璇玑之心刃·冷血悍将-第64部分

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Then　Springer　started　pitching；　up　and　down　three　or　four　feet　at　the　bow　as　Kelly　maneuvered　left　to　get　around　the　worst　of　it。　The　freighter　grew　before　them　like　a　cliff　as　they　overtook　her。
‘Is　there　someplace　I　can　change？‘
‘My　cabin　is　aft。　You　can　move　in　forward　if　you　want。‘
‘Oh；　really？‘　She　giggled。　‘Why　would　I　do　that？‘
‘Huh？‘　She‘d　done　it　to　him　again。
Pam　went　below；　careful　to　hold　on　to　the　rails　as　she　carried　her　backpack。　She　hadn‘t　been　wearing　much。　She　reappeared　in　a　few　minutes　wearing　even　less；　short…shorts　and　a　halter；　no　shoes；　and　perceptibly　more　relaxed。　She　had　dancer‘s　legs；　Kelly　noticed；　slim　and　very　feminine。　Also　very　pale；　which　surprised　him。　The　halter　was　loose　on　her；　and　frayed　at　the　edges。　Perhaps　she‘d　recently　lost　weight；　or　maybe　she‘d　deliberately　bought　it　overlarge。　Whatever　the　reason；　it　showed　quite　a　bit　of　her　chest。　Kelly　caught　himself　shifting　his　eyes；　and　chastised　himself　for　ogling　the　girl。　But　Pam　made　it　hard　not　to。　Now　she　grasped　his　upper　arm　and　sat　up　against　him。　Looking　over；　he　could　see　right　down　the　halter　just　as　far　as　he　wanted。
‘You　like　them？‘　she　asked。
Kelly‘s　brain　and　mouth　went　into　lock。　He　made　a　few　embarrassed　sounds；　and　before　he　could　decide　to　say　anything　she　was　laughing。　But　not　at　him。　She　was　waving　at　the　crew　of　the　freighter；　who　waved　back。　It　was　an　Italian　ship；　and　one　of　the　half　dozen　or　so　men　hanging　over　the　rail　at　the　stern　blew　Pam　a　kiss。　She　did　the　same　in　return。
It　made　Kelly　jealous。
He　turned　the　wheel　to　port　again；　taking　his　boat　across　the　bow　wave　of　the　freighter；　and　as　he　passed　the　vessel‘s　bridge　he　tooted　his　hom。　It　was　the　correct　thing　to　do；　though　few　small　boaters　ever　bothered。　By　this　time；　a　watch　officer　had　his　glasses　on　Kelly　…　actually　Pam；　of　course。　He　turned　and　shouted　something　to　the　wheelhouse。　A　moment　later　the　freighter‘s　enormous　‘whistle‘　sounded　its　own　bass　note；　nearly　causing　the　girl　to　leap　from　her　seat。
Kelly　laughed；　and　so　did　she；　and　then　she　wrapped　her　arms　tightly　around　his　bicep。　He　could　feel　a　finger　tracing　its　way　around　the　tattoo。
‘It　doesn‘t　feel　like…‘
Kelly　nodded。　‘I　know。　Most　people　expect　it　to　feel　like　paint　or　something。‘
‘Why　did…‘
‘　…I　get　it？　Everybody　in　the　outfit　did。　Even　the　officers。　It　was　something　to　do；　I　guess。　Pretty　dumb；　realty。‘
‘I　dunk　it‘s　cute。‘
‘Well；　I　think　you‘re　pretty　cute。‘
‘You　say　the　nicest　things。‘　She　moved　slightly；　rubbing　her　breast　against　his　upper　arm。
Kelly　settled　down　to　a　steady　cruising　speed　of　eighteen　knots　as　he　worked　his　way　out　of　Baltimore　harbor。　The　Italian　freighter　was　the　only　merchant　ship　in　view；　and　the　seas　were　flat；　with　one…foot　ripples。　He　kept　to　the　main　shipping　channel　all　the　way　out　into　the　Chesapeake　Bay。
‘You　thirsty？‘　she　asked　as　they　turned　south。
‘Yeah。　There‘s　a　fridge　in　the　kitchete　…　it‘s　in　the…‘
‘I　saw　it。　What　do　you　want？‘
‘Get　two　of　anything。‘
‘Okay；　‘　she　replied　brightly。　When　she　stood；　the　soft　feeling　worked　its　way　straight　up　his　arm；　finally　departing　at　the　shoulder。
‘What‘s　that？‘　she　asked　on　returning。　Kelly　turned　and　winced。　He‘d　been　so　content　with　the　girl　on　his　arm　that　he‘d　neglected　to　pay　attention　to　the　weather。　‘That‘　was　a　thunderstorm；　a　towering　mass　of　cumulonimbus　clouds　that　reached　eight　or　ten　miles　skyward。
‘Looks　like　we‘re　going　to　get　some　rain；‘　he　told　her　as　he　took　the　beer　from　her　hand。
‘When　I　was　a　little　girl；　that　meant　a　tornado。‘
‘Well；　not　here；　it　doesn‘t；‘　Kelly　replied；　looking　around　the　boat　to　make　sure　that　there　was　no　loose　gear。　Below；　he　knew；　everything　was　in　its　proper　place；　because　it　always　was；　ennui　or　not。　Then　he　switched　on　his　marine　radio。　He　caught　a　weather　forecast　at　once；　one　that　ended　with　the　usual　warning。
‘Is　this　a　small　craft？‘　Pam　asked。
‘Technically　it　is；　but　you　can　relax。　I　know　what　I‘m　doing。　I　used　to　be　a　chief　bosun‘s　mate。‘
‘What‘s　that？‘
‘A　sailor。　In　the　Navy；　that　is。　Besides；　this　is　a　pretty　big　boat。　The　ride　might　get　a　little　bumpy；　is　all。　If　you‘re　worried；　there　are　life　jackets　under　the　seat　you‘re　on。‘
‘Are　you　worried？‘　Pam　asked。　Kelly　smiled　and　shook　his　head。　‘Okay。‘　She　resumed　her　previous　position；　her　chest　against　his　arm；　her　head　on　his　shoulder；　a　dreamy　expression　in　her　eyes；　as　though　anticipating　something　that　was　to　be；　storm　or　no　storm。
Kelly　wasn‘t　worried　…　at　least　not　about　the　storm　…　but　he　wasn‘t　casual　about　things　either。　Passing　Bodkin　Point；　he　continued　east　across　the　shipping　channel。　He　didn‘t　turn　south　until　he　was　in　water　he　knew　to　be　too　shallow　for　anything　large　enough　to　run　him　down。　Every　few　minutes　he　turned　to　keep　an　eye　on　the　storm；　which　was　charging　right　in　at　twenty　knots　or　so。　It　had　already　blotted　out　the　sun。　A　fast…moving　storm　most　often　meant　a　violent　one；　and　his　new　southerly　course　meant　that　he　wasn‘t　outrunning　it　any　longer。　Kelly　finished　off　his　beer　and　decided　against　another。　Visibility　would　drop　fast。　He　pulled　out　a　plastic…coated　chart　and　fixed　it　in　place　on　the　table　to　the　right　of　the　instrument　panel；　marked　his　position　with　a　grease　pencil；　and　then　checked；　to　make　sure　that　his　course　didn‘t　take　him　into　shallows　…　Springer　drew　four　and　a　half　feet　of　water；　and　for　Kelly　anything　less　than　eight　feet　constituted　shallow　water。　Satisfied；　he　set　his　pass　course　and　relaxed　again。　His　training　was　his　buffer　against　both　danger　and　placency。
‘Won‘t　be　long　now；‘　Pam　observed；　just　a　trace　of　unease　in　her　voice　as　she　held　on　to　him。
‘You　can　head　below　if　you　want；‘　Kelly　said。　‘It‘s　gonna　get　rainy　and　windy。　And　bumpy。‘
‘But　not　dangerous。‘
‘No；　unless　I　do　something　really　dumb。　I‘ll　try　not　to；‘　he　promised。
‘Can　I　stay　here　and　see　what　it‘s　like？‘　she　asked；　dearly　unwilling　to　leave　his　side；　though　Kelly　did　not　know　why。
‘It‘s　going　to　get　wet；‘　he　warned　her　again。
‘That‘s　okay。‘　She　smiled　brightly；　fixing　even　more　tightly　to　his　arm。
Кеllу　throttled　back　some；　taking　the　boat　down　off　plane。　There　was　no　reason　to　hurry。　With　the　throttles　eased　back；　there　was　no　longer　a　need　for　two　hands　on　the　controls　either。　He　wrapped　his　arm　around　the　girl；　her　head　came　automatically　down　on　his　shoulder　again；　and　despite　the　approaching　storm　everything　was　suddenly　right　with　the　world。　Or　that‘s　what　Kelly‘s　emotions　told　him。　His　reason　said　something　else；　and　the　two　views　would　not　reconcile　themselves。　His　reason　reminded　him　that　the　girl　at　his　side　was　…　what？　He　didn‘t　know。　His　emotions　told　him　that　it　didn‘t　matter　a　damn。　She　was　what　he　needed。　But　Kelly　was　not　a　man　ruled　by　emotions；　and　the　conflict　made　him　glower　at　the　horizon。
‘Something　wrong？‘　Pam　asked。
Kelly　started　to　say　something；　then　stopped；　and　reminded　himself　that　he　was　alone　on　his　yacht　with　a　pretty　girl。　He　let　emotion　win　this　round　for　a　change。
‘I’m　a　little　confused；　but；　no；　nothing　is　wrong　that　I　know　about。‘
‘I　can　tell　that　you　…‘
Kelly　shook　his　head。　‘Don‘t　bother。　Whatever　it　is；　it　can　wait。　Just　relax　and　enjoy　the　ride。‘
The　first　gust　of　wind　arrived　a　moment　later；　heeling　the　boat　a　few　degrees　to　port。　Kelly　adjusted　his　rudder　to　pensate。　The　rain　arrived　quickly。　The　first　few　warning　sprinkles　were　rapidly　followed　by　solid　sheets　that　marched　like　curtains　across　the　surface　of　the　Chesapeake　Bay。　Within　a　minute　visibility　was　down　to　only　a　few　hundred　yards；　and　the　sky　was　as　dark　as　late　twilight。　Kelly　made　sure　his　running　lights　were　on。　The　waves　started　kicking　up　in　earnest；　driven　by　what　felt　like　thirty　knots　of　wind。　Weather　and　seas　were　directly　on　the　beam。　He　decided　that　he　could　keep　going；　but　he　was　in　a　good　anchoring　place　now；　and　wouldn‘t　be　in　another　for　five　hours。　Kelly　took　another　look　at　the　chart；　then　switched　on　his　radar　to　verify　his　position。　Ten　feet　of　water；　a　sand　bottom　that　the　chart　called　HRD　and　was　therefore　good　holding　ground。　He　brought　Springer　into　the　wind　and　eased　the　throttles　until　the　propellers　were　providing　just　enough　thrust　to　overe　the　driving　force　of　the　wind。
‘Take　the　wheel；‘　he　told　Pam。
‘But　I　don‘t　know　what　to　do！‘
‘It‘s　all　right。　Just　hold　her　steady　and　steer　the　way　I　tell　you　to。　I　have　to　go　forward　to　set　the　anchors。　‘Kay？‘
‘You　be　careful！‘　she　shouted　over　the　gusting　wind。　The　waves　were　about　five　feet　now；　and　the　bow　of　the　boat　was　leaping　up　and　down。　Kelly　gave　her　shoulder　a　squeeze　and　went　forward。
He　had　to　watch　himself；　of　course；　but　his　shoes　had　no…skid　soles；　and　Kelly　knew　his　business。　He　kept　his　hands　on　the　grab　rail　all　the　way　around　the　superstructure；　and　in　a　minute　he　was　on　the　foredeck。　Two　anchors　were　clipped　to　the　deck；　a　Danforth　and　a　CQR　plow…type；　both　slightly　oversized。　He　tossed　the　Danforth　over　first；　then　signaled　for　Pam　to　ease　the　wheel　to　port。　When　the　boat　had　moved　perhaps　fifty　feet　south；　he　dropped　the　CQR　over　the　side　as　well。　Both　ropes　were　already　set　to　the　proper　lengths；　and　after　checking　that　all　was　secure；　Kelly　made　his　way　back　to　the　flying　bridge。
Pam　looked　nervous　until　the　moment　that　he　sat　back　down　on　the　vinyl　bench　…　everything　was　covered　with　water　now；　and　their　clothes　were　soaked　through。　Kelly　eased　the　throttles　to　idle；　allowing　the　wind　to　push　Springer　back　nearly　a　hundred　feet。　By　that　time　both　anchors　had　dug　into　the　bottom。　Kelly　frowned　at　their　placement。　He　ought　to　have　set　them　farther　apart。　But　only　one　anchor　was　really　necessary。　The　second　was　just　insurance。　Satisfied；　he　switched　off　the　diesels。
‘I　could　fight　the　storm　all　the　way　down；　but　I‘d　prefer　not　to；‘　he　explained。
‘So　we　park　here　for　the　night？‘
‘That‘s　right。　You　can　go　down　to　your　cabin　and　…‘
‘You　want　me　to　go　away？‘
‘No　…I　mean；　if　you　don‘t　like　it　here　…‘　Her　hand　came　up　to　his　face。　He　barely　caught　her　words　through　the　wind　and　rain。
‘I　like　it　here。‘　Somehow　it　didn‘t　seem　like　a　contradiction　at　all。
A　moment　later　Kelly　asked　himself　why　it　had　taken　so　long。　All　the　signals　had　been　there。　There　was　another　brief　discussion　between　emotion　and　reason；　and　reason　lost　again。　There　was　nothing　to　be　afraid　of　here；　just　a　person　as　lonely　as　he。　It　was　so　easy　to　forget。　Loneliness　didn‘t　tell　you　what　you　had　lost；　only　that　something　was　missing。　It　took　something　like　this　to　define　that　emptiness。　Her　skin　was　soft；　dripping　with　rain；　but　warm。　It　was　so　different　from　the　rented　passion　that　he‘d　tried　twice　in　the　past　month；　each　time　ing　away　disgusted　with　himself。
But　this　was　something　else。　This　was　real。　Reason　cried　out　one　last　time　that　it　couldn‘t　be；　that　he‘d　picked　her　up　at　the　side　of　the　road　and　had　known　her　for　only　a　brief　span　of　hours。　Emotion　said　that　it　didn‘t　matter。　As　though　observing　the　conflict　in　his　mind；　Pam　pulled　the　halter　over　her　head。　Emotion　won。
‘They　look　just　fine　to　me；‘　Kelly　said。　His　hand　moved　to　them；　touching　delicately。　They　felt　just　fine；　too。　Pam　hung　the　halter　on　the　steering　wheel　and　pressed　her　face　against　his；　her　hands　pulling　him　forward；　taking　charge　in　a　very　feminine　way。　Somehow　her　passion　wasn‘t　animalistic。　Something　made　it　different。　Kelly　didn‘t　know　what　it　was；　but　didn‘t　search　for　the　reason；　not　now。
Both　rose　to　their　feet。　Pam　nearly　slipped；　but　Kelly　caught　her；　dropping　to　his　knees　to　help　remove　her　shorts。　Then　it　was　her　turn　to　unbutton　his　shirt　after　placing　his　hands　on　her　breasts。　His　shirt　remained　in　place　for　a　long　moment　because　neither　wanted　his　hands　to　move；　but　then　it　was　done；　one　arm　at　a　time；　and　his　jeans　went　next。　Kelly　slipped　out　of　his　shoes　as　the　rest　came　off。　Both　stood　for　the　next　embrace；　weaving　as　the　boat　pitched　and　rocked　beneath　them；　the　rain　and　wind　pelting　them。　Pam　took　his　hand　and　led　him　just　aft　of　the　driver‘s　console；　guiding　him　down　to　a　supine　position　on　the　deck。　She　mounted　him　at　once。　Kelly　tried　to　sit　up；　but　she　didn‘t　let　him；　instead　leaning　forward　while　her　hips　moved　with　gentle　violence。　Kelly　was　as　unready　for　that　as　he‘d　been　for　everything　else　this　afternoon；　and　his　shout　seemed　to　outscream　the　thunder。　When　his　eyes　opened；　her　face　was　inches　from　him；　and　the　smile　was　like　that　on　a　stone　angel　in　a　church。
‘I‘m　sorry；　Pam；　I　…‘
She　stopped　his　apology　with　a　giggle。　‘Are　you　always　this　good？‘
Long　minutes　later；　Kelly‘s　arms　were　wrapped　around　her　thin　form；　and　so　they　stayed　until　the　storm　passed。　Kelly　was　afraid　to　let　go；　afraid　of　the　possibility　that　this　was　as　unreal　as　it　had　to　be。　Then　the　wind　acquired　a　chill；　and　they　went　below。　Kelly　got　some　towels　and　they　dried　each　other　off。　He　tried　to　smile　at　her；　but　the　hurt　was　back；　all　the　more　powerful　from　the　joy　of　the　previous　hour；　and　it　was　Pam‘s　turn　to　be　surprised。　She　sat　beside　him　on　the　deck　of　the　salon；　and　when　she　pulled　his　face　down　to　her　chest；　he　was　the　one　who　wept；　until　her　chest　was　wet　again。　She　didn‘t　ask。　She　was　smart　enough　for　that。　Instead　she　held　him　tightly　until　he　was　done　and　his　breathing　came　back　to　normal。
‘I‘m　sorry；‘　he　said　after　a　while。　Kelly　tried　to　move　but　she　wouldn‘t　let　him。
‘You　don‘t　have　to　explain。　But　I‘d　like　to　help；‘　she　said；　knowing　that　she　already　had。　She‘d　seen　it　from　almost　the　first　moment　in　the　car：　a　strong　man；　badly　hurt。　So　different　from　the　others　she　had　known。　When　he　finally　spoke；　she　could　feel　his　words　on　her　breast。
‘It‘s　been　nearly　seven　months。　Down　in　Mississippi　on　a　job。　She　was　pregnant；　we　just　found　out。　She　went　to　the　store；　and　…　it　was　a　truck；　a　big　tractor…trailer　rig。　The　linkage　broke。‘　He　couldn‘t　make　himself　say　more；　and　he　didn‘t　have　to。
‘What　was　her　name？‘
‘Tish　…　Patricia。‘
‘How　long　were　you　…‘
‘Year　and　a　half。　Then　she　was　just　。。。　gone。　I　never　expected　it。　I　mean；　I　put　my　time　in；　did　some　dangerous　stuff；　but　that‘s　all　over；　and　that　was　me；　not　her。　I　never　thought　…‘　His　voice　cracked　again。　Pam　looked　down　at　him　in　the　muted　light　of　the　salon；　seeing　the　scars　she‘d　missed　before　and　wondering　what　their　story　was。　It　didn‘t　matter。　She　brought　her　cheek　down　to　the　top　of　his　head。　He　should　have　been　a　father　right　about　now。　Should　have　been　a　lot　of　things。
‘You　never　let　it　out；　did　you？‘
‘No。‘
‘And　why　now？‘
‘I　don‘t　know；‘　he　whispered。
‘Thank　you。‘　Kelly　looked　up　in　surprise。　‘That‘s　the　nicest　thing　a　man　has　ever　done　to　me。‘
‘I　don‘t　understand。‘
‘Yes；　you　do；‘　Pam　replied。　‘And　Tish　understands；　too。　You　let　me　take　her　place。　Or　maybe　she　did。　She　loved　you；　John。　She　must　have　loved　you　a　lot。　And　she　still　does。　Thank　you　for　letting　me　help。‘
He　started　crying　again；　and　Pam　brought　his　head　back　down；　cradling　him　like　a　small　child。　It　lasted　ten　minutes；　though　neither　looked　at　a　clock。　When　he　was　done；　he　kissed　her　in　gratitude　that　rapidly　turned　to　renewed　passion。　Pam　lay　back；　letting　him　take　charge　as　he　needed　to　do　now　that　he　was　again　a　man　in　spirit。　Her　reward　was　in　keeping　with　the　magnitu