Read Online God's Highlander by E. V. Thompson - Free Book Online Page B

would not be as easy as Wyatt had hoped. There were a number of deep channels between the bank and the island, and one carried a fierce current of water that reached as high as Wyatt’s armpits. When he attempted to cross this channel he was swept off his feet by the current and was lucky to be deposited in shallower water some distance down the hillside.
    When he made his next attempt Wyatt was secured to an improvised ‘rope’. It was made from strips of cloth torn from Wyatt’s shirt, the clothing made by Mairi and her sister-in-law – and Mairi’s own dress.
    Mairi’s dress was sacrificed when it became evident that the improvised rope was still not long enough to reach the island. Without seeking Wyatt’s opinion, Mairi stripped the sodden dress from her shoulders and dropped it to the ground before his startled gaze.
    For a few moments, as he looked at her naked body, Wyatt’s emotions were those of the soldier he had once been and not the minister of the Church he had become. Then Mairi covered her nakedness with Wyatt’s discarded coat and was fastening the buttons.
    â€˜If you’ve done with your gawping, you can help me rip up my dress. You’d better knot it yourself; it’s your life that’ll be depending on it.’
    Wyatt entered the water stripped to the waist, the temperature of the water causing his very bones to ache. He had one end of the ‘rope’ twisted about one hand, while the other end was gripped by Mairi.
    Once, in mid-channel, Wyatt slipped and was carried away by the fierce current, but Mairi’s grip on the cloth rope held firm until he
gained a footing once more. Then he waded ashore on the island and, forcing his way through clumps of tangled brushwood, reached the two children.
    Kirstie Munro, a very frightened nine-year-old, had reached the end of her endurance. When Wyatt reached her side and took the ten-month-old Barbie from her she burst into tears.
    With the baby caught in one arm, Wyatt held Kirstie to him and did his best to comfort her, saying: ‘It’s all right now, Kirstie. You’ve been a brave girl. It’s nearly over. Try to stay brave for a wee while longer….’
    Kirstie Munro had endured hours of terror and despair, despite a fervent belief that her father and mother would not abandon her. Rescue had seemed far away at the height of the storm, but she had never doubted she would be rescued eventually. Now that help had arrived, she realised how close she had come to death.
    â€˜In a few more minutes we’ll have you and Barbie safe on the bank with Mairi. But you’ll need to be a brave girl for a few minutes more. Can you do that?’
    Kirstie nodded vigorously. ‘I … I’ll try.’
    â€˜Good girl. I’ll send you over first. Let me tie this around you….’ Wyatt knotted the end of the cloth rope about Kirstie’s body and signalled for Mairi to prepare to haul the child to safety.
    Kirstie was frightened of entering the water, but gradually Wyatt coaxed her to the edge of the small island. When he was quite sure Mairi was ready, he pushed the girl in.
    She disappeared beneath the surface of the water immediately. A few anxious seconds later Wyatt saw her surface in mid-channel. Spluttering and coughing, she struck out for the safety of the far bank, helped along by Mairi’s strength at the other end of the rope.
    Soon Mairi was helping Kirstie Munro ashore, hugging the child briefly before she returned her attention to Wyatt and the baby.
    Little more than thirty feet separated Wyatt and the safety of the bank, but not until Mairi knotted a large stone on the end of the rope and made a number of desperate casts did the rope reach him.
    Tying the cloth rope about his waist and holding Barbie Munro in his arms, Wyatt signalled to Mairi – and plunged into the water. He lost his footing almost immediately, and as the waters closed about him felt