Shipwreck Island by S. A. Bodeen Page A

could do it.” He looked very pleased with himself.
    John said, “Since we have a fire master here, it might be time to do some exploring.” He looked toward the trees.
    â€œYou’re not thinking of going in there, are you?” asked Yvonna. She frowned. “It might not be safe.”
    He shrugged. “Better to find water before we really need it.”
    Yvonna said, “I don’t think you should go off on your own.”
    Ahab sat next to Sarah and she put her face in his neck. She didn’t want to have to worry about water or how long they would have to be there. She just wanted to be at home. Instead, there she was, on a stupid island, listening as her dad and stepmother argued about him going into the trees alone.
    â€œOkay,” John said. “You’re right. I won’t go alone.”
    Yvonna said, “Thank you.”
    â€œReady to go?” John asked.
    Sarah nodded and stood up, then froze. Her dad’s eyes were trained on Marco. He wasn’t even talking to her. She watched as her dad and Marco disappeared into the trees.
    Yvonna asked Sarah, “Why don’t you help me set up camp?”
    Sarah shook her head. “I’m going down to the beach.”
    â€œI really think you should stay here.” Yvonna frowned.
    Nacho said, “Yeah, you can help me arrange the medical and cleaning supplies.”
    â€œNo, thanks.” Sarah grabbed Ahab’s collar and walked down toward the water.
    Yvonna called after her, “Stay where I can see you!”
    Sarah rolled her eyes. She wasn’t about to let her stepmother tell her what to do. “Come on, boy.” But Ahab seemed more than content to go wherever she did. She let go and he stayed right by her side, wagging his wet, sandy tail. She sighed. “You are totally going to need a bath, aren’t you?”
    As if he heard her, he charged right into the waves, let them pummel him a bit, then ran back out. “No!” Sarah held up her hands just as Ahab started to shake his fur, drenching her with seawater.
    â€œUgh.” She wiped off her face with the bottom of her shirt, then gave Ahab a stern look.
    He simply wagged his tail, staring at her with an open mouth as he panted.
    â€œMaybe we should go exploring too, huh, boy?” Sarah glanced back up at the beach at Yvonna and Nacho, who were busy setting up camp under the monkey pod trees. “They won’t miss us.” She started to walk away from the area, toward the edge of the trees. Ahab didn’t follow.
    Sarah stopped and waited for him. “Come on.” She slapped her hand on her leg a few times. “Let’s go.”
    Ahab took one long look back at Yvonna and Nacho and whined a little bit before trotting over to Sarah. She headed around the curve of beach, and soon she was out of sight of the camp.
    Just being alone made her feel a little better. She felt like she’d gone for days without one shred of privacy, and she was amazed at how simply getting out of sight of everyone else made her relax. Ahab stayed at her heels as she walked along the beach, which seemed to stretch for close to a mile, always lined with palm trees.
    â€œThis place is bigger than I thought,” Sarah said. She picked up a piece of driftwood and threw it out into the water. Ahab stayed by her side. “Not much of a fetcher, huh?” She sat down on the sand and Ahab plopped beside her, his snout on his paws. “I’m sorry about your master.” Ahab didn’t move, but his eyes turned up to gaze at her. “Maybe I’m your new master, huh?” Ahab lifted his head and panted, his long pink tongue lolling about.
    Sarah smiled. “I’ll take care of you, boy. I promise.” She stroked his head. “You’ll like California.” She sighed. Unfortunately, California, and home, felt a world away.
    Suddenly, Ahab did an about-face, staring at the line of trees about ten yards