Sylvie put a hand over her eyes, but she wouldn’t be able to see the water from here. Whoever it was hadn’t come to the dock closest to the cabin. He’d used the farther dock, the old one they’d had before his father commissioned the new one. That told him whoever it was either didn’t know this island at all or hadn’t been here in a few years.

“Did they need something?” Sylvie asked, helping him to his feet. “I think the Jennings family lives close. They might have come over to see if there’s any gas to be had if they ran out.”

That was true, but he knew the Jennings family. They’d borrowed from his cabin before, and always left a note and replaced what they’d taken. There would be no reason for a Jennings to run from him. If it had been one of the boys, they would have stopped and checked on him and Sylvie, probably offered to help look for their boat or give them a ride back to town.

“I don’t think it was a friendly person. I can get up on my . . .” His wife’s eyes had narrowed and he rethought his words, taking her hand. This was one of those times he had to overcome his father’s teachings that a man should look strong at all times. His wife wasn’t going to put up with what he was sure she would call toxic masculinity. “Thank you. My leg went out from under me. You would think all that physical therapy I did would make a leg stronger, but you would be wrong.”

The narrowed look fled, replaced with soft sympathy. “Are you okay? I can help you back to the cabin.”

It was obvious Sylvie wasn’t a fan of unnecessary male pride. He let her help him up and leaned on her as they started to make their way back. “My leg’s going to ache. I shouldn’t have gone after him but I wanted to see who it was. He was wearing headphones. I don’t think he was local. Or at least he wasn’t used to being out on the islands. I can’t think of even a kid who lives out here wearing headphones on the water.”

“What would he have been doing?” Sylvie asked. “If he wasn’t looking for help, that is? Or us. I’m sure my momma has called the sheriff by now. I told Gertie I was taking the afternoon off but I didn’t get into the details. I’m sure your momma called my momma, and there was probably a ritual of protection performed last night. But only after she called Armie.”