Melissa Good - Terrors of the High Seas

Dar opened one eye. “Maybe they’re the business end,” she suggested. “The money people.”

Kerry pursed her lips. “I just didn’t like them.”

“Well,” Dar captured her hand and squeezed it, “I’ve always trusted your people judgment,” she said. “Why don’t we—”

“Hey, Dar!”

Dar sat up as they heard footsteps approaching rapidly. Rufus was running down the docks toward them. “Hey,” Dar greeted.

He stopped short of the boat. “C’n I come on board?”

Dar waved him over. “Sure.”

The boy grinned and scrambled onto the boat, looking around wide-eyed as he walked across the stern deck. “Wow.”

“Nice, huh?” Dar stood up. “Want to see inside?”

“Sure!” Rufus followed her eagerly as she opened the door, looking up at her in awe as he walked under her arm. “Boy, Dar, you got a lot of muscles!”

Kerry muffled a giggle as she caught the look of bemused consternation on her partner’s face.

“Yeah, I sure do,” Dar replied. “That’s kinda weird for a girl, huh?”

“Yeah.” Rufus nodded solemnly. “But it’s really cool. Can you wrassle a gator?”

Dar chuckled. “C’mon.”

They disappeared inside, leaving Kerry to resume her quiet pondering. She leaned back in her chair and exhaled. “What the hell is going on with you, Kerrison?” She rested her head against her fist and looked inside herself for an answer.

Finally, she lifted her eyes and exhaled, nodding a few times.

Had her family had so enraged and disgusted her, Kerry mused, that a part of her wanted to just leave them behind? Maybe that same part thought that using Dar’s last name instead of her own would rid her of the nightmares.

Is that good or bad? Kerry wasn’t sure. It hadn’t seemed to bother Dar, though. In fact, Kerry suspected Dar kinda liked the theft of her surname. With a thoughtful frown, she picked up the strong golden chain on her neck and regarded the ring through which it was threaded. She and Dar both wore their commitment 58 Melissa Good rings the same way, and now she studied the inscription on hers carefully.

Forever.

Kerry smiled and pushed herself to her feet, shaking her head as she walked toward the cabin. A motion caught her eye and she turned to watch a much smaller boat, just a motored skiff, pull up to the dock and tie on.

The motor died, and a tall, grizzle-haired man with a husky build got out. He was dressed in faded, patched fatigues and a black tank top, and he adjusted a blue cap as he paused on the dock.

His eyes fell on their boat, and he turned and examined it carefully from bow to stern. Then he pivoted on his heel and headed up toward the buildings, walking with a determined, powerful stride.

“You know,” Kerry leaned on the edge of the cabin door, “if I were the gambling type, I’d bet that guy’s name is Bud.” She watched as the man passed Christen and Juan coming back the other way, brushing by them without a word. The two continued back to their boat, but not without a look in Kerry’s direction. “This is starting to look squicky.”

“Did you say something, Ker?” Dar appeared at her elbow.

“I’m just going to kick the engines on and give Rufus the ride I promised him.”

“Sounds like a great idea.” Kerry patted her on the side. “I’ll untie us.” She jumped onto the dock and set them free, aware of being watched from across the way.

Something is definitely going on. Kerry suspected that sooner or later they’d be finding out what it was.

Chapter

Seven

IT WAS SUNSET when they pulled back into the dock, having enjoyed their late afternoon ride. Perched on the bow of the Bertram as Dar navigated in, the first thing Kerry noticed was that the small tender was gone.

Rufus was a cute kid. Kerry found his enthusiasm over anything nautical adorable, and watching Dar explain the working of the large diesels was a precious moment she wished she had on camera. Rufus obviously adored her partner, and even now he was glued to Dar’s side as she edged the big boat into dock.

Kerry made a mental note to get Dar to let her bring the craft in sometime, though this tiny dock probably wasn’t the best one to start with. Dar had to shift the diesels into reverse twice and then into idle, before they drifted into place. As they gently hit the bumpers, Kerry stepped off and secured the lines. The setting sun was turning the white beach sand a deep gold and painting the wooden buildings into a tropical watercolor scene. She leaned against a pylon and stuck her hands into her pockets, simply enjoying the view.

“Hey, Ker.” Dar jumped off the boat and onto the dock. “See that?”

Kerry obligingly peered down Dar’s arm. Her eyes widened.

“Whoa…what is that?”

A young woman was racing around the waves on what looked like a surfboard, but this surfboard had a handle and, apparently, an engine. As Kerry watched, the girl zoomed around in a big figure eight, effortlessly racing over the surface of the water. Kerry clutched Dar’s shoulder. “Ooo,” she crooned. “I want.” She craned her neck to see better. “That rocks!”

Dar smirked. “I thought you’d say that.” She turned and watched Rufus jump off the boat. “Okay, Rufus, tell your friend he’s got a customer.”

“Cool!” Rufus grinned at both of them. “I’m gonna go tell ’im.

Go see papa Bud, too.” He pattered off down the dock, only to turn and race back, throw his arms around Dar and give her a hug.

60 Melissa Good

“Thanks for th’ ride!”

“No problem.” Dar seemed a little embarrassed, but she returned the hug before she sent him on his way again. “Nice kid.”

“Mmhm,” Kerry agreed. “He’s got great taste in heroes to worship.”

Dar rolled her eyes. “Don’t you start that, Kerrison.”

Kerry snickered. “But it’s so cute,” she teased, reaching up to tweak Dar’s cheek. “C’mon. How about a shower before we go to dinner?”

They had turned to go back onto the boat when heavy footsteps made them look around. Charlie was limping down the dock toward them, giving them a friendly wave. “Ho, Dar!”

Dar lifted a hand in greeting. “Evening, Charlie.”

The big ex-serviceman halted as he reached them. “Evening, you two. Listen, got a favor to ask.”

“Sure,” Dar replied easily.

“Damn fuel delivery’s being held up ’cause of weather down south. We gotta shut down tonight. Mind if I bring over a potluck on your pretty boat here?”

“Not at all,” Dar said. “We’ve got a table inside. How about we go out and do it under the stars?”

Charlie beamed. “Sounds great. Bud’ll love that. It’ll take ’bout forty five to an hour; see you then?”

“Sure.”

Charlie turned and limped up the dock, waving his hand in farewell.

“Well,” Kerry mused, “that’s interesting. I guess they use a generator for power, right?”

“Yep.” Dar stepped onto the boat and offered Kerry her hand.

“So we get to be hosts for the evening. That work for you?”

“Definitely.” Kerry allowed herself to be pulled on board.

Quite unreasonably, she’d developed a wary dislike for Bud, whom she hadn’t even met yet, and she was glad their first encounter would occur in their home territory.

It isn’t really fair to the guy , she acknowledged. Kerry reasoned it was mostly her gut level reaction to someone who professed a dislike for someone she dearly loved and admired, and she was willing to give the unknown Bud a chance when she met him, especially since Dar seemed to be at least willing to sit down to dinner with him.