Page 54 of The Sailor

Chapter Ten

“It’s tradition for members of the Coast Guard to go first. Even if one of them does manage to put in an impressive performance, they’re ineligible to win. But because they help out with the crates and safety during the competition, anyone who’s involved is allowed to give the crates a go.”

Zach was standing behind Marit, his arms around her waist, his hands resting on her belly as she leaned into him and they watched from the edge of the harbor. He loved standing like this with her. He was tall enough to easily see over her head, and the feel of her against him was intimate and cozy. He bent slightly to speak into her ear, explaining what was going on as it happened.

“When does Kash go? That’s what I want to see,” Marit said impatiently.

Apparently she didn’t care about the exhibition competitors.

“Wait,” she said, looking over at Knox. “Why aren’t you out there? You’re in the Coast Guard.”

“I was,” Knox said with a laugh. “I’m not anymore. Besides, I’ve wised up in my old age. I don’t need to humiliate myself by only getting across two or three crates before falling into the water.”

“Whatever,” Zach told him. “You’d show everyone up, and you know it.”

Knox patted his belly. “I’m in the super category now, no showing anyone up no matter how much skill I might still have.”

“There are four classes of participants,” Evelyn told Marit. “Featherweight is up to seventy-five pounds, lightweight is seventy-six to a hundred and twenty-five pounds, medium is one twenty-six to one seventy-five, and super is anything over a hundred and seventy-six pounds.”

“The overall winners in the past have mostly been in the featherweight class,” Chad said.

“Which makes sense, considering the crates don’t sink as much when they step on them,” Marit said with a nod. She was watching the Guardsmen with interest as they all tried, and failed, to even get across to the other platform one time.

“Next up will be a representative from the local police department. They also usually have some sort of local celebrity, as well. They all ham it up before the actual contestants start,” Evelyn continued. She had a spark in her eye that Zach loved to see. It was only a few months ago that she’d lost her husband, so it made him happy to see her out and about and having a good time.

“How many people actually compete?” Marit asked, tilting her head back to look at Zach.

“Generally under a hundred. Of all ages and all weights. We’d be here all night otherwise.”

She nodded and turned her attention back to the water.

“Kash is in the middle of the pack. He’s number thirty-nine,” Chad said, as he looked at his phone. “Just got a text from Linc.”

“Cool. He’ll have time to hopefully lose some of the nerves by watching everyone else. And seeing others fall will show him that this is all in good fun. Hopefully,” Knox muttered.

Zach loved how everyone was all in for Team Kash. He just hoped and prayed the boy did well.

The field was mostly kids or teenagers, but there was the occasional mom or dad who decided to take a shot at the crates. Most people fell before getting even ten feet from the starting platform. But they all came up from the water smiling. Everyone was having a good time, even when they fell.

There was one man in the super class who made it halfway across the crates before falling, earning him a huge cheer from the crowd. Many of the smaller competitors went much farther, but everyone understood that the people competing in the super class had a major handicap . . . of weight.

Marit fidgeted against him as it got closer and closer to the time for Kash to go.

“I’m so nervous,” she said, looking back up at Zach.

“Me too!” Evelyn chimed in.

“Me three!” Britt agreed.

Zach was too, but he didn’t say anything, simply squeezed Marit’s waist.

Then it was time. A little girl who was contestant number thirty-eight was preparing to have a go at the crates.

Zach saw Linc next to Kash. He was kneeling down, saying something to the boy, most likely encouraging him. Or giving him last-minute tips. Kash looked nervous. Really nervous. He was shifting from foot to foot. His gaze locked on the crates as if mesmerized.

“Oh man, he’s too nervous,” Knox said softly.

“We were the same way our first time,” Chad reminded his brother.