Brittany’s rush of adrenalin was falling from its peak. She was still fuming mad.
“How the fuck did they get so damn close?” She shouted at Dave and Cheryl. “The radar screen picked up the coastline. It should have picked up that fucking boat as soon as it was a quarter mile from shore.”
“Well …………. we weren’t watching the radar screen.” Cheryl replied, her face still flushed. “We were distracted.
“Distracted!” Brittany exclaimed. “You still should have heard the blips. I’ve got the speakers turned up.”
Dave and Cheryl looked at each other trying to come up with an excuse but the pair remained at a loss for words.
“Nice ass.” Dave remarked, staring at Brittany. “Love the black panties.”
Looking down at herself, Brittany realized she’d fought the battle and sped the boat to safety without getting dressed. Embarrassed, she made a halfhearted attempt to cover her bare breasts with her arm. Realizing it would be stupid to cover up now, she stood in front of them partially naked.
“Why don’t you two turn in?” Brittany suggested, starting to get over her anger. “Kent and I will keep watch till sunrise.”
“Sorry. We didn’t mean to mess up.” Dave apologized. “It won’t happen again.”
Brittany didn’t respond to their apology. Crossing her arms in front of her, she looked out into the darkness past the couple. Dave and Cheryl descended to the lower deck proceeding to their stateroom.
“Don’t you think you were a little hard on them?” Kent asked. “They were probably taking a moment to themselves.”
“Moment hell!” Brittany responded. “Those two haven’t stopped fucking since we left the meeting back in Dallas.”
“I’ll put on some coffee.” Dave quipped. “Maybe it’ll help calm your nerves.”
Brittany searched the cockpit for her cigarettes. Lighting one, she settled back on the leather lounge. A few minutes later, Kent came from the galley with two cups of hot coffee. Sitting next to Brittany, he put his arm around her, pulling her in close to him.
“We’re going to need to change our plans.” Brittany muttered. “We need to fall back and regroup.”
“Why don’t you get your mind off this assignment for awhile?” Kent suggested. “We’ve been through alot. We can all use a break, don’t you think?”
“Yeah, I guess.” Brittany replied. “Maybe we should hit one of the ports for a day or two.”
“Nassau would be nice.” Kent remarked. “Always wanted to see what it was like.”
“Ok, Nassau it is.” Brittany responded, agreeing with his suggestion.”
Finishing her cigarette and coffee, Brittany stretched out on the lounge. Falling asleep within moments, she wasn’t awakened till the distant thunder clapped shortly after sunrise. Brittany jumped to a sitting position on the lounge. Kent was standing along the port side of the cruiser looking off towards the west.
“Looks like a big storm coming in.” He stated. “Those clouds are really low.”
“I’m going below and get dressed.” Brittany said. “Get the engines fired up right away!”
Kent didn’t question her command. Stepping behind the cockpit controls, he started both diesel engines, letting them settle into their familiar rumbling idle. Returning to the deck, Brittany glanced at the quickly approaching storm. Standing at the controls, she moved the throttle levers forward, spinning the wheel sharply around till the cruiser was heading northeast. Once the boat planed out on the water, Brittany pushed the throttles levers all the way forward.
“Why the hurry?” Kent curiously asked. “You worried about getting wet?”
“That’s no normal storm behind us.” Brittany responded. “That’s a tropical squall. I don’t want to get caught out on the open water.”
“Oh shit!” Kent exclaimed. “What do you need me to do?”
“Get out the lifejackets, the good ones!” Brittany commanded. “Better wake up Dave and Cheryl too. Put anything that’s loose away below deck.”
Kent ran down the stairs through the living area towards Dave and Cheryl’s stateroom. Finding the two already getting dressed, he proceeded to the galley to put things away.
“What’s going on?” Dave shouted, entering the galley.
“Tropical squall!” Kent answered. “Brit’s trying to make it to a port!”
“Grab your lifejackets just in case.” Kent added, his excitement evident in his loud voice.
Cheryl and Dave hurriedly put on their lifejackets. Neither one of them knew how to swim. Ascending the steps to the deck, they found Brittany at the helm, her hands firmly gripping the wheel. The dark, swirling clouds were approaching faster than the forty-eight foot cruiser could outrun them. The air temperature had dropped to almost a chill aided by the gusting winds.
“Cheryl!” Brittany shouted. “Come over here and take over the helm.”
Cheryl hesitated for a moment before stepping up next to Brittany. Grasping the wheel with both hands, her fingers locked around it tightly.
“Keep it on this heading!” Brittany shouted, pointing to the compass and numbered directional gauges on the panel. “I’ll be right back.”
Cheryl held the wheel on course as directed. Looking over her shoulder, she watched Brittany open the hatch to the engine compartment. Within a few moments the cruiser lunged to the port side. Cheryl fought the wheel hard, bringing it back on course. Feeling the cruiser pull hard to starboard, she braced her feet to assist in getting the cruiser headed in the right direction.
“Dave! Dave!” Cheryl screamed. “I need help!”
Brittany pulled herself up from the engine compartment, slamming the hatch shut. Dave and Kent were just coming up on deck. The swirling clouds had almost surrounded them. The rain was coming down in torrents behind them, blown by the heavy gusts of wind. The boat’s speed had increased tremendously.
Brittany took the wheel from Cheryl. Dave held onto Cheryl, trying to comfort her. Glancing down at the twin tachometers, Brittany watched the rpm’s running into the yellow on the gauges. The front of the cruiser was raised slightly upwards out of plane on the rough sea. Brittany switched on the running lights and bow lights. Finding the switch for the flashing beacon lights, she activated them.
The large cruiser was skimming across the water faster than ever, pitching left and right. Watching the radar screen intently, Brittany finally saw the image of land just a few miles ahead. Looking over her shoulder, she could see they were slowly gaining on the storm, pulling slightly ahead of it. The air was warming, heated by the sun not yet covered by the dark clouds.
“We’re gaining on it Babe!” Kent exclaimed, standing next to Brittany in the cockpit.
“You and Dave get ready to tie off as soon as we hit port!” Brittany shouted. “Make sure your lifejackets are fastened tight!”
Passing by two gigantic cruise ships sitting in the harbor, Brittany continued speeding into the Paradise Island marina. Pulling both throttle levers halfway back, she spotted an open berth halfway down one of the docks. Forcing the right throttle all the way back, the cruiser turned to starboard heading for the narrow opening.
A young couple, standing on the back of their boat in the adjoining berth, jumped up on the dock.
“Oh shit, we’re going way to fast!” Brittany exclaimed.
Pulling the left throttle back even with the other, she pulled on both together, setting the cruiser into reverse. The bow of the boat dipped downward forcing Kent, Dave and Cheryl to grab onto something to keep from falling. The cruiser floated up to the dock, gently compressing the rubber tires acting as dock bumpers.
Kent and Dave jumped up on the dock to tie the boat off. The young couple, standing on the dock, rushed over to help. Brittany shut the twin diesel engines down immediately. Cheryl was holding onto Brittany, her face almost white with fear.
“Drop the canvas down before we get swamped!” Brittany exclaimed, glaring at the terrified girl.
Cheryl pulled the cords on the hanging canvas, immediately dropping the side and back curtains. The rain was coming down sideways, blown by the gusty winds. Kent and Dave jumped back on the boat, followed by the young couple.
“You guys just made it!” The young man stated. “The storm’s just been upgraded to a low level hurricane.”
Brittany was still standing at the helm, her hands tightly gripping the throttle levers. Kent put his arms around her trembling form. Releasing the controls, she sat down in the custom leather seat at the wheel. The boat rocked gently, secured to the dock, as the storm continued. Kent turned off all the lights and radar.
“I’ll get us all something to drink.” Kent stated. “Something strong!”
Dave approached Brittany, sitting in the helmsman’s chair. He leaned over and kissed her lightly on the cheek.
“You saved our butts.” He murmured. “I’d hate to think what might have happened to us if you hadn’t gotten us here safely.”
“I ……… I didn’t realize the storm was this bad till I felt the temperature drop suddenly.” Brittany stated.
“How’d you get the boat to pick up so much speed all of a sudden?” Cheryl asked. “I almost lost control of the steering.”
“I disconnected the governor controls from both engines.” Brittany responded. “That let the engines overrev and pick up speed. I could have blown both engines if we’d been farther away from land.”
“That was quite a docking job you did.” The young woman spoke up. “I thought for a minute you guys were going to crash right through the dock.”
“By the way, we’re Jack and Emily Thurston.” The young woman added. “We’re down here on our second honeymoon.”
Kent introduced everyone to the young couple, suggesting they go below to the comfortable living area of the boat. Relaxing together, the three couples chatted about the weather and the islands.
Jack and Emily were a couple in their early thirties. Both were quite attractive. Emily’s dark tan evident that she enjoyed lying out in the sun. Her dark hair was bleached out from the sun. Wearing skin tight shorts and her bikini top, she could have been a professional model. Her husband Jack was slightly taller than his wife, probably 5’9”. His muscular build obvious that he had a passion for working out. His well-groomed dark hair and handsome face were his best features.
“This is really a nice boat.” Emily said looking at Kent and Brittany. “Is it yours?”
“I wish.” Kent replied. “Actually it belongs to the agency, I guess.”
“The agency?” Jack inquired. “You mean a travel agency?”
