Two seconds.
Cate wanted to leap in as close to Ashlee as possible.
Rich got there first and grabbed one of his wife’s feet. Ashlee jerked it out of his grasp, rolled to her side, and kicked him with her other foot. The toe of her shoe connected with his jaw in front of his ear, knocking his head to the side. Rich sank underwater, and Cate jumped.
The slap of cold water thrust the air out of her lungs, and Cate struggled to catch her breath as salty waves slapped her in the face. She grabbed for Ashlee and caught the edge of the life jacket that Ashlee clung to and pulled her close. Henry jumped in the water far to the left of the two women. He disappeared between the waves as Cate realized he’d removed his life jacket.
What is he doing?
“You okay?” Cate asked as Tessa cut the engine. Ashlee was soaking wet and nodded, her eyes wide. Something hit Cate in the head, and she turned, expecting to see Rich, but it was Logan’s rescue pole. Cate grabbed it and hooked it to the life jacket that Ashlee held in a death grip. Logan pulled, guiding Ashlee to the rear of the boat, where he could help her in.
“Can you see Henry?” Cate asked as Logan and Tessa helped Ashlee onto the low step at the back of the boat. Cate kept her head above the water, spinning in circles, trying to spot Henry or Rich.
Henry’s not wearing a life jacket.
“He went after Rich,” said Logan. “He sank. I think Ashlee hit him hard with that kick to the jaw.”
“Good.” Ashlee’s teeth chattered as she forced out the word. “Asshole.”
“Are you okay, Ashlee?” Tessa asked as she wrapped a blanket around the woman. “Is the baby okay?”
With someone else looking after Ashlee, Cate continued to search for the men still in the water. A few dozen feet closer to the shoreline, Henry’s head broke through the surface, and he sucked in a deep breath.
Thank God.
“Henry! Where’s Rich?” Cate shouted across the water.
He shook his head at her and ducked under again.
Shit.
Cate swam toward where Henry had vanished, her life jacket making her strokes awkward and clumsy.
At least I’m moving with the waves now.
Henry surfaced again. He had Rich in a rescue hold, and the man’s head lolled against Henry, his eyes closed. Henry looked at the boat and then at the shoreline. The shore was slightly closer, and he broke into a sidestroke, towing Rich alongside him. Cate swam after them, alarmed at Rich’s passive state.
It’ll be easier to do CPR on shore.
A minute later Henry stumbled up the shore, pulling Rich by his arms. Cate felt ground under her feet and stood, her wet clothes weighing a thousand pounds. She pushed out of the water and caught up with Henry. She grabbed one of the unconscious man’s arms and helped drag him out of reach of the waves.
“Is he breathing?” she asked, panting hard herself.
Henry didn’t answer. Water ran down his face, dripping from his hair as he focused on his patient. He shook Rich, shouting his name, and felt for a pulse at his neck. Cate pressed her fingers against the other side. She felt nothing.
Henry tilted Rich’s head, lifted his jaw, and administered two rescue breaths. Cate watched the prone man’s chest rise from the force of Henry’s breaths. Henry paused, his gaze locked on Rich’s chest as they both waited for it to rise on its own. Cate’s brain spun as she tried to remember the proper steps for CPR. Her mind was blank.
“Thirty chest compressions,” said Henry, moving to position his arms over Rich’s chest. “Then two breaths.” He started compressions, and Cate supported Rich’s jaw, readying herself to give the breaths. She glanced back at the boat. Ashlee was sitting upright, and Tessa stood beside her, one hand on the pregnant woman’s shoulder.