The Lighthouse Romance Anthology (The Life Saving Series)

by Dawn Luedecke

  The compartment was large, its purpose to accommodate the entire crew for meals. How the hell could his men have missed this room during the first search for survivors? Without a second thought, he grabbed Laura’s hand and pulled her behind him while he searched.

  Her painful grip on his hand showed him her fear and desperation while they went from corner to corner in search.

  “Look.” She pointed to a large pile of food and stacked wood that looked too neat to have remained that way during the crash. “It’s him,” she whispered, “I know it.”

  He gave her hand a gentle squeeze and pulled her to the pile.

  They peered over, but saw nothing except empty space behind it. Laura tugged on his arm and motioned with her head toward the galley, when a cry rose up from within.

  The hard thump of a dozen feet rushed into the adjoining room. Wade pushed his way to the front of the crowd and saw him—Laura’s father.

  For a brief moment, chaos reigned as, with loud wails of emotion, Laura and her mother pushed through the crowd and rushed to the body that lay on the floor. Wade let them have some time. When he could wait no longer, he spoke up, “Rhodes, take the women to the corner. We have to get him out of here fast, and we need the women out of the way.” The seaman saluted and then ran to gather the women.

  “No,” Laura all but screamed. “I have to help him.”

  In two steps, Wade stood in front of her. He took her face in his hands to force her to look at him, away from her father. “My crew is trained for this. The best way you can help is to let us do our job.” He looked down at her father. “He looks bad, Laura. Take your mother and stand aside. Time is of the utmost importance.”

  She nodded and stepped back.

  Wade turned to her father. His face was pale, ashen with fever. His stomach heaved with a laborious breath, and sweat trickled down his forehead to saturate his gray hair. His forehead burned like fire. “We need to get him to a doctor, now!”

  The crew made a stretcher out of planks and line. Within minutes, they tied Laura’s father on the board, and turned to rush him out to the boat. “Gather blankets to keep him as warm as possible on the journey.” He had spoken to Laura and turned to see if she responded. What he saw hit him hard in his heart.

  The two women huddled in the corner. Laura’s arms were wrapped around her mother, who shook with sobs.

  In two strides, he was there. He gathered Laura’s mother in his arms and motioned with his head to the pile of blankets. Laura nodded and turned to do as instructed. Her mother was light and frail when he picked her up and carried her topside, Laura in his wake.

  Chapter 4

  The men had already lowered her father to the surfboat by the time they reached the top. “Jake,” Wade called to one of his senior crewman, “Help Laura. I’ll follow with her mother.”

  The young man nodded and climbed over the railing.

  The only people left to lower into the boat were one of the young crewman, and Peter. As the young crewman climbed down he yelled, “Careful Pete, this line is about to break. Looks as though it’s been chafed on the rail.”

  “Right,” Peter yelled from the deck. Wade watched through the dense blackness as his friend’s head disappeared, while the young man continued his descent.

  Peter returned a few moments later and tossed an additional line over the edge. Wade could hear his friend’s booted foot hit the side of the ship when he started down the ladder. He held the additional line in his right hand, while he struggled with the rungs.

  Wade just started to breathe a sigh of relief when the ladder snapped and whipped Peter out and over.

  The sound that followed caused Wade’s stomach to sink with fear. Peter’s body hit the boat as his head jerked back and bashed against the side. The loud thud as his head slammed against the side seemed to echo off the water. He watched in horror as Peter’s body went limp and fell into the cold, dark waters below.

  On instinct, he reached out to catch his friend. His actions were fruitless. Peter jerked and twisted halfway down the side, his leg caught in the line as he was tossed head-over-heels to dangle in the rope. His body stilled, and he hung upside down, arms outstretched toward the water. Wade’s chest tightened and his fingers grew numb at the scene of his friend’s lifeless body.

  Wade pulled himself up the side of the ship. The line scratched and chafed his hands as he slipped over the side and onto the deck. In two strides, he stood above the taut line securing his friend to the boat. With careful speed, he pulled Peter onto the ship.

  His body flopped as Wade turned him over and arranged his arms to his side. His pulse beat weakly beneath Wade’s finger, but his friend’s chest rose and fell in a shallow breath.

  Wade sighed in relief, and slouched back to sit on his heels.

  “Wade!” Laura screamed from below.

  He peered over the side while the surfboat rose and fell with the swells.

  “Is he alive?” She yelled.

  “Yes. I think he’s unconscious.” He stood and assessed the deck. The other side held a lifeboat. He walked over and checked to make sure it was still usable. When he was satisfied, he returned to the side. “There’s no room in the surfboat for his body too. Leave one crewman here. Jack, you take the women and Laura’s father back to the station. Put him in a room and send for the doctor.” Seaman Rhodes pulled himself up the rope and landed with a thump on the deck. Wade waved toward him. “We’ll bring Pete back in the lifeboat. We won’t be far behind, so make sure Pete’s room is ready when we get there.”

  “Aye-aye, sir!” Jake yelled, and gave the command to row.

  Wade watched for a moment as Laura disappeared toward shore, then turned to the pressing matter before him. “Let’s get this in the water.” It took but a minute for him to find the pulley system to lower the small boat.

  “Let’s put Pete in there first. Keep it attached to the pulley, and then we’ll cut the line once we climb down.”

  The crewman nodded and grabbed Peter. Wade felt the faint beat of his friend’s heart as they carried him to the boat. With gentle movements, they placed him inside, then lowered the boat without a problem and climbed aboard. With a nod to the crewman, he dug his oar in the water and rowed the boat toward the shore.

  His muscles screamed with each thrust through the water. He dug in deep and the little boat picked up speed. With just two hundred yards to go, it should be no time at all before they reached the shore.

  The dark outline of the surfboat on the beach was a welcome sight to Wade. It meant he was close to help for his friend.

  “How is he?” Wade asked over his shoulder.

  Silence.

  “Well?” Wade shouted with impatience. When no answer was given, he pulled the oars in and turned toward the back of the boat.

  The only feature he could focus on, through the deep of the night, were the white eyes of the crewman as he sat motionless beside Peter.

  “How is he?” he shouted louder and looked straight into the face of the young man.

  “Dead.”

  His ears seemed to betray his mind. There was no way he heard the crewman’s words right. His friend couldn’t be dead. No way had a simple fall taken his life. He’d had a heartbeat no more than twenty minutes before.

  As careful as possible, so as not to overturn the boat, he rushed to the back and motioned for the crewmember to take over the oars. The crewman finished rowing the small distance to the shore while Wade checked Peter.

  He placed two fingers on the base of his jaw and went as still as possible to try to feel even the slightest sign of life. The gentle throb of his friend’s heart beat like a welcome hammer against his fingers. “Rhodes, you bastard! I thought you said he was dead.”

  Rhodes leaped from the boat and pulled it onto the shore. “He’s not?”

  “No. His pulse is weak, but he’s alive.”

  “Thank the Lord above!” The seaman’s face washed over with relief. “Sorry Keeper, I didn�
�t feel a pulse. I tried a few times, but didn’t feel one.”

  “You must have placed your fingers on the wrong area of the neck.” He adjusted his position to make it easier to get out of the boat. “Never mind. He’s alive, that’s all that matters. Let’s get him to his room.” Wade jumped out of the small craft, and they turned just in time to see crewmen from the station running toward them with a stretcher.

  With help from the crew, they brought Peter to the building and settled him into his chambers, just as the doctor arrived.

  Dr. Baggett checked Peter over. “It looks like he hit his head pretty hard and knocked himself out. His neck is not broken, so as long as he doesn’t have any internal bleeding or brain swelling, and he comes to, he should be fine.” The doctor shoved his medical instruments back into his black bag. “I need to check on the older fella in the next room. I’ll be back to give you care directions when I’m finished.”

  Wade nodded and watched the doctor disappear into the hall. A wave of relief swept over him. He knew the next few days would be rough, but his friend would most likely live. He didn’t know if he could handle another death on his head—especially the death of his best friend.

  Chapter 5

  “The storm will hit any minute, Keeper,” Jack said when he walked into the boathouse where Wade watched the crew check the boats and equipment. God help them if anyone else needed to be rescued. Peter was the best surfman he had, and heaven knew Wade wouldn’t be able to think clearly under pressure.

  It had been three days since the night on the ghost ship. Peter was still unconscious, but alive. Laura’s father could not be moved from the station, and his daughter and wife had left his side only to sleep and change their clothes.

  Wade had seen Laura on a handful of occasions, but he hadn’t so much as spoken to her. He couldn’t, after what she’d done to him and Peter. If she or her mother needed anything, he directed one of his crewmen to tend to them.

  She in return talked only to the men in his crew. She hadn’t so much as nodded to him in recognition. Now that her father was back, he guessed she no longer needed him. To hell with her. He wasn’t even sure he could forgive her.

  He turned to Jack. “And the women?”

  “Laura’s here. But her mother had to stay at home. I don’t think she was feeling well when she left earlier.”

  Wade nodded and looked around the boathouse. “Finish up here and get to your rooms as soon as you can. I want everyone who’s not on lookout to sleep and eat while they can, just in case anything happens tonight.

  “Aye-aye, Keeper.” Jack barked orders to the crew while Wade turned and strode out into the cold. He would do a quick check on the watch patrol and then go back inside.

  The rain started to pour soon after he left the boathouse, and the roof over the porch was a welcome sight as he walked up the stairs.

  “Pardon me m’boy, I need to get on before the storm gets even worse.” Startled, Wade glanced up to see Dr. Baggett racing outside.

  He turned to allow the man to pass. “Doc. How’s Peter?”

  “Can’t stop m’boy. The rain’s already startin’ to pour. Miss Laura will tell you everything.” At that, the old man disappeared into the curtain of rain.

  He walked inside and looked up.

  Laura stood against the far wall. Her dark hair fell in thick curls along one shoulder, cascading down to fall in the valley between her breasts. Her emerald day dress accentuated her eyes and made her even more beautiful than he remembered.

  The next few days are going to be hell.

  A pink blush dusted her face when their eyes met, making her even more stunning.

  She broke the silence. “Peter is doing fine.”

  “What did the doctor say?”

  “That he’s stable. He hasn’t yet come out of his slumber, but nothing has changed.” She took a deep breath. “So that’s something.”

  “And your father?”

  Her countenance lit up. “His fever broke this morning. The doctor said he should make a full recovery, but he still can’t get out of bed.”

  “He’s awake then?”

  “Yes, and as mad as a hornet at having to stay in bed.”

  “Good. I’ve checked on him a couple of times over the last few days. I’ll let him rest today and visit him in the morning.”

  She nodded as he shuffled his feet and waited—for what, he wasn’t sure. For her to speak? To apologize? To make right what she’d done? She wouldn’t, though. She’d done what she did for her father.

  The silence stretched. He didn’t know quite what to say. She stood like an apparition from a dream, in the aftermath of a nightmare. A woman who’d captured his heart, only to crush it in her small hands. He wanted to forgive her and take her in his arms. To make her his forever.

  He would have forgiven her already if it had just been about her deception, but his best friend lay just feet away, unconscious because of her lies. On the other hand, if she hadn’t done what she did, her father would have died the night they found him. They would have never known he was still onboard. He and Laura both held the burden of guilt on their shoulders.

  He cleared his throat. “Ah, I need to tend to some business, if you’ll excuse me.”

  “Of course. I’m certain I will see you later.”

  He nodded and turned to hurry into the rooms that served as his quarters. He would catch up with the necessary paperwork and spend the rest of the night next to Peter.

  All was quiet throughout the station while he sat at his desk. The watch made the rounds to search for vessels and check the buildings for safety. From the reports, the fishermen and merchant vessels were smart enough not to go out in the hazardous weather that night.

  His chair squeaked in protest when he arched his back to stretch. He’d gotten the accounts done and now he could check on Peter.

  Artifacts from past shipwrecks lined the walls of the hallway on the upper floor of the building. The many nautical pieces were a blur as he headed for the large helm mounted next to Peter’s room.

  Laura’s voice echoed off the walls as he drew closer to his destination. He lightened his steps to lessen the noise from his boots and stopped just short of the door.

  “Wade said that all people have to do is look at me and they forgive me. I don’t think that’s true, but it felt good to hear him say it.” He heard her take a deep breath, and continue, “I know right now you can’t look at me Mr. Dixon, but I hope that you can forgive me. It’s my fault that you’re in this bed, and I feel terrible.” Wade could hear the emotion in her voice. “I only meant to get my father back. I didn’t think anyone would get hurt.”

  He ached to comfort her as he moved into the room, but stopped. He couldn’t face her, not just yet. As long as Peter was unconscious, he couldn’t forgive her.

  He waited until he didn’t hear her cry anymore and rounded the corner. “Miss Laura.”

  “Oh.” She sat up straight and turned in her chair to face him. “Hello Mr. Alston. I thought you were busy in your quarters.”

  “I was.”

  Wade searched the floor, as if it could bring to mind the words he needed to speak, but to no avail.

  “My father is asleep. So I thought I would come and watch over Mr. Dixon.”

  “That’s kind of you, but I have it covered now. You can go back to your father.”

  Sadness slide over her face and she turned away from him, as though trying to hide her grief from his view. He wished it were because she wanted to stay with him, to be near him, but then he wished she would leave. Hell, he didn’t know what he wanted.

  No, that wasn’t true. He wanted her. He wanted the last week not to have happened. If he could go back to a time before the wreck, he would confess his undying love, sweep her away and marry her before anything else bad happened in their lives.

  Take her in your arms and never let go. His heart screamed for him to obey, his mind argued to let her go.

  He reached his hand
up. The gentle slope of her shoulder was just inches from his fingers.

  “Yes. I suppose you’re right. I should go and check on him,” she said. He snapped his hand back to his side as she turned and rushed out.

  “Laura.”

  She stopped just outside the door and turned, the unmistakable look of hope shone in her eyes. “Yes… Wade.”

  His heart beat at the sound of his name on her tongue. “Uh,” he searched the floor once more for answers. “Did you get a room to sleep in for the night?”

  She gave a sad smile and nodded. “Yes. Thank you.” At that, she turned and disappeared from view.

  Wade jerked awake as thunder shook the building. The walls echoed and intensified the noise. He sat up in the chair where he’d fallen asleep and checked the timepiece on the table in the corner. Two o’clock in the morning.

  “What in the blazes was that?” Peter’s rough voice sounded from beside him.

  Wade sat up straight and looked at his friend. “You’re awake!”

  “I think I’ve been in and out of consciousness for a while, but that noise woke me up for good. What was it? Did the entire station collapsed on us?”

  Wade gave a sigh of relief. “Just thunder.”

  “A wicked storm then?”

  Peter tried to sit, but Wade rushed to hold him down. “Take it easy man and stay in bed.”

  Confusion clouded his friend’s face. “What happened?”

  “The Jacobs ladder broke, and you hit your head on the hull of the ship.”

  Peter furrowed his brows. “The old man. Is he alive?”

  “Yes. He’ll live. If I’d waited any longer, his death would’ve been on my head.”

  Peter placed his hand on the back of his head and grimaced. “Good thing that pretty girl tricked you into going out there then, eh?”