Chapter Twenty-Eight

Day Nine, Late Afternoon

Ryan, at the end of her rope, had freaked out, and thankfully, the shark was still caught by the lines and the chain.

"Mommy, get in, please," Ryan begged, and hiccupped from crying.

"A little farther," Kate said. She took them a hundred feet from the yacht before she was ready to try and get in.

"I'll need your help," she told Ryan. "You pull, and I'll lift."

It wasn't easy with the floppy siding of the raft, but Kate finally managed to spill inside the yellow circle. She lay on the bottom and sucked air into her lungs and thought about what she had to do next. They weren't out of danger.

When the raft inflated, it activated a light on the top and one inside. Kate needed to turn them off and conserve energy so they could use them at night if they were still in the ocean.

"Grab a bottle of water from the canvas bag on that side," Kate said once she could speak. Ryan rummaged inside the bag.

"Can I have a power bar?" Ryan asked, her tears drying now that Kate was out of the water.

"Good idea. Hand me one too. I need enough energy to use the oars to get us a bit farther from the boat."

Kate sat up, after a little maneuvering, to place her back against the canvas side. She looked out of the front opening of the raft so she could see the yacht. The water was almost to the second rail. It wouldn't be long before the yacht was completely submerged.

She found the oars and pulled the four pieces out so she could screw them together. The raft had a built-in tent-like cover that would keep them from the elements. There were slits in the sides to put the oars through. In the back of her mind, she knew the shark might escape before the yacht sank. Once they were far enough away, they needed to be still until rescue came.

She told Ryan none of this, and she wouldn't unless Ryan started moving around too much. Kate got the oars through the slits and began rowing them farther away. Still worried about the shark, she decided they were far enough out and pulled in the oars. They ate their power bars.

"Come here," Kate said. Ryan looked at her suspiciously. The last time Kate said come here, they went into the water. "I need a hug," Kate said when Ryan didn't budge.

Ryan scrambled across the bottom of the raft and her small arms circled Kate's neck and squeezed.

"Is the shark dead?" Ryan asked, anger at her mom still prevalent in her tone.

"It's dying," Kate said.

"Can I say my word?"

Kate had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. She knew if she started, it would turn into tears that would turn into hysterics. She was weary to the bone. Her head throbbed and she hurt all over. She ached to the tips of her toes, and it wasn't an exaggeration.

Ryan lifted her hand and gave Kate the water that she was holding. She took a long drink and realized the headache was possibly caused by dehydration.

"Thank you, and yes, you may say the word," Kate said when she pulled the bottle from her lips.

"Can I say it loud?" Ryan asked, her expression one of serious concentration.

"The louder the better," Kate assured her.

Ryan took a deep breath and yelled, "Shitty shark," at the top of her lungs.

Kate chuckled. "Do you feel better?" she asked.

Ryan's expression changed again, and her face scrunched up. "Daddy's not coming back, is he?"

Even though it was a question, the words were so final. Kate hugged her closer and ran her fingers over her daughter's hair.

"He loved us. He died so we could live." Kate heard a noise in the distance. "Do you hear that?" she asked Ryan.

It was a helicopter. Kate peered through the opening to see if she needed to light a flare. It was flying straight at them. Two minutes later, the water rippled, and Kate watched the yacht sink deeper into the ocean. When the helicopter drew closer, the water around them churned. Kate waved before she settled into the bottom of the raft. For a moment, she closed her eyes.

Sam should be with them. They should have a chance to work through their problems. He should be able to watch his daughter grow older and go after her dreams. Kate wiped her tears away as a shadow passed over the roof of their enclosure. Ryan hugged Kate so tightly her fingers dug into Kate's skin.

A man's legs came into view followed by the rest of him. He wore a wet suit, and he tossed straps inside the raft.

"I'm Shawn," he yelled over the noise. "Put these on the child first, then put on yours if you can. I'll take her up and come back for you."

Ryan's hands clamped tighter.

"It's okay, Ryan, we need to get these on you."

"No Mommy, the shark will jump out of the water and eat us."

Kate's thoughts had gone there too. It had happened in "Jaws Two" and "The Deep Blue Sea" which was ridiculous because they were movies, not reality.

"It won't jump up and get you, I promise," Kate told her and began attaching the harness. She couldn't shake off the image of the shark's breach when it killed Sam.

When she was secured, Kate turned Ryan so she faced Shawn. He gave a thumbs up sign to someone in the helicopter, grabbed Ryan, and lifted her out the raft. Kate watched from the opening as they hung suspended a few feet above the water. Finally they rose higher, but it wasn't fast enough for Kate. She took a chance and looked at the yacht. It was fully on its side, deeply submerged. Kate turned back to Ryan and watched until she was high enough to be pulled on board.

A suntanned face peered down from above and gave her a thumbs up. It was her father and she felt better knowing Ryan was now in his arms. A few minutes later, Shawn was lowered again. When he got to the entrance, he looked at the straps that were only half on, then pulled himself into the raft.

"I'll help," he said and quickly got Kate secured. Her father had most likely told them about Kate's legs.

After the straps were tightened, he used the same technique as he'd used with Ryan. Shawn moved to the entrance and lifted Kate out with him. Their feet hit the water and Kate turned to look at the yacht. What she saw caused her to stop breathing. A huge fin moved directly at them.

Kate screamed and looked into Shawn's eyes. His gaze had tracked hers and he saw exactly what she did. He stayed calm, but he didn't know the shark could breach and kill them.

They inched up slowly and the shark gained speed.

Was Ryan watching? Would she see her mother die like she had her father?

An utterly desolate sadness filled her. The damn shark would win.

Shawn jostled her slightly and gained her attention. He reached down with one arm and grabbed her legs, lifting them higher above the water. His legs came up too.

Kate had no voice left to scream when the shark lunged upward.