“Whatever thatmeans.” Finn shook his head. “But I expect us to reach Kelly’sIsland by nightfall, which is a good thing. The darkness will helpshroud us. We’ll anchor some ways out and row ashore quietly. Let’sjust hope there’s no one guarding the beach we roll up on.”
***
The night skyfell upon us as we neared Kelly’s Island, the full moon glowinglike a spotlight while we descended the rope ladder to the rowboatbelow. Lottie stayed behind with Charlie as Gus, Finn, and myselfrowed ashore. We had one thing on our side; Peter Easton’sheadquarters was located on the eastern shore and were coming infrom the North.
“Remember whatI told ye,” Finn whispered. “Stay in the middle, always.”
“I have noproblem defending myself,” I assured him which elicited a gruntfrom Gus behind me. “Well, I can.”
“Yes, I’msure,” Gus spoke sarcastically as he rowed the ores. “The prettycook from the future with no experience fightin’. Why don’t we justlet you lead the way?”
I kept my eyeson the beach in the distance and muttered under my breath, “shutup.”
The boatrocked back as the bow hit bottom and we all jumped over to haul itonto the beach. A quick look around told us that no one was visiblywatching the sandy stretch, but a thick wall of dense evergreenslined the island just a few meters in. The trees could be full ofwaiting attackers.
“Alright,”Finn whispered as we huddled together. “Hands on yer weapon at alltimes, ready to draw. Ears open. Eyes searchin’.” He took a fewsteps toward the forest and motioned over his shoulder for us tofollow.
Gus’s browfurrowed as he waited for me to move first so I stomped off afterFinn. We entered the woods quietly, careful with every step. Myheart raced with excitement, from the possibility of getting caughtand also at the idea that I’d have Henry in my arms so soon. Oh,how they ached to hold him, touch him, and know that he was safe.Wicked thoughts of what Maria may be doing to him flickered acrossmy mind and made my stomach toil. But I used it as fuel to keepgoing.
My reason foreverything.
We climbedover foothills, sloshed across shallow creeks, all the whilekeeping the sound of the ocean waves crashing against the rockyshore of Kelly’s Island within listening range. As long as thewater kept to our left, we were heading in the right direction. Afew times Finn turned to shush us and made us drop to the ground orbehind a jagged boulder. He must have heard things I couldn’t, butI trusted the Scot with my life and if he said get down, I gotdown. No questions asked.
Finally, thehint of firelight sparkled through the trees and my heart skipped abeat. We moved closer but kept a safe holding behind a massiveuprooted tree, peeking our heads out to catch a better look at thebeachfront house nestled in a tinycove. It was surprisingly large for a secret headquarters, but notwell built. A slightly leaning structure made of unfinished woodthat had been greyed from the ocean’s force stood near the beach.Three small outbuildings, shedsreally, could be found off to the side. The main house glowed fromthe inside with candlelight and a raging bonfire burned just outside on the sand. Gus pulled out asmall telescope from inside his coat and held it up to his eye.
“I don’t seeanyone at all,” he informed us. “No movement in the windows,either.”
I took a stepforward, but Finn’s arm shot out in front of me. “Where do ye thinkyer goin’?”
“To rescueHenry, isn’t that why we came all this way?”
“For a timetraveler ye sure ain’t smart,” hereplied.
“We can’t justgo storming in there,” Gus said, his voice low. “It looks quietnow, but we could be outnumbered once inside. And who knows what’sin those other buildings.”
I shrugged indefeat. “Then what do we do?”
“We stay righthere and suss out the situation,” Gus told me. “Keep looking. Wejust need an idea of how many people Maria has with her.”
I didn’t likethat idea. The thought of Henry possibly being just a few yardsaway killed me. I kept it calm on the outside, but everyfiber of my being was screamingfrom the inside, demanding that I obey and just go. I stoodand waited patiently, but the second their attention wasn’t on me,I took off.
“Dianna!” Finncalled, and I heard Gus cover his mouth as the end of my namebecame muffled.
I could heartheir footsteps close behind me, but I never faltered, just keptscaling down the jagged hillside of the forest’s edge toward thebeach. I stole a quick glance over my shoulder and saw the two ofthem trailing me. I pushed myself as hard as I could, forced mylegs to move just a little faster, my arms to pump a littlestronger.
I just had tooutrun them. I could slip inside, stay hidden, and search everyroom until I found Henry. Sure, there was a good chance I’d getcaught. But it was a risk I was willing to make. I couldn’t standthe thought of Maria’s hands on Henry for a second longer. My lungsburned and threatened to betray me. I slipped into the shadows ofthe side of the building and bent over to catch my breath, but itonly took a few seconds for Finn and Gus to get there.
“What theChrist are ye doin’, ye crazy wench?” Finn whispered angrily as hegrabbed my arm, his breaths huffing and strained from running.
I yanked itaway. “I’m here to save the man I love. Not stand around in thetrees waiting to see if he’s even here.” The two still looked angrybut said nothing. “Now are you with me or not?”
I pointed to alow window just a few feet away and motioned for them to follow. Wecrept alongside the building and snuggled up to the opening. Islowly peeked around the frame tolook inside and found the main floor when you first enter to beempty of people. I nodded to the two of my companions and wecarefully made our way over to the next one. Again, I peered insideand gasped at the sight waiting there.
A tall, broadfigure sat in a chair, slumped over
