Free Riverboat Point by Tricia Stringer

deceptive and her rope fell well short of the mooring pole on the riverbank that was her target.
    â€œDoesn’t matter,” Ethan said as he slid the gangplank into place. “Just pick it up and walk it to the pole.”
    She watched how he tied his rope around the tree trunk then attempted to replicate the wrapping and knotting with her rope. Ethan helped her with the final knot. He tugged at the rope to test its strength.
    â€œYou’ll soon get the hang of it,” he said and left her to climb back on board.
    He stopped the engines. Through the window she saw him pull his phone from his pocket, glance at the screen and put it to his ear. It was a short call. He came back out on deck stuffing the phone in his jeans pocket with one hand and jiggling the keys with the other.
    â€œWhat time are you expecting the customers?” he asked.
    â€œThree o’clock.”
    â€œI’ll be back by then,” he said. “In the meantime you should go over every room and make sure it’s clean and ready, especially the sundeck.”
    He held the keys out to her as he passed and strode away.
    Savannah sucked in a breath as she took them from him. She’d asked for his help with driving the boat but she didn’t expect him to be giving her orders about everything. Jaxon’s notes had indicated everything was ready. She turned to say the same to Ethan but he was already at the top of the path. She swapped the keys from one hand to the other, looked back at the boat then decided to leave it.
    She followed Ethan’s footprints up the slope. By the time she’d reached her back door she heard his motorbike rumble into life. She had a momentary pang of regret. She hadn’t thanked him for his help. All the same she couldn’t help the plea that left her lips.
    â€œYou’d better be true to your word, Ethan Daly, or I’m going to be in deep –”
    The roar of the bike drowned out her words. Once more she felt vulnerable as the isolation settled like a cloak around her.

CHAPTER
9
    Ethan rolled his bike to a stop at the back gate of his parents’ house. Both dogs had yapped at his tyres, now they circled the bike sniffing Jasper’s scent. Ethan removed his helmet. He gave one of the dogs a nudge with his boot as it lifted its leg.
    â€œYou’re a sight for sore eyes, little bro.”
    Blake hobbled along the path towards him. There was a small backpack slung over the shoulder of his good arm and a helmet dangling from his hand. The skin under his right eye was dark blue, a vivid contrast to his pale face. He didn’t look strong enough to lift a cup of tea let alone look after himself.
    Ethan shook his head. “Are you sure you should be going home?”
    â€œI can’t stand Barb fussing over me any longer.”
    Blake put the helmet on his head and slid the backpack from his shoulder. Ethan strapped it to the luggage rack then looked his brother up and down.
    â€œI should have gone and picked up the ute but I’m short on time.”
    He couldn’t see how Blake was going to get on the bike let alone hang on.
    â€œSo am I.”
    â€œWhy don’t I get Mal’s ute? I can drop it back tomorrow.”
    â€œI want to get going. Mal and Barb will be back from town soon.”
    â€œA chance to say goodbye.”
    â€œI haven’t told them I’m going.”
    Ethan paused doing up his helmet.
    â€œI’ve left them a note,” Blake said.
    â€œWe could pass them coming home.”
    â€œWe can take the back way?”
    â€œYou’re kidding?” Ethan shook his head again. “The ride will test you as it is without taking the back way.”
    â€œI’m feeling much better.”
    â€œMaybe from lying around all day. I think you should –”
    â€œStop fussing,” Blake snapped. “You’re as bad as Barb.”
    Ethan could see the determination on his brother’s face.
    â€œThe