Rachelle McCalla - Survival Instinct

Beside her, Scott’s chest rose and fell with several long, slow breaths. She could almost feel him wrestling with her words, and she wondered if he wouldn’t be more comfortable if she left him alone. Just as she was about to stand, he spoke.

“I have God, Abby. I have God to support me. He is my strength and my shield.”

She met his eyes again and saw the strength of his relationship with God resonating in his features. “I’m glad.” She managed a sincere smile. “I’d hate for you to be alone.”

Peace returned to his countenance, and they sat in silence in front of the fire.

Guilt continued to nag Abby. She wondered if her verbal attack on Scott hadn’t been in part fueled by her own fear over the day’s events. Ever since Trevor had appeared in her driveway the night before she’d felt as though she’d been running for her life. And while it didn’t make any sense at all-couldn’t make any sense, since Trevor couldn’t possibly have any knowledge of what she’d done with the ring-she wondered if their situation might somehow be linked to the ring she carried in her pocket.

After several long minutes Scott spoke again. “I don’t know how conscious you were earlier in the woods,” he started slowly.

Immediately unsure of herself, Abby wondered if she’d said or done something embarrassing while she’d been in hypothermic shock. She hadn’t confessed to having a crush on him, had she?

Scott continued, “I don’t even know how conscious I was, really. I know I wasn’t thinking quite straight-the cold was getting to me, and I was afraid your body temperature was dropping too low.”

Realizing what he was getting at, Abby asked softly, “Is that why you kissed me?”

His eyes widened. “You remember?”

“It’s not the sort of thing I’d easily forget.” Abby could feel her cheeks burning. “Do you regret it?”

Scott’s eyes met hers with a look she couldn’t read. She could sense the importance of the answer he was about to give her, but before he so much as opened his mouth to speak, Elda poked her head into the doorway.

“Good news! Burt’s just heard from the Coast Guard. They’ve rescued your stepdad.”

Scott and Abby rose together.

“And my mother?” Scott clarified.

Elda’s face fell, and she shook her head. “I’m sorry. They’re still looking for her.”

Scott wanted to throw his head back and scream. Instead he stepped past Elda to the kitchen, where Burt was flipping pancakes at the stove.

“We’re getting some supper for you here,” Burt announced as Scott entered. “The Coast Guard guys didn’t know when they’d be able to come by and get you, what with the weather and all. But we’ll put some food in you and see what we can do.”

“Thank you. I appreciate that.” It was all Scott could do to remember his manners. “Please, Burt, did they say anything about my mother? What did Mitch have to say when she wasn’t with him? Where do they think she is?”

Scott felt Abby step into the room behind him and was grateful for the gentle touch of her hand on his shoulder. He focused on relaxing his tense muscles.

Burt stepped over to the table with two plates of pancakes. “Go ahead and sit down. I’ll tell you what I know.”

Scott fidgeted in his seat while Burt served up the pancakes and warm Bayfield apple butter. In spite of his ravenous appetite, he didn’t think he could eat until he heard more about what was going on with his mother. Still, as the scent of cinnamon and apples rose to his nose, he instinctively took a bite. It tasted delicious, but it didn’t do a thing to calm his anxiety.

Burt sat opposite the two of them at the heavy round oak table, a cup of steaming coffee between his hands. “I don’t know much,” he began. “The Coast Guard said they’d picked up Mitchell Adams. According to Mitch, your mom had headed inland for shelter from the storm. Mitch didn’t want to leave the dock, so he let her go off by herself. She might be up at the keeper’s quarters or in any of the buildings, who knows? They haven’t managed to get in much searching yet, but they said they’d let me know as soon as they find her. They’re not too worried about finding her, but with the weather and all, they’ve declared it a Search and Rescue and they’re bringing out more men on a couple of helicopters. Once they find her, they’ll probably swing by and pick you up. In the meantime, you two can hunker down here.”

Burt’s update made it sound as though his mom was probably fine-and arguably more sensible than Mitch. Still, Scott had trouble accepting the positive prognosis.

“Do we need to head over there to help them? I know my mother as well as anyone. I might be able to figure out where she’d be, and Abby knows the island pretty well. We should be over there helping.” Scott felt Abby’s hand touch his arm, a light, reassuring pat before she turned her attention back to her plate. At least she had the good sense to eat. He made himself to take another bite, though he felt as though he was simply going through the motions. He’d need his strength if the search ran long.

“If they don’t find her in any of the buildings, they’ll call for reinforcements. The Coast Guard doesn’t mess around when people are missing out here.”

Scott wanted to persist in his line of questioning, but he knew Burt had exhausted his information. Still, it bothered him to know his mother was out there, alone in the dark somewhere in this storm. What bothered him even more was the still all-too-real possibility that someone didn’t want his mother to leave the island alive. But once again, Burt wouldn’t be able to tell him anything to assuage those fears. Rather than push further, he thanked his host for his help and dug into his pancakes.

When he and Abby had eaten their fill, they followed their hosts to the living room, where Burt and Elda occupied the wooden chairs. “Have a seat.” Burt motioned to a two-person sofa that flanked the fire. Scott had always heard such a piece referred to as a love seat, but he tried not to think about that as he and Abby shared the cozy couch.

Scott saw that Burt was wearing his radio receiver on his belt, so he knew the man would answer as soon as any news came in about his mother. He put his feet close to the stove, closed his eyes and prayed in his heart for his mother. She was out there somewhere, and it tore him apart not knowing if she was okay.

“So, how’d you all get stuck on the island?” Burt asked after some silence.

While Scott listened, Abby relayed the whole story from the time Sal had left them on the island until the two of them had reached the Ranger’s Station. For the most part, Burt and Elda simply listened, their weathered faces etched with concern at the news the small party had been intentionally abandoned. When Abby began to theorize possible motives for Captain Sal’s crime, Elda chimed in.

“I’ve never heard of any Captain Sal or Helene ’round these parts. Granted it’s a big lake, and people visit these islands from all over. But for a guy to run a water taxi business out of Bayfield and me not to have ever heard of him, now that’s something.”

Scott sat up a little straighter at her words. “Do you think he may have come into the area just to pull a job and leave?”

“Could be,” Burt reasoned. “Not many folks know this, but these islands are a pretty wild place. A lot of open space, a lot of weather issues, not a whole lot of law enforcement for all the ground they cover. And you’ve got to keep in mind, we’re an international border. Canada’s just across the water. There’ve been all sorts of smuggling rings run through here. Why, pirates used to hide out in the sea caves under Devil’s Island until a century ago.”