“We will rescue them quickly.” Franklyn told them to hold on. He left the trio standing on the sidewalk, returning moments later holding a ring of keys in his hand.
The rescue team of four hopped in the tuk-tuk and took off. Cutting through a side yard, they reached the caretaker’s cottage, the gift shop and finally the lighthouse.
As soon as they stopped, Franklyn exited and hurried to the entrance. Flipping through the keys, he quickly found the right one, unlocked the door and flung it open.
Instead of finding three trapped women, the main entry was empty. “No one is here.”
Millie joined him on the stoop. She stuck her head inside, noticing the spiral staircase. “Gloria?” she called out.
A flit of movement caught her eye. Her cousin leaned over the railing. “Millie?”
Ruth scrambled down the steps. “We had to sit by the window to get cell reception. Lucy’s ankle is starting to swell.”
“We will help her down.” Franklyn and Felix climbed the steps, returning a short time later carrying a pale Lucy with Gloria close behind.
“We watched Siren of the Seas pull away from the dock.”
“Sharky is waiting for us. We’ll have to tender back to the ship.”
“Bless his heart.” Gloria blinked back sudden tears. God had answered their prayers.
“Shoot, I would swim back if I had to.” Ruth impulsively hugged Felix. “Millie and team to the rescue.”
“You guys are a sight for sore eyes,” Lucy said. “Unfortunately, I’m going to have a little trouble boarding the ship.”
“We’ll drag you back on if we have to.” Millie gazed at her cousin, noticing a tense look on her face. “Are you okay?”
“I drank a very tall Arnold Palmer lemonade on the beach and…”
“You need to use the restroom.” Franklyn jangled the keys. “Follow me.”
“To be honest, I should probably use the facilities as well,” Ruth said.
“Hop in the tuk-tuk. We will drive you there.”
Crammed into the compact vehicle, with the friends sitting on each other’s laps, the rescuers and “rescue-ees” made a fast track to the public restrooms. As soon as the women finished their business, the driver dropped Franklyn off at home.
Millie tried to pay him, to which he adamantly refused. “I have done my good deed. I am relieved we have a happy ending.” Franklyn patted Lucy’s shoulder. “Be careful getting back on the ship, young lady. I think you’ve had enough excitement for today.”
“Today?” Lucy winced in pain. “More like for the rest of the cruise.”
Chapter 29
“I’ll let you know when we’re ready.” Sharky eased the Zodiac alongside the ship and tossed the ropes to the crew members who were on standby, awaiting their return.
“Are they hooking us up and lifting the Zodiac?”
“I wish,” he said. “Unfortunately, the lift seems to have developed a glitch and has been randomly shutting off, so we’re gonna have to do this the old-fashioned way.”
“It looks like a steep climb.” Gloria’s eyes traveled up the side of the ship, following the portable ladder to the emergency entrance, a large square cutout. “Is the ladder safe?”
“One hundred percent,” Sharky said. “Harbor pilots use them all the time to get on and get off.”
“It might be a little nerve-wracking,” Millie said.
“Having done this a time or two, my suggestion is don’t look down.” Sharky tugged on the ropes, confirming they were secure. “We’re ready for the first volunteer.”
“I’ll go to make sure it’s working properly.” Felix carefully made his way to the other side of the Zodiac. Grasping the rubber rung with both hands, he stepped over the side and began climbing the ladder.
