Steve fetched some large palm leaves and covered Walter’s body carefully before crossing himself and offering a weak prayer. Steeling himself once again, Steve headed back towards the south end of the island.

-/-

”Why would you put it there?” Tag growled, ”That’s practically in the damn ocean!”

The small group huddled in the tree line, staring out across the beach to the bucket that sat dangerously exposed in the sand.

”Well I’m sorry!” Maura snapped back, ”If I’d known we would be used for target practice, I’d have moved it closer. In fact, I’d have just not come on the bloody cruise to start with!”

”Shh!” Jane hissed. She looked around her, searching for something that would help in her rapidly forming plan. ”Tag, you and me are going fetch the bucket.” She held up a hand to silence Maura ho had already begun her complaint. ”Maura, I need you to pull that sapling over here, get the fluff off of it.” Jane pointed to a thicker sapling that had fallen over a few feet away. ”That bucket’s gonna be heavy.”

Maura nodded and crept into the tiny clearing to begin work on the tree.

”Ready?” Jane nudged Tag firmly. ”Come on.”

When Maura had said bucket, she’d been some what understated. What Jane and tag were struggling to move into the trees was more akin to a small barrel. The rough rope handles had bitten into their skin, drawing blood and leaving fibres in the wounds. They struggled to lift the vessel even though it was only half full.

”Here.” Maura appeared at Jane’s side, the long tree stripped of shoots in her hands.

”Thanks Maur.” Jane smiled weakly. ”Please baby, get back into the trees?”

Maura studied Jane’s eyes in the moonlight, the desperation she saw there made her heart clench. She knew Jane was the protective type, it had been one of the qualities that first attracted her to Jane in the first place. What she saw there now was a gentle mix of love and fear.

Maura nodded and scurried back to the trees, forcing her eyes to search for danger.
Jane relaxed as Maura disappeared into the trees. Grabbing the branch, she forced it through the rope handles of the bucket. Peeling off her sweater, she folded it and gestured for Tag to do the same.