Romance on the Edge 01 - Hooked

through gossiping?” Sonya knew her face was flushed. She just hoped Garrett couldn’t hear the men’s scuttlebutt.
    “I’m not trying to tell you how to fish,” Garrett said. “But if I have to intervene in another one of your squabbles, I’m going to write you up for harassment.”
    “Harassment! Squabbles! Listen, fish cop, I haven’t been the one starting things out there.”
    “You started that last one.”
    She opened her mouth to argue, and then shut it. He was right. She had started it by laying her net out in front of Kendrick’s, but he’d escalated it. Besides there wasn’t anything illegal about what she’d done. Hell, she’d just been returning the favor as Kendrick had corked her off earlier. “There’s nothing in your rule book that says I can’t cork someone off.”
    “Don’t make me find a reason to beach you.”
    “You threatening me?”
    “You bet your sweet ass I am.”
    Sonya’s mouth dropped wide open in shock. How dare he? Who did he think he was? Sweet ass? “I don’t know where you’ve policed before, but it’s cutthroat fishing out here. I’m only trying to fit in.”
    “Quit trying so hard. You’re going to get yourself killed.” With that, Garrett motioned for the captain of the Calypso to move about. She watched him until he was out of range.
    “Damn stinking fish cop,” she muttered, and then looked to her crew to see how they’d taken the trooper’s warning. They regarded her with a mix of emotions—amusement from Peter, concern from Wes, and then the clincher, Gramps’s solemn look.
    “You’re going to have to make nice, Sonya,” Gramps said.
    “I know it.” She wanted to stamp her foot in aggravation, and would have done it, too, if it wouldn’t have undermined her as captain in front of her crew. A captain needed a level head in order to make level decisions. Right now, she was so off balance with whatever she was feeling, she wondered what it would take to get her back on even keel again.

    The rest of the day proceeded fairly smooth. That was, everything except the promised rough waves and wind joining the party. They’d finished with a very respectable eight thousand pounds and had tendered, unloading their fish just as the weather started to bite. The storm had been threatening all day, but thankfully waited until the fish opening had closed to let loose her fury. Cold northwesterly wind cut like talons through the summer tease they’d been experiencing. The forecasted rain had yet to appear, but the waves had arrived. They were wicked enough that instead of returning to Red Fox Camp, where they’d have to traverse the open bay, they’d radioed to Grams, and she was meeting them at the cannery. Sonya would have to tie up to the docks for the night. It was too dangerous to be anchored out in the bay.
    How dangerous would the docks be?
    They tied up at the crowded dock. She wasn’t the only one thinking safety tonight. Gramps studied the line of boats nestled together like the cork line of a net. “Sonya, I want Peter and Wes staying with you tonight.” Before she could interrupt, Gramps continued, “Besides—” he punched Peter playfully on the shoulder “—the boy here needs a shower.”
    He wasn’t the only one. So did she. It did made good sense to have someone stay with her, especially with the vandalism they’d already had.
    Grams showed up with a cooler packed with salmon sandwiches, chips, canned green beans, and oatmeal raisin cookies. She was a welcome sight. Gramps returned with Grams on the 4-wheeler to camp.
    Sonya, Peter and Wes chowed down, and then the men headed for the showers.
    After they returned, Sonya informed them that she’d be late getting back since she had to find Garrett. Wes gave her a grin and wished her good luck with her apology. Peter was already engrossed with his hand-held video game and only grunted when she told him she was leaving.
    Sonya grabbed her toiletries and headed for the cannery’s showers. After washing the day of fishing off of her body, she took extra time to smooth on lotion and apply a bit of make-up, even though she normally didn’t bother with cosmetics while at fish camp. She was going to see Garrett, and that girly part of her insisted she at least try to look her best. She wasn’t out to attract. On the contrary, she was mad at Garrett. She hadn’t liked the Calypso shadowing her every move. She could take care of herself, thank you very much. She proved that