"Wow," Colette exclaimed, rotating her aching shoulder to stretch it out. "Who knew that rowing in tandem was so hard?"

"Well, honestly, we did quite well. Usually it's much harder than that," Will replied with a tired smile. "We seem to make a good team."

"I'd hate to see what a bad team is like, then," Colette laughed as she pushed open the door to Taro's office. He was halfway to the door when they stepped in, and he looked up at them in surprise.

"Good evening, Colette, Will. I was just on my way out, but what can I do for you?"

"I wanted to let you know, we explored the two newest islands. One seems to have a large population of animals, I don't know why or where they came from. They have some water there, but very little food. I'm worried about them-they seem very hungry. I think I'll row out again tomorrow and put out some food for them.

"As for the other island, we didn't get to explore it much. There were two men living there, and they didn't seem too pleased to see us."

"Men?" Taro asked with a frown. "Who were they? No one should be on that island."

"They looked like natives, but again, I don't know. They didn't seem to understand English, and the language they spoke wasn't one I recognized. We were able to exchange names, though, after we gave them some food. They said their names were..." she hesitated, searching her memory as she glanced at Will.

"The older one was Wada, I believe," he replied, rubbing his chin.

"Yeah, I think that's right. And the younger one was... Shea?" Will nodded, and she looked again at Taro. "They've built a hut out of dried grasses near the beach, on the far side of the island from the dock. I also saw a kind of coracle pulled up onto the beach. It looked pretty beat up. I'm guessing there's not a lot of food available there on the island-they looked half-starved."

"Hmm, very interesting. Well, no need to worry. We've already got everything under control," Taro said, ushering them toward his door.

"Oh? What do you mean? Who's 'we'?" Colette asked.

"Well... why don't you come with me and see for yourself? The evening ferry arrived a short while ago."

Neither she nor Will could see what connection that had with anything, but they followed the old man across the bridge and to the hotel. "Is he here yet, Carol?" Taro asked as he stopped at the desk.

"Yes, he is-he just checked in a few minutes ago! Let me call him for you."Carol picked up the phone and dialed while the three of them went to take a seat in the lobby.

A few minutes later, Taro rose, saying, "Ahh, here we go. Colette, Will, I'd like you to meet-"

"Mark!" Colette shrieked, leaping from her chair and flinging herself at the young man that had just rounded the corner.

"Colette? What are you doing here?" he exclaimed.

"I take it you two know each other?" Taro said, while Will just stared in consternation.

Laughing with delight, Colette tucked her arm into the young man's as she turned to look at the others, her eyes sparkling with joy. "We sure do! He's my cousin-my favorite cousin."

"Cousins?" Will managed to say.

"Yep! Well, kind of. Half-cousins? Is that a thing?"

"Half-cousins?"

"Well, his mother is my mother's half-sister. My grandparents divorced when my mother was young, and grandpa got custody of her because grandma didn't want to be 'tied down'. She was going through this kind of a... phase. She ended up settling down after a while, though, with a man who was quite a lot younger than her-I think she was around forty by then and he was barely in his twenties, wasn't that right?" Mark nodded, and she went on. "Anyway, they had two children, my mom's half-sister and half-brother. So they're my half-aunt and half-uncle, and their kids are my half-cousins, like Mark here. And he's my favorite, I guess because I felt like he was the only one out of all my whole family that really 'got' me."

"Yeah, Colette's great, but she's definitely not like the rest of the family." Colette pulled him closer and whispered something urgently to him, and he stopped, looking startled. "Yeah? Well, okay... if you're sure? I'll try, at least," he replied in a low voice.

"A-anyway," Colette said, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear nervously, "Mark, you already know Taro, I assume. This is my boyfriend, Will Vandermeer. Will, this is Mark Donahue."

The two men shook hands solemnly, though Will looked slightly askance at Colette, wondering what their secretive exchange had been about.

"So as I was saying, I've hired Mark here as the new ranger," Taro said, once the introductions were complete.

"Ranger?"

"After some consultation and consideration, I've decided to turn those two islands into preserves. The island northeast of your ranch will be called Animal Island, at least for now. Those critters likely were caught in the storm, and either swam or were swept onto the newly formed island.

"I'm curious as to these two men, though. There wasn't any sign of them when Gannon and Kirk had a look-see. If they are in truth natives from another island somewhere nearby, I don't know what brought them here-the storm, or natural migration patterns, or perhaps they were even cast out of their tribe. If they're not natives... well, who can say what their motives may be. I won't say you must keep off the island, but do take great caution when approaching them, at least until we know more about them. That goes for you, too, Mark," he added with a stern look. "Remember, you're here to act as a caretaker, not some swashbuckling adventurer. If you encounter any difficulties, radio the mainland for assistance."

"Got it," Mark said, grinning as he saluted. "No unnecessary heroics."

"Right. Well, if you all will excuse me, I'd better go, or else I'll be later for dinner and Felicia will give me an earful. Good evening," Taro said as he headed back out onto the street.

"We were going to go get some dinner," Colette said, taking Will's arm and looking at her cousin. "Care to join us?"

Mark glanced quickly at Will, then smiled and shook his head. "Thank, cuz, but I'll take a raincheck. I need to get settled into my room, and I want to get to bed early tonight so I can get an early start tomorrow. I need to explore these islands, and I'd like to get acquainted with the town and the locals, too."

"Well... another time then. We've got some catching up to do!" Colette said.

"Yes... yes, we sure do," Mark said as they left.

"Nick's, or home cooking?" Colette said as the crossed back over the bridge to Verdure Island.

"How about we get takeout and eat it at your place? I know you're tired, so I hate to ask you to cook."

"Perfect," she replied, squeezing his hand.

They ordered their meals-Caesar salad with grilled chicken for her, penne Alfredo for him-and carried the bags of food back to her house. By the time they'd finished their meals and washed up, the sun had already set. So Colette made a pot of coffee, and they took their mugs outside to lie down on the grass and watch the stars come out overhead.

After a little while, Will broke the silence. "You know, when you mentioned dating that fellow earlier-the safari bloke, I mean-I realized... I know nothing about your past. I don't wish to pry, of course, but at the same time, I admit to feeling quite curious about your life before we met." Colette rolled over onto her stomach and stared at him, and he sat up. "What I mean to say is, well... I feel any really serious relationship requires a certain...."

"Honesty?" Colette asked, and he dropped his gaze. "I suppose you're right. But... does this mean you consider us to have such a relationship?"

He looked at her again, reaching for her hand. "I can say in all truthfulness that I have never before felt for anyone what I feel for you."

"And what is that, then?"

Will sighed. "I've never been good with words. Not when it really matters, that is. I can flirt and joke and make small talk and pretty speeches, but.... You see, I never formed any real connections with others, not even my parents. Until now, that is. What I'm trying to say is... Colette, I... I believe I've fallen in love with you."

Her eyes opened wide, caught off guard by his admission. "Y-you what?" she asked, sitting up and facing him.

"Is... that unwelcome news?" he asked anxiously.

"No! I mean, it's not that. I...." She buried her face in her hands for a moment. When she looked up, there were tears glittering in her eyes. She scooted over so she was sitting next to him, and leaned her head against her shoulder. "The thing is... I think I feel the same way." With a relieved sigh, he put his arm around her shoulders, holding her tightly. "And that scares me," she added.

"Why is that?" he asked.

"Because... of who I am, or rather who I used to be. Because of things that have happened to me." She shivered, then went on. "If... if that's true, if you do love me, too, then... I feel as if I should tell you about my past. I'd like to tell you," she said, silencing his protest. "But I'm not yet ready to talk about it. I still need a little time. So I... I promise you that I'll tell you about it once I'm finished with this harvest and planting my fall crops."

"As you wish," Will said, then he lay back against the grass again, pulling her down with him, her head still on his shoulder. After several minutes, he said, "Do you know, I've enjoyed these past few days with you more than anything else I've done in, oh, quite possibly all my life?"

"Really? Just... wandering around the islands?" she asked, incredulously.

"Yes. Somehow... I find the idea of spending my days exploring, learning about new places and people and customs, incredibly appealing. I've always had wanderlust, but this... well, this is different. More focused. And... I'd want you by my side. Really, I couldn't imagine it any other way."

"Wandering the world... with me?" she exclaimed.

"Yes, wouldn't it be grand? Sailing from port to port, exploring new lands, and whenever we're tired of one place, we simply pull up anchor and sail away to the next adventure. Can't you just imagine it?"

"Well... it does sound exciting, and fun. I could see taking a vacation like that, but...."

"But what?"

"But I have my farm. I couldn't be gone very long or very often, you know. There's too much work to do."

"Well, then... couldn't you just... sell it? You could sell the farm and set the money aside, and whenever we grow weary of wandering and long for a place to call home, you can buy a new property anywhere you like. And because we'll have seen so many places, you'll have a better idea of where you would care to put down roots at last."

"Sell my farm? Oh, no-I couldn't. I mean, the town has already come to depend on it, on the food I raise here. And besides... it means too much to me."

"It does? This place? But... why? I mean, you haven't been here all that long yet, have you?" Will asked, bewildered.

"I... I can't explain it very well yet. Not yet. But it is important to me-very."

Will sighed and closed his eyes. "Well, if you feel so strongly about it... though it's a shame. It really would have been lovely to sail around the world with you."

"Yes... it's a lovely dream, I'll grant you that. But I'd rather have reality than dreams," she replied drowsily, nestling up to him cozily.

A short while later, he carried her, sleeping soundly, into her house and laid her down on her bed. He gently removed her sandals, then pulled a blanket over her. He leaned over and kissed her good night on her cheek, then stood watching her with a troubled look in his eyes. Then he sighed and left, turning off the lights and closing the door softly behind him.

"It was a wonderful dream-and it would have been the perfect solution," he murmured to himself as he slowly crossed the bridge.