Gavin came to her side. “McQuillan has gone to help Morrison beach the Zodiac.”
Tilley said between his clenched teeth, “Did you search that boat yet?”
“Not yet.” Caddie looked up at McQuillan. “Can you take over here? Pressure on the wound until we get him to the hospital corpsman.”
She let the seaman take her place and rose. Three of her men had brought the prisoners together on the rocks facing the Wintergreen 1.
“Libby,” she called. “Come with me.”
She and the seaman approached the damaged boat.
Caddie climbed into the Miss Faye IX and quickly made sure no one else was aboard. The cabin seemed warm and quiet, since the wind no longer howled about her. When she saw the sophisticated radio equipment, she pursed her lips, but they were too chapped to whistle. Clay Waller knew where to put his money.
“Lyle.”
She turned toward Libby’s voice.
“Take a look in these lockers.”
She walked to his side and peered into the cupboard he’d opened. A crate full of plastic bags lay inside. Each bag bulged with a white powder.
“I’m betting it’s cocaine,” Libby said.
They quickly opened more lockers. Caddie had never seen so much contraband. She put in a call on her radio.
“Wintergreen, this is Wintergreen 2. We have a cargo on the hostiles’ vessel that appears to be narcotics.”
“Wintergreen 2, I copy,” came her captain’s voice. “Turn all evidence over to the petty officer now landing from the Milroy.”
Caddie jerked her head up and stared toward the cutter now anchored just beyond the workboat Tilley had commanded. She smiled for the first time all evening. Aven had arrived with the cavalry.
❧
Mark came directly to the Miss Faye IX. “Lyle!” He grinned at her. “Looks like you got the job done, hey?”
“I think so. Captain Raven says to turn this pile of contraband over to you.” She shined her flashlight on a part of the drug stash.
“Happy to accept.” Mark glanced around then leaned toward her. “Aven was worried sick about you. Better show your face outside.”
She felt her face flush. When she left the cabin, Libby was waiting to give her a hand as she climbed over the gunwale and dropped to the rocks below. They scrambled over the boulders toward the Milroy’s landing party.
Aven had his back to her as he helped lift Tilley into the Zodiac manned by Seamen Morrison and McQuillan. As soon as he was settled, Tilley growled, “Let’s move. Somebody radio the Wintergreen and tell them.”
“Got it,” Aven called and shoved the Zodiac off the rocks. He turned, reaching for his radio. As he spotted Caddie, his face broke into a huge smile. “This is Milroy 1,” he said into the transmitter. “Inform Wintergreen her boatswain is being transported in Wintergreen 2, who requests permission to come alongside.”
He took two long strides to reach Caddie. They stood for a moment in the cold mist, appraising each other.
What was he thinking? If the men weren’t here, would he light into her for endangering herself? Would he take Tilley’s tack and berate her for wanting to do “a man’s job”?
Aven nodded slowly. “Looks to me as though you did a good job, Petty Officer.”
❧
Three weeks later, Caddie got her lunch tray in the mess hall and sat down with Lindsey.
“What’s up?” Lindsey asked, lowering her voice so that it reached Caddie beneath the level of the chatter surrounding them. “You’ve been smiley-eyed all morning. Did you get a message from Holland?”
Caddie chuckled. “I don’t know anyone in Holland.”
“Very funny. You know who I mean.”
“Did you realize that when we dock it will be less than a week until Thanksgiving?”
“No,” Lindsey said, “I didn’t know that. But I guess you don’t want to talk about whatever it is that’s—”
She stopped talking, and the lunchtime buzz dropped away as suddenly. Caddie looked toward the hatch. Captain Raven had just entered. He walked to the middle of the room.
“At ease, everyone. I have an announcement—the kind I like making in person.” His gaze darted about the room, lingering for a moment on Caddie and Lindsey. “It’s my pleasure to tell you that BM3 Lyle is now BM2 Lyle. Congratulations, Second Class Bo’sun’s Mate.”
Caddie nodded, blushing, as the twenty men present, along with Lindsey and Vera Hotchkiss, began clapping and cheering.
“Thanks!” Caddie waved and concentrated on her food.
“I’m also pleased to report that Bo’sun Tilley is doing well. However, he’s got several weeks of rehab ahead, and he’s decided to take retirement. He won’t be returning to the Wintergreen.”
A surprised murmur rippled over the room.
“Carry on,” the captain said. He smiled at Caddie and left the compartment.
“That’s great about your promotion!” Lindsey grinned at her, still clapping. “So that’s what made you so happy.”
“Thank you. I just. . .” Caddie picked up her knife and attacked the chicken leg on her plate.
“Have you sent a message to your mom? She’ll be so proud of you.”
Caddie shook her head. “Not yet.”
“Why not?”
“No time. I just found out this morning.” A tear popped over Caddie’s eyelid and trickled down her cheek. She swiped it quickly away with her napkin.
“Oh, wait a minute,” Lindsey said, tilting her head to one side. “You’re thinking of your dad, aren’t you?”
“Maybe. I don’t know.”
“Sure you are. Wishing he could share this moment with you.”
Caddie wagged her head back and forth. “There have been a lot of moments he hasn’t been there to share with me.” Some even before he died, she thought.
“Yeah, but. . .” Lindsey raised her hands, palms out. “Okay, I’ll be quiet. Sorry. But it would be nice if you could get home for Thanksgiving.”
“I’ll settle for Christmas,” Caddie said.
“Yeah, it’s great that they’ve timed our next deployment so that most of us will be able to take leave at Christmas. I’ve decided to spend it with my mom. Maybe not the whole time, but a few days anyway.”
“That’s wonderful.”
Lindsey smiled brightly. “Hey, does Aven— Oops, sorry.”
Caddie chuckled. “I don’t know what his plans are yet or what his December schedule looks like. He got home for a week right after our run-in with the Miss Faye IX. I was glad he had the chance and went to Wasilla.”
“If he’s in Kodiak next week, maybe you can spend Thanksgiving together.”
“Maybe, but I’m not planning on it.”
Lindsey nodded. “Same as always, where men are concerned, huh? We can’t count on them being there.”
❧
Aven stood on the deck of the moored Milroy, watching the harbor.
“Hey, Holland,” Mark shouted. “You ready to go home?”
“No, go along without me.”
Mark laughed. “I heard the Wintergreen will be here within the hour. Guess we won’t see you tonight.”
Aven grinned. “If she needs to stay on board or is too tired to eat out, I’ll drag myself over to your place.”
“Hey, did you hear they’re holding the Waller brothers in Anchorage until their trial?”
“No,” Aven said. “I’m glad they didn’t let them out on bail. Is Spruce still in the hospital?”
“I don’t know. I just heard from the skipper that all three of the smugglers were denied bail.” Mark swung down the metal stairway onto the dock and headed off whistling.
This was silly. Even when the ship came in, it would be awhile before she could leave. Maybe long enough to run to the florist? Or should he save the money toward a trip to Wasilla together, or even toward extra for his family this month?
In the end, he stuck it out and was on the dock waiting when the Wintergr
een put in. At four o’clock the sun was nearly down, but seeing Caddie’s face when she spotted him was worth the nearly three hours he had whiled away. When she came off the ship, he didn’t care if all the sailors in the Seventeenth District saw. She flipped the hood of her parka back, dropped her sea bag, and ran toward him. He pulled her into his arms and held her right there on the dock.
“Welcome back,” he whispered near her ear. He tossed her bag into the back of his pickup and drove her home.
All the way, she smiled and told him about things she’d seen since their brief meeting on the rocky island where she’d caught the smugglers. He stopped at the post office, and she dashed inside, returning with a handful of mail.
When they reached her apartment, she jumped down from the truck. “Want to come in?”
“Uh. . .what do you think? Want some time to get settled? I can come back in a while. I thought maybe we’d eat out tonight?”
“Great. Give me an hour?”
He went away for the time stipulated and wound up hanging out with Mark and Jo-Lynn. He took their good-natured teasing but turned down Jo-Lynn’s offer of a snack.
At last he was back on Caddie’s doorstep. There had to be a way to spend more than an evening together every few weeks.
Her blue eyes lit up when she opened the door. She pulled him inside, and he hugged her again. Her draped green shirt was soft and very unmilitary, and her blond hair lay in shimmery waves about her shoulders.
“You look great.”
“Thanks. Aven, I sold the article.”
“Which one?” He slid his hand over her satiny hair.
“The one about Lindsey. Remember, I told you about it. And the magazine wants more profiles. So maybe I can do the one we talked about—on your sister.”
“That’d be great.” He let her slip out of his arms to get her coat and purse. “Say, have you got Christmas leave?”
“Yes. Thirty days. Have you?”
He nodded. “Are you going home?”
“I thought I would.” She eyed him uncertainly.
“You should,” he said, “but what about. . .I don’t suppose you could come back for the last week? Fly into Anchorage?”
Her heart-stopping smile spread over her face. “I’d love to. And I can see Robyn work her dogs then.”
“And take pictures,” he added.
“If your family doesn’t mind. . .”
“They’re begging me to get you there.”
“I’d love to.”
She flowed back into his embrace, and he stooped to kiss her. Perfect.
Epilogue
Caddie and her uncle waited on the bridge of the Milroy. Watching out the window, they saw Jo-Lynn and Lindsey emerge onto the main deck below. Aven, who now served as boatswain of the cutter, stood on the main deck below, with their pastor, Mark Phifer, and Lieutenant Greer. The petty officer who had volunteered to run the sound system today started the wedding march, and Caddie smiled up at her father’s younger brother.
“Come on, Uncle Jack. Looks like it’s our turn.”
“Okay, honey. Be careful.”
She clung to his hand on the ladder as they went cautiously down to the deck. Once on stable footing, they walked slowly in time to the music, toward where the minister stood. Mark and Jo-Lynn’s baby let out a whimper, and Dee Morrison, who had volunteered to hold him during the ceremony, bounced the infant gently and shushed him.
The brilliant early July sun smiled down on the moored cutter. A gentle breeze fluttered Caddie’s veil and the long skirt of her gown. She picked out her mom, smiling at her through tears, and Mira and Jordan grinning from ear to ear. The only one missing from her family was Dad. She’d cried a little last night, when Uncle Jack had arrived looking so much like her father. Now she was able to smile at them without weeping.
“Isn’t this kind of weird?” Jordan had asked her last night. “You and Aven being married and still being on different ships, I mean.”
“It may be hard for a while, but we’ll manage,” Caddie had assured him.
Aven’s mother, sister, and grandfather stood on the other side, smiling as well, but her focus came back to Aven.
He and his two groomsmen stood at attention in their dress uniforms, but Caddie had opted for traditional gowns for herself and her bridesmaids. Lindsey had threatened to throttle Caddie if she had to wear her uniform instead of a pretty dress, and Jo-Lynn had pointed out that she was a civilian, anyway, and they all ought to be dressed in similar styles.
Aven’s dark eyes shone as Caddie and Uncle Jack approached.
When handing her over to Aven, Uncle Jack leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “Bless you,” he whispered, and pressed her hand before going to stand with Mom.
Mira popped off a flash picture with Caddie’s camera.
Caddie looked up at Aven and read his lips as he mouthed, “Love you.”
She couldn’t speak, her heart was so full, but she gave his hand a squeeze as they turned to face the pastor.
After his welcome to their families and friends, the pastor said, “Folks, we’re gathered here in a somewhat unusual venue to witness the union of two people who’ve chosen careers full of adventure, and yes, sometimes danger. These young people have pledged to serve the United States of America, and as the motto of the Coast Guard says, to be ‘always ready’ when they’re needed. Well, I’m here to tell you all that I’ve spent several hours talking to Aven and Caddie, and I can assure you, they’re ready for this.”
The people chuckled, and Caddie sneaked another look at Aven. His energy flowed to her through their clasped hands, and her anticipation mounted.
She would be a petty officer for another year at least, but after that, who knew? Only the Lord. Whatever He brought her way, she would be ready. And today, she would begin her new life as Aven’s wife.
About the Author
SUSAN PAGE DAVIS and her husband, Jim, have been married thirty-three years and have six children, ages fourteen to thirty-one. They live in Maine, where they are active in an independent Baptist church. Susan is a homeschooling mother and writes historical romance, mystery, and suspense novels. Visit her Web site at: www.susanpagedavis.com.
Dedication
To all our military men and women, especially Michael. Thank you for all you’re doing and have done.
Acknowledgements:
A great many people helped me research and write this book, including: LuAnn and Dana Nordine; Aven Leidigh; Henry Kurgan of Homer by the Sea; pilot Kelly Leseman; Captain David MacKenzie, USCG (ret.); CWO Scott MacAloon, USCG; CWO-3 Peter J. Davenport, USCG; CWO-3 Gilman C. Page, USCG (ret.); Darlene Franklin; Lynette Sowell; James S. Davis. Thank you all!
A note from the Author:
I love to hear from my readers! You may correspond with me by writing:
Susan Page Davis
Author Relations
PO Box 721
Uhrichsville, OH 44683
Table of Contents
Copyright
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Epilogue
About the Author
Dedication
Acknowledgements:
Always Ready Page 15
