Every Storm (6 page)

The bright red spot on the tissue, however, shocked all ^estiges of lethargy from her brain.

"Oh, no," she whispered. "Please, no, Lord. Anything b*1* that."

Not in all these weeks had she had a period. It wa^nt any

wonder, considering the trauma she'd been through, buttQhave

her body shift gears on this boat full of men had been the
\#^
tiling

on her mind.

She tried to be calm, but long moments of panic fir ^ her. The very thought of telling anyone on board about lverneed caused her to flush painfully with embarrassment. She w^ going

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Lori Wick

to have to deal with this on her own, but she couldn't calm down enough to think straight for some time.

Pacing a bit in the very small space-little more than turning in circles-she knew she couldn't stay in the bathroom forever.

"Socks!" she said out loud, the thought coming from she knew not where. Scrambling to open the door and rushing back to the officer's cabin, she tore through her small cache of clothing and found a thick sock. She returned to the head, glad that no one had slipped in during her absence. She took care of things as best she could, and finally left the small room behind, willing her body to go easy on her but fearing that too much time had passed.

She looked at her clothing again and found all the socks she could. There weren't many. Lorri began to pray for calm, even as she panicked more and told God she couldn't do it. Lionel had been beyond kind to her, but not in a million years could she tell that man the exact reason she needed more socks.

"You must have been praying," Click teased the lieutenant a little.

Rigg couldn't stop his smile. They were having engine trouble again but were also within an hour of a small island where they'd stopped before.

"Find Quinn," he ordered, not feeling it necessary to tell his radio man that he had been praying; he prayed all the time.

5151

As was becoming a pattern, Lorri found herself waking from yet another nap, this time to find the boat rocking gently, no throb of the engine. Trying to wipe the cobs from her brain, she stood and walked to the door and looked into the passage. All was very quiet. She slipped into the head long enough to see that things were still manageable. With a prayer of thanks, she exited back into the passage and stood thinking.

She wasn't supposed to be topside without a life jacket, she remembered that much, but no one was about as she decidedto go up the stairs. Figuring they would have a life jacket for her when she got up there, she headed out into the sunlight.

She was frozen with surprise to see that they had come to another island. There was no need to anchor out from shore, they were "parked" next to the beach, which held an impressive stretch of white sand.

"Miss Archer." A sailor had approached from behind her.

Lorri turned, a little startled.

"I'm Jack. Lieutenant Riggs and some men have gone ashore. He said that I could escort you ashore if you wish.

"Oh. Thank you."

"Can you manage the ladder?"

"Yes."

She was on the beach a short minute later, looking arouBd at the trees and the sand. She turned and finally saw men working 'on the "boat. She assumed the others were patrolling to see if the island was safe.

She watched the men work for a time, taking note of thefact ; that the sailor assigned to her was staying close by but not speak*ing. Lorri thought about walking up the beach and was about to

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Lori Wick

do so when she saw Rigg heading from the trees and coming her way. She waited for him to approach.

"How are you?" he asked.

"I'm fine. Are we broken?"

"A little. It shouldn't take long to fix."

Lorri nodded.

"Stay close."

Lorri was about to agree when her eyes caught sight of the PT boat's name. She'd not seen it before.

"Every Storm?"
she questioned before the lieutenant could move away. "Why
Every Storm?"

Rigg's mouth quirked a bit.

"Because every storm in the Pacific finds this little boat. We seem to draw them like magnets."

Lorri's eyes had grown a little with this statement, but Rigg did not take time to reassure her. Someone called his name, and he turned away to go toward the working men.

Lorri began to walk slowly, hoping the sailor would stay put, but soon seeing that he was going to be on her heels. She felt bad about being a bother, but the thought did not have long to linger. As if waiting for her to be in a place of inconvenience, she suddenly felt as if the floodgates of her body opened wide. Without warning, she began to flow heavily. At the same moment, her eyes clapped onto the ocean. She moved that way, ignoring the man behind her.

"Miss Archer," she heard Jack say.

"I'm going to take a little swim," she said over her shoulder, not stopping or slowing in the least, barely even pausing as she kicked her shoes from her bare feet

"I don't think that's such a good idea."

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But Lorri was desperate. At the moment she'd forgotten that ; didn't want to be any trouble. She didn't consider how weak ; might be, or how taxing swimming could be on the body. Right
r
she was desperate to stop the flow, if only for a few minutes, jack could hardly believe his eyes. One moment she was walk; along the beach, the next she was in the ocean. He didn't go tafter her but stood on the beach and tried to reason with her. "I need you to come out, Miss Archer." "I'll just be a moment," she called to him, moving around a |itj and trying not to think about sharks. "I'd rather you came now."

"All right," she agreed, but made no move for the shore. She |Vas already tired but willing to buy every moment she could |tnanage.

"Miss Archer."

The voice had changed. Lorri looked to see Rigg on the beach, l^fck headed back to the boat.

"Hello, Lieutenant," Lorri called, able to see his anger from the Iwater.

"I need you to come from the water," Rigg said, his tone meas-H^ired. "I need to speak with you."

Lorri couldn't take her eyes from him. He was livid, and his Hanger propelled her from the sea. She found her footing and grudged out of the surf and up onto the sand, her clothes cling-H ktg frorn. neck to ankle. She tried to pull the wet shirt away from her shrunken chest but looked up to see that Rigg only had eyes for her face. Furious eyes.

"What are you doing?" he asked. "I took a little swim." "Why?"

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Lori Wick

Lorri licked her lips, tasting salt and sea.

"I'm waiting for an answer."

"I just needed to swim for a moment."

Rigg's brows rose to an amazing height, and he looked as if he was going to blast her with his anger. Lorri disarmed him by showing someanger of her own.

"Are you married?" she snapped.

Rigg actually started over the question.

"No," he said quietly, his voice calming as he realized she had lost all reason.

"Are any of your men married?" she said, her anger now fully showing in the lowering of her brows and the stubborn tilt of her chin.
j

"Several/'

"Well, maybe one of them can explain1it to you!"

With that curt word of advice, she moved around the man in charge, picked up her shoes, and made for the boat. Not looking at any of the men she passed, she made for the ladder and took herself onboard.

The men hadn't missed a thing, but not a word was spoken, especially when the lieutenant came behind her not five minutes later and followed her on board.

Lorri came from the head where she had changed her clothes to find Rigg in the cabin. She was already ashamed of the way she'd acted, but he gave her no time to apologize.

"Have a seat." He directed her to the desk chair, shutting the door as soon as she was inside.

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Lorri did as she was told.

"I don't have time for embarrassment and blushing, I just need to know right now what you're using to take care of your needs."

Lorri couldn't look at him. He might command that she not blush, but it wasn't that simple.

"Tell me now."

His voice was all business but not unkind. Lorri didn't look at him to answer.

"Socks."

If Lorri had been looking at Rigg, she would have laughed. His mouth had opened a little, and for a moment he was surprised speechless. Lorri missed all of this. She heard him move just before he placed several pairs of socks in her lap.

Surprise brought her eyes to his.

"If you need more, tell me."

Lorri just looked at him.

"Do you understand?"

Lorri managed a nod.

Rigg exited without another word.

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n

u>&

"What do you mean she stood up to the lieutenant? What did she say?"

"I couldn't hear; they were down the beach. But she went swimming and he got mad. It looked as though she put him in his place."

"But you didn't hear it?"

"No."

"Did she sing again?"

"Not that I've heard."

The men were silent until the guy in the top bunk wanted more.

"What'd she wear swimming?"

"Her clothes."

"Did you see her wet?"

"Yep." The word was said with pride.

"You dog."

The occupant of the lower bunk was laughing softly when they were joined by two other men. Both men fell asleep happily but silently breaking the order not to think about their guest.

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Lorri couldn't remember where she was.S^ ^j^ ^knowing that someone was in her bedroom and thatitw4sn'tjosi^ or Max. She gasped in fright, wanting to call for her jr^dpa. "Miss Archer?" Rigg's voice came from the darkness^-"Oh, Lieutenant, it's you." She breathed heavjiy^-th relief, coming back to the boat in a rush. "Are you all right?" "Yes. I'm sorry I woke you."

"Don't worry about it," Rigg told her, not elaborate >8onthefact that he was just now coming to bed.

As swiftly and as quietly as he could, he dittoed intc^ Hugh's bunk and willed sleep to come. He battled wortyovermtf,e repairs that didn't get done and his desire to land Lorij ArchersafetyatSeaford.

"Lieutenant?"

"Yes."

"I'm sorry about earlier today."

"Don't trouble yourself over it."

"I shouldn't have said those things." "It's all right."

Lorri heard a thump and started a little. "Are we moving?" she asked. "No. I think we'll be underway about midmorning." Silence fell in the cabin. Lorri thought the lieutenant^ ""Sh* say more, but he didn't. She didn't feel reassuredaboutn0fier apol-I; gy-She wanted to say she was sorry again, buitOo muc^0*1timehad passed. He might be sleeping.

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Lori Wick

I

Making herself more comfortable, she forced herself to go back to sleep. It wasn't that easy, but about ten minutes later she lost consciousness.

Not at any time did she suspect that Lieutenant Riggs was wide awake for a good deal longer.

I

With no idea as to when she might be on dry ground again, Lorri was up early, washed, dressed, and on the beach. Her monthly situation was well in hand for the moment, and if that status changed, she would simply return to the boat and remain in the officer's cabin.

Not worrying about an escort-no one had been waiting for her-she hit the sand and strolled along between the waves and the line of trees. She'd seen other men moving about and figured if she remained in sight, she was plenty safe.

What she hadn't figured on was the way the island made her feel. Memories of the accident and the burials came flooding back to her. Her steps slowed and her mind wandered. Lorri saw images in her mind that made her shudder, and she suddenly wished she had stayed on board.

"Well, well. What do we have here?"

Lorri stopped her walk and looked up to see a sailor she hadn't met before. He was not alone, but it still took Lorri a moment to realize these men were from another crew. She had stopped in her tracks, but the men were approaching, boldness written on every move.

"What's your name, pretty lady?"

Lorri took one step back and then another.

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"Don't be afraid," one of them said. "We just want to talk."

"Speak for yourself," another put in, and Lorri felt a jolt of fear. She glanced behind her and wondered how she could have gotten so far down the beach.