Name: The Salt Life…Behind the Helm…
Rating: 5.0 (2 reviews)

Chapter 1 Morning Journey of a Crabber

The ride out was dark as it usually is when we go crabbing. Everyone is asleep but me. Just the sound of the diesel rumbling as I watch out for buoys and ropes in the water by the headlight of the crab boat. Everything else is quiet and peaceful as the sky takes on the colors of the sunrise behind me. Pink, purple, and orange appear in the sky. That's a good sign of the day. I keep checking on the chart plotter and all the gauges. For me it's as natural as driving a car.

I've been doing it so long and piloted so many different boats, it's hard to fathom how some people have such difficulty operating a vessel... but then again, they're not all doing it every day. I'm one of the very few female boat captains on the islands, of the fewer that pilot commercial fishing vessels if not one of the only ones, and one of the even fewer that hold a 100 ton master captain license. I'm rather proud of that. This boat isn't the biggest I've piloted but it's definitely one of the most challenging. It doesn't have a keel as most do, which allows me to get into shallower waters but limits the amount of winds we can work in, because the wheelhouse catches the wind and it gets blown easily across the water if you don't have good control over it. Today will be a good day for me, but I'm pretty sure the boys are going to complain about the heat since there's no wind at all. It's pretty amazing how different the water is down here compared to up north. Unless it's windy, there's no waves here until you get offshore and even then is less than a typical day up there. I remember going out on the boat from even when I was really little, and when we went fast there was always a lot of bounce from the chop of the waves. The water up north is a much different color and definitely not as clear as it is down here, but it's also a lot deeper and there isn't as much chance of running aground. Which explains slightly why it happens down here so frequently by less experienced boat operators. I'm a firm believer that everyone should be required to pass a basic safety course before being allowed to operate a vessel. Which would include things like anchoring, navigation, and basic safety. Most people don't realize how dangerous a fun day on the boat can be until something not good happens. When you're on the water as much as we are, it's not even an "if" something will happen, it's a "when" will it happen. Being as prepared as possible is just the best way to leave the dock. Plenty of extra water is always a good plan. "Honey.... Are we there yet?" Scott was hesitantly waking up, trying to savor those last minutes of sleep cuddled up with our 25 pound Brazilian Terrier, Patrón. He manages to look so comfortable on such a small space. The passenger seat in the wheelhouse is only about 4 feet long, yet he manages to make it look like the most comfortable sleeping spot. Even more amazing is that we occasionally take naps there together, not while I'm driving of course. He's the owner of the vessel. We've been together 6 years, and started a small seafood business together around the same time. Commercial fishing to catch the seafood is a big part of our business. He's been doing this his whole life, and not long after he brought me aboard, is when I started thinking we should take the next step and we created our little company. One of the things he loves about me is how much I love being on the boat as much as he does . He taught me how to do every position on the fishing boat. Clearing traps, winching traps, and about all the fish we catch. Lots of interesting information. Piloting the boat is the part I already had experience with, but it's definitely not the same as recreational driving. With all the years I have behind the helm, it took another 5 to get good at driving the fishing lines. There's just so much more to pay attention to and more situations you have to maneuver. You have to be aware of everything aboard the vessel, around the vessel, in front of, behind, under, and above at all times. All while paying attention to the water, tides, and even the skies miles in the distance. Scott looks at me with his beautiful blue eyes waiting for my answer. He is such a handsome man. I'm happy that he became part of my life when he did and not earlier. Things may have been different for both of us for the better if we got together when we first met, instead of so many years later. But everything happens for a reason and some things are for experience and learning. His sandy blonde hair reflects the color of the sunrise, and the his tanned skin glows in the early morning light. Patrón joins his gaze at me, and it's one of my favorite parts of the morning. "About 3 more miles," I reply. He smiled slightly and stretched his strong arms out in front of him as he sat himself up, as Patrón stretched and slid over towards the front window, his favorite place. Scott lit a cigarette and opened the bottle of water he had next to him, as he slid his feet into the white fishing boots he had on the floor in front of him. His magnificent solid figure comfortably leaned back against the wall of the wheelhouse as he blew smoke out the window. "Looks like it's going to be a beautiful day." His voice is deep and soft. "It's always a beautiful day in the Keys" I responded, as I set the throttle down to que our crewman that it was time to get ready.

You'll also like

Jilted Ex-wife? Billionaire Heiress!

Jessica C. Dolan

3.8

Darya spent three years loving Micah, worshipping the ground he walked on. Until his neglect and his family's abuse finally woke her up to the ugly truth-he doesn't love her. Never did, never will. To her, he is a hero, her knight in shining armour. To him, she is an opportunist, a gold digger who schemed her way into his life. Darya accepts the harsh reality, gathers the shattered pieces of her dignity, divorces him, takes back her real name, reclaims her title as the country's youngest billionaire heiress. Their paths cross again at a party. Micah watches his ex-wife sing like an angel, tear up the dance floor, then thwart a lecher with a roundhouse kick. He realises, belatedly, that she's exactly the kind of woman he'd want to marry, if only he had taken the trouble to get to know her. Micah acts promptly to win her back, but discovers she's now surrounded by eligible bachelors: high-powered CEO, genius biochemist, award-winning singer, reformed playboy. Worse, she makes it pretty clear that she's done with him. Micah gears up for an uphill battle. He must prove to her he's still worthy of her love before she falls for someone else. And time is running out.

The 5-time Rejected Gamma & the Lycan King

Stina‘s Pen

4.9

COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. What’s worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldn’t thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesn’t seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that he’s different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?

Chasing Back What's Mine

G~Aden

3.8

"There will be no falling in love, we will only act as a loving couple when we are in public, we will share a room to make it believable, but no intimacy, touching is off-limits. We'll only have sex once a month, and that's solely to produce an heir. You won't interfere in my business, and I won't interfere in yours. You will be my wife in every sense and you will not be involved with any other man," he said, arrogance seeping from every word. I watch his mouth move, I'm not ready to fall in love with any man, especially not one as arrogant and egoistic as him. I can handle acting as a loving couple, and as for intimacy once a month. I can agree to that just to satisfy my sexual cravings with no strings attached. "Where can I sign?" I asked since I had nothing to lose. *** Nadine's wedding dreams turned to nightmares when she caught her sister and fiancé cheating! With a secret recording, she's ready for revenge. But then mysterious billionaire Logan West offers a deal: A Contract Marriage to take down her ex's empire. But what Nadine doesn't know is her life is getting complicated as she takes her chance to get revenge or risks everything for a chance at love?"

Pampered By The Ruthless Underground Boss

Thor Bernard

4.7

On her wedding day, Khloe’s sister connived with her groom, framing her for a crime she didn’t commit. She was sentenced to three years in prison, where she endured much suffering. When Khloe was finally released, her evil sister used their mother to coerce Khloe into an indecent liaison with an elderly man. As fate would have it, Khloe crossed paths with Henrik, the dashing yet ruthless mobster who sought to alter the course of her life. Despite Henrik’s cold exterior, he cherished Khloe like no other. He helped her take retribution from her tormentors and kept her from being bullied again.

The Jilted Heiress' Return To The High Life

Earvin Garner

4.4

Corinne devoted three years of her life to her boyfriend, only for it to all go to waste. He saw her as nothing more than a country bumpkin and left her at the altar to be with his true love. After getting jilted, Corinne reclaimed her identity as the granddaughter of the town’s richest man, inherited a billion-dollar fortune, and ultimately rose to the top. But her success attracted the envy of others, and people constantly tried to bring her down. As she dealt with these troublemakers one by one, Mr. Hopkins, notorious for his ruthlessness, stood by and cheered her on. “Way to go, honey!”

Marrying A Secret Zillionaire: Happy Ever After

Hamid Bawdekar

4.7

Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."

The Salt Life...Behind the Helm...

About

Contents