by Jean James
At three o’clock Katherine finally crawled into bed, and it seemed like only minutes later the alarm went off. She groaned and pulled the covers up, almost persuaded to skip the beach walk and get an extra hour of sleep. But this was boat day—no day to sleep in.
No vehicles had parked at her beach avenue. Suddenly a walk on the beach seemed like a massive chore to her weary body. Even a session with her new fishing gear didn’t tempt her, especially since she had worn her good clothes.
It wasn’t time for work, so she rolled down her car windows, let down the back of her seat, and tried to take a brief nap. Two minutes later, she put her seat back up, pushed the armrest out of the way, and lay down across the front seats with her purse for a pillow. That put her out of sight, yet she could see the top of a coconut palm through her windshield. Breezes blew through her windows and drowsiness soon turned to sleep.
When consciousness sluggishly returned, a suntanned face with questioning eyes had replaced the palm tree. Startled, she recognized the green-Jeep man. He must have parked beside her and glanced in. Thoroughly awake now, she felt like a bum on a park bench and couldn’t decide whether to close her eyes and pretend she hadn’t seen him, or jump up and say something witty—but what?
“Good morning. Nice day for a nap.” He smiled down at her. His tone seemed to straddle the halfway mark between friendly and smart-aleck.
Katherine sat upright in the seat, but too late—he had gone on. All she could see was his back as he carried his gear down to the beach. Had that been a mocking light in his eyes or was it just her imagination? Why did his eyes look so familiar? Where had she seen that expression before, those same hazel eyes? Finally, her embarrassment fled as good sense took over. People napped in their vehicles all the time, and now it was time for work.
At noon, Captain Dale met her in the bank, and a painless, but terrifying fifteen minutes later, she stepped out into the sunshine a full-fledged boat owner.
“Come by this evenin’ if you can. I’ll try and dig out some more papers you may need,” he suggested before he left.
The financial arrangements satisfied her completely. She could pay her monthly boat payment, dock rent, and still have money left for house rent—if she decided to keep her little cottage. She wanted to see if she could live on the boat. It probably wouldn’t do for long term, but she wanted to try it for a while. At least, it would save money if she had to find another job.
Two other boats at her marina had full time occupants, though they docked at the other side. If they could do it, why couldn’t she? Her slip already had electric and water hookups, and she had her cell phone for calls.
Iris met her at the door that evening when she came by for the boat papers.
“Come in, Miss Gale, and sit a spell. Dale went out, but he’ll be back shortly.”
“Thank you. I just came by for some papers.” Katherine took a seat and glanced around the homey room. “You have a lovely home.”
The open windows let in gentle breezes from off the bay, and thin, white muslin curtains framed the yard’s lush growth.
“Thank ya, ma’am. I like it here. It’s kinda quiet, and I like bein’ near the water.” Iris seemed timid, but she answered questions readily enough.
“I understand. If you grew up in a fishing family, you’ve probably always been around the water. I envy you.”
“Envy me?” Iris seemed taken aback and looked out the window for a minute. “I’m real glad Dale sold the boat to someone who loves the water.”
“Do you mind that he sold it? Will you miss going out on it with him?”
“Land sakes, no. I been wishin’ he’d sell it all these years. I never go out with him. When I want to fish, I fish from my dock or sometimes take the skiff out a ways. That’s enough for me. Would ya like to see our dock while we’re waitin’ on Dale?”
“That would be nice,” Katherine followed Iris into the back yard.
“Dale built me this stand to clean my fish. Sometimes I clean fish for his parties when they need it. It’s real handy since Dale hooked me up electric and water.”
“I haven’t cleaned many fish, and I’m very unskilled at it. Maybe you could show me the proper way sometime.”
“You just bring ‘em by next time ya have some. I have an electric filletin’ knife, and I believe I’m faster ‘n most. I’ve done it near about all my life.”
Captain Dale joined them at the dock and handed her an envelope full of papers. “These are owner’s manuals for the stove, refrigerator, and some of the instruments. I was thinkin’ you should have another day on the water. I never showed you the instruments, and you could use more practice. When’s your next free day?”
“I’m off this Saturday—if you can spare the time.”
“Yes’m, shore I can. You’re gonna take me on a fishin’ trip, and we’ll split the catch. I’ll see you Saturday morning. I have to go now.”
Katherine and Iris enjoyed a long chat after Captain Dale left, and were well acquainted by the time Katherine rose to leave. Before Katherine climbed into her car, she turned and smiled at Iris, who waited to wish her goodbye. “I’ve been attending the church on the next block over, and I thought I’d try their service tonight. I’m new there and would love some company. Would you care to come with me or do you attend somewhere else?”
Although Iris had become more outgoing as the evening progressed, she seemed frightened at the prospect of a church service. “I—I can’t tonight…maybe another time. It is a good church…a real good little church.” She started to go into the house, but suddenly turned back to Katherine. “Could ya wait a minute? I have somethin’ for ya.” She returned with a small jar and handed it to Katherine. “Some guava jelly I made. I have two trees of guavas and always make more than Dale and I can use. Come again, now, ya hear?”
Katherine drove past the boat docks before she went to church. She had to look at the Miss Iris—her Miss Iris! It’s beautiful. Rough and worn and beautiful—like the person it’s named after.
She saw the unplumbed depths in the quiet, reclusive wife of Dale, the wistfulness behind the broad, weather-beaten face. Katherine liked the woman’s natural, down-to-earth manner and hoped they would become close friends.
6
When Katherine’s ever-faithful alarm startled her awake, she felt very different from yesterday’s bold woman who gave away most of her life savings for an old wooden fishing boat. Uneasy and a little scared, she questioned her rash actions, worried about them for a few minutes, and finally took them to God: Lord, I thought I had your blessing on my big decision, but if I didn’t listen to you closely enough, please bless my actions and help me to go forward in your will.
She prayed until her fears and doubts vanished, until she knew that God would partner with her in the new venture. When she rose from her knees to face the day, joy and confidence swept over her. Yesterday had changed her life. She now owned a large fishing boat. However inept and inexperienced, she was captain of the Miss Iris. The realization gave her a spunky mood change. She would go to the beach as usual that morning, and even if the green-Jeep man were there she would still fish.
Katherine chose clothes she could wear to work—white cotton pants and a thin, stretchy, sleeveless top with yellow daisies. The mirror hinted that the sunny top flattered her figure. Not bad—the perfect top for casting practice, she told the deceitful, blushing image.
The beach was deserted. She carried her fishing gear down the beach in the opposite direction from where the Jeep man had fished. While she stood at the water’s edge, she tried a couple of experimental overhead casts. They both resulted in backlashes and required frustrating work to straighten the line. More determined than ever, she rolled her pants to the middle of her calves and waded in further. Her next casts plunked into the water only a few feet in front of her. A dozen or more of the same drove her to desperate measures. She let out more line, gripped the rod tightly with both hands, and gave a mighty heave.
Alien fingers already attempted to do the job.
Her startled jump not only triggered her loss of balance and awkward plunge into the ocean, but also caused the hook to rake across her unfortunate rescuer’s palm as she knocked him into the swirling water beside her.
Jeep-man rose dripping from his briny bath. He carelessly wiped his bleeding hand on his jeans while she continued to flounder in the rolling surf. With his other hand, he pulled her to her feet and without saying a word, he worked until he freed the lure from her pants. Deep-set hazel eyes looked sympathetically into her eyes. “That’s a bad scratch. That couldn’t have felt pleasant.”
She blinked and tears threatened.
“I have a medicine bag in my Jeep. Let’s put a wrap on that before you bleed anymore,” he stated, matter-of-factly.
Nervously, Katherine tried to make light of the situation. She gestured towards his wounded hand. “It looks as if I’ve caught you with my bad cast,” she said, half-laughing, half-hysterical. She immediately saw the possible double meaning of her words, but it was too late to withdraw them.
“You tried, anyway.”
Katherine’s face warmed and she knew she was blushing. Feeling like a scolded child, she followed him to his Jeep. Among the clutter of fishing gear, oxygen tanks, swim fins, masks, and sundry other items, he came up with a professional looking medicine case. “Will that pant leg roll up?” He didn’t wait for her reply, but rolled it without her assistance. “This looks deep. You’re lucky the hook didn’t imbed in your leg.” He treated the long laceration with antiseptic and bandaged it securely. “Keep medicine on this. You don’t want it to become infected. If you take care of it, you probably won’t need to see a doctor, and since you’ve already rinsed your pants in cold water…” he grinned, noting her dripping wet condition, “you won’t have any blood stains on your pants.” He rolled her pant leg back down, and then looked at her with interest.
“Thank you.” She hadn’t meant for it to sound so cool and haughty, but his proximity disconcerted her. She tried to smile.
“Do you want casting lessons now?” he asked and smiled back.
She nearly choked as she restrained her temper and swallowed a sharp retort. “I’m late for w-work.” She climbed into the car and backed halfway out when she remembered her tackle on the beach.
Her aquatic-knight leaned against his Jeep with his arms folded and watched her with an amused look as she pulled back into the parking spot.
She rushed to retrieve her gear and thought she heard his mellow laugh. On her return trip, she had a curt remark ready, but he gave her no chance to use it.
He unloaded gear from his Jeep and totally ignored her.
“That’s all right with me,” she mumbled as she drove away.
The next morning she decided to skip her beach visit. Her leg hurt, and she wasn’t ready for Mr. Green Jeep, yet. She wasn’t ready for Buzzy, either. He was at the sales condo when she arrived.
“Hi, Katherine. I haven’t seen much of you lately, so I came out to check how my new little saleslady was getting on. You’ve done fine work here. Don’t miss your old home yet, do you?”
She studied his smiling face. Why had he bothered to come to the condos and ask such a question when she had been in the office three days ago? Had he hoped to catch her alone since Alice wouldn’t come in until noon?
“I’ve forgotten Chicago altogether.” She gave a cool-friendly smile.
He approached too close for comfort.
While she contemplated how ladylike it would look if she jumped over the counter, some prospective buyers wandered in and saved her from any unpleasantness.
Leisurely Katherine showed them the condos and invited questions. Finally, she invented questions to prolong the showing. When she returned, Buzzy had left, but a new trial awaited her in the form of Johnny.
Although he had never said more than two words before, he now treated her like an old friend. “How’s the real estate game treating you? Slower here than in Chicago, I’ll bet. You plan to stay?”
Katherine wanted to laugh. A younger, hipper, and definitely more muscular version of Buzzy had just asked her the same identical questions Buzzy had asked.
“I like it here. I’d never move back north again.” Her answer seemed to please and encourage Johnny.
“That’s some classy outfit you’re wearing. It brightens up the place. Say, I’m about to go for lunch. Care to come along?”
“I’m sorry, Johnny. I’ve already made lunch plans. Maybe we can do it some other time.”
“Next time you’re free, I’ll show you a good place to eat,” he announced taking acceptance for granted, and sauntered off.
She breathed a sigh of relief. Johnny’s presence bothered her, represented an unknown factor, though he did seem rather harmless. Maybe he had a crush on her. It would probably get worse now that he had grown bold enough to talk with her.
Katherine decided she wouldn’t clean the office that night and risk one of the Amanos walking in on her. Though neither man had acted inappropriately, her experience and instincts tolled an alarm each time one of them came near her. Why invite a possible, awkward confrontation that could end her job before she secured a new one? She would get up before daylight, walk to the office, and clean it before anyone came around.
Very early the next morning Katherine crept into the office through the back door of the kitchen. She hurriedly vacuumed the main room, working more by feel than by the feeble light that shone through the windows. When she had completed that job, she noiselessly dumped all the trash into the outside dumpster. She had just reset the alarm at the back door and put a fresh plastic bag into the kitchen garbage receptacle when the front door buzzer sounded.
Katherine slid her purse strap over her shoulder and prepared to scurry out the back before someone could reset the alarm. Since no lights were on, no one would know of her presence if she left quietly. Her hand had started to turn the knob when the second buzzer sounded. Voices followed and she paused in uncertainty. If she left now, the alarm would sound, and if she turned it off, it would buzz. She had no choice but to walk into the main room and make her presence known.
“No more killing, Johnny, or you’ll get us killed.” Katherine froze as Buzzy’s angry voice cut the stillness. “You could have ruined everything. From now on, don’t do anything unless you’re following his orders or mine. Do you hear me? Do you understand?”
With her heart performing acrobatics, Katherine pulled her hand back from the light switch she had almost flipped and stood in silent horror. If either of them walked to the far side of the main office, they would see her. She looked around for an avenue of escape—any place where she could hide.
Johnny mumbled something incoherently, and she felt certain they headed her way. Almost frantic, she scanned her surroundings again and saw her only hope, the plastic garbage barrel.
Swiftly and silently, she climbed in and pulled the lid on after her. Darkness closed in on her, and she wondered how long the limited oxygen would last. The lid overlapped the barrel’s edge by about four inches and the plastic bag helped seal off any chance of fresh air seeping in. She wished the lid fitted more loosely, wished the barrel was larger, wished she was anywhere but there. She could hear everything. It sounded like they had come into the kitchen.
“If he ever found out why I sent you up there, we’d both be dead. I lied for you. I convinced him you wanted to get in the Chicago end of the business. Now I’m tired of lying for you. That fool trick you pulled here for forty grand could have blown everything. This town is too small for such exploits.”
“I got more than that, and I needed some new wheels.” Johnny’s surly voice now sounded louder than Buzzy’s. “I’ve been taking all the risks here, a
nd I couldn’t even afford a decent car. Besides, I told you nothing would come of it. I did things right. You didn’t need to send me up there.”
“That was a precaution…in case you didn’t do things right. I sent you up there to protect you, but I never would have bothered if I’d known you’d do something as half-witted as that insurance scheme. What a crazy risk—and for only a few hundred dollars.”
“I can’t help it about a stupid storm. I intended to put the money back and reactivate the policy as soon as I got some money. No one could live on the chicken feed the bank paid me.”
“If he wasn’t my friend, I never could have saved you.” Buzzy’s voice now sounded like a hiss. “I convinced him that the insurance fiasco you caused was the only thing you’ve ever pulled on your own, that you were young and ambitious. He doesn’t know about all your other stunts. He gave you another chance because of me—because of me! And I had to foot the bill for all those house repairs the insurance should have paid.”
“What did he contact you for, anyway? What’s he want now?”
“He only wants you to help clean up this mess by keeping an eye on the girl. He wants to make sure she won’t meddle further. If she doesn’t cause any more trouble, everything will blow over. That’s what we all want. The bank can’t tolerate even the smallest type of investigation right now.”
“If I can’t get decent pay, I’m going it on my own,” snapped Johnny.
“Do you think he’d let you do that now? With what you know? Follow orders and stay alive. You need money? Come to me for it. Don’t I always give you what you want? But you can’t flaunt it. You got to keep a low profile for a while.”
Katherine had grown dizzy and wet with sweat from her tight confinement against the plastic bag. The air became more difficult to breathe—warm, stale air with little oxygen left in it. Her lungs felt ready to burst. She could tell that the two men stood close to the barrel. One of them actually brushed against it. If they could hear her as clearly as she heard them, she feared they might hear her gulping breaths.