“We have not yet proven it as a possibility,” Nicoll said. “But we did put our minds to the options.”
“What is it?” Rhys asked with suspicion.
“The boat?”
“Will sink if you try and put it in the water.”
“You disguise it,” Margaret said with a heavy sigh at his stating the obvious.
“How?” he asked more slowly.
“Logs and leaves and such, and tip it just right so that we can get under it.”
“Will you all fit?” Tempest asked. She was not so certain.
“You as well, Miss Driscoll,” Rhys warned.
Yes, well she would sacrifice herself for her younger sisters if necessary, but it was not an argument that she wanted to have with him or in front of them.
“Can we see if it will work?” Ruth asked with excitement.
“Why not?” Rhys grinned.
The girls hurried down the few steps from the terrasse and ran to the boat and tipped it on its side. They then found dead logs to brace the boat at either end then the younger ones crawled inside, followed by Nicoll. They had to curl up with practically their foreheads on the ground, but they fit. They were also pressed together to make as much room as possible.
Nicoll patted the empty space beside her. “See if you will fit, Tempest.”
“I can tell by looking that I will be able to.” She was not about to demonstrate now and would only retreat there in the most dire of circumstances.
“I also think that you should remain in your dresses,” Rhys said after they crawled back out.
“What if we get dirty?” Ellen asked innocently.
“If they have been washed and are drying, be close enough to grab them to hide with you. If soldiers come around and want to look inside the hut, I do not want to have to explain why I have dresses.”
Ruth giggled. “That would be silly, would it not.”
It would be dangerous and something that she had not considered. Not that they had brought anything with them, but stockings and shoes were often discarded because they would rather be barefoot in the sand and it was hot. Therefore, when they returned to the hut, she had her sisters gather their things and place them in a cloth sack, along with her reticule, that they would grab if they needed to hide.
“I am hungry,” Ellen whined as she sank down on the bench.
It was difficult to know the time because she’d left her timepiece in her reticule. But by the location of the sun, it must be nearing the afternoon. “I will prepare something to eat. Will you be joining us, Mr. McNaught?”
“No thank you,” he said as he retrieved a fishing pole and bucket.
“What are you doing?” She thought he was going to go into town.
Rhys held the pole out to her. “Hunting?”
“That is silly too,” Ruth giggled. “You do not hunt with a fishing pole, Mr. McNaught.”
“I know what fishing is, Mr. McNaught. That is not want I meant.”
“I am hungry and I would like something different for dinner for a change.”
“Can we join you?” Margaret asked.
“I can help,” Ann insisted.
