Water Lily in July (11 page)

How's that for irony. I can see the lighthouse. The beams are so bright. Kaylie's sat there about 150 yards away and doesn't know I'm about to die within sight of her.

The lighthouse took another hit. To his tired eyes it looked as if the whole structure moved under the impact, but he was seeing things.

A huge wave hit the boat, tossing it onto the rocks, blotting all other thoughts from his mind. He grabbed the railing and held on as tight as he could, a loud horrific grating sound filling his ears and his senses. With a lurch,
Seascape
settled on the rocks. Rob slid his way towards the storage box. He hoped it was still there.

Thank You, Lord
.

He flipped the lock on the box, the boat creaking and groaning beneath him. He fired off the rockets, hoping someone would see them and report his position to the coastguard.

12

“Kaylie!”

Her name echoing down the stairs made her jump. Surprised she could hear anything over the storm, she jumped up and ran to the stairwell. “What is it?”

“Come here.”

She ran up the stairs. Water hit the gallery as she got to the lantern room, sending spray thudding onto the glass.

Angus stood by the window, the binoculars trained on something.

“What's up?”

“There's a boat on the rocks.”

“How can you tell?” She peered into the storm, unable to see anything, until a flare shot up into the sky, the light from the lamp behind her illuminating the wreckage an instant later.

“That's how, lassie.”

Kaylie took the binoculars and looked out. She could see a figure clinging to the wreck. “We should go out there and help.”

Angus shook his head. He checked the readings. “The storm surge is less than half hour away. We have enough to do here. No, we need to call out the lifeboat or coast guard.”

“They are going to be stretched to their limits at the moment. I'll go and rescue the crew. I can see one, there may be more inside.”

“Kaylie, think about it, lassie. Ye cannae go out there, ye'll drown.”

“So will the people out there if we just stand here and do nothing.”

“Leave it to the experts.” Angus picked up the phone, dialing rapidly. “It's engaged.”

“Like I said, they have enough to do already in this storm. We can't risk them when I'm right here. Besides, those people don't have the time to wait. I'll rope up. I can tie them together, lead them back here.” She headed down stairs, almost slipping in her haste.

Angus followed her. “Does this have anything to do with Phil?”

She spun round to face him. “
What
?”

“Simple question. Does this have anything—?”

She jerked her head, cutting him off, unable to believe he'd asked her that. “No, it has nothing to do with him. I'm doing my job, pure and simple.” She hugged him. “Put the kettle on for some coffee, and I'll see you soon.”

Kaylie ran into the crew room and suited up in one of the bright yellow survival suits hanging on the wall.
Keep me safe out there, Lord. I can't leave them to drown. Keep Rob safe and everyone in the town
.

Fastening the ropes around her, Kaylie pulled open the main door and headed out into the storm. She attached the rope to the huge ring by the door. The wind was like nothing she had experienced. Windy just didn't cover it. Slipping on the wet surfaces, she scrambled over rocks, barely able to see or breathe.

The rain came down in stair rods. Every step she took was an effort. It took her ten minutes to reach the boat, never taking her eyes off the figure clinging to the deck. Waves crashed over the boat and the rocks, threatening to wash both her and the person she was trying to reach away. She prayed constantly. She could do this, but not alone. She needed God's strength and help.

She climbed up the side of the boat, hauling herself over the railing. The rope stuck on something and she tugged it hard, expecting it to break, but it didn't. A prayer of gratitude for the maker of the strongest rope ever shot heavenward. She lost her balance and slipped. She landed hard, finding herself on the deck staring into a pair of exhausted blue eyes.

~*~

Rob clung to the railing, so tired that every wave threatened to be his undoing.
How much longer can I hold on?
He blinked twice as someone climbed over the side.
Am I seeing things? So close to death I'm imagining my rescue?

The figure slid and landed beside him. He gazed into the green eyes, wet hair framing the loveliest face he'd ever seen. Was it an angel? Then he shook his head. That was no angel. She was the woman he loved. But what in the name of all that was good was she doing here? He leaned forwards and kissed her. “Kaylie, are you crazy? What are you doing here?”

She brushed the water from her eyes. “Probably certifiable by now, but so are you. I told you to head out to sea. Is there anyone else on board?”

Rob shook his head. “No, just me. And I know you told me to leave, but I wasn't going to leave without you. That's why I came back.”

“Are you hurt?”

“No, I don't think so.”

“Okay. Let me rope you to me and we'll head back to the lighthouse. I can't believe you were so stupid.”

“Me, stupid? I'm not the one clambering over rocks in this weather.”

The boat beneath them shifted, sending them both sliding to the far side of the deck.

He grabbed her tightly, praying they wouldn't be washed overboard onto the jagged rocks. “Are you all right?” he asked, the small cry of pain she'd uttered not escaping his notice.

She nodded and finished fastened another rope around him, before she attached it to the ring on her waterproof suit.

“Now what?” he asked.

“Now we head back to the lighthouse.”

Rob gazed over at the lighthouse. It was so far away. Was it even possible?

As if she knew what he was thinking, Kaylie nodded. “I got here, we can get back. This other rope is tied to it. We simply follow it back.”

“OK.” He hauled himself upright and together they climbed over the side of the boat.

The waves were even bigger on the rocks, each one threatening to send him tumbling into oblivion. One huge wave did exactly that, tossing him onto the rocks as if he were a matchstick carelessly discarded after lighting a birthday candle.

Pain shot through him as his ankle twisted beneath him. He cried out, his exclamation of pain tossed away by the wind. Water splashed his face, and he thought he was going under until a strong hand gripped his. He grabbed it, letting Kaylie pull him up.

He glanced back at his boat. It was gone. A sword pierced him. His whole livelihood had been wiped out before his very eyes.
Another few minutes, and I would have been dead.

Rob leaned on Kaylie. Every step an effort, they inched their way back to the lighthouse, the huge tower looming in front of them, a mere shadow in the blinding rain. “We won't make it.”

“Oh, ye of little faith,” she shot back. “I don't think God would take us this far and no further, do you?”

He swallowed hard, his conversation with God coming right back at him. “No,” he said quietly. “But it's hard to have faith in a storm like this.”

She leaned in close. “You know, my grandmother had a saying. Don't tell God how big your storm is. Tell the storm how big your God is. Our faith is grounded on a Rock, Rob, and our God is mighty to save.”

The door opened as they arrived.

Rob shivered and shook, water pouring from him.
Thank You, Lord, for saving me and providing me safe haven from the weather
.

Kaylie wrapped her arms around him and kissed him. “I'm glad you're here,” she said. “I thought I'd lost you.”

Rob kissed her back. “No, and you never will.”

Kaylie broke off as a shadow moved past them, and the huge wooden door to the outside slammed shut.

Angus handed Rob a towel. “Here ye go. Dry off a wee bit.” He then turned to Kaylie and tossed a towel at her. “Ye are an idiot of the first degree, Kaylie. Do ye have a death wish?”

“Yeah, probably. And you know, that's the first thing Rob said, too.”

“Actually, I said you were crazy and you called me stupid. Think Angus wins on the insult trading.” He dried his face with a towel, glad to be out of the storm.

Angus scowled. “And ye are just as big an idiot. Do ye not ken which is the way oot tae sea and which is land?”

“Like I told Kaylie, I wanted to be with her.”

“Well, ye got yer wish.”

Rob winced as his ankle objected to taking his weight. He longed to sit down, but that would be tantamount to admitting he was hurt, and he wouldn't do that.

She rubbed her face and hair with the towel and turned to Rob. Her eyes shone with the depth of her love and also, a concern he had never hoped to see.

“Are you OK? That was quite a tumble you took.”

Rob smiled, despite the pain. “My ankle hurts a tad, but I'm fine, thanks to you.”

Kaylie raised an eyebrow.

He shifted slightly and lost his balance. “Great timing,” he muttered.

Kaylie's hand shot out, gripping his elbow. “Let me look at it. I could strap it up for you, which would make it a lot more comfortable.”

Angus smiled. “I've got hot coffee upstairs and something to eat. Also dry clothes for ye both. Now run along and change afore ye freeze tae death. Ye can play doctors and nurses and mess about with bandages after that.”

“Really?” She raised an eyebrow.

“Aye, really. I'll have the first aid kit in the kitchen with the coffee.” Angus clattered up the stairs behind them. “The lifeboat's out on a call already and the coastguard is stretched to the limit. They'll send an RAF helicopter as soon as they can.”

Kaylie nodded and helped Rob up the stairs. She showed him into the bedroom where a set of clothes lay on the first bed. “Here you go. When you're changed, come up to the crew room. Shout if you need help. It's one floor up. You can't miss it.” She paused. “But you should already know that from your guided tour a couple of days ago.”

“I do.”

She grabbed a few things from her locker and headed out, shutting the door behind her.

He stripped off his wet things
. Was this possible? Was it really her
?
Or am I dreaming and still stuck on the boat?

Rob dressed in some of Angus's clothes. The dungarees and navy jumper were far too big for him, but they were warm and dry. Leaving the room he hopped slowly up the stairs one level to what Kaylie had called the crew room. The smell of fresh coffee filled the room, but his attention focused on the woman standing there.

Towel dried hair and dressed in a navy jumper and slacks, she stood by the window watching the rain pound against it.

His stomach filled with butterflies and his tongue tied itself in knots. How could she affect him like this? He couldn't believe the depths she reached within him. But here he was, besotted with a woman and risking his life to get back to her. He leaned against the doorway and just looked at her. Would she settle for the shortest courtship ever and marry him on her next leave?

Could he cope with her away for weeks at a time? Could she have him away at sea for days? Would he want to be?

Her hands covered in fingerless gloves, were wrapped around a coffee mug.

A bone chilling numbness gradually settled through him. Rob limped to her, aware that his long hair hung in rats tails around his neck. Maybe he should think about getting it cut. “That coffee smells good.”

She turned and shot him a dazzling smile that not only lit the room, but also filled his heart to overflowing. “It tastes good, too. Sit down and drink while I look at your ankle.”

Rob sank into the chair.

She pressed a mug of coffee into his hands.

Lightning flashed outside the window at the same instant. A spark passed between them, he caught her gaze and knew she felt the same way about him.

“Thanks.” The warmth from the cup was almost too much for his freezing hands to bear. “When you first appeared out there, I thought you were an angel. I was convinced I was dying, and God had sent you to bring me home to Him.”

Kaylie laughed. “I'm not an angel. I'm far from it. According to Angus, I'm a numpty who risked her own life to do the job of a lifeboat man.” She knelt at Rob's feet and gently took his foot onto her lap. “He gave me a right talking to after I got up here.”

“Saves me doing it.”

“Perhaps, though you've already yelled at me, if you remember. Angus says I should stick to what I'm good at.”

“And what's that?” The hot coffee slid down his throat, burning and warming at the same time.

“That would be running up and down stairs, cleaning windows, polishing the brass and answering the radio, apparently. Not to mention making him coffee by the pot full.” She laughed again. “What he terms ‘women's work.' Not that he thinks a woman's place is on a lighthouse anyway. He keeps telling me that, especially now since he realized you and I were seeing each other.”

Rob smiled. “I can't say I'd want Tori working on one of these. Not that Darren or Oliver would let her, anyway.” He pushed a hand through his wet hair. “Even if she wasn't pregnant.”

“Aye well, after Phil died, I had this compulsion to run away to sea. This was the next best thing.” She glanced up at him. “I don't like the amount of swelling on your ankle. Or the angle of the joint. You'll need pain meds and airlifting out of here.”

“I'm not going without you.”

“My place is here. We've sent Lucas back to shore. He took the data to the council and convinced them to evacuate the town. Then he was going to pack up and take his mother as far inland as he could go.” She reached for the bandage. “And the police picked up your neighbor and took him with them.”