Page 35 of Hooked By a Hero
“It isn’t much, but I can report that there is a spring about a quarter of a mile inland,” Brunning said, offering the water they found to the ladies first.
“Half a mile?” Ruby asked as the two dozen or so survivors gathered around the firepit to hear what Brunning’s crew had discovered. “Is the island that large?”
“It’s larger still than that,” Brunning reported with cautious confidence. “And it’s filled with a bounty that should be able to sustain us for some time.”
Elias was more relieved than he could say. “We must be cautious in exploring the island’s interior,” he said. “It may give us food and water enough to survive, but it is likely filled with venomous creatures or poisonous plants as well.”
He meant his words to be a valuable caution, but Lady Adelaide burst into tears all over again.
“We should be safe as long as we keep mostly to the shore and remain aware of our surroundings,” Elias continued, hoping to soothe her.
“We still have the ship as well,” Brunning went on, nodding out to the stationary form of theFortunein the distance. “And we have four of the lifeboats.”
“We can row back to the ship and salvage its food and water supplies,” Woburn said excitedly.
He was not the only one who seemed enthusiastic about the prospect of playing castaway.
“I cannot think of a better situation for all of us to find ourselves in, given the circumstances,” Caspian said, as if nothing at all were out of the ordinary for him. “We have the island, the ship, and the sea. We could build an entire life here and be quite content.”
A few of the others, including Elias, glanced at him, far less certain than he sounded. Yet again, Elias wondered what sort of home Caspian came from that he could see the predicament they found themselves in as something happy and sustainable.
“I volunteer to lead an expedition back to the ship,” Brunning said, raising his hand. “At the very least, if the ship itself is notsalvageable, we should be able to bring barrels and tools and other things ashore that will make it easier for us to sustain ourselves.”
“I will come with you,” Caspian volunteered right away.
Elias’s heart caught in his throat, and he reached for Caspian’s hand before he could think better of it. After fearing he had lost Caspian to the cruel caprice of Tumbrill and Dick, he was not ready to be parted from his beloved just yet. But Caspian was more natural on and in the sea, and if anyone would be useful rowing back out to the wreck, it would be him.
“I can stay on land and begin organizing efforts to build sturdier shelters and to find more water,” Elias said.
“It is settled, then,” Hunt said, taking charge as if he’d been appointed their governor. “We will split our efforts to do what is necessary to sustain ourselves in the short term and to prepare for a longer term.”
“If we can start this fire,” Miss Winters said, “the smoke might alert another passing ship to our presence.”
Elias nodded at her. “Very true. And you can manage this on your own?”
Miss Winters looked to Emily and then to Ruby. All three nodded, though they still looked weary and worried.
“Very good,” Elias smiled at them.
He then turned to walk along the beach to where the lifeboats had been pulled up into the surf the night before. Brunning had already selected one that would be easiest to push back into the water and rowed to theFortune. He and half a dozen others were preparing for that mission.
“You look concerned,” Caspian said before Elias could express his thoughts.
“I am deeply concerned,” he confessed in a quiet voice. He and Caspian were close enough to one of the other lifeboats that, after searching around to be certain none of the otherswere watching him, he grasped Caspian’s hand and pulled him into the shade of that boat, hoping it would conceal them for a moment. “I have never found myself in this sort of predicament before,” he said in a near whisper, even though the constant rush of waves against the shore covered their words.
Caspian grinned and rested a hand on Elias’s shoulder. “I have not been in this exact situation before, but I’ve survived on an island such as this once or twice in the past.”
Elias frowned slightly. “That is precisely what I mean,” he whispered. “I do not know who you are, Caspian.”
Caspian’s smile vanished into worry and longing, but Elias went on before he could say anything.
“I do not care for you any less because you are an utter mystery to me,” he said, taking Caspian’s hand, “but I know you are hiding things from me. Crucial things. Essential things.”
Caspian’s expression said everything as he lowered his head, then peeked at Elias through his long lashes. “I do not know how to explain what you want to know,” he said. “I…I fear that the truth would change everything.”
“It would not,” Elias insisted. “It could never change the way I have come to feel about you or the way I?—”
“Caspian!” Brunning’s shout interrupted them. “Are you coming?”
