“But I don’t think they’re quite ready to let go of Leia’s magic or their medicine woman’s skills,” Katie noted.
“No, definitely not.” Dave turned to help Katie into the skiff. He looked back to see everybody watching, as if they had followed them down to the water. “I’m not sure when they came after us. I didn’t see them, did you?”
She shrugged. “I wasn’t really watching, but I saw them, yes.”
He smiled at them and helped her into the boat, then slowly pulled out.
“Times are changing here, aren’t they?” she asked quietly.
“Time changes everywhere,” he noted in an equally quiet voice.
“I can’t imagine living a life like this.”
“More joy. Maybe more hardship too sometimes, but it’s a simpler life that isn’t so driven all the time. It’s a lot more peaceful.”
“Until you have something like these young men, seeking something more.”
“Very true.” At that, Dave and Katie stayed quiet, and they drifted, slowly motoring their way back toward the yacht.
When they got on board, she called out to the captain, “Are you ready for food?” When she got no answer, she turned and headed to the kitchen. But there was no sign of him there. She ran upstairs and called out again. “Where is he?”
His face grim, Dave came back from searching the pilot area. “No clue. The prisoner is gone too.”
She froze at that. “Oh my God. Do you think they took Sam too?”
“Worse would be if they deep-sixed him.”
Her heart quaked at that idea because the captain was a hell of a good man and such a dedicated husband and father. There was nothing more important than the family he held so close.
They quickly raced around on the second deck, and, under one of the lifeboats, Dave stopped and pointed to a bit of fabric sticking out. With a handgun at the ready, he quickly lifted a corner and snapped, “Hands up!”
The captain cut loose with a roar. Easing up the end of the lifeboat, Dave found Sam lying there, tied up, furious, and gagged.
Dave immediately holstered his pistol and helped the captain out from underneath the lifeboat, so they could get him untied. As the captain sat up, he swore. “I know I’ve got a harder head than most, but I really don’t like getting it smashed.”
Immediately Dave took a look at his head; they had broken the skin when they had knocked him out. “On the other hand, it’s a damn good thing they only knocked you out.”
“If you say so. I can’t say I see a single good thing about any of this,” he snapped.
“How many were there?”
“No clue. I didn’t see anything. I was studying the maps and looking at the weather charts, when this guy came up behind me. I turned and got hit over the head.”
“Sorry about that.” Dave helped the captain up to the deck, where he sat him back down.
Katie immediately brought some water for him. “We really do need backup now,” she said.
“I’ve already called it in,” Dave replied gently. “They will be here soon.”
She walked over to him, and he immediately opened his arms and gave her a hug. “It’ll be fine,” he murmured.
“Maybe, and maybe not. I’m sure seeing the uglier side of your work.”
“True. But something like this could happen anywhere.”
“I guess. I just don’t like to see it.”
“None of us do,” he replied, with a gentle smile. He dropped a kiss on her forehead. “What about lunch?”
“Can you eat right now?”
“Absolutely. Plus, it might help the captain feel better.”
She went to the galley area and quickly made up some sandwiches that she brought out.
The captain’s eyes lit up when he saw the food. “Nothing like food to make you feel better.”
“If it had been me hit over the head,” she said, “it would be all I could do to get any food down at all.”
“That’s because you’re a girl, with a softer head.” Sam munched down on the first sandwich he could reach. “My head’s pretty hard. It’s just my temper that’s the problem right now. I can’t believe the little buggers snuck up on me.”
“You had your headset on, didn’t you?”
He looked at her, shamefaced. “I did. I was listening to some of the songs my son wanted me to hear.” Then he shrugged. “Can’t say it was worth getting hit over the head about either.”
She chuckled at that. “It’s all good. I won’t tattle on you.”
He rolled his eyes. “Somebody needs to because there has to be an explanation for why I got hit.”
“Your guard was down,” she said. “We’re all experiencing something similar.”
“We’re not supposed to though,” Sam complained. “Obviously things are very off here.”
She added, “I think it’s just off for these two young punks.”
Just then, Dave’s phone beeped, with a text message. He looked down at it, smiled, and said, “Guess what?”
“What?” the captain asked in a testy voice.
“Looks like we’re about to get company. Good company this time.”
*
Dave looked up to see a speedboat coming toward them. He lifted a hand in greeting, as they approached. And, sure enough, there was Bullard, Leia, Fallon, and Linny too—Fallon’s partner and Dave’s niece. Dave smiled. “Well, here’s four out of at least twelve?”
“At least.” Fallon gave a jovial laugh, as he hopped on board, helping Linny next, and took one look at the captain, and frowned. “What the hell?”
“Don’t even start,” the captain groused.
Dave hugged his niece, happy to see her so happy.
“You really got hit from behind?” Fallon asked Sam.
He pointed to the head wound, and there was no mistaking that, from the angle of the blow, he’d been taken down from behind.
“So, even in paradise, there’s still a little hell.”
“We were hoping that it was all dealt with,” Dave said, looking at Leia and smiling. “But your paradise has a few vipers.”
“Every paradise does.” Then her face twisted, as she worried about the island and its people. “How is the wise old one?”
“Not so good. Also a very pregnant woman really hopes she’ll get back on her feet fast.”
“That’s Micla. I guess she’s due now, isn’t she?”
“She looks like she was due weeks ago,” Dave confirmed. “I don’t know if you can willfully hold a child in, but, if she gets her choice, she won’t let that birth happen until the old woman can help her.”
“That’s not a great idea either.” Leia looked up at Bullard. “I better get over there.”
Bullard nodded. “I’m coming too.”
She smiled. “They won’t hurt me.”
“I’m coming,” Bullard said in a firm voice.
She raised both hands in frustration. “Fine, be protective then.”
“I intend to,” he stated, with a cheeky grin.