Out of the Depths

“Good. Then I suppose you can get your own bags?” Her eyebrows arched.

“Gladly.” Cody groped behind the front seat and pulled out both his canvas duffel-type bags, letting them drop to the ground at his feet.

Trudy Lynn reached for one of them. He stopped her with an outstretched hand. “I said, I can handle it.”

“I know what you said. But this is my camp and you’re my guest. I’m not pampering you. I’d offer to help carry anybody’s bags, whether they were able to or not.”

“That’s nice. Tell you what. Why don’t you let Sailor loose before he goes nuts? He gets really agitated if he thinks I’m going to wander off and leave him.”

“I can see that.” Trudy Lynn ordered the Newfoundland to sit before she unfastened the tether and lowered the tailgate. His exuberance in scrambling out almost bowled her over.

The dog had made two galloping circuits of the pickup and had come to a stop at Cody’s feet before Trudy Lynn rejoined him. “Looks like he’s happy now.”

“It doesn’t take much to please Sailor. Food, water and my company. They definitely are a family breed, just not suited to my sister’s fancy new carpet and furniture.”

“Well, we fixed that.”

She was about to reach for his bags again when Cody waved her off. “Wait. Watch this.” He pointed to the strap of the largest one. “Sailor. Bring it.”

The enormous dog took the handle in his mouth gently, as if it were as fragile as a kitten, and, with his bushy tail waving, proudly bore it along while his master headed for the cabin.

“What about the other one?” Trudy Lynn asked.

“He’ll go get that, too.”

She hurried ahead to open the door and flip on the lights. Any worries she’d had that Sailor might get excited and knock his master down were dispelled when she noted how cautiously the lumbering dog proceeded. When the first bag was safely delivered, Cody sent him back for the second.

“Wow. I’m impressed,” Trudy Lynn said. “How did you teach him that?”

“I can’t take credit. He was a natural. From the time he was a pup he carried things around. Loved my socks. I used to leave them on the floor just so he’d have something to pick up and bring to me.”

“A furry valet?”

“Something like that. He added more to the mess than he cleaned up, but his heart was in the right place so I encouraged him.” Cody’s smile widened as Sailor returned with the second bag, mission accomplished, and placed it at his feet. “It would have been a lot nicer if he hadn’t drooled, though.”

“So what? You were going to wash the socks anyway.”

“Right.” He surveyed the one-room cabin approvingly. “Looks cozy. Any special instructions?”

“Not that I can think of. If I’d known anyone was going to be staying here I’d have made up the bed ahead of time.” She was already moving across the room. “It’ll only take me a second.”

“Don’t bother.”

Trudy Lynn sent him a grin over her shoulder as she whipped the plaid bedspread aside, unfurled a clean sheet and bent to her task. “Why? Does your dog make beds, too?”

“Not yet, but I’m working on it.”

“Should be an interesting trick. Especially if you can teach him to stop slobbering while he works.”

Cody made a face. “Yeah. There is that problem.”

“This cabin has its own private bathroom,” Trudy Lynn explained while smoothing out the last wrinkle in the bedding. “Towels are in the cabinet over there. So are more clean sheets if you decide Sailor needs to practice his tucking skills.”

“Thanks. I think I’ll wait on that till we get home.”

“In that case, I’ll say good-night and leave you in peace.”

She was almost to the door when Cody said, “Thank you.”

There was so much true relief in his tone she turned and smiled. “You’re quite welcome. Both of you. I’ll get Sailor’s food and dishes out of the back of the truck before I go. Sleep as late as you want in the morning. When you’re up and about, I’ll introduce you to my staff. There aren’t many of us. Will and I stay overnight. The rest come to work when I need them.”

Cody’s eyebrow arched. “Will? Your boyfriend? Husband?”

“Will’s old enough to be my grandpa,” she said with a subdued chuckle. “There’ve been lots of times when I’ve wished we were kin. I guess old friend describes him best. He takes a real proprietary interest in this place. I don’t know what I’d do without him.”

“I hope he doesn’t mind my staying here.”

“Don’t worry. First thing in the morning, I’ll explain everything to him.”

“While you’re at it, would you mind explaining it to me, too? I’m still not sure how I wound up here.”

“Providence,” Trudy Lynn said with a wide, satisfied grin. “I needed more security and God sent you.”

That brought a wry chuckle from her guest. “If I’m the best God can do, I think you’d better start questioning His wisdom. I have.”

“What an awful thing to say.”

“Maybe. But I meant every word.”

She sobered, eyes wide, and nodded. “I know you did. That’s what makes it a lot worse than it would be if you were joking.”

Cody was so exhausted he didn’t bother to unpack. He sent Sailor outside, briefly, then lay across the bed, fully clothed except for his shoes. The Newf made himself comfortable on the floor and quickly fell asleep.

Sailor snored, as usual, while Cody stared at the rustic pine ceiling and wondered why his dog had so much more peace than he did.

Because he doesn’t think of the future, Cody decided. No worries meant no stress. Too bad he couldn’t share the dog’s easy ability to drop off to sleep anywhere, anytime.

Relating the details of the fatal accident to Trudy Lynn had brought the tragedy vividly to mind for the second time that night. Not that the young man’s death was ever far from his thoughts. That moment would never leave him, never let him rest the way he once had.

Why kept nagging at him, refusing to be rationalized away. Too bad it wasn’t a question that could be solved like a riddle that had an actual solution. There was no answer to his conundrum—at least not one that included the benevolent, loving God he’d sought and believed in as a lonely, motherless child.

In that respect, his sister, Becky, had more faith than he’d ever possessed. He wasn’t about to pretend he still had a strong belief in the Lord, even if that meant he didn’t fit her idea of the perfect brother. As far as Cody was concerned, God had deserted him. Twice. No, make that three times. First when his mother had been killed, second when he’d prayed for the safety of his clients on the raft while fighting for his own life, and third, when Stephanie had walked away from the love she’d once sworn would last forever.

He looked down at his injured knee. It was throbbing in time with his heartbeats. Must be time for another pain pill, which meant he’d also need a glass of water. Well, so what? Why baby himself? He was going to ache all night anyway, just as he always did. At least the cabin was small enough to hop to the sink without crutches.

He swung his feet over the side of the bed and spoke to Sailor so the dog wouldn’t be startled, leap up and topple him. “That’s it, old boy. Scoot over. I’ll be right back.” The thick, black tail thumped on the bare floor.

Cody pulled himself upright by grabbing the headboard and stood quietly for a second to make sure he had his balance. The brace on his knee would keep it from giving out on him but there was always the chance of a sharp pain causing him to falter. He switched on the bedside lamp and started across the room. Seconds later, he heard a throaty growl behind him.