Chapter 19: Not for Sale

Ben's POV

Judith Thornquist came to my shed on Thursday at four, alone, in a navy coat.

I was re-splicing a dock line, and I did not get up.

She stood in the doorway and looked at the cot, the stove and the chart on the wall.

"So this is it," she said.

"This is it."

"I expected something more."

"Everybody does."

She came in and sat on the crate Brant had used the day before.

She set her purse on her knees.

"I'll be direct, Mr. Corbett. I find it saves time."

"Please."

"The pier lease ends December first.

"I can renew it at the current rate, for ten years, with a signature."

"I've seen the notice."

"Or I can buy you out."

She opened the purse and took out a folded paper.

"Three hundred thousand dollars, for your boat, your license and your equipment. You could buy a house."

I looked at the paper but I did not take it.

"What do I do for the three hundred thousand?"

"You stop."

"Stop what?"

"Carrying that girl around my family."

Her voice stayed even.

"You don't bring her to the Inn on Saturday. You don't bring her anywhere I am."

"She doesn't need me to bring her. She has a car."

"She has you. That's what she has."

Judith leaned forward.

"You're not a stupid man. You have one boat, and you live in a shed."

She tilted her head.

Keep reading free with an account. Start He Voted Me Off the Island, So I Left Him Stranded from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.