric to the opposite bank, Justin dashing after her, close upon her heels.

Eric, Eugene and Calluna scrambled up the muddy bank and skittered along the trail, breaths rushing in their ears, green scrub flashing by on the right and left.

“Calluna hold up! He’s not following us anymore!” Eugene panted, bracing this hands on his legs.

Calluna slowed up and leant against a fallen oak her legs wobbly from the exertion. The dappled shade that played across her face and feet felt good in the gentle breeze that blew along the path, cooling her hot forehead.

Eric jogged along, bringing up the rear. “I don’t see him anymore.” He struggled for a breath, “let’s go back to the house.”

Claire met them at the garden gate at the base of the hill. “What happened Calluna? I was worried about you.” She looked at her up and down, noticing the wet feet and coat hem.

Calluna glanced down at her watch. 7 pm it read. “I’m so sorry, I totally lost track of time.”

Eugene chuckled softly at her, “yeah, and was conspiring with the enemy.”

Claire looked horrified, “Justin?!”

“Yeah, she had him working for her.”

Calluna gave them a wry smile, hobbling between feeling bit shaken and incredulous about what just happened and genuine relief to be safe with her friends.

Eugene patted her on the shoulder and turned to return to the house.

Claire wide-eyed and curious just looked at them, following the pair up the stairs to the top of the garden. Justin? Working together?

Eric tugged the gate closed and brought up the rear, following the rest of the group up to the house, keeping a sharp eye out for any strangers. Seeing no one suspicious, Eric gave a great sigh, he could finally breathe a little easier.