Dream On (Dare to Dream Book 2), page 17
“Hello?”
“Marley, it’s me.”
“Hello?”
Kris frowned. “It’s me, Kris. Can you hear me?”
“Just kidding! This is my voicemail. Leave a message!”
Kris gritted her teeth as she listened to the beep, then let out a huffy breath. “Marley, that is the stupidest voicemail message I’ve ever heard. Where are you? Call me.”
She hung up, then stood and stared at the phone in her hand, her anger quickly superseded by a rising tide of anxiety. You’re being ridiculous, the voice in her head told her. She’ll be fine, you’re getting worked up over nothing. When do you ever know exactly where she is at any given moment? The voice was logical and calm, but Kris couldn’t convince herself to believe it. She had to know for sure, so she dialled Mihi’s home number.
“Hello?” A gruff male voice answered the phone.
“Hi, it’s Kris Carmichael here. I’m trying to get hold of Marley,” she began, but was swiftly interrupted.
“Kris, how are you? Long time no see! It’s Lance,” he explained, and she smiled at his ebullient tone. Mihi’s father was a bit of a dropkick, but his brother Lance was the archetypal fun uncle, and she’d always liked him. “Happy New Year!”
“Thanks, same to you,” she replied, trying to sound cheerful. “I was just calling to check that you hadn’t gone out on the boat in this weather.”
Lance’s deep laugh was so loud that Kris was forced to hold the phone away from her ear to avoid being deafened. “Course not! I’m not stupid, I checked the forecast. Big thunderstorm coming in from the north, should be a good one.”
“Yeah, the dogs are gonna hate it,” Kris mused, and Kermit slunk into the room on cue with his ears drooping. “Well thanks for setting my mind at ease.”
“No worries. The kids are holed up in the lounge watching a movie, they’ve been there most of the day. Want me to get Marley for you?”
“No, it’s fine,” Kris said, imagining her sister’s irritation at being dragged away from the social occasion that she’d been so much looking forward to.
“Okay. See ya.” The line went dead, and Kris hung up and headed for the door. It wasn’t until she was pulling on her gumboots that she remembered Jake. He hadn’t come back on his own, so he must still be with Marley. Kris tugged her second boot on, hoping that he wasn’t getting on her nerves.
Heavy raindrops splattered Marley’s arms as she scrabbled back up the hillside, grabbing at scrubby trees and exposed roots to help her climb. She could hear Jake behind her, and she kept her head down and blinked the water out of her eyes as she went. Maybe taking this shortcut hadn’t been the best idea after all. It had seemed like a perfect plan when they were standing at the bottom of the waterfall, a much quicker way up the hill that avoided the circuitous route of going almost all the way back down to the beach before climbing up one of the few trodden tracks on the island, but in retrospect it had been a pretty dumb idea. The slope was a lot steeper than she’d expected, and the climb was taking its toll on arms and shoulders already stiff from rowing. As she reached out to grasp a manuka sapling, her foot slipped, and her fingertips brushed against the spindly wood of the manuka before she slid almost a metre backwards, only stopping when her foot ended up squarely on top of Jake’s head.
“Oof!”
“Sorry!” Marley scrabbled for a better foothold, and managed to find one. The hillside was clay, and already getting slippery as the rain became heavier. Her clothes were soaked through from the swim, but she’d been counting on the sunshine to dry them. Without it, she was starting to get cold, and Jake had no shirt on at all. She looked down at him, watching her warily through a thick fringe that had fallen back across his eyes, hiding him from her once more.
“Maybe we shouldn’t have come this way,” she said.
“You think?”
Marley stuck her tongue out at him. “Would you like to be in charge of directions?”
“You’re the one who said she knew where she was going.”
“I did not. I said I think we might be able to get up this way,” Marley corrected him.
“You also said it would be faster,” Jake pointed out.
“Yes well I was wrong. It happens.” Marley looked up dubiously at the slippery bank ahead of them, then back down at Jake. “Maybe we should go back.”
Jake groaned. “Seriously? We’ve been struggling up here for the last half hour.”
“It’ll be quicker going down,” Marley told him. She was about to suggest he just let go and slide to the bottom when a flicker of light distracted her, and she looked up at the sky with wide eyes, then glanced at Jake.
“Was that…”
An ominous rumble from overhead confirmed their suspicions.
“Oh joy.” Marley reached down and nudged him with her big toe. “Better get moving then, we’re sitting ducks out here.”
It was a lot faster getting down, but it wasn’t without its problems, and they both encountered a few scrapes and bruises before they made it to the bottom.
“Which way now?” Jake asked, looking around for any sign of a path.
Marley frowned, trying to see through the heavy rain. “Uh…that way. I think.”
“We’re not going to get halfway there and have to turn around again, are we?”
Marley shook her head at him. “Don’t be such a negative Nancy. Exercise is good for you. Come on.”
“Uh huh.” Jake followed her through the bush as she scouted around for the best route through the dense foliage, blinking heavy raindrops out of his eyes. “We could just leave our stuff up there and go straight back to the boat. At least the wind would be behind us.”
Marley scoffed. “Yeah, let’s go sit in a metal boat in the middle of a body of water during a lightning storm. That’s safe.”
“Oh. I didn’t think of that.”
She grinned at him over her shoulder. “And that’s why I’m the Captain.”
They walked steadily along the track, heads bowed against the rain that spattered their shoulders and dripped from their hair. Finally they found Marley’s backpack, and she shouldered it as Jake pulled his damp t-shirt back on. Marley looked up at the quickly darkening sky, her face lit up by the flickering lightning.
“We need to find a shelter until this storm passes. Hopefully it won’t take too long,” she added, swiping her arm across her wet face. “I don’t really want to be out here in the dark. Or out on the water, for that matter.”
Jake frowned. “I don’t see a lot of shelter around here.”
Marley looked around. “There’s a cave somewhere. I remember it from a couple of years ago, but I can’t remember exactly where it is.” She looked back at him and he raised an eyebrow. “Well, we won’t find it standing here,” she shrugged. “So we might as well go look.”
Marley turned around and kept walking, and Jake pushed his hair back as he followed her lead.
“Aye aye, Captain.”
The rain was coming down so heavily now that the ute’s windscreen wipers could barely keep up with the onslaught. Van leaned back against the seat and listened to it drumming against the roof of the cab. A heavy rumble of thunder boomed overhead, and she smiled. She’d always loved thunderstorms. Something about the electricity in the air lifted her spirits, strangely enough, and even as a child she’d knelt at the window and watched the storms roll in, while her sisters buried themselves under the covers, hiding.
Mike drove slowly through the small town, then pulled over outside a café and looked at her.
“Hungry?”
“Always.”
The café was well populated with people trying to avoid the weather, but they found a small table in the corner. Van checked her cellphone for messages while Mike waited at the counter to place their order. There was one from Kris asking if she would be home for dinner. Van checked the time - half past four already, and they were at least an hour from home – then texted her sister back.
Don’t wait for me.
Mike set a hot cup of coffee in front of her and sat down in the other seat, his long legs barely able to cramp into the limited space.
“Thanks.”
“No worries. Food’s coming.”
They sat in silence for a while, Mike sipping at his hot drink, Van slowly scraping the light layer of foam off the top of hers and licking it off the back of her spoon.
“So have you made a decision about Florida yet?”
Her eyes flew to his. He looked anxious, the tendons in his neck standing out as he tried to act calm. He knew what was on her mind, he always did. And she had decided. Truth be told, she’d made up her mind to go the moment Leo had made the offer. She just hadn’t been able to bring herself to have this conversation, because it was going to change everything. And now Mike was sitting there staring at her, the dampness in his hair making it curl at the edges, his frayed shirt collar standing up against the back of his neck, his face looking like he knew what was coming but dreading hearing the words.
She had to do it. Putting it off wasn’t going to make it any easier, so Van took a breath and looked him straight in the eye. “I’m gonna go.”
Mike’s jaw clenched, the regret visible on his face as he fought against his emotions. “Oh.”
“Look, I’m sorry. I know that’s not what you want, and I don’t want to leave you behind, but opportunities like this don’t get handed to people like me. I can’t say no.”
Mike stared down at his coffee. “Well, you could. But you don’t want to.”
Van frowned. “You’re right, I don’t. Because right now, my options are to stay here, busting my butt riding track and breaking in horses for other people, hoping that someone will give me something decent to ride every once in a blue moon; or go to Florida to train with an international Grand Prix rider and get paid for catch-rides on the kind of horses I’ve only ever dreamed about. Tell me again which one I should pick.”
Mike looked up, his blue eyes full of hurt. “You could pick the one that doesn’t leave me behind.”
Van stirred her coffee slowly, trying to find words that would make him realise that this wasn’t about him. “You know I love you. And I don’t want to leave you. But this is what I’ve always wanted, and it’s going to be hard enough leaving my sisters without you acting like a child whenever I bring it up.” Probably not the best choice of words, she thought ruefully, but it was too late to take them back now.
Mike’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not acting like a child. I’m acting like a person who gave up a lot to be with someone and can’t believe she’d just walk out on him a few months later when she decides she’s had a better offer,” he muttered.
“So suddenly Caroline leaving you is all my fault?” Van snapped.
“It wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for you,” Mike pointed out bitterly. “I had to make a choice between you and her, and I chose you. I thought that would mean something to you, but apparently it only matters to me, so...”
Van opened her mouth to speak, then hesitated, trying to control the anger bubbling inside her. “Is that really what you want?” she asked through gritted teeth. “You want me to give up my dreams and just stay here with you?”
“Would that be so bad?”
“You’re not exactly winning me over right now,” Van said honestly, taking a sip of her coffee to stop herself continuing the conversation. It wasn’t headed anywhere good, and she didn’t want to fight with Mike. The coffee was too milky and had a slightly burnt aftertaste, which only added to her irritation. She was trying to think of how she could steer the conversation back to safer ground when Mike’s phone rang.
He snatched it off the table and answered it, clearly glad of the distraction. Van sat in the corner, fiddling with a sugar packet and trying not to feel trapped. She wasn’t looking forward to the drive home, but she might be back in time for dinner now. She started to fish her own phone out of her pocket to tell Kris, when Mike hung up with a heavy sigh.
“Bloody typical. Masons have a horse with colic and I’m the closest, but it’s half an hour in the wrong direction.” He scratched the light stubble on his jaw, and shrugged. “You’re stuck tagging along with me for a bit longer.”
Van tried for a smile, but it came out weaker than her coffee. “Now I know how Jake feels.” She shoved the sugar packet into her pocket and pushed her chair back. “Let’s get that food to go.”
The rain was coming down in sheets that made it difficult to see, but Marley shaded her eyes with her hand and peered into the mist.
“I think it’s just along there.” She looked at Jake, who was standing behind her, shivering slightly in the rapidly cooling air. He shrugged impassively in response, and Marley started along the track that led down towards the rock formation that held the cave.
The track was narrow and slippery, with large sections of exposed rock. Marley was still barefoot, and she gripped with her toes as she scrambled across the wet surface. She was halfway there before she heard a yell, and turned to see Jake lose his footing and fall hard onto a large section of rock. She hurried back to him, her heart in her mouth. He was sitting still and breathing hard.
“Are you okay?”
Jake hesitated, then nodded. “I think so.” He looked at his elbow, which was badly skinned and bleeding.
“That’s not too bad,” Marley said. “At least there’s no bone sticking out.”
Jake gave a half smile as he moved his feet, then winced. “I’m more worried about my ankle. I fell right over on it, and it’s pretty sore.” He felt so stupid, sitting there helplessly in front of her as Marley frowned and looked around.
“I think the cave is just down there. Let me go check, and if it is, I’ll come back and get you.”
“What if it’s not?”
“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Don’t go anywhere,” she added with a wink. “I’ll be right back.”
Jake waited. The rain dripped down his face and neck, running down his back. He was soaked through and shivering. His elbow stung badly, but he was more concerned about the shooting pain he’d felt in his ankle when he fell. He tried putting weight onto his left foot and felt a shockwave of pain course through his whole body. He cursed under his breath as he waited for Marley to return.
She wasn’t gone for long. He saw her scrambling back towards him, and she gave a swift thumbs-up as she approached. Crouched down in front of him, with the rain battering the back of her head, she looked appraisingly at his ankle.
“The good news is that the cave is just down around that corner. Exactly as I remembered,” she said, sounding proud of herself. “The bad news is that the track’s pretty rough, but if you lean on me I think we’ll make it.”
Jake nodded, gritting his teeth in determination not to be a burden to her. Marley moved to his left side and grabbed his arm, setting it across her slender shoulders. “Ready?” He put all his weight onto his right foot and with her help, managed to get into a standing position.
“Can you put any weight on it at all?” she asked. He tried again, but the stabbing pain caused him to suck in a sharp breath, and Marley felt his whole body tense against hers. She answered her own question. “No. Okay then.”
To Jake’s ears she sounded unfazed, calmly dealing with the situation as it presented itself, but inside Marley was worried. If his ankle was broken, they had almost no chance of getting off the island before dark. Even if the storm blew over, which it was still showing no sign of doing, Jake wouldn’t make it back to the boat, and she wasn’t sure she could row all the way back herself, even if the water was calm. And then, for the first time all day, it occurred to Marley that nobody knew where they were.
CHAPTER 11
The rain lashed heavily against the window as Kris flicked the kettle on and Seamus came into the room, attempting to towel his hair dry. He grinned as she stuffed teabags into two mugs.
“You read my mind.”
Kris smiled at him, then looked back at the raging storm. “That came in fast.”
“Yeah, for sure,” Seamus agreed as he sat down at the table and stretched his legs out in front of him.
Cornflake appeared on the windowsill outside and scrabbled frantically at the glass, demanding to be let in. Kris opened the window for the cat and he landed in the sink with a thump.
“I should get the dinner on soon. I wonder if Marley will be home in time,” she mused out loud, adding milk to their tea, and pouring a splash into a saucer for Cornflake.
“Let her eat toast,” Seamus replied as she set his mug in front of him. “You snooze, you lose. Ta.”
Kris nodded as she sat back down and looked at the accounts stacked in piles on the table top. Seamus followed her gaze and grimaced.
“Back to the grindstone.”
“I think I might know something that will help,” Kris said, walking to the pantry and opening the door. “I’ve been saving these for…” She broke off, then huffed out an angry breath. “Dammit, Marley!”
“Ta da!”
Marley pulled the packet of chocolate biscuits out of her backpack and handed them to Jake with a grin.
“I thought Kris said not to take those.”
“Yeah, but then she looked away,” Marley replied, tearing the packet open.
Jake gave a weak smile in response, trying to move as little as possible from his seated position against the back wall of the cave. It was small and shallow, but it afforded them enough shelter that the lashing rain couldn’t get to them anymore. But it was cold, pressed up against the rock wall in soaking wet clothes, and he was starting to shiver.
Marley looked concernedly at him. “Are you going into shock?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Try not to,” Marley advised, rummaging through her backpack and pulling out the rest of the food she had scavenged that morning. “You’re not supposed to eat if you’re in shock, and I’m not sure even I can eat all this on my own.”
