She cleared her throat and nodded toward the boat. “Gentlemen.” Before either could react, the woman who had come off the boat first stepped between them and back onto the deck of the Mercer. She ducked her head under the sail and then lifted it over her body. Hazel strained to hear what she said, but there was no further sound until the woman worked her way free of the canvas, holding the child’s hand. They walked together past the doctors and stood with the others.
For several moments, no one moved. The water lapped the shore like a second heartbeat. Hazel became aware of the slow, rhythmic thud of the boat’s hull against the dock and wondered who would break the silence. If she’d been a betting woman, she’d have laid her money on Lachlan: of the two, he was likeliest to back away from
