Salt Kiss novel · Chapter 5 of 24

Chapter 5: Storm Shutters

The storm came in at nine, right on the heels of the tide.

Rain hit the shack's tin roof.

Skye lit a kerosene lantern, set it on the table, and pushed him into a chair with one flat hand.

"Sleeve," she said.

He rolled it up.

The cut ran six inches along his forearm, clean and deep.

She washed it with a bottle of something that burned, and he hissed through his teeth.

"Baby," she said, not unkindly.

Then she threaded a curved needle with fishing line, set his arm on a folded towel, and began to sew.

Her hands were quick and sure.

He watched them, and the sunburned bridge of her nose, and the wet braid hanging over her shoulder.

"Ford signed a letter," she said.

She said it without lifting her eyes.

"Two weeks ago, in Cliff Brantley's office.

"It says that if Cliff tears up the note, Ford will hand over the Heyward Marine terminal lease and the Brine ledger on Friday."

"The ledger."

"Every member's real name.

"The senators.

"The surgeons.

"The woman who teaches second grade and cries when she kneels because it's the only time all week no one needs her."

She pulled a stitch tight.

"Cliff wants those names.

"Ford decided that to keep me out of it, he'd give them up."

Nolan stared at her.

"He'd sell the members."

"He'd sell himself first.

"That's what he thinks he's doing."

Another stitch.

"I found the letter in his coat.

"I took the ledger out of the office safe that night and I drove here, and I haven't answered the phone since, except to text him that I'm alive."

"Why didn't you just tell him no?"

"I did.

"He says he's got no other plan."

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