Contents ( 66)
- Cover
- Books by Valerie Fraser Luesse
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Map of Florida
- one
- two
- three
- four
- five
- six
- seven
- eight
- nine
- ten
- eleven
- twelve
- thirteen
- fourteen
- fifteen
- sixteen
- seventeen
- eighteen
- nineteen
- twenty
- twenty-one
- twenty-two
- twenty-three
- twenty-four
- twenty-five
- twenty-six
- twenty-seven
- twenty-eight
- twenty-nine
- thirty
- thirty-one
- thirty-two
- thirty-three
- thirty-four
- thirty-five
- thirty-six
- thirty-seven
- thirty-eight
- thirty-nine
- forty
- forty-one
- forty-two
- forty-three
- forty-four
- forty-five
- forty-six
- forty-seven
- forty-eight
- forty-nine
- fifty
- fifty-one
- Epilogue
- Keep Reading for a Preview of Valerie Luesse’s Next Book!
- Prologue
- one
- Acknowledgments
- About the Author
- Back Ads
- Back Cover
“Yep. Looks like we’re gonna start making our way home this morning. Any chance you could sell us another shirt and dress for the road? We won’t even take up your time trying ’em on. Your reputation speaks for itself.”
“Sure, come on in.”
Millie riffled through the racks and quickly pulled out a light coral-colored shirt for Peyton and a sundress with deep purple flowers on a white background for Lisa. “Never saw a redhead who didn’t look good in purple or white, and this dress has both,” she said.
“Thanks, Millie,” Lisa said. “We sure do appreciate it.”
“No problem, honey. Pay up, Peyton.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said with a grin. “Oh, wait—what am I thinking?” He smacked himself on the forehead and slipped on the aviators. “I almost turned myself back into a Georgia cracker.”
“Don’t let it happen again,” Millie said.
“I won’t. I promise. You take care—and seriously, Millie, thanks for everything.”
Peyton and Lisa returned their scooter to the rental stand and walked the rest of the way to the marina, where they found Millie’s cousin Wally hosing down the docks. “Mornin’, Peyton!” he called out. “I see from that bag in your hand that Millie separated you from your money before you got here.”
“Not too much. I don’t know what we woulda done without her help.”
“Millie’s grade A, that’s for sure,” Wally said. “Ready to shove off?”
“You bet.”
Wally led them down the dock, with Peyton watching out for ropes and tackle that might trip Lisa. They stopped at a Chris-Craft that looked brand-new.
“Man alive!” Peyton said. “She’s a beauty.”
“Yes, she is,” Wally agreed. “Now, Peyton, I’ll give it to you straight. Ordinarily, I’d never hire a ferryman as young as you for a boat this pricey. And I sure wouldn’t let you travel with a girl on board—no offense, miss. But the owner’s one o’ my best customers, and it’s so busy around here that I can’t find anybody else that wouldn’t break my bank. Millie ain’t never steered me wrong, so if she says you’re the man for the job, I believe it. Don’t let me down.”
“No, sir, I sure won’t. You can depend on me.”
“I believe I can. Here’s half your fee. You’ll get the other half from the dock manager on delivery to the A&R Marina in Fort Lauderdale.”
“A&R? Isn’t there one of those in Daytona?”
“There’s five of ’em. Big operation. You want the one in Fort Lauderdale. It’s marked on the map—can’t miss it. Dock manager’s name is Mack McGee. You’re fueled up. Ice chest and water cooler are full. You can get your provisions at the marina grocery right over there. All good?”
“All good. Thank you very much for the work. I won’t let you down.”
Wally smiled and waved as he walked down the dock and climbed aboard a wooden schooner.
Peyton and Lisa dropped their bags from Millie’s store, along with Peyton’s saddlebag and duffel, into the boat and walked to the marina grocery, where they bought Cokes, bananas, a box of jerk chicken, and several bags of chips.