She heard a heavy splash from next to the bank and shuddered, involuntarily. It was probably a gator. She hated them, although their meat was fairly tasty. Bethany tried to ignore the sound as Dandie crawled closer to her feet.
“I started at Eton when I was twelve. We have been friends for years. Truthfully, memories of my friends kept me alive in my darker moments over here. ’Tis like I can hear them speaking to me at times, cheering me on,” he said.
Dandie slowly climbed to the back seat, giving a low throaty growl.
“Shhh, Dandie. We must be quiet,” Bethany said, instinctively tugging the leash shorter. She eased paddle into the boat and picked up her knife. Slowly, she turned. An alligator was following them closely, his eyes barely out of the water. He had spotted her dog.
“Matthew, there is an alligator ahead of us. Keep paddling on both sides if you can. I have to hold Dandie. I am afraid she will try to defend me.”
“Both of you come off the seat and sit down on the floor of the boat,” he returned. His voice brooked no discussion.
She wanted to be anywhere but here right now, fearing she might lose her small dog if she did the wrong thing. Alligators were known to lurch from the water at their prey. She pushed her knife in front of her and, holding her dog tightly, moved to the center of the boat, closer to Matthew.
“Curse my eyes!” Matthew hissed. “I am of little use.”
“We will have to risk being seen. Can you hold on to Dandie, tightly?” her voice trembled.
“Yes,” he said, taking the small animal and pulling it close to him. He tucked her into his jacket, limiting her mobility.
Bethany dreaded having to use her gun, but she was at a loss as to what weapon would best serve her needs. The gun would have a loud report, but she knew her strength was no match for the gator. She laid the knife down and cocked the small pistol.
Dandie whimpered at the sound of the gun.
“Hold her tight. I don’t want her to get out of the boat and the gun will scare her,” she whispered, her eyes never leaving the alligator, who seemed to be slowing. She raised her gun, prepared to fire, when the creature suddenly turned and dove down into the water.
“He... he’s gone. He dove under the water.” Fear quaked her voice.
A sudden splash broke on the side of the boat as the creature lurched itself onto the side.
Bethany fired and the animal immediately fell backward.
The force of the shot knocked Bethany off balance, and she stumbled back into the water.
Chapter Thirteen
It happened quickly.The gun discharged and the shadow of what looked to be a large gator fell backward, hitting the water with a loud thud. And Bethany catapulted off the other side of the boat. Matthew quickly tethered the barking dog and readied himself to dive into the water after her. Surely, he could feel her body.
“Matthew, help me!” the words gurgled forth in a rush.
He eyed the water on the other side of the boat trying to determine where she had fallen. It would be of no help to dive in the wrong direction.
Seeing what he thought looked like her, he dove into the water, aiming a little away from where he had heard her voice, unsure of what he would find.I have to save her.
“Matthew, I’m here. My foot... it’s caught on something. It feels like a rope and I cannot get free.”
He could hear her cries of frustration. Swimming toward her voice, he found her. Neither mentioned the alligator that had only moments before threatened them. He felt her shoulder, trying to pull her, but could not get her closer to the boat. She was right. Her foot was caught on something. “Can you tread water?”
“Yes,” she gurgled, spitting the brackish water. “My knife. It’s in the boat.”
“Try to tread water slowly,” he cautioned, instinctively knowing she would draw attention to herself from another gator. He wasn’t sure the first one was gone.
“Hurry...” she choked.
Grabbing the side of the boat, he felt along the edge until he found the back where she had been sitting, and thrust himself over the side. He looked at the now barking dog, trying to calm her with his words. “Shhh! Dandie. Quiet. I will get her. I promise,” he said, grabbing the knife and sliding back into the water.
This was the largest knife he could remember holding. Carefully, he felt the blade side, making sure he knew where it was, as he reached Bethany. He pressed her arm gently before diving, following her leg. At her foot, he felt a coarse rope covered with squishy stuff. He cut it, freeing Bethany, who immediately started kicking toward the boat, her dress flowing next to his arm. He returned to the surface and helped hoist her into the boat.
“Hurry,” she cried. “There is another gator. He’s close.”
