Page 58 of Hide Away By the Sea

“Don’t worry about me!” I shouted. “Let’s just get home!”

Seth nodded and raced off while I hurried up to the top deck. The storm raged on, the raindrops lashing against my face with brutal force. My head pounded with every step I took, but I didn’t let it stop me.

As I reached the top deck, the boat lurched through the choppy waves, the hurricane showing no signs of dying down. Navigating through the storm was no easy feat, but I was determined to see it through.

One way or another, I was going to make it home.

27

EVERLEIGH

The wind howled outside, and the rain pounded against the windows as Nyla and I anxiously waited for news of Jensen and his crew. The hurricane had veered off to the right at the last moment, leaving us with nothing but rain and gale-force winds. In the wake of the storm, there was still no word on Jensen and where he and his men were.

We had all assumed they’d be able to outpace the storm, but now it seemed their fate had been left to the mercy of the elements. Nyla and I sat in tense silence, our eyes trained on the window as the hours dragged on. My gut warned me that the outcome wouldn’t be good, but I refused to give in to the dread.

“He’ll be okay, Everleigh,” Nyla said soothingly.

A blast of thunder rumbled all around us and it felt as if the house shook. I kept watching the horizon even though I knew Jensen’s boat wouldn’t be coming back to the marina that way. Still, I couldn’t tear my gaze away.

“Will it?” I whispered, on the verge of tears. “The last time David had heard from him was before the hurricane even hit close to our coast.”

Jensen’s father was able to warn him and give him a head start so he could hopefully get ahead of the storm.

Nyla draped her arm over my shoulder, and we sat in silence as we watched the rain beat against the glass door. A few minutes later, it sounded as if a herd of elephants was coming up the side stairs of the house. Then suddenly, a figure in a long black coat and hood appeared at the door.

“Everleigh!” David shouted, as he banged on the glass.

Gasping, I jumped up and let him in, rain pooling onto the floor. He slid his hood back, his expression frantic as he looked from Nyla to me.

“Jensen’s almost here. I’m going to the marina to help the guys secure the boat.”

Heart racing, I ran to the kitchen counter to grab my keys. “I’m coming, too.”

David hurried outside, but with him being sick and going through chemo, he didn’t have the strength to help as much as I knew he wanted. Nyla ran to my side and followed us out into the blasting rain.

“I want to help!” she called out.

Jensen and the guys probably needed all the help they could get.

David waved for us to get in his truck. “Come on! I’ll drive!”

I jumped in the front seat while Nyla climbed in the back. David had always had a lead foot, so I knew he’d get us there a lot faster than I could. Once he started the car, we were on our way.

“When did you hear from him?” I asked.

My pulse raced with impatience; I was ready to see Jensen.

David blew out a sigh. “Just a few minutes ago,” he replied. “All the guys are okay.”

Relief washed through me, and I grabbed my chest. “Thank God.”

When we arrived, the McLean Charters boat was pulling into the slip at the marina, its sleek hull cutting through choppy waves. David shut off his car, and I rushed out into the rain with Nyla following close behind me. We saw the guys on board scurrying around, hands quickly and expertly adjusting ropes and coils as if their lives depended on it. I heard Seth shouting at us and saw him throw a rope toward us. We both grabbed it firmly, clinging to it like an anchor as we waited for someone to jump off and secure the boat.

Jensen was the last to hop off, his head dripping wet and face smeared with blood. I ran up to him and threw my arms around his neck.

“I was so worried about you. What happened?”

He hugged me tightly before replying, “I’m fine, Everleigh. I just hit my head.”

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