In that second, Wren caught up to her and wrapped her in a steely hug. “Jesus Christ, Margaret. Didn’t you hear me hollering for you to stop? You don’t run like a maniac through a stretch like this, not unless you want to plunge into Lake Ontario.” She gave her a little shake, then released her.

Huffing and half-bent, Thomas reached them. “Oh my God,” he panted. A glowing beam shuddered and then disappeared as he stuffed the flashlight into his coat pocket. His arms fell across Maggie’s and Wren’s shoulders, as if to brace himself as much as to protect them.

Sam’s voice cut through the crash of waves: “We’re here!”

Thomas craned his neck to the side. “Where?”

“Down here!”

Not farther along then. Below. They inched their way to the right edge of the bluff, Sam’s father holding aside branches with his arm for them, Wren cursing as she stumbled over a rock, Maggie still disoriented and sweating, despite the cold.

“Did you find her, son?”

It was Linnie who answered, directly below where they stood. “Yes.” An indecipherable exchange followed: a soft question, a low retort, a child’s querulous demand. Then Linnie again, louder this time: “We’ve got her.”

23

IN THE COPPER glow of the cabin’s kitchen, Wren murmured, “Oh, good.” She tapped the screen of her phone. “Thomas wrote. Here’s our hospital update.” She read aloud, “‘No hypothermia, mild frostbite on her right hand, nothing serious, ready for home and hot cocoa. Linnie’s sleeping over.’”

While the aunt texted back, Maggie dropped her forehead in her hand. Hot cocoa? She flared her eyes at the table.

Her aunt set down the phone. “Well, it was an interesting plan—to stow away on the first pirate ship that swung by Devil’s Tongue. Didn’t work, but, hey, there’s the cocoa. Plus, her mom’s sticking close.”

Maggie grunted.

The aunt smiled. “Think a time-out’s more in order?” When Maggie shrugged, Wren shook her head and leaned back in her chair. “All kids want attention. It’s nice when it comes in the form of praise, but they’ll take what they can get and do just about anything to win it. Throw a temper tantrum, get attention. Run away, get attention.” She scrubbed her face and let her fingertips rest on her eyes. “Kate’s no different.” Heaving herself up from the table, she added tartly, “Besides, what were Sam and Linnie thinking, ranting and raving in front of Kate?”

“That was dumb.”

“Dumb and mean.” The aunt folded her arms. “Whatever mistakes those two made with each other, they’re not Kate’s fault. Keep up that bullshit, and they’ll have trouble on their hands and no one to blame but themselves.”