“Ms. Catherine says the moon is going to disappear tonight,” Gillian said. “May we stay up to see it? Please?”
“She called it a lunar eclipse,” Maddie explained, joining them by the railing. “Sounds like it will be quite the sight to see, especially here on the ocean.”
“How late?” Allie asked.
“Catherine said midnight or so,” Maddie replied.
Allie frowned. Gillian tugged her hand again. “Please, Mother? I’ll be good.”
Allie’s heart melted, and she knelt before her daughter. “I know you’ll be good, Gillian, because you are always good. It’s a little late for you, but if you go to bed early, I promise to wake you in time.”
Gillian positively glowed. She spent the rest of the day telling anyone who would listen that she was going to stay up for the eclipse. Clay and Matt were two of several people who evinced interest in joining her. So it was a large party that gathered on the hurricane deck that night to watch.
In honor of the event, the crew had taken down the shade sail, giving the passengers a fairly unobstructed view of the sky in all directions. The night was clear and warm; the moon was full, hanging round and pearly in the sky. Gillian, whom Allie had woken an hour earlier, yawned behind her hand as she sat on Clay’s shoulder in her rainbow-striped dress.
“Look now,” he murmured. “Something’s about to take a bite out of the sky.”
Gillian stared upward, eyes wide. As Allie watched, a dark spot appeared on the bright lunar surface, every bit as if some huge animal had munched off the side. Murmurs rumbled around her.
Gillian huddled closer to Clay. “Where is the moon going?”
“Nowhere,” Allie assured her, reaching up to stroke her daughter’s back, feeling the tension in it. “You know how when we walk on a sunny day, your shadow covers the deck? That dark spot is a shadow too, of the whole earth.”
“You might say,” Clay murmured, gaze upward as well, “that a little part of that shadow is you, Captain.”
Gillian’s mouth opened in an O of wonder.
Careful not to dislodge her, Clay reached for Allie with his free hand. She didn’t pull away as he tucked her against him. She allowed herself the luxury of leaning into his embrace, listening to his deep voice as he explained the wonders of the cosmos to Gillian.
The shadow crept over the moon, little by little, moment by moment. Allie couldn’t take her eyes from the sight. As the last sliver of moon disappeared, the entire globe turned orange. Allie gasped and heard others doing the same.
“Why did it do that?” Gillian cried.
Clay shifted her in his arms as if to comfort her. “The shadow can make the moon turn all kinds of colors, Captain. Blue, pink or orange, or so I’ve read.”
“Pink is better,” Gillian said as if she were capable of determining the color.
Allie could only stare at the vision. That’s my life, Lord. I had hopes of shining, but the darkness crept up on me. You’ve been leading me all along, and I have faith You’ll make something this beautiful of my future.
“You know a lot of things, Uncle,” Gillian said, patting him on the shoulder as if he were a noble steed.
“Learned from books,” Clay promised her. “You’ll know as much once you read more of them. In fact, you’ll know more than I do, because new books are always being written.”
“I’m going to read them all,” Matt declared. “And I’ll share them with you, Ms. Gillian.”
Gillian nodded as if she accepted his promise. But Allie stood arrested. Books! Of course! She could form the first subscription lending library. That’s how she could contribute to the great city of Seattle. It was the perfect solution, giving her and Gillian a home, providing them with income. But achieving that dream would require an investment of funds she didn’t have at her disposal.
She stared at Clay holding her daughter so gently. He’d said he funded ideas, helped people grow their businesses.
Would he be willing to invest in her?
*
Clay watched as the moon brightened. That’s my life, Lord, coming out of my father’s shadow and into the light. I may not have stood so fixedly, but with Your help, I can. I hope You let me shine, for my sake and for Allie and Gillian’s.
He glanced at Allie to find her gazing up at him with her head cocked, as if she were meeting him for the first time. He didn’t have a chance to question her, for several of the other women requested that he repeat his explanation of the event they were seeing, and by the time he managed to extricate himself, Allie had taken Gillian from him and retired for the night.
She came to find him the next day. He was standing in the bow with Reynolds. Once again, nothing but the blue of ocean and sky surrounded them. He was heartily glad he’d taken the overland route when he’d headed west the first time. Though more challenging, it had had far more variety.
“Looking forward to going home, Reynolds?” he asked to make conversation.
“Indeed,” Reynolds replied with a smile as he leaned on his walking stick. “I’m quite partial to San Francisco.” He raised his voice as Allie approached them, her swinging skirts nearly as blue as the sky. “And I hope to convince some of our lovely ladies to stay there.”
Clay frowned. Funny. At times he was certain Reynolds held the ladies in disdain for leaving home. He couldn’t imagine the man campaigning against Mercer for a chance to have them settle in his town instead.
“I hope for Seattle’s sake you don’t succeed, Mr. Reynolds,” Allie said with a nod of greeting to them both. “From what Mr. Howard said, I think we are more greatly needed there than in San Francisco if your home has grown so big already.”
“She’s a shining city on a hill,” Mr. Reynolds proclaimed. “But a few more gems in her crown would not be remiss.” With a wink to her, he turned to stroll away, the clack of his stick against the wood fading with distance.
“So you’re certain about Seattle,” Clay said, watching her.
Allie nodded. “And I have a proposal for you.”
A proposal? He knew she was determined to be her own woman, but surely she wouldn’t propose marriage herself! He leaned against the railing, trying to still the rapid beating of his heart. What, was he the debutante now?
“Oh?” he managed to say, pleased he sounded so nonchalant.
She was hardly as calm. Her hands were knotting, and she shook them out even as she raised her head. He felt the deep breath she took before starting in.
“Mr. Mercer is bringing back a number of books donated for our use,” she rattled off as if afraid she might forget a word if she didn’t hurry. “I’d like to purchase them and start a subscription lending library in Seattle. If you invest, I’ll pay you half of all profits until I’ve made up the investment, and a quarter of the profits from then on.”
This was not what he’d hoped for, but he couldn’t fault her thinking. Already the business side of him was tabulating likely costs, amortizing returns over a ten-year period. Still, he couldn’t help teasing her. “You think we read in Seattle?”
Something fired in her eyes. “Some people must read,” she said with conviction. “And the people on this ship will only add to that number. With time, the subscriptions will grow.”
Clay nodded. “They might at that. And Mercer is so desperate for cash you could likely convince him to sell at an attractive price.” He straightened off the railing. “Bringing culture to the frontier. I like it. You have a deal, Allie.”
He stuck out his hand, and she accepted it with a firm shake. He couldn’t seem to let go of that fragile connection. Perhaps it was the movement of the ship, but he felt as if he and Allie were being pulled together, their faces closing until her lips were mere inches from his own.
She pulled back, face flushed. “Thank you, Clay. I won’t let you down.”
“You never could,” Clay assured her, trying to find his way back from wherever his heart had led him. Logic, business, making money, aiding progres
s. Why did she have to have such kissable lips?
She dropped her gaze, tucking a strand of hair back into the bun behind her head. “You didn’t think so much of me once.”
“I’ve always been impressed with you,” he insisted. “I may not have made this clear, Allie, but I admire what you’ve done—raising Gillian, setting off on your own. I know how hard that can be.”
She glanced up. “Was it difficult for you, Clay? I was under the impression you couldn’t wait to leave Boston.”
He shrugged. “I missed it, and Frank. And you.”
Her lips twitched as if she was fighting a smile. But the movement only drew his attention to her mouth again. He forced himself to gaze out at the ocean.
“Funny,” she said. “I would have thought you’d meet far more interesting women along the way.”
“None like you.” His voice was deepening with his feelings, and he cleared his throat so she wouldn’t guess the reason. “I understand Captain Windsor intends to anchor off the Galápagos Islands in the next few days. Would you and Gillian like to go ashore and see them? I understand they’re unusual.”
He returned his gaze to hers to find her smiling at him. “That would be wonderful. Thank you for offering.” She bobbed her head and hurried back down the deck as if she feared he’d ask her something far more personal. He intended to do just that, when the moment was right.
His opportunity came when they reached the Galápagos a few days later. The islands did not disappoint. The shore where the company from the Continental landed was dotted with rough black rocks, the beaches covered with sand so white it reflected the sun. Beyond the beach lay hills tufted with waving grasses and strange twisted trees like the cactuses Clay had seen on his way west. Rising from the center was a massive volcano, its peak obscured by clouds.
Several of the women stayed closer to the landing spot, but Clay wanted to explore. He led Gillian and Allie along the shore, gulls and terns calling overhead, until they found a private little cove with sands whiter than snow and shallow water nearly as blue as Allie’s eyes.
Gillian promptly began hunting for shells, while Allie perched on a black rock, spreading her blue skirts about her like the petals of a flower. Clay stood beside her. He knew his gaze should be on the little girl, but somehow he couldn’t make himself look away from Allie. Her profile was serene, her concentration unwavering. She might have been a statue, except no statue had ever made his heart beat so quickly.
It was now or never.
“Allie,” he said. “I’ve wanted to talk to you. These last few weeks aboard ship have made me think.”
She laughed, a sound as soft as the waves against the shore. “I find it hard to believe that was the first time you thought, sir.”
“I hope not,” Clay agreed with an answering smile. Why was this so hard? The last time he’d asked her to marry him, he’d been calm, in control, sure of what he wanted.
Of course, the last time she’d refused. Small wonder his palms were damp. He rubbed his hands along the gray of his trousers.
She stiffened beside him. “Gillian! Come away from the water!”
He turned to find the waves lapping at the toes of Gillian’s black boots as the little girl stared out at the water as if fascinated. She raised one arm to point out to sea. “But, Mother, I see a mermaid!”
Allie frowned, and Clay gave her his hand to help her down from the rock. Now he saw it, too, two warm brown eyes gazing back at them from a furry round face.
“That’s not a mermaid, Gillian,” he called. “That’s the mermaid’s pet lion.”
“It’s a sea lion, sweetheart,” Allie agreed.
Gillian turned her gaze on theirs, clearly perplexed. The look struck him as hard as a rock. When had he ever seen her smile?
“What happened in Boston?” he murmured to Allie, gaze on the little girl who now trudged toward them as if the world was devoid of wonders. “Who hurt Gillian?”
Allie sucked in a breath. “I’m sorry, Clay. I didn’t want to tell you.”
“I can’t believe Frank would be cruel to his own daughter.” The words came out harsh, but he couldn’t stop the disappointment in his brother and the anger at the injustice.
Allie shook her head. “No, Clay. Never Frank. He loved Gillian. He even wrote to her while on campaign, telling her stories about the people he met.” She took a deep breath. “It was my fault.”
Clay seized both her hands, feeling them cool in the warm air. “I won’t believe that, either. I’ve seen how much you love her.”
Her face was nearly as pinched as her daughter’s. “But for a time, I didn’t stand up for her. I let myself be guided by another voice, your mother’s. She seemed so certain strong discipline was necessary. Spare the rod and—”
“Spoil the child,” Clay finished, the ugly memories circling him like a flock of ravens. “I remember. I used to think it was my fault she was always disappointed in me. I must have been particularly wicked, because I always needed punishment. The tutors never had to raise a hand to Frank.”
“That’s because Frank never disobeyed,” she replied, voice choking. “Until the day he decided it was his duty to help in the war. Your mother was beside herself. I think that’s why she insisted that everyone be so hard on Gillian. She wanted to remove any chance that her granddaughter might disobey and leave her, as well.”
Gillian had stopped to pluck a shell from the sand, turning her discovery this way and that so that the coral color glowed in the sunlight. Was his mother so used to bending society to her will that she demanded similar obedience from everyone in her family? She’d certainly used Clay with her story about losing Allie. She hadn’t even mentioned her granddaughter! He felt his hands fisting, thinking of anyone being so cruel to Gillian.
Or Allie.
“And yet that very discipline made you run away,” he realized. “You gave up everything for Gillian.”
She shook her head. “Don’t make me a martyr, Clay. I wasn’t too fond of your mother’s rules myself, especially after Frank died. I suppose I wanted my freedom.”
Clay gazed out over the crystal waters. No wonder she fought him at every turn, why she refused to marry again. She couldn’t take the chance that the man or his family would harm her daughter.
His gaze returned to hers, and he took a step back from her. “Then be free, Allie. Do whatever pleases you for once.”
She laughed. “Here, now?”
Clay spread his hands. “Why not? You broke away. You earned it.”
Her laughter sparkled brighter than the sand. “You’re right. I did. Gillian!”
He wasn’t sure what she was about, but as her daughter joined her by the rock, she had her sit on the sand and set about removing her boots and stockings.
“Turn your back,” she told Clay, who turned, bemused, to gaze out over the volcanic wastes. The rustle of cloth gave him a hint of what she was about.
“Clay!” she called, and he looked back. She’d removed her own shoes and stockings, as well, hitched up her petticoats to bring her skirts a good six inches off her feet. Gillian likewise stood with her legs bare, staring down at her toes as if she wasn’t sure where they’d come from.
Allie’s eyes were bright. “Come play,” she said.
Laughter rumbled up inside him, and he bent to remove his boots and socks. A few minutes later, and he was running down the warm sand for the cool water.
“Isn’t this marvelous?” Allie asked, and he could see her pink toes wiggling in the sand as she stood in a few inches of water. She held out her hands to her daughter, who stood beside her kicking at a wave as if she wanted it to go away. “Come on, Gillian. Let’s dance.”
The little girl regarded her with a frown, as if she wasn’t sure such things were allowed. “Why?”
Allie’s hands fell, and Clay could see the effort it took to keep her smile in place.
Clay waded to Gillian’s side and bent to tweak a curl. “Come now, Captain Howard.
What will the mermaids think if they see you so serious? You might scare them away.”
“I think you might be right,” Allie said. “Mermaids are known for having fun.” She bent and scooped up a handful of water and tossed it upward like a fountain. Though it came nowhere near her, Gillian retreated.
“Mother,” she scolded, sounding all too much like her grandmother. “That wasn’t nice.”
“No harm done,” Clay told her. “It’s all right to play, Gillian. Like this.” He loped along the beach, each step splashing water up his legs. When he was sure he was out of reach from Allie, he turned and stuck out his tongue at her. “Nah, nah. Can’t catch me.”
“Well!” Allie put her hands on her hips and looked to her daughter. “I say we most certainly can catch him. In fact, I think it’s our duty to catch him. What do you say, Gillian?”
Gillian glanced between Clay and her mother. Something inside the little girl was fighting for supremacy.
Please, Lord, help her be who You made her, not what my mother tried to make her.
Gillian raised her head and nodded. Slowly at first, then gaining speed, she hurtled down the waves toward him.
Clay ran.
Round and round they went, up and down the beach, always in the shallows for Gillian’s sake. Allie’s laugh sent his heartbeat faster than the run. He knew the splashing salt water was likely ruining his wool trousers, but he didn’t care.
“Got you!” Gillian dived for his legs, up to her knees in water, and hung on tight.
“I surrender!” Clay declared, raising his hands over his head. The smile aimed up at him was priceless. He couldn’t keep himself from bending and sweeping her up, tossing her above his head.
And she laughed, a giggle as warm and golden as the sun beating down. Allie froze at the edge of the waves and pressed her fingers to her lips.
Clay hugged Gillian close as he waded to Allie’s side.
“I caught him, Mother!” Gillian crowed.
Love Inspired Historical November 2014 Page 44
