A small brown animal about the size of a large cat crept out of the brush and sniffed the bread crumbs. It stopped and looked toward the fire, its eyes gleaming in the light. Soon it moved until it could reach more crumbs. The martin ate all the bread and then looked with its nose in the air as if to say thank you before scurrying back into the brush.
“Your martin?” Tyler asked.
Ryan nodded. “I wasn’t sure he’d still be here. It’s been years since I’ve been out here at night. Maybe not the same one I remember, but must be his family’s in charge of keeping the campground clean.”
They all chuckled, and Diane rose to get the sleepy children inside and ready for bed.
“I have to get back early tomorrow. Diane and I will pack up after breakfast and see you two back in town,” Tyler said, getting up to follow his wife.
“We’ll be up early to start to the top.” He took Laurette’s hand. “Have your clothes laid out. I’ll wake you when I get up.”
“I’ve got snacks in my day pack. Diane had water bottles for us.”
Ryan bent over to kiss her forehead. “I’ll see you at dawn.”
EIGHTEEN
Laurette opened her eyes when she felt Ryan’s lips on her forehead. “Mmmm, nice alarm clock.” She stretched her arms over her head.
“Up and at ’em, lazybones. I’ll go get the coffee started.” With a final kiss he went outside.
Laurette had clothes laid out and dressed quickly. When she saw the long johns, she decided they would be too warm hiking, so she stuffed them in her pack.
“Just leave the sleeping bag. We’ll roll it later,” came sleepy instructions. With a yawn Diane added, “Have a nice day, and call me when you get back to town.”
“Feel like I’m leaving you with all the work.”
“Not a problem. Been nice to get away from the house. Kids sure have had fun.” Laurette watched Diane pull the sleeping bag back over her shoulders as she reminded Laurette, “Don’t forget the water bottles in the cooler.”
Ryan had coffee perking on the camp stove. “I think it’s ready,” he told Laurette when she joined him.
“I brought muffins and fruit from the cabin. Are there cups out here?”
“Yup.” Ryan poured them coffee. They munched their breakfast while gazing across the water to Sitka.
“Ready?” he asked, setting his cup on the log.
She nodded. “I’ve got my day pack with snacks and a sweat-shirt if I need it.”
“Let’s go.”
Laurette followed Ryan on the path behind the cabin. She could hear the gurgling stream off to their right. The trail ascended at an easy incline. The trees were dense, so Laurette couldn’t see much, even when she looked up to the tops. Squirrels chattered at them. Putting one foot in front of the other, she trudged behind Ryan. His lanky form seemed to meld with the brush.
He’s at home here.
It’s so peaceful it’s easy to forget I only have a temporary job. I could just keep following this man forever.
“You want to take a break?”
Laurette flexed her shoulders. “I’d love a drink of water.” She slipped the pack off her back.
“Let me carry that for a while.” Ryan took the pack, removed a bottle of water, and offered her a drink.
She noticed Ryan checking the sky and thought maybe he saw something in the trees. “You spot an eagle up there?”
“No, just trying to keep an eye on the weather.”
“How? All I see is an occasional sunbeam through the branches.”
“I’m watching the treetops to see if the wind is blowing.”
They continued walking. “There’ll be more open spots, and you may find some soggy places,” he cautioned.
So far, all Laurette had seen was soft dust. Her boots were covered with it. Fifteen minutes later Ryan stopped and pointed to the trail ahead. “We may detour here and not wade through that.” He pointed to a marshy area.
As they continued he went close to the marsh and stooped down. “Come see this.”
Laurette squatted down next to him. “What is it?”
He pointed.
“Oh, that’s huge. What kind of animal has feet that big?”
“Grizzlies.”
“You’re serious? There are bears that big on this trail?” A knot of fear twisted her stomach.
He grinned and gave her a quick kiss. “I’ll protect you.”
“How?” She held her hand over the bear print. “It’s twice as big as my hand.”
“Had a friend shoot one on Kodiak Island that had claws five inches long.”
“Ryan, you’re scaring me.”
He pulled her into his arms. “You’re okay. That print is old and the bear is long gone.”
She sighed. “I trust you. Lead on.”
He gave her a hug before starting back up the trail.
Laurette did trust Ryan. She felt safe being near him. His touch left her tingling.
They hiked for another hour. This time Ryan stopped in a clearing. They could catch a glimpse of the water below.
It doesn’t sparkle,
Laurette thought. She looked up and saw there were clouds moving in to cover the sun.
Hope we don’t get wet.
“A little farther up there’s a lean-to. We can stop there to have lunch.”
Laurette noticed him check the sky again.
He’ll know what to do.
She resisted the niggling doubts trying to sneak into her mind.
“It feels good to sit down,” she said when they reached the lean-to.
“Some people spend the night in this shelter.” Her eyes followed his gaze as he looked at the broken shakes on the roof. “Could get wet if it rained. I think we’ll just have lunch and move on,” he joked. “I like the cabin at Fred’s Creek better. Kind of rustic but fun.”
She smiled. “Great place for the children.”
“There are more forest service cabins. Some people use them for hunting and others for fishing. I came out to Fred’s Creek with my folks when I was little.”
“You don’t have family here anymore,” she said sadly. He smiled. “I’m used to it.” He reached to take her hand. “But it’s nice to have a friend to share with.”
They munched on trail mix and dried fruit. “There’s another bottle of water,” she told him.
“Save it for the trip down.” He stood to look around. “That wind is getting stronger. I think we’d better forget going to the top and start back. Could be a rough crossing to Sitka.”
Hearing the urgency in his voice, Laurette quickly gathered up their belongings and prepared to follow his lead. “We’ll make the top another day,” she announced cheerfully as they set off down the trail.
He set a fast pace. Laurette could feel the pull in the back of her legs and knew she would be stiff in the morning.
“Need a break?” he asked.
She caught her breath and opened the last bottle of water. She wiped the back of her hand over her mouth and handed the bottle to him. “Are we going to be all right?”
He looked up. The trees were dense, but they could see the tops swaying in the wind. “We’ll take it slow, but it may be a rough ride.”
Before they broke into the clearing by the cabin, they could hear the surf pounding the beach. Laurette caught her breath when she first saw the high waves cresting in whitecaps. Fear clutched her heart. Instinctively she reached to touch Ryan’s arm. “I can’t see the boat.”
“It’s pulling on the ropes, but it’s holding where I moored it.” He pointed to the white boat bobbing in the gray and white water. He put his arm around her waist. “Get dressed in warm clothes and your rubber boots. Bring your pack and meet me on the beach.” With a quick squeeze he headed for the boat.
Laurette ran to the cabin. Diane had left it clean. Rette’s pack lay on her bunk. She pulled a sweatshirt over the cotton turtleneck sweater she wore and zipped her vest on top of that. She switched the leather hiking boots for the short rubber boots. She quickly pulled on her rain pants and stuffed the rest of her belongings in the waterproof pack, then rolled it down and fastened it tight. She shut the cabin door behind her and tried to run in the loose sand in spite of wearing rubber boots.
Ryan stood in the boat wearing his mustang suit. The orange survival suit sent a new charge of fear circulating through her spine. He motioned for her to come over the bow. “I can’t get any closer to shore,” he yelled above the roar of the surf.
Laurette never paused. She plunged into the water and reached to grab the rail on the bow. She felt the icy water fill her boots as she tossed her pack on the deck and struggled to pull herself up after it. With a final effort she got her feet over the side and crawled through the opening in the windshield.
Ryan had grabbed the pack and tossed it under the passenger seat. He helped Laurette into the cabin before he closed the windshield and zipped the canvas to seal the top. He took her arm and shouted above the wind. “Can you find the float coat?”
She nodded.
“Get it on. I’m going to try to back us out without hitting any rocks.”
Laurette dragged the jacket from its storage spot and zipped it on. It didn’t have a hood like her raincoat, but she found a seaman’s cap in the pocket.
It will have to do,
she thought as she pulled it over her hair. At least the bulky jacket kept the wind out.
She sat down as Ryan pulled the last rope free of the mooring buoy and put the motor in reverse. She didn’t think she took a breath until she saw him turn toward open water.
We made it through the rocks. Thank You, Lord.
Ryan sat with one hand on the wheel and the other hand working the manual windshield wiper.
Laurette peered into the gloom and could see nothing but water sheeting off the glass in front of her. The farther they got from land, the rougher the water became. The boat would climb up a wave only to fall into the trough on the other side. Each time the bottom dropped with a crash, Laurette felt the shudder.
Surely the boat will break up.
She fought back panic.
Ryan appeared to concentrate on where they were going. He did glance at her once with a reassuring smile. The constant wail of the wind made conversation impossible.
Laurette closed her eyes. Her mind would not work beyond the repeated prayer,
God, have mercy.
Waves washed over the top of the boat, sending water through every opening it could find. More than once Laurette felt the cold water run down her neck. She didn’t know if it was the cold or fear that made her shiver. She was glad Ryan had his mustang suit. He would stay warm and dry and get them safely into the harbor.
The wind whipped across the top of the waves, sending spray to lash against them. Laurette felt like she was in a washing machine set on high. She held on to the bar fastened to the dashboard. Nothing was left on the shelf itself. Everything had been knocked to the deck.
Ryan leaned over where he could shout in her ear. “I’m going to head for Beally Rocks. We’ll get some protection from the wind there.” He patted her cheek with his wet hand.
She tried to smile encouragement but knew it was a weak effort. She tried to pray, but words would not form. She continued to repeat her silent plea for the Lord’s mercy.
He stilled the winds for the disciples,
she reasoned.
He can save us now.
She looked back when the angle of the boat caused the propeller to come out of the water. It screamed in protest. Laurette screamed when she saw the water level in the back of the boat. Tugging Ryan’s arm, she pointed. She knew they were going to sink.
Ryan put his mouth next to her ear. “The bilge pump can’t keep up. I need you to keep the boat pointed into the waves. If you don’t, we could capsize. I have to bail some water out.”
With grim determination, Laurette slid into the seat behind the wheel. It took every ounce of her strength to hold the boat steady. The waves grabbed at the boat and tried to wrench it out of her control. She pumped the windshield wiper, but it did little to help her view. She could hear Ryan scrape the bucket against the floor again and again. The rushing waves blotted out any sound of him emptying water over the side. She could only hope he could keep them from sinking.
Laurette strained to see ahead. How close were they to the rocks? “I don’t want to run into them,” she muttered.
Her arms ached. The tension in the rest of her body blotted out the cold that made her teeth chatter. She felt Ryan’s hands on her back. His touch gave her courage. She looked up at him.
He motioned her to move back to the passenger seat. “I’ll take over.”
She could read his lips and slid back to her seat. She watched him check the compass and thought with a start,
I never looked to see if I kept us on the same course.
She watched him strain to see ahead.
“Must be getting close,” he yelled. “I think I can make out the shadows.”
The motor coughed. At first Laurette thought the prop had come out of the water again. No. It happened again. It was a cough and a sputter.
Ryan looked worried. He tried to change the speed. This time the motor sounded like it would stop completely. The next time it did.