Six Hours Away Read online

  “Jay, you can’t go back out there.” Lillian reached out to stop him. “Not now. It’s gotten too dangerous out there.”

  “I have to.” He had no choice. He had to find her. Make sure she was okay. Why had she gone out in this storm? Why?

  He knew why. There’s was no way she’d let Barney fend for himself out in the storm.

  His heart pounded in his chest, strangling him, as he rushed back out into the furious storm.

  Robin raced through the wind and rain, drenched, as she chased after Barney. The dog managed to keep about a half-block ahead of her no matter how hard she struggled to catch up to him.

  Then suddenly, she lost sight of him.

  No!

  She pulled up short and looked to the left and the right, uncertain which way to head. She couldn’t just leave him out here in the storm, but how could she find him when she could barely see through the pouring rain? She swiped at the water rolling down her face. Her clothes stuck to her like a second skin.

  She called out to him. “Barney. Barney, where are you?” Not that she really thought the dog would turn around and come to her…

  If he could even hear her.

  She had to find him, though. Mrs. Gleason.

  She couldn’t bear to think of telling Mrs. Gleason she’d lost the dog. And if truth be told, even if the dog annoyed her with his uncanny ability to destroy her shoes, she had grown pretty fond of him.

  Then, suddenly she knew…

  She twirled around and raced off through the rain.

  Chapter 14

  Jay darted under an overhang by a storefront on Main Street and tried to call Robin. No cell service. Not surprising in a storm like this, but annoying. He shoved the phone back in his pocket. He had to find Robin.

  But how was he going to find her? Barney could have gone anywhere, and Robin was out there somewhere racing after the dog. He never should have left Barney with Robin. He never should have left Robin’s side during the storm. But then, he had to go look for Etta for Lillian.

  Pure frustration surged through him mixed in with a healthy dose of fear.

  He peered through the sheets of rain, straining for any sign of Robin. Any sign of Barney. A broken branch skipped down the street in the violent wind, dancing a jig with a smashed and tattered box. It was dangerous out here with debris whipping around in the wind.

  Fear knotted his insides as he swept a hand up to shove his dripping hair from his face. If anything happened to Robin…

  He took off at a steady jog but afraid he might be going in the exact wrong direction. “Robin!” He yelled against the howling wind, but the wind just tossed his call back to him, mocking him. Hammering home how hopeless it was.

  Then it came to him.

  He knew where Barney would have gone. He spun around and headed back in the other direction, praying that he was right. Hoping he’d find both Robin and Barney there.

  Robin bent over against the wind as she fought her way along the street. She screamed when a palm branch flashed past her, whipping her with its fronds. But she couldn’t stop now. She couldn’t.

  She struggled along the sidewalk on the last half block, doubled over against the wind, and prayed she was right. She almost cried in relief as she battled her way up to the front of Mrs. Gleason’s bungalow.

  And there he was.

  Barney. Huddled against the front door.

  Thank goodness.

  She dropped to her knees beside the dog and hugged him. The dog shook in her arms. “Sh, it’s okay. I’ve got you now. It will be okay.” Grabbing hold of the leash—very firmly—she looked over at her bungalow, then out at the storm.

  There was no way she could make it back to the community center now. The winds were too strong and it was too dangerous. They needed to seek shelter. She’d have to take cover in her bungalow and hope for the best.

  She scooped Barney up in her arms and slowly made her way against the wind and over to her front porch. Even just going that far exhausted her. She set him down by the front door, the leash still firmly wrapped around her hand. Twice.

  She didn’t have her key but knew that Charlotte had hidden one under a rock in the heavy planter beside the door. Charlotte was always forgetting her keys. Thank goodness for good old forgetful Charlotte.

  She grabbed the key, all the while making sure to keep a firm clasp on Barney’s leash. She unlocked the door and hurried inside with Barney, tugging the door closed behind her.

  She flipped on the switch… but nothing. She let out a sigh of frustration. The electricity was out. Not surprising. “Come on, Barney, let’s find the battery lantern and get some light in here.” It was somehow comforting to hear her voice and have someone… even Barney… to talk to.

  She went to the kitchen, found the lantern, and flipped it on. That was better. Then she went to grab towels and dried Barney… who surprisingly let her do it. Then she wrapped a towel around herself, shivering. Whether from the chill or the edge of fear, she wasn’t certain. With Barney in tow, she headed to her closet for dry clothes, all the while ignoring the howling wind and the fact that she was here in her bungalow. All alone. Riding out the storm with only Barney for companionship.

  What if the roof blew off?

  Or the bungalow flooded?

  She ignored those thoughts and concentrated on getting into dry clothes.

  She pulled on dry sweatpants and a sweatshirt, hoping they would chase away the chill. “Okay, Barney. What do you say we go out in the front room?” Somehow talking out loud to Barney helped chase away the in-this-all-alone fear that clutched at her.

  She grabbed his leash, still clipped onto his collar. She just wasn’t ready to let him loose. Not even in her house.

  They padded back to the front room and she put the lantern on the coffee table all the while trying to talk herself out of a full-on panic.

  “Don’t worry, Barney. It’s going to be fine.” But even she could hear the doubt in her voice. The wind howled and rattled the shutters. She clasped her arms tightly across her chest. She didn’t consider herself a weak woman, but she was scared. Very scared.

  The storm was flaunting its power. Letting her know who was boss.

  She wished more than anything that she and Barney were back in the community center and she was safe in Jay’s arms.

  Chapter 15

  Jay could hardly stand upright against the strengthening wind. He didn’t even bother to try to wipe away the rain coursing down his face. How in the world had Robin fought all this?

  Or had she? Had she holed up somewhere? Was she hurt somewhere? Was she safe? Images of her trapped somewhere, pinned down by some fallen building, or worse yet… the power lines stretched across the island. Some still had power… maybe even some of them had been knocked to the ground just ready to electrocute anything in their path.

  He chased away the thoughts, the frightening images. She had to be okay. She had to. He’d just realized how much he cared for her. He couldn’t lose her.

  He made his way along the streets, dodging debris that the storm kept tossing at him. At one point something hit his head and he felt warmth on his face. He was fairly certain blood was mingling with the rainwater on his forehead. He ignored it.

  He turned the corner and struggled up to the porch of his destination. But he was wrong. No Barney. No Robin. He’d been sure he’d find them here at Mrs. Gleason’s. But even if Robin had found Barney here, they couldn’t have gotten inside.

  He turned toward Robin’s bungalow, his last hope. Then he saw it. Or thought he did. He slashed away the rain from his face.

  Yes. He was certain. Almost certain. Or maybe it was hope more than certainty.

  He peered through the storm. No, a faint glow was filtering out through the clear hurricane shutter on her front window.

  She must be there. His heart thundered in his chest as he raced across to her bungalow, splashing through a river of water streaming between the two bungalows, and threw himself u
p her steps. He flung open the door to her screams.

  “Sh, Robin. It’s okay. It’s me.” Relief surged through him. He’d found her. And Barney was by her side. She was here. She was safe.

  He rushed over and pulled her to her feet, gathering her into his arms. “Oh, Robs. You’re here.” He just as quickly set her away from him, looking her over carefully, his gaze going from head to toe. “Are you okay?”

  She nodded. “I’m so glad to see you.” She crumbled back into his arms.

  He held her tight against him, never wanting to let her go. The hammering in his chest slowed. Somewhat. He felt her tremble in his arms, and his heart cracked just a little as he fought back images of what could have happened to her. He stroked her back, trying to soothe her. Or soothe himself. It all just entwined together. He finally spoke into her hair. “I was so frightened when I heard you went out in this storm. What were you thinking?”

  “I was thinking Mrs. Gleason would kill me if Barney got lost.”

  He looked down and saw that she still held Barney’s leash in her hand. “So, you found him.”

  “He was at Mrs. Gleason’s.”

  “I thought he might go there.” Jay set Robin away again, but rubbed his hands up and down her arms, making sure she was real.

  She reached out to touch his face. “You’re hurt.”

  “What?” He reached up and touched the tender spot on his temple and saw his hand come back with blood. “Yes, something hit me. It’s crazy out there. Trash, signs, branches. Everything getting tossed around in the wind. Not sure what it was that did this.”

  “Come into the kitchen and let me get you cleaned up.”

  He could tell by her voice that she needed to do this, so even though he didn’t think the wound was worth bothering over, he nodded and followed her into the kitchen. Barney trotted along beside them keeping right by their feet. “Not liking the storm much, huh, buddy? I’m with you. I’m not very fond of it myself.” He reached down and petted the dog. He worried about sitting out the storm at the bungalow instead of the relative safety of the center, but nothing could be done about that now. They couldn’t chance going out in the storm again. But he wasn’t going to mention his concerns to Robin. He did his best to put on a confident, not-worried-about-a-thing look on his face.

  He sat down at the table as Robin commanded and let her clean up and bandage his temple. Her hands were shaking as she did it, but he didn’t mention that either.

  “Okay, now we need to get you dried off. Why don’t you take off your wet clothes? I’ve got some large t-shirts that I like to sleep in. You can wear one of those. And maybe just wrap in a towel?”

  “Will have to do for now.” He stood and shucked off his wet shirt.

  Robin tried not to stare at Jay’s chest. It’s not like she hadn’t seen it before. They’d gone to the beach. They’d gone swimming. But his chest glistened in the low lantern light and she saw every hard, defined muscle of his abs.

  A towel. She was supposed to be getting him a towel. And a t-shirt. Though, a shirt would cover those abs of his…

  She shoved Barney’s leash into Jay’s hands. “I’ll be right back.”

  She returned with two towels and he used one to dry off. Then shook out his hair.

  “You going to watch me take off my shorts, too?” He cocked his head.

  “I… um… No, I’m going to make some tea. I keep a small camp stove burner here and I want some tea.” She turned and dug into a lower cabinet and took out the small stove, filled a tea kettle with water, and turned on the burner. When she finished, she turned back to Jay.

  He had pulled on the t-shirt, covering his chest. Too bad. He’d also wrapped a towel firmly around his waist. She swallowed and looked away.

  He walked up to her and laughed, wrapping his arms around her. “You like what you see?”

  She grinned. “I sure do.” She leaned against him, so glad to have his arms around her. Now the storm seemed not quite as scary. There was a time there, out in the storm, fighting the wind… well, she hadn’t been sure she’d make it to safety, much less find Barney. Now, here she was, in Jay’s arms.

  Something hit the side of the house and she jumped. Jay pulled her closer. “It’s going to be okay, Robs. I’m here. We’re going to be fine.”

  She only hoped he was right.

  Chapter 16

  Zoe busied herself helping out at the center. Handing out blankets, bringing people cups of coffee, all the while holding Sunny tucked in one arm and occasionally searching the crowd to reassure herself that Mason was still here and hadn’t run off on another dangerous escapade with Jay. Though, she was worried about Jay and Robin out in the storm. She hadn’t seen them return.

  Mason walked up to her, his arm full of blankets. “These are the last of them.”

  “I think there might be more in the old storage room. It’s way in the back of the building. Let’s go check.”

  The lights flickered, then came back on. “Oh, good. But maybe we should take a flashlight, just in case.” They crossed over to a table of supplies and grabbed a flashlight. Mason followed her down a long hallway to the back of the building. The chatter of the crowd faded as they moved farther away.

  She let out a long sigh. “Ah, the quiet is nice.”

  “It is.”

  The lights flickered again and she held her breath. But this time they didn’t come on. She felt Mason take her hand and he flipped on the flashlight.

  “I figured the electricity would go out eventually. Noah will start the generator now. But it will only run a few things. Some lights in the main room and the fridge. Let’s get those blankets and get back there.”

  She led the way to the storage room and they opened the door. Mason swung the light in an arc around the room, aiming it at one side then the other.

  “There.” He pointed to the corner.

  She juggled Sunny in one arm as they made their way over and dug through the stack of supplies. “I guess I should have given Sunny to someone else to watch. But I kind of like having her with me.”

  She twirled around at the sound of the door creaking closed behind them. “Oh, that startled me.”

  Mason held up the light to see the door then back to her. “So, since we’re here all alone, mind if I sneak in a kiss?”

  She didn’t miss the playful look on his face. “You could probably do that.”

  Mason pulled her into his arms, leaned down, and kissed her gently. “Been wanting to do that for hours, but too many prying eyes around us.”

  She leaned against him, feeling his heartbeat. She could stay like this forever. But not really. They needed to get the blankets back to the main room. She sighed as she pulled away from him.

  He snatched her back for one more quick kiss before they gathered up armfuls of blankets and headed back to the door. Mason juggled his armload while he wrestled with opening the door.

  He set the lantern on a table by the door, dropped the blankets, and grappled with the door handle again. He slowly turned to her. “It doesn’t seem to be working.”

  She dropped her armful of blankets and handed Sunny to him. She turned the handle, leaned against the door, and turned it again, then pulled the door toward her and tried. Nothing.

  “I… I think we’re locked in here.” She ignored the feeling of claustrophobia that crept through her just knowing they were locked in the small room.

  Mason grabbed his phone. “Ah, no signal.”

  She took hers out. “Same. No signal.”

  “We could pound on the door and yell.” Mason shrugged. “But no one is in this part of the building, and I doubt that anyone could hear it over the rain pouring on the roof. I never knew a metal roof could be so loud in a storm.”

  “I love the sound of a gentle rain on a metal roof, but when it really storms, it is loud.”

  “I guess we’re stuck here for a bit.”

  “Someone will come looking for us eventually, right?” She looked at Mason
for encouragement.

  “They will. When your uncle doesn’t see you for a while, he’ll come looking.”

  “But we didn’t tell anyone where we were headed.” She chewed her bottom lip.

  “I’m sure he won’t let any corner of this building go unchecked.” He raised the lantern, looking around the small room. “How about I pile up some blankets and we’ll sit against the wall? Silly to just stand here.”

  She nodded as he handed Sunny back to her. He piled a generous stack of blankets up and motioned for her to come over. He sank down on the blankets and reached a hand up for her. She sat beside him and he circled an arm around her shoulder. “It’s going to be okay. I’m sure Noah will come searching soon.”

  She leaned against him. “He will…”

  She set Sunny on a stack of blankets beside her and the kitten pawed the blankets, then curled up in a ball.

  “So, I know how we can keep busy until then.” He grinned at her in the warm, low light of the lantern.

  “What’s that?”

  “I’m thinking we could perfect our kissing.”

  She laughed, a bit of the tension easing out of her shoulders. “We could.”

  “It might take a while. We want to make sure we get it just right.” The corners of his mouth twitched in a smile and she could see the hint of his dimple.

  “Well, we should really work at perfecting it.”

  “We should.” He leaned down and captured her lips with his.

  Noah hurried around the center, checking on people, getting what they needed. He’d started the generator, but it was only set up to run a few lights in the building and the fridge in the kitchen. Darkness hovered in the corners, but most people had brought flashlights and lanterns with them and they were scattered around the room.

  A group had set up in the corner playing cards, and he’d gotten them more lights for their tables. Another group had a jigsaw puzzle going, and he’d opened up a bin full of building blocks for a group of kids who were busy building forts with them, their play area illuminated by two bright battery operated lanterns.