Free Prime Catch by Ilona Fridl

an hour to spare. She turned in at the main fishing pier, where gas was sold to people with autos. Well, time to tell if this masquerade is going to work.
    Sarah swung into a masculine stride as she approached the man at the gas tanks. “Say, fella, what’s the going rate for gas here?” she said in a raspy voice.
    He spit into the dirt. “Fifteen cents a gallon.”
    “Fill it up.”
    He hauled the tank to the truck and proceeded to pump gas into the vehicle. “Haven’t seen you around here before.”
    “Visiting a friend.”
    The man shut off the tank and turned to Sarah. “Dollar thirty.” And he spit in the dirt again.
    Sarah dug into her jeans pocket and counted out the change. “Thanks, fella. Keep the change.”
    He grunted as she climbed into the driver’s seat. It seems like I passed that test. Soon, the neat little clapboard house of Will and Mary appeared around the bend in the road. She pulled into the front yard and hopped out. For the neighbors’ sake, she took the long strides again.
    Mary came onto the porch and stared, wide-eyed. “I don’t believe it.”
    Sarah took the steps two at a time. “Surprised to see your cousin Seth? I thought you’d be happy.”
    Sarah hugged Mary and swung her around before letting her say, “It’s done so well. You really do look like a man. Kata did a wonderful job!”
    Will came out with the twins and stared at her, slack-jawed. “I never would have known. I think this will work. Did I hear your name is Seth?”
    “Yes.” Sarah made a move to hug the twins, but they clung shyly to their father. “Looks like they don’t remember their cousin.”
    Mary laughed. “Come in for something to eat before you go.”
    Sarah checked in the mirror before she left with Will. “You can tell your friends that I’m an acquaintance of yours from Juneau.”
    He nodded as he slid into the driver’s seat of his truck. “I meant what I said. I’m letting you go around on your own.”
    Sarah patted the pocket that held the notice. “I won’t get you in trouble.” She pushed down the trembling that threatened her as they arrived at the Angoon Camp. She drew a deep breath. “Wish me luck, Will.”
    He hesitated a moment after he turned off the engine. “You know I’m not agreeable with this, but I do care about you. Be careful.”
    She strode to the door with him, and he signed her in. “Thanks.”
    “Was nothing.” Then he went over to a group of his friends.
    Sarah saw an open seat at a plank table, where men were engaging in arguments over coffee. “Hey, fellas.”
    “Hey, yourself. Who are you? I’ve never seen you before.”
    “Came in from Juneau with a friend.” She turned to the dark-eyed, middle-aged man who had spoken. “I’m Seth Jones. I own a fishing boat in Juneau.”
    He squinted at her. “I’m Paul Thomas. You look too young to own a boat.”
    “I got it from my father when he was washed overboard last year.”
    “Ah. Good legacy when you go looking for a wife.”
    “As long as there’s any salmon left. The cannery has one of those damn traps.” Sarah reached into her shirt pocket and pulled out the notice. “Do you know anything about this?”
    He hesitated as he read it. “Why didn’t you ask about this at the Juneau camp?”
    “I was given this a couple of days ago. This is the first meeting I’ve gone to since then.”
    Some of the other men chimed in with, “He could be a spy for the canneries,” and, “We shouldn’t trust a stranger.”
    Sarah’s fist came down on the table. “I don’t care where I join. These bastards are starving us out. Especially the villages upstream, who rely on the spawning season to feed their families.”
    Paul Thomas studied Sarah carefully. “I could give you the name of our contact in Juneau. But you better be who you say you are. Revenge can come swiftly to those who choose to betray us.”
    “I accept that. I will not betray you.”
    Paul gave a short nod and took out a pencil and