Read Online Summer at Forsaken Lake by Michael D. Beil - Free Book Online
Authors: Michael D. Beil
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looked
exactly
like you did when I threw that curveball at you.”
“I was trying to figure out how we were going to explain it,” Nicholas said. “I had this image of us standing out there in the middle of the lake—no boat in sight.”
“Maybe we don’t tell your uncle about this.” Charlielooked in the direction of Uncle Nick’s house, but it was too far away to make out any details. “I don’t think anybody saw us—except maybe the guys in that fishing boat. And Pistol,” she added, patting his head. “Thanks for all your help, boy.”
Nicholas, agreeing that this was no time for full disclosure, took the tiller in his hands and pointed
Goblin
back out to the center of the lake.
* * *
But someone
had
seen them. Despite his apparent nonchalance as they left the mooring, Uncle Nick watched their progress across the lake through binoculars. As they approached the sandbar, he cringed, remembering that he hadn’t pointed it out. He crossed his fingers, hoping they would just miss it, and groaned when he saw that they had stopped.
“Here, take a look at this,” he said, handing the binoculars to Hayley.
She stared through them at
Goblin
for some time. “Why aren’t they moving?”
“Remember
We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea
? After they lost the anchor and started sailing away, what were the kids most worried about?”
“The promise they made to their mom not to go to sea?”
“And what else?”
“The shoals?”
“That’s right. Well, Nicholas and Charlie found a little shoal all their own.”
Hayley’s eyes grew wide. “Are they gonna sink?”
“No—the only damage will be to their pride,” Uncle Nick said. “If they start the engine, they should be able to back her right off. Here, let me see.” He looked through the binoculars again, shaking his head and smiling. “No, no, Nicholas. Stay aboard the boat.”
“What’s happening?” asked Hetty.
Uncle Nick narrated the rest of the action across the lake, roaring with laughter at the climactic moment when
Goblin
slid herself off the sandbar, leaving Nicholas and Charlie standing helplessly while Pistol and
Goblin
sailed away. He was never really concerned for their safety, because they could just stand there on the sandbar until he came to rescue them, and with the wind blowing down the lake as it was, he knew
Goblin
could drift slowly along for a long time before running into anything.
He handed the binoculars to Hetty. “Everyone’s back aboard, and they’re sailing. They’re both looking this way—probably want to see if we’re watching.”
“It’s a good thing we were,” said Hayley.
“Are they in trouble?” Hetty asked. “I think they should be. Specially Nicholas.”
“Why him especially?” Uncle Nick asked. “I’d have to say they’re both equally involved. Nobody’s in trouble—accidents happen, and this one was my fault as much as anyone’s. Ladies, we’re not going to say a word about this—right?”
Hayley pouted for a few seconds, disappointed at losing a good opportunity to make her big brother a little bit miserable. “What if
they
say something first?”
“Well, now—that’s a whole different pail o’ worms,” answered Uncle Nick.
* * *
Two hours later, after an uneventful sail to the far south end of the lake,
Goblin
approached her mooring with Charlie at the tiller and Nicholas standing on the bow with the boat hook, ready to pick up the float at the end of the mooring line. The wind had freshened a bit, but Charlie did her job perfectly, releasing the jib sheet and turning directly into the wind at the last moment, slowing the boat dramatically and giving Nicholas the opportunity to snag the line and snap it onto the bow. Charlie met him on the foredeck and high-fived him. They had done it: they had lived to tell the tale of their first adventure (without Uncle Nick) on the high seas. When they finished folding and stowing and tidying, Nicholas stood for a moment in the cockpit,
exactly
like you did when I threw that curveball at you.”
“I was trying to figure out how we were going to explain it,” Nicholas said. “I had this image of us standing out there in the middle of the lake—no boat in sight.”
“Maybe we don’t tell your uncle about this.” Charlielooked in the direction of Uncle Nick’s house, but it was too far away to make out any details. “I don’t think anybody saw us—except maybe the guys in that fishing boat. And Pistol,” she added, patting his head. “Thanks for all your help, boy.”
Nicholas, agreeing that this was no time for full disclosure, took the tiller in his hands and pointed
Goblin
back out to the center of the lake.
* * *
But someone
had
seen them. Despite his apparent nonchalance as they left the mooring, Uncle Nick watched their progress across the lake through binoculars. As they approached the sandbar, he cringed, remembering that he hadn’t pointed it out. He crossed his fingers, hoping they would just miss it, and groaned when he saw that they had stopped.
“Here, take a look at this,” he said, handing the binoculars to Hayley.
She stared through them at
Goblin
for some time. “Why aren’t they moving?”
“Remember
We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea
? After they lost the anchor and started sailing away, what were the kids most worried about?”
“The promise they made to their mom not to go to sea?”
“And what else?”
“The shoals?”
“That’s right. Well, Nicholas and Charlie found a little shoal all their own.”
Hayley’s eyes grew wide. “Are they gonna sink?”
“No—the only damage will be to their pride,” Uncle Nick said. “If they start the engine, they should be able to back her right off. Here, let me see.” He looked through the binoculars again, shaking his head and smiling. “No, no, Nicholas. Stay aboard the boat.”
“What’s happening?” asked Hetty.
Uncle Nick narrated the rest of the action across the lake, roaring with laughter at the climactic moment when
Goblin
slid herself off the sandbar, leaving Nicholas and Charlie standing helplessly while Pistol and
Goblin
sailed away. He was never really concerned for their safety, because they could just stand there on the sandbar until he came to rescue them, and with the wind blowing down the lake as it was, he knew
Goblin
could drift slowly along for a long time before running into anything.
He handed the binoculars to Hetty. “Everyone’s back aboard, and they’re sailing. They’re both looking this way—probably want to see if we’re watching.”
“It’s a good thing we were,” said Hayley.
“Are they in trouble?” Hetty asked. “I think they should be. Specially Nicholas.”
“Why him especially?” Uncle Nick asked. “I’d have to say they’re both equally involved. Nobody’s in trouble—accidents happen, and this one was my fault as much as anyone’s. Ladies, we’re not going to say a word about this—right?”
Hayley pouted for a few seconds, disappointed at losing a good opportunity to make her big brother a little bit miserable. “What if
they
say something first?”
“Well, now—that’s a whole different pail o’ worms,” answered Uncle Nick.
* * *
Two hours later, after an uneventful sail to the far south end of the lake,
Goblin
approached her mooring with Charlie at the tiller and Nicholas standing on the bow with the boat hook, ready to pick up the float at the end of the mooring line. The wind had freshened a bit, but Charlie did her job perfectly, releasing the jib sheet and turning directly into the wind at the last moment, slowing the boat dramatically and giving Nicholas the opportunity to snag the line and snap it onto the bow. Charlie met him on the foredeck and high-fived him. They had done it: they had lived to tell the tale of their first adventure (without Uncle Nick) on the high seas. When they finished folding and stowing and tidying, Nicholas stood for a moment in the cockpit,
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