Crumpets & Cowpies: (Sweet Historical Western Romance) (Baker City Brides Book 1)

by Shanna Hatfield

  Firmly closing the stateroom door behind him, he decided a stroll in the night air might help clear his thoughts if not cool his interest in his very alluring wife.

  Chapter Nine

  Jack raced across the deck to where Jemma and Lily sat on a deck chair reading a storybook, enjoying the fresh air and sunshine.

  “Guess what, Auntie Jemma?” The boy leaned against her leg, more excited than she’d seen him in a long time.

  “I’ll never guess, so you must tell me immediately,” she said, giving him a loving smile.

  “Mr. Tipton took Uncle Thane and me to see our horses and he showed us where the men shovel in the coal that makes the ship run. Did you know the ship uses more than two hundred tons of coal a day?” The boy leaned closer and she put the arm not steadying Lily on her lap around his waist and kissed his cheek.

  “I did not know that. What a fascinating bit of information. What else did you learn?” Jemma waited for his response, thrilled he seemed engrossed in the workings of the ship. All too often of late, little held his attention as he quietly went through one day followed by the next. She knew he missed his father terribly and was pleased Thane took such an interest in both of the children. He spent time with them individually as well as together and she could see how his presence influenced Jack in a positive manner.

  “The Teutonic was built in Belfast and its one of the fastest ships on the ocean. Its maiden voyage was last year, and Mr. Tipton said it was the first armed merchant cruiser.”

  “My gracious, you learned any number of intriguing details. Did you check on the horses?”

  “Yes. They were happy to see us,” Jack said, glancing back at his uncle as he approached. “Weren’t they, Uncle Thane?”

  “I believe they were, but that could have been from the carrots Tipton provided for you to feed to them.”

  Jemma laughed as Jack shrugged. “That was very kind of him.”

  “We’ll be docking at Queenstown soon to allow more passengers to board. Tipton said it usually takes about two hours then we’ll head out for the open sea.” Thane picked up Lily and tossed her in the air, making her giggle.

  “Again, Uncle Thane! Do it again!”

  He tossed her a few more times then she wrapped her little arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. “I want to see Shadow. Can we walk Rigsly again? When do we get a snack? I’m hungry. Can I swim in the water?”

  “How about we go back to the stateroom and have some lunch?” Thane suggested, holding out a hand to help Jemma to her feet, playing the role of the attentive husband. “Or would you rather dine in the main saloon?”

  “Our room would be fine. It’s easier for Lily there.” Jemma took Jack’s hand and the four of them progressed to their room. Tipton stopped by shortly after their arrival and took their orders for lunch, promising to return soon.

  “What do you think of the ship, Thane?” Jemma asked after they’d eaten. The children sat at the window watching people board the ship from the dock in Ireland. “Does it compare to the one you traveled on last month?”

  “The Teutonic is far and above superior to the ship I traveled on in every sense. I had no idea a ship could be so dandy.”

  “It is a lovely ship, and from what I heard, a fast one.” Jemma sipped her tea and gazed at him over her cup, unaware of how appealing he found that particular pose.

  “It is fast, which is one reason I insisted Weston secure our tickets for it. The less time spent on the ocean, the happier I’ll be.” Reaching across the table, he gently lifted her hand in his and brought it to his lips, kissing her palm. “I think it best if the children stay inside while the passengers board, but I’d like to talk to a few of the men. Will you be fine if I’m gone for an hour or so?”

  “Perfectly.”

  Jemma kept the children busy for the next hour then Thane appeared, taking them all out to the deck so they could watch as the ship left the port and headed out to the open sea.

  When Lily and Jack got tired of waving to the gathered crowds, Thane suggested they take Rigsly for a walk and went to the kennels to get him. Jack wanted to hold the dog’s leash so Thane kept close beside him, ready to grab it at a moment’s notice. Jemma held Lily’s hand as the little girl dawdled along, chattering about fairies that lived in the water, the monsters that hid under her bed, and what she wanted to eat for dinner.

  Determined to head off a tantrum when Lily began to pucker her lip and rub her eyes, Jemma declared it time for her nap. She took the child back to the stateroom while Jack and Thane continued to walk the dog, letting him wear off a little of his caged energy.

  The rest of the day passed quickly. After a pleasant evening and tucking the children into bed, Jemma and Thane both settled in for the night — her alone in the big bed and Thane on the hard floor.

  The next morning, they ventured out on the deck to see nothing but blue sky and water in every direction.

  “The ship seems to move right along,” Jemma said as she and Thane sat in chairs watching Jack and Lily play nearby with a few other children.

  “Tipton said the captain plans the trip to take seven days. I’m all for anything that gets us off the water and onto solid ground as quickly as possible.” Thane felt fine when he awoke, but seeing nothing but water made him queasy. He wished he’d skipped breakfast instead of eating so heartily from the selection Tipton delivered to their room.

  Movement off the side of the ship drew Thane’s attention. He rose to his feet and glimpsed a school of dolphins playing in the water.

  Swiftly stepping back to where Jemma sat in a chair looking at him, he took her arms in his hands and lifted her to her feet then pulled her to his side. “See, look out there.” He pointed in the direction of the dolphins.

  “Oh, dolphins!” She clapped her hands together then turned to where the children played. “Jack, Lily, come here, please.”

  The two children ran to her and she lifted Lily while Thane settled Jack on his shoulder.

  “Those are big fishies,” Lily observed, watching the dolphins jump out of the water.

  “They’re dolphins, honey. They’re nice fish,” Thane explained to his niece.

  “Technically, they’re mammals,” Jemma said, looking at Jack. “We read that they’re quite intelligent. Do you remember studying about them last year, Jack?”

  “Yes, Auntie Jemma. They can talk to each other, can’t they?”

  “That’s right. I’m so glad you remembered. What else do you know about dolphins?”

  “They have a remarkable sense of sight and a group of them is called a pod.” Jack beamed at his aunt, pleased he remembered the lessons she’d taught him.

  “Excellent, Jack. You’re such a bright student.”

  Jack soaked up her praise while Lily patted her cheek to get her attention. “I’m bright, too, Auntie Jemma. See me. I’m a dolphin princess!”

  “Yes, you are, poppet.”

  The four of them watched until the dolphins disappeared from sight then the children scampered off to play with their new friends. Jemma returned to her seat and picked up the needlework she’d begun the previous afternoon. Fully expecting Thane to sit beside her, she glanced up as he disappeared toward the other end of the ship.

  Somewhat miffed he didn’t say anything before striding off, her anger increased with every hour that passed. She didn’t see him again all day. After dining in the stateroom with the children, she made them take baths then tucked them into bed, listening to their favorite adventures of the day. She read them a story from one of her favorite childhood books, kissed them good night, and assured them their uncle spent the day attending to business matters.

  Furious, she fumed at his sudden disappearance, waiting for him to return to the room. Fatigue forced her to give up her vigil in the parlor and she climbed into bed, planning to lecture him in the morning.

  The sound of the door banging open and male voices roused her from her slumber. Quickly jumping out of bed, she stuffed her a
rms into the sleeves of her wrapper. She whipped open the bedroom door and glared into the face of Tipton, expecting him to be Thane. Two other stewards held her husband upright as they half-dragged him into the room.

  “Sorry to wake you, Mrs. Jordan, but your husband needed some assistance back to the room.” Tipton motioned for the men to help Thane into the bedroom. Jemma stepped aside as they positioned him next to the bed and helped him fall back.

  “Good heavens! Has he been imbibing in spirits? Is he inebriated?” Jemma was appalled at such behavior.

  “I’m plastered, Lady Jemma.” Thane’s slurred voice did nothing to help her growing rage. “Snockered and rip roarin’ roostered.”

  Tipton motioned for her to step away from the bedroom as the other stewards positioned Thane so he wouldn’t fall off the bed. She followed him to the far side of the parlor where he lowered his voice, ensuring Thane couldn’t hear.

  “No, madam. Mr. Jordan hasn’t touched a drop of liquor, but he is quite ill. Your husband’s been heaving over the side of the ship for hours.” Tipton motioned for the other stewards to leave as they exited the bedroom. “He refused to return to your stateroom, planning to spend the night in the library near the gentlemen’s lavatory. The ship’s surgeon insisted we bring him back here and put him to bed. Doc said to give him plenty of water and tea to drink and dry toast if he’ll take it until this passes. Mr. Jordan seemed quite insistent you not see him in his current state.”

  “Thank you, Tipton. I’ll see to his care. Have a good evening.” Jemma smiled at the helpful young man.

  “Thank you, Mrs. Jordan. You as well.” Tipton strode across the parlor then closed the stateroom door as he left.

  Jemma took a fortifying breath then marched into the bedroom and flipped on the electric light. Relieved Thane wasn’t drunk and only sick, she shook her head. “You, sir, are a foolhardy cabbagehead.”

  “Insults will get you everywhere, sweetheart,” Thane mumbled although he didn’t lift his head or open his eyes.

  “I ought to toss you out on your ear, Mr. Jordan, but my Christian duty compels me to offer my assistance.” Grateful Tipton told her the truth, Jemma decided to let Thane carry on his charade for now. “Don’t you ever again come home in such a state! Do you hear me?”

  Too sick to argue, or even speak, Thane opened his eyes and tried to glare at her. It made the room spin around so he squeezed them shut again. He refused to be sick in front of his wife.

  “Let’s get you settled and see if you can’t get a bit of rest, shall we?” Jemma moved Thane’s hat from where one of the stewards set it on the edge of the bed to the dresser. She lifted one of her husband’s long legs and attempted to pull off his boot but her gentle tugs didn’t budge them. Wrapping her arms around one, she gave it a firm yank and found herself sitting on the floor holding his boot.

  She rolled her eyes, got to her feet and repeated the process until both boots rested on the floor. After removing his socks, she dropped them next to the boots. She worked his topcoat over his broad shoulders followed by his waistcoat and left them in a pile by his boots.

  With his face a shade of greenish-gray, Thane provided no help to her efforts, although he did attempt to hold himself upright as she removed his outerwear. He slumped back against the pillows once she removed the waistcoat and moaned.

  “I’m fine like this,” he whispered, catching her hand in his as she pulled the tails of his shirt from his trousers.

  “No, you aren’t. Besides, your clothes are filthy and you stink.”

  Determined, she unbuttoned his shirt and helped him rise enough she could slip it off. Her hands hovered in the air when she got to his trousers. Although he’d be more comfortable without them on, she hated to think about the intimate familiarity involved in removing them. By pretending he was Jack, she unfastened them and worked them over his hips and down his strong legs, tossing them onto the pile of his clothes.

  In vain, Jemma tried not to stare at his muscular form. The cotton drawers he wore barely covered his thighs. With an averted gaze, she pushed on him until he rolled to one side and she could pull the covers over him.

  “Where is your nightshirt?” she asked, stepping toward the dresser drawer where he’d unpacked his things.

  “I don’t own one.”

  Jemma’s mouth rounded into an “O” and she spun around, wondering what Thane normally slept in. Heat rushed into her cheeks as his bare chest and finely formed legs filled her vision. In need of a moment to gather her thoughts, she hurried from the room to their bath. She dampened a towel then filled a glass with water.

  Upon her return to the bedroom, she held the glass for him to drink. After he took a few sips, she set it on the bedside table then gently sponged his face and hands, working her way over his chest and stomach. Thane opened one eye and stared at her as she went through her ministrations.

  “Thank you,” he whispered.

  Curtly, she nodded her head. “You’re welcome.” She took the cloth back to the bath and rinsed it before entering the bedroom again.

  A search through a storage cupboard in the closet unearthed a chamber pot she set next to the bed, in the event Thane felt ill during the night. With the refreshed cloth, she wiped his face again and forced him to take a few more sips of water before turning off the light, removing her wrapper, and climbing into bed exhausted.

  Curling up on the side of the bed far away from Thane, she fell into a fitful sleep. Each time he was ill during the night it awakened her. He grumbled and fussed at her attending to him and by morning, they were both worn and weary.

  As sunlight sneaked around the edges of the window covering, Jemma took a refreshing bath and dressed for the day then checked on the children to make sure they were sleeping. She requested Tipton deliver a breakfast tray and bring anything the ship had on hand with mint.

  When she returned to the bedroom, Thane rested on his side, pale and wan, with the muscles in his jaw clenched into a tight bunch.

  Since the first day they’d met, he’d appeared larger than life, fearsome, and tough. Now, he looked quite vulnerable and helpless, tugging at something in her heart. She thought, perhaps, she could come to like him with some effort. At least if he stopped acting like such a ninny.

  “There’s stubbornness, Thane Jordan, then there’s plain stupidity. I do believe you have undoubtedly crossed the line.”

  He opened his eyes and gave her a weak smile as she stood at the foot of the bed. “I apologize for coming in drunk and for being sick.”

  “In that case, you won’t mind if I have your rasher of bacon this morning and bring it in here, just so you can watch me eat it.”

  Thane turned an even sicklier shade of green at the thought of bacon and clenched his jaw so tightly, she thought he might rupture a muscle or crack a tooth.

  A long-suffering sigh escaped her as she moved to his side. The full force of her coppery gaze settled on his as she bent down and shook her head in dissatisfaction.

  “I know for a fact you didn’t have a drop, not a single drop, of liquor yesterday. Furthermore, I don’t believe you’re the kind of man to waste time or money on drunkenness. You’re seasick, aren’t you?”

  Surprised she’d seen through his ruse, Thane slowly nodded his head. “Unfortunately, I am. It would have been less humiliating if you’d thought I’m a worthless drunk.”

  Jemma snapped upright and fisted her hands on her hips. “That is the most ridiculous thing you’ve yet uttered, sir. Why would any woman want a drunk for a spouse? I much prefer to know the sea makes you ill than to worry about you being besieged with tendencies to disappear and return home in an inebriated state.”

  Thane closed his eyes and swallowed hard. Jemma hurried to give him a sip of water and wipe his forehead again.

  “I’m truly sorry, Jemma. I spent the whole blasted trip to England sick. Since I was fine the first few days, I’d hoped I wouldn’t be ill this trip.”

  “Don’t give it another
thought, Thane. It’s not something you can help or control. We’ll just make the best of it.” Her fingers brushed across his forehead in a soothing motion and she smiled at him. “It must have been miserable for you.”

  “It wasn’t fun.”

  She’d noticed when they first met Thane’s clothes appeared loose on him. His illness onboard must have been the reason. He had filled them out quite nicely in the last few weeks. Jemma hoped he wouldn’t suffer too greatly from his current illness on their way to America.

  “Certainly not. I will do my best to nurse you back to health quickly so you can enjoy what is left of our trip. Tipton said the ship is progressing right on schedule and we should be in New York on Wednesday, as planned.”

  “Please, Jemma, I don’t want you staying in here. Go spend the day on deck or in the ladies’ reading room but not here.” Thane grasped her hand with a surprising amount of strength while his eyes pleaded with her to agree.

  “I’m used to nursing sick ones, although Jack and Lily are much easier to coax into doing my wishes.” Jemma gave him a coy smile as Tipton knocked on the stateroom door and entered, carrying a large tray.

  Quickly closing the bedroom door behind her, Jemma thanked Tipton and accepted the packet of peppermints he gave her along with a few stems of fresh mint.

  “It’s not much, madam, but it’s the best I could do. Will the mint settle Mr. Jordan’s illness?” Tipton asked as he stood at the door.

  “That is my hope. Thank you so much for your assistance, Tipton. It is most appreciated.”

  “You are quite welcome, Mrs. Jordan. Please ring if you need anything further. I’ll stop by in about an hour to pick up the tray.”

  Jemma nodded and set about steeping a few leaves of the fresh mint in the pot of hot tea. After pouring a cupful and adding a generous spoon of sugar, she carried it to the bedroom where Thane rested.