“Or we could head south.”

“Is there a prettier place down south?”

Dar sucked on an orange. “Not that I know of.”

“Here sounds perfect to me, then.” Kerry wandered back over and sat down. “How about we have a snack up front and watch the sun set?”

“Sounds perfect to me,” Dar echoed with a grin. Then her head cocked, and she glanced off into the distance. “Looks like we have company.” Her ears identified the sound of engines. They grew louder and louder, until a speck resolved itself into a massive yacht, half again as large as theirs, cleaving the water at top speed as it headed south.


24 Melissa Good

“Well.” Kerry took in the solid black hull with red and silver piping. “How’s that for posh?” The ship was flying several colorful pennants, and its brass fittings shone brightly in the sun. “Who do you think it is, Dar? Some really rich Northern type?”

“With no taste?” Dar grinned wryly. “Foreigner, maybe.”

The boat roared past, its wake making the Dixieland Yankee rock vigorously back and forth for several moments. The newcomer headed toward the horizon, several figures visible on its stern deck.

“They’d better watch that draft; we’re in shallows.” Dar frowned, got up, and reached for the radio. She keyed it. “Black and red Giarenno headed south through the straits, do you copy?”

She released the mic, and heard only static. Her brow contracted. “Black and red Giarenno headed through the straits southbound, do you copy?”

There was more answering static, then a sharp crackling. “This is Cordon’s Empire. Are you calling this vessel?” The voice was abrupt and impatient.

Dar keyed the mic. “Roger that, Cordon’s Empire. This is Dixieland Yankee. You just passed on my port side. Be advised you have less than ten to fifteen feet to bottom in the area.”

There was a moment of silence before the clipped reply. “We do not need the advice. Please do not contact this vessel again.”

The sound of the transmission terminating was the auditory equivalent of an arrogant slap, and Dar expended a few outraged breaths just glaring at the radio before she turned and delivered a murderous look at the retreating yacht. “You’re welcome and kiss my ass, Cordon’s Empire,” she replied. She hung up the mic and returned to her comfortable chair with a snort of disgust. “Jackass.”

“Mm.” Kerry licked a bit of peanut butter off her thumb. “Bet he didn’t know who he was talking to.”

Dar bit an orange slice in half and snapped it up, doing her best wild animal snarl. “I’d say I hope he bottoms, but the satisfaction wouldn’t be worth the damage to the reef.”

Kerry finished her cracker. “You’re right,” she agreed. “Tell you what—if you get the deck pad, I’ll bring a bottle of something cold and we can let Mother Nature do her thing.”

Dar dismissed the rude boater and willingly turned her mind to more pleasant things. She got up and rinsed out her can, squashed it in her hands, and put it into the recycling container. Then she opened the storage bench and pulled out the large double pad they liked to sit on up front and slung it over her shoulder while Kerry ducked back into the cabin.

There were layers of light clouds on the horizon, and Dar imagined it would be a gorgeous sunset. She mused happily on that as she made her way around to the front of the boat, settling the pad down and going to the very front of the bow.


Terrors of the High Seas 25

Kerry took out a bottle of chilled Riesling and inspected two glasses, setting them down while she put together a bowl of finger foods—cubes of cheese and pieces of fruit—and tossed in a handful of chocolate kisses and a few carrots just for color and balance.

Whistling softly, she picked up everything and carried it up the stairs, bumping the button on the sound system just before she went out on deck.

Soft strains of music emerged as she balanced along the edge of the boat, climbing up on the bow as Dar turned and spotted her. A smile appeared on Kerry’s face as she took in the sight of her lover burnished in golden sunlight, and it only broadened as Dar came to her side, took the bowl from her, and dropped down on the pad.

While Dar stretched out to full length, resting on one elbow and crossing her long legs at the ankles, Kerry settled down cross-legged to open the bottle. A soft pop rewarded her efforts, and she put down the cork with its puller and poured Dar a glass of wine with a casually expert motion. She handed the glass over and poured her own, then accepted Dar’s invitation and sat in the circle of her arm as Dar rolled over onto her back and they leaned against the slope of the boat’s bow.

The sun began to slip behind the clouds, sending spears of russet through them, and Kerry found herself content to just watch, lulled by the gentle motion of the waves and a feeling of comfortable tiredness from their diving. She sipped her wine, rolling the sweet richness in her mouth, and nibbled on some cheese. She was starting to feel an emotional weight lift off her shoulders. The stress of the past month seemed to lose its grip on her, and she let her head rest against Dar as she soaked in the peace like a bit of sea sponge.

“My mother once painted a sky like this,” Dar said. “I remember it… from when I was still in grade school. She had it hanging over the couch in the living room.”

“Mm.” Kerry tilted her head, amazed at the vividness of the color. “It’s so rich. Why is that, Dar?”

“Angle of inclination.” Dar exhaled. “And the moisture in the air.”

Kerry took a sip of her wine as she gazed at the sky. “Or maybe God’s just in a great mood,” she murmured. “I know I sure am.”

Her eyes drifted from the sunset for a moment. “Thank you for having this incredible idea.”

Dar lifted her glass and touched its rim against Kerry’s.

“Here’s to us.” She took a mouthful and waited for Kerry to do the same, then she gracefully inclined her head and they kissed, exchanging a little wine and a lot of affection.

The breeze lifted a little and tangled their hair together as they settled down to watch the day’s ending.


26 Melissa Good DAR WAITED UNTIL the sky was completely dark and the canopy of stars fit over them from horizon to horizon. It was an amazing sensation—hearing the rustle of the waves and seeing nothing but flat blackness that extended to a sparkling blanket seemingly rising out of nothing.

Kerry was curled up next to her, fast asleep. After their long day of diving and sun, that wasn’t surprising, really, but Dar was glad to see her partner getting some much needed rest. Her father’s death and the stress of the previous month had taken a lot out of her, and Dar intended their little trip to be as relaxing as possible.

She lifted her hand and combed her fingers through Kerry’s hair, brushing it back from her face.

Kerry’s eyelids trembled just a little, and she stirred, snuggling closer to Dar and sliding an arm over her stomach. Then she relaxed again, a puff of exhaled breath warming Dar’s skin.

“Atta girl,” Dar murmured, watching the slow rise and fall of her lover’s ribcage. “You just take it easy. No getting sick.” Kerry had an appointment with their family doctor scheduled upon their return, to repeat tests that not long ago had shown a dangerous rise in her blood pressure, among other things. To hell with the company.

Both of them leaving at once was throwing ILS into chaos, but Dar couldn’t care less. Given her own behavior to the contrary, Dar readily acknowledged the hypocritical nature of her wanting Kerry to put herself before work, but it was what she wanted nonetheless and she refused to apologize for it. She idly twirled a bit of Kerry’s pale hair around her finger, admiring its softness. Already two days in the sun seemed to have lightened it, or maybe Kerry’s deepening tan just provided a greater contrast. Whatever.

Dar watched Kerry’s jaw muscles move a little, then her eyes fluttered open and the tip of her pink tongue appeared. “Hey, sleepy.” She ran the tips of her fingers over Kerry’s back as the smaller woman stretched.

“Mmmm…” Kerry rolled over and gazed up at the night sky.

“Oh, that’s gorgeous,” she murmured. “Look at those stars. There must be a zillion of them.”

“Mmhm.” Dar eased onto her side and wrapped her arms around Kerry, gazing at Kerry’s profile. “Beautiful.”

Kerry felt the attention and turned to meet Dar’s eyes. She still felt sleepy, and a little bemused at having dozed off over their little snack, but she had no real desire to do much about it other than snuggle back up against Dar’s warm body and return to her dreams.

She lifted a hand and stifled a yawn. “Think I overdid it today.”

Me, too, Dar concurred in wry, silent agreement. “How about a shower and an early bedtime,” she suggested.

“Ooo.” Kerry found the idea very appealing. “Yeah, I like that.” She laced her fingers with Dar’s. “We could have some hot Terrors of the High Seas 27

chocolate. It’s a little chilly out here.”

With a smile, Dar lifted herself to her feet and offered Kerry a hand up. They walked together single file around the side of the cabin and down into the stern. Dar turned on the outside lights and reviewed their gear. “I’m going to pull in the buoy. Meet you inside.”

Kerry unexpectedly circled her with both arms and gave her a big hug. “Me and some hot chocolate’ll be waiting.” She released Dar and gave her a pat on the side, then eased through the cabin door.