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and patting him on his head. It was Miss Charles who motioned for Abby to come over and join the group.
    “Abby, you must come ’ere girl and meet my Ben. An’ this be the Cap’n of our dive crew, Cap’n Joe Cutthroat, or Cutty.”
    Abby felt out of place and a little lost as she put her hand out and approached Ben. Standing among the group of castaways, laughing at an inside joke, was a blonde, tanned young man, in his mid-20s, standing six feet tall. He had the build of a construction worker, yet also managed to emit a boyish charm that was almost infectious.
    “Ben? I’m Abby. Your dinner companion . . . ” She stopped suddenly, not because it was her choice, but because Captain Cutty decided it was time for him to be introduced.
    “Abby, you’re cute.” The smile he gave her was yellowed and missing a tooth or two, which seemed the way of this island, but the grin was wide and sincere. Captain Cutty had a leathery, weathered look to his too-tanned face, but there was something in those eyes that made Abby like him instantly.
    “Thank you. Nice to meet you, Cutty.”
    “Not Captain? I deserve to be called Captain, you know.” The smile was still there as he lit another Camel Filter and took a swig of his beer.
    “Nah. I like Cutty. Captain is too complicated. Makes me feel like you may be relied on to be in charge of something.” Abby smiled and took a swig of her drink as well, then leaned over and took one of his cigarettes out of the pack. She was surprising herself with her boldness, but she felt the energy around her to keep up with these guys so she wasn’t verbally tossed to the side.
    “Touché.” Cutty grinned and pointed a gnarled finger at Ben.
    “Is there a reason you’re called Cutthroat?” Behind her smile, Abby hid her surprise that such a menacing name was attached to such a non-threatening man.
    “Well, I can be a real jerk if you -- ” He never finished.
    “Ain’t no reason, girl,” Miss C. interrupted. “He just decided when he came ’ere he should be Cap’n Joe Cut-troat.”
    Cutty scowled at the older woman, who was grinning from ear to ear, before turning his attention back to Abby. “You know this guy?”
    It was Ben’s turn to speak. “No, Cutty,” he said in a tight British accent. “We are just meeting now for the first time. It seems we are about to become really good friends out of circumstances we cannot control. At the most inconvenient time possible.”
    Ouch. Abby felt the arrow of irritation land directly at her feet. Ben was not happy about this at all and would more than likely be taking it out on her. This was going to be nearly impossible, and she couldn’t blame him.
    “Ben, I’m sorry. I had no idea this would be the situation when I agreed to come down here on my sister’s behalf. Leigh needed to -- ”
    “Leigh!” Captain Cutty was back and obviously acquainted with her sister as well. “You tell her the next time we bet on horses, it won’t be for money. Your sister took $50 from me her last visit. Those were my tips from tourists, and I was going to use it to get my tooth fixed.” This last statement, Abby highly doubted. More than likely he would have bought some more cigarettes and booze. Abby decided she may have just met her first Caribbean crackhead.
    “I’ll be glad to pass that along for you.” Abby moved her focus back to Ben. This knowledge that Leigh and Cutty knew each other would have to wait for later as well.
    “Abby,” Ben raised a hand and interjected, “look, this is all a surprise. I knew it could happen, the inn being put up for sale; I just thought since I was so close to being done at school I was home free. I know your sister has to do what she has to do, but having someone I don’t know live with me just sucks. You get that, right?”
    “I completely agree with you. I was shoved into the alcove in your living room today.” Abby looked at him with her best puppy-dog eyes to instill her own honest intentions.