by Lynn Hubbard
“Come on.” She laughed abandoning them by the wayside as she lifted her skirt up and ran toward the water. Chase and Jaelyn always ready for adventure followed. Their usual elegant gait was a bit award in the moving sand under their feet. Jaelyn stooped down to pick it up letting it trail through her fingers. Thomas came up next to her enjoying her reaction to the new experience.
He bent down and lifted up a white seashell placing it gently in her hand.
“What is this?”
“A seashell. There used to be an animal that lived inside. They become abandoned and wash up to shore.”
“It is beautiful.”
“Not half as beautiful as you.” Thomas whispered and when she looked up at him with sparkling eyes he kissed her.
“Would you like to venture closer?” Warren asked Sally as Riley slowly made his way towards the others.
Sally wrinkled up her nose from the smell of the wet seaweed and fish. She forced a smile and nodded taking Warren’s arm as he lead her closer. Sally soon found out why Amelia suggested she leave her stockings at home and had chosen to abandon her shoes. Hers were soon filled with sand on the inside and scuffing the polished leather on the outside. Frowning she bent down to remove them as well. Warren knelt in the sand and unbuckled them for her. Slipping her tender feet out of each one. Sally’s face blushed at the innocent contact as plans for tonight formed in her head.
Amelia sat in the sand next to Chase, both of them quiet just enjoying the respite.
“You’re right. This IS amazing.” He said looking down at the water inching closer to him with each breathe.
“I love it! The sun, the waves, the water. It reminds me of home.” She said the last part a bit sadly as she buried her feet in the sand. She wondering how her father was doing.
“My home is surrounded by trees and hills and rivers.”
The uncertainty in his voice caused her to look over at him. He was sitting in the sand looking forward as far as he could see. The wind was blowing his black hair haphazardly across his face. He turned his dark eyes on her and the vision of his perfect face took her breath away. Maybe she could live with trees, hills and rivers. Or perhaps he would choose the water. No matter what her future held, she was determined that he would be in it.
“Sabrina told me how beautiful your home was. Perhaps, I’ll get to visit one day.”
“It is difficult. The old ways are almost gone. We have to progress if we want to survive.” He said a bit sadly.
And it was sad. What good is progress if it destroys what was once majestic?
Her head turned towards where Thomas was drawing in the sand. Jaelyn was watching his movements closely as he used the stick to carve. Curious Amelia went over to see as well; Chase was close behind her.
He had drawn a slightly lopsided map of the country. On it he pointed out where they were on the very edge, their home in Oklahoma and since Amelia had joined them he pointed out her home in California.
“So far.” Jaelyn expressed thinking of the long train trip.
“Yes. It is a big country. There are some that are even bigger and some very small.”
“And they are always fighting to become larger and more powerful.” Amelia added with disdain. “Enough of this! We came to have some fun!” She wiped out the map with her foot as she grabbed Chase’s hand and pulled him towards the water.
She stopped only to hike her skirt up as she stepped into the cold water. She wriggled her toes in the wet sand as the frothy water washed away her fears and worries. Thomas soon joined her with Jaelyn in his arms. Chase, after watching Thomas carefully roll up his trouser legs, followed suit.
A dark shadow loomed over her and she turned to find Chase dangerously close. She turned to look up at him and was speechless. His lips were so close.
Chase was mesmerized as well. Amelia kept talking about the beauty of the sea but he didn’t think any of it compared to her. He placed his hands on her shoulders for balance. There was just a fraction of air between them as he dipped his head towards her lips.
Then, a scream rent the air.
Recognizing his sisters voice Chase went on full alert. He let go of Amelia so fast she almost fell as he turned to see a sodden Jaelyn and Thomas sitting in the surf.
His booming laughter caused his sister to splash in his direction. With a gleam in her eye Amelia gave Chase a small push rendering him off balance. With his lightning reflexes he pulled the shrieking Amelia in with him. Laughter from the shore caught their attention as all four turned to see Sally giggling in delight as she grabbed the surprised Warren and joined the fray.
After a brief water fight in which the waves won. A serious Thomas suggested they get back before the sundown so they won’t catch a chill in the night air. Riley not wanting to be seen with the unruly pairs had headed back to the hotel to rest his leg.
Chase and Amelia trailed a bit behind the others on the way back. “Do you like the sea now?” She asked a hint of hope in her voice.
“It is very salty.” He said liking the salt from his lips. Amelia so enthralled with watching his ruby tongue she wasn’t watching where she was going and ran into a lamp post. Chase instantly turned his full attention to her making sure she was okay as he ran his hand along her arm and shoulder.
“I’m fine.” She whispered reaching up both hands and grabbing his sopping hair as she pulled his face towards her so she could taste his salty lips for herself.
Chase pulled her against him holding her tightly as he kissed her back. A soft growl left his lips as a hand tapped his shoulder. He turned expecting to see Riley, instead he found his sister grinning like a bobcat.
“Warren says to hurry up. He has a table for us to eat. Although I’m sure what you’re hungry for is not on the menu.”
Amelia turned her red face aside as she adjusted her dress, which had mysteriously crept up her thigh. She tried to ignore the whispers and stares of the towns’ folks who had stopped to watch the spectacle.
Heaven forbid she ever actually be alone with Chase. If she had this reaction to him in front of a town full of people, her heart had no chance if she ended up alone with him.
Trying to regain her composure, she hurried back to the hotel with Jaelyn leaving Chase to follow at a more leisurely pace as his heart and mind battled in his thoughts.
Chapter 18
Back in the hotel room, Amelia was lost in her own thoughts as she readied for dinner. She stripped off her damp clothes as she listened to a steady stream of chatter from Sally.
“I smell like fish.”
“My hair looks like a tumble weed.”
“I have sand everywhere. I mean everywhere! How did I get sand in my hoohoo?”
At the last comment Amelia had to laugh at her roommate. “Yes, sand does seem to be ubiquitous! Take a cloth and rub it off. Hurry up I am starving!”
“For food?” Sally asked coyly.
Amelia mumbled a retort as she side stepped the question. A knock on the door rescued her and she moved to open it as she straightened her fresh dress. She had chosen a simple calico dress with tiny blue flowers to match her eyes.
Pulling open the door a crack she peeked out hoping to be met with Chase’s dark eyes but finding Riley there instead.
“You ready sis? Everyone else went down to hold a table.”
“Just a sec.” She said shutting the door in his face. She was a bit disappointed that Chase had not waited for her. Sally looked disconcerted as well. She peeked into the mirror above the vanity as she tried to pin up some errant strands of hair.
Sally glanced over at her desperation. “Here let me.” She said coming over removing all the pins in Amelia’s thick blonde hair and running a brush through it. “If they want food, let them have food. We’ll show them what they can’t have.”
Ten minutes later, they were headed down to the dining room with a speechless Riley hobbling along.
Warren stood up so fast his thigh hit the table and a horrible racket e
rupted as it slide across the wooden floor. Amelia ignored her cousins antics and desperately tried not to look at Chase, as Sally had suggested, but he was light gravity and her eyes instantly sought him out.
She was quite dismayed to find his back to her and in a deep conversation with Thomas.
With a flounce, which she has learned oh so long ago, she moved to sit in the empty seat next to Jaelyn and Sally next to her.
Unfortunately, this placed her in front of Chase and she had no escape from his dark gaze as he greeted her. She nodded to him as she flashed a brilliant smile to the waiter as he recited the specials for the day.
Chase frowned not familiar with any of the items the stuttering waiter had spoken. What the hell was a shrimp or crawfish? Not wanting to ask for descriptions he chose the lemon fish. Fish is fish.
Riley choose crawfish and the rest choose the shrimp. The waiter left with another glance at Amelia and he frowned. He stared at her across the scarred wooden table, she was breathtaking. Her yellow hair was twisted up on top of her head except for a couple of curly strands that framed her face. He had never seen her more beautiful. It was odd how each and every time he saw her she seemed more stunning than the last. Her blue eyes flickered up to meet his as if reading his mind and she quickly looked away with her cheeks a bit pink.
“Chase?”
He rotated his head to follow Riley’s voice who had apparently asked him a question. “I was telling everyone about the lighthouse. You must check it out at night.”
Not wanting to ask what a lighthouse was he just nodded in agreement feeling a bit out of sorts in this strange environment.
“What’s a lighthouse?” Jaelyn asked to his relief and he listened in as well as the others to Thomas’ answer.
“A light house is a very tall building shaped like a candle stick. They are built on land near the sea. The top portion is an actual light, which brightly shines to guide boats safely into port.”
“The Biloxi light is special.” Riley said taking up the conversation. “It has a cast iron exterior. Kind of like a large skillet. They are all painted different colors so that the passing boats know which port is which in case they lose their way. It was almost destroyed during the storm last fall, but it still stands strong.”
“As does its keeper. A woman named Maria keeps the light and has since her husband passed. A lonely life for sure.” Warren added grateful for Sally’s admiring glance.
“A woman?”
“Yes, I don’t know why people find it so amazing. Women can do most anything a man can do.” Amelia added boldly.
Chase wanting to get back in her good favor, and experiencing everything her cousin Sabrina was capable of doing, heartily agreed. The only one not in agreement was Warren. Who still had his own superiority issues to deal with.
The conversation was interrupted by the waiter returning with an empty bucket and several heaping plates of some very strange creatures. He set the bucket in the middle of the table and delivered the plates. Chase looked at his fish and was grateful for his choice as he took a bite.
“Good?” Amelia asked as she picked one of the creatures of her plate and rapidly ripped its limbs off and tossed them in the bucket. She popped it into her mouth with a small moan. Chase sat up a bit straighter in his chair as his dark eyes watched pick up another one. Noticing his stare she held it out to him and after a moment’s hesitation, he took it from her their fingers touching slightly.
“Have you had shrimp before?” Warren asked as he dug into his own pile.
“No, we had crawdad’s in some of the creeks but I’ve never seen a shrimp.” He said still holding the one Amelia had given him. Warren showed him how to clean it and he cautiously took a bite of the pale flesh.
He nodded his approval and ate the rest. “Very good.”
“Best shrimp in the world is right here in the gulf. They catch them off shore with cargo nets. The fresher the better.”
Amelia tossed Chase a couple more shrimp as she ate her fill. She turned to Riley inquiring how his leg was feeling.
“Bit sore but I’ve felt worse.” He said grinning at his pun.
“I’ll stop in and look at it before bed. You should try to get into the water tomorrow. The sea salt does wonders for healing wounds.” Thomas added.
Amelia was tired from the trip but not ready to head to bed. “I think I’m gonna take a walk down to check out the lighthouse as Riley suggested. Anyone else want to join me?”
“I’ll go.” Chase offered. To her delight the rest declined.
The group finished eating and Warren insisted on taking care of the tab. Sally yawned covering her mouth with her hand. “I don’t know about you all, but I am exhausted.” The others agreed and moved to head upstairs for the evening.
Thomas fetched his bag as he and Jaelyn followed Riley into his. Jaelyn looked away as Riley removed his pants. Unwrapping the blood soaked bandages Thomas frowned at the redness surrounding the wound. He quickly doused it with whiskey and patted it dry as Riley hissed. He quickly and efficiently bandaged it up suggesting he stay off it as much as possible.
Thomas and Jaelyn retreated to her room as Riley settled down for some much needed sleep. Warren retired to his own room after dropping Sally off at hers. He sat down on the edge of the bed and was pulling off his boots as he heard a small knock on the door.
Chapter 19
Sabrina sat on the front porch in the cool night air. It was a beautiful evening. The sky was clear and there must be a million stars out tonight. The door creaked open and Brock stepped out to join her. He sat next to her on the porch swing as it creaked with the added weight. Settling in he wrapped his arm around her shoulders pulling her close.
“What are you thinking of?”
“Nothin’ just looking at the stars.”
“They are very bright tonight.”
“When I was little I thought if I could just get closer I could touch one. I climbed up in the old oak as high as I could and it seemed the higher I climbed the farther away they got.”
“My mother always said that they were our ancestors who came out to watch over us as we slept.”
“Do you believe that people are still with us after they die? Sometimes it’s as if I can feel Lydia nearby.”
“Our loved ones are always with us whether they are of the flesh or of the spirit. You’re cold. You should come in and let me warm you.” He stated rubbing her bare arm.
Sabrina nodded a bit reluctant to let the night slip by so soon. She let out a small squeal of surprise as Brock easily lifted her up in his arms and carried her up the stairs to their bed.
***
Amelia again grabbed Chase’s hand as they walked. He had such large strong hands and his skin was always warm as if he radiated his own internal heat source.
The street was almost vacant as they walked to the water. They could hear it as they got closer. Amelia had always marveled how the ocean by her house was always restless, constantly moving.
Chase was unusually quiet and she wondered if he was as tired as she was. She would love to crawl into her soft bed and sleep but she didn’t want to waste this night. Once they passed all the stores and buildings it was very dark. The water was a black shadow on the horizon.
“There.” Amelia said pointing to the beam of light, from the lighthouse, stretching off into the night sky. Her voice sounded odd in the stillness. A bit rough and she cleared her throat.
“It shines all the time?”
“Day and night.”
So enthralled with watching the beam cutting into the darkness she did not even notice that Chase had moved behind her. He wrapped his arms around her chest and rested his chin on her head as they stood there watching and enjoying the moment.
“You’re different.”
“Excuse me?” He asked perplexed as she twisted in his arms to face him.
“You’re different out here, tonight. When you are around your family, you are more talkative, more of a
prankster. But tonight, tonight you are very…pensive.”
“I’m a what?”
Amelia smiled, “Pensive, more reserved, quiet.”
“And that’s bad?”
“No, not bad, just different. You are unlike any man I have ever met. There are so many out there, who pretend to be who they are not. Liars, cheats and you’re so different.”
“And that’s good?”
“Yes that’s very good.” She whispered pulling his face down to hers.
Chase almost growled. He had been fighting his passion for her all day. When she had come down for dinner looking like a goddess it was almost too much for him to resist. And now, now she was here in his arms offering her heart to him. He was starting to like this place very much. Maybe he could live with water.
Amelia’s head spun as she was once again caught up in his kiss. The world disappeared, she was in another place. She felt his hand slide down her thigh and then back up as he floundered through her layers of clothing seeking her flesh. So lost she did not notice the dark shadows closing in on them. However, Chase did. Releasing her he spun pushing her behind him and pulling a huge serrated knife from somewhere on his being.
“If you want to continue to breathe I suggest you turn around and move on.” Chase warned, his voice deep and deadly.
Amelia forced herself to clear her head as she reached for the derringer she always carried. Squinting through the darkness she could make out three distinct figures and she could smell them from here. She cursed her stupidity for dragging Chase out here alone at night. These were desperate times for folks.
“We don’t want no trouble, just some company for the evening.”
“The only company you’re gonna have tonight is the grim reaper if you don’t take your sorry asses back into town.” Amelia said moving to stand beside Chase so she would have a better shot.
The men seeing the gleam of silver from the knife and gun backed away with their hands in the air. “Didn’t mean no trouble now.”
