Tentative Truce

Faith smiled and handed the phone back to Miss Rita with a 'thank you', then wandered the house looking for her cousin.

She found him on the deck, staring at the sea, and approached cautiously. There was still a 'water war' going on between them and they were both jumpy from almost constantly chasing each other around her uncle's property.

Quietly, she withdrew the water gun from its place in the waistband of her shorts. Keeping it there since she found it, she had become a quick draw the last few days. She was never without it now, not while her cousin was armed and dangerous as well. A bucket containing ice cold water balloons dripped condensation at his feet, while he stood at the deck railing watching the waves.

"Ryan."

He spun suddenly throwing a water balloon he had in his hand. She dodged just in time, feeling some of the icy spray as it exploded on the railing behind her. Dashing for a deck chair, she fired as she ducked behind it, but her shot went wide.

Crouching behind cover, her heart racing, she had to remind herself why she had been looking for him in the first place.

"Ryan! Truce! I need your help!" She could hear his feet thumping along the wood of the deck, as he tried to get into a better position to strike. She needed to let him know she was serious. "My Ma just called! She needs our help!"

She peeked around the side of the deck chair, hoping that would be enough to call for a cease-fire. "Truce?"