Excerpt: It was not quite an hour later that she was sitting at a swing bridge. Instead of constructing a draw bridge it was easer to use a long barge, with the roadway built on it. It could be moved to the side and held in place with cables. It was sideways to the road and two long barges, with a large tug pushing them, were making their way through the narrow opening. The rain had stopped, so she got out of her car and went around the drop arm, which kept cars from going farther. A cool breeze ruffled her hair as she stood close to the water. Her eyes opened wide as the tug, with lights blazing, passed her. She had seen tug boats on the TV, but there were not many boats that big in Dallas. The wheelhouse was lighted from within and a light flashed on the face of the man at the wheel. She saw him very clearly. His hair was salt and pepper and his face angular with a strong chin. Catching only a glance, she liked what she saw. He must have seen her standing there, because he looked down at her and waved. Although she liked what she saw, she just felt numb as she stared back blankly. He looked back at his barges. After the barges and tug were through, the bridge moved back into place and the arm lifted, allowing her access. She watched the tug, until it disappeared around a bend. On the back of the tug was the name, The Sea Gypsy. The name made her think of exotic ports and the freedom of life on the sea. After she made her way across the bridge and onto the island, her headlights showed sand and grass beside the road. Driving slowly, hers was the only car on the road and after driving a few hundred feet, she was faced with another decision, right or left. To the left she could see houses on stilts, illuminated by an occasional street or porch light, and to the right there were beach shelters. She turned right, driving until she came to the end of the road. Turning into a parking lot, facing the beach, she switched off the engine and lights and sat staring out at the dark water. Shaking her head, she got out and was hit full force by the wind and the sound of the pounding surf, as well as the smell of the sea. Opening the trunk, she took out the heavy blanket that she kept for when she and Allen used to go to the park. Those were happier times. Taking her cold coffee, she walked to the nearest shelter and wrapping herself in the heavy blanket, sat down on the big picnic table and waited for sunrise. The wind began to pick up and the waves crashed harder onto the beach. Taking a sip of the coffee, she winced at the bitter taste and set it aside. Hot it had been barely drinkable, but cold it was unbearably bad. With the darkness and the rhythm of the waves lulling her, and the warmth of the blanket relaxing tense muscles, she lay on top of the table. Looking out at the Gulf, watching the lights of fishing boats bobbing on the water, the adrenaline slowly began to wear off and she crashed hard. Available from Amazon around the world.
Posted on: Sat, 02 Aug 2014 17:51:26 +0000
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