Debra Burroughs - Paradise Valley 06 - The Harbor of Lies

by Debra Burroughs

  Emily followed them up to the rear deck and held on to a railing as the boat rocked on the stormy waters.

  The police boat was trying to maneuver to stay close to the Hoosier Daddy, but the strong waves were pushing it ten, or more, feet away. Isabel, Cantrell, and Chief Taylor were pulling Eric and Caleb up onto the boat when Evan hoisted Colin over his shoulder and jumped into the water.

  As he swam, dragging Colin to the police boat while fighting the high waves, Emily realized why he’d had no coat or shoes on. After seeing Colin shot, he must have stripped off his coat and shoes in order to swim across to the Hoosier Daddy to rescue her.

  But she wasn’t going anywhere until she knew Colin was safely on board the other boat.

  The chief and another officer pulled Colin up over the side of the boat as Isabel handcuffed Eric and Caleb to the railing that ran around the stern. Once Evan had gotten Colin into Chief Taylor’s hands, he began the fight back to the Hoosier Daddy for Emily. The boats had now drifted even farther apart.

  The officer ran to the controls and jockeyed the boat a little closer to try to close the growing gap. When Evan was within ten feet of the Hoosier Daddy, an enormous wave hit and pitched it on its side, throwing Emily into the water and pushing the police boat farther away.

  “Emily!” she heard Evan scream as she slipped below the surface. She couldn’t catch her breath, feeling herself going down.

  She thrashed around in the dark, cold water, the crashing waves sucking her farther into their murky depths. She didn’t know which direction was up, which way to go. Out of air and gulping sea water, she began to feel consciousness itself slipping away.

  An eerie peace enveloped her and her mind began to quiet.

  Just as she had chosen to succumb to her fate, and give herself up to the heaving waves, a set of strong hands wrapped around her and pulled. Before long, she broke the surface, spitting salty water and gasping for air. As she coughed and sputtered, an arm came across her chest, tightened around her, and she heard someone calling her name. It was Evan.

  He swam for the police boat with his free arm, but the high waves pushed them back toward the other boat. He pulled at the water again and again, his feet kicking furiously, trying to gain leverage, as he held Emily close.

  After a fierce battle with the strong waves, they finally reached the police boat.

  Evan groaned as he hoisted Emily up out of the water toward the waiting hands of Chief Taylor and the officer. They grabbed her and hauled her up onto the boat. When her feet had cleared the side of it, Isabel stood from where she had been tending to Colin, an expression of uncertainty on her face.

  They set Emily down, motioning to Isabel to come, then they turned back for Evan, scanning the water.

  “Evan!” Chief Taylor called into the wind as they surveyed the ocean below. “Evan, where are you, man?”

  “Where is he?” Still sputtering the water from her lungs, Emily tried to scramble to her feet.

  Isabel joined her at the side of the boat and draped a blanket over Emily’s shoulders, then, almost tentatively, she slipped her arm around Emily and held her up.

  The officer beamed a large flashlight across the water between the two boats. “I don’t see him.”

  All Emily could see was the other boat drifting away as the ferocious waves beat against it.

  “Evan!” the chief called again, but nothing. He turned to Emily. “I’m so sorry,” he said, “but I don’t see him.”

  “Find him!” she screamed. “You have to find him!” She couldn’t just let him drown. He had risked his own life to save hers.

  The officer swished the beam around over the inky black surface of the water. “I can’t see him anywhere.”

  A huge bright light shone on their boat as the Coast Guard vessel approached. Chief Taylor ran to the controls to radio them, and, with Isabel’s help, Emily followed him. The chief reported that they had lost a man overboard and they had another on their boat with a gunshot wound that needed immediate attention.

  Chief Taylor glanced over his shoulder at Emily as the Coast Guard captain ordered them back to shore immediately. They would stick around a little longer and keep searching for Evan, but with the storm intensifying, they all needed to head back into the harbor.

  “Roger that,” the chief barked into the radio. “Cantrell!” he called out the door to his man who was still searching the waters. “Take us back to Rock Harbor!”

  Emily shrugged out of Isabel’s grasp and stumbled to the side of the boat, hoping to see some sign of Evan in the water, but there was none. The wind whipped her wet curls, plastering them against her face, but she didn’t care. She slumped down on the deck and crawled toward the control cabin, coming to rest with her back against it, protected from the rain by a canvas overhang.

  The officer brought the boat around and headed back to port. Her body shook as the boat’s hull slammed into wave after wave as they raced toward the harbor.

  In a dazed stupor, her gaze drifted around the stern. It was like she was watching a black-and-white movie in slow motion, everything in various shades of gray, thoughts slogging through her mind. Eric and Caleb were handcuffed to the railing, and they were getting pelted by the rain and wind. Isabel was now bending down, checking on Colin under a tarp they had placed over him to protect him from the elements.

  Was he alive? Emily was so emotionally and physically exhausted, she couldn’t even go to him. She was paralyzed by the fear that he might be dead…from a bullet he took trying to rescue her.

  Slowly, her gaze moved to the side of the vessel, where Chief Taylor and his officer had lifted her over the edge and onto the boat. From where she sat, she couldn’t see the water immediately below, but through the rain she could faintly make out the high rolling waves in the distance.

  A bolt of lightning lit up the tumultuous waters for a second. Evan was out there somewhere. He had come back into her life for only an hour or so, and now he was gone again. She swallowed hard. Where would she be if he hadn’t come back for her? Drowned?

  An unexpected spike of anger stabbed her. “No!” She would be enjoying her bachelorette party with her friends, that’s where. And Colin wouldn’t be laying at the back of the boat fighting for his life either.

  Her gaze floated over the murky waves and her anger subsided. Even though she wouldn’t have been on the Hoosier Daddy if he had stayed dead, she had to acknowledge that Evan had likely given up his life saving hers. She shook her head sadly, burying her face in her hands.

  Would the Coast Guard find his body? Would he wash up on shore someday? Could she even say for certain that he was dead this time?

  “Emily?” Isabel put a hand on her shoulder and crouched beside Emily. “Colin is asking for you.”

  “He’s alive?” She pushed her wet hair off her face with both hands.

  Isabel nodded with a smile, then stood, helping Emily up. “I think I’ve got the bleeding stopped, but we need to get him to a hospital quick.”

  More alert now, Emily was suddenly struck with the remembrance that her friend had played a part in Evan’s deception. She narrowed her eyes, deciding that Isabel was the last person she wanted to talk to right now.

  Emily began to step away, but Isabel grabbed her arm to stop her. “We’re going to need to talk.”

  “We’ll talk later.” Emily pulled away. She needed to go to Colin. Isabel could wait—for a very long time if need be.

  “All right then,” Isabel conceded. “While you go over to talk to him, I’m going to make sure the chief radioed ahead to have an ambulance waiting for us at the dock. But, Em—”

  Emily hurried to Colin, not waiting for Isabel to finish her thought. She dropped down beside him, her heart full of concern. His eyes were shut, his breathing barely detectable.

  “Colin,” she said softly, leaning down close to his face. “I’m here.”

  “Emily,” he whispered, his eyes fluttering open.

  Her heart leapt at the
sign of life and she kissed the side of his mouth. “Shhh.” She kept very near him, surrounded by the loud noise of the boat ripping through the rough waters of Frenchman’s Bay. “Don’t strain yourself, honey. Save your strength.”

  “I love you, Emily.”

  She tenderly brushed the damp hair off his pale forehead as his eyes drifted shut again.

  Would they make it to shore in time?

  Blood stained his shirt and coat, and it was obvious he had lost a lot of it. Needing to be heard over the roar of the waves, Emily put her mouth against his ear. “No matter what, Colin, I want you to know that I love you more than any man I’ve ever known.”

  His eyelids raised slightly. “You think I’m going to die?” He started to chuckle but winced in pain. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”

  Chapter 26

  A couple of paramedics in bright yellow rain slickers stood on the dock waiting for the police boat to motor into the slip. Between the two men sat a steel gurney, with a sheet of thick plastic covering it, held in place by heavy vinyl medical bags, the edges of the drape flapping in the wind.

  After retrieving Colin from the boat and loading him into the ambulance, they sped away to the hospital, lights flashing and sirens blaring. Helplessly watching the EMTs work, Emily had asked to go in the ambulance with him, but Isabel worked to convince her it would be better for her to go back to the inn.

  “I’m sure Colin will be in surgery for at least an hour or two, digging that bullet out,” Isabel said, “which will give you time to change into some dry clothes and rest for a while. You’ve been through quite an ordeal yourself.”

  “No, I’m fine,” Emily replied, but she knew she was not. She was angry with her friend for the secrets she had kept. Maybe in Isabel’s line of work they were an ugly part of the job, but it still hurt Emily deeply.

  “Get some rest,” Isabel said in a firm tone, “then I’ll take you to the hospital.”

  Though she wanted to push back, Emily was too exhausted to argue any further.

  ~*~

  After taking Isabel’s advice, Emily gathered with her sister and friends in the small waiting room in the surgical wing at Rock Harbor Hospital. Following nearly three hours of surgery, Colin was doing well, the doctor announced when he came out to speak to those waiting nervously for him.

  “We got the bullet out of his shoulder and repaired the damage. He’s lucky it didn’t pierce any vital organs. He’s resting comfortably in post-op right now.”

  “Can I see him?” Emily pleaded.

  “He’s heavily sedated and he’ll be unconscious for quite a few more hours. Why don’t you all go home, get some sleep, and come back in the morning? He’ll have been moved to a room by then.”

  “But I’d like to at least—”

  “Emily, hon,” her sister lightly grasped her arm, “let’s do what the doctor said. You look exhausted.”

  “I’m fine,” Emily lied again. She wanted to see Colin, know he was alive and that he was going to be okay.

  Isabel put an arm around Emily’s shoulder. “Your sister’s right.”

  Emily shrugged out of her embrace, but Isabel continued. “Let’s all get a good night’s sleep, Colin included, and things will be better in the morning.”

  “In the morning,” Emily gasped. “Oh no. Colin’s parents!”

  Susan’s eyes widened. “What?”

  “Colin’s parents are supposed to arrive in the morning. They don’t even know what’s happened.”

  “Don’t worry, Emily,” Camille said, “you’re the one who needs to rest. Maggie and I will make sure to greet them when they arrive and we’ll explain everything.”

  “You just take care of you for a change,” Maggie added. “Now git,” she ordered, making a shooing motion with her hand.

  Emily’s shoulders dropped in exhaustion. She didn’t have the strength to continue the debate. “If you insist.” She hugged her sister and her friends, tears pooling in her eyes. “Tomorrow was supposed to be our wedding day.” She huffed a hollow laugh and sniffed sadly. “But now…”

  ~*~

  Emily slept soundly and didn’t wake until almost ten. The bright morning sun streamed into her room, an encouraging sign that the storm had passed and things would be looking up.

  She peeked over at the digital clock on the nightstand. Surprised by the lateness of the hour, she shot out of bed and hurried to the bathroom.

  Why didn’t someone wake her up? She needed to get to the hospital to check on Colin. He was probably wondering where she was.

  Hurriedly, she hopped in the shower. As the warm water cascaded down her back, the events of the previous evening flooded into her mind and replayed in vivid emotional color—being held captive and not knowing if she was going to live or die, remembering Colin lying on the deck of the boat, nearly bleeding to death, and Evan being swallowed up by the angry bay.

  Finally, she turned off the water and stepped out, grabbing a fluffy white towel. As she wrapped it around herself, she caught a reflection in the mirror and did a double-take. This time, it was merely her own reflection staring back at her, but the night before, Evan had surprised her—no, shocked her—standing in the middle of her room when she left the bathroom, still damp from the shower.

  His strong and dashing image filled her mind. For an hour or so, she’d had her husband back, but his brief presence had upended her life and put her in harm’s way. In the end, he had given his life trying to save hers. Sorrow descended on her like a black cloud and hot tears poured out of her in sobs and groans, mourning his loss, yet again. She sat down on the side of the tub and cried until her legs were almost numb.

  Her phone on the counter pinged, signaling she had received a text. She stretched to grab it and checked for a message. It was from Colin. He had taken a photo of himself with his phone, lying in his hospital bed, smiling into the camera, and had sent it to her with the message Happy to be alive! Can’t wait to see you. She smiled.

  His text had lifted her spirit. She splashed some water on her face and raked her fingers through her hair. Evan was gone again and she had mourned the loss, crying for him until there were no more tears to spill. She was ready to put his memory behind her, once and for all, relieved to know she wasn’t losing her mind.

  Emily took a critical look at herself in the mirror. She’d have to put on some makeup to cover the puffy eyes and slightly red nose before she saw Colin. She wanted to look her best for him, bring her brightest smile, and reaffirm her love for him, in case he had any doubt after finding her and Evan alone in her room.

  Once she was dressed and ready for the day, she grabbed her jacket and headed for the door. Then she realized she did not have the keys to the rental car, so she phoned Maggie to ask for a ride to the hospital, which was located on the other side of town. It went to voicemail.

  Emily phoned Camille and then Isabel, but both the same. Had they connected with Colin’s parents yet?

  Where was everybody?

  There was a knock at the door.

  Before opening it, Emily peered through the peek hole. It was her sister.

  Worried, she pulled the door open. “Susan, is Colin all right?”

  “Yes, he’s doing well,” she said with a smile, walking past Emily, into her room. “I just came from checking on him at the hospital. I even had a chance to visit with my husband a little.”

  “And Colin’s folks, are they here?” Emily closed the door.

  “Yes, Jonathan and Camille drove them to the hospital. Maggie and all the rest are there too. That’s why I’m here, to get you.”

  “Sorry, I overslept. Why didn’t you call and wake me up earlier?”

  “We all figured you needed your rest, after what you went through last night, but I’m here now.”

  “Thank goodness, because Colin has the keys to the rental car.”

  “Shall we go? Your man has been asking for you.”

  My man. Those words stirred her heart.
She couldn’t wait to see him.

  When they arrived at the hospital, Susan led Emily down the corridor toward Colin’s room.

  “This looks familiar,” Emily said as she glanced around.

  “It should. It’s Brian’s too.” Susan pushed the door open and went in first.

  Emily paused in the doorway, surprised that the place was filled with people—all her friends, Colin’s parents, Ella McCormack, Whitley Donovan, and Chief Taylor. Her brother-in-law was in the bed next to Colin’s, surrounded by his and Susan’s children.

  As Emily entered, they all quieted and turned, smiling at her and moving apart to make a straight shot down the middle, right to Colin.

  On either side of his bed stood white wicker stands filled with the flowers she and Susan had chosen at the florist’s shop a couple of days before. Colin had a boutonniere pinned to the chest of his hospital gown.

  Propped up by several pillows, he flashed her a wide grin. “Morning, Babe.”

  Emily moved slowly to him, her gaze floating from face to face, awareness starting to dawn on her. She leaned down and kissed him softly. “What’s all this?”

  “What do you think it is?” Susan gestured toward the wedding dress hanging on a hook beside the bathroom door, an ankle-length sheath with long, fitted sleeves and a deep, square neckline, in the softest shade of winter white.

  Emily sucked in a quick breath and her hand flew up to her chest. She looked at the dress, then back at Colin. “Really?”

  He took her hand and kissed it. “Emily, will you marry me, today?”

  “Today? But how?” Her vision blurred with happy tears.

  “Easy-peasy.” Susan laughed.

  “What?” Emily blinked a few times, trying to hold the tears back.

  “Mayor McCormack has agreed to perform the ceremony.” Susan motioned toward Ella. “She’s also a justice of the peace.”

  “She is?” Emily squeaked, her voice constricting with emotion.

  “Now, I know she’s not a minister, like you requested, but—”

  “She’s perfect,” Emily cried, no longer able to contain the tears of joy. “But we forgot to get the marriage license.”