Daughter of the Raven

by Cherime MacFarlane

  Removing his hat, Dmitri reached across to hang it on a hook near the chart table.

  "By the way Stanislaus, I hope you do not mind, but I have arranged to have your sister and brothers stay with us in Sitka. You need to have your family there for the wedding." Dmitri eyed his crew.

  "And you were sure there was to be a wedding?" Anya smiled at her father.

  He dropped onto the bench which surrounded the table, as she slid sideward to accommodate him. Petyr moved over to give Stanislaus room.

  "I had no doubt. How it was to be accomplished?" He smiled at his daughter. "That was another matter. Now then, tell me this tale, leave nothing out."

  There are a few things I intend to leave out. Anya thought to herself as she told him of all that had transpired since they had left him in Seattle. Stanislaus made a pot of coffee while Anya told of the meeting in San Diego. Night had fallen. A slight fog swirled around the Arctic Tern. The air was just a bit cool. The fire in the galley was comforting.

  Dmitri listened to the plan Keetering and Anya had hatched in San Diego. He began to laugh. "Good one! Excellent idea! Samuel is going to get to perform one more wedding for a Bressoff. How appropriate." Dmitri grinned.

  "Tomorrow we are going to need to determine who is taking care of what at the office. Unfortunately, we cannot just shut down for a few weeks." He looked over at Stanislaus.

  "You know your people. You delegate tomorrow who will be responsible for what while I gather up my things from the house. Then we will get out of here, get to Sitka and get you two settled."

  Anya looked at Stanislaus. She reached across the table for his hand. They were lost in each other.

  Dmitri knew that look. "Anya, should you spend the night at Stanislaus's house?"

  He answered, not taking his eyes from her. "No need sir, she is quite safe here."

  It amused Dmitri to watch Stanislaus and Anya as they cruised north. Stanislaus kept his 1promise to Dmitri with difficulty. Anya teased him unmercifully. She took every opportunity to touch him. But, Stanislaus took it with good grace.

  Petyr and Dmitri got to know one another as they cruised up the Inside Passage. Bressoff decided his manager's assessment was correct, if the young man wished it, they would take him into the business.

  Sitka was beautiful in the last of the summer. The Arctic Tern came to rest like its namesake, gently bobbing at anchor in the bay. Dmitri greeted Camille and the children with hugs and kisses, happy to be at home, he was glad all between Anya and Keetering was finally over and done with.

  Stanislaus went to see his brothers and sister who had been settled in a rented home nearby. That night when the children were in bed, the entire 1odyssey was related again to Camille, Leontine and Samuel. Anya asked Samuel if he would marry them on board the schooner.

  "I will be more than happy to take command of the Arctic Tern long enough to marry the two of you."

  He looked at Camille and Dmitri with a slow grin. "I think these two are a bit more amenable than the last couple I united in wedded bliss."

  Dmitri shook his head, then laughed at Samuel's jibe. It was so easy to look back on it all now. He recalled his anger when forced to marry Camille. Contrasted with that, was the situation between Anya and Stanislaus. These two could not wait much longer. If not married shortly it was likely Anya would wind up shocking all of Sitka society.

  "Well how soon do you think?" Dmitri asked Anya.

  "Tomorrow?" She glanced at her family hopefully.

  "Why not. Then you can take the Arctic Tern, we will wait here while you two go off somewhere. I think I know the perfect spot. I will leave the coordinates on the chart. Two weeks only, then Stanislaus needs to get back to Seattle. We have a business to run."

  "Yes, Poppa. Can I go tell Stanislaus?"

  "Go along with you. I am sure he is waiting." Dmitri watched her dash from the room into the hall. It was probable that Stanislaus was waiting in the yard of the house down the street for her.

  "Tomorrow!" Anya flew at him and threw her arms around his waist.

  Taking her face in his hands, Stanislaus kissed her slowly. Her mouth opened and he pressed deeper into the kiss. While he could still think, he moved her slightly away.

  "Not a minute longer Anya. Not. one. minute. longer than tomorrow." He 1punctuated each word with a kiss.

  It was a golden day. Anya was up with the sun. After making coffee, she roused the family. Anya badgered and pushed everyone. Once she had them goaded into getting dressed, she turned her energy on the Rakov family.

  Running to the house, she pounded on the door only to find Stanislaus was already up. The house was in an uproar as he prodded everyone to hurry.

  Samuel Devins married Anya Bressoff to Stanislaus Rakov, there in the harbor as Anya refused to budge one inch, complaining it would take too long to go out to sea. They said their vows and the couple began ferrying the wedding party back onto land.

  Dmitri was amused to no end. Never had he seen two people more ready to be alone. Camille giggled as she took his hand.

  Dmitri kissed her palm. Well, perhaps once before.

  The coordinates of the cove were as her father had promised, written on the chart. By evening they were anchored there. It was a bit up a channel, near a stream which tumbled over a cliff into the multi colored water of the Passage. A small point of land concealed them from the open sea. As soon as the anchor dropped, Anya began reefing the mainsail while Stanislaus took in the jib. They met in the middle where they began to remove their clothing. Anya tugged at his shirt as Stanislaus unbuttoned the jeans she had changed into before they left the harbor.

  As she wiggled out of the pants, he unbuttoned the blouse and pushed it off her shoulders. He was pleased to see she wore nothing underneath. Anya practically ripped his shirt from his body. At last, they were naked in the twilight. Stanislaus lifted her up; and Anya locked her legs around his waist. The only sounds were those of the gulls and the water falling into the ocean.

  Anya locked her arms around his neck as she slid her body up and down his. His breath was warm on her neck. Still holding her tightly to him, Stanislaus backed toward the hatch.

  Lowering her feet to the deck, "Stay there." he ordered.

  Breathing heavily, Stanislaus ducked into the interior of the ship. He returned with an armful of blankets which he spread on the deck in the last of the twilight.

  He beckoned to her with one finger. "Come here Anya. We have a bit of unfinished business to attend to."

  Anya smiled as she hurried over to the improvised bed and lay down. She reached up to him arching her back as she spread her arms wide. "I have waited so long. Now husband, now I will have you."

  Stanislaus lowered himself gently onto her body trying to touch every lovely inch of her. For a time he just lay there, covering her. Ever so slowly, Stanislaus began kissing her face, lips, eyelids and the silky skin of her neck.

  "We shall have each other, heart of my heart. I have never wanted anyone else, but you."

  He teased her, playing with her body until she was panting and squirming against him.

  "Stanislaus, please! I have never wanted anyone as I want you. Never!"

  It was what he had been waiting to hear. Stanislaus lifted her hips so he could press into the warmth of her. Clinging to him, Anya called his name again and again as they finally both came home.

  1Thank you for taking time to read Daughter of The Raven. If you enjoyed it, please consider telling your friends or posting a short review. Word of mouth is an author’s best friend and much appreciated.

  Other books by Cherime MacFarlane:

  "Behind The Raven Mask" S1on of a Russian adventurer, Dmitri Bressoff stays in Alaska after the purchase of Seward's Folly by the United States. Mauled by a bear, as a young fur hunter, he is a widower with a ten year old girl to raise. Dmitri is feeling his age. The year is 1881 and he is headed home to his island and his difficult daughter. Dmitri cannot forget his first wife, a half Russian, half
Tlingit girl. He has no wish to remarry.

  Camille is the niece of the captain of the steamship Dmitri is sailing home on. Her uncle is not happy being saddled with her. Camille is a widow suffering from nightmares, and is on the verge of being addicted to laudanum.

  A drunken mistake gives the captain the means to get rid of Camille and make her Dmitri's wife.

  The couple tries to come to terms with an arranged marriage, but find themselves under the threat of murder. Someone wants Camille dead. They must cut through the lies to find the way to safety.

  Highland Light", Is the first of the MacGrough Clan series.

  Gideon is a ward of the Master of the Croatia Temple belonging to the Knights Templar. The knights manage to escape to Scotland. The master of the Temple strikes a bargain with Robert The Bruce. In exchange for safety, the eighteen men will marry into various clans allied with the Bruce faction. Ailene has seen the young man she wants. She will have him and no other. Gideon has honored the vows of chastity. He has no knowledge of women. He and Ailene must learn together.

  But Gideon owes his new King service. No matter how much he wishes to stay with his wife, he has a duty. Scotland is fighting for its life against England. At the same time, Gideon's new home is locked in a vicious internal struggle for power. Enemies are everywhere. The clan is in danger from all sides. The small bedroom they share is the only place where the young couple can find peace.

  "Wired For Sound."

  Gideon and Ailene's descendant, Hamish MacGrough's story begins in 1988. The band Hamish co-founded, Bushmaster, is on its 4th album and 2nd US tour. Vince, the front man and Hamish started the band as young college students. Now, Vince's nastiness has caused someone to exact the ultimate revenge, death.

  After coercing Lori into marrying him, Hamish isn't sure just how long she will stick around. His focus has been on keeping his wife happy and getting out of the band. He has a recording date in Glasgow and backers with a deadline. But, in Los Angeles, Vince is murdered and everyone in the band is a suspect, as far as the police are concerned.

  Hamish's artist wife, Lori, may have been involved with Vincent before Hamish met and convinced her to marry him. Is she involved? Hamish must find the killer. But when he finds the murderer will he be forced to protect that person?

  In a race to find the answer before the police, MacGrough has to use every resource he can, including the wife he fears may have had a hand in the murder.

  Lori had already been burned by one man. Can she trust her Scottish keyboard playing husband? Will their marriage survive this last gig?

  "North by Northeast"

  Hamish has a bit of what is called the sight in Scotland. He gets hints something is horribly wrong. Suddenly his wife, Lori, is missing. She was doing an important gallery show in Seattle. Half a world away, Hamish is terrified. Lori is gone and there is no ransom note. The remnant of his old band, Bushmaster, gathers to help Hamish search for Lori. Their search takes them from Seattle through Canada into a ghost town North by Northeast of Seattle.

  Lori has no idea why she had been kidnapped. Hamish is the musician, the famous one of the family and a partner in 1WarLoch Productions. What is the reasoning behind this? Will she live to find out?

  "Rhythm and Blues"

  Lurch Walker is the bad boy of the band Bushmaster. A rock solid, rhythm guitar player, he finally finds a woman he is ready to settle down with. Hamish's au pair and mutually adopted sister has claimed his heart. But Lurch's past is about to put an end to his dreams of home and family. Lurch and Hamish must make a stand 1as those threatening Lurch have now threatened Hamish's family and his adopted sister

  "Family Knots"

  Lori is recuperating from the birth of their third child. But things in the glen are starting to take a decided otherwoldly turn. Hamish suspects his oldest son, just a young boy, has a great deal more of the sight than he has.

  Lori has a touch of post-partum depression and is not able to paint. To make things even worse, Hamish's father's relatives have finally found him. His cousin wants something from Hamish which will require his leaving Lori and the glen when he most needs to be there. It is a family knot of major proportions.

  "The Templar's Treasure,

  As the MacGrough clan prepares to celebrate a milestone, chaos ensues. 1A 26 year old secret will be revealed, the father of a child exposed, a woman rescued and another stands up for the love she and her soul mate have shared for years. Lori and Hamish's 28th year anniversary party is off the charts. The MacGrough glen is turning up the heat. One very old anniversary gift holds the key to the last of the Templar’s Treasure. While the supernatural talents of one of the clan lead to a discovery of another sort. More history of the glen is about to be revealed to the MacGrough's of the twenty-first century.

  "The Twisted Laird"

  Edan MacGrough is the last of the male line of the MacGrough's. Culloden has claimed the rest. His older half-brother, The MacGrough, has given him a duty, he is to take care of the women and children who are left. In particular, Edan is to watch over Rhona, the widow of his brother, who is pregnant. The children are the only means the clan has to survive.

  Rhona hates Edan and always has. She will not make the commission given Edan by Hamish, easy.

  Edan does not feel up to the task, as he has a lame leg, twisted due to an accident shortly after birth. The MacGrough, warned by the sight, of hardships to come, has trained his successor to do what must be done. But nothing can prepare the young laird for the grief and pain he must deal with. Not only is his leg twisted, but his heart and soul are, as well.

  "Snagged" is the first of the Copper River Romances.

  In some places in Alaska there are only two places to socialize, the bar and the church. Dorcas' family chose the church. Trying to find her path, she is spending the winter in a remote cabin. The pilot of a small plane crashes on the river. Dorcas pulls James out, saving his life.

  James has been working alongside his father building the business for years. When he goes to Fairbanks to scout out a second location, his father is not happy about it. Leaving a day early, his plane develops engine trouble over the Copper River, far off course. Being thrown from the aircraft into the icy water, James thinks his life is over until the girl pulls him from the river.

  There is a family connection which goes back over 25 years, something neither of the young people discover until her family comes to spend Christmas with her at the remote cabin. Will an old lie tear the young couple apart? Will James' father finally listen to the truth?

  "Stalking Red,"

  The second of the Copper River Romances, finds a hunter in a bad spot. PR Jones is taken with the new tenant, Brenda. She unfortunately, is living with a summer intern from her office. PR must bide his time and remain a friend to Brenda, Red, if he wants to end this hunt successfully. 1He doesn't care what his parents think; Red is the one he will have. But PR wants marriage.

  Brenda is not sure she wants to lose her only real friend, PR Jones. On the other hand a friend with benefits would be nice. Will PR go for that kind of relationship? Red is not sure she is ready for anything else. She is also not sure what to do if her part Athabaskan, part white friend needs to move back to the Copper River Basin to deal with family issues.

  She understands the family connection is strong, but Brenda worked hard to become a paralegal. Giving that up is not something she wants to think about. This relationship may be doomed before it even starts.

  "Heart of the Hunter,"

  The third of the Copper River Romances, finds a young man, Jay Leighton, back from Afghanistan and happy to bury himself in the solitude of the Copper Basin. He is a hunter and a loner trying to heal scars, emotional wounds brought back with him. The last thing he needs is to be brought face to face with the loveliest woman to move to the Basin in the last year. His head is not ready, his heart is already lost.

  Leda is a teacher just out of school, who has not had time for love; Jay takes her by sur
prise. A soft spoken, slightly broken man, who lives in a small cabin with only with his dog, Licker, for company, Leda sees something in Jay she needs to pursue. But Leda is worried about her reputation in the tiny community of Kenny Lake. She should stay away from Jay. But can she? Just who is the hunter and who is the hunted?

  "Cougar Hunt,"

  She is very aware of the danger in the game she is playing. Meeting friends with benefits on the internet is not safe. The only constant in her life is the kid she keeps rejecting. But Joey keeps coming back until the night they share a sleeping bag during a snowstorm. Finally willing to admit she may need professional help, Linda finds she may have waited too long. Joey withdraws from college and leaves town without warning. Her world is suddenly in splinters around her. What has she done?

  The fourth of the Copper River Romances, strips away the masks Joe Friday Jones, the youngest Jones boy and Linda Rae Ed have been hiding behind. Linda is not the cheerful individual she appears to be. The only one who knows her secret is JF Jones. In love with Linda for years, he is finally forced to face the truth one cold night. Keeping Linda alive during a snow storm on the bluffs, JF gives her his heart. Linda pushes him away once again. She feels the four years between them would label her a "cougar". JF is afraid if she does not reach out for help, she will die, but he cannot take any more rejection from Linda.

  "Deirdre of the Sorrows"

  1Deirdre, deserted by her stepbrother is left with a stepfather who is becoming crazier with each drink and he drinks a lot. Sylvie, his youngest child, is in as much danger as Deirdre. Left with no choice, Deirdre takes matters into her own hands to protect not only Sylvie and herself, but her child by the monster.