South of Heaven by Ali Spooner

“I’ll come help with the traps and coolers when you return, Kendra.”
    “See you in a few then.” Kendra strode off toward her Jeep.
    Once Kendra left, Lindsey helped Kevin, who had picked up a fileting knife and begun working on the smaller fish. He dropped the severed heads and carcasses into a bucket for bait. It wasn’t long before the filets started piling up on the sorting table.
    “These will make for some delicious meals,” he remarked, stacking another steak on the pile.
    “We shouldn’t go hungry for a while.”
    “That’s for sure.” Kevin dipped the tip of the knife into the body of the fish, the blade clicking against the backbone as he guided the knife the length of the fish. “That big boy alone will keep us fed through the summer. We may have to host a fish fry so the filets don’t go to waste from freezer burn.”
    “That might be a fitting way to finish off the red season.”
    “Not a bad idea,” he agreed with a grin.
    When she heard the rattle of the crab traps as Kendra drove into the parking lot, Lindsey looked up.
    “You two seem to be getting along well,” Kevin said.
    Lindsey smiled at him. “You’ve raised a good woman in your daughter. I really admire her strength and knowledge.” Not to mention she’s drop dead gorgeous.
    “She can teach you a lot if you’re willing to learn.”
    “I’m looking forward to that. I’m going to go help her with the equipment.” Lindsey wiped her hands on a towel and walked off toward the truck.

     
    Kendra parked the truck and stepped out to begin unloading the crab traps and coolers she had grabbed from the garage. She glanced up to see Lindsey approaching wearing an adorable smile. “You can take the coolers on board and I’ll bring the traps.” Kendra handed her a pair of coolers.
    “You got it, boss.” Lindsey grinned and picked up another cooler before walking back to the boat.
    The soft sway of her hips was a sight to see and Kendra had to shake herself mentally to get back on task. You’re so doomed. She grinned as she picked up several traps and carried them to the boat before returning to the truck for the rest.
    “You two have been busy,” Kendra remarked as she stepped back onto the boat, nodding toward the growing pile of fileted fish.
    “We haven’t even touched the big boy yet,” Kevin replied.
    Kendra lifted a nearly full bucket and replaced it with an empty one. “I’ll get started loading these traps unless you need my help.”
    “I think we’ve got this under control for now. We’ll need your help on the big one though.”
    “Just give me a holler when you’re ready.” She carried the bucket onto the dock.
    Kendra immersed herself in baiting the traps and tying lines to them from the spool of rope she’d brought from the house. She lowered the first of the traps into the water and tied it off to one of the pilings. The water was tinted pink from the bloody carcasses and she felt herself smiling, knowing the scent of the fresh blood would attract the crabs.
    Lindsey swapped out buckets with her. The large head from her dad’s catch filled up a bucket on its own.
    “We’re almost done with the smaller catches,” Lindsey said as Kendra placed the large head in a trap. “If that doesn’t catch a dozen crabs, I’d be surprised.”
    “I sure hope Dad has a plan for the all crab he’s going to be catching with this many traps.”
    “I do,” Kevin said from the boat. “Gene down at the market guaranteed he’d buy as many as I can catch. I thought it would be a good way to spend my mornings. He wants them live so I don’t even have to clean them.”
    “The trash fish we catch in the nets should keep you set for bait,” Kendra told her dad.
    “That’s what I’m hoping and if I need to, I can do a bit of surf fishing while you’re out for reds or hook up with another of the shrimpers.”
    “You are going to retire one day, Dad, right?”
    “I’ll still be retired, but I can’t sit at