"He is. You can check on him yourself in a minute," Sam told him in an easy, confident tone. "He's a lot bigger and heavier than you guys, that's why that branch broke. You're light and small. Now you're going to step on the same branches you climbed on already. We know those are safe."
"I don't remember which ones," DJ said in a trembling voice.
"I do. Don't worry," Sam assured him then he told him exactly where to step. DJ got down without too much trouble with Sam right there ready to catch him. Once he was down, he ran right over to where Wyatt was waiting with Riley. DJ threw himself into Wyatt's arms and gave him a tight hug.
Looking up at him with a scowl, DJ told him, "You scared Barney and Brownie."
The dogs had barked at Wyatt when he fell so maybe he was right about that.
"Sorry Barney and Brownie," Wyatt told them and got down on one knee to pet them. "I'm OK. My butt is just a little sore, that's all."
Wyatt got up and kissed Sam's face which wasn't as pale any more. "Now we go fishing."
That made the boys perk up and they cheered.
Loaded down with fishing equipment that Wyatt had no clue what to do with, they all went down toward the river cottages and to Mr. Jasper's. The kids and the dogs were in the lead with Wyatt and Sam following them.
Wyatt was glad to get the chance to have a word with Sam. "You were really great back there. My fall scared the kids, especially DJ, but you kept them calm."
"The kids weren't the only ones you scared," Sam told him and fixed him with that pretty, gray-eyed glare.
"Sorry," Wyatt said and gave him a kiss on the cheek as they walked. "But you handled things really well."
"I had to. For the boys. I'm pretty sure I would do anything for them," Sam said very seriously.
They were in sight of the river cottages now. Wyatt could see a row of them lined up right where the riverbank started to slope down.
Mr. Jasper was already outside his little house, waiting for them. His fishing pole was leaning on the fence next to him. As soon as they saw Mr. Jasper, DJ gave him the news. "We climbed a tree and Uncle Wyatt fell."
"Don't tattle on me," Wyatt told him.
"He fell on his butt. I didn't fall," Riley boasted gleefully.
"That's because you're little," DJ told him.
"One day I'm gonna be the big brother like Uncle Wyatt," Riley said.
DJ didn't like hearing that. "You better not," DJ said and looked at his little brother sternly, like he thought Riley might try something sneaky.
Mr. Jasper smiled at them indulgently and Wyatt thanked him for letting them fish with him.
"I hope we aren't late," Sam said since Mr. Jasper had been waiting for them.
"Oh no. I'm just an eager beaver," Mr. Jasper said as they all headed toward the river's edge in one big, noisy group with all their stuff including a folding chair for Mr. Jasper to sit on.
The boys were arguing about who was going to catch more fish and Barney was barking like he wanted to have his say about it. Once they arrived both dogs drank right from the river. For the rest of them, they had a cooler with drinks.
Mr. Jasper seemed to be doing well. He moved slowly but with a smile on his face. "Going fishing with these boys is a treat," he said.
"It's a treat for them too. I really appreciate it," Wyatt told him.
"Neither one of us is a fisherman," Sam warned Mr. Jasper as they walked slowly so he wouldn't have to overexert himself.
"Oh how I used to love it as a boy. My favorite thing to do with my cousins. Then we would have us a fish fry," Mr. Jasper reminisced.
"Mr. Jasper, you're making my mouth water," Wyatt told him.
"Did you forget we're having grilled fish, not fried?" Sam asked him just as the boys started yelling about seeing some fish from the water's edge, and Mr. Jasper went to join them.
