Free Lost on Brier Island by Jo Ann Yhard

head is just for dress-up, eh?” he muttered gruffly.
    Gus bounded across the gravel as if she weighed nothing and tucked her into the passenger seat of his pickup truck.
    â€œBe right back—have to speak to your mum.”
    His long stride took him quickly back to where her mom was standing. He towered above her and Aunt Sophie, his bushy mane of hair blowing in the breeze. Alex thought he looked more like a lion than ever.
    â€œPleased to meetcha!” Gus extended his plate-sized hand towards her mom.
    Her mother stood with her arms crossed in front of her. She made no move to take his hand and stared up at him. “Gus, the boat captain? The adult who was supposedly supervising my daughter when she almost got killed?”
    Alex could hear the anger in her mom’s voice. “Mom!”
    â€œUh, well, yes, she was on my boat.” Gus’s hand dropped back to his side. “I’m very sorry, ma’am. I feel awful about what happened…”
    â€œColleen, what are you doing?” Aunt Sophie sounded horrified. “You know it was an accident!”
    â€œI have to go,” her mom said, turning away and getting into the driver’s seat. All of them watched her drive away.
    â€œGus, I don’t know what came over her. She knows it wasn’t your fault,” Aunt Sophie said. “She’s dealing with a lot of things and—”
    â€œNo, no, she’s right. I shouldn’t have let them go up on top alone—wasn’t thinkin’.” Gus’s head slumped low as they made their way back to Alex and the truck. “Not used to looking after young ones, I guess.”
    Alex’s stomach lurched. “No one pushed me or anything. My shoes—I slipped.”
    â€œIt’s all right there, Alex, not to worry.” Gus gave her a weak smile and sighed. “Gave us a right fright. Yes indeed.” He folded himself up in the driver’s seat. It looked like it was back as far as it would go and his knees were still practically banging on the steering wheel.
    No one spoke for the short ride down the street. When they entered the café, the smells of cinnamon and fresh bread tickled Alex’s nose as the hummingbird wind chimes tinkled their greeting.
    â€œEva?” Sophie called.
    â€œWell, there she is!” Eva bustled out from the back room and pulled Alex into her arms. It was like getting hugged by a pillow—a soft, squishy pillow that smelled like vanilla.
    Alex murmured a weak protest into Eva’s shoulder, but was ignored.
    â€œSweetie, so good to have you back!” Finally releasing her, Eva dabbed her watery eyes with a corner of her apron. “Heavens, look at me—blubbering like an old fool.”
    â€œEva, it smells so good in here.” Aunt Sophie plunked down on a stool. “I missed my island.”
    â€œMissed my food is more like it.” Eva’s eyes twinkled. “And no wonder—they don’t know how to feed you on the mainland.”
    Aunt Sophie groaned as she took a huge drink from her coffee mug. “Oh yeah, that’s the stuff—just like a blood transfusion.”
    She was fast. Alex hadn’t even seen her go near the coffee pot.
    â€œSit down now, the rest of you. Hope you’re hungry. I whipped up a special batch of my seafood chowder and buttermilk biscuits.”
    Eva bustled like a whirlwind around them, setting out utensils, napkins, bowls of steaming chowder, and a platter of biscuits.
    Gus quietly pulled a stool over and dug into his piled-high bowl. “Ya outdone yourself, Eva,” he murmured politely, his mouth full.
    Eva beamed as she circled around, refilling water glasses and dumping more biscuits on the platter.
    â€œThe chowder’s wonderful! I know you’ve got some secret ingredient,” Aunt Sophie said.
    â€œWell, as a matter of fact, there is a little trick I’ve been using. I boil up a pot of fresh periwinkles.