Tags:
Fiction,
General,
Romance,
Love Stories,
War & Military,
War stories,
Religious,
Christian,
INSPIRATIONAL ROMANCE,
Survival After Airplane Accidents; Shipwrecks; Etc,
Americans - Oceania,
World War; 1939-1945 - Naval Operations; American
than one person in each grave."
Rigg shook his head, trying to imagine Lorri Archer having to complete such a task. He hoped for her sake that the folks in these graves were strangers but wasn't sure that would have made it any easier.
"Do you want me to question her?" Hugh asked.
"No, I'll put as much as I know in my report, and when she's ready to talk about it, she can tell us."
"And if she's never ready?"
"Right now I can't worry about that."
Hugh nodded and Rigg went on his way. The second-in-command stood for a time after the lieutenant left, his eyes strangely riveted to the fresh mounds of dirt, his concentration on the churning in his gut.
Lorri woke up in a way she hadn't in over six weeks: She was warm and under a blanket; she had a pillow; and there was no headache or stiff neck. But it was more than that. She wanted to think about things. It didn't take long for the terrifying plane crash to come rushing back to her, an event she forced from her mind, but it didn't matter because other things began crowding into its place.,
34
Lori Wick
She could see the children's faces at the ranch. For days now, maybe even weeks, they had slipped from her mind. She could come up with a name but not a face, or a face that she could not label. Today she could do both.
The next thing she wanted was to bathe. She rose with just that in mind, only to see Lionel as soon as she stepped from the interior of the plane.
"Good morning," he greeted her, looking very fresh and put together, not in the least as though he'd spent the night in the jungle.
"Good morning."
"How are you feeling?"
"Better, thank you."
"I'm headed back to the boat, but Donald will stay with you."
For the first time Lorri noticed the other man. He was younger than Lionel, and he dipped his head nervously in her direction before looking away.
"Thank you for your concern, but I'll be fine on my own."
"It's no trouble," Lionel assured her as he went on his way.
Larri watched him leave and then looked to the other man, who was still looking everywhere but at her.
"If you'll just excuse me a moment," she started to say, moving away from him.
"I think I'm supposed to go with you."
Til just be a moment, really."
Til come with you."
Does this man not need to relieve himself when he first wakes up? Lorri woridered but stood silent. She had given up on washing herself, but the other would not wait. She thought fast, not wanting to make trouble but sensing a very real need.
35
35
"You may tell Lionel or whoever asks that I am to blame."
At first Donald was too surprised by this statement to act. He watched this emaciated woman slip into the trees, following a little too late. He went after her but soon realized she was not to be found.
Just managing to retrace his steps, he went back to the clearing in time to see the lieutenant arrive. He saluted, mentally cursing the woman for the trouble he was sure to be in.
"At ease, sailor," Rigg said calmly. "Where is Miss Archer?"
"She slipped into the trees, sir, and I can't locate her."
The newest man to the crew, Donald should still have known Rigg well enough by now to understand that he didn't overreact, but he was surprised when the man only nodded.
"Are you not afraid she'll be lost, sir?" The question popped out before he could stop it.
The officer's brows rose. "She's lived here for six weeks. She's not going to get lost on this island." Rigg glanced around. "We'll just assume that she'll be back when she's ready."
As though just saying the words caused them to be true, Lorri stepped into the clearing. She was moving slowly, a look of concentration on her face, and for a moment she didn't see the men.
"Miss Archer?" Rigg spoke to her.
Lorri looked up at him and asked, "Why are you on this island?"
Rigg felt a measure of relief flood through him. Her voice was stronger, her eyes a little clearer.
"We had to make repairs to our boat. We'll probably leave here in the next few hours."
"And