Shipwrecked-Chapter 5
With the storm abating, the sky was beginning to lighten, the full moon shining through the clouds. Heading around the port side of the boat and then staying close to the cliffs, they had traveled only a few hundred yards when they saw a large, sandy beach. It appeared to be sheltered on three sides by the cliffs.
Perry angled the Zodiac in, allowing it to come to rest on the sand. As the small vessel came to a sudden stop he jolted, and even in the barely illuminated darkness Della could see him wince. Still, he managed to stand and help her out. Della pulled a small anchor from the boat and pushed one of the spars into the sand.
"Good girl," he praised, and the wind seemed to snatch his breath as well as the words away.
He staggered a few feet from the water and sank down on the sand, his strength finally sapped from him. Della was immediately at his side.
"Perry!" She knelt beside him, cradling his head in her lap. "Perry, you're burning up. I need to get you out of these wet clothes. Now. You've got a fever and we need to get it under control."
"I'm okay, Della. I just need a nap," he told her earnestly. And with that he closed his eyes and went limp.
She sat there, just holding his head, for a long five minutes. Then shaking herself mentally, she ordered herself to get into action. Spreading one of the blankets out on the sand beside him, she put her hands under his arms, trying not to injure his shoulder again. He was heavier than he seemed, but then again, he was wet. But as she struggled to move him onto the blanket, he moaned and opened his eyes.
"If you're trying to take advantage of me in my weakened state…"
Della laughed in spite of the circumstances. "Perry, please just get on the blanket."
Moving very slowly, Perry eased onto the blanket, then sagged to the side. Sitting behind him, Della managed to get him in an upright position and removed his wet jacket and shirt. Then she laid him down.
"Okay, big baby, you're going to have to lose the pants."
"Music to my ears," he said, but the effort of maintaining any kind of banter was draining what little remained of his strength and consciousness.
"Perry? Shut up."
After a moment's hesitation, she unbuttoned his pants, moved to his feet, pulled the soaked deck shoes off, followed by his pants. She used her jacket to make a pillow under his head, then covered him as tightly as she could with the other blanket. It wasn't enough. He was shivering.
She went back to the Zodiac. Searching under the seat in the back, she found another small First Aid kit, a flashlight, some flares and thankfully an emergency thermal blanket. She sent up a silent 'thank you' to Jack for being prepared.
Della brought the things back to where Perry lay. She unfolded the thermal blanket and covered him. Then using the flashlight, she searched the beach, finding some dry seaweed and a few pieces of driftwood.
Thank God Dad always insisted I tag along with him and Jim on those camp-outs, she thought to herself as her memory supplied the instructions for what she would need. She used her hands to dig a small hole in the sand, placed the seaweed and driftwood in it, and used one of the flares to start a fire. Once she was sure the fire was going strong, she again took the flashlight and explored their beach.
She found more seaweed and driftwood. Checking on Perry from time to time, she contented herself that he was sleeping peacefully enough, thus allowing her an opportunity to explore. Walking further toward the brush, she discovered what appeared to be steps carved into the side of the cliff. Shining the beam from the flashlight upwards, it appeared the steps went all the way to the top. Walking over to the final side, she saw a small cave-like area carved out by centuries of crashing waves, high tides and rough winds. Still, in a pinch it would offer some shelter if the storm started again.
Exhausted herself, she returned to Perry; she sat, placing his head in her lap, and pulled her jacket around her shoulders. His fever was still too high and she knew if she couldn't get it under control . . . well, she didn't want to think about it.
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The gentle lap, lap, lap of the edge of the water creeping ashore registered first. Then came the warmth. Then the smells. Salt, mingled with an unpleasant odor of burnt seaweed and briny wood. And then the sunlight that penetrated through his closed eyes.
Slowly, oh, so slowly, Perry tested his ability to open his eyes. Sure enough, the bright sun was shining down. He turned his head one way, identified the fire pit, then turned it the other way, all without trying to sit up. Somehow, although he couldn't exactly remember how he came to be there, he was in Paradise. Almost.
Della? What would Paradise be without her? Hell.
Then the events of the night recurred to him and he remembered their frantic escape. He flexed his shoulder, just to check its status. It felt better and he felt a little stronger.
Then he became very aware of a soft body wrapped around his almost naked one. A slow smile spread from his eyes to his mouth. Della. Her arm was across his chest, her leg across his, and her head rested on his chest.
Even though she was fully clothed, Perry felt the heat rise in his body, and it had nothing to do with a fever. He wasn't quite sure what to do. He was loath to move and disturb her, but he also knew he had to move before his emotions swelled and he could no longer contain his arousal.
"Are you feeling better?" Her soft voice startled him.
I should have known . . . Perry caressed her cheek. "Much."
She placed her hand on his forehead. "Yes, your fever is almost gone."
When she started to move, he put his arms around her, holding her in place.
"Della, thank you. I don't know how you did it."
Della blushed at his words. "It was easy, I just…"
Perry kissed her, holding her even closer. "Not that. How you stayed so calm, managed to do everything. Most women would have been crying and falling apart. You have a strength beyond anything I could imagine. I'm so very happy I have you in my life."
Now her tears did fall. "I was so afraid if I couldn't get your fever down, I'd lose you. I just did the only thing I could."
He murmured her name, over and over, until the tears were gone. "Next time you have a burning question, just ask."
She sat up a little. "A burning question? What question?"
He baited her with an adorable, dimpled smile. "What kind of underwear do I prefer?"
She snorted.
Perry laughed too, then wiped the last of her tears away with his thumbs. "I must say you have a unique way of getting me, well, almost naked."
Della smacked his good arm. "Oh you. Now let me up. Your clothes should be dry."
Perry kissed her deeply and firmly, then released her. Della stood and walked to look out at the ocean while Perry dressed.
With her back turned to him, she wrapped her arms around herself, thinking back on how he had started shaking even under the blankets and beside the fire. She had known the fever had risen. So, in desperation she had curled her body next to him, hoping her warmth would help. She had fallen asleep when she felt Perry's fitfulness still and the fever break.
Perry came up behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders.
"Are you okay?" he asked huskily.
She turned in his arms, looking up into blue eyes so deep and fathomless that the ocean itself would be jealous. She wanted to give into her longing, to wrap her arms around him and cling, like any other female. But she didn't.
Instead, she nodded and said in her business-like voice, "Yes. So what do we do now? If this were a fair trade, I would expect you to make breakfast."
He laughed. "That's my girl—hungry!"
She smiled. "I would hate to have you think I would change on you now." Her grin widened, then she turned serious again. "But other than that, what do we do?"
"Well, first off I think we should try and get back to the boat and see what we can salvage. And more importantly, see if the radio still works."
"Do you have any idea where we are?"
He nodded. "Heaven."
She shot him a look he knew well.
"Can't fault a man for dreaming." Then he sobered and answered her question. "None. But let's do our salvage trip and then we'll see if we can explore a little."
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They took the Zodiac back to the sailboat. Luckily, because it had been grounded against the cliff face, it was still afloat.
Perry told Della to gather what clothes she thought they would need, while he tried the radio. Della started to protest, to point out that with only one functional shoulder he would need help, then decided to do as he asked.
Going below, she saw that because the tide had gone out, there wasn't nearly as much water as before, although it was still just above ankle deep. She went into her cabin first, taking her suitcase and placing a few of her clothes in. She also secured her purse. Then grabbing the pillow from the bed, she headed for Perry's cabin.
Again, she took only essential clothes. Closing the suitcase, she again took the pillow from the bed, and headed back up to the deck. After securing them in the Zodiac, she headed to the wheelhouse.
Perry was trying different channels on the radio, trying to raise someone.
"Any luck?"
He turned the set off. "No. I think the storm damaged the antenna."
Della put her hand on his arm. "So, what now?" Perry looked at her, seeing the worry in her lovely eyes.
"Why don't you gather up what food and water you can from the galley. I promise, I will not let you starve. I'm going to search around up here and see what else we might use." When she nodded and started to walk away, he grabbed her hand. "Della, we will survive this. When we don't arrive in Mexico, they will come looking for us."
She looked at him for a brief moment, then stated clearly so he could not possibly miss what she wanted to say, "I know. I trust you. I know I'm safe with you."
Perry's heart expanded in his chest and his spirit folded its wings. He smiled and released her hand, watching as she headed back down the stairs. He only hoped her trust in him was enough. Then he began searching for anything they could use.