argument, what’s to keep him from attacking one of us in broad daylight?” This from Zach again. “Or from taking off and hiding in the woods, only to sneak up on us when we least expect it?”
“We could watch him during the day,” Kelly submitted. “Keep a constant eye on him. At six against one, the odds are in our favor. He needs some amount of movement, at least, Zach. It’s criminal to keep him chained up constantly.”
“ Besides, we’ll probably be rescued within a few days, at most,” Frazer added, playing Devil’s advocate now.
Zach remained firm. “In that event, it wouldn’t hurt to keep him bound. He’s the actual criminal, after all, and hugging a tree for a couple of days isn’t going to hurt him.”
“I say we put it to a vote,” Kelly suggested, aware that Frazer was waffling and taking advantage of it.
“Do I get a vote, too?” Roberts inquired wryly.
Gavin sneered. “Get real. I say no, keep him tied up.”
Zach nodded. “Ditto.”
In quick succession, all three women voted to free him, but only during the day.
Frazer hesitated.
“Well, Fraz? What’s it going to be?” Kelly prompted. For good measure, she added, “What do you think Wynne would want us to do?”
“Dirty pool!” Zach complained.
“Free,” Frazer announced finally. “But not until morning. I want at least one night’s decent shut-eye.”
“You gonna be able to sleep, with that boy’s body lying there, and Wynne likely to wash ashore with the tide?” Gavin asked, his tone intimating that he wouldn’t be resting too well under those circumstances.
His comment reminded them that Wynne wasn’t the day’s only victim. Zach heaved a weary sigh, eyes closed as if in prayer. “Lord, when is this going to end?”
“Soon, Zach,” Kelly murmured, reaching out to touch his hand in commiseration. “Help will come.”
Blindly, he took her fingers in his and held tightly. “But will it be soon enough?”
* * *
T hey buried the boy by torchlight, none of them wanting to leave the chore until morning. Their impromptu grave side service included a prayer for Wynne. Afterward, they sat around the campfire, morose and silent for the most part, waiting for their breadfruit to bake in the coals. One by one, they gradually drifted off to sleep, each hoping that tomorrow would bring deliverance—or, failing that, less death and disaster.
T here was no sign of Wynne’s body the next morning, for which they were all privately thankful—which was about the only thing for which they were grateful at the moment. Again, it was bananas and coconut for breakfast, along with chunks of cold breadfruit. Even little Sydney wrinkled up her nose at the limited fare, as if to say, “Same old, same old.”
“Water, water everywhere,” Blair quoted drearily, staring out at the ocean, “nor any drop to drink.”
“Or to wash with,” Kelly grumped. “I hate to think of having to clean up in salt water. In fact, I doubt it’s really possible. I know swimming in it leaves your hair sticky.”
“You might get the dirt off, but the salt would dry on your skin and most likely itch,” Blair agreed. “And I don’t think I’d care to try it except as a last resort. I break out in a rash just from lake water. I think it has something to do with the algae, or maybe the fish.”
“Well, I’d give my right arm for a bath right now. Or a shower. Even a quick slap with a washcloth.”
“And a change of clothes,” Alita added wistfully. “Even a hairbrush would help.”
“That I’ve got,” Kelly said, brightening. “There’s one in my purse, and if you two don’t mind sharing, neither do I.”
“Oooh! Get it!” Blair cooed in delighted anticipation.
“And a nail file, if you have one,” Alita all but begged. Kelly reached eagerly for her purse. Just then, Zach called out, “C’mon, ladies. Shake a leg! We agreed to get an early start today.”
Kelly and Blair groaned. Alita cursed in
“We could watch him during the day,” Kelly submitted. “Keep a constant eye on him. At six against one, the odds are in our favor. He needs some amount of movement, at least, Zach. It’s criminal to keep him chained up constantly.”
“ Besides, we’ll probably be rescued within a few days, at most,” Frazer added, playing Devil’s advocate now.
Zach remained firm. “In that event, it wouldn’t hurt to keep him bound. He’s the actual criminal, after all, and hugging a tree for a couple of days isn’t going to hurt him.”
“I say we put it to a vote,” Kelly suggested, aware that Frazer was waffling and taking advantage of it.
“Do I get a vote, too?” Roberts inquired wryly.
Gavin sneered. “Get real. I say no, keep him tied up.”
Zach nodded. “Ditto.”
In quick succession, all three women voted to free him, but only during the day.
Frazer hesitated.
“Well, Fraz? What’s it going to be?” Kelly prompted. For good measure, she added, “What do you think Wynne would want us to do?”
“Dirty pool!” Zach complained.
“Free,” Frazer announced finally. “But not until morning. I want at least one night’s decent shut-eye.”
“You gonna be able to sleep, with that boy’s body lying there, and Wynne likely to wash ashore with the tide?” Gavin asked, his tone intimating that he wouldn’t be resting too well under those circumstances.
His comment reminded them that Wynne wasn’t the day’s only victim. Zach heaved a weary sigh, eyes closed as if in prayer. “Lord, when is this going to end?”
“Soon, Zach,” Kelly murmured, reaching out to touch his hand in commiseration. “Help will come.”
Blindly, he took her fingers in his and held tightly. “But will it be soon enough?”
* * *
T hey buried the boy by torchlight, none of them wanting to leave the chore until morning. Their impromptu grave side service included a prayer for Wynne. Afterward, they sat around the campfire, morose and silent for the most part, waiting for their breadfruit to bake in the coals. One by one, they gradually drifted off to sleep, each hoping that tomorrow would bring deliverance—or, failing that, less death and disaster.
T here was no sign of Wynne’s body the next morning, for which they were all privately thankful—which was about the only thing for which they were grateful at the moment. Again, it was bananas and coconut for breakfast, along with chunks of cold breadfruit. Even little Sydney wrinkled up her nose at the limited fare, as if to say, “Same old, same old.”
“Water, water everywhere,” Blair quoted drearily, staring out at the ocean, “nor any drop to drink.”
“Or to wash with,” Kelly grumped. “I hate to think of having to clean up in salt water. In fact, I doubt it’s really possible. I know swimming in it leaves your hair sticky.”
“You might get the dirt off, but the salt would dry on your skin and most likely itch,” Blair agreed. “And I don’t think I’d care to try it except as a last resort. I break out in a rash just from lake water. I think it has something to do with the algae, or maybe the fish.”
“Well, I’d give my right arm for a bath right now. Or a shower. Even a quick slap with a washcloth.”
“And a change of clothes,” Alita added wistfully. “Even a hairbrush would help.”
“That I’ve got,” Kelly said, brightening. “There’s one in my purse, and if you two don’t mind sharing, neither do I.”
“Oooh! Get it!” Blair cooed in delighted anticipation.
“And a nail file, if you have one,” Alita all but begged. Kelly reached eagerly for her purse. Just then, Zach called out, “C’mon, ladies. Shake a leg! We agreed to get an early start today.”
Kelly and Blair groaned. Alita cursed in
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