The Job Offer by Eleanor Webb Read Free Book Online Page B

room when
she walked in and waited to be seated.  He came up behind her, surprising her
with a “good morning” spoken softly in her ear.  She gave a small jump and
turned to look at him.  How was it possible that he was more handsome today
than he was yesterday?  This morning he was dressed in red swimming trunks and
a white tee shirt.
    "Are we still on for this
morning?"  Here was her chance.
    "I wanted to talk to you about that,
Ben.  I’m sorry that my mother pushed for the invitation.  I would understand
perfectly if you had other plans for the day."  The dining room hostess came
over and Ben indicated two when she asked how many would be in their party. 
Anne was not sure if he just wanted to continue the conversation of if he
intended to go with her to Waldron Island.  But he took her arm and steered her
along to the table the hostess indicated.
    "I want to come with you,
Anne."  He picked up the conversation where it left off once the hostess
took their order for coffee.  "I’m looking forward to it, in fact.  So
stop worrying and enjoy your breakfast.  But I do have to be back no later than
two.  I have some business to attend to back here at the inn.  This is a
working vacation."
    "That won’t be a problem." 
The waitress came to take their order causing another pause in their
conversation.  Once she left, Anne continued "I have some business to
attend to as well.  Do you remember Captain Howardton?"
    "He used to run the charters out of
Eastsound out to the Boundary Pass.  What about him?"
    "He called last night after hearing
that I was here on the island and asked if I could take his two-thirty
charter.  It appears that the tour guide has a doctor appointment, and he needs
someone familiar with the area and the whales to act as guide."
    "And he naturally asked you.  I
haven’t seen him for twelve or thirteen years.  He must be ninety by
now."  Anne pictured the old man with the leathery skin who hired her as a
part-time guide back when she was little more than a kid.
    "He’s seventy one, I believe.  He
just looks much older."  They fell into a companionable silence as they
each became lost in their memories of the old man.  "You should see him
now.  He looks like Wilfred Brimley," Anne finally said to break the
silence.  The comparison to the actor made Ben laugh, and he quickly began
telling her stories of an old fishing captain he knew in Seattle who looked
like Robert Preston.  The stories soon loosened their tongues and they began
talking like old friends.  They both ate fast once their food arrived, and then
Ben led her down the path back to her parents’ house for a small bottle of
sunscreen she insisted they needed.
    An hour later they rowed onto the beach
on the northeastern side of Waldron Island.  North of Mail Bay, where they saw
several sea lions sunning on the rocks, the shoreline became shallow and a long
sandy beach greeted them.  The land behind the beach was covered in a thick
pine forest broken only by the small airstrip where private twin and single
engine planes could land.  The island was largely uninhabited except for about
100 permanent residents and vacationers who kept cabins along the shore and
further in on the grassy western side.  The island also was home to one of the
largest populations of bald eagles in North America, and Anne could see several
soaring high up in the sky as they pulled their kayaks ashore.  Once on the
beach, they pulled off their life jackets, required equipment for sea kayakers,
and sat down on the sand.
    They watched the small waves brush
against the beach for several minutes and talked about the island and how they
used to row over when they were younger.  Then Ben looked at his watch noting
the time and asked Anne if she wanted to hike on some of the trails.  Feeling
the need to stretch her legs, she did not hesitate to agree.  Knowing that
their gear was safe on the beach, they took off down the beach until they