Castaway Dreams by Darlene Marshall

Author:Darlene Marshall [Marshall, Darlene]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance
ISBN: 9781611242744
Publisher: Amber Quill Press, LLC

Chapter 13

Their days settled into a routine where the work never seemed to end, but Daphne acknowledged it was work necessary to their survival. She loved it. She adored their strange, exotic life stranded on this tiny piece of earth where she awakened at dawn to bird calls and Pompom licking her face. She was still hoping for kisses from the other male on the island, but he kept his distance.

Except at night. They slept together and shared their warmth, curled like spoons with his arm around her waist. She sometimes heard him repeating mathematical formulae as part of his ritual to fall asleep. When she asked him if he did this every night, he said he only did it when he was sleeping next to her, which Daphne thought strange. Maybe she was distracting Dr. Murray from remembering all the important things he needed to remember.

Their days began with eggs from the many bird nests scattered about the island, and if there wasn't pepper to put on them, there was salt from distilled sea water. Dr. Murray rigged a piece of shiny tin from the flotsam washed ashore and showed her how evaporation would leave salt crystals behind. He explained the process to her, patiently answering her questions, as if she were a student in university and not a fluff-head.

After breakfast there was wood-gathering and food-gathering, and as they explored their island together they discovered more of its treasures. Their little hut was decorated with flowers sitting in gourd vases, and seashells arranged outside the door. If they were gone when the woodcutters returned, they would be astounded at the changes. Daphne's greatest found treasure was smooth bits of colorful seaglass. She kept them in a flat shell and thought them as lovely as any jewels she'd ever worn.

They also discovered more of the bounty of their little Eden. A sweet bay tree and a patch of fennel seasoned their food, and Daphne took a hand at cooking. Dr. Murray used her one shoe that washed ashore to construct a sling, bringing down some ducks, of all things. That night they feasted on duck, which while gamier than the birds she was used to eating at home, were still a welcome change from fish.

"I wish we could net some ducks," Dr. Murray said as he passed her another piece of the succulent meat, roasted over their fire and seasoned with wild garlic and parsley. "We'd have a regular supply of meat and eggs."

"I was astounded when you brought down that bird, Dr. Murray."

"Frankly, I was astounded myself, Miss Farnham. It has been many years since I've hunted with a sling. It's good to know my skills haven't atrophied."

"Atro...?"

"Atrophied," he said. "A new word for you? It means a wasting away or decline, usually used in relation to a body part."

"Oh!" She couldn't help it, she looked down at that area of her body that had not been used in a long while. "Am I going to be atrophied?"

He saw where she glanced and the color rose in his face.

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