Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 (C) Copyright 2003.  M.C. All Rights Reserved. All Reproduction for fee or
profit forbidden.

   Copies of my stories can be downloaded from:
</files/Authors/MikeC/>

   What do you think of the story? Send comments and suggestions to
MikeC@NSpace.net



   =============

   Sara & Sherri

   This short story is based on the characters from my series 'James' and
runs parallel to the main story, at approxiately the same time frame as
chapter 70.



   "Thank you for all the things you've done!  You must come see us again,
soon!" Dave smiled and held Sherri's hands.

   "Oh, have no fear!" She smiled, then leaned and kissed him on the mouth.

   Sara was saying goodbye to Janet, and, at her stiffened pose, whispered,
"You know he loves you, don't you?" She turned Janet's face to Dave,
"Whenever you have doubts, look in his eyes, they never lie."

   Sighing, Janet reached and stroked Dave's whiskers, "I know...  I've
been by myself too long.  I need time to adjust."

   "Start by saying 'we' instead of 'me'." Sherri smiled, "The rest gets
easier..." She kissed Janet on her cheek, "Dave's very unique." She grinned
impishly at him, "Truly a species apart..." Then to Janet, "Well worth the
trouble to protect...  and to, uhmm, propagate."

   "Oh my God!" Janet said softly, then started giggling, "I can see it
now! A whole litter of miniature Daves, ragged shirts, torn pants...  and
hair all over their faces!" She stopped suddenly, covered her mouth and
blushed scarlet.

   "And calling you Mom?" Dave said quietly.

   Janet pulled back to hit him, but stopped and touched his face instead.
She looked deeply in his eyes, and in a barely audible voice, breathed,
"Maybe..."

   "Ah, love..." Sherri leaned on Sara and watched as Janet, after a smile
of gratitude, went with Dave upstairs, to their home.

   "Yeah..." Sara sighed, then turned to Lucy, "You'll keep an eye on them,
and let us know..."

   "No problem, now that Salty's gonna give me music lessons!" Lucy hugged
Sara, "But you WILL come back, right?"

   "Of course!" Sara smiled as they turned back to the Marina, "I think
we'll be very busy for the next little while though, but I promise we will
be back."

   "Please!" Lucy implored, "Mom's threatening to send me away to boarding
school next year, so I won't be able to see you!" She hugged them, almost
in tears, "And HE's to blame!" She pointed at a beaming Al who had come up
to greet them.

   "What've I done this time?" He inquired.

   "Mom's sending me to boarding school and you never said anything!"

   "That's not true!" AL protested, "But you know Mom!  Once she gets her
mind set..."

   "Yeah..." Lucy frowned, "But..."

   "Look, honeybunch, I-I'll talk with her again." He said quietly, "But
you've got to promise me to stick to your lessons." He broke out in a grin
as Lucy rolled her eyes and stuck a finger down her throat.  "AND you have
to wear a dress one day each week!"

   "One WHOLE day?" Lucy stared at him incredulously, "Why can't you just
beat me black and blue instead, like OTHER parents?" The 'normal' was not
said but strongly implied.  She turned to the girls, "But PLEASE come back
soon!  His Honor the Mayor is a total wuss when it comes to his wife, and I
may still end up at the Parochial School for Wayward Girls." She gripped
their hands earnestly.

   "Yes, DO come back!" Al smiled, "I have never enjoyed myself quite as
much as I did this weekend!" He gestured broadly, "My town is YOUR town -
to you, and the entire James Gang!  And I should make you aware that as
part of the on-going contracts I have with your organization, I am legally
obligated to provide you with suitable accommodations." Glancing across to
the condo they had been staying at, he handed them a package, "For
JulieAnn...  The keys are inside, along with the 12 month lease."

   "Thank you Al, you've made our stay here really special - we'll make
sure Jules get this." Sara smiled.

   "And I would further suggest that it would be a darn shame to leave the
condo empty for prolonged periods of time." He paused, "Are you sure we
can't convince you to stay another evening?"

   "'Fraid not," Sherri smiled, her arm around a dejected Lucy, "We have a
lot of work waiting for us.  But don't forget you're invited next weekend
to the Grand Opening!"

   "We'll be there, won't we, Dad?" Lucy cried.  Al smiled and nodded.

   "I'm afraid the accommodations may not be quite up to your standards!"
Sara laughed as they exchanged hugs.  After a quick visual of the boat they
headed out, waving to the Jeffrays and the small crowd who had stayed to
see them off.

   "Nice place - and I don't mind living here!" Sherri sighed.

   "By yourself?" Sara asked as she navigated out of the channel.

   "Hmm, maybe with some close friends..." Sherri hugged Sara from behind.

   "Ditto, love, I would go anywhere with you!"

   "Great, let's detour past Treasure Island.  I want to say goodbye..."

   "I thought there was a reason why you wanted to leave now instead of
tomorrow!" Laughed Sara.

   "I was thinking how nice it would be to watch the sun set from there...
with you." Sherri sighed.  "Do you mind?  It will mean sailing in the
dark."

   "We should be fine.  We have GPS to take us up the river...  Or," Sara
caressed her friend's face, "We could always spend the night on the
boat..."

   "Ohhh!  That would be nice too!" Sherri paused, "But food..."

   "You're getting as bad as James!" Laughed Sara, "We'll have no problem
catching our dinner.  Although, knowing Al..."

   "Right!" Sherri dashed down into the cabin and sure enough it was packed
with drinks, snacks and another of his famous palmetto-smoked mackerels.

   When Sherri returned with drinks and sandwiches, Sara had already passed
the warning markers and was slowly navigating the narrow sound, "You never
told me how you found your way into the bay the first time."

   "Well, I didn't have Al's map, so it never occurred to me that it was
'impassable', so I just went with the depth-sounder.  I knew not to trust
my eyes too much." She pointed ahead, "The refraction of the water makes
everything look closer to the surface.  I WAS a little concerned about the
'wing', but it wasn't as deep as the transmission unit, even in shallow
mode.  In any case I was ready to stop if the depth showed less than six
feet."

   On the rising tide, they had no problem maneuvering their craft in the
lee of the bay.  Shoes off, they jumped down the thin crescent of sand that
remained.  Hand in hand they crossed the gentle hillocks to face the
desolate wind-blown vista.



   "Into a desert strangely strange.

   Is wide, is broad,

   Unmeasured road;

   The desert has

   Nor time nor space." Sherri intoned.



   Together they ran along the salt-hardened shore, laughing in abandon as
they splashed in the advancing tide until finally, they fell at water's
edge, panting and giggling.

   The drooping sun cast long shadows and turned their faces ruddy, their
eyes glowed with life, and laughter, and need.

   Sara hugged Sherri tight by her side, murmuring, "What a place!  What a
view!"

   "Yeah," Sherri leaned their heads together, "Eternal and Terrible in
Beauty, as Emerson calls it..." Their lips met in gentle surrender.

   "Hmmm, honey, we're sitting in water."

   "I feel it too - I thought I was just wet for you!" Sherri laughed.

   "C'mon, let's get back to the boat - I want to get out of these
clothes." She led the way up the dunes until Sherri stopped her.

   "Sara..." They had subconsciously returned to the spot where they had
spent their nights.  Though the tide and wind had erased all signs of their
previous visits there lingered a warmth, a longing fueled by the love and
joy they had shared.

   They kissed, gently, lovingly, their tongues touched, also softly. 
Hands reached, caressed, like the breeze across their skin.  Clothing
melted, their flesh warmed and goldened by the last rays of the sun.  Their
moans and cries of love sailed across the waves and gave witness to their
joy.

   = = =

   As the sun sank low, Sara tugged her friend off the soft sand, "We have
to go..."

   "I know," Sherri sighed, "Our beautiful little island..."

   After a quick shower they weighed anchor and sailed slowly away,
watching the wave battered island disappear into the sunset.



   "Sad deserted shore

   Your fickle friends are leaving,

   Oh but then you know

   It was time for them go..." Sherri sang softly.



   "We'll come back, and we'll bring everybody next time."

   "Wouldn't that be something?" Sherri's eyes glowed, "And maybe we can
stay longer." She leaned her head on Sara's shoulder, "And we can sing, and
dance, and laugh, and love..."

   "...and eat." Sara supplied.

   "Oh yes, without a doubt." Sherri laughed.

   "Hmmm, on the subject of food, why don't we go visit Frank - we'll be
needing gas and his restaurant is right by the marina."

   "Whatever you say..." Sherri nestled closer to Sara's warm body, "I'm in
your hands."

   "You've already demonstrated that!" Sara leaned over for a kiss.  "But
we'll have to hustle to get there before 9." She mulled at the gages,
"We're getting an 11 mph assist from the current, which means..." She
fiddled a bit with the throttle and trim, then with a satisfied tone,
"We'll get there at 8:22, give or take 5 minutes, with 12 gallons of fuel
left over.  Or we can shave 21 minutes off if we arrive dry."

   "No - I think I'd like a bit of insurance." Sherri said slowly,
"Although you know we're wasting the space in the old tank now that James
has moved the fuel to the bladders further aft."

   "Yeah, with another 65 gallons, we could almost double our range...  But
how will it affect the stability?"

   "The wing will keep the secondary aeration point further ahead, so,
offhand, I'm sure we can adjust for it." She paused, "But hey, can I treat
my sweetie to dinner?  Nicole included a Credit Card with her package - I
CAN use it, can't I?"

   "It's a big yes to both!" Sara grinned, "Bear in mind that that card has
a limit so high James bought Nicole's car with one!"

   "Oh, I'd better keep it safe then!"

   "Sherri..." Sara leaned her head on Sherri's shoulder, "As your date, am
I supposed to put out...?"

   "Oh, that's a big, unqualified YES!" Grinned Sherri, "Before, during and
after!"

   "In that case," Sara twisted a knob and flicked the 'Auto-pilot' switch,
"Let's not waste any time on the 'Before' then!" She took Sherri's hand and
led her down into the cabin.

   = = =

   They tied up and Sara gestured to the marina help, "Could you fill her
up?  We'll be having a bite at Franks, just bring the bill to us there."
She gave him a big smile, turned, and, with an arm around Sherri's waist,
took her in the restaurant.

   Both girls were dressed in sand jeans and plain T's but their shining
eyes coupled with faces flush with life and vitality were impossible to
ignore.

   "Saludos, Señorinas!" Frank hurried up as Sara gave him a wave and a big
smile.  "It has been a while!"

   "And this is my friend Sherri.  Sherri, Frank." Sara made the
introductions.

   "Ah my pleasure!" He responded warmly, leading them to a small table.

   "Frank's been very nice to us - he bailed us out when we were hounded by
the paparazzi last time."

   "Ah, that was nothing.  And what is happening with your picture?  Is it
finished?" Frank inquired.

   "You know about her picture too?" Sherri said, impressed, "You ARE
famous, honey!"

   "No, that's not it!" Sara laughed, "When we were here last time, with
Amanda and...  HIM, someone on the radio announced that we were making a
movie upstate.  Hence the photographers!"

   "Oh!" Sherri joined her in laughter, and said to Frank, "My mistake!  I
thought you were talking about her being the centerfold on International
Powercraft!"

   "Ah, but that is most impressive!  You will be seen around the world!"
Frank nodded, "Perhaps I can get a copy of that picture?"

   "Oh, no problem!" Sherri smiled, standing, "Order for me and I'll go get
you one!" Ignoring Sara's frantic looks, she rushed outside.

   They had just decided on Chateaubriand for two when Sherri returned,
holding a copy of Sara's glossies in front of her.  "Ta-da!" She called
out, as if the entire restaurant was not already paying them enough
attention.

   "Honey, stop it!" Sara rolled her eyes in exasperation.

   "Ah, señorina," Frank held out a pen, "If you can do me this favor!"

   "That would be my pleasure!" Sara wrote 'To Frank, with my Warmest
Wishes' and signed with a flourish.

   Frank disappeared for a moment and returned with the picture in a frame,
which he solemnly and carefully mounted on the wall.

   "Honey, you're up there with Mel!"

   "I'm sure he isn't all that thrilled to be 'up there' with me!" Laughed
Sara.

   "You'll never know!  One day he just might be!"

   Frank reappeared with a bottle of wine, "Compliments of the house. 
American, not French..." He said as he filled their glasses, "Please enjoy
while I prepare the Chateaubriand." He wheeled out a cart with an alcohol
stove and copper utensils.

   "Talking about things French," Sherri said, after a toast, "The dish was
named for a French Count during Louis Fourteen's reign.  He was asked to go
to battle for France, so instead he 'volunteered' to explore the Americas
for France.  He stayed for a few years and sent back fantastic stories of
the 'Nouveau Monde' - which he had plagiarized from other explorers since
all he did was hide out in New York.

   "He returned home when Napoleon came into power and cut off his funds,
then somehow managed to wangle an ambassadorship to Rome.  Then when
Napoleon was facing defeat, he decided he was, after all, anti-Bonaparte
and re-sided with the Bourbons.

   "For this 'loyalty', he was knighted and appointed as ambassador to
London, where he was able to sit out the French Revolution, when most of
his friends lost their heads.  Then, apparently unable to convince anyone
of his new-found fervor for the Republique, he change profession and
published a couple of mushy romance novels." Sherri took a breath and
looked at Sara.

   "Monsieur Vicomte Francois de Ch teaubriand is celebrated today as one
of the most important French authors and a renowned Statesman to boot."
Sherri took a sip of her wine, "Maybe that's why the only war they ever won
was when they fought against themselves!"

   "Probably!" Sara laughed, "But they sure know their food!"

   They turned as Frank proudly showed them the steak, 2" thick and
delicately marbled.  "Tenderloin.  Rib-side center cut." Frank announced,
"Aged in a lemon grass-vinaigrette.  And every night I lovingly massage
it..." He laughed, "Not really, but it's probably the best you can get
anywhere." He dusted the meat with salt and a little pepper.

   "Are you preparing the Béarnaise here?  From scratch?" Sara asked.

   "Ah, you know your food!" Frank smiled, "Yes, it will be prepared fresh.
The sauce is not that hard to do, but juggling it with the steak on a
single burner is the real challenge." As he was explaining, Frank mixed the
ingredients for the Sauce Béarnaise in a copper gravy boat, which he placed
inside the pan in which the steak was being seared.  "You must have thin
copper pans to do this, steel would not have worked." He explained.

   "Must have something to do with conduction." Sherri observed.  "Doesn't
that mean that silver would be better?"

   "I think so, although the extra 8% might not make as much of a
difference." Sara nodded.

   "Even so, I'm certain the cost would be a big factor." Frank laughed. 
He turned the steak on its side to brown the edges, just as the sauce came
to a slow sizzle.  Frank slowly added whipped egg yolks, whisking gently.

   "Just to prevent curdling, but not enough to foam." Sara observed.

   "Very good!" Frank smiled and turned the steak on its remaining uncooked
side.  Still stirring gently with his other hand, he melted slivers of
butter into the golden sauce.

   "Medium rare, correct?" Frank waited for confirmation and sliced the
steak in the pan before dividing the meat and the sauce between the girls.

   "Mmmmm, exquisite." Sara sighed at her first bite, "Just the right
balance of spiciness and smoothness." She smiled at Frank, "Thank you."

   "It's an honor to cook for someone who appreciates good food and good
cooking.  Please, enjoy your meal." Frank refilled their glasses and left
with a bow.

   "Mmmm, you're right, this is delicious." Sherri commented before digging
into her meal in earnest.

   A number of other patrons had gone over to the wall to look at Sara's
picture but Frank had a few quiet words with them and, other than polite
nods and a few raised glasses, they left the girls to enjoy their meal.

   "Do you want to stay here overnight?" Sara asked as they started into
the fresh fruit bowl they ordered for desert.

   "No, I'd like to go back to the Lake, if I could."

   "It's not a problem to back-track with the GPS, but you know there's a
chance the lock would be closed?"

   "Still..." Sherri took a hand, "If you don't mind..."

   "No, I don't mind," Sara smiled, turning to ask for the check.

   "Oh, let me!" Sherri scrambled to wave Frank over and handed him her
credit card.  "I'm sorry Frank, my first was with the gas.  You're my
second time."

   At Frank's quizzical look, Sara laughed, "She meant she was going to
break her credit card in here, but had to pay for our gas instead."

   "Yeah, he was just coming in, so I paid him.  I hope I did OK." Sherri
said after Frank turned away, laughing, "There was a box for 'tips', is 15%
enough?"

   "You tipped for the gas?" Sara asked, "It must've come to, what, 30
bucks?"

   "$34.20" Sherri corrected her.

   "Well, I hope he washed our windshield for that kind of money!"

   The windshields were indeed cleaned, as were most of the outside
surfaces.  "We also topped up your water and pumped out the head," The boy
added when the girls thanked him, "Da said it was only fair for the tip you
gave."

   A few stars could already be seen in the quickly descending gloom. 
Along the shores the city lights came on and cheered them on their way.

   Most of the estate mansions were brightly lit, with parties going on at
some of them, while at others their owners were out on the lawns or their
large floating pavilions to enjoy the evening's calm and refreshing cool.

   Further up, the mist descended and, although the GPS could unerringly
return them back to their starting point, Sherri left Sara's warm embrace
to sit at the bow with the spotlight to watch for floating obstacles.

   They were just rounding a bend when they were greeted with a loud
grunting "Rrrolff!" followed by a splash.

   "What was that?" Sherri hissed.

   "Er, I'm not sure..."

   "Sara...  How high can crocodiles jump?"

   "Five, six feet?"

   "How high is the bow?"

   "Four feet."

   Sherri said nothing but she pulled her feet in, then, after clamping the
light down she gingerly made her way back.

   "I've decided to come and protect you." She said as she wrapped her arms
and legs around Sara.

   "I'm sure..." Sara laughed, turning to fit her legs up under Sherri so
that their two bodies formed an amorphous, squirming mass on the wide
captains chair.

   "Maybe if we played some loud music?" Sherri said between nibbles on
Sara's ear.

   "It'll probably make them mad."

   "Hmmm, true...  I like how your nipples stand up when you're scared."

   "You must be terrified then..."

   There was a brief silence interspersed with soft gasps and squishing
sounds.  "I heard that crocodiles are very sensitive to pheromones."

   "Oh, OK, I'll try not to moan so loud."

   Sara laughed and licked a finger, "I'll bet we have all the old bachelor
crocs following us for miles!"

   "You know it's 64 degrees out..."

   "And they go torpid at 68?"

   "Oh, they go to sleep and then they get an erection?"

   "That's turgid!  First turgid, THEN torpid!"

   "And in between?"

   "Something like this..."

   "Ooooh!" Was all Sherri said.  A long pause.  Then, very faintly, "That
was t'rific!"

   "And tender?"

   "Mmmm, yes...  I love you." Sherri leaned her head back and kissed Sara.
"Hold me." She whispered.

   = = =

   As Sara had feared, the lock was closed for the night and so they tied
up by the Rangers Station.  Declining offers to 'bunk' with them but
accepting their invitation for breakfast, Sara and Sherri tidied up and
slipped into the boat's little cubby bed.

   It had been a long tiring day, and they would probably have to put up
with the boys' ribald, good-natured teasing tomorrow, but they were happy
and content as Sherri reached for the light.  All was good.

   They were home again.





   =============

   (C) Copyright 2003.  M.C. All Rights Reserved. All Reproduction for fee
or profit forbidden.

   Copies of my stories can be downloaded from:
</files/Authors/MikeC/>

   What do you think of the story? Send comments and suggestions to
MikeC@NSpace.net