Page 74
He wasn’t sure how she could even tread water. No wonder she was paddling that way.
Every time he thought she was within reach, she was pulled this way or that.
“I just ate. My grandma always told me to wait a half-hour before I swam so I wouldn’t get cramps and drown. That’s not true, of course. But,” she went under and fought her way back up. “I have a terrible cramp.” She was flailing. “This dress is going to kill me.”
As Piper sank under, Ethan lunged for where she’d been.
Nothing.
He dove under, using breast strokes to feel around him, and came up empty-handed.
Downriver, he saw a bit of pink and set out after it, using the SEALs' super-special rescue stroke so he could keep his eye pinned on the pink. He grabbed at it and came up with a handful of dress.
That effort put Ethan in a section of current that pulled his legs downward.
A sharp bark brought Ethan’s gaze to the shore where Tango was being the perfect girl. After their eyes locked, she trotted along, looking out over the water, and barked again.
Ethan followed Tango’s line of sight and saw Piper’s head.
He powered forward, trying to close the gap, but they were in separate currents that seemed to insist on keeping them apart.
“There’s a boat coming up. It sees us,” he shouted.
Piper looked down the river toward the boat, then tipped her head back so her mouth cleared the water. “How do you know it sees us? It’s going to run us over. I told you to get away from me. I’m going to end up killing you.”
“Piper.” He could hear pain in her voice, the weakness from exertion and cold. “Everyone is hanging overboard with floaties in their hands. They’ve got us.”
She went under for longer, then came up gasping. “The current. Stay the hell away. Save yourself.”
Her descents were getting longer than her time above, breathing.
He didn’t want her to keep exerting herself, thinking she was protecting him.
“I’m taking off my shirt,” he called. “I’m going to reach it out to you, so you aren’t afraid of pulling me under.”
She grabbed it as she slid out of sight.
Ethan tugged her over to him.
He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, trapping her chin in the crook of his arm.
“We’re going to float. Stop fighting, Piper. Save your strength. Easy. Easy now. We’re just going to float until the boat gets to us.”
“Soon?” she chattered.
“They’re doing their best. “How are you doing?”
“This is a s-s-s-stunning turn of events.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Piper
The boat cut its engine and skated toward them.
From the platform on the patriot-themed party barge, the people tossing life rings at them were three sheets to the wind.
Finally, a George Washington-looking figure in his tight white knee breeches and billowing blue waistcoat caught hold of Piper’s wrists. And with Ethan’s hand shoving her butt into the air, she dangled, scrambled, and landed on the deck.
