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“ You were wrong, Max,” Gram said.

The same thought had been going through Max’s head for the past hour. He’d jumped to conclusions, and now that he’d had time to cool off, he knew the Becca he loved wouldn’t have done what he’d assumed she did.

“I should go look for her,” he said.

“You’re finally saying something smart,” Gram said. “Though I’m not sure she’ll accept your apology.”

“She has to.” He went to the door and stepped outside. Where would she have gone? He walked along the edge of the water for a ways, but saw no sign of her. Retracing his footsteps, he checked the barn, but all the vehicles were inside except the one Jake and Wynne had taken.

After an hour of searching, he still couldn’t find her. Jake and Wynne came home from town, and Max flagged them down. He explained what happened.

“Man, you are an idiot,” Jake said. “A more honest person doesn’t live than my sister.”

“I know, I was wrong. I’m getting worried about her. She’s been gone more than two hours.”

“Let’s fan out and look for her,” Wynne said. She walked toward the back of the house while the men went along the water in opposite directions.

By mid-afternoon, Max was ready to call the sheriff. What if something had happened to Becca? The previous attempts on her life had been real, and she could be in terrible danger. He had to find her.

Becca wiggled her wrists experimentally. The rope holding her didn’t budge. Nick had tied her so tightly, the bonds cut into the skin of her arms, and her hands ached. The cold from the hard ground seeped into her bones.

Her head hurt from where Nick had clubbed her with the gun when she tried to break past them. Her attack had been short-lived.

“They’re looking for her,” Shayna said. “We’ve got to get her out of here. Tate might think to look here.”

“If he sobers up enough to think about it,” Nick said with a sneer.

“What should we do with her?” Shayna asked.

“The easiest thing would be to take her out in the boat and toss her overboard. The cold would make short work of her, and it will look like an accident. Or suicide. If Max hasn’t discovered the missing money, he will soon. They’ll all think she couldn’t live with the guilt of her crime.”

“Good idea.” Shayna peered through the window. “We don’t dare wait until dark. They could come busting in here any minute.”

“I’ll bring the boat around to Fisherman’s Cay on the other side of the forest. It’s only a fifteen minute trek or so for you. Bring her around there in half an hour.” He handed her the gun. “Use this if you have to.”

Becca watched Shayna take the gun and check it. Maybe she had a chance. Shayna alone would be easier to take on. She prayed for strength and the right opportunity.

Nick kissed Shayna then disappeared into the other room, and moments later the door creaked and he was gone.

“You won’t get away with this,” Becca said. “My brother and sister will find me.” She longed to say Max would be searching for her, but he would consider her death a blessing. The thought made her eyes burn.

“No one will suspect us,” Shayna said. “After all, we have nothing to gain, right?” She smiled with obvious satisfaction. “We’ve been careful. Everyone thinks I’ve been mooning over Max.” She giggled. “You swallowed my story without a problem.”

She was right. Becca wiggled her wrists again when Shayna looked out the window then glanced at her watch.

“God sees what you’re doing,” Becca said.

Shayna’s smile faded. “Shut up.”

“You may get by with it in this life, but eternity is another matter.”

“I said shut up!” Shayna stepped forward and slapped Becca across the mouth.

A trickle of warmth ran down from the corner of Becca’s mouth, and she licked at it. It tasted coppery. “Don’t do this, Shayna. No amount of money is worth murder,” she pressed.

“You have no idea how much money Gram has, do you?”

“I don’t care,” Becca said.

“More fool you. She’s got ten million in cash. The house and grounds are easily worth another five million.”

“There would have been plenty for you without getting rid of me,” Becca pointed out. “Gram intends to give Tate his share.”

Shayna laughed. “I peeked at the will. A paltry million was all she planned to leave Tate. Molly, Jake and Wynne will get the same, and you’ll get the rest. Tate was going to get the bulk of the estate until your parents showed up.” She glanced at her watch again. “Time to go. You’re about to meet God face to face.”

“I’m not afraid, but you should be,” Becca said.

Shayna scowled and jerked Becca to her feet. She shoved her toward the door, and Becca stumbled and fell.

“It’s going to be hard to walk all tied up. Can you tie my hands in front instead of in back?”

“Nice try. Get moving.” Shayna jerked her to her feet and shoved her again.

Becca walked slowly through the rubble. Once outside, she intended to run for the house and yell for all she was worth.

As if she read her mind, Shayna jerked her back. “Wait a minute. She whipped a scarf out of her pocket and stuffed it in Becca’s mouth.

Becca tried to spit it out, but it was wedged too tightly. Despair tightened her chest, but she pushed it away. She could still run. Walking out into the forest, she glanced around for the best route.

The trees crowded in so thickly, it would be almost impossible to outrun Shayna. And the other woman kept a tight hand on Becca’s arm.

Shayna marched her through the trees toward the little inlet that circled around the back of Windigo Manor’s property. If Becca was going to break free, she needed to do it now.

She pretended to stumble then wrenched her arm from Shayna’s grasp. Free of the restraining grip, she dashed back the way they’d come, zigzagging through the trees.

She heard Shayna shout then rush after her. Desperation gave wings to her feet, and the breath came harsh in her lungs. She thought she was gaining ground then she was tackled from behind.

Shayna’s weight bore her to the ground, and the shock of hitting the unforgiving earth stole the breath from her lungs.

“Get up.” The rage in Shayna’s voice rendered her tone almost unrecognizable. “If you run again, I’ll shoot you.”

Becca recognized the deadly intent in the other woman’s voice. Shayna dragged her to her feet and shoved her back toward the Cay. As they approached the beach, she heard the sound of a motor coming. Nick was at the helm of a small motorboat. He waved and guided the boat in close to shore.

Shayna yanked on Becca’s arm again, and they both splashed into the water to the boat. The shock of Superior’s icy water made Becca gasp.

“Cold, isn’t it?” Shayna asked grimly. “The hypothermia will kill you in ten minutes.”

Nick dragged her over the side of the boat, and she fell onto the bottom of the boat. He helped Shayna board the boat as well then revved up the motor and pointed the boat’s bow toward the open water.

“Take her far out,” Shayna hollered over the boat’s motor.

Nick nodded. The cold spray struck Becca in the face. There was nowhere for her to go. If she jumped overboard, Superior’s icy grip would just claim her sooner.

As she lay on the bottom of the boat, her necklace caught on an oar. She jerked her head to free it, but it broke instead and lay coiled on the bottom of the boat.

Fifteen minutes later Nick throttled back the motor. “This is as good a spot as any.”

He reached in his pocket and pulled out a knife. The cold blade touched Becca’s wrists then the bonds holding her fell away. Nick pulled her to her feet. “Sorry it has to end this way, Becca. I liked you.”

“Get it over with,” Shayna snapped.

For a minute Becca thought maybe Nick couldn’t do it, then he shoved her. Caught offguard, she flailed to keep her balance, but it was no use, and she plunged overboard. The cold water closed over her head and nearly numbed her. She fought the water’s icy grip, then her head broke the surface. She gasped in a breath.

“So long, Becca. It’s been nice knowing you.” Nick revved up the motor once again, and the boat zoomed away.

Becca wanted to shout after them, but she knew it was a waste of her lung power. She tread water a moment, praying for guidance. She wasn’t done yet.

She glanced around at the horizon. Nothing but water. Then she spied a tiny glimpse of land to the north. Gull Island. She’d forgotten about the tiny speck of land. Unpopulated, it was hardly more than twenty feet in circumference. During rainy periods, it was totally submerged, but the summer had been dry. It might be her salvation.

She knew it was a long shot. The cold would kill her long before she ever reached it, but she had to try. Striking out strongly, she began to swim toward it. At first her movements were strong and sure, but the water’s cold grip began to slow her down, make her sluggish. Her thoughts began to jumble as hypothermia dulled her senses.

Kick, stroke, kick.

She repeated the mantra to herself. It seemed she swam forever. The water kept breaking over her head as the cold tried to claim her. She struggled on, a faint prayer still echoing in her head. Her mouth and nose went under again, and she came up sputtering. Then her knees hit sand, and she realized the island was right in front her. A sandbar ran around the perimeter about a quarter of a mile from the actual shore.

The swim had to have taken at least half an hour. God had to have done this. She could never have made it in her own strength.

She stumbled to her feet and plodded through the shallow water toward land. Her teeth chattered, and she found it hard to think. It felt like she walked forever before she reached the shelter of the trees. She sank to her knees. “Thank you, Father,” she whispered as she fell face down into the sand.

When her senses came back to her more fully, she realized she was still in dire straits. There was no way to start a fire to warm herself, no one would think to look for her here. All she’d done was prolong her death.

No, she wouldn’t think like that. God had brought her this far. She had to keep going, had to find a way to get help.

The wind chilled her further, and she wrapped her arms around her. It had been years since she’d been on Gull Island, but if she remembered correctly, there was an old lean-to here somewhere. She stumbled to her feet and began to search in the fading light. It was nearly dark when she found what she was looking for.

It was not the cute little structure she remembered. Time had taken its toll, and the roof was gone as well as one of the walls. But a tattered blanket lay inside. Becca grabbed it up thankfully and shook the insects out of it then wrapped it around her shoulders. She wouldn’t die just yet.

Max paced the living room carpet. The sheriff had left with his men to search, though Max and Becca’s siblings had combed every inch of the island they could think to look. He rubbed his burning eyes.

Shayna handed him a cup of coffee. “Do you think she could have just decided to leave? That’s what I would have done after a fight.”

“Jake and Wynne are here. She wouldn’t just go off and leave them without a word,” he pointed out.

“Did you have a fight or anything?”

He hesitated.

“You did,” Shayna shrugged her elegant shoulders. “When a woman is hurting, she does crazy things. What was the fight about?”

“Some of Gram’s money is missing, and I was stupid enough to think for a minute that she took it,” he admitted.

Shayna’s eyes widened. “Could she have—committed suicide?”

Max froze. The thought had been playing at the edge of his mind for a few minutes, but to hear it spoken made him feel sick. She wouldn’t do something like that, would she? Becca was strong and only cowards committed suicide.

“Something has happened to her,” Wynne said. “Becca is the most thoughtful girl. She wouldn’t have wanted to worry me and Jake like this. And she would never be so selfish as to try to kill herself. I’m afraid she’s lying somewhere with a broken leg or something.” She sounded near tears.

Jake slammed his fist onto the wall. “We have to find her.”

“We can’t do much tonight,” Nick said. “It’s too dark to see.”

Though Max knew his brother was right, he couldn’t bear the thought that Becca was out there somewhere hurt and alone. Maybe dead. The thought was like a splash of cold water. He couldn’t believe that—wouldn’t believe it.

“I’m going out again,” he said abruptly.

“Me too.” Jake followed him.

The men split up again, and Max strode toward the cave where he’d found Becca once before. He called her name through the long night, praying all the while. But when dawn came, there was still no sign of Becca.

He watched the sun come up then went to the boathouse. Though he’d looked already, there was no boat missing. The small motorboat he often used bobbed in the water, and he was tempted to take it out onto the Lake. He knew it was useless. If Becca was in the water, she was dead. But the urge wouldn’t leave.

He went to the boat and got in. On the bottom he saw something glitter and looked closer. Becca’s necklace, the one she always wore with a small dolphin. He picked it up. What was it doing here? As far as he knew, she’d never taken this boat out.

He climbed out of the boat and went to the door of the boathouse. “Jake, Wynne, over here!” He saw them in the distance and waved.

Jake shouted back and he and his sister jogged toward Max. When they reached him, he showed them the necklace. “I’m going out on the Lake,” he said.

“We’re going with you.” Wynne dug her cell phone out and called the house to explain what they’d found. “Gram is calling the sheriff,” she said when she hung up.

The three of them got in the boat, and Max fired up the engine. As they pulled away from the shore, he heard a shout and saw Nick trying to flag him down. “I’ll be back soon!” he shouted back.

He raced the motor out into the water. Where to go? Lake Superior covered a huge area. He tried to think of anyplace she could have gone where she would still be alive. That hope was fading with every minute. He prayed silently, asking for guidance.

God knew where she was. As suddenly as the thought came, he remembered Gull Island. It was a long shot, but what did he have to lose by checking there? He turned the bow of the boat in that direction.

The sun glimmered off the water as they rode the waves. Then the tiny island came into sight. He revved the engine higher, an urgency driving him on. The hull hit a sandy bottom a ways out from shore, and he tossed the anchor overboard.

“We’ll have to walk from here.” He cut the engine and swung his legs overboard. Jake and Wynne followed him.

“I’d forgotten how cold the water was,” Wynne gasped.

He dragged the boat more securely onto the sandbar, and they struck out for the land. Moments later they gained the sandy beach.

“Becca!” he shouted.

Jake and Wynne echoed his call. He tried not to think, tried not to face how ridiculous it was to think she might be here.

Then they heard an answering shout. Becca waved to them from down the beach.

“Becca!” Max felt a surge of joy and raced toward her. Jake and Wynne followed, but he reached her first and swept her into his arms.

Her hair hung in strands around her face, and she was shivering. He’d never seen a more beautiful sight. “Get a blanket from the boat,” he shouted back to Jake.

Her brother nodded and veered back the way he’d come. Max whipped off his jacket and slung it around Becca’s shoulders.

“You found me. I prayed and prayed,” Becca sobbed. She buried her face in his chest.

He clutched her tightly and kissed the top of her head. “I’m so sorry, Becca, so sorry. I was wrong and pig-headed. I love you so much. Don’t ever scare me like that again.”

Wynne reached them, and Becca turned to embrace her. The sisters clung together, both sobbing.

Jake arrived with the blanket, and he slung it around his sister. “What happened? How did you get out here?”

Becca hiccoughed and pulled away from Wynne. “Nick and Shayna. They killed Mom and Dad.”

Shock radiated through Max. “Nick? But why?”

“They want Gram’s money. They plan to kill Tate once he has the lion’s share. Then they can marry and live the life they want.”

“They left you here?” Rage began to gather in Max’s chest.

Becca shook her head. “They threw me into Superior. I remembered this island and decided to try to swim for it. God kept me going long enough to make it.”

Max pulled her back against his chest, and his gaze met Jake’s. “Call the sheriff,” he said.

Becca held a cup of hot cocoa in her hands as she nestled against Max’s side. He didn’t want to let go of her. Molly curled against his other side, and Max had his arm around both his girls.

“Nick blabbed the whole plan when the sheriff arrested him,” Max told her. He pressed his lips against her hair.

“I think it was Shayna’s idea,” Becca said. She took sip of cocoa and sighed in contentment. “She was tired of living on the island, but she didn’t want to give up the chance of getting Gram’s money.

“What about Gram’s money that was missing?” Wynne asked.

“It was the backup plan since they hadn’t managed to dispose of me. They wanted to discredit me so Gram would leave the money to Tate. Then they could kill Tate and have it all.”

“And we have no way of getting it back for Gram,” Jake said. “They’ll never give us the account number.”

Becca smiled. “The account book is in the folly. We can transfer it back.”

“Are you going to be my mommy?” Molly asked, her hand patting Becca’s face.

Becca’s gaze grew shy, and she glanced up at Max then looked away.

Max’s throat grew tight. He didn’t deserve her after the way he’d treated her. “She is if I have any say in it.” He wrapped a strand of her hair around his finger.

“Ask her, Daddy,” Molly urged.

“Yeah, ask her,” Jake said mockingly. His dark eyes gleamed with laughter.

Wynne punched him. “We should leave them alone for this,” she said.

“Not on your life.” Jake crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back in his chair.

“You wanting lessons for when you finally find someone crazy enough to marry you?” Max asked. He wanted to look at Becca, but he was suddenly scared. Maybe she didn’t love him that way.

He finally dared to raise his gaze and look into Becca’s blue eyes. The love he felt for her nearly silenced him. His breath whispered against her ear. “Marry me, Becca. I can’t live without you.”

“That’s no way to propose,” Jake scoffed. “You’re supposed to get on your knees. And after what you’ve put her through, she deserves that much.”

“Jake,” Becca said threateningly. “Shut up.”

He spread his hands. “I was just trying to help.”

“Okay, fine.” Max got up and knelt beside Becca. Before he could say anything, she put her hand over his lips then got down on the floor beside him.

“Don’t you know by now never to listen to my brother? You don’t have to grovel.”

“I’d grovel gladly,” he whispered as he took her in his arms. “You’re the love of my life, Becca. Will you marry me?”

Becca put her hand over her mouth, and he could see it was all she could do not to burst into laughter. “Okay, but you have to promise to never listen to my brother again.”

“Agreed,” he said as his lips met hers.

The End