She closed the gap to the boy, came around behind him, and grabbed him under the arms, holding him to her chest. He pushed against her, desperate to escape the water.

“Hold still, damn it.” Curse words went hand in hand with Uncle Henry and Daddy’s fishing trips, and she’d picked up a few. “You’ll kill us both if you don’t relax.”

“I’m going to die!”

Better words than damn came to mind. “If you don’t quit squirming, I’ll let you go, and you’ll definitely die. Breathe. I’ve got you.”

She must have sounded more confident than she felt, because some of the tension drained from his body. She kicked her feet to keep them afloat, and her heart pattered hard in her chest.

“Kick your feet like a frog,” she said. “I’m going to do the same.”

“Okay.”

To Pete’s credit, he listened and kicked. She looked over her shoulder and steered them along the shore.

“Where are we going?” he asked, the panic rising under the words.

“To get out of the rip current, dummy.”

“What?”

“I’ll show you when I get us to shore.” She didn’t have the strength to keep them afloat and talk, so she went silent as they both kicked. It took a good five minutes before she could feel the ocean’s pull lessening. “We’re going for the shore now.”

Pete’s nod was nearly imperceptible, but he kept kicking. Soon they approached the breakers. “Close your eyes and mouth,” she ordered. “Don’t open until I tell you.”

Just as she spoke, the first wave hit them and washed over their faces, propelling their bodies to the shore. She wanted to gulp in a breath but kept her eyes and mouth shut until the next wave shoved them toward the sand. When she felt the rough, pebbled sands scrape her back, she knew they were safe. She let go of him and pushed herself up to her knees.

One breath, and the next wave hit. She grabbed Pete by the arm and dragged him up. “Stand up.”

The boy didn’t complain and pushed himself up on wobbly legs. He staggered a step, but she held him tight and kept him steady until he got his land legs back. Breathless and with aching lungs, they lurched toward the beach.

On dry land, Pete dropped to his knees. He spit out a mouthful of water, his chest heaving as he looked up at her through a web of blond hair. “Thanks.”

“Swimming alone is stupid,” she said.

“You came in after me alone.”

“Which makes us both fool headed. Get up.” She scanned the beach and was relieved to see that no one had seen. “Look at the water. See the way it cuts sideways in some spots?”

Eyes narrowed. “Yeah.”

“That’s rip current. Promise me you’ll stay out of it.”