"Easy there sweetheart. This is a delicate process, with delicate little lady feet."

He carefully eased her shoe off and gave it a good shake upside down before letting it fall to the ground, satisfied it was free of vermin. Then Rick worked his hands around the sole of her foot, rough fingers running along up over her ankle then back down over the top of her foot.

He didn't find any snakes, of course, but he did find intrinsic fascination with how soft and dainty her feet were, even through the fabric of her sock. It probably became evident Rick was no longer assessing so much as he was playing when he started slipping his fingers between each of her toes, one by one.

"Might be some hiding under here."