South of Heaven

by Ali Spooner

  “I’ll brew a fresh pot and make us some sandwiches for an early lunch.”

  “Sounds good,” Kendra said, focusing on the route until the boat reached the open waters of the bay. She was confident of her abilities to guide the boat to safety, but there were several spots in the channel where the depth to support a boat her size narrowed. The last thing she wanted to do was to run up on one of the sandbars crowding the sides of the boat. “Just ten more minutes,” she added as she passed a familiar buoy.

  †

  Lindsey didn’t want to distract Kendra so she took her time in the galley. She scouted the pantry and freezer, looking for something to cook for dinner, and smiled when she found a package of frozen chicken Alfredo. She checked the instructions and found that she had plenty of time to cook, once the boat settled in for the night. She made a crisp salad and placed it in the refrigerator to chill. When she felt the boat pick up speed, she knew Kendra had cleared the channel. She picked up the tray of coffee and sandwiches and started for the wheelhouse.

  †

  “Phew, I’m glad to be through that,” Kendra breathed a sigh of relief when Lindsey entered.

  “I figured you were headed into a tight spot, so I took my time.”

  Kendra sat back in her seat and poured a cup of coffee. “Thanks. You always seem to know just what I need.”

  “I try to do my best.” Lindsey grinned. “How long will it be until we reach a safe spot?”

  Kendra looked at the clock. “In about another half hour at most.”

  “What do we need to do when you drop anchor?”

  “Double check everything that is still on deck to make sure it’s secure. Once that’s done, we sit back and wait to see what Mother Nature has in store for us.”

  “I can start checking the deck now.”

  “Eat lunch first,” Kendra told her, picking up a sandwich. “We still have plenty of time, and daylight.”

  Lindsey took a seat and bit into a sandwich. “I need to make a confession,” she admitted.

  Kendra cocked her head. “What is it?”

  “I’ve never ridden out a hurricane on a boat, so I don’t know what to expect.”

  Kendra returned her sandwich to the plate and turned to look at her directly. “The winds and rain will reach us first, so the swells will have us rocking pretty good.” She grinned at her. “I hope you don’t get seasick.”

  “I haven’t yet, and I hope that continues.”

  “Me too, there’s nothing more miserable.”

  “Do we have to worry about the rains?”

  “Other than getting soaked, no, I wouldn’t think so. As long as we don’t spring a leak, we’re good.”

  “Will there be obstacles that put us in danger of a hull breach in the bay?”

  “Not as deep as we’ll be, unless we collide with another boat. There will be at least one other shrimper in the bay and let’s hope that’s all. Sometimes owners of larger pleasure craft will bring their boats in, anchor them, and leave them unattended. If one of those breaks free, we may have troubles.”

  “What other hazards should we expect?”

  “Tornados on land and water spouts in the bay could be our biggest danger. There’s nothing we can do about those, but pray.” Kendra watched as Lindsey swallowed hard. “Try not to worry. We will be as protected as we can be.”

  Lindsey was about to ask another question when the phone rang.

  “Hello, Dad. Caller ID is a wonderful thing.” Kendra chuckled. “Yes, we’re almost to the center of the bay. No, no bad weather yet. How’s Uncle Henry?”

  Lindsey picked up her coffee, another sandwich, and then stepped outside.

  Kendra watched Lindsay go as she listened to her dad’s report. She realized how thankful she was that Lindsey was here with her, especially with her dad so far away. “Yes, Lindsey is here helping me, and we should be dropping anchor in a half hour. We’ll have an early dinner and keep an eye on the weather. Yes, I’ll call you when the weather starts to pick up, but have faith we’ll be safe, Dad. You taught me well.”

  Lindsey had left the wheelhouse to give Kendra some privacy. While outside she couldn’t keep her eyes from drifting back to the south. The sky was beginning to fill with heavy dark clouds, and she knew they would have heavy rains during the night. The sound of an engine brought her attention back to the boat and she looked to see another shrimp boat several hundred yards ahead of them. It looked smaller, but from this distance it was hard to tell. She finished her sandwich and returned to the wheelhouse.

  “Dad asked me to tell you hello, and to keep me out of trouble.” She grinned.

  “He must have a lot of faith in me.”

  “If you haven’t noticed, he thinks a lot of you, and so do I,” Kendra added.

  “Thanks, boss. I’ve really enjoyed being here and have learned a lot from you.”

  “He actually has a great idea that I’d like to discuss with you once we’re settled tonight.”

  “Maybe we can discuss it over dinner. I’ve got a salad made and I thought I’d put some Alfredo in to bake while we secure the boat.”

  Kendra chuckled and shook her head. “See, you’re already ahead of me.”

  Lindsey shrugged. “You know I’ve got to make sure we eat.”

  †

  Two hours later, with the boat secured for the night, they sat down to a meal. “This looks delicious,” Kendra said, smacking her lips.

  “It didn’t take much to pop it into the oven, but I admit it does taste good.” Lindsey was about to take another bite when she dropped her fork. “Damn, I forgot something.” She jumped up from the table.

  Kendra wondered what she was up to when she left the galley, but she returned moments later with the opened bottle of wine and two wine glasses. “Where did those come from?” she asked with a laugh.

  “I swiped them from the house when I was there.” Lindsey grinned and placed the glasses on the table and began working on the cork.

  “Damn, you really do think of everything.”

  “Like I said, I try my best, ma’am.” She poured their wine, handing a glass to Kendra. “To weathering the storm.” She lifted her glass to the toast.

  Kendra took a deep breath. “When we got home Saturday night, Dad asked me to join him for a beer when you went upstairs. He wanted to talk to me about you.”

  Lindsey placed her glass on the table, and couldn’t help swallowing hard. “Have I done something wrong?”

  “Oh, no, I’m sorry to make you think that. Actually, it’s quite the opposite. You’ve done everything right. Once I take ownership of the Southern Star, I’ll be in need of a captain to take over this boat for the local fishing. Dad suggested that captain be you.”

  Lindsey was glad she wasn’t holding her glass. Surely, she would have dropped it when Kendra made the offer.

  “Do you think that would be something you’d be interested in considering?”

  “I hadn’t any clue that was what you were going to ask, but yes, I’ll give it some thought. Of course, I need to talk this over with my dad, before I can give you an answer. I need to know he’ll be on board with this.” Lindsey picked up her glass and took a drink.

  “I would expect nothing less and there’s no need for a decision right away. I won’t get the Star until the new year.”

  “Wow, I really had no idea you’d be asking that question.”

  “Both dad and I are confident that you’d make an excellent addition to our fleet.”

  “I’ll definitely give it some thought,” Lindsey answered, just as the first bands of rain arrived, pelting the windows.

  †

  The rain brought full darkness and it was impossible to see anything through the windows of the galley. Before the rains, they had been able to see the beacon flashing atop the other shrimp boat anchored five hundred yards away, but now even that light was impossible to see.

  They decided to settle into the den area off the galley to watch the weather
news while they still had a television signal. The Weather Channel was running continuous coverage of the storm, and they were relieved that Dani hadn’t grown in strength.

  “She’s still a big storm,” Kendra warned, as they listened to the forecaster.

  When the video loop began to play, the air filled with the howling of the wind as the feeder bands were indeed arriving in full force. Kendra looked at Lindsey’s wide eyes. “Those will come and go all night, so don’t be alarmed.”

  “I’m used to the sound, but I’d never believed it would be so much more intense on the water,” Lindsey admitted.

  “You’ll get used to it soon enough. Are you up for a stroll outside? I’d like to check the deck, to make sure everything’s in good shape.”

  “Sure.” Lindsey took the slicker Kendra offered her.

  “Just don’t get too close to the rails. I’d hate to have to fish you out of this mess.”

  “I’ll be right behind you, so don’t stop suddenly.” Lindsey followed her outside.

  †

  The winds had subsided when they stepped outside, but the rain continued to fall. Kendra switched on a flashlight as they walked toward the freezer. The gear they had strapped to the walls of the unit was still firmly in place, and everything on deck looked to be in good shape. Kendra lifted her hand to shield the water from her eyes as she looked across the bay, searching for the other boat. For a brief second, she caught a glimpse of their beacon in the distance.

  “We both appear to be fully anchored and not drifting,” she shouted to Lindsey. The winds were beginning to increase again. “Let’s head back in.” She led Lindsey back to the galley.

  “That wasn’t too bad.” Lindsey hung up their slickers.

  “This is just the beginning,” Kendra warned.

  “So what do we do now? It’s only eight.”

  “Are you up for a movie and popcorn? Kendra asked.

  “Fine with me, I’ll make the popcorn and you can set up the movie.”

  “What kind of movies do you like?” Kendra called after her.

  “Anything but blood and gore. What’s your favorite?”

  “My all-time favorite is ‘Fried Green Tomatoes.’”

  “Silly question, but do you have a copy onboard?”

  Kendra chuckled. “That was a silly question. I love that movie, too, and could watch it over and over, but I promise not to make you watch it more than once.”

  “Deal,” Lindsey replied as she began popping the popcorn.

  Halfway through the movie, the winds increased and the boat began rocking with significantly more force.

  “Should we check the weather report?” Lindsey asked.

  “Probably not a bad idea,” Kendra reached for the remote to switch back to the television.

  “Whoa,” she cried out when the video came on the screen. Dani had dramatically increased the speed of her movement and would reach them before dawn.

  “She’s moving quickly, huh?”

  “Yeah, but that can be good, if she blows through quickly. She’s still a Cat Three storm though, so she’ll be packing big winds.”

  “Like now?”

  “Even worse, I’m afraid. I think I’ll take a look around the deck.”

  “Want me to go with you?”

  “No need for both of us to get soaked. I’ll be back in just a few.” Kendra slipped on a slicker and picked up a flashlight.

  †

  The wind assaulted her as soon as Kendra stepped out the door. She braced herself against it and switched on the flashlight. Over the din of the storm, she heard metal striking metal and started across the deck. She pushed forward and sea spray showered her as the waves crashed into the side of the boat.

  The salty spray stung her eyes as she pressed forward. Squinting to keep it out of her eyes, she failed to see the flicker of bright metal when it hit the beam of her flashlight. She felt the searing pain on her right cheek and fell to her knees.

  Kendra felt the sting of salt burning her cheek and the rush of hot blood as it poured from the cut just below her eye. She lifted her hand instinctively to her wound, and when she saw her fingers coated with blood, she cried out.

  “Damn, that’s gonna hurt.” She turned her head at the sound of the door slamming and saw Lindsey rushing toward her. She lifted her hand to slow her friend and shouted out a warning. “Be careful, there’s a loose strap flying around.”

  Lindsey heeded her warning and stopped several feet away from her. Kendra picked up the flashlight and crawled toward her.

  “I see blood, are you okay?”

  “The buckle of that strap cut my cheek, but I’m going to be okay.”

  Lindsey took the flashlight from her. “Close your eyes,” she warned and then lifted the beam of light. “Your cheek is sliced open and it’s bleeding profusely. Another inch higher and you could have lost your eye. Can you make it inside okay?”

  “Yes, it’s just a cut.”

  “Go inside and clean your cheek, and see if you can stop the bleeding. Can you do that?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. I’ll secure the equipment and make sure the strap’s secure.”

  “Please be careful.”

  “I will,” Lindsey promised.

  Lindsey watched until Kendra entered the galley before turning back to search for the loose strap. As Kendra had warned, it was flying wildly through the air, and she understood how the injury had occurred. If she hadn’t known to look for it, the strap could have injured her as well.

  She timed the flight of the strap and lunged for it as the wind slowed. She pulled the fallen equipment back into place, and buckled the strap, pulling it tight and tying the loose end to secure it further. Then, she rushed inside to check on Kendra.

  Kendra was leaning over the kitchen sink, a bottle of betadine in her hand, letting loose a string of obscenities. She finished cleaning out the wound with sterile pads as Lindsey came inside. If the wound hadn’t been so serious, Lindsey would have considered smiling at the colorful language her friend was spewing.

  “Let me take a look.” She stood next to Kendra.

  Kendra pulled the blood soaked pad from her cheek and Lindsey winced. The buckle had sliced the meaty part of her cheek down to the bone.

  “That bad huh,” Kendra remarked, when she saw Lindsey’s expression.

  “You could probably use some stitches, but that’s not possible tonight.”

  “No, it’s not in this weather, but I’ve got something that will work. Bring me the first aid kit from the table, please.”

  Lindsey rushed back to the table, returning with the kit. “What do we need?”

  “There’s a tube of surgical glue and a package of steri-strips. You’ll need to use the glue to seal the wound and secure it using the steri-strips to hold the tissue in place while the glue sets. Do you think you can do that?”

  Lindsey had blanched white at the sight of the wound, but nodded her head in answer.

  “Try to seal the tissue as close as possible to reduce the scarring, please,” Kendra instructed as Lindsey opened the steri-strips. “Do you have enough light here?”

  “Yes, I think we’re good.” Lindsey felt her hands shaking as she twisted the cap off the glue. I’ve got to do this right, for Kendra’s sake, so suck it up. “Are you ready?”

  “Yes. Place the glue as quickly as you can and I’ll hand you the steri-strips.”

  “On second thought, could we move to the couch where you can put your head in my lap?” Lindsey asked.

  “Good idea.”

  Lindsey carefully used the glue to seal the wound. Kendra handed her the small strips that would hold the tissue in place. “You’re going to have one helluva shiner. Do you think you could stand some ice to prevent your cheek from swelling?”

  “I can only try. Bring me a bag of frozen veggies from the freezer.”

  “First, let’s get you out of this slicker. Are you dry underneath?”

  “Pretty much,
” Kendra answered as Lindsey helped her out of the slicker. “Unlike you, you’re soaked to the bone.”

  “I’ll go change once I get you settled.”

  “Why don’t we move into my cabin? It will be more comfortable in there.”

  Lindsey looked at her. “You realize I need to keep an eye on you tonight, right?”

  “I was hoping you would.”

  “Okay. Do you have anything for pain or inflammation?”

  “Just some extra strength Ibuprofen. They’re in my medicine cabinet. I can take a couple while you change out of those wet clothes before you catch a chill.”

  They left the galley to enter the crew berths. Kendra walked to a door Lindsey had not realized was the entrance to the captain’s cabin, but she was glad it was there.

  “Come in when you’re ready. I’ll set the alarm on the console for any weather alerts. I can hear those from my cabin.”

  Lindsey nodded and waited for her to leave before stripping out of her wet clothes. She had begun to shiver, and used a towel to wipe the water from her skin. She then pulled out a pair of sweats, a T-shirt, and a pair of socks. Her hair was still damp, but she felt the chill leaving her body as she brushed her hair and teeth.

  †

  Kendra could feel her cheek swelling as she rested on her bed. Glad the glue seemed to be holding, she hoped with the support of the steri-strips, the swelling wouldn’t open the wound again. She winced when she lifted the bag of frozen peas to her face.

  “Damn that hurts,” Kendra said aloud.

  The ice and Ibuprofen should reduce the swelling. She hadn't actually received a blow to her head, so a concussion was not a danger, but she was pleased that Lindsey would be keeping her company. She grinned when she felt the frozen peas shift in the bag as her body heat warmed the bag. I’ve got to remember to buy some real ice packs.

  Lindsey knocked on her door.

  “Come in,” Kendra called out.