"Which boat is yours?" Teri asked.

"We can't see it from here," Brad said. "It's on the other side of the boathouse."

Glancing in the direction of the boathouse, Teri's attention was drawn to a huge man standing on the porch. She had never seen such a giant of a man in her life and he loomed bigger and bigger as they approached him.

"Who's that?" asked Teri.

"That's Gimp," he answered. "He takes care of the docks and boats for us."

Teri stared at him as they drew nearer. He was stripped to the waist, exposing his massive torso and arms that were as big as most men's thighs. His head and chest were covered with thick black hair, and his skin was tanned almost as dark as mahogany.

"Hi, Gimp," Brad called as they walked up to him.

"Well, if it ain't Brad," the giant greeted him with a big smile. "When did you get here?"

"Just arrived. Gimp, my friend, Teri. She's gonna be staying with us for a while."

"Howdy, Miss Teri," he smiled. "Hope you enjoy your stay."

"Thank you," the girl answered, noticing the big ugly scar on his cheek that gave his face a vicious appearance when he wasn't smiling.

"How's the boat?" Brad asked.

"Finished tuning it up yesterday," Gimp mumbled, stepping down from the porch. "It's running like a clock."

Following Gimp down the dock, Teri was surprised to see him dragging his crippled left foot.

She knew now why he was known as Gimp.

The Roberts' boat was a twenty foot inboard, designed for skiing. Brad got in and turned the motor on and raced the engine a few times.

"That sum sounds cool," he culled at Gimp. "I think we'll go up and change and then take her for a spin."

Walking back up toward the cabin, Teri turned to Brad. "God, but that man is huge."

"And strong as a bull," Brad laughed.

"How was he crippled?" she asked.