“Maybe you should stick to cider then,” Robbie said. “Come to that, I’d better stick to cider, too. I haven’t had a beer since I was first in hospital. It might go to my head.”

He came out with a tray holding the pasties and two big glass mugs.

“That’s a lot of cider,” Emily said warily.

“It’s a hot day. We’re both thirsty.” He put the cider down beside her. They ate the pasties with appreciation. The pastry crust was crisp and flaky, and inside was a mixture of warm vegetables and meat. The cider was sweet and fizzy and went down easily.

“I feel quite sleepy,” Emily said as they sat in the sun after the meal.

“Me, too. That cider had quite a powerful effect,” Robbie replied. “Let’s get back in the boat and find a quiet little backwater where we can take a nap.”

They cast off successfully and glided further upstream. Here, the river split into several side channels. They picked one that looked inviting. Trees came down to the banks, and there was no sign of human habitation.

“This will do nicely,” he said. “We don’t want to go too close into shore or we could get tangled up in those trees.” He threw the anchor out over the side. Emily started down the steps into the darkness of the cabin, holding on a little unsteadily as the cider was definitely now making her woozy. She unpinned her hat and then flung herself down on the bunk with a sigh of contentment. Robbie followed her and crawled on to the bunk beside her. She was horribly conscious of his closeness. Then he said, “Emily. I want you to know that you’re a grand girl, but I can’t ask you to marry me. You know that. I couldn’t do it to you. I won’t do it to you. I couldn’t take you away from all this.”

“You haven’t tried asking me,” she replied. “I might say yes.”

“But you wouldn’t know what you were getting into,” he said. “I told you when I met you that it’s no life for a woman where I come from. Especially a woman who is used to all this.” He shook his head firmly. “No. I won’t do it. We’ll have the memory of today.” He leaned towards her and kissed her tenderly. “But I want you to know that you are the most wonderful girl I’ve ever met. I do love you.”

“And I love you, too,” she replied. She wanted to scream, “Don’t be so stupid! Ask me to marry you,” but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. A small voice whispered that perhaps he was only making excuses and he didn’t want her as his wife.

He put his arm around her. She was conscious of his breathing. After a while, she realized he had fallen asleep. She closed her eyes and soon she drifted off, too.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

It was an ominous rumble that woke her. She had no idea where she was. She tried to sit up, bumping her head on the deck above and making her cry out in pain. Robbie murmured in his sleep but didn’t wake. The rumble came again. She eased herself off the bunk and made her way across the cabin and up the steps to the deck. This wasn’t easy, as it was somehow at a strange angle. When she reached the open air, she understood why. While they had slept, the tide had gone out, and the boat now lay tilting to one side in the mud of an almost-dry creek. The sky overhead was heavy with dark clouds, and a rumble of thunder came again in the distance.

“Robbie!” she called as she hurried down the steps to him. “Wake up. We’re stranded here.”

He also bumped his head as he tried to sit up, and let out a profanity. Then he saw her standing there and apologized.

“Sorry about that. I forgot where I was. My word, I’ve got a headache. That cider must have been extra strong.” He saw her face. “What’s the matter?”

“Come and look.” She directed him up on to the tiny deck.

“Crikey!” he exclaimed. “Well, that’s a rum do, isn’t it? I didn’t think there would be tides this far up a river.”

“What are we going to do?” she asked.

“Nothing much we can do,” he replied. “We’ll just have to wait for the tide to come in again and float us free.”

“But that could be hours. I have to be back by seven.”

“Your boss lady will just have to understand, as will the people at my hospital. We didn’t mean to get stuck here.” He put a comforting arm around her shoulder. “Don’t worry, my love. We’re safe. All we have to do is wait it out.”

The moment he uttered those words, the heavens opened, and they scrambled back to the shelter of the cabin before they were drenched. Hail bounced off the deck and thudded on the roof of the cabin. Lightning flashed, followed by a loud crack of thunder. The storm was rapidly approaching them. Then, without warning, there was a blinding flash and a crash of thunder at the same time. A tree on the bank nearby went up in a sheet of flame.

“Stone the crows,” Robbie muttered. “We are sitting ducks out here.”

“Don’t say that.” She grabbed on to him. She could feel herself trembling.

“It’s all right, my darling,” he said softly, wrapping her in his arms and nuzzling at her hair. “I won’t let anything bad happen to you, I promise.”

“How can you promise?” Emily found herself near to tears. “You can’t stop a storm, and if it’s going to . . .” Another huge clap of thunder exploded overhead. Emily gave a gasp of fear and buried her face in his chest. “Hold me tight, Robbie.”