Chapter Nine #2
The basking sharks were there, too, a circling menace of enormous size.
Meg cried out again, even as logic told her the beasts tended to be uninterested in humans.
But a fin sliced through the water between Dougal and Sean, creating a wake that took Dougal up—and took the boy up too, which gave him a chance to breathe and reach for the man swimming closer.
Dougal cleared just over the animal’s tail, brushed by it.
Struggling, Sean thrashed, nearly within reach.
Then Mackenzie slipped out of his coat, ready to dive into the water. They were within yards of the man and the boy now as the boat rocked closer on high, sloppy waves.
Another of the huge sharks turned. Meg could see its gigantic mouth open just under the water as it streamed steadily toward the swimmers.
It only scavenged for fish, Meg told herself, but she knew it could take the boy too.
Then Evan Mackenzie threw the rope to Alan and dove past Meg to lunge into the water.
In that moment, Dougal rolled to shave the big basker with his foot. It flipped its tail, upended, and dove downward, raising a deep wake that sucked Dougal under.
Seconds later, he emerged beside Sean and caught the boy to his chest.
As the little arms closed around the man’s neck, Meg sobbed out.
Evan sliced through the water now, and turned to reach up as Alan threw the rope outward to fly snake-like until Mackenzie snatched it with one hand.
He grabbed Dougal, and together they used the rope to haul toward the boat, cutting a swath between the sharks, the huge beasts simply sinking to disappear, waves surging around them.
As they treaded water, Alan hauled them closer. Hearing shouts, Meg looked around to see the boat carrying the work crew rapidly approaching. Other shouts came from a fishing boat that had rushed toward them from the small harbor. Lifting a hand, Alan signaled all was well.
As Dougal hooked his arm over the rim of the boat, he lifted the dripping child into the safety of Alan’s arms. Meg rushed toward them to gather her son to her, while the boat rocked as Dougal and then Evan clambered aboard.
Saturated and smelling of brine, Sean shivered in Meg’s arms as she wrapped her plaid around him.
Sitting, she held him, rocking, grateful to feel his sturdy weight in her arms, grateful to kiss his soft, wet curls.
She looked up as Evan and Dougal sat near, even as Norrie and Alan rowed the boat swiftly over the water to the shore.
With his coat tossed over his shoulders for warmth, he sat close enough to press against her. She leaned into him, cradling Sean in her lap as she rubbed the boy’s back and limbs to bring more warmth to him, and looked at Dougal.
“Thank you,” she said, voice breaking, tears stinging her eyes.
He nodded, shivering a bit, and reached out to ruffle the boy’s hair.
Then he rested his arm around Meg’s shoulders as naturally as if he had always done it.
She leaned against him, warmth springing there.
Then she looked at Evan Mackenzie, who sat smiling, watching them.
“And thank you, Mr. Mackenzie, for helping.”
“Oh, all I did was keep you from jumping into the sea after them,” he drawled, as they laughed together.
Norrie left the oars to bring a plaid blanket to wrap around the boy, then stooped to murmur to his great-grandson in Gaelic, patting the boy’s cheek. He looked at the others.
“Dougal Stewart,” he said, “we are in your debt forever. I have seen many brave deeds in my life, but nothing like that. Went through the very sharks, you did, to rescue our lad.”
“Just baskers, Norrie,” Dougal said. Chuckling, Norrie went to the oars to pull for home.
Still leaned against Dougal, Meg felt wrapped in a warm cocoon. Only she knew what that close circle meant—mother, father, child huddled together in gratitude. In love, she thought.
“Dougal,” she whispered, and he bent his head to hear her. “I cannot thank you enough.” Tears threatened, and she dipped her head to Sean’s, throat tightening, heart too full for words.
“No need for thanks.” He rubbed Sean’s leg. “And you, what a brave lad you were!”
As father and son regarded each other, neither aware of the relationship, Meg saw how alike their green eyes were, how similar their profiles. The sight felt like a lightning strike through her heart, bringing joy and sadness.
Tears streamed as she lifted her head impulsively to kiss Dougal’s cheek. His slight beard was raspy under her lips, his skin damp, tasting of salt. She closed her eyes, savoring his closeness.
His eyes crinkled in a smile, as he looked down at her. Secret and rare, that smile, more in his eyes than on his lips. Reaching up, he brushed a tear away.
“He’s safe now,” he murmured. “That’s all that matters.”
Nodding, meeting his eyes, she felt such a wash of love go through her, a warming, nurturing sense of home and rightness. No matter who he was, what had happened in the past, what conflict she had with him as the baroness, in that perfect moment, she loved him.
The peace of that feeling overflowed, and tears filled her eyes again.
He patted her shoulder. “You and Sean are both shivering. We must get you home.”
She nodded, hugging her son to her. Glancing up, she saw Mackenzie watching them. He had draped his coat over his shoulders too, his black hair wet, eyes kind and knowing somehow.
“Thank you again, Mr. Mackenzie.”
“It’s Evan. Not at all.” He smiled. “Dougal, yon lass was determined to rescue you herself.”
“I could have used help with that shark,” Dougal drawled.
Sean peeked out of his blanket nest. “Mr. Stewart punched the shark! It wanted to eat me.”
“You’re far too tough for a shark to bother with you,” Dougal said. “I just gave it a shove with my foot and it went away.”
“It listened because you are the each-uisge,” Sean said. “Mother Elga says so.”
“Eck-oohska?” Evan repeated.
“Kelpie,” Dougal said. “A fearsome creature said to rule the sea. Miss MacNeill’s old grandmother is convinced I am that thing.”
“I cannot argue with that,” Evan drawled.
Dougal laughed, then pointed. “Sean, look. Everyone on the island wants to welcome you!”
As the boat entered the shallows, cheers rose from the fishermen and families waiting on the beach. Then Thora splashed into the surf and ran toward them, tears streaming down her cheeks.