Baby on Board by Lisa Ruff Page A

clinging to the edge of her seat. The shore was getting farther away. It was all she could do to keep herself from screaming.
    “Patrick! We have to go back. Please, turn this boat around.”
    At the same time the sail went up, the boat entered open water. Ian came back to the cockpit, yanked on a rope and the sail at the front of the boat—whatever it was called—unrolled like a window shade pulled out sideways. Evan dropped into the cockpit and pulled on yet another rope on the cabintop.
    The boat was skating over the waves now. Patrick pushed the chrome handle again, then leaned over to push another button. The faint vibration she had felt disappeared as did the instrument panel. He had turned the engine off, she realized. Kate swallowed hard. She tried not to look around. She was on a boat completely surrounded by water.
    Deep water.
    She turned. Land already seemed very far away. The boat not only looked fast and felt fast, it was fast. Evan pulled on a smaller rope at the front of the cockpit and Ian started turning a crank on one of the big chrome drums across the cockpit from where she sat.
    “Round her up, skipper,” Evan called back to Patrick. “Let’s see what this baby can do!”
    At his words, Patrick spun the wheel over. Ian kept cranking, while Evan grabbed the end of the rope and pulled. Wind whipped across the sails and through Kate’s hair, sending tendrils flying around her head wildly. The bow plunged into a wave and seemed to almost bury itself into the water. Then salt spray flew back into Kate’s face. If she had thought they were going fast before, they were flying now. She braced herself and squeezed her eyes shut. The wind seemed to catch the boat and pick it up, tipping it over.
    And over.
    And over .
    She opened her eyes and saw water. She was looking down at the water. The boat was about to tip all the way over. Too late to tell Patrick that she couldn’t swim. She was going to die. Her baby, too. Terror bubbled up and over. She couldn’t control it any longer. Tears welled in her eyes and spilled over as her fingers bit deeply into the fabric of the cushions. In total, mindless panic, she screamed.

Chapter Four
    The moment Kate shrieked in terror, Patrick sprang into action. “Ian, take the helm!”
    Ian lunged and grabbed the wheel as Patrick dove for Kate. He snatched her into his arms and pressed her to him, feeling the frenetic beat of her heart. Pulling away slightly to see her face, he removed her sunglasses. Her paper-white skin, dilated pupils, and the tears streaming down her cheeks made the bottom drop out of his stomach. He pulled her tightly against him once more.
    “Katie, what’s wrong? Is it the baby?”
    She was shaking like a leaf, clinging to him like a limpet. He felt her fingernails pierce his skin through his shirt.
    Evan knelt beside them. “What’s wrong?”
    “I don’t know.” Kate still had her face buried in Patrick’s neck. He tried to pull her away slightly, so he could see her face again, but she wouldn’t let go. “Please, sweetheart, tell me what’s wrong.”
    “We’re going to drown.” Kate was crying into his shoulder.
    “What?” Patrick didn’t think he had heard her right. “What do you mean?”
    “The boat’s going to tip over.” Her words came out in staccato between gulping sobs.
    A light dawned in Patrick’s head. His own fear subsided. “No, it won’t, Katie.” He ran a hand over her back, trying to soothe her. “It’s supposed to tip like this. We’re perfectly safe.”
    “Especially with a scream that loud.” Evan snorted a laugh, shaking his head. “The Coast Guard station in Baltimore must have already heard it and sent out a rescue boat.”
    “Shut up, will you, McKenzie.” Patrick glared at Evan. This was not the time for smart remarks. He pulled Kate tighter to him.
    Evan rolled his eyes. “Relax, Kate,” he said impatiently. “This is great sailing. Enjoy it.”
    Kate shuddered again as the wind