Stormcatcher by Colleen Rhoads Read Free Book Online Page B

glanced at Wynne. “Want to go down and have a look?”
    “I’m in the mood to dive.” Wynne pulled her dry suit up and thrust her arms into the fabric. The unknown beckoned, and she was eager to get below the waves and explore.
    “I got our rebreathers ready. The floor is about a hundred and fifty feet down. You game to go that deep?” His voice was low and he didn’t look at her.
    “Absolutely.” Deep diving was her favorite, as there were fish and marine life that people rarely saw otherwise. He helped her into her rebreather, and she held his out for him to slip his arms into.
    Bjorn tossed the anchor overboard. Wynne looked at Simon. “You look a little pale. You okay?”
    “The boss man does look a little green around the gills,” Joe said.
    “I’m fine,” Simon barked.
    Wynne raised her brows at his tone. “What’s eating you?”
    He pressed his lips together. “Ready to go down?”
    He wasn’t going to tell her anything. She wondered if the sheriff had been harassing him again. She shrugged and adjusted her mask. Simon stepped aside for her to reach the rail. She perched on the side of the boat then fell backward into the water.
    Wynne breathed steadily through her mouthpiece. The silence of the rebreather, as opposed to a regulator and tank, always enthralled her. She could focus on what her eyes saw instead of being distracted by the sound of the bubbles.
    She glanced around, but still didn’t see Simon. Peering up through the water, she saw him staring down at her from the boat. What was his problem?
    She kicked her fins and shot to the top. “Are you coming in?”
    Perspiration beaded his forehead. “I’m coming. Give me a minute.”
    His knuckles were white where he gripped the sideof the boat. She glanced at Bjorn and saw sympathy on his normally stoic face.
    He saw her gaze and shrugged. “He will not tell you, but he almost drowned the last time he went down at the end of last summer. He has not been down since.”
    Wynne went to the ladder. “You don’t have to come down with me. Bjorn, can you join me instead?”
    The blond man shook his head. “Neither of us are trained in deep dives.”
    “Hey.” Simon waved his hand. “I’m still here, guys. I’m not some ghost.” He managed a feeble grin. “I’ll be fine. Just give me a minute.”
    Wynne had never experienced fear of the water, but with her fear of snakes she could identify with the fear and tension that took hold of Simon’s body. “I’ll hold your hand while we go down.”
    Simon’s sickly grin widened. “I might take you up on it.”
    “I sure would, boss,” Joe said, leering at Wynne.
    She laughed and held out her gloved hand. “You can do it, Simon.”
    “I have a feeling you were a cheerleader in school.” He adjusted his mouthpiece and went over the side with a splash.
    She gave Simon the thumbs-up and held out her hand. He gripped it, and they began the descent. Simon swam slowly beside her. She glanced into his eyes and saw interest and intent begin to push aside fear. He was going to be okay.
    A school of lake herring, a shimmer of pink andpurple iridescence, darted past, and she paused to enjoy the sight. They’d once been in decline, but were now coming back in the western part of the lake.
    Simon pointed, and she paused to gawk at the largest muskie she’d ever seen. The silvery-green fish was over five feet long. They let it swim by, then continued to head down to the lake bottom. They paused often to let their ears equalize to the pressure. As they neared the bottom, Wynne reached out and clutched Simon’s arm. She pointed to a ship resting on the bottom.
    It wasn’t a yacht, but it was a perfectly preserved steamer from the 1800s. From its condition, she was sure no one else had found it. Looking for a name on its hull, she swam around it and startled a school of whitefish. They flashed past her in a blur of movement. She flailed back out of their way and bumped into Simon.
    She could see