South of Heaven (8 page)

†

“I was hoping you two would show up soon,” Kevin greeted them as they walked toward the back porch. “I’m starving.”

“The pizza is on the way, Dad. Are you ready for a cold beer?”

“I thought you’d never ask.” He grinned.

“Sit tight, Captain, and I’ll get them.” Lindsey walked into the house.

“Did you have a good ride?”

“Yeah we did, and it looks like the guys got a lot done today.”

“Tom says they should be finished by mid-afternoon if all goes as planned,” Kevin replied.

“That’s good. I want to take some clothes down Sunday and go top off the tanks and reservoirs.”

“You’ll have all day to do that. You could even sleep in a bit if you wanted.”

“I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to sleep in again.”

Lindsey stepped back outside carrying three beers. “Here we go.” She passed each of them a bottle.

They knocked out most of the pizza and a twelve pack of beer before retiring for the evening. When they paused at the stairway, Kevin grinned. “You two want to help me with the crabs in the morning.”

“Love to,” Lindsey answered.

“Goodnight, ladies,” he told them as they climbed the stairs.

“See you in the morning, Captain.”

“Sleep well,” Kendra replied, with a smile growing on her face.

†

The weekend passed in a blur of activity, and when Kendra climbed the stairs for bed Sunday night, her stomach was churning with a case of rabid butterflies. She was worried she wouldn’t be able to sleep, but after a hot shower, her body relaxed and sleep came easily. She dreamed of sailing deep into the emerald-green water, chasing the sun that raced across the sky.

Chapter Seven

Kevin had a full breakfast cooked when Kendra entered the kitchen. She started to protest, but her dad had put in a great deal of effort to send them off with full stomachs, so she said nothing.

“This looks and smells fantastic, Dad.”

“You’re going to have a long, busy day ahead, so you need to start it off right.”

“Something smells heavenly.” Lindsey walked into the room rubbing her hands together.

“Fill your plates and I’ll bring juice and coffee.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

Once breakfast was done, Kendra got up from the table. “Time to go.”

Kevin walked them to the door. “Good luck and call me tonight,” Kevin requested.

“I will. Thanks again for a great breakfast.”

“My pleasure, see you this weekend.”

“Or sooner if all goes well,” Lindsey chimed in.

“That would be fine, too.”

†

Kendra tossed a small bag over her shoulder as they walked to the harbor. The horizon filled with golden sunlight as they stepped on board. Harvey had already made coffee and was passing out mugs to the rest of the crew.

“Good morning, guys,” she called out. “Charlie, will you and Lindsey bring in our mooring lines? We’ve got a long ride ahead of us.”

“We’re on it, Captain.” Charlie grinned as he punched Lindsey in the shoulder.

Kendra took a mug of coffee and headed to the wheelhouse to start the engine. She watched the crew secure the lines. “Let’s do this,” she spoke to the empty room before shifting into reverse to back out of the slip.

It would take most of the day to reach the deep waters where the reds lived. Harvey stepped inside the wheelhouse once they cleared the harbor.

“What would you have us do this morning, Captain?”

“Give the crew a run down on the new equipment and they can relax until lunch. After they eat, I’d like them to go ahead and prepare the new nets. I’m hoping we’ll arrive in enough time to make a run late this afternoon.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he answered, wearing a huge grin.

Kendra settled in on her comfortable seat and watched as the boat passed the local fleets that were heading out for their morning runs for browns and pinks. Her radio rang with a chorus of well wishes. Captains she had fished with for her entire life wished her well on her hunt for reds. She was on her way to accomplishing a long-term dream, and nothing was going to stop her. Her heart, filled to bursting with the joy she was feeling.

Lindsey poked her head into the wheelhouse. “Mind if I join you?”

“Sure, come in. What are the rest of the crew doing?”

“Playing poker or watching television.”

“I thought you’d be in the thick of a poker game, too.”

Lindsey nodded toward the open water. “Not when I have a view this beautiful. Poker will wait until after dark. Oh yeah, Harvey sent you a thermos of coffee.”

“Mind pouring me a fresh cup?”

“Not at all.” She took the cup Kendra handed her and filled it with the steaming liquid.

“Thanks.” Kendra took a sip and moaned. “He makes the best coffee.”

The sound of the moan sent a shiver down Lindsey’s spine. That something so innocent had such a profound effect on her made her realize she was in trouble. She knew she was a goner, and she would do anything to please the woman smiling at her.

“You look so serious, a penny for your thoughts?”

“I was just thinking how exciting it is to be with you on this adventure.”
Whoa, I hope she buys that line. I don’t think I can admit to her how I feel.

“I’m glad you’re a part of it.”

Lindsey nodded. “You think we’ll arrive in time to make a run before it’s too dark to see?”

“I’m hoping so. I’m eager to get those new nets wet.” Lindsey could see that Kendra’s green eyes were alight with excitement.
Damn, I love it when her eyes light up like that.
Lindsey had to look away to keep the blush from rising to her face.

“Keep an eye on things for a few while I get rid of some coffee,” Kendra said, and left the wheelhouse.

“With pleasure.” She slipped into the captain’s chair as Kendra left. There was nothing ahead of them but open water and the horizon in the distance. A glance at one of the monitors showed clear skies ahead. Even the clouds hesitated at ruining the perfect blue of the sky.

A half hour after returning, Kendra looked over to see Lindsey’s head nodding as she sat in the co-pilots chair. “You’ve got time for a nap before lunch if you want.”

“I’m just not used to sitting still this long. I think I’ll go stretch my legs and see if Harvey needs help making lunch.”

“I’m sure he’d love the help, see you soon.”

Kendra watched Lindsey walk outside and lean over the railing, the wind ruffling her blond locks.
Why does the word adorable come to mind whenever I look at her? It’s probably because she is adorable, and you’re falling head over heels for her. “
Maybe so, but it wouldn’t work for us, and neither of us needs a heartache to deal with at the end of the summer. Better just to admire the view from afar, and keep my hands to myself.” She spoke aloud. “Good grief, I’m talking to myself now.”

Lindsey looked up at that moment, and she smiled and waved as she started for the galley.

After a leisurely lunch, the crew broke out the new nets and rigged them for shrimping. As the day grew long, Kendra glanced at the GPS system, and according to what she was reading, they would reach the boundaries of the red grid in another hour.

When they finished with the rigging, she stepped on deck. “We’ve got another hour or so and then we can drop our first nets. Relax, and I’ll let you know when we arrive.”

†

Lindsey stretched out on her bunk, the gentle rocking of the boat lulling her to sleep. She was having the sweetest of dreams when the loudspeaker crackled and Kendra’s voice filled the room.

“We’ve hit our spot.”

“Not quite, but I was getting close.” Lindsey snickered to herself. In her dream, their bodies had locked in a passionate embrace as their mouths and hands were busily exploring one another. “I hope I can come back to that dream later.” She grinned as she stood to return to the deck where everyone was moving into position.

Kendra gave the order to begin. It would take several minutes to lower and position the nets, and then she would begin the slow trawl forward, hopefully filling the larger nets with the cherished shrimp. The minutes ticked by slowly and when she felt the tension on the lines slacken, she knew they had reached the bottom. Her heart pounded in her chest as she opened the throttle and the boat inched forward.

“Now we wait.”

She was used to feeling the drag of filled nets within an hour of trawling, but when the first hour passed, she felt no pull. She continued for another hour and then gave the order to bring the nets onboard. She heard and felt the whine of the winch as the nets lifted, and she held her breath for several seconds before she realized what she was doing. She let the breath out slowly in anticipation of her first catch.

The crew stared in disbelief as the first net rose to the surface and swung onto the deck. Kendra only had to look at their faces from the wheelhouse to know that their first net was nearly empty. Charlie pushed the bin beneath the net and Tim untied the rope. Several dozen reds dropped into the bin.

Her heart plummeted and she felt a wave of nausea lurch inside her. The crew moved to the opposite side of the boat to empty the second net, with an almost identical result. She cut the engine and joined the crew on deck.

Harvey was standing there with his head hung in what looked like disappointment for his captain.

“Well, that certainly isn’t what I was expecting.” She groaned when she looked at the meager catch in the bin. “Barely enough for dinner.”

“I think we just seasoned the new nets, Captain," Harvey countered. “We know all new equipment needs to be broken in.”

“I was hoping full nets would have broken them in.” Kendra knew she had a worried expression.

“The shrimp will come, Captain,” Lindsey said.

“I sure hope so.” Kendra released a deep sigh.

“Do you want to make another run today, Captain?” Harvey asked.

“No, Harvey. I think I’ll take us a bit farther out. We’ll call it a night and start fresh in the morning. We can eat those tonight if you’re up to boiling them.”

“Will do, Captain. You heard the Captain, guys, let’s get moving.”

The crew went into motion, cleaning and storing the gear for the night while Kendra stalked back to the wheelhouse, shut the door, and started the engine. “Fuck,” she growled as she opened the throttle to move the boat forward. She struggled to hold back the tears that filled her eyes.

Lindsey looked at the closed door and then glanced at Harvey.

Harvey shook his head. “Give her some time to deal with her disappointment.” He handed her a bucket of shrimp. “She’ll lick her wounded pride and be good to go in the morning. At least I hope she will.”

“I’m sure you’re right. Do you want me to get these ready to cook?”

“That would be great. We’ll finish up here and I’ll be in to help.”

Kendra’s eyes burned with hot tears as she stared out the window into the setting sun. “Where are you hiding?” she growled, her words echoing in the room. She prayed that she hadn’t made a huge mistake bringing the crew to fish for reds when they were having a record brown season. With her confidence sinking to rock bottom, she did the one thing she knew would help her failing spirits. Kendra called home.

“Hey, honey, how was your day?”

“It was horrible, Dad. Have I made a mistake coming out here?”

“Absolutely not. Settle down and tell me what happened.”

Kendra struggled to hold back her tears making her voice quiver with emotion. “We arrived in plenty of daylight to make a first run. I just knew we would bring up filled nets, Dad, but when they came up, they barely have enough to feed us tonight.”

“You’re probably still just too far north. Go deeper into the Gulf and start over in the morning. Most of all, stop worrying so much. They will come. You’re much too good a captain not to find them.”

“I pray you’re right, Dad. I’d hate to have another repeat of today. I could see the disappointment on the crew’s faces, and I never want to see that again.”

“That’s the spirit. Now you sound more like the daughter I know and love so much,” Kevin soothed. “There will always be bad days in every season. Like a passing storm, you just have to ride them out.”

“Thanks, Dad. I knew calling you would pick me up.”

“You call me anytime. I always want to hear from you.”

“I’ll call again tomorrow, hopefully with better news.”

“I’ll be looking forward to hearing all about it. I love you, Kendra.”

She felt her frown turn to a smile. “I love you, too.”

“Get some rest. Tomorrow’s a new day.”

“Yes, it is. I want to take us another hour south and then I’ll call it a night. Sleep well, Dad.”

“You too, honey. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

She hung up the phone and realized her dad was right. In her eagerness to start the season off well, she had erred in starting too far north. “Tomorrow will be much better,” she promised herself and watched the last shimmering rays of sunlight disappear.

When she was satisfied that she had driven as far south as she dared, Kendra cut the engine and dropped anchor. She set the alarms to monitor their position. Confident they would sound if the boat drifted off course during the night in the Gulf currents, she recorded their position and closed her logbook. She turned off the overhead in the wheelhouse and smiled at the illumination of the control panels in the eerie darkness.

Kendra
 
stepped into her private sleeping quarters, just off the wheelhouse. She washed her face in cool water to hide any remnants of her tears, and then joined her crew for dinner.