Romance on the Edge 01 - Hooked

damage to the skiff other than the engine. They did lose two brailer bags and a few fish picks, but the skiff seemed in good shape. It could have been worse.
    “Looks like whoever is doing this just wants to cause you problems.” Garrett’s thoughts must have been running along the same vein as hers. “They could have damaged the skiff to where you couldn’t use it for the rest of the season.”
    “What do you suggest we do?” Peter asked, mounting the 4-wheeler. Gramps climbed on behind him.
    “Other than writing up a damage report and being vigilant, there isn’t much to go on.”
    “That’s what I figured.” Sonya gave Peter and Gramps a pointed look that clearly said they hadn’t needed to call in a fish cop.
    “It was still smart to contact me.” Garrett eyed Sonya with his trooper stare. “If anything else happens, we need a paper trail to prosecute.”
    “Paper trail,” Peter repeated with a smirk at Sonya. “What’d I tell you?”
    She decided it was best to ignore everyone and concentrate on getting back to the 4-wheeler without being sucked down into the mud.
    Too late.
    She knew it. Every damn time.
    She worked her foot back and forth, trying to free it from the sucking sludge. She breathed a sigh of relief as she freed one foot and took a step, coming up fast when the mud refused to release her other. She tried not to panic as the mud seized her farther into its grip.
    “You really do have a problem with this mud.” Garrett walked over to her and took hold of her arm.
    “I’ve said it before, the mud’s out to reclaim me.” Leaning on Garrett, she pulled her back foot free only to find the front one had settled in the mud enough to anchor it.
    “It’s all in your head, Sonya,” Peter said. “Mind over matter. You think you’re going to get stuck, therefore you do.”
    “Shut up, will you.” Frustration ate at her. She hated feeling at the mercy of anything, let alone mud that everyone in her family, even Garrett, seemed to conquer.
    “Just saying.”
    “Well, say it where I don’t have to hear it.”
    “Sonya.” Garrett grabbed her attention. “Place your boot into the mud heel first, and then kind of slide, like you’re wearing snow shoes.”
    Pulling on Garrett, she freed another foot and tried what he suggested. She made a few feet of progress, until she heard another 4-wheeler join the party.
    Aidan stood astride his ATV heading their way.
    This was going to top off her shitty day, Sonya thought, as the mud reached up and gripped her feet tight again.
    Aidan cut the engine to his 4-wheeler, and leaned forward to rest his arms on the handle bars. “Having trouble?” He eyed Garrett as though he was the actual trouble. Garrett met Aidan’s stare with his glacial blue gaze. It was icy enough to give her chills.
    Great, Sonya thought.
    “Someone removed the plug from the skiff,” Garrett said.
    Aidan looked at Sonya and then Peter and Gramps. His confusion seemed genuine, but was it?
    “You can’t mean intentionally removed the plug?” He straightened as he glanced back to Peter. “Are you sure someone didn’t forget to put it back in after cleaning out the fish slime?”
    “Hey!” Peter stood while straddled over the ATV’s seat. “I did not forget to screw in the plug. I made sure it was in place when I finished draining the skiff after I tendered. That’s a rookie mistake. I am no rookie. ”
    Sonya couldn’t blame Aidan for jumping to that conclusion. It was the direction her thoughts had first traveled. “Aidan didn’t mean anything by it, Peter. He was just following the same line of questions we all have.”
    Peter swung his mad gaze her way. “You think I did this?”
    “No. I know you didn’t. I wish you had left the plug out, because it sure as hell beats the alternative.” Without a doubt, she knew Peter didn’t have a hand in the boat sinking. She wasn’t as sure about the man right in front of her. Hadn’t Aidan warned her that she’d have trouble this summer?
    Peter’s stance relaxed somewhat. He looked at everyone in turn, settling on Garrett. “We need to find this guy.”
    “I plan on it.” Garrett’s statement invited complete confidence that he’d do exactly that.
    “You brought in a fish cop?” Aidan pointed his gaze at Sonya.
    “Trooper.” Garrett’s tone seemed to beg Aidan to say something else derogatory.
    “Aidan,” Sonya interjected before things got any messier, “this isn’t helping.”
    He seemed