Bernie, Bait, and the Big One
Eight o'clock found Bo and Nora decked in their fishing gear and squinting into the morning sun as they approached Charlie's Bait Shop at the pier. They were supposed to meet their guide at the shop so he could purchase live bait for their trip. Soon an older gentleman, tanned, with white hair and stubble, approached them.
"Ya'll wouldn't happen to be the Buchanans, would ya?" he asked in a gravelly voice looking at Bo.
"Yes, we are." Bo held out his hand. "I'm Bo Buchanan...and this is Nora."
"M'name's Bernie," the man said shaking both their hands. "I'm gonna be your fishing guide today. Glad ta meet ya. Looks like we're gonna have some good weather for fishin'," he said looking at the blue sky. "What exactly you folks wantin' to catch...got anything in mind?" he asked. "Seabass?, tuna?, marlin?…"
"Oh man…," Bo interrupted, "Is blue marlin really a possibility?"
"Sure it's a possibility, but not a guarantee, of course. Them marlin...they got a mind of their own," Bernie said, shaking his head and grinning. "I can take ya to 'em and teach ya how, but the rest is up to yer skill and lady luck. But...if it's a marlin yer after, let's go on in to the bait shop here and we'll get what yer needin' to snag ya a marlin."
Bo grinned at Nora as they followed Bernie into the shop. "Did you hear that, Red? We're fishing for marlin. I can't even believe this," he said like an excited schoolboy. "Wait til I tell Hank."
*****
After buying the needed bait and supplies, they boarded Bernie's fishing boat, the Genevieve, where Bernie introduced them to his crew.
"This is my son, Albert. Al will be driving our boat today. And this here is Gus,' he said indicating another crew member. "These here are the Buchanans, Bo and Norene…"
"Nora," she corrected, "Nice meeting you, Al...Gus..."
The men nodded and shook hands with both Bo and Nora before returning to their given jobs on deck.
It wasn't long before they were leaving the harbor for open seas. It would take a good forty-five minutes to reach their destination. Bernie spent the travel time explaining the art of marlin fishing to Bo and familiarizing him with the equipment. Nora took photos and video of the view, and was especially excited when she spotted a few dolphins.
"And that's about all I can tell ya about the fishin'...the rest you'll learn from experience. If yer lucky enough to snag one, the guys and I will do our best to help ya git 'im in the boat. They're feisty sons of bi…" he began, "oh, I beg yer pardon, Ma'am...I mean, they're feisty beasts…" She just smiled as Bernie continued telling Bo about the nature of the blue marlin.
Finally they reached their fishing destination fifty miles off the coast. Bernie told them their chances of seeing marlin were good since the fish use the Gulf Stream to migrate north as summer draws near. Bo got his rod and reel ready as Bernie had instructed and sat in the fighting chair to wait. Bernie went back to his work, wrapping up some rope on the boat's deck. Nora wandered about taking in the view...nothing but blue ocean as far as the eye could see. It made her feel very small.
Nora noticed the name Genevieve on the back and side of the boat and asked Bernie how the boat acquired her name.
"Named 'er after my wife," Bernie said.
Nora smiled. "That's so sweet! I'm sure your wife felt honored when you named your prized fishing boat after her. I would be. Does she ever come fishing with you?"
"Used to now and then. She learned to fish pretty well over the years. We were married sixty years when she passed on...just last fall it was that she died...had the cancer," Bernie said with a faraway look.
"I'm so sorry to hear that, Bernie," Nora responded quietly. "It must be hard to lose someone you've been with for sixty years…I can't even imagine," she said remembering the agony she went through when she and Bo parted after seven.
Bernie nodded solemnly, "The love of my life, she was." He nodded toward Bo who patiently watched his fishing lines. "How long you two been married?"
"Well, actually, we're not. We're getting married in a few weeks...June first."
"Oh how nice!" he said making conversation. "Known each other long?"
"Yes we have, Bernie, about…" Nora quickly calculated the years in her head, "eighteen years now," she said.
"Eighteen years! Ya mean to tell me you've been with this fella eighteen years and he's just now askin' to marry ya?! Ain't NO man worth that long a wait!"
Nora thought about telling him they had been married before and were getting remarried, but didn't want to explain the years between, so she didn't. Instead, she looked at Bo. The sea breeze whisking her hair and the glow in her eyes made her love for him evident in her face.
"This one is worth it," she said softly, glancing at the old man. "He's the love of my life, Bernie. You know what I mean, right?"
Bernie looked out over the blue then back at Nora. "Yes, I do...that's exactly how I felt about my Ginny," he answered softly.
*****
The morning went quickly and without much action on Bo's lines. Nora sat beside him and he baited and rigged a rod for her too. Then they waited...and watched...and waited some more as fishermen do.
They had sandwiches and beer that they had packed in a cooler for lunch which they graciously shared with Bernie, Gus, and Al who joined them for food and conversation. The men had a lifetime of fishing tales to share which were both exciting and entertaining.
As Bernie was relishing them with a tale of a swordfish, Bo's rod suddenly bent in half and the reel started spinning fast. Bernie jumped up.
"WHOA! LOOKS LIKE YA GOT ONE, MATE! SIT BACK NOW AND SNAP IN THAT ROD! HOLD FIRM! DON'T GIVE 'IM ANY SLACK!" Bernie shouted.
As Bernie was shouting, they saw a huge fish leap out of the water, then fall back in, thrashing with all it's might.
"YA GOTCHA A MARLIN ALRIGHT! REMEMBER EVERYTHING I TOLD YA NOW!," Bernie continued.
Bo sat back in the fighting chair and hooked the rod in tight. It took all the strength he had to hang on and also reel the catch in. The mighty marlin arced repeatedly over the waves trying to free itself. In the process it would pull the line and Bo would work hard once again to reel it back in.
"YA CAN'T LET UP!" Bernie yelled. "GOTTA KEEP A STEADY HOLD!"
Bo was beaded with sweat and straining with all his might to keep the fish from getting any slack on the line and to reel him closer to the boat. The marlin was not giving in without a hearty fight. Nora watched with wide eyes and mouth hanging open as she tried to videotape the moment.
The battle between Bo and fish raged for 45 minutes til the marlin was finally at the side of the boat. With little fight left in him, the mighty marlin sank under the surface. Bernie and the guys each used fishing gaffs to lift the massive fish into the boat. There were cheers and high fives, hearty slaps on the back, laughter and congratulations all around. Nora caught it all on video for Bo.
Finally he turned to face her wearing the biggest smile. "Come here, Red!" he shouted motioning with his arms. She immediately went to him, wrapping her arms around him as he pulled her close.
"Look at that beast!" he said, grinning ear-to-ear. "I'm going to get it mounted and hang it right in the living room!"
"Uh...well...we'll decide where to put him later...okay? We'll talk about it...later…"
The crew laughed at Nora's reaction, but assured Bo it was typical.
"Well," Bernie said, beaming, "ya gonna try for another one?"
"Uh...no, Bernie. I don't think so. This one wore me out. I'm done for the day," replied Bo. "Let's get back to the docks and have him weighed and measured."
"Okay, then. You heard the man, Al...let's head back to shore."
*****
"How's that feel?" Nora asked quietly.
"Mmmmm..." Bo murmured, "amazing…"
They were back at the cottage, showered, and in bed, Nora straddling Bo's back massaging him with hot oils. She ran her hands over his shoulders, triceps, shoulder blades, then the base of his neck and down his back and sides. Her fingertips were magic and the oils so soothing. Bo found himself fighting sleep.
She oiled her hands again and continued. The slick, hot oil worked it's magic easing the aches and pains away. Her fingers felt so good upon him...if he wasn't so exhausted…
She finished and, still straddling his back, laid her upper body upon him resting her head on his shoulder. "You awake?" she whispered near his ear.
"Barely," he whispered back. "Know what?..." he murmured sleepily.
Nora smiled and brushed his hair gently off his forehead. "What?" she questioned softly.
"I love you, Red…" he whispered.
"I love you too…"
"If I wasn't so sore and tired…"
"I know…it's alright. But you owe me a back rub, Mister. Deal?"
Bo grinned. "You got it. Looking...forward to it…" he murmured.
She nuzzled her face near his and whispered, "Can we at least seal the deal with a kiss, or... are you too sore for kissing?"
"Not...too...sore…" He puckered slightly. She leaned close and kissed him gently.
"Goodnight sweetheart."
But Bo never answered...he was already out for the night…
Coming Up - Did You Say Ghosts?
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