Sanctuary(159)

Through an open door she could see the couple who had come in for the week from Toronto packing, and making quick work of it. she imagined most of the other guests were doing the same.

Checkout, usually a breezy and relaxed process, was going to frantic.

The minute she came downstairs, she saw she hadn't exaggerated' Luggage was already piled by the front door. In the parlor, half a dozen guests were milling around or standing by the windows staring at the sky as if they expected it to crack open at any moment.

Kate was at the desk, surrounded by a sea of paperwork and urgent demands. Her hospitable smile was frayed around the edges when she looked up and spotted Jo.

"Now don't you worry. We'll get everyone safely to the ferry. We have two running all day, and one leaves for the mainland every hour." At the flood of voices, questions, demands, she lifted her hand. "I'm going to take the first group down right now. My niece will take over checkout."

she sent Joan apologetic, slightly desperate look. "Mr. and Mrs. Littleton, if you and your family would go out to the shuttle. Mr. and Mrs. Parker. Miss Houston. I'll be right there. Now if the rest of you will be patient, my niece will be right with you."

Having no choice, she waded through the bodies and voices and gripped Jo's arm. "Out here for a minute. I swear, you'd think we were about to be under nuclear attack."

"Most of them probably haven't dealt with a hurricane before."

"Which is why I'm glad to help them on their way. For heaven's sake, this island and everything on it have stood up to hurricanes before, and will again."

Since privacy was needed, Kate took it where she could get it, in the powder room off the foyer. With a little grunt of satisfaction, she flipped the lock. "There. That ought to hold for two damn minutes. I'm sorry to leave you surrounded this way."

"It's okay. I can run the next group down in the Jeep."

"No." Ikate spoke sharply, then blowing out a breath, she turned to the sink to splash cold water on her face. "You're not to leave this house, Jo Ellen, unless one of us is with you. I don't need another thing to worry about."

"For heaven's sake. I can lock the doors to the jeep."

"No, and I won't stand here and argue about it. I just don't have the luxury of time for it. You'll help most right here, keeping these people calm. I have to swing around and pick up some of the cottage people. Brian was going by the campground. We'll have another flood of them in shortly."

"All right, Kate. Whatever you want."

"Your father brought the radio down to the kitchen." she took Jo by the arms. "He's well within hailing distance. You take no chances, you understand me?"

"I don't intend to. I need to call Nathan."

"I've already done that. He didn't answer. I'll go by before I bring the next group. I'd feel better if he was here, too."

"Thanks."

"Don't thank me, honey pie. I'm about to leave you-with the world's biggest headache." Kate sucked in a breath, braced her shoulders, and opened the door.

Jo winced at the din of voices from the parlor. "Hurry back," she said and mustered a weak smile as she walked straight into the line of fire.

Outside, Giff muscled a sheet of plywood over the first panel of the wide dining room bay. Lexy crouched at his feet, hammered a nail quickly and with easy skill into the lower corner. she was chattering away, but Gaff heard only about every third word. The wind had died, and the light was beginning to take on a brutish yellow hue.

It was coming, he thought, and faster than they'd anticipated. His family had their home secure and would likely ride it out there. He'd delegated one of his cousins and two friends to begin boarding up the cottages, starting on the southeast and moving north.

They needed more hands.

"Has anyone called Nathan?"

"I don't know." Lexy plucked another nail from her pouch. "Daddy wouldn't let him help anyway."

"Mr. Hathaway's a sensible man, Lexy. He wants what's his secured. And he's had a night to think things through."

"He's as stubborn as six constipated mules, and him and Brian together are worse than that. Why it's like blaming that bastard Sherman's great-grandchildren for burning Atlanta."

"Some do, I imagine." Gaff hefted another sheet.

"Those who haven't a nickel's worth of brains, I imagine." Her teeth set, Lexy whacked the hammer onto a nailhead. "And it's going to be mighty lowering for me if I have to admit my own daddy and brother got shortchanged in the brain department. And that they're half blind to boot. Why, an eighty-year-old granny without her cheaters could see how much that man loves Jo Ellen. It's sinful to make the two of them feel guilty over it."