“I took them some leftovers a few weeks ago, and he blew up at me,” said Michelle. “Told me his wife didn’t need help taking care of him.”
“Sounds like a real winner,” said Cate. “I’m sure he’ll get what’s coming to him.”
“She looks like she could pop any day,” said Michelle. “I don’t know what’s going to happen when she goes into labor. I’m no help. I can’t be around that type of pain.”
“Me either,” agreed Selina. “And the men won’t be any help.”
“Rich claims he knows what to do during a birth,” said Michelle. “But I wouldn’t trust him.”
“Fuck no,” said Selina.
“I think she might be in active labor right now,” Cate said.
“Dammit,” muttered Michelle. The woman stopped and looked back the way they had come, frustration on her face. “I don’t know how to get Leigh away from him. He’s such an overbearing ass. If we could separate them, there’s a boat that could get her to the clinic on Widow’s—oh . . . that’s where you’re from, right?”
“I’d take her right now in the seaplane,” said Cate. “And leave him behind.”
The health of her baby is far more important than bringing Rich to justice.
Cate touched Michelle’s arm. “How do the other men on the island feel about Rich and her pregnancy?”
Michelle grimaced. “They say it’s Rich’s business. I’ve talked to my man about Leigh a few times. He tells me to keep to myself.”
“Same,” said Selina.
“And if that baby dies because Rich won’t let her have help?”
The woman looked away.
“Leigh could die too.”
“What can we do?” Michelle threw up her hands, anger in her tone. “We’re powerless.”
“No, you’re not,” said Cate, making the women look at her in surprise. “And you’re exactly who can help. Trust me.”
I have an idea.
11
Cate gave Michelle and Selina an encouraging nod as they returned to the clearing, crossing her fingers that the two could talk a little sense into their husbands. They’d agreed to tell their husbands that Leigh was in labor and was showing signs of severe health complications. To convince the women, Cate had emphasized what could happen if Leigh’s headache and exhaustion weren’t addressed. All the husbands needed to do was to get Rich to go fishing, like he had already planned for that day.
Once Rich was off the island, Cate was getting Ashlee on the plane.
No one will stop me.
She would use her weapon if needed.
The husbands didn’t need to know that part of the plan. Michelle and Selina were to tell them that Rich needed to be out of the way so Leigh could receive a simple exam.
Cate joined Henry as he examined the man with the swollen leg.
“He needs IV antibiotics,” muttered Henry to Cate. “I’ve given him an oral loading dose, but he needs a more aggressive treatment.”
Cate looked away from the red swollen calf. It looked like it’d burst if touched with something sharp.
“I can go tomorrow,” the injured man said. “Jim said he’d loan me his boat.”
“We can take you back with us today,” said Cate.
“I’m not getting on that itty-bitty plane.” The infected man shuddered. “Hell no. Tomorrow is good enough.”