Her entire body trembled as the shark changed direction, avoiding them, and glided past.
“Hey, it won’t hurt you.” He slid his arm around her waist and held her, his hand stroking her side.
Slowly the trembling subsided. Lara, seeing her father had things under control, paddled after the shark, not a care in the world.
Nuts. Way to make a fool of herself.
“Most of the sharks in Ningaloo are well fed and not interested in us,” Darcy said, his tone low and calm. “The only time they get aggressive is if people are spear-fishing and then they’re only after your catch.” His hand continued its slow rhythm along her side. “That little reef shark is likely more scared of you then you are of it,” he continued.
“I doubt it.” Her heart rate slowed, and a warmth replaced the cold heart of fear as she became more aware of Darcy’s touch. She swallowed and shifted away. “Do you see many sharks here?”
“Usually just the black tips,” he said, motioning in the direction the shark had disappeared. “The tigers don’t tend to come this way.”
“Tiger sharks?” Her voice squeaked at the end.
“Yeah. They stick more to the reef further north.”
The sandy shore was a hundred metres back the way they’d come.
Darcy chuckled. “I can take you back to shore if you’d like. Let me tell Lara.”
The girl had stopped her shark chase and floated nearby, watching something under the water near the mangroves. Faith felt like a real wuss. “You’re not worried about being attacked?”
He shook his head. “I wouldn’t let my girl swim anywhere unsafe.” He pointed to a point further west. “There’s coral this way that’s worth a look. I promise if a shark comes, I’ll jump in front of it.”
The chivalry made her smile and his words about Lara reassured her. “I hope it’s not necessary.” She put her snorkel back in her mouth and Darcy held out his hand. She couldn’t resist, and she slipped her hand into his firm grip, feeling a blanket of safety settle over her. Together they swam hand in hand towards Lara with Darcy on the ocean side protecting her.
Her heart beat heavily for an entirely different reason.
After viewing the beautiful colours of the coral, Faith had had enough of swimming. Her whole body felt waterlogged, but Lara was still happily exploring. Faith squeezed Darcy’s hand, and they both surfaced. “I’m going to head in.”
“Let me get Lara and we’ll join you.”
Faith shook her head and let go of his hand. “No, you two keep swimming. I’ll prepare morning tea for when you’re finished.”
Darcy frowned. “Are you comfortable going back alone?”
“Yeah.” She’d seen two more sharks in their travels, and they hadn’t been at all interested in her.
“All right. There’s a spot up ahead Lara likes to visit, and then we’ll turn back.”
“Take your time.” The journey back was a little less relaxing as she kept her eye out for bigger fish in the sea, but she made it to the shore in one piece. On her way to their towels, she spotted a metal plaque not far from the mangroves. She wandered over.
Memorial to the Retribution.
As Lara had said, it included a list of names of passengers, and she spotted two Stokes on the list. Reginald and Lilian. They must be Darcy’s ancestors. Several had ‘dec’ written next to them and she assumed it was because they had died during the shipwreck, or in the mutiny. A tough way to start life in a harsh land without any towns or support nearby. Even close to a hundred and fifty years on, this location was isolated. She couldn’t imagine what it would have been like before roads or cars or telegraph communication.
At the towels, she dried herself then opened the backpack to pull out food. She couldn’t wait to ride along the shore and maybe even take her horse for a swim.
It reminded her of her childish dream to open her own horse-riding company. She’d been living with her parents on a farm in Queensland, and decided her ideal job was to take people riding each day. She’d even briefly considered it after she graduated from high school before choosing the stable option of studying law. Now though, she was certain trail rides out here would be something other people would enjoy.
The tide was going out, revealing more of the shoreline and the perfect ground to gallop along. She dug her thermos into the sand so it would stand upright and reached for the fruit she’d brought.
She hadn’t considered moving to Retribution Bay permanently, but she enjoyed running the pony club twice a week—one day for kids and another for adults. She’d wanted to explore the surrounding area on horseback but hadn’t had the chance to investigate roads or permissions. Horses might be banned from the national park, and it was probably safer if she didn’t go out on her own. It was land she could easily get lost in.
Faith glanced out at the ocean and spotted Lara and Darcy returning. She cut the fruit and arranged it in a container, then withdrew the caramel slice she’d made.
Spirit snorted and flicked her tail to remove the flies buzzing around.
