“No traffic jams.” Blair took up the tale. “No clock to watch, no washing machine to break down.”
“No frantic schedules,” Frazer added. “No running at everyone’s beck and call.”
Zach nodded. “No deadlines looming. Or building materials not delivered when they should be—or worrying if they’re of inferior quality.”
“No spit and polish inspections. No drill sergeant bellowing, or snippy lieutenant acting as if he’s God’s right-hand man. No orders, or standing in line for everything from chow to using the latrine,” Gavin listed.
Roberts chimed in. “No Feds, no prisons. If y’all would just let me loose, this could be my idea of paradise!”
“Don’t kid yourself,” Alita rejoined. “This stinking sandbox is just one big prison without bars. There’s no way off of it.”
“Suits me fine. I’d gladly trade a few comforts for my freedom. It’d be like a long huntin’ or fishin’ trip.”
“But I want all those conveniences!” Alita wailed, her mouth pursed into a pout. “I’ve earned them, and I deserve them. Already, I miss my spa and all my beautiful clothes. And the costumes I wear when I perform.” She stopped, her mouth forming an O. “I am going to miss my concert!” she shrieked. “This cannot happen! I’ve never missed a performance before.”
“Big whoop!” Gavin retorted sarcastically. “As of six o’clock this morning, I was AWOL from Schofield. I think my superiors are gonna be slightly more pissed than your adoring public.”
“Geez, you guys!” Kelly exclaimed. “It’s not as if you could help it. Given the circumstances, I’m sure everyone will understand and forgive. They’ll probably be tickled pink to have you back, if and when we ever get off this isolated speck of land.”
“Who’s missing you right now, Kelly Kennedy?” Zach asked. “Do you have a husband out there, worried out of his mind?”
She wrinkled her nose at this. “Just a soon-to-be-ex, who’s probably thrilled thinking he’ll inherit everything I own. And my parents, and my brother. They’ll be worried. Brad won’t. Knowing him, he’ll probably be relieved, though he’ll hide it well, of course. Can’t have his public image tarnished, and all that. In fact, I’ll bet he’s already found a way to cover up the fact that I’ve filed for divorce and is casting himself in the role of the bereaved widower— to the hilt. The conceited ass!” She returned the question to him. “What about you, Zach?”
“I’m already a widower, for three years now. And I truly was bereaved.”
Kelly could have kicked herself for her rash comments. “Gosh, I’m sorry, Zach! I didn’t know. I certainly didn’t mean to dredge up hurtful memories for you.”
He shrugged off her apology. “It’s not myself I’m concerned about now, so much as my daughter. And my Dad. He’s having some health problems. We’re afraid it might be his heart. If he thinks I’ve been killed, it could prove fatal to him. I can only pray he’s strong enough to hang in there until we’re rescued.”
“My God!” Blair blurted, her eyes wide with dismay. “You’re right! By now, everyone probably thinks we’re dead! Oh, my poor babies! Poor Anton!”
“Hey! Slow down! You’re getting way ahead of yourselves,” Frazer proclaimed loudly. “Right now, all they know is that the plane didn’t make its scheduled landing, that we’ve disappeared somewhere in the Pacific. They might assume we’ve crashed, but they won’t automatically write us off, you know. First, they’ll check to see if we might have been hijacked. And they’ll keep an ear open to see if any radical faction claims responsibility for a bombing. They’ll send out reconnaissance planes. They’ll be searching, and hoping to find survivors. Which they will.”
At the peak of the day, when the heat was at its most debilitating, they retired to the shade of the palms to conserves what little energy they still possessed. A couple of hours later, Zach decided they really must renew their efforts to find water in the interior. He rallied his reluctant troops, and between them he and Gavin determined that their best plan would be to form a loose line, much as would be done in searching for a missing person. Even with his bum leg, Frazer insisted on being included. Wynne gladly volunteered to stay behind with Sydney, Roberts, and the still-unconscious teenager. Thus, the small party of explorers, numbering six, set off, armed with sticks for beating back the bushes. Zach set out the guide lines.
“We’ll start here, and go straight inland. Everyone try to keep pace with those on either side of you, and stay within shouting distance of each other, if not actually within sight. Don’t clump up. Keep several yards between you, but scout the area as carefully as you can. A small pool or creek would be easy to miss amid the brush. Call out if you spot something, but don’t chat back and forth. We need to listen carefully for the sound of water. Or even the smell of it. If the ground underfoot gets soggy, alert your neighbor. It could mean there’s a spring underground, or it could just as well mean that you’re heading into quicksand, or the equivalent thereof, if such things exist in this part of the world.”
Everyone cast a quick look at Blair, who gave an abashed shrug. “Beats me. I haven’t read anything to that effect.”
“Be careful, then,” Zach instructed. “Watch your step. We’ll take roll call every ten minutes, just to make sure no one has gotten lost or into trouble. And be on the lookout for other things that might signify that someone else has been here on the island. Cans, bottles, cold campfires, an old shoe. If we’re lucky, maybe someone uses this island for a fishing spot from time to time.”
They lined up, the men alternated with the women, and headed into the jungle. In the high humidity, they were drenched with sweat within a few minutes. And without the ocean breeze to hold them at bay, the bugs began to attack in swarms. Despite Zach’s directive not to talk, Kelly muttered loudly, “This is not my idea of a fun way to spend the day.”
To her right, she heard Gavin grouse, “Do I get combat pay for this, or some sort of extra compensation?”
“You’ll get a swift kick in the butt, if you don’t shut up,” Zach warned.
“The man has the ears of a damned bat!”
In spite of her discomfort, Kelly giggled. “Small and pointy?”
“I heard that. Now hush! Pay attention.”
“Aye-aye, sir!”
At the first roll call, everyone was still accounted for, with Alita responding peevishly, “Si! I now have more blisters than fingernails, but who is counting, eh? I hate this! If I’d wanted to roam the jungles, I could have stayed in Mexico.”
Not long after that, Blair let out a startled yell. Everyone immediately deserted his assigned position to rush to her aid, aborting the effort when she called out with a weak laugh, “Never mind! It was just a lizard! He dashed out from under a rock and scared the willies out of me. I think it was one of those things they call a skink, or maybe a gecko. Sorry.”
“Whatever it was, you probably scared it clean out of its hide,” Frazer commented. “I know you just took ten years off my life, hollering like that.”
“Are they edible?” Zach wanted to know.
His query met with united disgust and a clamorous chorus of “No!”
Onward they trudged. A minute or two following the second head count, Frazer announced, “Hey! I think I found more tucker!”
“Huh?” This from Gavin.
“Food,” Frazer clarified. “Something else to eat.” They all converged in his area. He pointed to a tree, from which hung numerous greenish globs up to a foot in length.
“What is it?” Kelly asked, looked up at the strange growths doubtfully.
“Breadfruit. The staple of the tropics,” Frazer explained. “I’ve eaten it before, on a stopover in Fiji, and it’s not bad at all. Rather akin to a potato in taste, though it looks like a loaf of bread once it’s baked.”
“So that’s what it looks like,” Blair put in. “I’ve heard of it, but I’ve never seen one. You’re supposed to be able to fry or boil it, too.”
Employin
g their sticks, Gavin and Zach knocked a few of them down. “We didn’t bring anything to carry them in,” Alita pointed out.
“No problem,” Zach said. “We can bundle them into Gavin and Frazer’s shirts, and Kelly’s jacket.”
As he approached her, Kelly warded him off. “No way, Jose. I’m keeping my blazer on.”
His brow furrowed. “Why? You’ve got to be sweltering in it. As a matter of fact, you look as if you’re about to expire from heatstroke at any moment.”
“Obviously, you’re not up on current fashion for women,” she told him. “I need the jacket because I’m wearing a camisole under it in place of a blouse.”
“So? What’s the difference? What’s a camisole?”
“It’s like the top half of an underslip,” Blair supplied helpfully.
Zach stepped nearer. His gaze traversed Kelly’s chest, lingering on the exposed triangle of camisole with acute interest and a definite gleam in his gold eyes. On closer inspection, he saw that the raspberry colored material, though not sheer, was light-weight and shiny, adorned with a wide row of lace across the top. He leaned close, his voice low and a husky as he murmured for her ears only. “I’d like to get a closer look at that camisole of yours. Later. If we could arrange a private viewing.”
Kelly stared at him, struck momentarily speechless by his unexpected advance, though she was normally quite adept at handling this sort of come-on. However, for the past five years she’d been rejecting them. Now, with this good-looking stranger, she was actually considering accepting his suggestion, which was, in itself, sublimely stupid. From all indications he was a typical alpha male, too domineering and sure of himself for her peace of mind. Gorgeous, yes, but she needed another bossy, arrogant man like she needed the measles.
Then again, for the purpose of a brief, extremely temporary island fling, Zach just might fit the bill after all. What better than an attractive man to help rebuild her flagging self esteem?
Finally, she managed to kick her brain into gear and reply saucily, “Sure, You can take my camisole and sponge it out for me as soon as we find water. But I want it right back, and if you’re into cross-dressing, you’d better not stretch it or split the seams, or I’m going to be supremely ticked.”
Amusement danced in his eyes. “That’s not really what I had in mind. For now, though, can you tuck the bottom of your jacket into your slacks?”
“Why?”
“Just do it, okay?”
Turning aside, she unfastened her slacks, tucked the tail of her blazer inside, and quickly re-zipped and buttoned. The result was bulky and unattractive, and sure to wrinkle the linen fabric even more. She was still wondering, as were the others, why Zach would make such an odd request, when he reached forward and plopped two plump gourds down the front of her top. They sank to her waist, and lay there in an elongated lump.
Alita burst out laughing. “Hah! He has turned you into a kangaroo with a pouch!”
“A wee wallaby!” Frazer agreed on a chuckle.
“Don’t laugh too hard,” Zach advised, advancing on the steward. “You’re next.” He deposited two breadfruit into the man’s shirt, then turned toward the corporal.
Blair chortled. “I’ve always wondered what a pregnant man would look like, and it’s just as ridiculous as I’d imagined it would be!”
Kelly was now caught up in the humor as well. “I wish I had my camera. When we get back to camp, I want a picture of this before you fellows unload!”
“You should get a picture of Alita, too,” Blair said. “I’ll bet her adoring public has never seen her so disheveled.”
“Speak for yourself, you grimy little elf,” Alita snapped back. “You look like one of the seven dwarves after a hard day’s work in the mine. And you…” She pointed a jagged fingernail toward Kelly. “Your hair resembles a haystack. You look…”
“Like an adorable ragamuffin,” Zach broke in. He reached out a hand to ruffle Kelly’s mussed hair even more.
“Great!” Kelly mumbled, grimacing as her newborn notion of having a wild rebound fling with Zach bit the dust. Studmuffin had just called her a ragamuffin. And she had to admit that she felt like one. She was grungy from head to toe. Her hair was straggling, her clothes were torn, her make-up half melted away. Yep, she was every man’s idea of a real love goddess, all right! Which proved he’d probably only been teasing her before, with that remark about a private viewing, flirting casually with no real intent behind his words.
Which was a shame, actually. With her marriage on the rocks, and her feminine ego in tatters, statistically speaking she was ripe for a hot affair. Zach might have been the perfect antidote for what ailed her. Tall, dark, handsome, ruggedly built, with just the right amount of muscle— there was something about him, not machismo really, but a sort of raw male magnetism, that made her sharply aware of him, and of herself as a woman. Sort of weak in the knees, a little bit giddy, and most definitely attracted. Even sweaty and grimy, he was amazingly appealing—while she looked like something the cat would refuse to drag in!
It figured. What else could she expect, the way her life and luck had been running lately? She was on a long bout of shooting nothing but craps!
Chapter 7
They dispersed to continue their search for water. Half an hour later, having had no success, Zach called a halt. “I’d guess we’re midway across. We really should take the next sector to the south and head back.” He tapped his watch. “It’s getting too late to continue on, and we don’t want to be stumbling around in this tangle in the dark.”
“You can say that, again,” Gavin agreed. “Besides, we ought to get back and check on the others. Get another fire going and cook these breadfruit things. I don’t know about the rest of you, but my backbone is getting real friendly with my stomach. I’m so hungry, I could eat a horse.”
“Hungry and thirsty,” Kelly contributed. “A big, juicy coconut sounds wonderful right now.”
They were still some distance from the shore when they heard the ruckus. Sydney was shrieking. Roberts was bellowing. It was a horrible sound, rivaling the hounds of hell, and it sent chills of terror through them all. Zach broke into a run, loping over bushes like an Olympic hurdler. Gavin sprinted besides him, the others dashing and hopping along as fast as they could.
Zach tore onto the beach, making a beeline for the campsite. The first thing to make an impression was poor Sydney, clutched in a tight grip between Roberts’s legs, fighting to get free. Raw fury boiled through Zach’s veins as he ran to the child’s rescue. He skidded to a halt, ripped the toddler from Roberts’s hold, promptly thrusting her into Gavin’s arms, and plowed a fist into Roberts jaw hard enough bounce the man’s head off the tree trunk behind him.
“You animal!” Zach roared, grabbing a handful of Roberts’s shaggy blond hair and yanking his face up for another blow. “What were you doing to that baby?”
By now, Kelly had reached them. In turn, Gavin handed Sydney off to her. Still trying to catch her breath, Kelly gasped, “What’s going on? Where’s Wynne?”
The rage in Roberts expression matched Zach’s. “Gone!” he roared, spitting blood. “If you’d gotten here sooner, you might have saved her. Damn y’all! I been hollerin’ forever, and tryin’ to keep the kid from runnin’ off! Why couldn’t ya come sooner? What took ya so damned long?”
They were all there now, all firing questions at him. “What do you mean, Wynne is gone?”
“Where did she go?”
“Why would she go off and leave Sydney?”
“I don’t understand.”
“Start from the beginning,” Zach told him, giving their prisoner another shake. “I want to know exactly what happened. How, when, and why.”
Gavin stepped in, tugging at Zach’s arm. “Back off, man. Give him a chance to explain.”
Zach released his hold on Roberts’s hair. “This had better be good,” he warned, his eyes blazing.
“Well, it ain’t,” Roberts countered angrily.
“There ain’t a thing good about watching a crazy old woman walk into the ocean and drown herself, and not bein’ able to do anything about it cause you’re tied fast to a friggin’ tree!”
“What?”
“How long ago?”
“Oh, sweet Jesus!”
“No!”
“Yeah!” Roberts hissed past his split and swelling lip. “She checked on the boy a while back. Found he’d died, and somethin’ just sort o’ snapped, I reckon. Not that the old gal was playin’ with a full deck to start with. But she started mumblin’ to herself, prayin’ and such, staring up at the sky. It was when she took up this conversation with her dead husband that things really got spooky.”
“James?” Kelly inserted. “She was talking to James?”
“Not at him, woman! With him! Ain’t you payin’ heed? She’d say somethin’, then she’d listen a minute and nod and say somethin’ else, then listen some more. To see it sent the hair straight up on my neck! Then, after goin' on like that for a bit, she stood up, brought Sydney over to me, and set the kid in my lap. Told me to watch over her, and not to let the kid loose, no matter what. Then she just walked away, straight out into the ocean, like she wasn’t doin’ no more than takin’ a nice afternoon stroll!”
“My God!”
“Oh, that poor, dear lady!”
“Didn’t you even try to stop her? To reason with her?” If looks could kill, Frazer would have been dead.
“O' course I did, you lame-brained jackass! I hollered at her to come back, to sit and talk a spell. I told her I didn’t know if I could keep hold of the kid, tied down like I was. I did everything but pull this damned tree up by its roots!”
“How long ago?” Zach put in again, his voice rife with urgency. “Where, exactly, did she enter the water?”
Roberts sneered. “Give it up, champ. You took too long. She’s been under for at least half an hour already. Way past savin’. And it’s your fault.”
His glare, directed first at Zach, swung to encompass the entire group. “All of you share the blame for this, you know. Yall think you’re so much better than me, but every one of you is a murderer now, same as me. You got her blood on your hands, ’cause if I’d been free I could have stopped her. Let that be on your conscience, and see how it sets. Think about it good and long. Think about how it was for Sydney and me to sit here and not be able to do a damned thing to save her! And thank your stars it wasn’t even worse, ’cause it was all I could do to keep Sydney from runnin’ after her, to keep her corralled until y’all could get here!”
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