Chapter 5
FIVE
J aw clenched, she pressed the blade down on the rope and began sawing frantically. She cringed inside at the thought of cutting the animal, but she was desperate and out of time.
More waves threw her off the rope a couple of times. She kept going, could feel the blade slowly slicing through the tough nylon.
Come on. Come ON , dammit…
Another wave pitched her upward, but she managed to keep the blade in the water and Lachlan quickly shifted them back into place. No matter how this turned out in the end, she owed that man beer for life.
Sweat bloomed across her face and back as she worked.
Through the green water she could see the frayed edges of the rope where she’d been cutting.
Managed to get the blade close to the spot and resumed cutting.
Her fingers were numb inside her gloves, but her layers were sticking to her sweaty skin, the muscles in her arms burning with the exertion.
Just as her arms tired, the rope slackened. Fell away from the peduncle and disappeared from view.
Xanthe gasped and fell back on her butt, motioning at Lachlan. “I think I got it. Pull back.”
Immediately he hit the throttle, wheeling them out of range.
She got to her knees and crawled over to peer anxiously over the opposite side of the bow, heart pounding. Had she done it? Was it free?
Lachlan stopped a safe distance away, engines idling.
The humpback released a breath. Floated in the same spot for a minute, then started to submerge.
She stared, holding her own breath as it dived. Watching for the peduncle. Praying.
The sleek, muscular curve of the peduncle arched above the water, bleeding from the lacerations. But there was no rope. And when the damaged fluke rose above the surface, its beautiful white markings identifying this male as six-year-old Nootka…
The rope was gone.
“ Yeah !” She threw her arms into the air, all the exhaustion and discomfort gone. She didn’t even feel the cold. Nootka was free . “Oh my God, we did it!”
“ Fuck yeah,” Lachlan yelled. “Holy shit! That was amazing.”
She whipped around to grin at him, saw he was holding up his phone inside the pilothouse. “Tell me you got that on camera.” She just wished Allistair had been here to see it live. He loved humpbacks as much as she loved orcas. He was definitely going to cry when he found out.
“Hell, yeah, I did. And some of you doing your thing, you absolute animal.” He got on the radio to report the news to the Coast Guard.
Laughing, she collapsed against the tube and closed her eyes, letting the tears come as a wave of emotion rolled over her. She couldn’t remember ever being so tired or more exhilarated. Couldn’t wait to text Allistair and tell him the happy news.
A steadying hand landed on her shoulder. She opened her eyes. Lachlan was crouched down in front of her, curling a powerful arm around her.
He was a solid person, single, and good-looking in a ruggedly masculine way. Was a shame they had no interest in each other romantically. They had so much in common.
“You okay?” he murmured.
“Yes. I’m just so h-happy,” she choked out, not even a little bit embarrassed that she was crying in front of him.
Nootka was tired and weak and injured, but at least now he was free.
Hopefully, he would be okay and heal up enough to migrate up to the feeding grounds in Alaska.
She and her team would keep an eye on him over the coming weeks as best they could, but Allistair would be obsessive about monitoring him.
Lachlan chuckled and pulled her into a hug.
Amazing as his hugs were, she felt zero sparks.
“Me too. God damn, that was amazing. Come on, badass. On your feet.” He hoisted her up, steered her out of the wind into the shelter of the pilothouse and draped a thin blanket around her.
“Eat this.” He shoved a protein bar in her hand.
“No, I’m good, way too excited to eat.” Speaking of… “What time is it?”
“Little after five. Why?”
“Mae invited me to dinner at her place at six. Think I can still make it?” She couldn’t wait to tell Tripp and Willow about the rescue. They’d been out on a whale watch tour with her and Lachlan back in August.
He grinned and stepped over to man the helm. “I’ll have us back in Whalebone Cove by ten to.”
“You’re amazing.”
As soon as her fingers thawed out enough to text, she messaged back and forth with Allistair about Nootka.
Lachlan and I just saved Nootka , she finished, proud enough to burst.
What??? Omg, I could kiss you on the mouth right now.
She smirked. Thought you weren’t into girls?
I’ll make an exception this once.
He was so cute. Was my last attempt. Lachlan got it on video. Will send soon.
You better.
You crying right now?
Mind your business. Meet in town? Dinner and drinks for you guys on me.
Her eyebrows rose. Allistair was notoriously protective of his dollars and had never offered to pick up the tab in the entire time she’d known him. Wow, really? Thought you had a hot date.
Screw the date. He can come with us if he wants.
Raincheck. I’m going to Mae’s.
Oh right. Call me after!
Will do.
She put her phone away and sat down, closing her eyes. It felt good to finally be able to rest.
As promised, Lachlan got them back to the harbor before six.
There was no time to go home and shower or change, so she stripped off the flotation suit, texted Mae that she was on the way and not to hold dinner, and rushed to her car.
Mae and the others would just have to put up with her sweaty self for a few hours.
She was still drifting in a state of euphoria when she arrived at the cute little lilac Victorian with white gingerbread trim. Tripp’s truck was parked on the street, his woodworking business logo on the side.
The sun had set, but Mae had lanterns at the front garden gate and little fairy lights strung throughout the garden. They lit the way up the brick walkway to the front porch where a big rainbow flag hung beneath a sign that read EVERYONE Welcome Here .
The moment she started up the wooden front steps, a chorus of high-pitched barking started up inside. She hadn’t even made it to the welcome mat when the door opened and Mae stood there with a warm smile.
“Hello, young lady.”
“Hi.” Xanthe couldn’t help the huge grin on her face. “Guess what?”
“What?”
“Lachlan and I just freed an entangled humpback.”
“Oh, that’s amazing! I’ve been following the story on social media.” She engulfed Xanthe in a hug, her three little rescue mutts yipping and sniffing insistently at Xanthe’s feet and ankles.
“I’m all gross and sweaty. I didn’t have time to clean up.”
Mae snorted and squeezed her harder. “I don’t care. I’m so, so proud of you.”
Xanthe’s heart swelled at the praise. Mae was like everyone’s grandmother, but this made Xanthe miss her stepdad even more. She wished she could have called him to tell him the news. Wherever his spirit was now, hopefully he already knew. “Thank you.”
Mae stepped back. “Come inside. You must be starving.”
“Famished.” She followed Mae into the house, inhaling deeply. “It smells divine in here.”
“Good, because I made plenty. We’re eating out back. Hope that’s okay. I’ve got blankets out there if you feel chilly.”
Through the French doors that led out to the patio, she could see three people sitting at the table. “Sounds perfect.”
She stepped through the doors and onto the patio nestled in the center of Mae’s back garden. Smiled when Tripp and Willow both looked over at her. “Hi, guys. Sorry I’m?—”
Her smile froze when the third person at the table turned around in his chair. Stared in shock at Blaine Slater’s handsome face. “Late,” she finished, shooting an accusing look at Mae.
Her good mood was gone. Killed dead in an instant.
She’d been set up. And not in a good way.