“What idiot left this line out?” he shouted. “I’ve never seen such a bad case. And this goddamn hook!” He almost sputtered in fury when he bent to investigate the large, multipronged hook deeply embedded in Delphine’s mouth.

He didn’t wait for an answer. He left Carson’s side and pushed through the water to retrieve his pack and dig out his cell phone. His whole body radiated wrath as he stared at the dolphin and talked rapidly on the phone.

“Legare here. I got a dolphin seriously tangled in fishing line. It’s bad. Very bad. Large hook embedded in the mouth. Dolphin’s movements are severely restricted. Deep cuts. I need a vet ASAP. And wet transport. Meanwhile, check availability for rehab. Location is Sullivan’s Island. Sea Breeze . . . Yeah, that’s the one. How long? . . . He is? Good. This is a priority situation. Thanks.” He put the phone in his bag and came directly back to the dolphin’s side.

“I’ve got this,” he said as his long arms reached under the dolphin in support. “Go on. Carson, take a break. You’re shivering.”

“I’m not leaving her,” Carson said.

Blake returned a firm stare. Gone was the easygoing, smitten man she’d spent the night with. There was no room for flirtation in this man’s demeanor. He was in charge and clearly not happy to see her in the water.

“Look. This is a dangerous situation. With her thrashing, you could get seriously hurt.”

“She wouldn’t hurt me.”

“She wouldn’t, huh?”

“No,” Carson said. “We’re friends. Why can’t you just cut the lines off?”

“They’re too deeply embedded and if I loosen them she might try and swim away. We don’t want to lose her in this condition. She wouldn’t survive with all that line around her. And she’ll need a vet to cut that hook out. Shit, what a bloody mess. He should be here soon.” He squinted his eyes and said with impatience, “Why are we having this conversation? Get out of the water, Carson. It’s not safe.”

He turned his attention back to Delphine, gently stroking her body, her face. He didn’t coo or offer any words of solace. But she did stop fighting and Carson thought that somehow, Delphine understood that Blake cared and was here to help.

Then, as if her words had suddenly sunk in, he turned and asked, “What do you mean, you’re friends?”

“I know this dolphin. She comes to the dock.”

“Delphine . . .” he said, repeating the name he’d heard on the phone.

She nodded.

“You don’t name a wild animal. That can only lead to something bad, like this.” His voice grew dark with suspicion. “Tell me you didn’t feed her.”

Carson felt hunted and looked away from his critical gaze. Her silence was his answer.

“Great,” he shot out. “Damn it. See what you’ve done? This isn’t Flipper. This is a wild animal! You don’t feed a wild animal. You don’t swim with a wild animal, and you sure as hell don’t make friends with a wild animal.”

Carson was stricken. “I know!” she cried. “Now. I never thought anything like this could happen.” Looking at Delphine’s ravaged back and listening to her labored exhales, she felt Blake’s words cut as deeply in her mind as the fishing line. “She came on her own. She found me. I’d never hurt her.”

“You wouldn’t, huh?”

His words cut so deep she felt her knees weaken. She clamped her eyes shut to keep the tears from coming as she clung tight to Delphine.

His anger diminished somewhat. He took a breath. “I’m sure you didn’t mean to hurt her. I don’t believe anyone who feeds a wild dolphin means to hurt it.” He looked down at Delphine in his arms. “But this is what happens.”

Carson couldn’t respond.

Delphine squirmed again, attempting to flap her powerful tail. With each push the slender, invisible fishing lines dug deep through the flesh like a razor.

“Hold her steady!” Blake shouted, struggling with Delphine’s head.

“I’m trying!” Carson shouted back at him over the dolphin’s body. It was near impossible to restrain Delphine’s power, even wounded. She brought her face close to Delphine’s eyes and murmured soothingly to calm her. “Delphine, it’s going to be all right. We’re going to help you. I won’t leave you.” Delphine responded to her voice and ceased struggling.

“Good. Keep it up. It’s working,” Blake acknowledged.

“I love her,” Carson choked out, looking up into his dark eyes, still so deeply distrustful.

She saw the scorn dissipate in his gaze, but his face was still taut. “I believe you. But frankly, so what?”

“I know. God, I know and I’m so sorry.” She couldn’t stop apologizing. “What’s going to happen to her?”

“We’ll find out after the vet gets here. And I hope it’s soon. Every time she moves, those lacerations get worse.” He glanced up and searched her face. His own reflected worry. “You’re shivering, and your lips are turning blue. Why don’t you get out for a while?”

“No. She’ll get upset if I leave her,” Carson said, even though she didn’t know how much longer she could hold on. She felt Delphine’s energy waning as the minutes ticked by. “When are they going to get here?”

“They’ll be here,” he answered. As though in reply, they heard the loud beeping of a truck backing up. He looked over her shoulder. “That’s them now.”

Carson looked up to the house to see a yellow Penske truck backing in. The rear lights flashed as it parked and the doors swung open. Two young men came running toward them, each wearing a diver’s top over a swimsuit. They were carrying a bright blue stretcher.

“Carson, you can let go now. Go up and get something warm on. You’ll just be in the way.”

“No, I—”

“Carson,” he said firmly, cutting her off. “Let us handle it now. It’s best for the dolph—for Delphine.”

Carson nodded and carefully released Delphine. Blake held tight as Carson stepped away. The muscles in her arms felt like they were being pricked by a thousand needles. As Carson left Delphine’s side and stumbled out of the water, Delphine squirmed in Blake’s grasp and screamed out in distress. Hearing her, Carson doubled up in anguish at the shoreline.