Read Online South of Heaven by Ali Spooner - Free Book Online

crew prepared and lowered the doors and nets into the water for a second run.
    Kendra saw Harvey signal her that the nets were in position and moved the boat forward as the crew continued sorting   the first run’s catch.
    A holler from the deck made her turn her head around in time to see Charlie picking up a large ray from the cart. He rushed to the side of the boat and hurled the angry creature back into the water. Happy to see that he completed the task without the barbed end of the ray’s tail stabbing him, she watched as Charlie hurried back to the sorting table.
    The first run had filled half of the containers with the large shrimp, and she knew if the next run was as good, their day would end earlier than normal. The shrimp gods are smiling down on us. She guided the boat forward as they started the next run. Let’s hope this lasts all summer.
      From the wheelhouse, Kendra watched her crew work with pride. Harvey and Lindsey had disappeared into the galley while the rest of the crew stored the full bins and placed the cart in position for the next haul. Charlie dumped two buckets of small shrimp off the back of the boat, so they could grow to a size large enough to harvest. She watched as the others stored several buckets of fish and crab in the cooler for the crew to take home.
    They were halfway into the next run when Lindsey emerged from the galley with a plate stacked with sandwiches and chips, and carrying a tall glass of sweet tea. She brought them to Kendra. “Here you go, Captain,” she said, placing the plate and glass down on a small workspace.
    “Thanks, Lindsey.”
    “You’re welcome. Give me a call in the galley if you need anything else,” she said before leaving the wheelhouse.
    Kendra picked up half a turkey sandwich and took a bite. Dessert would be nice. A wicked grin crossed her face. Damn I need to stop thinking like this. She’s only here for the summer, and when it ends, she’ll be gone, and I’ll be alone again.
    Once more, the groan of the winch signaled a heavy load in the net as it slowly pulled the harvest from the floor of the gulf. A smile grew wide on Kendra’s face as she watched the crew, excited to see the bounty of shrimp hoisted on deck above the bins. Harvey, also wearing a huge grin, turned and gave her a thumbs up sign. This pass would fill their remaining bins and they could call it a day, and a good one at that.
    Tim and Charlie busied themselves untying the nets, releasing the shrimp from the nets, and then they pushed the mounded carts and dumped them onto the sorting table. Harvey and Lindsey began sorting the catch as the others emptied the remaining net.
    Harvey picked up a large shrimp that almost filled the span of his outstretched hand.
    “Those are huge,” Kendra said, over the loudspeaker.
    “A good day’s catch for sure,” he hollered back at her.
    The sun blazed down on them and the lack of a breeze on the Gulf had the crew dripping with sweat as they toiled. Kendra turned the boat for home and picked up speed, hoping to provide a cool breeze for the crew. Her eyes were drawn to the olive-green tank top Lindsey was wearing, and she saw the salt stains from her sweat covering the fabric with flower-shaped designs that stretched across her back. She watched as Lindsey wiped her brow with her forearm, the beads of sweat glistening on her golden skin.
    “Damn,” Kendra whispered, and tore her eyes from the handsome young woman to concentrate on guiding the boat home.

    †

    Kendra saw Kevin perched on the pier when she pulled alongside and the crew rushed to secure the boat. He whistled at the mounded bins of shrimp stacked neatly on deck, ready to transfer over to the seafood truck waiting at the end of the pier. He stepped on deck just as she emerged from the wheelhouse.
    “You had a great haul today,” he stated as he walked toward her.
    She nodded. “Two good runs and we filled every bin we had, with shrimp left over.”
    “Should we cook