by Jamie DeBree
Taking note of the direction the currents were moving, he moved with them as he criss-crossed the lagoon toward the shore. He checked his watch - it had been a little over an hour since she’d gone missing. It wasn’t a long time to be in the water, but considering how far she might have gone and what her mental state might be, it was still too long.
As he approached the beach, he scanned the sandy coast but it was empty. He started a new search grid moving farther down, assuming he’d underestimated the current. He went out to the reef and back again, but there was still no sign of her, and the dinghy only had enough gas for one more trip out if they needed to get to the coast guard ship.
He ignored the niggling voice in his head telling him the search was futile, and pulled the boat up onto the beach, intending to walk and watch the coastline. If she’d made it far enough in, the tide should wash her up on shore eventually. He just hoped she’d be alive when it did.
A flash of hot pink caught his eye in the water fifty yards down from where he stood. The island was deserted as far as he knew, so unless it was a tropical flower of some sort, there was a good chance it could be Kat. He grabbed the emergency bag from the boat and sprinted down the beach. Definitely human now that he was closer, the body rolled up and down with the gentle waves as it descended toward the beach.
Kat. It had to be, considering it wasn’t a popular tourist destination, which made it the perfect spot, usually.
Wading out with a feeling of dread in his stomach, he finally grasped her under the arms and pulled her the rest of the way to shore. She didn’t move or struggle at his touch, and he feared the worst as he dragged her high up on the warm sand.
Prying the snorkel out of her mouth, he removed the mask as gently as he could, relieved at the slow rise and fall of her chest. Feeling the side of her neck with two fingers, he pressed in until he felt a strong, steady pulse.
She stirred restlessly, her brow wrinkling and her head moving side to side. Quickly checking her over for injuries, he pried off her fins and checked the heel compartment for the GPS tracker chip.
It was missing.
“Am I dead?”
Her voice was groggy and weak, her eyes blinking rapidly against the bright afternoon sun. David moved to kneel at her head, shading her face with his body.
“Nope. But you are incredibly lucky. And stupid too, but we’ll talk about that later. How are you feeling?”
Her body trembled visibly, and she brought her arms up over her chest, hugging herself. Her flesh prickled as the shivering grew more violent.
“D-d-dead,” she mumbled through her chattering teeth. “F-f-freezing.”
David got the emergency bag and opened it, taking out a chamois and a rolled up blanket.
“You’re in shock. We need to get you dried off and out of this breeze so you can warm up. Your suit should dry pretty fast in the heat - I’m just going to try to soak up the extra water, okay?”
She nodded and he pressed the chamois over her suit, wringing it out over the sand and then repeating the action over her torso. Then he wiped down the rest of her body and got as much water out of her hair as possible before wrapping her in the blanket. He pulled her up to sit between his legs, her back leaning against his chest so she could soak up his body heat as the sun warmed her front.
The fact that she didn’t argue was concerning, given what he’d experienced of her personality. Instead she seemed to sink into him, pressing for as much contact as possible with her face nestled against his neck. He held her close as the shivering began to subside, scanning the ocean for signs of the Coast guard ship that should be arriving any time.
He checked his watch twenty minutes later when there was still no sign of rescuers. Kat stirred, looking up at him from where she’d slid down to rest her head on his chest.
“Welcome back,” he said as she reached up to rub her eyes. “That was a bit longer than the swim I’d planned today. How are you feeling?”
She started to push up on one elbow and he cringed until she apparently realized just where it was in relation to his anatomy. Her cheeks blushed red as she moved to a less damaging position before sitting up.
“I didn’t think I was going to make it.” She looked out at the sea, her expression tired and frustrated when she turned back to him.
“That was quite possibly the stupidest thing I’ve ever done in my life, and I’m sorry you had to come after me. I don’t know what on earth I was thinking to leave the boat without Amy knowing I was following her.”
David shrugged, uncomfortable with this nicer version of the spitfire he’d met last night.
“If I remember right, last night you were looking for a one-night stand. Seems like I’m destined to keep you out of trouble, now doesn’t it?” He grinned, relieved to see her eyes flash fire again.
“Only a total jerk would bring that up right now.” She shook her head and moved farther away, clutching the blanket around her. “And I don’t need anyone taking care of me. I can take care of myself.”
He raised his eyebrows.
“Well, usually. This isn’t normal. This whole vacation was a really bad idea. And I appreciate you coming after me, so thank you. Now if you’ll just take me back to the boat so we can get back to the main island, I’ll stay out of your hair until my plane leaves.”
David wrinkled his nose. She wasn’t going to like this.
“The boat’s gone,” he said, deciding to just get it out there. “The kid who mashed your feet had a seizure on the deck, and they had to go back. I brought the rescue dinghy out to look for you.” He pointed down the beach.
“The coast guard was supposed to be here to help me search and hopefully take us back by now, but I haven’t seen their boat yet. So we’re stuck here either until they show up, or until tomorrow night when I told Amy to come get me if I wasn’t back today.”
Kat looked at him in disbelief. “So what you’re saying is that we are actually stranded on this island. What are we going to do about food? And clothes? Why can’t we just take the small boat back?”
David laughed. “There isn’t enough gas - and even if there was, it’s not meant for that kind of distance travel. As for food...” he rummaged through the emergency bag and handed her a meal replacement bar. “We’ll start a fire and catch some fish for dinner. With all these trees, I’m betting there’s fresh water somewhere inland, though we can drink the coconut milk too. We’ll be okay until Amy shows up.”
Kat took the bar and ripped the package open, her face scrunching up when she took a bite.
“Ugh. We might starve to death if we have to eat more of these.”
He laughed, rising to his feet and holding out a hand to help her up.
“Come on. If you’re up for it, let’s explore a little and see if we can find some fresh water and firewood. Then I’ll catch us something a bit tastier for dinner.”
Katherine followed David up the beach until the sand gave way to gravel and dirt. Surveying the ground, she tried to find the smoothest path into the island forest, but it was rocky and sharp in every direction.
“Um, David?”
He turned around and raised his eyebrows, waiting.
She looked down, rocking back on her bare heels and wiggling her toes.
“I don’t have any shoes.”
He came back, looking at her feet. “I should have grabbed your clothes before I came looking for you. Will you be okay here by yourself while I get some wood? You could go down by the boat and wait there - we’ll flip it on its side for shelter tonight.”
She thought about it for a minute and nodded. “It would probably be good for someone to watch for the coast guard anyways, right?”
It was clear by his expression that he didn’t think the coast guard would show up, but he nodded anyway.
“Absolutely. Why don’t you take the emergency pack and your snorkel gear down there, and I’ll be back as soon as I can. If you want to try fishing, there’s some gear in the boat.
..”
Katherine shook her head, holding up both hands. “Sorry, but I’m not going anywhere near the water again today. I’ll take our stuff back to the boat but that’s it. You can fish when you get back.”
“Okay then. I’ll see you later. Holler if you need anything - I won’t go far.”
***
She watched as he walked into the trees, tamping down the panic that tried to take hold. Staying anywhere alone seemed like a bad idea, but so did cutting her feet on the rocky terrain. Turning, she gathered up her gear and the bag he’d brought and started walking through the warm sand toward the small boat he’d left up the beach. When she reached it, she understood why going back to the main island wasn’t really an option.
No bigger than a rowboat, there was really only room for six people, and that was if everyone squeezed together on the three slender benches spanning the aluminum craft. Wooden oars lay lengthwise on the bottom, and a small motor was perched on the back. A few thin metal boxes hung on the inside walls, presumably the fishing supplies David had referred to and the one with a large red cross on it undoubtedly held minor first aid supplies.
Dropping the bag and her gear in the sand, she rummaged through the supplies, taking stock of what they had and hoping it would be enough. There were several soft packages labeled drinking water, and she opened one with no small measure of guilt nagging at her as she poured it down her throat. She’d regret it later if the island didn’t have a spring, but her throat had been so dry, her lips parched and cracking.
One of the metal containers revealed a bottle of sunscreen, and she spread a thin layer over all of the skin she could reach in hopes of preventing any further damage until the sun went down. Then she started looking around for something, anything that might be suitable temporary footwear.
Cutting down the fins would be the easiest solution, though she hesitated. Without them, she never would have reached the island, and if she ended up in the water again they would be essential. Then again, she didn’t have any plans to swim again, and odds were good that if she did get wet, it wouldn’t be because she meant to. So she wouldn’t have the fins then anyway.
She’d have to risk it.
There was a large knife in the container where she’d found the sunscreen, and she used it to score a line on each flipper just beyond the end of the foot pocket. Working slowly, she cut into the thick rubber, thankful that the knife was sharp and sliced through the material easily. When they were both finished, she tugged the makeshift shoes on her feet and stood.
“Very stylish.”
She looked up to see David jogging toward her, examining her new footwear.
She held up a foot, turning it side to side. “I know the fins might have come in handy, but it seemed like protecting my feet might be more important - especially if we need to go for water. I hope you don’t mind. I’ll pay for them when we get back.”
He shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. You’re right, we will need to hike for water, so it’s good you thought of it. I found a spring back in the trees, and there’s a cave we can use for shelter. I just need to pull the boat up higher so it doesn’t get pulled out by the tide, and I’ll show you.”
Katherine nodded. “Sounds good. What can I do to help?”
He went to the other side of the boat and gestured to the edge. “Grab that side and pull. It’s not too heavy.”
She pulled with him, not sure she was really helping any as the boat slid up the sand toward the trees and her feet slid down farther with each step. When he finally decided it was high enough, she gathered up their meager supplies while he tied a rope from the boat to a nearby tree, just in case.
“This way,” he said, setting off into the jungle. Katherine was struck by the difference after just a few steps into the darker environment. The constant roar of the waves was muted, and everything seemed so much quieter as she followed David deeper. Gorgeous flowers bloomed in random places, even in trees, and everything was green and lush, but almost too quiet.
It wasn’t long before she heard water running again. Emerging into a small clearing, she saw the stream and a slender waterfall that fell over the rock face he’d mentioned.
“It’s beautiful,” she said, amazed at how clear the water was. Ferns and other tropical bush-like plants grew along the banks, and thick vines hung down the cliffs, sporting bright flowers and thick, fleshy leaves.
David nodded. “I thought you’d like it. The cave is just over here. I built a fire pit earlier, so we just need to start a fire.”
She followed him to the shallow depression in the cliffs and handed him the lighter she’d found in the metal kit on the boat. As the flames crackled to life, she realized just how cold she still was, and knelt down by the pit, holding her hands out to warm them.
David rummaged around behind her and a few minutes later, the blanket settled around her shoulders. She pulled it closer around her as he rubbed her arms gently.
“Getting warmer?” he asked, his voice taking on a low, sensual quality that she was sure she only imagined.
She nodded. “I think so. Thank you.”
He was close - so close she couldn’t seem to think about anything else. She wasn’t sure whether she wanted him to take her in his arms and tell her everything would be okay, or move away before she did something completely stupid, like ask him to.
He released her, standing up and moving to the side where she could see the odd look on his face and the fishing pole he held in one hand. He must have put it together when he was getting the blanket. She wasn’t sure she was ready to know what the look was about.
He gestured vaguely toward the stream, an old-style canteen hanging from his shoulder. “I’m going to catch us some dinner and get water. I shouldn’t be long - that stream is hopping with fish.” Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away.
***
By the time David had finished catching and cleaning two fish, dusk was settling over the jungle. He found a couple of forked branches and a longer one to go between and carried them with the fish back to the cave. Kat had been rummaging through the emergency pack, and set out the second blanket as well as a couple of empty coconut shells she’d found nearby, and she was setting more wood on the fire.
“You caught some!” She smiled, a hungry expression on her face.
“You sound surprised.” Chuckling, he laid the fish on a flat rock while he set up the makeshift spit. Kat shrugged, watching as he skewered each fish on the longer branch and hung them over the fire.
“I’ve never been fishing. It doesn’t seem like it would be that easy to get a fish to bite a hook.”
David turned the branch as dinner sizzled in the heat. “It’s not about the hook - more about the bait. Feed them what they want, and you’ve got dinner.” He handed her the canteen, and she poured a little into the coconut shells for each of them before setting it aside.
Kat nodded, watching quietly as he tended the meal. She was quiet, an uncommon trait in women as far as he knew. Most of them would fill the silence with endless chatter. He’d never met one who didn’t. It was...disconcerting.
“So why do you want to have a kid?”
He wished he could take the question back the second it came out. It was none of his business, and judging from the look on Kat’s face, she was about to make that abundantly clear.
“Why would you think I do? And why would you care if I did?” She raised her eyebrows, waiting. He knew that look. She wasn’t waiting for an honest answer, she was waiting to rip him to shreds.
He held up both hands in surrender. “You’re right, it’s none of my business. I apologize. And I think...” he poked at one of the fish with his finger, “this is done. Let’s eat.”
Glancing at the surrounding foliage, he cut two large leaves off of a bushy plant of some sort and laid one fish on each, handing her one. Noting her watchful eye, he used his fingers to pull the skin off and then pieces of flesh, leaving the bones behind.
She mimicked his movements in silence, her body tense as she picked the carcass clean.
“Thank you,” she said quietly, wrapping the leaf around the bones. “What do we do with these?”
He took it from her and stood. “I’ll toss ‘em back in the stream. Hand me the canteen and I’ll fill it up while I’m at it.”
She wrinkled her nose. “You’re going to put bones in the water and then we’re going to drink it?”
“You know these fish came from the same water we’re drinking, right? Besides, the bones will go downstream, and I’ll fill the canteen higher up. Make you feel better?”
She shook her head. “Not really, but I don’t have a choice, do I?”
“Not unless you want to skip the water. Feel free to try boiling it if you want. We might be able to find a rock somewhere around here.”
She shooed him away. “Just go. I don’t want to know any more.”
He went, anticipating another interesting discussion over toilet paper, or lack thereof.
When he got back, he offered to help her dig a hole in the distance for taking care of her needs, but she informed him she’d already taken care of things. Not eager to have the discussion, he left it at that and put several more logs by the fire. Then he sat beside her in the small cave with his back to the rock wall, wrapping the second blanket around his shoulders.
“What made you think I wanted a kid?”
She sounded genuinely confused, and he looked over to find her practically scowling at the fire.
“Why else would an attractive woman like yourself be looking for a one night stand?”
She looked over at him, her frown deeper. “So women only want sex so they can get pregnant? That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. Are men the only ones who can just have sex for fun? Or even just relaxation?” She stumbled over the last bit, her voice so quiet he barely heard it. Then he remembered her comment about a prescription to fill.
