Torchlight

by Lisa T. Bergren

  Ben couldn’t let her stay scared. Sheepishly he emerged into the light of the street lamp.

  “Ben?”

  “Hi.”

  “What are you doing?”

  He walked toward the window. “Just dropped by to see if you were okay.”

  “Oh. Well, why didn’t you just come on up instead of scaring me half to death?”

  “I don’t know.”

  She went to the front door and walked out onto the porch. Ben paused at the foot of the steps.

  “You want to come in for some coffee?” Tara nodded toward the house.

  “I don’t think so …”

  An uncomfortable silence fell as the two struggled with their thoughts and feelings. Tara spoke first. “Look, Ben, maybe you haven’t figured this out. So let me just say it. You’re here because you care for me. You can’t admit it, even to yourself, so you stay hidden in the shadows. The sad thing is that even in the light of day, you’re still hiding in the shadows. And I’m tired of it.” She paused. “We’re not just friends anymore, are we, Ben?”

  Still he said nothing. He felt choked, speechless, as her words of truth sank into his heart. Things were not going to stay the same; indeed, they had already been altered. But he wasn’t ready for a change!

  Tara began pacing. “Maybe I’m dreaming this whole thing up. Maybe I’m way off-base … ” She paused and looked at him. “No. I know that’s not true. Ben, I miss Sharon too. But we can’t deny what’s developed so naturally between us. God is giving us the chance of a lifetime, but we’re both too scared and too tongue-tied to take it.

  “Look, if you’re ever ready to hold my hand or take me in your arms for more than a sailboat ride, then let me know. Until then, I don’t want you in my shadows.”

  With that, she marched up the steps and shut the door firmly behind her.

  Scowling again, Ben walked home, heavy in thought.

  Julia awoke instantly, sensing that someone was in the room with her. Sleepily, she opened her eyes and saw him leaning against the doorjamb, gazing at her as if transfixed.

  “Good morning, sleepyhead,” he said. “Sorry if I invaded your privacy. The door was open.”

  “That’s okay. What are you doing?”

  “Watching you,” he admitted, looking into her eyes warmly. “You know, you’re so peaceful and still when you sleep, it’s a great chance to really look at you.” Julia silently sat up, not knowing what to say. She no longer felt any of the anger that had burned so hot the night before. What right, after all, had she to hope that Trevor would stay? She still wore Miles’s ring.

  “Come on,” he said. “It’s nine o’clock. Jake and Emily and I can’t drink any more coffee or we’ll start bouncing off the walls. We thought we’d go down to your grandfather’s old shipyard and look around, then work this afternoon.”

  “So you’re still going to be working around here, huh?”

  “Look, Julia, things got a little out of hand yesterday. I said some things I didn’t mean.”

  “Didn’t mean?”

  He shifted uncomfortably under her gaze. “I have some things to sort out for myself. We can talk about it later, okay?”

  “Okay. Well, then … I think going down to the shipyard to take a look around is a great idea. After all, Jake and Em are on vacation, right? Can’t make ’em slave all the time.”

  “I’ll go tell them.” Trevor flashed her a grin and turned to go. He turned back to look at Julia. Her long, tousled hair fell in tangles around her nightshirt-clad shoulders. Her eyes, refreshed after a night’s sleep, loomed large, and her lips were rosy from her chewing on them unconsciously under his stare. “I have the most beautiful boss in town,” Trevor said.

  “You say that to all your bosses,” she returned, then bit her lip, wanting to snatch back the flirting. She was messing with him. It wasn’t fair.

  “Yeah. Juan in Rio was particularly cute,” Trevor said. His smile lit up his face.

  I have the most gorgeous employee in town. “Fifteen minutes?” she asked him.

  “Ten.” He left her doorway, whistling.

  Julia arrived a full fifteen minutes later, smiled innocently at Trevor, and grabbed a bagel from Jake’s hand as he was about to take a bite.

  “You haven’t changed a bit,” Jake said.

  “She isn’t very punctual either,” Trevor said, looking at his watch.

  “You guys ready yet?” Julia asked, as if she had been waiting for them all morning.

  They walked out the front door, and Julia exclaimed in surprise as she sighted four bicycles standing in front of the porch. “It’s a perfect day for a ride! Where did you get them?”

  “I borrowed them from Tara and Ben. Jake and I went to get them while you were still lying in bed and Emily was making breakfast.”

  “You guys are wonderful.”

  The morning promised to be uncommonly warm. The temperature had already reached sixty degrees. As Julia raced out of the compound, she felt free and alive. “I haven’t ridden since I was a little girl!” she called over her shoulder.

  “They say you never forget how,” Jake said. He pumped hard to pass his sister on the highway and called over his shoulder, “I think horses are easier though.”

  “Ha! That’s all I need.”

  “You should try it.”

  “I’ll come to Montana for that.”

  Jake led the way, with Julia right behind him. Trevor seemed at peace keeping pace with Emily, and the two rode side by side chatting. Jake slowed just enough to allow his sister to ride beside him. “Gorgeous day, huh?”

  “It is.” The highway curved toward town as it edged the water. Occasionally waves crashed against the tall granite cliffs, sending a fine mist their way. Beside the road, fat green buds had burst into sunny yellow Forsythia blooms. Maples, once the fire-red of autumn, were budding again. Here and there were the last blossoms of purple crocuses and daffodils.

  “I can’t wait to restore Torchlight’s garden,” Julia said.

  “That will be beautiful. Em and I’ll have to come back this summer to see it.” Jake cleared his throat. “Jules, can I talk to you about something?”

  She nodded. “Sure.”

  “What’s the deal with you and Trevor? He’s the best guy I’ve ever met for you. So why are you wearing that chump Beckley’s ring?”

  “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that. First of all, Trevor is just a friend. And Miles is not a chump. I’m in love with him.”

  “You could have fooled me.”

  “Does this ring look like a joke?”

  “No, it doesn’t. Listen, Julia, I know you’re thinking of saying yes to Miles. But don’t do it! That guy is a loser. I know you think you love him, but maybe you’re too close to see it. There’s something about him I just don’t trust.” He looked over his shoulder to his wife and waved with a smile. Emily and Trevor waved back.

  He dropped his tone. “Now this Trevor fellow, he’s a prince. I liked him as soon as I saw him. Maybe no one else will tell you this, so I will. You two are made for each other.”

  “Jake, I think you’re overstepping your bounds. I told you, Trevor and I are just friends. Besides, he could up and leave at a moment’s notice. He’s not husband material.”

  “Oh, he just feeds you that idea to protect himself. If you’re thinking of marrying someone else, why should he lay his heart on the line? I was upstairs when he was supposed to be waking you up. I watched him watch you for five minutes. The man’s in deep. I think you are too. You’re just too confused to see it.”

  “Okay, Jake. You’ve said your piece. Now leave it. I have to make my own way.”

  “All right. Just make wise choices, big sister. You have a lot of money in your pocket right now, since you hit the big 3-0 and got your share of the family loot. Ever consider that Miles just wants a wealthy heiress for a wife?”

  “Jake!” She wanted to stop and yell at him, but didn’t, fearing that Trevor might overh
ear. She lowered her voice. “Did you ever think that it would make more sense that Trevor was after me for my money than Miles? Miles has his own nest egg.”

  “Trevor’s not that kind of guy! You know it as well as I do. Miles, on the other hand—”

  “Is working hard on his business to make a good life for us. He told me!”

  “Where will that life be, Julia?”

  She had no answer. “Let’s drop this, okay?” she asked, feeling suddenly weary.

  “Okay, for now. Look! Road to the shipyard dead ahead!”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Julia had spotted the old shipyard two months earlier, and the foursome found it with little trouble. The road was overgrown with trees and brush, but a few weathered signs pointed them in the right direction. As they maneuvered around potholes and foliage, the road suddenly opened up into a large expanse of shoreline.

  According to Tara, the two schooners that were languishing in the water had been abandoned in the thirties. At one time they had each had spars for four masts, but the masts were completely gone from one ship, which was also nearly overtaken by barnacles, and were reduced to but two and a half on the other. The second ship appeared to be mostly afloat, even though the planking was popped around the curves of her bow and she listed slightly to starboard.

  Jake let out a long, low whistle while the others stared at the vision from the past.

  Trevor was the first to speak. “These ships are younger than Shane’s would’ve been, but they’re still intriguing, huh?”

  “I’ll say!” Jake said. “Let’s go aboard!”

  “Let’s!” Julia agreed excitedly. “If we’re careful, we just might be able to reach her along the old pier.”

  Trevor shook his head. “I don’t know, Julia. She looks mighty rickety to me. I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

  “Come on, Trevor! Don’t be a wimp! Let’s check her out. It’s the next best thing to a real clipper.”

  “I hear there’s a restored version in Portland. We could go down there tomorrow …”

  His words fell on deaf ears. The Rierdons were already making their way toward the dilapidated pier. Emily looked back at him and shrugged. “There’s no stopping them now.” She turned to follow Jake and Julia.

  With a sigh, Trevor parked his bike alongside the others and ran to catch up with them. “I don’t like this,” he muttered.

  The pier stopped just ten feet shy of the old ship. Between the dock and the starboard edge of the ship stood six pilings that, though slightly wobbly when pushed, appeared to be basically stable. Julia turned around with an adventurous glint in her eye.

  “It looks like we’re out of pier,” Trevor tried. “So much for that idea.”

  “Not so fast, Trevor. Come on, you’ve hiked dozens of dangerous mountains around the world. You’re not telling me this intimidates you!”

  “I’ve hiked with experienced trekkers. I haven’t done a tightrope act on moving pilings to a rickety old ship … with two women.”

  “So that’s what you really think! I bet Em and I’ll make it over easier than you guys.”

  Trevor sighed and looked at Jake. “You think this is wise?”

  “What’s the worst that could happen? Maybe I’ll get to see my big sis take a dive into the drink. Sounds fun to me.”

  “This water is forty degrees. Not very fun.”

  “Trevor! Why are you being such a spoilsport?” Julia looked at him with irritation in her eyes.

  “I just have a bad feeling about this. I can’t explain it.”

  “I’ll go first.” Julia gave Trevor one last puzzled look. “You were the maniac on the highway—and the one who dared me to go into the hidden passageway at Torchlight. Suddenly lose your nerve?” She turned away.

  He grabbed her arm and immediately wished he hadn’t.

  “Come on. Let go.” Her eyes flashed with anger.

  “Julia …”

  “I’m perfectly capable of making decisions for myself.”

  As they stared at each other, Trevor knew she wasn’t just speaking of this moment. It was as if she was trying to convince herself.

  He released her reluctantly. “I’ll go first.” He brushed past Julia and climbed up the first piling, which was still attached to the pier. Leaning over to the next weatherworn post, he found his balance and stood. After taking a deep breath, he moved forward, working his way from one piling to the next. On the last piling, he turned to gloat and almost fell when the old cutoff log moved a few inches under his weight. The trio laughed, then held their breath until he was safely aboard the ship.

  Julia was next, then Jake. Trevor had expected Emily to refuse at the last moment, but the woman showed surprising nerve and easily shimmied up and over the piling.

  He was distracted from Emily’s last step aboard by Julia’s excited exclamations. “Check it out!” she said, looking up the tall mainmast. “Can you imagine climbing this bad boy to the crow’s-nest?”

  Trevor stood by her side and took a careful look at the wood. “I bet this is one of the last old-growth pines that were forested.”

  Jake and Emily worked their way over to Trevor and Julia, maneuvering around black holes in the floorboards that looked particularly foreboding. “I read that Maine was once famous for giant white pines,” Jake said. “The Brits used to come and select the best for their own masts. Until we drove them out, that is.”

  “How’d they get the trees from the forest to the shipyard?” Emily asked.

  “Well, at first the pines along the coast kept them in good supply. But after a while, there were too many ships being built, a lot of them by Shane Donnovan.”

  “Gramps didn’t do much for the environment, did he?” Julia said sardonically.

  “Better sail-powered ships than oil tanker spills.”

  “Then where’d they get their wood?”

  “They had to go deeper into the north woods to cut them, drag them to the nearest river, and wait for ice-out.”

  “ ‘Ice-out’?” Emily asked.

  “They’d log all winter,” Jake explained, “bring the felled trees to the river’s edge, and when the water rose in the spring as the snow melted, the river brought down all that lumber to the seaside towns below. Gramps suddenly had his building material.”

  “You got all that from the history books?” Julia asked.

  “Some. Plus I found Shane’s logs in the library late last night.”

  “You’re kidding.”

  “Nope. He was more prolific than Granny. Twelve books, bound in oilskin. Mostly ship stuff. Latitude, longitude. You know, the works.”

  “Oh, Jake! That’s so exciting! Between Anna’s and Shane’s writing, we can piece together a large part of their lives,” Julia said.

  “Well, Anna’s writing is much more interesting than Shane’s. He just sticks to the logistics. Anna is the one who gives us the real scoop.”

  “Leave it to a woman,” Trevor said, looking down at Julia.

  She smiled back at him, then raised her eyebrows impishly. “Let’s go explore.”

  “Julia, this deck is barely holding together.”

  His warning was ignored. She was off.

  He was moving toward Julia, carefully watching her as she looked over the edge of one gaping hole to the deck below, when the rotting boards beneath her groaned and gave way.

  Letting out one short, frightened scream, she vanished before his eyes.

  “Julia!” Trevor shouted again, his heart frozen in fear.

  There was no answer.

  “Hold my feet!” he directed. Jake could only nod in agreement and comply.

  Edging out to where she had disappeared, Trevor stretched to his entire six feet four inches in length, but still could not see. He looked back at Jake, who held his ankles firmly, then forward to the rotten boards in front of him. “I’ll have to stretch farther to see! Hold tight!”

  “You won’t go anywhere,” Jake promised.

  Gritt
ing his teeth, Trevor gingerly pulled himself forward, half anticipating the same crack and plunge that had sucked Julia into the ship’s depths.

  The wood held. Carefully, he peered over the edge of the huge hole. “Julia!”

  “I’m … I’m here!” she cried.

  As his eyes adjusted to the light, he could see her directly beneath him.

  “Are you okay?

  “I think I’ve broken a leg. What scares me the most is that I think I might fall through to the next deck if I move a muscle.”

  “Okay. Stay still. I’ll be right back. I promise.” He called over his shoulder, “Jake, pull me back!”

  Jake moved with such force that dozens of large splinters edged into Trevor’s shirt and chest. Consumed with fear for Julia, Trevor was oblivious to the pain. He stood and removed a Swiss army knife from his pocket. Moving to the ancient ropes still attached to the mainmast, he cut in at a place where the lines had begun to fray. As he worked, he explained the situation to Emily and Jake.

  “Emily, I think Julia’s going to need medical attention. If you can make it back into town on your own, go see Tara at the little restaurant. Tell her what happened. She’ll know who to call.”

  “I’m on my way.”

  “Jake, once I’ve got the rope cut, we’ll make our way to the next deck. I think it’s our best bet. She’s halfway through that level and is liable to break through at any moment.”

  “I’ll go look for a way down.”

  Loaded with adrenaline, Trevor pulled a large section of the old sail down and struggled to cut away the rope he needed. “Julia!” he called through gritted teeth. “Talk to me!”

  “I’m here!” Her voice sounded faint, in spite of its intended bravado. He had never heard her sound so vulnerable. It made him frantic to get to her.

  “Are you cold?”

  “Yes! How’d those sailors keep warm?”

  “They didn’t go belowdecks unless they had to!” At last the rope gave way. Trevor caught his breath and fought the urge to simply jump through a nearby hole to the deck below. He wanted his hands on her now. He wanted her safe beside him. Dear Lord, I’m in deep here. Help me out. I don’t want her to die. I’ll tell her how I feel, I promise. Please show me the way.