by Jayne Blue
“Do you know Harleys?”
“Yeah, I can fix you up. That ride sounded very rough pulling in here, but it’s going to be a little wait.”
“Gonna be a while?” When I’d rolled into town, I was hoping not. But a few hours in Gold Cross didn’t sound so bad right now. A few days didn’t actually.
“Yeah, head next door. Uncle Frank and Aunt Estelle will make you some eggs. Tell ‘em I sent you. I’ll catch up with you, but it’s going to be afternoon till I get to it. You can see I’ve got a few customers ahead of you. Shit, it might even be the end of the day, sorry man.” There were three bikes neatly lined up presumably in for repair work.
“Thanks. I’ll find some trouble to get into.” I unclipped my satchel from the bike. I’d leave the small tent I’d been hauling secured to the back of the bike. Everything I needed to ride rough was on my Harley. I’d slept outside, in the tent, off rest stops, at campgrounds, anywhere I wouldn’t be noticed by the cops. I could leave most of that stuff, but the satchel would stay with me. I stepped out of the bike shop and into the warming sun.
I didn’t know where little Kara Ross had disappeared to. I certainly would like to see her again. Maybe a few hours hanging around would produce a reward.
Ross’s shop was right next door to Pontiacs just like Slim had said. I walked over and let the sea air fill my lungs. What it must be like to live on the ocean? Pretty amazing I’d bet.
Pontiac’s was clearly made for the tourist crowd. It was huge with a big bar top in the center. The place had an upper deck, a beach deck, and a bunch of beach cabanas. Classic car parts were the only décor. Several pool tables were set up off to the side, and a stage stood empty. I imagined this was a fun place to be when the sun went down.
But it was still morning and still quiet. I pushed open the door and hoped I could get a place to sit down, a meal, and find a quiet place to pass some time.
A sweet-faced woman with short steel-gray hair was hard at work. She had on a t-shirt with the Pontiac’s logo, and I watched as she filled wire baskets with napkins, silverware, and condiments. I walked slowly toward her and tried not to scare her. I scared a lot of people when it wasn’t my intent. And even more, when it was. But I didn’t scare Estelle Pontiac. She looked me up and down without a drop of fear in her happy eyes.
“Hello friend,” she said and had a big smile on her face. I normally didn’t get big smiles. These people really were used to bikers.
“Hello.”
“We don’t do breakfast but from the looks of you, I’m going to have to make an exception.”
“I’m pretty dusty ma’am.”
“That’s okay, sit right over here in the corner table, gorgeous view of the ocean. Juice? Coffee?”
“Coffee, black.”
“Gotcha. And you can have some scrambled eggs and bacon OR scrambled eggs and bacon. That’s the sum total of my husband Frank’s breakfast menu.”
“Sounds delicious.”
“Frank! Fire up the grill! We got a real biker in here.” She smiled and went back to the kitchen. I looked out, and Estelle wasn’t lying. The view was beautiful. The beach was just a few hundred yards away. This place had to be prime real estate and spying the outdoor beach toys I figured it was also a good place to day drink. Maybe I’d spend the day doing that?
The ocean and the sky were a light blue. It was easy to see why Slim hadn’t left since ’77.
There was a pier off to the left but only a few boats docked. A figure in white caught my eye, and the gorgeous view got even better. The familiar little lady in white shorts wiggled out across the wood planks and to a small boat. I could make out a name on the side. “Lafitte.”
I watched a skinny dude come up and help her put gas in the boat. She laughed with him. It was the first time I’d seen that. Even from far away it was a damn good sight. I settled in, enjoyed my shady corner booth, and watched her load up. She’d put her hair up in some sort of crazy ponytail or bun situation I noticed. Noticing things on Kara was very enjoyable.
It was a beautiful view and a comfortable place. Sitting still made me realize how tired I was of rolling along alone. Pontiacs reminded me of my club’s bar, the Wolf Den. I missed it and the people inside it.
I settled in and waited for my order while watching Kara Ross dart around her little boat. It was peaceful and for a short moment, I stopped moving. I’d been on the move so much I’d forgotten how good that could be.
I didn’t mean to, but I dozed off. I’d not been in such a comfortable spot in weeks.
Some time later, I startled awake to the sounds of something wrong. Very, very wrong. There was a cold plate of eggs in front of me.
And crashing sounds coming from the kitchen.
Kara
“This is bullshit. You can’t take our boat.” Frank said.
“You’re late with the payment. Either I take the boat or beat the shit out of you.” Butchie Fasbender was there to collect payment from Frank and Estelle. And their payment was about to take away what I needed more than the treasure map. He reached up and knocked several pots and pans off the hooks above the grill. They clattered to the floor, and the sound of metal echoed through the kitchen.
“Kara, needs the boat for her work,” Estelle said, and she looked closer to crying than I did.
“So it’s the beating then?” Butchie had corned all three of us just as I entered Pontiac’s kitchen to pack my cooler for the day.
I worked for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Department three days a week. They’d hired me as soon as I’d gotten my biology degree to collect data. They paid me, it was only a little, but the deal was I had to have my own boat. Estelle and Frank let me use the Lafitte for free.
Every day on the water I’d spend part of every day collecting data for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Department. And now that I had Daddy’s map in hand I’d planned to spend the other part of my time using it to search Ross Island for something to save it. Treasure I hoped.
The key to it all was having Frank and Estelle’s boat. Now it was about to be re-possessed. Frank and Estelle were really in no better financial position than I was. And it scared the hell out of me.
Butchie decided to do a little damage to prove his point and kept knocking over their kitchen equipment.
“Fuck off Butchie cut it out,” I yelled at him, and he turned to look at me. He meant to teach us a more violent lesson now. I saw it in his eyes, and his fists were balled and ready to strike. I was about to get punched. I lifted my jaw and stepped into it.
“Let’s see how brave you really are Kara Ross.” Shit, this was going to hurt.
“Here, here’s the keys. Take it.” Frank stepped in between us and gave Butchie the keys to the boat that I saw as another key to my future.
“No!” I said. I felt sick to my stomach and panic. Things were going from bad to worse.
There was nothing to do or say. It was Frank and Estelle’s boat, and they’d been kind to let me use it. Now it was gone. Frank was using it as payment. What the hell could I do?
“I’ll have someone come around later and take it out of here,” Butchie smiled at his victory.
He walked out of the kitchen and knocked down some flour on his way out to be sure the mess was complete.
Then it dawned on me how bad things were for my Aunt and Uncle. I had been so wrapped up in my financial situation I’d barely given a thought to their predicament. Butchie was worse than Kevin. I had to ask the question.
“Why is Butchie in the picture you two? You have a bank loan. There’s no need for him.” Butchie wasn’t the bank. Butchie’s people offered loose terms but bloody payback. Frank and Estelle were so sweet. So giving. And the idea that Butchie could hurt them made tears sting my eyes. He would have beat them up if not for the boat as payment. But it was a temporary fix. I knew that.
“Well, you see, we needed money for the bank loan. The payment on the restaurant and bike shop were due. We didn’t have it so Kevin sugg
ested we go a different route until things picked up.” Frank said as he slowly gathered the pans that had scattered on the floor.
“Butchie collects for a loan shark. You owe Kevin and the loan shark?” I put my head in my hands. This was a mess.
“We do. Just like a lot of the town it turns out.” The situation seemed impossible. If there was a hope that I could turn Ross Island into money, somehow I could save Frank and Estelle’s business.
But without a boat to work or to search. My scheme was sinking fast.
“I’m so sorry honey, I know you need that boat to do your Florida Fish and Wildlife Department work.”
“No, it’s okay, I’d rather a boat be gone than a few of Frank’s teeth.” Which was true.
“So did I hear someone say they need a boat?” We all turned to find Stone in the doorway to Pontiac’s kitchen. Which was now in total disarray. Poor Frank was trying to undo Butchie’s ham-fisted destruction.
“Yes. You did.” Estelle said. She was now Stone’s best friend?
“Well, I have one. Can I help?” Dangling from the enormous rough hands of our new biker friend was a boat key.
Frank stepped over and put out a hand.
“I’m Frank Pontiac, you met my wife, Estelle?”
“Yes. And thanks for the bacon and eggs. I’m Stone Calder.”
“Kara, have you met Stone?”
“Yes, he gave me a ride here earlier, his bike’s in the shop,” I explained. Yes, I needed a boat but Stone, who was this guy? I also needed to try to do this search mission alone, in secret. Stone had already spied my secret. And his eyes, they were dangerous, I didn’t think straight when he looked at me. Oh, no. This was heading in a bad direction.
“Oh, gotcha sounds like Stone here could be the answer to our prayers.” Estelle piped in. They were feeling guilty about losing the boat, but I didn’t blame them.
I also needed a fast solution. Maybe there was a way out. I grasped at straws.
“How much do you charge to rent it out?” Not that I could pay, but it seemed like a good question. Estelle and Frank also knew I couldn’t pay to rent anyone’s boat.
“Well, seeing as I haven’t seen it yet, and I don’t rent it out. Zero. But if you lead the way to Cutter’s Marina I’m happy to let you use it if it’s something that could work for whatever you need.”
“Kara’s a biologist. She spots and catalogs our Florida wildlife. Do you know she just graduated with a four-point!” Estelle said, and I rolled my eyes.
“This isn’t the time Estelle,” I said. I watched Stone’s eyes widened at the state of the kitchen and his brow furrowed.
“Impressive. Are you two okay? Can I help clean up?” He asked them. I couldn’t help but noticed how he defied the rough way he looked by reaching out to help two people he’d just met.
“We’re fine. Really. This is really perfect. Stone has a boat. Kara, we can’t look a gift horse in the mouth now you know?” Estelle appeared be falling in love with Stone. Ugh.
“I have no idea what kind of boat it is. It’s a gift from a friend for my vacation. It may not even be what you need.”
I didn’t want to leave Frank and Estelle.
I didn’t want to use his boat. Well, I did. But I didn’t want him on it I supposed. Why did Butchie have to take Estelle and Frank’s? It was like my mission was cursed, just like Daddy.
Plus who knew what kind of boat Stone was talking about. It could be row boat for all he knew.
I supposed it couldn’t hurt to just look and see if Stone Calder’s boat would work. The price was right, at zero, but I still had no idea if it was big enough to go out on the coast or out to Ross Island. If I got that far. Estelle pushed me again.
“I bet it is perfect Kara. Now go before our new friend changes his mind.” Our new friend. I looked to Frank for some objection. But he was now fully occupied in restoring the kitchen to its normal pristine condition. He was meticulous about it. It hurt me to think that Butchie knew that and exploited it. I looked back at Stone. Shit. I’d heard the word smolder but never saw it in action. That was Stone. He smoldered when he looked at me. This both compelled me and scared me. I had no idea what to do with smolder. But I did know what to do with a boat. So I caved.
“Okay, we can walk to Cutters,” I told him.
“Sounds good.” Stone took his satchel and put it over his shoulder. His bulk could have given Butchie a run for his money I noticed.
“It’s only a few blocks, follow me.”
“My pleasure. So, exactly what is your job?” Stone asked as we walked to Cutters.
“I work for the U.S. government helping monitor animal populations on the gulf coast. As Estelle just bragged, I just graduated with a biology degree. They pay me to observe wildlife three days a week. But I have to have my own boat because they’re severely underfunded.”
“And you were using Frank and Estelle’s?”
“Yep.”
“How are you related?”
“They’re Jason, and I’s aunt and uncle. Our dad died recently, and they’ve done a lot for us.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
“So who was this Butchie asshole?”
“Looks like Frank and Estelle borrowed money from the wrong person.”
“I see.” I didn’t know how much I should be telling Stone, and I didn’t know why I trusted him. But I did. He only asked a few questions, and I talked a mile a minute. That was a thing I did when I was nervous, excited, or well, all the time if you asked Jason.
The walk was a quick one, and we’d arrived. Cutter’s wasn’t the biggest marina in Gold Cross. There was a much more exclusive one that Kevin and his rich friends used. But Cutter’s was nice. It also didn’t have a snobby yacht club component. I respected that.
“Here it is. Cutter’s. Let’s see that key.”
Stone put the key in my hand, and his fingers touched my palm. It sent a shiver through me, impulsively I looked up at his face. What was going on with me? I realized that Stone Calder was hiding an incredibly handsome face under too much hair and a layer of stubble. I was shocked at my body’s reaction to him. I had never been so physically affected by someone before. And it threw me off balance.
Where Kevin Potter’s paws on me made me recoil, the light touch of Stone’s fingers made me think of him touching more.
But I needed his boat not his body. I focused on the key he’d handed me.
The key had the number 32 etched on the little anchor.
“This is slip 32. There’s only fifty out here at Cutter’s. It shouldn’t be too tough to find.”
We walked along the dock and found 32. The boat there was bright white, and it practically hurt my eyes to look at.
“Holy shit.” I couldn’t help but blurt.
Docked in front of us was a boat twice the size of what Estelle and Frank had been letting me borrow. Stone whistled, and it was warranted. It was a gleaming blue and white beauty. It wasn’t quite a yacht but Jesus H. Christ it was pretty.
Stone stepped on, and I continued to stare. I knew exactly what I was looking at and re-assessed Stone because of it. This was not the boat of a penniless drifter. Between that and the badass Harley, I realized Stone had resources. What they were I couldn’t guess. But this boat, wow was the word. My mouth started in overdrive again.
“You’re looking at an A40 Cobalt. The cabin in there’s bigger than my room at Jason’s.” I was in awe. I’d seen one or two Cobalt’s at Pontiac’s Pier before, and they always caught my eye. They caught everyone’s eye.
“Pretty nice, it’s like the Harley of boats,” Stone said. As beautiful as the Cobalt was I couldn’t use it. My plans included a small boat. This wasn’t small. I couldn’t take this beauty out on my own. Be responsible for it! It scared me as much as taking the guy’s bike out. I took a deep breath and gave him back the key.
“I’d say it pretty much is. I don’t think I can handle this alone and do my counts. It
’s too nice for me. I’d have to even put a scratch on her. I appreciate you’re offering to help, but I think I’m screwed.”
“Look, I have a day to kill while your brother fixes my bike and apparently a boat that’s nicer than a small apartment. So I’d say let’s gas up and take her out. You can do whatever it is you do, and I can drive.” Stone offered. We both continued to stare at the beauty that was the A40 Cobalt. It had a navy blue canopy over the captain’s chair, there was seating everywhere, a nose that three people could soak up the sun on, and fully stocked fishing gear was secured throughout the space.
It was like the Price Is Right dropped it at Cutter’s in some sort of Showcase Showdown jackpot. Did I ever want to get out on the water and use this baby! Maybe I could. Maybe this was someone helping me instead of hurting me. I wanted to trust Stone. I hated to admit it, but I already trusted his eyes. And Estelle, she was a good judge of character, she obviously didn’t have a bad vibe from Stone. She always did from Kevin. Even when my Dad said they were “friends.”
Screw it. If I didn’t get on this boat and figure out how to search my island we were all screwed anyway. I was going to lose everything. So I took a risk.
“Are you sure? And how do you have the keys again to this beauty? Should I be worried out on the water alone with you?” My focus on finding a boat, doing my job, and my little treasure hunt may have blinded me to the fact that I was about to head out on the water with a dangerously handsome biker. But a stranger nonetheless. It was a fair question.
“This was set up by a good friend of mine, a vacation gift to me, so you don’t have to worry. I’m not stealing it. As far as being alone with me. Well, you’re going to like that.” And he looked me up and down. I absolutely should be worried about being alone with him. He arched his eyebrow at me and then reached his hand out. I took a deep breath.
I was desperate, the clock was ticking, and I was flat broke. If I was going to keep my little job and look for buried treasure, I had exactly one option, and it was wrapped in muscle, leather, and raw sex.