“Okay, you got me. I brewed this tea last night on the stove. You want some or not?”

  Chastity’s hand set a glass on the floor of the porch.

  “Maybe a little.”

  Matt stood before he picked up the tea.

  Chastity disappeared as he approached her glass.

  He bent over to pour the tea.

  “Say when.”

  “Stop. Now go away.”

  Matt smiled as he returned to his chair and set the tea jar down.

  “Why don’t you come out and enjoy the breeze?”

  Chastity stepped onto the porch, picked up her glass of tea. She pulled the other rocker away from Matt before she sat. She brooded.

  Matt rocked a few more minutes, then stood and took a step toward Chastity.

  She brandished her knife.

  He stopped.

  “Time’s up. If you will allow me to scoot past you, I’ll go check the shower… Care to join me?”

  “No!”

  Chastity rocked back in her chair. She hid behind her tea glass, furtively eyeing his equipment.

  Matt, tool belt in hand, walked past her and into the bungalow.

  A few minute later, Matt exited wearing his tool belt and walked back to his chair.

  “Okay. It’s running free now. I put a screen on the drain so your hair won’t clog it again.”

  Chastity just looked at him as he picked up the tea jug.

  “Hope you enjoyed the tea.”

  “Yes. Thank you.”

  “So, how long you planning on staying?”

  “I don’t know. A while.”

  “First time at the resort, huh?”

  Chastity blushed.

  “Well, don’t stay cooped up inside we’ve got a trail guide who’ll take you into the interior. But you’ll need real boots. Give it some thought.”

  Matt hesitated a moment before he continued, “Look. I don’t mean to be forward, but you are a beautiful woman… If God made mankind in his own likeness, then being naked is a natural state. Or were you born in a dress?”

  Chastity shook her head.

  Matt smiled. “Okay, then. Let me know when you’re ready to explore the trails.”

  He raised the tea jug as he left, “Bye.”

  Chastity smiled a sly smile as the screen door slammed shut.

  ~~~

  Chapter 18

  Chastity hesitated before stepped onto Nina’s porch. She walked to the door and, with her hand poised to knock, she froze.

  What the hell am I doing?

  The door opened and Nina, nude, smiled at her.

  “Come on in.”

  “No. I, ah… “

  “Yes?”

  “Will you help me buy some new clothes?”

  Nina cracked a big smile. “You don’t need clothes here. All you really need is a good sunscreen.”

  Chastity, downcast, turned to walk away.

  “Wait!”

  Chastity stopped.

  “What are you looking for?” Nina asked.

  “I… I’ve never bought anything before.”

  Nina was astonished. “Are you serious?”

  Chastity looked at the ground and nodded.

  “Well, then. We are going to have to rectify that, aren’t we?”

  Chastity brightened.

  “Oh, thank you,” she said.

  “Shall we start with jewelry? You know, necklaces, earrings… shoes.”

  “No. I… I need some boots.”

  “No problem. The trails here are beautiful. And the sports center will have everything you need. You wait right here. Only be a minute.”

  Nina disappeared into the house for a moment and returned with her ID around her neck.

  “Ready?”

  Chastity nodded with enthusium.

  “Alright then, let’s go spend some money!”

  Chastity bounceed excitedly toward the screen door.

  ~~~

  Chapter 19

  Early the next morning Matt walked into the shed, turned on the overhead lights and opened the windows.

  He walked to the workbench and powered up his tablet.

  An email sound dinged

  Matt sat and activated his email client.

  To: M.Kirkpatrick

  From: J.Ridgeway

  Subject: CONFIDENTIAL A.Malachuk

  DNA Positive. Subject is Annabel Malachuk. Credit Uunlimited. Keep her close.”

  Matt sighed as he ran his fingers through his hair.

  “So it is her. Okay, Matt. Do you tell her now or later?,” he wondered to himself.

  ~~~

  Chapter 20

  Nina pulled the door open to the sports center clothing store and allowed Chastity to enter first.

  Chastity was stunned by the diversity and amount of clothing available.

  “So, boots. What size?

  “I have no idea. Cousin Pru just… I don’t know.”

  “Well, sit down and take it easy.”

  Nina whistled a loud shriek. “A little help here.”

  Ten minutes later, Chastity was wearing her new hiking boots and the women were off to the clothing department where Chastity found several lightweight blouses and heavy duck shorts.

  “If this is a nudist resort,” Chastity asked, “why do they sell clothing?”

  Nina laughed. “The obvious answer is ‘to make money’. In reality it is because everything here is duty free and they provide free shipping back to the States.”

  Nina pulled Chastity toward a rack for a swimsuit.

  “Come on. This is your chance to be adventurous. Try this hot pink bikini.”

  “I can’t wear that.”

  “Why not? Just go try it on. You don’t even have to come out of the dressing room.”

  Reluctantly Chastity took the scraps of cloth into the back.

  A couple minutes later, Chastity walked back wearing the bikini.

  “I can’t wear this. It’s indecent.”

  Nina smiled. “Nothing to worry about. All you need is a Brazilian.

  Shocked, Chastity answered, “No. No way. I want my first time to be with an American.”

  “Matt?”

  Chastity blushed.

  And Nina erupted in laughter.

  Nina and Chastity, in her new hiking outfit, wandered past the jewelry counter to try on necklaces, earrings, bracelets and bangles. Chastity was fascinated by a finely crafted the cloisonne set in 18k gold seashell necklace and earrings set, but couldn’t see her way to spending two thousand dollars, no matter how pretty they were.

  So Nina took her to the beauty salon.

  Nina called the esthetician over. “My friend wants a complete makeover and a Brazilian.”

  Chastity nearly ran from the shop when she discovered what Nina had proposed.

  Two hours later, Nina and Chastity walk out of the sport center with their hands full of packages.

  ~~~

  Chapter 21

  Rhonda was frustrated as she sat behind her desk. She wasn’t used to rejection and she couldn’t believe Matt was too dense to pick up on the obvious mating signals she had been displaying. So, she picked up the phone and dialed Maintenance.

  Matt answered on the second ring. ‘”Maintenance.”

  “Matt. I want to thank you for getting the gun range ready and I think you deserve a drink for your efforts.”

  “That’s not necessary. I enjoyed it.”

  “Still, we haven’t had a lot of time to get to know one another. Will tonight, say 6:30, be convenient?”

  “Alright, but it will depend on my workload.”

  “You were a Marine. So pretend you’ve just received an invitation to your commanding officer’s home.

  Matt shook his head. He had no intention of getting involved with Rhonda, no matter how she phrasedit.

  “If I get hung up, I will give you a call.”

  He disconnected the phone call abruptly.

  Rhonda was angry, frustrated. She had never worked so hard to get a man or woman into bed.

  Well. That’s going to change tonight,” she thought to her self. One way or another I’m going to be riding atop that cowboy come morning.

  ~~~

  Chapter 22

  Alice Lemons, a young female trail guide dressed in shorts, a B.E.R. golf shirt and hiking boots, clapped her hands to gain the attention of half a dozen ‘adventurers’.

  “Alright. Listen up. For your own safety,” she paused a second before she continued in a conspiratorial voice, “and to keep me from being fired.

  “Please don’t stray from the marked trail. Last year we had a couple sneak off for a little jungle love and they were found in the loving embrace of an anaconda.”

  There were several concerned whispers among the guests as Matt and Chastity join a group.

  “Now, just to give you a preview, we will see several families of monkeys,” Alice continued. “DO NOT toss them food or fruit. We have enough of them running around the resort raiding the dumpsters behind the cantina.

  “I will do my best to point out and identify the various tropical birds we encounter, and the most common is the ever popular howshouldiknow.”

  As expected, that got a huge laugh from the people who hadn’t been on the tour before.

  “Alright. If everyone’s ready, and you’ve all got a water we can get started.”

  It was a well manicured path under a 100 foot tall canopy of tree branches and leaves that led into the interior of the island. And, as predicted, they saw monkeys, birds of every color and description from tiny hummingbirds and scarlet ibis to flamingos and parrots.

  A little more than half way through the tour Matt spied an overgrown trace leading away from guided trail. He stopped Chastity with a hand and, as the troop disappeared around a bend, he stepped off the trail.

  “Where are we going?” Chastity asked hesitantly.

  “I have no idea, but I can’t very well do a complete survey of the island without finding out where this path leads.

  Ten minutes later, the trail took an unexpected rise of about 100 feet, and then dropped down onto a beautiful white sand beach. In the distance, on the other side of the bay they could see what appeared to be a boarded up abandoned mine shaft.

  “What do you think it is?

  “I have no idea,” Matt answered. “But it’s not something I want to look into without proper equipment.

  “I wonder what other hidden treasures this island holds?”

  “Don’t know, yet. But I will no doubt find out before my contract’s up.”

  ~~~

  Chapter 23

  Rhonda sat at the bar of the resort’s cantina, a small bowl of chewed lemon wedges rested by her left hand. She was pissed. It was 8:30 and Matt was two and a half hours late for their date.

  Rhonda rapped the empty shot glass on the bar and mumbled to the barkeep, “Another.”

  He had just filled her glass as Matt walked into the cantina. He took the stool next to Rhonda.

  She looks at him with fire in her eyes.

  “You’re late. Been busy with the little twat who refuses to take her clothes off?”

  Matt shook his head.

  “No. Finishing up on some paperwork.”

  “Bullshit. I saw the two of you. You didn’t get back from the jungle tour until long after Alice. I told you to stay away from the guests. If you can’t do that, I’ll have your ass sent back to the mainland.

  “Check the maintenance log on your computer, if you like. I was in the shed pounding in the work schedules for the rest of the week.”

  Rhonda throws another shot back. She raises her shot glass to signal for another.

  Determined to work her magic on Matt, she turned civilized and asked“Whatcha drinking?”

  “Nothing. I’ve got a busy day tomorrow and I really don’t feel like fighting a hangover.”

  Matt stood and Rhonda grabbed his arm.

  “Where the fuck ya think you’re goin’?”

  Matt shook his arm free.

  “To bed. Alone. Good night.”

  Matt turned on his heel and walked out of the cantina.

  Rhonda was fuming. She nods at the barkeep for another shot and looked toward the door through which Matt made his exit.

  “Fuckin’ prick.”

  ~~~

  Chapter 24

  It was just after midnight when Matt is awakened by drunken Rhonda slipping into his bed.

  “I thought I locked the door.”

  “You did,” Rhonda slurred.

  “Then how…?”

  Rhonda giggled as she answered, “Master key.”

  Rhonda savagely raked her fingernails over Matt’s chest.

  “I think you’d better leave.”

  Rhonda’s sing-song, “I don’t think so.” was all he could take.

  Matt climbed out of bed. He wrapped his top sheet around Rhonda and picked her off the bed.

  She encircled his neck with her arms and pressed her head against his chest.

  “Where we going?”

  Matt answered with a single angry word, “Out.”

  Matt opened his door and, holding the sheet, dumpped Rhonda into the hallway. She landed with a thud.

  “Good night, Rhonda.”

  Matt threw the door shut and blocked it with a chair.

  Rhonda screamed, “You’ll regret this, Mister.”

  “Go home and sleep it off. You’ll feel better tomorrow.”

  Matt listened to the angry cursing and pounding footsteps could be heard as Rhonda left.

  ~~~

  Chapter 25

  The next morning, Matt was summoned to Rhonda’s office. He leaned against the doorjamb and grinned hoping she will ignore the night before.

  “You wanted to see me?”

  Rhonda’s rage and embarrassment was barely controlled.

  “You think it’s funny?”

  Matt’s smile faded. He knew there would be trouble but held on to the possibility he would be forgiven.

  “Not really.”

  Rhonda was boiling. “You think you’re something special? Hot blooded Marine and all? I got news for you, shithead. I get what I want when I want it. Understand?”

  “I was tired and I did tell you last night I was going to bed alone.”

  Rhonda slapped the palm of her hand on her desk.

  “I don’t give a shit about your sleeping arrangements unless it affects Bare Essential Resorts!

  “And how does my tossing you out of my bed…

  Rhonda rocketed out of her chair. She screamed at the top of her lungs, “That does it! You’re fired! I’m sending you back to the mainland on the next plane.”

  Matt, calm as ever asked, “You can fire me, if you like, but, as a resort guest, won’t that give me more time to spend with your guests?”

  Confident in her arrogance, Rhonda said, “A piss ant like you can’t afford it here.”

  Matt smiled, “You have no idea what I can and can’t afford. I only took this job as a favor to a friend… If you really want to get into a pissing contest, have at it. But you will lose.”

  Rhonda, screamed, “Get out!”

  Matt inquired, with a touch of sarcasm, “So. I’m not fired?”

  Rhonda screeched, “Get out!”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Matt answered politely as he straightened up, and walked out of the building.

  ~~~

  Chapter 26

  It was just pushing ten o’clock as Matt set his tablet on the work bench. He quickly opened his email client and typed a request to his boss, Doug Benedict.

  To D. Benedict,

  From: M.Kirkpatrick,

  Subject: Rhonda Lightner

  Please open investigation into Rhonda Lightner. Something’s fishy.

  I was threatened with termination today because I refused to sleep with her.

  Could open B.E.R. to major sexual misconduct liability.

  “Knock. Knock.”

  Matt pressed the send button and turned to find Chastity at his door.

  She was dressed in white shorts, a loose fitting tropical print blouse, thick socks and boots and a red bandanna tied at her neck.

  She stepped into the shed.

  “Any chance we can go explore that mine shaft today?”

  Matt smiled.

  “Sure. Just let me get dressed. I’ll meet you at the trail head in five minutes.”

  Chastity grins as she ogles him.

  “Okay. See you there.”

  She turned and ran off to the trail head.

  Matt picked up his tablet, slipped it, a large million watt flashlight, a couple canteens and fruit into his backpack before he locked the shed.

  ~~~

  It was nearing noon when Matt and Chastity burst out of the jungle. Across a stretch of sand 50 yards from the edge of a small bay they could see the sealed entrance to the mine.

  “Sure you want to go in. It could be dangerous. Snakes, spiders and other horrible creepy crawlies…”

  Chastity laughed. “If you think it’s alright. I’ve never done anything like this before.”

  “Well, I’ve got to check it out anyway and file a report. Might as well keep you company.”

  Chastity bounced up and down, clapped her hands a few times and raced across the sand.

  Matt called after her, “Slow down. I don’t wanna have to carry you home.”

  And she yelled back at him, “Why not?”

  ~~~

  Chapter 27

  Matt set his backpack down and extracted the flashlight. He turned it on and pointed it down the shaft. Ten yards into the shaft, the light revealed what appeared to be a blast door.

  Matt, surprised, uttered a simple, “What the hell?”

  Chastity, puzzled by his response, asked, “What is that?”

  “More importantly, why is it here? And what’s behind it?”

  Matt shined the light around the cave walls as he searched for booby traps and surveillance cameras. He found none in evidence.

  “Here, hold the light. I’m going to take a closer look,” Matt said as he passed the light to Chastity.

  “I want to come with you.”

  “I will need you to go get help if something happens, okay? So you sit tight.”

 

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