“Told him if he wanted to stay on for the summer, he could use the spare room out back a the boathouse and I’d feed him and give him walkin’ around money ‘til Labor Day. Only rules are no booze, no drugs, no women, and be polite to the customers. Talks to himself and I got a feelin’ he’s about two deuces shy of a full deck but he keeps to himself pretty much, nobody’s complained and he knows more about engines than anybody I ever saw, includin’ me.”

“Yes sir, Mr. F?” the old man croaked as he sidled up to his boss.

“Number eight ready?”

“Sure is. Just put the poles an’ bait in myself. Tank’s full an’ she’s rarin’ to go.”

Fisher gave Elgin a last squeeze. “Bring in whatever you catch. I’ll build a camp fire out back and roll ‘em in corn meal and pan fry ‘em in butter.”

“With greasy homemade French fries, and corn on the cob baked in aluminum foil in the fire, and pork and beans?” Harm thought she sounded like a delighted child.

“And fresh strawberry shortcake with extra whipped cream if you eat all your dinner.”

“Oh,” she squealed, “an old fashioned fish fry. Just like old times.”

“Just like old times,” he agreed softly. “But right now, you and your friend better git or those lake trout’ll all be home for their afternoon nap.”

He held out his hand again. “Nice to meet you, Camp. You take good care of my Ellie.”

“I’ll do that, Jim.”

They followed Tom down the wooden dock, listening as he continued muttering and mumbling to himself.

“Well, here she is,” he announced gesturing to a sleek white and blue runabout, perhaps fifteen feet long with a deep “V” nose, open with cushioned seating.

“Doesn’t look much like a fishing boat,” Harm commented as he surveyed her.

“Ain’t,” the old man replied. “Just about the fastest little critter we got. Most folks rent it ta ski er ta go ta that gamblin’ den ‘cross the lake. Little outboards is fer fishin’.”

“Well, eight has always been my lucky number,” Elgin laughed. “And it’s nice to have if we decide we don’t want to fish anymore.”

His thin shoulders went up and down once. “Suit yerselves.”

Harm stepped into the boat, helping Elgin aboard and then sliding automatically into the driver’s chair, putting both hands on the wheel and turning it a couple of times.

“So, where to?”

“If you’ll get out of my seat,” she told him coolly, “I’ll show you.”

He stared at her, blinking, mouth open. Elgin thought he looked like a surprised guppy. It took a couple of seconds for her meaning to sink in.

“Your seat?”

“Of course. I know this lake like the back of my hand.”

His fingers tightened on the wheel.

“You can tell me where to go.”

“I intend to,” she shot back, “but after you move so I can take us to the fishing spot.”

“I got us up here following your directions. I think I can navigate this lake.”

“Look, I’m not attacking your manhood, just your lack of experience with this lake. I’ve been boating up here since I was ten. It makes sense that I should drive the boat.”

A loud guffaw made them turn back to the dock. Tom stood, mooring line in his bony hand, laughing heartily.

“You two sound just like old married people,” he said between chuckles. “Squabblin’ an’ bickerin’ and carryin’ on. You best put yer jacket on an’ move young fella. You ain’t gonna be in this boat ferever an’ when it gets cold tonight, you might want her ta do you a favor.” He dissolved into more laughter as the rope landed in the open bow and he moved away.

Without another word, Harm cranked up the engine and edged slowly away from the dock. At the entrance to the little marina, he turned a questioning face to Elgin.

Frowning, she pointed to their left. As soon as he cleared the marina, Harm opened the boat up, feeling the cool spray and the slight bounce of the hull under them.

“Where are we going?” he shouted over the engine.

“To the lee of that little island out there.” He followed her outstretched arm to a barren piece of rock sticking out of the sapphire water a few miles away.

In a few more minutes they’d anchored a few yards from the island.

“Welcome to Captain Jack’s,” she told as she pulled off her skimpy tank top and shorts. “Best fishing on the lake. But first things first.”

Harm felt his lungs intake and his heart speed up at the sight of her. Creamy white skin and a small but thoroughly respectable fire engine red two-piece swimsuit that covered her only enough to show her body to its best advantage.

His cock stirred, demanding he slip out of his jeans and T-shirt to the freedom of his own swim trunks. They too were respectable but would probably not cover his growing…interest in her.

“Could you reach into the cooler for me, please? There should be a pint bottle of whiskey in there.”

Dutifully, Harm opened the cooler and sure enough, tucked in the corner sat a small whiskey bottle. He reached in and handed it to her.

“Is this thing waterproof?” she asked, holding the pendant away from her skin.

“To about a hundred feet deep,” he answered, handing her the bottle, his curiosity getting the better of him. “Why?”

“Don’t want your high tech dog collar electrocuting me.”

She moved to the side of the boat, the bottle clutched in her fist.

“Hey,” he yelped, “what the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“I’m going up to the top of the island to pay my respects to Captain Jack.” Nodding to the island, she continued. “There used to be a little wooden dock but now…well, it’s the old fashioned paddle method.”

“You can’t swim over there,” he insisted, moving quickly to where she stood. “That water’s freezing and you’ll kill yourself getting up that sheer rock.”

“Lot you know. I’ve been doing this forever. The water’s cold but it’s only about twenty yards to shore and there’s a path that winds up the other side. It’s a little steep but by no means treacherous.”

“What does this have to do with fishing?”

“It’s hard to explain. You wouldn’t understand.”

“Try me.”

Elgin sighed. “Please just take my word for it that it’s important. I’ll be back before you get the lines in the water.”

“You’re not going anywhere until you tell me.”

“All right, but you better sit down and get comfortable. Might even want to get a beer. It’s a long story.”

With a nod, he turned back and reached for the cooler lid again.

Splash!

By the time he’d stepped back to the side, she was already swimming quickly for shore, her strokes and kick strong, barely disturbing the surface as she moved.

“Come back here, damn it!” he yelled futilely.

For another second he watched her, stripping off his jeans and shirts as fast as he could. He braced himself for the cold as he jumped into the dark water after her.

An instant of body-numbing cold engulfed him as he plunged under the water, the shock literally taking his breath away. Breaking the surface again, his lungs frantically gulped in air and it took several more moments for him to gather himself and set out after her.

With the slight head start and her swimming skill, Elgin came out of the water, threw a quick look behind her and disappeared around a rocky outcropping.

Panting from the cold and the unexpected exertion, Harm had to stop for a few seconds on the little beach to catch his breath.

Beyond the little point, a path wide enough for a small cart began winding up the side of the small island. He couldn’t see her but her tracks were clear in the layer of fine dust over the compacted surface of the trail.

Rounding a sharp bend, he found himself at the top of the island, perhaps a hundred feet above the sparkling water.

Elgin stood beside a large gray boulder lying like a huge block by itself in the middle of a large clearing. Other boulders lay strewn around and on the right side of clearing, almost at the cliff’s edge, stood a huge pile of jumbled gray boulders, almost as if some giant had heaped them there.