Purling Road - the Complete Second Season: Episodes 1-10 Read Online Free

basket on her lap.
    Arianna bounded out, forgetting to put on the brake, and before she closed the door, it started rolling. Maura yelled as she jumped back in and stomped on the brake.
    “We damn near ended up in the drink! And not the kind of drink I like to be in!” Maura’s voice echoed across the marina.
    “Sorry we’re late,” Arianna called as she approached the side of the boat with an armload of supplies.
    Aryl glanced up at the sun. “Plenty of time.”
    She sent Jonathan to the truck for some larger things she’d brought that she might find useful, and he hauled them on deck.
    Aryl and Jonathan knew well enough to just get out of her way. She wasted no time setting up a small table next to the door of the wheelhouse with a silver tea service on a blue linen tablecloth.
    Jonathan liked the touch but wondered if he could keep everything from spilling off the table if seas were choppy. She moved to the tables on the deck next. Matching blue tablecloths covered the marred wood, and she placed a short arrangement of blue and white flowers in the center of each. The vases had been painted gold. Simple. Masculine. She took a moment to move flowers about, just microns to the left or right until she was happy. She wanted to do more…so much more, but the atmosphere had to reflect the occasion and these were men who’d paid money to be taken to the best fishing spots in the Atlantic. They’d want a hint of luxury, but what they were paying for was the overall fishing experience. This was the hardest part for Arianna. Deciding when to stop.
    She stood back and dropped a hand on her hip, her eyes trailing over her decorations. “Well, it’s rather like putting lipstick on a pig…but she’s a pretty pig now.”
    Aryl hesitated pointing out that the pig she was referring to was the ‘Ahna-Joy.’ He snickered to himself instead.
    Maura bustled forward with her basket. She placed it on the table as Arianna kept a hawk’s eye on her arrangements.
    “I have somethin’ ye might like, Mr. Jonathan. It was Ian’s idea and Ian’s doing, actually. He made these lunch boxes fer ye.” From the basket, she pulled a wooden box, beautifully made, and stained a dark oak. Opening the hinged lid, they could see a hearty ham sandwich bursting with lettuce and tomato, an apple, two cookies, and a tart.
    “There are six.” She winked. Before they could thank her, she walked to the wheelhouse. “I thought ye could stack them up here, underneath the tea service until it’s time to eat.”
    “Maura, this is positively brilliant. Thank Ian for us. Actually, I’ll thank him myself next time I see him.”
    “Just don’t let them take the boxes with them when they go. Return them to me, and I’ll repack them for the next outing.”
    “This really is a nice touch. Better than pulling sandwiches from a basket and tossing them around.” He put an arm around her shoulder and squeezed. She grinned.
    “I think you’ll do well with the new venture, Mr. Jonathan.” She looked up at him, squinting against the sun. “I’m proud of ye for finding an opportunity.”
    “Well, it was Aryl’s father-in-law’s idea,” he said.
    Aryl looked as if he’d rather choke than give credit. He flashed a tight smile and stayed silent.
    “Having an idea is one thing. Turning it into something is what matters. Speaking of which, it looks like yer first customer is here, so we’d best get out of the way.”
    Jonathan saw them both off the boat and walked to greet the sleek black car pulling into the lot. Two men exited, looking around excitedly. They were dressed identically in light green wool slacks, black boots, and puffy knit fisherman’s sweaters.
    Jonathan snickered to himself. Try as they were to look the part, he knew they would absolutely boil under the sun in those clothes. Jonathan, knowing the season, dressed in layers, and he’d already peeled off his sweater, leaving him in a thinner button down and a white