by Barbara Goss
“It’s very difficult to argue with someone by telegraph. He’s somewhere in Portugal.”
“Can you catch a ride on a clipper and beat him to his next destination?” Rhea sounded desperate.
“No, I have a better idea,” Sam said. “I’ll fire him.”
“Fire him?” Rhea gasped.
“He’ll have no choice but to come home, and we can discuss this in person. I’ll tell him to bring the ship into Philadelphia immediately and have Isaac take over his clipper.”
“And if he agrees with our plan? What then as far as our shipping business goes?”
Sam laughed. “He’s still fired. What good would it do for Greta to have a husband if he’s across the ocean?”
“In the part of Greece where I came from, a single brother always marries his brother’s widow. At least, they did when my grandparents were married,” Rhea said.
Greta couldn’t bear to hear anymore. She fled up the stairs and went to her room. They were forcing Adam to marry her. How humiliating. Of course, she’d always loved Adam, but she didn’t want him that way. And he’d refused!
Greta wasn’t sure what had caused Adam to change his mind, but it seemed that Adam couldn’t turn back to Philadelphia with merchandise due in London, as it was already late due to mechanical problems. It would be months before he could return to Philadelphia and Texas.
Before she knew what was happening, Greta was standing at the altar in church, repeating her marriage vows to the minister’s son. A proxy marriage was also done in London when Adam landed there, and she was married to Adam Sutherland by proxy.
Greta’s belly had become pronounced, but Rhea had a seamstress make her a wedding dress that hid her stomach. The Sutherlands had the doctor take residence in the home so he’d be ready to deliver the baby at any time. She still had two months to go before the baby was due, but they made her live as if she were walking on hot coals in the Sutherland home. All Greta heard over the last two months was, “Don’t walk in the yard, the ground is uneven.” “Go up the stairs slowly, dear.” “Be careful,” “Slow down.” Greta began to wonder if the baby moving so energetically inside her body was hers or theirs.
Despite the fawning by Seth’s parents, she felt alone. Carrying a fatherless child was somewhat scary.
Rhea was a good, godly woman, and Greta loved her for her kindness, but she even wanted to name the baby. Her grandmother told her to ignore that request and name the child herself.
Rhea had been raised in the Greek Orthodox Church, but when she met Sam, she joined the Methodist Church in Philadelphia where they’d married. Not only had she joined the faith, but she’d embraced it. In Fort Worth, they’d joined the First Christian Church on Main and Houston. It was the oldest church in Fort Worth. They’d already outgrown the present building and planned to build a larger church. It was in that church that Greta had first seen Adam and had fallen head over heels for him. Now, she hoped he’d stay at sea. A forced marriage wouldn’t sit well with him. He wasn’t like Seth. He was headstrong and controlling like his mother. Seth’s memory became sweeter as time went by.
About five o’clock one Monday morning, Greta awoke in pain. She knew immediately why, and she threw on her kimono, tiptoed to Rhea and Sam’s room, and knocked on the door.
“Yes?” Sam called, groggily. “What is it?”
“It’s Greta. I think it’s time.”
Before she’d finished her sentence, the door flung open, and Rhea escorted her back to her room while Sam woke the doctor.
At Rhea’s prompting, the doctor examined her. It was uncomfortable having to be examined physically while in such pain. She was careful not to cry out when the pains became severe, lest Rhea panic and insist the doctor examine her yet again.
Finally, at three the next morning, the baby took her first breath, and cried until the doctor wrapped her up and laid her in Greta’s arms. When she stopped crying, she stared up at her mother.
“Bethany,” Greta said to the baby. “Bethany Rose.”
Rhea looked disappointed. “We’d hoped for a boy.” She shrugged. “She’s beautiful, but why Bethany?”
“Beth for Seth,” Greta said.
“Oh! How perfect!” Rhea nudged her husband. “Why didn’t we think of that?”
“Wait until Adam sees her,” Sam said.
“Any word on when he’ll come home?” Rhea asked.
“He’s in Bermuda, so it shouldn’t be too much longer.”
“Sam, tell me and Greta what’s going on with Adam. We have a right to know.”
Sam shrugged. “When I fired him, he agreed to the proxy marriage. Now, he claims he’s commissioned merchandise that needs to be delivered before he can bring the clipper to Philadelphia. When he’s done, he plans to take a train to Fort Worth.” Sam hesitated while glancing at Greta. “He said we can come to some sort of agreement when he gets here. He doesn’t want to stop sailing.”
“What?” Rhea said. “We need to find something to keep him busy and happy here in Fort Worth, then.”
“Like what?” Sam asked.
“The house we built for them is nearly finished—they could move in. We could buy him a business.” Rhea rubbed her forehead. “He needs to stay here and bond with his new family.”
Bethany began to fuss, and Rhea asked to hold her. She rocked the child and talked to her. “You are the princess of the Sutherland household.”
Chapter Three
Bethany was already walking, and Adam still hadn’t arrived. Sam was furious. Greta heard him yelling one morning as she came into the dining room.
“How dare he?”
“What now?” Rhea asked.
“Adam. He picked up another load in London and is on his way to Spain. What part of get home now doesn’t he understand? He’s blatantly disobeying me and the company.”
“I thought you fired him,” Rhea said.
“I did, and this is his act of defiance,” Sam said. “It’s difficult to fire someone when they’re hundreds of miles away and they ignore you.”
“Is there nothing we can do?”
Sam paced the floor. He stopped suddenly. “I’d contact the maritime police in Spain and have him taken forcefully off the ship, but then my ship would end up docked in Spain with valuable cargo still onboard.”
Rhea touched her husband’s arm. “Adam would never forgive you.”
“He isn’t going where he’s supposed to. He wasn’t scheduled to pick up cargo in London and take it to Spain. I don’t understand what he’s doing.”
“How do we get him to return to Philadelphia?”
Sam rubbed his temples. “I have to contact the maritime police, and Isaac or Levi will have to get Adam’s clipper and bring it home.”
Rhea gave Sam a worried look. “Adam will be furious.”
They looked up to see Greta in the doorway.
“Greta, dear,” Rhea said, “come—sit down. I’ll pour you some tea.”
Greta sat and took the offered teacup. “I don’t want Adam to come home if he’ll be furious. It won’t help our situation at all.”
Sam sat beside her and patted her arm. “I’m thinking of a way to solve that, too. Don’t you worry.” He lifted her chin. “Just keep smiling.”
“Where’s our beautiful granddaughter?” Rhea asked.
“She’s still asleep. We were up all night, but the new tooth finally broke through. Priscilla is sitting with her.”
“How is Priscilla working out as a nanny? Is she better than Abigail?” Rhea asked.
“Oh, much better. Priscilla is wonderful with Beth.”
Rhea studied Greta. “You don’t look happy dear. You aren’t smiling as much anymore.”
Greta bit her bottom lip before blurting it out when she couldn’t keep it inside any longer. “How long do I have to be lonely for... well, romantic attention? I’m still young and with amorous feelings. Having had a small taste of love and companionship, I’m aching for it. Miles Tanner has asked me
to the barn dance this week, and I had to refuse… again.”
Rhea and Sam exchanged looks. “We’re trying to get Adam home. Once he sees you, I know he’ll be smitten. You are so lovely, Greta. How can he not fall for you?”
Greta stood and pushed her chair in. “I can’t wait much longer. I’m thankful for all you have done for me and Bethany, but I’m nearly twenty-three now, and I need a life. If Adam doesn’t return soon, I’ll see an attorney about having the marriage annulled.” Greta turned and left the room.
~~~***~~~
Adam watched the last of his crew scramble down the ladder to the small boat that would take them ashore. He knew he wouldn’t see them again until they sailed in two days. They always enjoyed the nightlife in Algeciras, Spain.
Before he had the chance to pull the ladder up, a redheaded woman boarded his clipper and asked if she might have a word with him. He shrugged and nodded.
The woman moved close to Adam and whispered sensuously, “My name is Charisse, and I’m on a goodwill mission. I need to get used clothing to poor people in London. Please, allow me to deliver boxes of clothes to the unfortunate.” She touched his cheek. “I’ll make it worth your while.”
She was a beautiful, voluptuous woman, but he met beautiful women in every port. He thought about Proverbs five, verse three: For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.
No matter where he was in the world, he read his Bible nightly. That’s not to say he never sinned, for he had, and temptation had won him over many times. Life at sea was tough, and he’d partied with his crew in different ports, but the sins weighed on his heart, and he knew he couldn’t continue. He stopped going into the ports and stayed on his clipper. Now, he was, for all intents and purposes, a married man, which made for a better excuse to give to his crew than that he didn’t want to sin any longer; no one liked to be laughed at.
His parents had reared him in the faith, and he loved God, trying hard, despite his rough lifestyle, to obey Him.
Now, this she-devil was tempting him into making a delivery for her, and his father was threatening him. Though he loved the sea, he had to return to hash things out with his folks. ‘Honor thy father and mother’ kept running through his head, but the sea continued to call to him. At first, he was tempted to do a run for the lady, but he just couldn’t.
Adam stepped away from her, bumping against the ship’s railing. “I’m a married man. I’ve just received an order to return with my ship to Philadelphia. I’m sorry. There are other ships in port who might oblige.”
Seemingly sweet, beautiful Charisse pulled a pistol from her pocket and pointed it at his head. “I think not, sweetheart.” She motioned for others to come aboard.
Before Adam could react, two men jumped aboard the ship, pushed him below deck and into his cabin, and tied him to a chair. One of the men said, “We’ll take over from here. Ramon—get ready to sail to London at dawn. Hugo and Bruno are loading the cargo now.”
Adam pulled on his ropes, but they were tight. He gazed around his cabin. There was a cutlass in the cabinet across the room, if he could only get to it. Unfortunately, all the furniture had been nailed to the floor so they wouldn’t shift with the waves.
His mind kept going back to his parents. He knew his father was angry with him, and he knew he had to return home. The last telegram from his father sounded dire. He had to get free and return to Philadelphia.
According to his father, his wife, a woman named Greta, had given birth to Seth’s baby. He didn’t know if it was a girl or boy, but he’d agreed to marry her out of family loyalty. He loved Seth, and he’d surely care for his brother’s family. He didn’t remember Greta, but he’d do his duty to her and Seth’s child. He hadn’t planned on marrying as he felt married to the sea. He’d meet the woman, possibly consummating the marriage if she was an agreeable woman with good qualities. He’d provide for them financially, but he couldn’t stay on land. He loved the sea—it was his life.
As much as he loved the sea, the hijacking of his ship had put a damper on his feelings. There were dangerous people on the high seas, pirates and men like the ones who’d just taken over the clipper ship he’d named Eve.
Adam fell asleep a few times only to jerk awake when he heard a noise. At dawn, he felt the ship floating out to sea.
The pirates moved him to the smaller cabin, usually used by his first mate. They untied him and bolted the door. He supposed they’d take over his cabin. He was the only one on board other than Charisse and her friends. They brought him a horrible meal of hard bread and tasteless broth, three times a day. He scoured the room, but the pirates had stripped it of everything; he truly was at their mercy.
He paced for most of the day. At night, he curled up in the small cot and slept. He prayed like he’d never prayed before, all the while.
The trip from Spain to London was a short one. Within days, they’d pulled into the port of London. He watched from the porthole as they unloaded their cargo with the help of several shifty-looking men. The next morning, they were off again without loading the ship with cargo. Adam wondered what they were up to.
Once more, they had pulled into the port of Algeciras, Spain. He watched as later in the day, they once again loaded the ship with cargo, only to set out again the next morning.
When he felt the ship pulling once more into port, he knew by the time that had elapsed that they were in London, again. The same procedure went on between Spain and England. Adam wondered what they were smuggling.
By the time they’d pulled into Algeciras again, he knew the routine. They waited until the sun began to set for them to unload the cargo, but this time, he heard loud voices shouting and gunfire, and he prepared himself to either die or be rescued.
Footsteps on the deck above vibrated in the room. Something different was going on. Were the pirates being attacked by other pirates? He reasoned that it wasn’t likely, not in a port. Adam waited and paced until he heard men knocking on doors, calling his name. He yelled, and soon his door splintered, wood falling to the floor.
“Maritime Police—come with us.”
Adam sighed with relief, and he followed them onto the police ship where they interrogated him. He told them exactly what had happened.
“Your friends were smuggling opium and tobacco—were you aware of that?”
Adam told them he knew they were smuggling, but could do nothing about it. “How did you find them?”
“Your father asked us to look for you and escort you home. He said he thought you were in England or Spain, as other ships there had said they’d seen Eve.” The officer stood. “Do I need to escort you back to Philadelphia, or will you go willingly?”
“I was trying to get back home when I was hijacked. I want nothing more than to get home as fast as I can,” Adam said.
“Go in peace, then. I’ll wire your father.”
Adam shook the officer’s hand. “Thank you, sir.”
Chapter Four
Greta sat in the lawyer’s waiting room, fiddling with her gloves, thinking about what she’d say to the man. She was usually a quiet, docile woman, but lately, she felt fired up and bound to extricate herself from her proxy marriage to Adam. She was tired of being quiet and going along with whatever the Sutherlands wanted—it was what had gotten her into this marriage to begin with.
The clerk finally called her into the attorney’s office. Greta walked in with her head held high, knowing she could do whatever was required.
Greta introduced herself.
The attorney stood and said, “I’m Phillip Granger, at your service. What can I do for you?”
“I need an annulment.”
Granger’s eyebrows raised. “How long have you been in the marriage?”
“For four years,” she told him. “I’ve yet to meet him.”
The attorney’s eyes widened. “You never met him?”
Greta ex
plained, “It was a proxy marriage. I am his brother’s widow. I married Adam Sutherland under pressure from his family.”
Granger’s eyebrows rose again, and he blew out a low whistle. “You want to annul a marriage to the son of the richest man in town?”
“His parents pressured me on account of my daughter. They didn’t want a stranger raising her—at least, I think that was the reason—but Adam’s at sea, and it sounds to me like he doesn’t want to return. I can’t spend the rest of my life waiting for a husband who probably isn’t going to come back. And, if he did return, I think he might resent having been forced to marry me. I’m almost positive his parents forced him into it like they did me, and I want out.”
Granger scribbled on a piece of paper. “Four years, you say?”
Greta nodded.
“According to the annulment rules in Texas, you have a valid reason to void the marriage as you were coerced into it, and I’m sure the marriage hasn’t been consummated. I can get the paperwork in order and presented to the judge in two or three weeks’ time. Does that suit you?”
“It does. Thank you.”
~~~***~~~
Sam ran through the house, calling his wife. “Rhea! Rhea!”
“I’m here. What is it?” she said from the dining room where she was polishing silverware.
“Look at this.” He waved a telegram at her.
Rhea took the paper and focused on the words. “Glory be!”
“Look at the date,” Sam said. “It was sent three weeks ago. That means Adam should be docking in Philadelphia soon. He’ll catch a train and be here in a few weeks. Should we tell Greta? Where is she, anyway?”
Rhea examined the telegram again. “Why didn’t Harvey let us know sooner that we had a message?”
“Harvey’s on vacation. James Wright, the postal clerk, is doing both jobs, and he got a bit behind.”
“Of course,” Rhea said. “We’ll tell Greta. She’s been restless lately.”
