Could they get it out?
Should he take it out now and risk it potentially filling with water and sinking? Maybe the guys could get it to higher ground and flip it over. Seemed like the best bet, but he had minimal experience with boats. Dev was the water expert in the group.
Micha turned to go back to the cabin to discuss it with him, sure he would want to come out to take a good look. Micha would accompany him but offer the rain gear to him, and Micha would get drenched for sure. It was almost embarrassing that none of them had their rain gear along. Setting bad examples of survival for Ava. But they’d set out to protect her in the city, not on a rural property in record-setting rainfall.
He kept his eye out for any foe, but honestly, he didn’t expect anyone. Not only because he doubted anyone could know where they were, but who would come out in this weather when they could wait a few days for the storm to blow over? So the longer the rain poured like this, he hoped, the better off they were. Unless of course, they had to escape. Then the rain became their enemy.
He pushed open the door and found the others sitting on their sleeping bags in front of the fireplace, mugs in hand.
“Man, would I like to trade places with you all.” He shoved his hood back. “It’s not fit for man nor beast out there.”
The others laughed at his reference fromRudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeerwhen Yukon Cornelius said it to Rudolph. At least that’s where he’d heard that saying.
He unzipped his jacket and explained what he’d seen at the river. “I hate to ask, Dev, but would you be willing to check it out with me and come up with the best plan for the boat in case we need it?”
Dev frowned. “From what you described, it would be foolhardy to take a small fishing boat onto a flooded river.”
Micha had expected this answer. “But less foolhardy than taking a bullet or knife.”
“True that.”
Micha untied the rain pants. “You can have the rain gear.”
“I won’t melt.” Dev set down his mug on the fireplace hearth. “You can keep it if you want.”
“No.” Micha stepped free of the pants. “I roped you into this protection detail, and the least I can do is keep you semidry. The cold is another story.”
Dev crossed over to him. “Warm up by the fire while I gear up.”
Micha stepped across the room and put his hands out to the flames and heat.
Ava smiled up at him, doing as much to warm him as the fire.
“Thank you both for going out there for us,” she said. “I don’t ever remember Danny saying the river flooded before.”
“Might not have,” Micha said. “This is turning out to be a freak storm. If the front hadn’t stalled over the area, we wouldn’t be seeing such big rainfall amounts.”
Ave hopped up and looked at him. “I’ll get a garbage bag to put over your jacket.”
“Thanks,” he said wondering how much it would help, but it would probably be better than nothing.
In the kitchen, she opened the sink cabinet and pulled out a big black bag. He could easily imagine her living here. Maybe him, too, enjoying the rural setting with no one around. As a nurse, she could find a job in the nearest town. It might not be exactly what she was used to, but it would remove one obstacle of their being together.
Wouldn’t do anything for his reluctance due to his sister’s needs, but he’d made some progress on that, right? Before he met Ava, he wouldn’t even have considered what it might be like to start a relationship, much less develop to the point that he would think of marriage, but this woman was worth getting a grip on his problems.
She handed him the bag. “I wish I had something better for you.”
“No worries.” He smiled. “I’ll be back here in a flash and can get changed into dry clothes.”
“Thank you for yet one more thing I can’t repay you for.” She squeezed his arm.
Oh, but you have. You just don’t know it.
He held her gaze, transmitting what he hoped was his interest, thanks, and caring all in one.
Dev flipped up the jacket hood. “Let’s go check it out.”
Micha ripped a hole in the bag, tugged it over his head, and punched his arms through. He followed Dev out the door, and they plunged into the deluge. Without a hood, the rain pelted his head and face, running into his eyes. He lifted his hand against the water to see the way.
