“Here!” Kerry got his hands around the life preserver. “Hang on!” It wasn’t easy, but she wrapped the device around him, then turned her head, searching for the boat on the other end of the line.
Her strength was draining out of her, and the chill water was starting to make her shiver. Warm though the seas were this far south, at night, in a rainstorm, they were no bathtub.
“Kerry!”
Dar’s voice through a loudspeaker was the last thing she’d expected. She blinked through the rain, hanging on to the rope.
“Clip on to the rope! We’ll pull you in!”
Oh. Kerry fumbled at her waist, finding the belt, then the big metal clip that hung from it. She clipped it onto the rescue rope and wrapped her arm around her rescuee, feeling the powerful tug as she began to be towed back to the Dixieland Yankee.
The waves swamped over them. Kerry felt her body aching from the strain of remaining upright, and she reached up and clasped her hand over a knot in the rope to get a better grip. They got closer and closer to the boat, and as they did, she realized how high the bow was over their head. She was used to coming aboard from the stern, and now she wondered how they were going to manage.
The Bertram lunged forward and Kerry crashed into the hull, slamming her shoulder into the fiberglass. It knocked the wind out of her, and she dazedly pushed off before the belt tightened around 76 Melissa Good her waist and she realized she was being pulled right up out of the water. “Hold on! Hold on!” she yelled, scrambling to make sure the straps on the preserver were tight. The man inside it seemed dazed, and he clutched at the rope with uncertain fingers.
Kerry felt her body clear the water, and she sucked in a breath against the painful grip of the single belt that supported her weight.
She kept one hand on the hull and tried hard not to kick out, her other hand tangled in the man’s sodden shirt as they were fished up out of the sea.
When they were about halfway up, lightning crackled and the boat rolled, pitching down so far her feet hit the water again. Kerry gasped as the wave rolled back the other way, slamming her against the bow with stunning force. In reflex, she reached a hand up, feeling for the railing and hoping like hell that didn’t happen again.
Her back thumped against the hull and she felt a tingling start below where the belt was wrapped around her, the edges digging into her ribcage and almost cutting off her ability to breathe. She tried to pull up with her arms, but it didn’t help, and she was on the verge of panic when suddenly hands were grabbing her arms and shirt.
The belt was released and Kerry was lifted over the railing, arms closing around her body and supporting her with a powerful strength she immediately recognized. She turned her head and buried her face against Dar’s shirt, knowing now she was safe and everything would be fine.
“Got ’im!” Bud’s voice broke through the rain. “Charlie! Get the hell outta here!”
Kerry felt the boat begin to move. The rain was still pelting her.
Now that it was over, the adrenaline rushed out of her and she felt too weak to move. It was easier to just sit on the deck, wrapped in Dar’s arms and half in her lap, limp as a dishrag. She could hear the man she’d rescued coughing, gagging up the seawater he’d swallowed. Her own mouth felt like she’d been sucking on caviar, and her throat was raw from yelling. “Buh.”
Dar’s arms tightened around her. “Let’s get inside. I think my little hero here needs some hot tea.”
Hero. Kerry blinked. ”What?”
“He-ro,” Dar whispered into her ear. “That’s someone who does something stupidly brave and gets away with it.”
Kerry frowned as she thought about what she’d done. Good grief. I just saved someone’s life, didn’t I? A tiny, incredulous smile crossed her face at the totally new sensation.
Wow.
Terrors of the High Seas 77
HAVING RESUMED THE con, Dar shut down the engines, reaching up and pushing the rain hood off her head before she stood up. They’d outrun the storm, and now its fury was nothing but a heavy rumbling and flashes of light on the horizon. Dar exhaled, leaning against the console and trying to summon up the strength to go down the stairs. She was exhausted. Moreso, she suspected, from the intense, emotional stress than from the physical activity. Her hands were shaking, she noticed, and she had a headache that started at the nape of her neck and worked upward from there.
It was well after midnight, and heading for St. Johns tonight was out of the question. Even if the weather wasn’t chancy, she didn’t trust herself to pilot the boat, and so further investigation into their mysterious pirate encounter would have to wait for the morning.
Ah well. Dar shook herself. Buck up, Paladar, and git yer ass moving. She walked to the ladder and slowly made her way down it, stepped onto the deck and pushed open the cabin door. Dar entered and closed the door behind her.
Inside the cabin, Kerry was curled up on the couch in her robe.
Bud and Charlie were sitting at the table, and their rescued sailboat owner was across from Kerry, swathed in a big towel.
Dar put a heavy clamp down on her immediate instincts, which were urging her to throw everyone off the boat so she could concentrate on her somewhat pale, and definitely ragged looking partner. Instead, she went to the galley and put on some water, fiddling restlessly with a spoon while she waited for it to heat.
“I was trying to get back into port,” the rescued man was saying. “I don’t know what happened. One minute, I was pulling in the mainsail, the next thing I knew, my engine dropped out and everything started going nuts.”
“That can be scary, Bob,” Kerry murmured. “I capsized in Lake Michigan once. Not fun.”
“You can sure say that again!” Bob shook his head. He addressed Bud and Charlie. “You folks got a phone?”
“Nope,” Bud answered. “Marine radio.” He got up and walked out.
Bob blinked. “Something I said?” he asked hesitantly.
“Naw,” Charlie reassured him. “Just been a long day.” He cleared his throat. “Well, Mr. Gallareaux, I’m sure glad it all turned out all right. We got a spare bunk up top, if you like. You can get a run over to St. Johns tomorrow.”
Bob looked pathetically grateful. “You all have been so nice.”
He glanced over at Dar, then looked at Kerry. “How can I repay you? You saved my life.” He had kind, hazel eyes and a nice face, slightly rounded with high cheekbones.
78 Melissa Good A visible blush colored Kerry’s skin. “I’m glad we could help.”
She smiled at him.
Now it was his turn to blush to the roots of his red, curly hair.
“I feel like an idiot,” he admitted. “I’ve been sailing since I was a kid. It’s not like I’m a neo, but that storm caught me flat.”
“Weather’s like that down here,” Charlie said placidly. “Well, let’s let these ladies get some rest. It’s been a busy night for ’em.”
He got to his feet and limped awkwardly toward the door. “We can kick the generator back on since it’s late watch.”
Bob stood, removing the towel from around him. “I appreciate the offer. I’m about tapped.”
“We’re heading to St. Johns ourselves tomorrow,” Kerry said.
“If you want a ride over, we can take you.” Out of habit, her eyes flicked over to the Dar, who watched silently. “Right?”
Dar nodded. “Sure.”
“Thanks,” he replied simply. “Maybe I can start salvaging what I’ve got left there.” Bob folded the towel and put it on the table, then followed Charlie. At the door, he turned and looked at them.