Carried Home

by Heather Manning

Adam offered her his arm.

  Miss Thompson looked at it, up at him, back at his arm, and stood up straight. “No, thank you, sir. I can manage.” With her nose in the air, she started across the deck.

  Adam sped to catch up with her. He snagged her elbow. She jerked away.

  “Excuse me, Miss Thompson, but I am guessing you do not know the way to your cabin.”

  “I’ve been on my share of ships before, sir, so I do not think it will be too difficult to find. I used to sail on Gage and Caspian’s ship many times. You need not be concerned.” Her sea-foam green eyes flashed as she stared at him.

  Why was he so entranced by this woman? His captain’s sister? Why, he had only known her for a grand total of five minutes at the most. Maybe it was because she looked him straight in the eye, not off to the side, or straight at his scars. She made him feel like a normal person again. That must be it.

  “Miss Thompson, if you would just allow me the honor of escorting you to your cabin. Your brother asked me to.” Adam nodded at his captain, who leaned against the forecastle railing, chatting with Ivy. A grin stretched across his face as he spoke to the woman.

  A sudden longing filled Adam. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to care for a woman as much as Gage did for Ivy, and to feel that emotion returned?

  A sigh escaped his lips.

  “As you wish,” Miss Thompson muttered. She followed him down the companionway, past the door to the captain’s cabin, down a ways further, to the cabin Ivy had been staying in. He opened the door and motioned for her to enter.

  She did, and set her small bag on the cot.

  “Is that all you have with you, Miss Thompson?” He nodded to the bag.

  A frown creased her forehead. “Aye. ’Tis all I have.”

  “You will need to discuss the…sleeping arrangements of this room with Lady Shaw. There is only one cot, but you will need to share the room with her.”

  “If you could have someone set up a hammock for me, I would be happy to sleep there.”

  Adam raised his eyebrows. “Are you certain?” He knew many men who had fallen out of their hammocks their first nights at sea.

  The woman crossed her arms across her chest. “Like I said, sir, I have enjoyed my share of voyages with Gage.” She moved about the room and glanced out the tiny porthole at the far end. After a moment, she came back towards him. “Who are you, anyway? I do not recognize you from Caspian’s ship.”

  “Ah, yes. Gage allowed me to join starting this voyage.” Adam bowed at the waist. “First mate, Adam Douglas at your service, miss.”

  She nodded.

  “And may I ask you your full name, miss? I don’t believe Gage told me.”

  Fire flashed in her eyes. She was getting annoyed with him. Rather quickly. “Addie Thompson Poole, but please call me Miss Thompson.”

  Adam raised his eyebrows. Why would she not want to be called by her married name? In fact, she did not appear to be very mournful to have lost her husband only a few weeks ago. No, the only thing she appeared to be was quite annoyed.

  “Please, sir, I do not want you to think I am angry with you. I am just not in a mood to talk to a man. I mean you no offense, but the only man in my life who has not lied to me or treated me rudely is my brother. So I have no interest in further associating myself with any others.”

  Before Adam knew it, the little spitfire had tossed him out of the cabin.

  ****

  Addie squeezed her eyes shut as she leaned against the door she had just slammed in the man’s face. What was wrong with her? She had obviously hurt his feelings, and he had seemed nice enough. But she was in no mood to deal with men and their lies.

  First, her father. He had left before she was even born. Then, her adopted father. The man sold her off to the highest bidder, just to get her out of the house. And the highest bidder had whisked her away to another town and left her in debt. And then there was Mr. Faulke. When had he planned on telling her he was seeking out someone to replace her?

  What is wrong with everyone?

  Addie grimaced at the memory of the sadness in Mr. Douglas’s eyes when she had shooed him out of the cabin. He truly had not done anything to her. A terrible feeling sank to the pit of her stomach. How cruel of her.

  And he had…seemed different than most of the other men. Sure, he had stared at her. But he seemed to notice her, and not just how she looked.

  Addie, on the other hand, had noticed his features. The whole left side of his face was scarred like melted wax. It was a pity, for the right side was quite handsome. Poor man. But someone must love him, for he had been cradling a baby in his arms when she had first arrived. Where was the man’s wife?

  ****

  Gage laughed as Emma babbled a story in baby gibberish to him and Ivy. Ivy grinned at him from over the child’s head. He planted a kiss on Ivy’s cheek and tousled the tiny ringlets of fuzz on Emma’s head. “You’re a sweetheart, you know that?”

  Ivy leaned close to him. “She likes you. A lot. You know that, right?” Her eyes twinkled as she spoke. Gage could not resist a smile. Aye, he knew the babe liked him. It was the woman’s favor he was trying to win.

  He glanced at her from the side of his eye. Her gaze was focused only on the child. Only a handful of her copper locks had remained restrained in the coiffure she had stuffed them in earlier in the day. Their trek through the town had loosened them, and Gage had to admit, he much preferred her hair this way. Her cheeks were flushed, highlighting her tiny freckles. Her lips…her lips were pink and perfect. And he longed to kiss them again.

  Gage glanced about the deck. No. His men were watching. And if his men were watching, they would lose whatever trace of respect they had developed for her when she had been their captain.

  Ivy pulled away from Gage, and twisted to face the other direction. Frowning, Gage followed her gaze. Oh, Adam. Why was his face tightened in displeasure? “Is all well, my man?” He asked as Adam approached.

  “Yes…yes, Captain.”

  Gage raised his eyebrows.

  “Your sister has requested for a hammock to be strung in her cabin. She said you may continue to sleep on the cot if you wish.” He nodded to Ivy.

  “Very well. If you please, get one of the men to hang a hammock in the ladies’ cabin.” Gage rested a hand on Ivy’s arm as he addressed Adam.

  Adam nodded and left.

  “Why did he look so flustered, Gage?”

  Gage rotated to Ivy. Her forehead was furrowed with concern. “Oh, ’twas nothing, I am sure. He must simply be wondering how Addie could sleep in a hammock when many men on their first voyages fall out of those contraptions. Addie has been on a few voyages on Caspian’s ship, and she had to sleep in a hammock. She has grown accustomed to it now.”

  “Well, your sister seems to be a nice lady.” Ivy played with a lock of Emma’s fuzzy hair.

  “Aye, that she is, milady. I am pleased to have found her. I have missed her so. For a long time, she was all the family I had, so she means a lot to me.”

  Ivy’s eyes brightened. “When are you going to give her the lavender lawn we purchased in Port Royal?”

  “Lavender lawn…ah, the fabric! Yes, I will give that to her tonight. I want her to join us for dinner in my cabin. Tomorrow, I promise we will go out and stroll through the town. I know you enjoyed the chance to be back on dry land, and since my men will still be carousing about the wharves, we should have time to do so.”

  “Oh, thank you, sir! I appreciate that. I really do.”

  Gage chuckled. “It’s entirely worth it to see you happy, my sweet.”

  Emma let out a happy squeal and stretched her arms out toward Gage. “Papa!”

  Ivy cringed.

  Gage felt it like a knife through his heart. It seemed as if he was winning her over, yet she cringed at the thought of Emma being their daughter together. Mayhap she would never come to love him or actually accept his suit.

  ****

  Why did the babe continue to call Gag
e “Papa” and Ivy “Mama”? And yet…the sound grew more and more pleasing to Ivy’s ears every time she heard it. In fact, it made her smile inwardly. Ivy would give almost anything to be Gage’s wife and Emma’s mama. But would she give up her place in society, her reputation?

  Giving everything up was worth the struggle. Heaven knows, it was worth it. Why had she not realized so before?

  Since the day Ivy had vowed to stay away from Gage, he had seemed to push himself closer to her than ever. And she had loved it. Instead of growing to dislike him, it had only served to strengthen her love of the man. What was wrong with her? There was no way she could ever leave him without her heart breaking. It was an unavoidable fact.

  So what was there to do? Nothing. Because, this man, this captain, was hers. And she was not going to lose him.

  “Mama!” Emma seemed to voice Ivy’s thoughts. She was made for this family. This man and this toddler were hers. And she could never leave them.

  “Gage, are we staying on your ship tonight?”

  Ivy blinked. Oh. When had Addie come to stand in front of them? She hadn’t even noticed the girl come up on the deck.

  “Yes, we are, Addie. I feel safer with you and Ivy—Lady Shaw here with me, other than in some place in the city.”

  Addie’s stomach grumbled and she pressed a hand against it, her tan face growing red.

  Gage chuckled. “Are you hungry, my pet?”

  She laughed, flashing a set of perfect white teeth. The girl was like her brother in many ways. “Yes, I am. I’ve been avoiding eating in the town’s taverns at all costs. I would thoroughly enjoy a nice full meal.”

  “Why were you avoiding taverns?”

  “Oh, ’twas nothing to concern you. Shall we eat something now?”

  Gage frowned. “Aye. A meal should be arriving at my cabin in a few minutes. We can wait there.” He offered his arms to both ladies, who accepted his offer and allowed him to escort them to his cabin.

  Ivy balanced Emma on her hip as she walked. Once they arrived at Gage’s cabin, she settled the child on the bed.

  Addie stepped forward as Ivy nestled Emma in a cocoon of blankets. “Why doesn’t Mr. Douglas take care of his own child?”

  “Excuse me?” Ivy tucked the blankets around Emma as Gage rearranged the furniture of his cabin to accommodate the three of them dining.

  “Why doesn’t Mr. Douglas take care of his child? And where is her mother?” Addie gestured to Emma. “Except for when I first came aboard, I have only seen you and Gage caring for her. That’s incredibly selfish of the man.”

  Ivy laughed. “Oh, no, Emma isn’t Adam’s baby! She’s mine. And Gage’s.”

  Silence stretched across the cabin.

  Gage stopped fumbling with his desk immediately.

  Addie choked.

  Ivy gasped.

  “I-I didn’t realize…”

  “No! I did not mean it like that!” Ivy clapped a hand over her mouth.

  “Emma is not our actual daughter, Addie. We found her on the streets of Port Royal, being abandoned by her own mother. So we took her in, and she is ours now.” Gage shared a secret smile with Ivy. The action alone sent warm butterflies speeding from her belly to every direction of her body. A connection seemed to pass to her from his body, although they did not even touch. Aye, this man was special.

  “That was kind of both of you.” Addie raised her eyebrows.

  Gage shrugged. “It seemed to be the only decent thing to do.” He moved over to a trunk on the far side of the cabin. “Ah, how could I have nearly forgotten? I have something I wanted to give you today.”

  “Really?” Addie followed Gage.

  He opened the trunk and pulled out the bolt of lavender lawn. Her face brightened, and she emitted a high-pitched noise. “Oh, Gage, it is simply gorgeous! Whatever is this for?” She wrapped her arms around her brother’s neck in a hug.

  He chuckled as she loosened her grip. “Whatever you want, sister. When I caught word your husband had died and you could use my help, I decided to give you a gift when I came to retrieve you. Then I remembered the times when we were young and on the streets and you would want fabric for a new dress so terribly, but the shop owners would always toss us out of their establishments when they noticed we were parentless.”

  Addie’s gaze dropped. “Aye, I remember that. I did not enjoy being treated in that fashion.”

  “And now, I wanted to give you a new bolt of fabric. I could never buy you one before, and now I can. I wanted to see you happy again.”

  Addie smiled up at Gage and Ivy suddenly felt like an interloper, intruding on these sibling’s private affairs. She wished she knew this woman better.

  “I am happy, brother. Not only because of this gift, but because I am back with you.” Addie chuckled.

  “What’s funny, Addie?”

  “Well…I adore the fabric. I really do. It’s just…I never want to see another needle and thread again, so I fear this gorgeous material will not be made into a gown anytime soon.”

  “Oh, forgive me, Addie! When I chose the material, I had not realized you had taken a position aiding a milliner.”

  “No, do not worry; I am very pleased you even remembered those days. I will cherish this, and I’m sure I can get someone to help me sew it into a gown.” Addie winked at her brother.

  “I would be pleased to sew the gown for you, Addie.” Bittersweet tears stung Ivy’s eyes. She was truly happy for Gage and Addie, and yet she missed her brother dearly. However, she knew now that she could fully trust God to do whatever was best for the boy. Surely she would see him soon enough. After a moment, Ivy sat on the bed next to Emma. Emma’s face brightened and she crawled over the mattress to sit on Ivy’s lap. Ivy smiled and bounced the child up and down before cuddling her in her embrace.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Gage beamed as his sister fingered the fresh, bright fabric. Oh, the joy that had brightened her face! His gaze drifted over to the other side of the cabin where Ivy sat on the bed, playing with Emma. The poor thing. There had been a few times this afternoon Ivy had been left looking alone while he and Addie spoke of the past. She no doubt was missing her brother terribly when she saw him reunited with his younger sibling. He moved over to her side and brushed a lock of hair out of her forehead as Emma giggled and played with a piece of lace on Ivy’s dress.

  Slowly, Ivy’s eyes rose up to meet his. They were filled with adoration, confusion, and a hint of sadness. She looked over at Addie, who lounged in one of Gage’s armchairs. Addie smiled sweetly in their direction and then stared out the porthole, where the docks were bustling with nighttime activity.

  Gage ensnared Ivy’s hand in both of his and gave it a reassuring squeeze. He would let her get to know Addie, and they would soon get together like a small family. He hated to see Ivy feel out of place. Maybe after dinner together and they had shared the cabin for a few days, they would feel more at ease near each other. Gage would hate to see the two most important women in his life uncomfortable around each other.

  His thoughts were interrupted as one of his men carried in a tray of food and deposited it on the table. Another man trailed in behind him with cups and a pitcher of water . They sent a few long gazes in Addie’s direction, but after Gage thanked them, they exited the room.

  “Oh, this smells good!” Ivy commented. Her face brightened.

  Hunger rumbled in Gage’s stomach as he leaned to the table and sniffed. Yes, it did smell good. Platters of rice, poached pears, and roasted chicken and vegetables lined the table. Steam and savory scents wafted towards him. A plate of cheese on the far side of the table completed the menu.

  Addie gasped as she took in the wide array.

  Ivy’s eyes twinkled in appreciation. “Oh, Gage, this is amazing! I was growing so sick of the dried food we were eating during the voyage.”

  Gage flashed her a wink. “I made sure we would have good food while we were at port.” He circled the table, pulling out chairs for the
women. Once everyone had settled, he positioned himself between the ladies. He said a blessing, and they began to eat.

  “It is nice to eat here without the rest of the crew, Gage. They have become more reasonable, but still…I appreciate the privacy.” Ivy cut a small piece of pear off of her plate and popped it into Emma’s mouth.

  “Aye, miss. I just never thought it was proper for me to invite you here to dine alone with me.” He shrugged.

  “The food is delicious, brother.” Addie sank her teeth into a chunk of chicken. She was eating faster than he had seen anyone eat in a while.

  Gage felt a frown crease his forehead. “Have you eaten well since your…since Mr. Poole passed away, Addie?”

  She lowered her eyes. “After I secured my position at the milliner’s shop, I would dine in a tavern when I had enough money, but I despised being harassed by the other customers. The milliner’s shop was too close to the wharves for my liking.”

  Something sour sank in Gage’s stomach. “They didn’t…hurt you, did they, Addie?”

  “No, no, I got away. There’s nothing to worry about. I just taught them to keep their eyes and hands to themselves and I started to limit the times I went there because I did not like the patrons.” She nibbled on a chunk of cheese.

  Ivy slipped a spoonful of rice into her mouth and then drank a sip of water before speaking. “I am sorry you’ve had to go through everything that has been thrown your way, Addie. It sounds like you have had an unpleasant life, and you are still quite young.”

  Addie shrugged. “I know everything that has happened is for a reason. I may not know what it is right now, but I will someday.”

  A smile tugged Ivy’s lips upwards. Gage had trouble tearing his gaze away from those pretty lips. “That is true.”

  Emma grabbed a chunk of a roasted turnip off of Ivy’s plate and tossed it into the air. It landed square on Gage’s nose. He raised his eyebrows. Emma giggled and pointed. After a moment, Ivy and Addie shared a look and burst into laughter. Gage joined them as he wiped off his face. He watched Ivy and Addie, who smiled at each other. Finally, they seemed more comfortable together. He released a sigh as he leaned over to poke Emma on the cheek.