Both Gabe and Nathan had dived in. They were now dragging the man out and onto the bank. Now that Mary was safe, he thought seriously about killing Plunge. He was the reason she’d ended up in the water.
Zach didn’t bother trying to climb back into a boat but made for the bank. Wet, angry, and confused as to why he’d felt the utter desperation he had when Mary plunged into the water, he made it there in a matter of minutes.
She could have drowned.
CHAPTERSIXTEEN
Forrest and Warwick hauled Zach from the water, and he immediately rose.
“Zach?” his cousin said.
“What?” He didn’t look at Forrest. His eyes were checking Mary, who was being helped out of her boat. He then moved his gaze to Plunge who was weeping at the state of his jacket a few feet away.
“It was not his fault,” Forrest said, clearly seeing the rage in Zach’s eyes. “Mary stumbled and fell. Plunge played no part in that.”
“His boat nudged hers!” It was cold. The wind plastered his wet clothes to his body, but the anger warmed him.
“It was an accident. The man is prostrate with despair over what happened. You know he would not hurt anyone deliberately,” Warwick said in that calm voice he used on his family but had never worked on Zach. “You will not storm over there and pummel him, Zach.”
“No, you will not.” Gabe arrived with Nathan, wet through and glowering. “It was an accident and nothing more.”
Zach glared at the men before him and then squelched away to where Mary was. As if she sensed him approaching, her head shot up, eyes shooting his way. It was then he saw the trickle of blood.
“You’re bleeding!” Why could he not stop roaring? He wanted to hurt someone, needed a vent for the rage inside him. She wore only her dress now. The pale peppermint material was plastered to her lovely body.
“She is all right, just a cut,” Dimity soothed.
He reached Mary, grabbing her chin and gently tilting it so he could inspect the cut. Not wide but deep, he guessed.
“I’m well.” Her hand pushed his away. With the hair back from her face, he could see all of her. The delicate features he’d never taken the time to notice until now.
“Mary, that looks like it may hurt,” Lord Sinclair said, arriving with his wife. “Move now, Zach, and let us inspect the damage.”
Zach didn’t move, so Dev nudged him. He took a single step back.
“I don’t think it’s too bad. Do you have a headache, Mary?” he asked, stepping between Zach and Mary. “My sister is an excellent healer. I shall have her send you a powder.”
“I-I am fine, just cold,” Mary whispered. “Thank you for asking,” she added, remembering her manners.
Lady Sinclair, who Zach liked very much because she annoyed Warwick constantly, stepped closer. She then tugged off a glove and touched the cut gently.
“It will heal perfectly, Mary, and you will be back to your beautiful healthy self in no time, my dear. That scratch on your cheek is a bit raw too.” Her finger touched it softly. She then ran her hand over Mary’s head.
“I-I am all right,” Mary said.
“Of course you will be,” Lady Sinclair said, pulling on her gloves once more.
“And now I think after that excitement we shall find some champagne, my love,” Dev then said.
Seconds later, Zach watched Lord and Lady Sinclair walk away. Mary was frowning as she watched them. Her fingers then touched the cut.
Was it his imagination, or had that scratch faded?
“What?” Zach asked Mary. She looked a bit dazed.
“You two need to get dry before you take a chill,” Beth stated.
“We all do,” Nathan said, arriving with Gabe who looked like a cat with his hair combed the wrong way.
