The Siren's Call (Last Chance Motel Book 3) Read Online Free PDF

the seawater. She blew her nose again. Jenny looked at River. “Do I look all right?”
    “No matter the age, the female is always concerned with her looks,” quipped River grinning. “You look fine, darlin’,” he said, fibbing about her red, swollen eyes and runny nose.
    “Why am I so bad? What’s wrong with me, Mr. Egan?”
    “Nothing, lass. You feel bad because you loved your mother and that’s natural. Now you want to love Eva, and that’s natural too. You’re worried that your mother in heaven might be upset with you for liking Eva as much as you do.”
    Jenny nodded, biting her bottom lip.
    “Little lady, I can tell you with the utmost certainty that your mother is pleased that you like Eva and that you consider her to be your second mother. She wants you to be happy. She knows you need a mommy like every little girl does. You don’t need to feel guilty about loving Eva as your second mommy.”
    Jenny’s face brightened. “Really? Mommy wouldn’t be mad at me?”
    River smiled. “Of course not. I’m telling you the God’s honest truth.” River crossed his finger over his heart.
    Jenny took a deep breath and broke into tears again.
    “Now what?” asked River.
    “I feel better,” she replied. “Thanks Mr. Egan.”
    “You do look like a weight has been lifted.”
    Jenny smiled. “Whew, I do feel better. Much better.”
    “Good. Let’s head back, then. The sky is getting really dark, and I don’t want to get caught in a storm.”
    “Yeah. Mr. Egan, you can tie your kayak to mine and I’ll paddle for the both of us.”
    “I’m too heavy for that. You lead and I’ll follow. I’m not sure where we are.”
    Jenny’s brow furrowed. “All we need to do is turn around and head back the way we came.”
    “Are you sure? It’s confusing with all these small islands. I think we should go that way.” River pointed in the opposite direction Jenny had indicated.
    “No, Mr. Egan. That way leads out into Florida Bay, and then to the Everglades. That’s heading north. We need to go east.”
    Increasingly uneasy and unsure, River looked back and forth between the way he wanted to go and the way Jenny had indicated. “Whatever you say. I just would like to get back as quickly as we can.”
    “Just follow me.” Jenny dipped her paddle into the water and began making her way. Every few feet, she would turn and check on Mr. Egan. For almost half a mile, he was able to keep up with her.
    After rounding a bend, Jenny stopped her kayak and turned to look for River. After waiting several minutes, she paddled her kayak west again, only to find his kayak drifting several hundred feet away with River slumped over.
    “Mr. Egan!” cried Jenny. She hurriedly paddled over to him. As she reached his kayak, Jenny touched River’s arm.
    River raised his head and said hoarsely, “Sorry Jenny, but I don’t feel too hot.” His voice sounded weak and raspy. His head sank back to his chest.
    “What’s wrong, Mr. Egan?”
    When he didn’t respond, she shook him. “Mr. Egan?”
    “Jenny,” replied River softly, raising his head. “I–go on. Get help.”
    Jenny glanced around, as if looking for an adult to tell her what to do. Her lips quivered, and she let out a few loud sobs. Just as she felt she might totally let go into a meltdown, something brushed the side of her kayak and caught her attention. Startled, Jenny peered into the water.
    It was Eva’s manatee!
    Jenny watched as the manatee slowly circled the kayaks and then headed east toward the Pink Flamingo Motel.
    Jenny gripped the sides of her kayak and squeezed as hard as she could. This helped her calm down. She had to clear her mind so she could concentrate and think. Watching the manatee slowly swim away, Jenny came up with a plan. She jumped into the waist-deep water and tied her kayak to River’s. Then she pushed River’s kayak in the direction the manatee had taken. Jenny was confident that sooner or later she would come to a dock, or