Nurse on the Run — Kathleen Harris

How long could Deborah remain a fugitive on an island that time forgot, denying her true identity and the profession she had trained so hard for?

A premonition come true...

Deborah McGarthy was uneasy about the cruise, but old Mr. Engleman insisted on taking her along: “After putting up with me, you need a chance to recuperate as much as I do!” So when the Maybelle sailed for the Caribbean, the pretty nurse was on board.

It was stormy seas from the beginning. Mr. Engleman had invited his niece, Edith Carstairs, who had invited a friend, handsome, pleasure-loving Ken Crawford. To Deborah's embarrassment, Ken focused his attention on her, ignoring Edith.

It was a dangerous omission. When a missing pearl necklace was found in Deborah's cabin, she knew who must have put It there. But she couldn't tell Mr. Engleman: she couldn't hurt him. At the same time, she couldn't stay where she was while she was suspected of being a thief. So when the Maybelle stopped to refuel at a tiny island, Deborah “jumped ship” knowing she might never be able to go home again.

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Deborah McGarthy, with her dark hair and beautiful blue eyes, was, Edward J Engleman thought, a delightful and charming person to have around -- especially if one were faced with a long convalescent period. And so her offered her a cruise on his yacht, the Maybelle, with no duties to speak of and a salary that she would not have to touch until the cruise was over.

Still, Deborah hesitated. She had never mated what most nurses termed a "safe berth." But who could resist a man as wealthy and as endearing when he wanted to be as Mr. Engleman?

Also on the cruise would be Mr. Engleman's niece, Edith Carstairs, with a friend, and Mr. Engleman's lawyer and his wife. Deborah had supposed that Edith's friend would be a woman...until she met handsome Kim Crawford on deck and realized that he was the "friend." However, Kim made it clear that he had come along for pleasure, not because he cared for Edith, and he also made it clear that Deborah, if she took an interest in him, might make him mend his ways.

The Mrs. Schubert's valuable pearl necklace disappeared -- and turned up, of all the unlikely places, in Deborah's stateroom.

It looked as if Deborah would be faced with a charge of stealing -- which would mean an end to her career. The yacht was to stop at a small island for refueling; why not stay on the island until the Maybelle had sailed?

Deborah enters into a new life on Paradise Island. Acting as mate on Andy Stalfe's fishing boat solves one of her problems, and Andy solves the other -- a place to live?

Hero: Andy Stalfe
Heroine: Deborah McGarthy