by Clare Revell
Swimming hurt. The waves crashed over his head, pushing him under. He reached the buoy and held on. His fingers, cold and numb, struggled to keep a tight enough grip.
Words from Psalm twenty-two filled his mind. Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.
Cramps ripped through his legs and he let go of the buoy, crying out in pain. A wave pushed him under and for a moment he was afraid he’d stay down and never come up again. He was so tired, couldn’t fight the storm any longer.
Hattie’s face floated in front of his eyes. He leaned back into his jacket and closed his eyes. Be with her, Lord. Whatever happens, Thy will be done.
****
First light of dawn began to light the eastern sky and the search and rescue mission finally resumed. Hattie had spent the night alternating pacing the shore and checking the Ops room for updates which never came. She watched both lifeboats launch and the coastguard helicopter fly overhead. She’d begged to be allowed to go, but Tom refused.
As the boats disappeared from view, she turned and trudged back into the crew changing area. Cal’s spare bunny suit was hanging on his peg. Cold, she pulled off her dress and slipped into the bunny suit. She zipped it up, his scent washing over her.
Tears filled her eyes. “Where are you, Cal?”
She looked at the pile of old uniforms they’d used for photographs during the week. For a small payment, the public had been able to dress up in full lifeboat crew uniform and have their photo taken on board the lifeboat itself. She had to do something. She’d go stir crazy if she had to sit around for any longer. They’d wasted five hours as it was.
In that instant, the idea was born. Rummaging through them, she found one that would fit her and pulled it on over the bunny suit. The boots were too big but she’d manage. Not bothering with the life vest, she put Cal’s tux back over the whole ensemble.
Turning around, she grabbed a backpack, containing a rope and first aid kit, a torch and checked the inside pocket of the tux to check Cal’s phone was still there. It was. Good. She’d need it.
She grabbed a couple of bottles of water and shoved them into the backpack. Then she headed back outside to find Aunt Laurie looking for her.
“Hattie? Where are you?”
“I’m here.”
“I made you some…” Laurie’s voice trailed off as she took in her outfit. “Where are you going?”
“I can’t just sit here. I’m going to go along the coast line.”
“Why?” Aunt Laurie pressed the hot drink into her free hand.
Hattie gulped the scalding liquid, not caring if it burned her throat. It might be a while before she had another drink, even if she really didn’t have time to spare. “The current here drove the debris field inland rather than out to sea right? So it stands to reason that anyone lost at sea would be dragged the same way.”
“I don’t see what that has to—”
Hattie sighed. “It has everything to do with it. No one is searching the beaches. So I will. I have Cal’s phone. If they find him then ring me. If I find him then I’ll ring here.”
“You can’t go alone.”
“There is no one else free. I’ll be fine. Just pray.” She gave the cup back. “I love you. See you later.”
Before anyone could stop her, Hattie headed down the beach to the shore line, using the torch to light her way. She followed it to where the cliff edge met the beach and cautiously edged around it. There was a slight beach at the bottom of the cliff, more at low tide, but the tide was gradually coming in. There was a chance she’d get cut off by the tide, and have to wait it out on the cliff itself, but hopefully it wouldn’t come to that.
The wind howled and tore at her hair and her jacket. It pulled the breath from her and refused to give her the next one. It tugged Cal’s name from her lips and tossed it like chaff into the distance.
Water spray stung her face and hands as the coldness dug into her body despite the layers of clothing. She stumbled, pushed into the cliff face by the rushing waves. She kept going, the oversized boots hampering her movements almost as much as the weather. A wave came in hard and fast, drenching her to the waist.
Her feet slid inside the boots, making walking hard. She hadn’t had this much trouble walking since she borrowed her mother’s high heeled shoes for a school play when she was ten. The wind made her eyes water. Rain kept falling, as constant as the prayers that fell from her lips. The faint dawn overhead, became an angry, grey sky. Finally, the sun rose enough to light the sky and she could see clearly, well as much as she could in the storm, and she turned off the torch and put it in the back pack.
A hundred yards further on, she stopped. A new rock fall blocked what little beach there was. Please, God, don’t let him be under that.
“Cal,” she yelled. There was no answer. Going around the rocks wasn’t an option, not unless she wanted to be dragged out to sea and then tossed back against them. Just like in the kid’s song, she had to go through it. Or in this case over it.
The slippery rocks cut her hands to shreds. Her feet slid and caught on Cal’s jacket. Losing her balance, she fell, tumbling down the other side and landing in a heap on the sand. She lay there for a moment, winded, trying to get her breath back. If the rescue services could see her now, they’d probably laugh. Some rescuer she made. She shook her head, irritated at the way her mind was working, trying to distract her from what she had to do.
It was lack of sleep. Deep down, she knew that. Wiping the sand from her face, she pushed upright. Cal needed her. She checked the phone was still in the jacket. The last thing she wanted to do was lose it and not be able to call for help when she found him. And yes, she told herself, that is when and not if. There wasn’t the slightest doubt in her mind that he was still alive and out there.
The rain eased off, the wind dropped. Thank You, Lord. Did you rebuke the wind and the rain, telling them to be quiet, like You did all those years ago? I would ask that You change the course of the tide, but that’s not possible. Too much relies on the tides and so on. Let me find him.
She started walking again, hugging her chest, ignoring the pain slicing through her. The cliff bent around to the left, hardly any beach for her to walk on. The waves lashed high against it and it took every ounce of courage she had to wade around it.
There was something just ahead, lying next to the water. “Cal,” she yelled.
The figure stirred.
She waded faster, feet sliding on the sand one minute and being sucked down deep the next. “Cal…” Please, God, let it be him. Let him be all right. She dropped to her knees beside him and turned him over.
His eyes flickered open. “Are you an angel?” he muttered.
“Cal, its Hattie. It’s going to be all right.” She dragged him away from the water’s edge, to the base of the cliff and onto an outcrop of rock. There was so much blood. It left a trail on the sand before an incoming wave washed it away.
“Have you come to take me home?”
“Yes. Where does it hurt?” OK that was a stupid question, but she needed to know how much he was aware of what was going on. He’d lost a lot of blood and if she didn’t do something, he might just end up bleeding to death.
“Everywhere. Are you an angel?”
“You wish.” She pulled the first aid kit open and rummaged around the contents until she found a roll of gauze. She tied the bandage as tight as she could around his leg. Cal cried out in pain. “Sorry…” She cradled him against her body, trying to keep him warm. Pulling the phone from her pocket, she dialed Aunt Laurie’s phone, praying she’d have it switched on.
Aunt Laurie answered on the second ring. “Hello?”
“It’s Hattie, I found him.”
“Thank the Lord. Let me give you to Tom.”
There was a brief pause as he came to the line. “Hattie, its Tom. Where are you?”
“A beach somewhere, back’s against the cliff. Cal’s hurt badly, he’s bleeding, not
making much sense. The tide’s coming in fast. Not sure how long we can stay above water. There’s nowhere to go.”
“Which direction did you go?”
“East. Not sure how far. Walked about an hour I think, hard to tell. There’s a new rock fall. It’s just past that. We’re on a ledge, but the water’s reached us—”
A huge wave crashed over them, snatching the phone from her hand and tossing it far out to sea. She wrapped both arms around Cal, holding him tightly. The pain in her ribs returned with a vengeance. She’d have her fair share of bruises after this. “Cal, talk to me.”
He stirred. “Hattie?”
“Yeah. Still not an angel.”
“Thought you were.”
“Nope. Just a woman looking for a bloke she won in a raffle.” His eyes glazed for a moment and she shook him. “No you don’t. You stay awake, you hear me?”
“You…won…me?”
She pulled the cap off the bottle of water and offered him some. “Sure did. You and me and a night of dancing. Although some people go to great lengths to avoid it.”
He took a small sip then turned away. “Makes us even…”
“What does?”
“You…rescuing…me…”
“Not quite. You still owe me that date.”
“More than one…” His eyes slid shut.
“Remember the sermon on Sunday? What Pastor Kenny preached on from Zephaniah? It’s one of my favorite verses. The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”
“Sang it afterwards,” he whispered. “My God is mighty to save…”
The water lapped higher now. She pulled him as high as she could, holding him tightly. She didn’t want to drown, but there was no sign of the promised rescue. “Least I’m with you,” she whispered.
There was nowhere left to go. The water reached his chin. She held him tightly, unable to pull him up any higher. “I love you.”
He looked at her, his eyes focused for a moment. “It’s OK… I love you.” The water rose, covering his mouth.
“I’m sorry…” she sobbed.
A voice called her name. She glanced up to see the lifeboat appearing on her left. “Hurry…”
A splash and two swimmers appeared by her side. Strong arms took Cal from her, lifting his head back above the water.
Then someone took hold of her, taking her to the safety of the lifeboat.
30
Three months later
Hattie stood, surrounded by more than two hundred and fifty people on the shore by Penry Island Lifeboat Station. The brisk February wind blew her neatly done hair, here, there and everywhere. Cal appeared next to her in his uniform. He’d spent the Sunday morning training as usual, taking the new boat through her paces before her official launch that afternoon. His hand took hers, his thumb running over the wedding band she wore under her engagement ring.
She smiled at him. “I’ve never been to a boat launch before, never mind done one. Except for the excerpts on the television when the Queen does a new cruise ship or something, I have no idea what to do.”
“It’s a cinch. It’ll be exactly like the launches you see on the TV. You say ‘I name this lifeboat’ and so on and then hit her with the champagne. And it had better break or else its bad luck.”
She grinned. “But we don’t do luck.”
“Try telling that to this lot. Sailors are an inherently superstitious lot.”
“These are all volunteers. Hardly any of them come from diehard sea going families anymore.”
“Doesn’t matter.” He hugged her. “I love you.”
Hattie hugged him back. “I love you, too.”
“Are you sure you want to name it after Steve? He doesn’t want to see you, and he won’t accept your letters. It’s as if he hasn’t forgiven you for testifying against him.”
“He hasn’t. But, despite everything that’s happened, he’s still my brother. And I forgive him. I love him, Cal, and that won’t ever change. Maybe one day things will be different.” She sucked in a deep breath. “I’m still going to the prison on Wednesday. He’ll probably refuse to see me again, but I have to go.”
He nodded, hugging her tightly. “We’ll both go. Put up a united front and show him that he’s still part of our family, no matter how hard he tries to run. God hasn’t given up on him and nor have we.”
“Thank you.” She hugged him back. “All we need now is Tom and we can start here. Maybe he got lost.”
Cal laughed. “More likely he’s stealing one of your apple cakes.”
Tom came running out. “OK, Red Watch, get in the boat. You’re on a shout. Speedboat in difficulties, four miles to the north-east.”
“You’re kidding,” Cal said.
“Nope. Go, now.”
The driver jumped into the tractor and started it up, while Cal and the rest of red watch scrambled up the ladder, starting the engines of the lifeboat.
Pastor Kenny stepped up to the microphone. “I know we still need to name her officially, and I’m not going to do that. But I want to pray and ask God to bless the lifeboat on her maiden rescue voyage.”
Hattie kept her eyes on the boat as the tractor drove down the shingle and into the sea. She’d seen this done countless times now, but it still enthralled her. She raised a hand in farewell, as Cal headed from the DODO and out into open water. Less than a minute later the second boat followed them.
Tom looked at everyone. “Let’s start the party without them,” he said. “Tea and coffee will be served now, and we’ll name the boat when they come back.”
“Won’t have enough cakes for that,” Hattie commented to Laurie. “Actually, I’m not sure I made enough anyway. I didn’t realize so many people would turn up.”
Laurie smiled. “It’s because it’s our boat. We all helped raise the money for it. OK, the name is yours because it was your idea, but the boat belongs to the whole island.”
Hattie’s gaze shifted from the empty DODO, to the bridge. New columns would soon start to rise from the shadow of the old ones, and the familiar high girders would be rebuilt. This time next year was the plan, but whether that would happen was anyone’s guess.
Choosing to forgo the tea, and making sure there were enough people to serve without her, Hattie sat on the sea wall, gazing out at the water.
Carter sat next to her. “He’ll be back.”
She looked up. “I know. Just part of me will always worry a little. Even on a calm day like this.” She smiled. “How’s the training going?”
“It’s good to be back on the bike. Doc says I should be ready to start competing again in a week or so.”
“That’s great.”
“Not as great as seeing the change in Cal. He’s really settled down since you came on the scene.”
She tilted her head. “You’re one of the few people who said we didn’t rush into marriage.”
Carter shrugged. “Sometimes you just know when Mr. or Miss Right comes along and then there is no point in waiting, especially when God’s nudging you that way as well.”
Tom came over. “They got there.”
“Already?” she asked glancing at her watch. A mere six minutes had elapsed since the boats launched.
Tom nodded. “Cal is taking the couple to Yarbrough ED in the lifeboat, so they can be checked over. The RHIB is bringing their speedboat back to the harbor. They should all be back within the hour.”
“So allowing time to clean up and refuel, about two hours or so before we can restart?”
“Something like that.” He grinned at her. “So, are you working permanently in the shop now?”
“Alongside the catering, yeah.” She grinned. “Course the café might not take off and…”
Carter elbowed her. “It’s a brilliant idea. A beachside café, right next to the lifeboat station. What’s not going to work about it?”
“It’s seasonal. Mig
ht not get many visitors in the winter.”
“Trust me. Advertise your cakes and they will come.”
****
Once the boats were cleaned and refueled, the crew resumed their places on the beach. Hattie swallowed hard, now the moment had come she was terrified.
Cal took her hand. “You’ll be fine. Short speech, break the bottle and there you go.”
Tom finished his speech and invited Hattie up to the mic. Trying to stop her knees from buckling under her, she stood in front of everyone. “I name this lifeboat the Steve and Penny Steele. May God bless and protect those who crew her and the lives of those she saves.”
Taking the champagne bottle in her hand, she swung it hard. It hit the side of the boat and shattered. She grinned at Cal.
The phone in the main building rang. Tom ran inside and was gone about a minute before coming back out. “Red Watch…” he began.
Cal grinned. “No rest for the wicked, or those in peril on the sea.” He hugged Hattie as the shore crew swung into action once more. “Save me a cake. Love you, see you later.”
Hattie kissed him. “I’ll be waiting right here. Same as always. Go do what you do best. Save lives.”
Cal looked at Tom. “Where to?”
“Fishing trawler in difficulties. Ten miles northwest.”
Hattie watched as the lifeboat launched and cut through the waters, heading off across the brightly lit waves.
Hattie’s Apple Cakes
2oz margarine
3oz sugar
4oz SR flour
1 egg
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
1 tablespoon milk
3oz chopped apples
Beat margarine and sugar together.
Add egg and beat again.
Mix in flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and baking powder.
Add milk and mix all together.
Add chopped apple.
Stir well.
Divide into 12 cake cases.
Mix a little cinnamon, nutmeg and sugar and sprinkle over each cake.
