Trilogy No. 109: Sail Away

by Lee Rowan

  The sun was edging toward the west by the time they finished, curled up together under the sailcloth blanket, and slept.

  * * * *

  When Archer opened his eyes again he was enclosed in a canvas cocoon, swinging gently with the motion of the ship, chilly and alone. Thunder cracked the world open, and he realized where he was.

  Back aboard the Calypso...

  He was alone. It had all been a dream.

  But someone stirred in the hammock beside him, and eyes, big in the storm-wracked gloom, regarded him over its edge. “Davy? Are you all right?"

  "Oh.” The jumble of dream and waking began to sort itself out in his mind. Captain Smith had released them both from duty after the worst of the storm had passed. If he hadn't, they'd likely have collapsed on deck, so exhausted they had to hold each other up on the way to the midshipmen's berth. David could not even remember how he'd managed to climb into his hammock. The storm had been long and wearing, though not so fierce as in his dream. The mast had taken a fearful beating, but it had never broken.

  And from where had his mind summoned that tropical island? Wishful thinking, surely. They were in the Atlantic Ocean, fifty miles out from Bristol Channel! Strange what dreams could do. Strange and wonderful.

  But it had only been wishful thinking, not reality. “Fine, Will, I'm fine.” He swallowed, and groped for words, reminding himself that if William was awake, there might be other midshipmen listening as well. “I just had a—a curious dream. I am sorry I disturbed you."

  Another flash of lightning showed relief on Will's face; thunder rumbled just behind it. “Not you, Davy, only the storm. I had a strange dream, too, but a happy one. Blue skies and white sand. You were in it, I think...” David heard the frown in his friend's voice. “...I cannot remember now."

  David wondered fleetingly if Will's dream had been akin to his own. Not likely! Mr. Marshall was a parson's son, and dealt with sodomitical advances at pistol point. His feelings for William were his own problem, not his friend's. “Just as well, I suppose. If you have it again, it will all seem new."

  Will laughed softly, and the sound was achingly reminiscent. “I suppose it would, at that. Pleasant dreams, Davy."

  "And to you."

  He waited until Will had settled down again, then closed his eyes and hoped that at least in sleep he could return to the island. Blue sky, white sand, warm breezes ... Will's touch.

  To sleep, perchance to dream ... once more.

  The End

  About the Author:

  I have been writing since a second-grade nun explained that fiction lets you tell stories without being scolded for lying. I didn't keep much of the the dogma from those early days, but retained the concepts of “love one another’ and “do unto others".

  Loving someone ... being loved ... has got to be one of the all-time finest things. Disillusioned after my first marriage, I decided for a while that humans were more trouble than they were worth. Then a couple of extremely dear cats and a big-hearted dog taught me enough about love to eventually melt my cynicism, and romance started creeping into my writing, which for most of my life had been anything except romantic.

  When I started writing love into my stories, it came into my life, and I have been, for several years, unbelievably happy in my second—and final—marriage. I think fiction lets a person try out new ideas before tackling them in real life—whether it's traveling to a distant place or taking an emotional chance—because before anything can happen in reality, it first has to happen in the imagination, where dreams are born.

  When not tossing fictional people into mad passionate embraces or doing research for same with my sweetie, I like to garden, haunt garage sales, and take care of the four-legged fur family. Life ain't perfect, but it can be awfully good.

  You may contact Lee Rowan at:

  lee.rowan@lindenbayromance.com

  Other works by Lee Rowan:

  Ransom

  It's 1796 and not only is love between men taboo, it is punishable by death. Lt. David Archer is an officer in His Majesty's Navy and a gentleman of Regency Society. He is also hopelessly in love with his shipmate, Lt. William Marshall. David is certain that his feelings, if expressed, would be met with revulsion. Afraid of losing the strong friendship that he has forged with William, he vows to never speak of or act on his desire, promising himself to take the secret to his grave.

  Although William is young, his innate talent has allowed him to quickly rise above his humble background and gain a reputation as a promising officer. The Royal Navy is his world, and in that world there is no room for anything as frivolous as romance.

  Then, in a twist of fate, the two men are abducted by a ruthless pirate who finds pleasure in toying with his captives. Thrown together in close quarters and wondering if they will survive, they're are faced with some difficult choices. William struggles with his growing feelings for David and, try as he might to dismiss them, he can't. When David makes the ultimate sacrifice to protect the man he loves, the reason for it is clear and the passion that the men have denied for so long is realized for the first time.

  Before the lovers can have any sort of life together, they must first escape. After that, they face an even greater challenge—is their love strong enough to survive a clandestine life under the ever-present threat of the Navy's implacable Articles of War?

  This is a publication of

  Linden Bay Romance

  WWW.LINDENBAYROMANCE.COM

  Recommended Linden Bay Romance Read:

  Trilogy No. 105: Smalltown, U.S.A by Cat Johnson

  You loved Pigeon Hollow in Trilogy No. 103: Red Hot & Blue. Now, really get to know the men of this quintessential Smalltown, U.S.A.

  The Horseman: Jared Gordon considers himself a lucky man. He enjoys the simple things life has to offer: a slice of his mama's pie, a pretty girl, a well-bred horse. Life on his farm in Pigeon Hollow is good, until big city girl Mandy Morris blows into town. Like a tornado hitting a trailer park, Mandy turns Jared's simple life upside down. Will he ever be the same again?

  The Ballplayer: Cole Ryan found a life of fame and fortune in the major leagues. When an injury takes him out of the game he returns to Pigeon Hollow, the small town he thought he'd left behind. Yet every cloud has a silver lining, and for Cole that would be returning to the arms of Lizzie Barton, the smalltown girl who got away a decade ago and still haunts his dreams. Will the secret she's been hiding from him all these years get in the way of their future?

  The Deputy: Deputy Sheriff Bobby Barton agreed to put up with the taping of a reality TV show in his town for two reasons. He thought it would be good for the town's business, and the producers promised they'd keep out of his. But the show keeps creeping into his personal life, and he finds himself hoping that the show's assistant producer, Christy Dunne, would creep into his bed. Did Deputy Barton make a mistake that will cost him his heart?

  * * *

  Visit www.lindenbayromance.com for information on additional titles by this and other authors.