Lights on the Far Horizon Trilogy

by Stone, Sailor

  Sammy resumed the story, “I carried you over to a patch of grass under a tree, a quiet out of the way place, and I laid you down and I was making sure you were okay when I heard Tanner and Justin coming up behind us. I was thinking that you were going to be alright. I knew Dmitri did not have time to violate you or rape you in that cabin and I wanted to make sure you were breathing okay. You were, and then Tanner got to you and we had you in an ambulance and heading to the hospital in short order.”

  Kinsey had questions, many questions, and the first out of her mouth was, “Did the police come? Did they go on the boat and arrest Dmitri?”

  “It’s not an answer you will want to hear. It’s the same as when Trisha disappeared.” Justin said, “Dmitri has political pull and he got away. Again. We were all with you Kinsey. We all went to the hospital and when we asked the policeman, who came later to the hospital to file a report about what they were going to do about it, he told us that the ship had left port before they could get on board. So we don’t even know where it is now.”

  Kinsey looked down at the bed.

  “I know how that feels, Kinsey. I’m glad I annihilated Dmitri’s face, Yurek’s too, but those guys are still out there and they will keep doing bad things to people,” Justin said.

  Kinsey thought of Trisha, “I guess it didn’t work then. We didn’t locate Trisha.”

  “Not true, you and Sammy did great. And so did Sicilee and Chastain. Tell her Sammy.”

  Sammy, as Kinsey knew him to be, was happy to assume center stage, “I went deep into the bowels of that ship while you were working your seduction magic on Dmitri. I found Sicilee and she told me to meet her in the galley and that she had a girl in there that she wanted me to talk to. I met her in the front of the galley, and boy, is the kitchen in a yacht skinny. I don’t know how they can cook in it. It looks like they are cooking in the hallway of a small home…”

  “Get back on point, Sammy.” Justin said.

  “Right, so I met Sicilee and she took me to a storage cooler for the food and she had this girl waiting there for us to talk to and Sicilee said, “She doesn’t speak English well but listen to this.” Then she nodded to the girl to speak and I could see the girl was scared. Dmitri runs his ship based on fear of being punished but finally Sicilee got her to speak and she said she saw Trisha in a port in the Virgin Islands.”

  Kinsey looked to Tanner then to Justin who nodded his head up and down, almost vigorously, then Justin said, “And listen to this.”

  Sammy continued, “She said she knew Trisha from working on the boat last year. She said Trisha was the nicest guest on the boat to her so she was happy to see her. She knew she had disappeared from the boat one night earlier in the year so she waved to her from the ship and when Trisha saw her she shook her head to her and left the dock before she could go down to her. She said Trisha looked very scared, like she was afraid Dmitri or Yurek might see her.”

  “That’s great news?” Kinsey looked to Justin, hoping it was.

  Justin answered, “That’s incredible news. I was talking to Tanner about it last night while we waited for them to release you from the hospital. He has a plan. A good one and we’ll tell you about it later but I just have to say Kinsey, that I don’t understand why you guys are doing this for me. It’s more than I could ever hope for but you could have been raped or killed. I feel terrible for letting you do this…”

  Tanner interrupted, “Justin, my wife did this because she wanted to make herself right. She felt like she’d been selfish these last months and even though no one close to her agrees with that feeling, most of all me, she told me that doing this would go a long way to her being able to look in the mirror at herself again. My intuition was screaming at me to not let her do this crazy scheme but then she’s her own person and I understand her and where it comes from and I had to trust her in the end to do what she had to do. Believe me, I prayed for her, and Sammy, over and over while they were on that ship.”

  Then Kinsey said, “I like you, Justin. You remind me of Tanner, the way you go at life, living your days to the fullest, but I saw a big hole in your life. I know Trisha can fill that void and make you complete again. If I choose to care for you and your fiancée and I try to find her for you, that’s a good thing.”

  “Me too, Justin. You and Kinsey have made my break-up from Carlton so much easier to bear,” Sammy added.

  Justin looked down at his hands for a moment, then finally nodded to everyone. Then he looked at Sammy, “Sammy, you and Carlton aren’t even broken up. You thought you saw something going on and you left him. You just need to talk to him, let him at least know where you are.”

  “You have no idea what I saw. He was dating another woman.”

  “Here we go again. Sammy, you are a man, remember? Carlton can’t cheat on you with another woman. He can cheat on you with a woman or another man, but not another woman. Don’t you get that? And if he’s gay, why would he be with a woman? It makes no sense. Just call the guy and tell him where you are.”

  Justin was shaking his head as he spoke and Kinsey could see the puzzled look on Tanner’s face so she spoke up, “Sammy, Justin has a point. Call Carlton, give the guy a chance to explain himself.”

  Sammy shook his head, “I’m not finished being the jilted lover.”

  Tanner began to laugh, “It sounds to me like you don’t know if you’ve even been jilted, Sammy.”

  “That’s exactly right. Now Sammy, I’m finished with this. I may take matters into my own hands,” Justin said, then he added, “This is hurting my jaw. You wear me out Sammy. You’re an exhausting friend to be around.”

  “I agree with Justin, Sammy.” Kinsey found the smile on her face turning to laughter.

  Then Justin joined her in laughing, followed by Tanner, and finally Sammy said, “I’ve been jilted by Carlton and now my new friends are jilting me as well.”

  Sammy looked around at everyone as they laughed all the harder at his last statement, and then even he began to laugh.

  Kinsey looked around the room and knew that they were all dosing on some good medicine – laughing was not something she’d done in many months. The harder she laughed, a fading hangover of scotch and a roofie notwithstanding, the more Kinsey knew she was cured. No snake had visited her drug induced dreams the night before and her new friends and Tanner, the man she loved and that loved her back, were holding court around her hotel bed and all she could feel was an excitement for the coming moments, hours, days and years ahead. She was looking forward to tomorrow… finally.

  As the laughter calmed in the room, Kinsey said, “I want to get out of this bed and get better. Who can help me up so I can go into the bathroom?”

  Three hands came out to help her and Kinsey let all three men pull her from the bed. Their touch, two good friends and a loving husband, all connected inside her heart, and, for the briefest of moments, she felt all of their hearts beating within hers. It was a feeling she’d never forget.

  26

  The Seduction

  Kinsey spent a long time in the bathroom. Her blood coursed through her veins like a toxic syrup and her head felt as if the head of an axe was wedged between her eyebrows, the handle jutting out in front of her face. She showered, then, as she stepped from the water and turned it off, she heard the door open. It was Tanner and an epic hangover or not, her stomach did a flip and a flop at the sight of him. Kinsey was like an excited school girl waiting for the first kiss from a boy she had a crush on.

  He came across the room and planted a big brotherly kiss on her forehead.

  “Take your time, Kins. You going to be able to function today?” he asked.

  She wanted more than just a kiss on the head but she answered him anyway, “I do. I might need a bottle of ibuprofen and a gallon of water but I should be okay in a couple of hours.”

  “Good, listen, Justin and Sammy just left and I have to run out. You work on getting better and I’ll be back sometime later.” Tanner planted another
big wet kiss, this time, on her lips, patted her on the naked rear end and then said to her, “Boy, do you look good. Take care, Babe,” and with that, Tanner turned and left, shutting the door to the bathroom behind him with a loud and final click.

  Kinsey was flabbergasted. She wanted nothing more than to be with Tanner – forever, starting right now and he had just turned and left her to herself. She dried off and wrapped the towel around her body and went out into her room. She heard a noise at the door and looked to it just in time to see a note being slid under it.

  Kinsey smiled and ran to it and picked it up. She quickly opened it.

  It said: My Dearest Love, Did you forget? Today is our wedding anniversary. I have left to prepare for you a most romantic evening.

  Soon, a good friend will knock on your door to help you feel better and also prepare you for our evening out together. He’s wanted to do this for you all week and I suggest you let him have his way with you. The hotel spa is yours for the afternoon.

  This evening a taxi will come to pick you up and take you to a special dinner. A dinner with your husband.

  Then, after we dine, the night is ours and you are mine. Prepare to be held and loved until the sun rises – for soon you will experience the Great Seduction. A seduction that will include a setting sun, twilight and a night sky filled with stars that hang over a dark sea, then later, the moon will rise and the waters will come alive gleaming and shining and you and I will be watching all of this from a secluded beach. I will kiss you and touch you, embrace you and love you and I will make sure, with every cell in my body and every part of my soul, that you know that I am yours forever. Prepare for the Great Seduction, Kinsey.

  I can’t wait to see you. Love, your husband, Tanner.

  Kinsey put the note on a small table but then she picked it up and reread it. She began to cry but it turned into a smile, and Kinsey thought about touching her husband and giving herself back to him as the night turned to morning. She thought about Tanner and she realized he was already seducing her and that by the end of their evening together she’d be his and his seduction of her would be complete.

  But then she’d return his love – she’d make sure he was seduced by her as well.

  She let the towel drop to the floor as she returned to her bathroom. Sammy would be here soon to take her to the spa and make her into a new bride for her husband, but for the moment, she liked being naked and thinking about Tanner. Then she thought about Tanner being naked as well… and all she wanted… was him.

  The taxi arrived to pick Kinsey up in front of her hotel and Justin waved away the valet and opened the door for her himself.

  Sammy held her hand and escorted her to the car. “You are my finest work, Kinsey. I fear Tanner’s… um, manhood, will explode at the mere sight of you.”

  Kinsey gave Sammy a hug and said, “I do feel beautiful. I haven’t looked in a mirror and liked what I saw for many months. I want Tanner to see me; I can’t wait and if he likes what he sees I will owe it all to you.”

  “Oh girl, he’ll like what he sees, no doubt, right Justin?”

  “Tanner is a lucky man, Kinsey. Sammy’s right on that. You look like a million dollars,” Justin looked at Sammy and then back to Kinsey, “Should I go ahead and tell him now? He’d still have time to get to the airport and meet him.”

  Kinsey looked at Sammy and considered her answer.

  “Both of you have twinkling eyes, like you have a secret. What are you two talking about?” Sammy asked.

  “You should tell him. He needs to be there. I wanted to be there as well but there’s no need to keep him waiting.” Kinsey said, then added, “Yes, tell him, at least I can see the look on his face before I leave.”

  Kinsey stepped back from the door to the rear of the taxi and watched Justin pull out a flight schedule from his pocket. She could see where Justin had circled a particular flight on the sheet with an ink pen.

  Justin stepped close to Sammy, “Friend, you need to go to the airport. Someone needs a ride to the hotel.”

  Sammy crinkled his nose and looked from Justin to Kinsey, “What is he talking about?” he asked her.

  Justin answered for Kinsey, “Tanner and I hijacked your phone last night and found your contact information for Carlton on it. I called him and he’s flying in to the Bermuda airport in one hour. He never sounded so relieved to hear that you are okay. He’s coming to see you whether you want him to or not.”

  Sammy just stared at Justin and for a moment Kinsey was worried he’d storm off in an angry rage but then his eyebrows shot to the top of his head and he exclaimed, “You did that for me? You brought Carlton to me? Oh Justin!” Sammy quickly closed the gap between himself and Justin and wrapped his arms around Justin in a giant, effeminate bear hug. “I can’t believe you did that. This is what I’ve have longed for, dreamed about at night these last days and now Carlton is coming here to rescue me!”

  “I think the guy really loves you Sammy. He started crying on the phone and he didn’t sound like the crying type to me.”

  Sammy stepped back, “He cried? He isn’t the crying type. He’s a man’s man. I hope I didn’t worry him too much…”

  “I’d say you did, Sammy. You might need to make it up to him. He’s called me twice today and he has no idea you’ll be at the airport. He thinks I’m picking him up. Go surprise him. You need to get dressed. Do whatever it is you do; go put together a nice outfit I guess and get to the airport. You have to move and do it now or you won’t make it!” Justin stepped toward Sammy and gave him a light push on the arm and then he said, “I’d give anything to have Trisha on her way to me now. Don’t screw this up, go meet Carlton and make up with him.”

  Kinsey watched as Justin began to lead Sammy, who was now blubbering and making noises in his throat that sounded like he was about to have a panic attack, to the hotel doors. Kinsey thought Justin would turn around once he saw him to the doors but he stepped inside with him and Kinsey realized he was taking Sammy up to his room.

  She stood alone for a moment then she stepped back to the taxi and sat in the back seat. As the valet closed the door for her the taxi driver asked, “Where to?” and Kinsey realized she had no idea where she was supposed to go but then the valet stepped to the driver’s window and said, “She having dinner at the Four Ways Inn restaurant.”

  The taxi driver nodded and hit the accelerator, Kinsey’s last thought about Justin and Sammy, as she looked to the doors of the hotel was, as friends, they make for an odd pair. But Kinsey was glad they were friends and she was happy to count them among her close friends.

  The man waiting to open Kinsey’s taxi door at the Four Ways Inn was resplendent in his black and white formal attire, a multi-patterned, folded two point handkerchief in his vest pocket, his hair combed but trying to go shaggy, and his face, even with the stitches in his cheek, tanned and gorgeous to behold. It was Kinsey’s husband and he took her by the hand and helped her from the taxi. He closed the door, stepped to the driver and handed him the fare and a tip, then he came back to Kinsey and took her by the arm and led her toward the doors to the restaurant.

  “I’m going to have to hire Sammy,” Tanner whispered in Kinsey’s ear, then he lightly and quickly kissed the back of her ear and her neck and added, “Every man on this island will be jealous of me tonight. You, my dear, are a vision in your high heels and red dress. And your hair and skin? What has Sammy done? As beautiful as you have always been, he has transformed you into a goddess.”

  Kinsey smiled as they stepped through the doors. “I’m so excited to be with you Tanner. I feel like I’m pretty again. Thank you for sending me to this beautiful island. I promise to make up for everything I’ve…”

  “Hush. I love you. Let’s celebrate our marriage tonight. How do you feel, any lingering after effects from our adventure last night?”

  Kinsey leaned her head on Tanner’s shoulder as they walked to the maître-d’s stand, “I feel wonderful. Like life is new again.”
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  They were led to a small table that had champagne in a bucket of ice by the table and red rose petals sprinkled about the table and chairs. The chairs were not on opposite sides of the table, but instead, were on a common corner making for a more intimate and close-filled evening.

  “I’d say they knew we were coming. Are the rose petals your idea?” Kinsey asked as they took their seats.

  “I simply told them it was our anniversary and that anything they would like to do to make our dinner a better and more romantic experience would be much appreciated.”

  Kinsey looked up to their waiter and said, “Well, I do feel appreciated. Thank you so much.”

  The waiter smiled and said, “You look beautiful tonight, Mrs. Brodie. It is an honor to serve you.”

  The dinner was seven courses, and both Kinsey and Tanner tried to pick entrees that were on the light side and not so heavy, but by the end of the meal both of them were quite full, happy and satisfied. Every course was incredible to taste and as Kinsey sipped the champagne she told Tanner that too much alcohol might make her sleepy after the sedative and the scotch from the previous evening.

  Tanner understood but it didn’t stop him from celebrating and he tried several glasses of different varietals of red wines. Then, as his demeanor became relaxed and he became more and more irresistible to Kinsey, she started to ask him for sips of his wine, wanting to be fun for him as well, “Just to taste,” she told him and Tanner nodded.