I reversed the propeller and slammed forward on the throttle. While the cruiser came to a halt, I glanced at Shawn then stared again at the spectacle. Yamelda’s sleek body cut the water and disappeared into the frozen murkiness.

Once the ripples from her flawless entry subsided, we looked at one another.

Shawn grinned. “She’s got it bad.”

“I’ve never seen her this way.”

It was all I could do to keep a straight face. The memory of Yamelda, the ice queen, leaping overboard to save someone other than herself made me want to howl with laughter. In deference to our two new passengers, I abstained. Continue reading →

***
Sundog looked over his shoulder. “You’d better step on it, Billy, cause you and The Dog got big trouble.”

I gave a quick glance at Tammy, then jammed the throttle.

Sundog, slapped me on the back of the head. “They’re gaining.”

***

I watched in disgust as Billy ogled the breasts of that washed-out blonde leaning over the side of the cabin cruiser. I wished I were on that boat where I could get warm, instead of sitting in this stupid testosterone special.

After he got a good eye full, Billy glanced in my direction.

Continue reading →

“Hey Dog Man,” I yelled across the water as the boat slowed then coasted toward him. “Where you headed?”

“Thought Dog was going with you to Tenican Heights.”

I shook my head slightly and winked.

“Tammy and I are going on a picnic. Can we drop you somewhere?”

Dog shrugged. “Suppose to go with you.”

Obviously, Sundog wasn’t getting the message. I winked more, shifted my position so Tammy couldn’t see my face and mouthed my message.

“Well, get in and we’ll take you where you want to go.”

Tammy gave me the evil eye. “Billy Marlin, let me off this boat right this minute.” Continue reading →

Being the helpful and conscientious man I am, I spent most of the rest of the day ferrying people back and forth from the roofs of their flooded homes to dry land. Maybe I drummed up some new customers for my drugstore. Not that I did it for that reason, but a little business wouldn’t hurt.

I wanted to go back to Cassandra Liltkey’s house, but people kept getting my attention. It was dark before I made a beeline for the fifth fairway. I pulled the boat up on the muddy shore, climbed to the nose and jumped onto dry land.

She opened the front door. “What are you doing here?” Continue reading →