by Janie DeVos
I climbed down the ladder, walked to the edge of the platform, and gracefully dove in—as gracefully as I could, anyway. I was wearing a navy-blue sailor-inspired bathing costume that was the fashion of the day. It was heavy and awkward with its ballooning skirt, but the costume covered me more modestly than my wreck diving outfit did, so I grudgingly wore it.
My dive cut through the water perfectly. I entered the underwater world, immediately aware of how quiet everything was even though the ocean was teeming with life. All manner of aquatic creatures had darted away from me when I startled them with my explosive entrance, but they quickly resumed their constant hunt for food. Off to my left was the reef that had caused so many casualties, but it was a safe haven for natives of the sea, so I swam over to it to see if I could spot any lobsters. Sure enough, just as I peeked into an opening between two sea fans, I saw a pair of lobsters looking back. Carefully reaching in, I grabbed one by the back, but before I could grab the other, it ducked further into the coral, so I surfaced with just the one. As I broke the water, I saw Owen swimming toward me, and even from a distance away, I could see relief replace the concern on his face.
“I thought you were drowning!” he said sharply. “You were under a long time.”
I was surprised by the intensity in his voice. He looked and sounded so angry, though I figured it was because I’d frightened him. Still, it was a quickness to anger I’d not seen before. It was quite obvious he didn’t like losing control of a situation.
“I’m sorry,” I laughed uncomfortably. “You forget I can hold my breath for a good three minutes or so. It’s all the wreck diving. Look!” I said, holding the lobster up high out of the water. “Your birthday dinner!”
“Perfect!” Owen laughed, delight replacing the anger on his face. “And what will you be eating?” He carefully took the lobster from me.
“Its mate,” I replied, relieved that his good humor had returned. Then I dove under the water again to try to catch the other one.
An hour later, we had a large pot of water boiling on the stove, and three lobsters turning bright red within. Corn steamed on top of them, and as they cooked, I made coleslaw. Sitting on top of the ice box, waiting to officially celebrate Owen’s thirtieth birthday, was an orange cake I’d baked back home. One side was slightly flattened from sailing out to Fowey, but no one would mind.
Jim Altman was joining us for dinner, though he’d been up in the tower all morning cleaning the Fresnel lens. Given the time he’d stayed up there, the powerful lens was probably cleaner than it’d ever been, but he’d worked on it far longer than necessary in order to afford us some privacy. I liked Jim, and never minded his being there when I came out for a visit; however, I tried to plan my trips during the time Striker was on shore leave. Owen had asked me if I was avoiding him, and I simply explained that Striker and I bumped heads at times and that I didn’t enjoy being around him any more than I had to. As vague an answer as it was, it seemed to satisfy Owen’s curiosity and he never asked again. I never mentioned the fact that Striker and I had courted, and I doubted Striker had ever said a word about it either. Owen never mentioned it, anyway. That was fine with me. It wasn’t something I felt I needed to discuss with him. That chapter was over.
After dinner, Owen and I sat outside the quarters. It was the middle of the afternoon, and the sun was high and hot, so we sat in the shade of the building and enjoyed the cool breeze off the water.
“Nice, isn’t it?” I said, closing my eyes to the brightness of the sea and relaxing in one of several Adirondack chairs.
“It is,” Owen replied. He was sitting on my left, and I felt him reach for my hand, but instead of simply holding it, he gently pulled. “Come here,” he said. “I want to talk to you.”
I could hear the seriousness in his voice, and thinking something was wrong, I quickly moved over to his chair. “You look so serious. Has something happened?”
“Not yet” —he smiled— “though I’m hoping it will.” He placed his large hand behind my head and drew my mouth down to his. Owen tasted of the sea, and smelled like the wind and the sun. If I could have absorbed him fully into me, I would have.
Finally, he drew back from me, and his steel-gray eyes locked on mine. “I love you.” The three words, spilled forth in his deep, sensual voice, made chills run through my body. On a day when the temperature was well into the eighties, my body’s response echoed what my heart and mind already knew: I wanted this man, in every way.
“Marry me, Eliza. Marry me and I’ll love you deeply and thoroughly, always.”
I smiled at his choice of words for they reminded me of the first time we’d kissed.
Then a thought suddenly occurred to me. “I’m not allowed to live out here, Owen,” I reminded him. “The government doesn’t want a keeper’s family living at an offshore light. You know that.”
“I know.” He smiled. “But I’m way ahead of you. I put in a request to be transferred to the light down in Key West. It’s on land, and when a light is on land, the government has no objection to the family living there, too.”
“Key West?” I asked, startled. Not only had this man been thinking about marrying me, but he was also assuming my answer would be ‘yes’ and preparing for it. “But what if the transfer doesn’t come through? We could wait forever.”
“True. But I’m not willing to wait for you forever. If I don’t get an appointment to the Key West light within a certain amount of time, or even one of the other onshore lights, then I’ll figure something else out. I’ve made investments over the years.”
“Investments?” I asked. This was the first time he’d mentioned such. “Like what?”
“Eliza, when a man is out to sea for a long while, he doesn’t have much to spend money on,” he explained. “I’ve been able to put quite a bit away. We’d have more than enough to live on until I figure out what else I’d want to do, but the way Miami is growing—and the Keys, too, once the railroad connects them all—I might just go ahead and invest in more land. But, did I hear you right when you said we could wait forever? Are you—”
I stopped him before he could finish his question. “Yes, I’m going to marry you, Owen.” I smiled. “I’ll marry you,” I repeated in a breathy whisper as I laid my head down on his chest.
“Ah, Eliza, you’ve made me one very happy man.” I could hear the smile in his voice. “Very happy,” he repeated softly as he began stroking my hair. Lying against him, I could hear his heart beating rapidly, and I knew that its rhythm matched mine. Soon enough, I thought, our bodies will be matching each other’s rhythm, as well, and I have no doubt that we’ll be perfectly in sync in that way, too. Smiling, I inhaled the smell of Owen’s skin once again before he slid over on the chair and pulled me up next to him so that I was lying beside him. He turned onto his side and then rose up enough so that his weight was resting on his right elbow. Gazing down at me, he lifted his left hand to my face and gently followed the lines of it with his fingertips, then lightly ran them over my lips. “God, you’re beautiful,” he whispered. Then nothing more was said for our mouths were far too busy to talk.
Chapter 18
The Bounty of Land and Sea
Owen came into town two days after asking me for my hand in marriage, and did the gentlemanly thing by properly asking my father for it, as well. When Papa gave us his blessing, Owen asked my mother and me to join them on the veranda, and then he took a small wine-colored velvet box out of his trousers’ pocket and lifted the lid, revealing an exquisite emerald-cut ruby ring nestled within. Surrounding the large bright red stone were tiny round diamonds. The gold band was a deep bronzy yellow, indicating the piece was as old as it was valuable. Taking it from the box, Owen slid it on my finger. It was a little large, but not knowing what size ring I wore, he’d had no adjustments made on it. “We’ll take it to the jewelers tomorrow,” he said. “I want the world to know you’re take
n.”
“With a ring like that,” Papa teased, “people will see that she’s spoken for from a mile away.” Seeing how happy Owen made me brought my parents happiness, too, though I could detect a certain sadness they were undoubtedly feeling now that their youngest was about to fly the nest.
Owen’s week in town happened to coincide with a visit from Uncle James. We rarely saw Mama’s brother these days for he was busy building Flagler’s hotel on Key Largo, but Uncle James was also in the midst of drawing up the architectural blueprints for a large home he wanted to build for himself there. It never failed to amaze me how much he and Mama looked alike, especially with their red hair and brown eyes. But they didn’t just share the same looks. They also shared a special bond. Over the years, he and Papa had grown very close, too, so every visit from my uncle was highly anticipated and greatly enjoyed by everyone.
Uncle James had traveled up to Miami via steamboat, and though he enjoyed the beautiful scenery as he traveled along the chain of islands, the trip took far longer than traveling by rail would.
“I’ll tell y’all,” my uncle said after he swallowed another bite from his second helping of Mama’s good country fried steak. “Leisurely travel on the great American steamboat is all well ’n good if time isn’t an issue, or if one just wants to sightsee. But for the business man, or for anyone who simply wants a more efficient way of getting from point A to point B, the railroad is the only way to go.
Owen had joined us for dinner, and he and my uncle seemed to hit if off immediately. “How do you think the railroad will fare once the automobile picks up in popularity and becomes affordable for everyone?” Owen asked.
“Frankly, I think automobiles will become the most popular way to travel,” my uncle replied. “But it’ll take a while for that to happen. Can you imagine the number of roads that’ll have to be put in, in order to make purchasing an automobile worthwhile? It’s mind boggling!”
“Maybe I should invest in concrete,” Owen laughed.
“Not such a bad idea,” my uncle said with a smile. “However, buying stock in the Florida East Coast Railway, or land along the train’s route in South Florida is pretty much guaranteed to bring about a nice return on one’s investment. Just the number of folks who are down here working on the railroad alone is in the thousands. And I’d be willing to bet most of them will find other work down here once the line’s been laid, but that’s gonna take a long while to finish. Those folks need places to live, which means land is becoming a valuable commodity. And it’s not just workers who are putting money into our economy and our pockets. There’s a lot more folks coming down for vacation, and because of the trains, the tourists aren’t limited to just the well-to-do anymore. Land along the tracks is gold.”
“Actually, I did—invest, I mean,” Owen clarified. “Some months back.”
I remembered he’d told me he’d made investments the day he’d asked me to marry him, but I’d been far too distracted by the proposal to be interested in what those investments were. Now I was more than curious to hear more. My future would be affected by any investments he made.
“I knew I’d heard your name somewhere!” Uncle James exclaimed, snapping his fingers as he did. “Did you invest in the Florida East Coast Railway, specifically the hotel I’m involved in?”
“No, no,” Owen laughed. “Though I should have. I invested through a small company out of New York. As far as the Keys go, we have just a small amount of property on Marathon.”
Uncle James let out a long, low whistle. “That’s about halfway down the chain of Keys. It’s a mighty nice spot to own some land.” He was obviously impressed.
“Eliza,” my uncle said, turning his attention to me. “You have found yourself a very foresighted man. He knows a good thing when he sees it.”
“That I do,” Owen softly agreed as his intense gray eyes met mine. “That I do.”
“Once your investments start paying off, I guess you’ll give up life as a light keeper,” my uncle said.
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe not,” Owen replied, turning away from me to answer him.
“Why in heaven’s name not?” My uncle looked completely baffled.
“Someone’s gotta be up in that tower watching over the sea, as well as the land. And since I own a small percentage of the latter, who better?” He smiled.
“Who better, indeed,” my father said quietly, lifting his glass to toast the man.
Chapter 19
Wise Words
Owen received an appointment to become the keeper at the land-based Key West light a week after having dinner with my parents and Uncle James. I was amazed it happened so fast, but as my ambitious fiancé explained, the present keeper was a single man, and since Owen wouldn’t be able to take me to an offshore light like Fowey, the Key West keeper had graciously agreed to switch with him. Suddenly, our plans for the future had to be undertaken immediately, and the first order of business was planning a wedding.
We decided on the date of October 27th, which was only six weeks away. During that time, Mama and I worked on my wedding trousseau, including a beautiful cream-colored satin wedding gown. There wasn’t much frill to it, which I preferred; it had a streamlined fit instead, with an elegant draping neckline. The veil I would wear was shorter in length than most veils, only reaching the middle of my back. I would wear my hair in a low bun, and the veil would be attached to it by a small comb. Preparing my trousseau took less time than it otherwise would have because I already owned plenty of clothes, and what I didn’t already have, I could easily buy off the rack at Burdine’s. The kind retailer was happy for me and my new life ahead, though I knew he hated to lose me as an employee. With the little time I had left at home, I spent a good portion of it working at the store, giving Mr. Burdine ample time to find the right individual to take my place.
The small wedding ceremony would take place at the Presbyterian Church, followed by an equally small reception at the Royal Palm Hotel. Afterward, Owen and I would stay the night there, then take a steamboat down to Key West the following morning. After settling in for a time and learning what was required of a keeper’s wife, I hoped to teach at one of the two schools on the large island.
One morning, about four weeks before the wedding, I was standing in front of Burdine’s, inspecting the window display, when I heard a familiar voice call my name from behind me. Turning around, I found Paroh Monday standing there. Seeing the dignified man in the plaid scarf turban, long red and black tunic, and buckskin breeches warmed my heart for a second before I remembered that I was mad at him.
“Mr. Monday,” I said, giving him a curt nod.
“Miss Harjo,” he said, returning the nod, as well. “You making sure that window’s clean enough so that everyone can get a good look at the many temptations?” He smiled a mischievous little grin, and his dark eyes twinkled.
“I guess that’s one way of looking at it.” I grudgingly smiled in response.
“Clean as you make those windows, people will be looking at it all real good.” His smile broadened.
I laughed in spite of myself, and then waited, unsure where this was going.
Paroh’s smile softened, and he suddenly looked quite humble, almost contrite. “Miss Eliza, sometimes a man can be very foolish when he’s told he’s wrong about something, especially when the one doing the telling is a woman.”
I started to say something to the effect that it shouldn’t matter who does the telling, but he held his hand up to stop me. “Sometimes, you need to wait to hear a full sentence instead of a half,” he said gently.
As much as I hated to admit it, he was right.
“Sometimes,” he continued, “I try to honor the old ones and their ways so much that it dishonors the young ones. Things are changing; new ways are required now. In the end, it causes much division among a people whose greatest defense is their unity. Would you consi
der coming back again to teach my people?”
“I’m going to be married in a few weeks and then I’m leaving for Key West, Mr. Monday,” I said. A couple of seconds of silence passed with neither of us saying anything. He looked as though he was turning to leave, but before he could, I blurted out, “But, I could come out until then.” Unable to stop myself, I asked, “Can the girls learn the lessons, too?”
“While I see that the world changes, I also see that not everything or everyone in it does.” He shook his head, but he smiled as he did so. “Yes, Eliza, the girls can learn, too,” he acquiesced.
I was absolutely shocked that he’d agreed to my request, and my first response was to throw my arms around him and hug him, but I held myself in check. However, I had to know why he was relenting. “Was it my offer of money that changed your mind, Mr. Monday?”
“No, woman with spirit like fire,” he said softly. “It was your words.” With that, he turned and mounted his magnificent dark gray stallion, then set off down the dirt street, walking slowly and sitting ramrod-straight in his saddle, looking to all the world like the chief that he was.
Chapter 20
An End to More than a Day
I was making my way back home along the river after finishing up a long day. I’d worked for Mr. Burdine in the morning, followed by an afternoon of lessons at the village. Now, as Sundae and I ambled along, I was thinking about my upcoming wedding in less than three weeks, and the fact that Dylan was able to come home for it.
Mama and Papa had gone down to the Keys on their trawler, the Deep Secrets, and their first stop was at the Port of Entry in Key West. Papa needed to have some things appraised and sold from a small wreck that he’d been working off Fowey. The wind had caught the ship and slammed it against the reef. Fortunately, the crew had all made it ashore and was able to recover most of their cargo of hides, ginger and brandy after Papa helped parbuckle the ship. In payment, he was given a barrel of brandy, seven hides, and half-dozen chamber pots. We’d laughed about the latter, but, as my mother was quick to point out, they’d bring in money that was just as good and green as any other cargo. After my parents cashed in on their salvage, they’d pick up my brother at Alligator Reef lighthouse. Dylan had worked plenty of overtime while at Fowey, due to the shortage of keepers, and was finally able to take a much-needed vacation. From Alligator, they would return home for the wedding.
