Beachcombing

Chapter 7 So The Chase Begins

Mercy stood on the end of the ferry watching Bam's silhouette disappear in the distance. She already regretted having planned such an extensive trip through Alaska. It was just her poor luck to meet such an interesting personality just as she was beginning her research project but the idea of a chase across Alaska was a fun compromise. She just hoped he would be an eager player.

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Bam settled into his bunk and felt the paper in his pocket crinkle. He had almost forgotten about the letter with all the haste to get the Integrity loaded for a delivery the next day. He unsealed the envelope revealing  beautiful cursive handwriting. He could immediately see the teacher-like quality in each stroke and loop of her script.

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Joshua,

Let me thank you again for rescuing me and treating me to lunch. I'm glad I agreed to it even if you did blackmail me and stalk me all on one day.

Bam chuckled to himself picturing
her stuck in the mud desperately looking for a solution to her dilemma. Yes, he was guilty of stalking her very much like he hunted deer but to him it was more like pursuing what your heart desired.

Life is funny, isn't it? It always presents a trial or a journey just when you have everything figured out. Is it strange to say that I miss you already? Find me.

Mercy

That was all he needed to read. Those words would haunt him all night and the better part of the next day until they docked in Ketchikan. He had hastily scribbled a note for her leaving it on the community bulletin board in hopes that she would stop here on her trek through the coastal towns.

"Let the chase begin." He muttered to himself.

Matt finished rummaging through the shelves at the recycling center. "Who's the mail for?"

"Just a girl I'm playing chase with."

Matt scratched his head. "How do you play chase on paper?"

Bam replied, "One letter at a time."