Beloved Captive (25 page)

“No,” she said, “he can’t be aboard that ship. He’s dead.”

She rested her hands on her hips, her head cocked to one side. “How do you know this?”

“Miss Emilie?” The youngest of the girls stood in the doorway, Emilie’s white gown enveloping her and following behind like the train on an elaborate gown.

“Well, don’t you look pretty, Tess.”

“Like a princess,” the pastor’s wife added with a nod. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a lovely gown as that one, dear.”

She curtsied and ran from the room. A few minutes later, all four padded into the kitchen. Ruby O’Shea held a dripping bundle. “Might I trouble you to hang these on a clothesline so’s me and the girls can put them back on come morning?”

“Of course,” Emilie managed to say in a relatively normal voice. “Do sit down and let Mary serve you a bite while I take care of this.”

Emilie took the bundle knowing full well the clothesline was out in the yard where likely the rain still fell in plops and drips from the
leaves of the mango trees and shimmied down the feathery leaves of the
nearby tamarind. But by taking the clothing outside, she could escape the confines of a kitchen that felt as if the walls were closing in.

Thomas Hawkins is alive.

“He can’t be,” she whispered as she laid a gown strewn with pink rosebuds over the rope tied between two mango trees. “It’s impossible,” she continued as she added matching gowns sprigged in yellow and green next to the first. “I heard the judge sentence him to death and saw the gallows being built outside the prison.”

Then she held up the last of the bundle, a dress of robin’s egg blue.

The same blue as Thomas Hawkins’s eyes.

Thomas Hawkins couldn’t be alive. For if he were, then she was as good as dead.

Emilie fell to her knees and began to pray. Only God could save her from the fiend should he somehow find her.

Chapter 26

August 13, 1836

Fairweather Key

Emilie rose from the rocker where she’d slept and crept into the kitchen to prepare breakfast, stretching out her sore limbs as she walked. True to her promise, Mary Carter had sent someone to deliver a dozen eggs to her back stoop sometime before dawn. Also in the basket was an assortment of goodies that likely had taken the dear woman the remainder of the night to prepare. Beside the basket sat a folded stack of clothing. Emilie knew without looking there would be four dresses, each relatively close if not perfectly matched to the female who would don it.

“Mary, how do you do it?”

She retrieved the food and set it on the table, then fetched in the clothes and went about preparing the eggs. By the time breakfast was ready, all four of her guests were padding around the kitchen, looking much better than when they arrived.

Ruby sat on the chair nearest the window and braided Tess’s hair, then started on Carol’s. Maggie did her own, then began work on her mother’s. By the time Emilie had finished the eggs, all four O’Shea women were perfectly coiffed and ready to eat.

“I wish you hadn’t insisted on giving up your bed,” Ruby said as she helped set the table. “Though I will tell you it’s a fine night’s sleep I got, even if these three were sleeping all over the place.” She pretended sternness toward little Tess. “And this one thinks it proper to sleep with one foot in my ear and the other stealing my covers.”

“It’s more comfortable that way,” Tess said with a shrug.

“For you, maybe,” Ruby said as she shook her head. “But not for me.”

“But I’m little and need my sleep.” Tess gave Ruby a wide-eyed look. “Isn’t that what you tell me?”

The pair continued in this vein, bantering back and forth between bites of breakfast. Emilie shifted her attention to the twins, who seemed unusually quiet.

“Girls, how did you sleep?”

Carol mumbled something under her breath that sounded like
fine
, and Maggie shrugged. Neither seemed particularly interested in the breakfast set before them.

Emilie’s stomach growled, and Tess giggled. “Miss Emilie has a tiger in her tummy.”

The twins exchanged glances, then rolled their eyes. Evidently Tess’s cuteness did not extend to her sisters’ perceptions.

“Then I shall feed that tiger, Tess,” Emilie said. “What do you think he wants?”

“She,” Tess corrected. “You’re a girl, so your tiger has to be a girl, too.”

“Of course.” Emilie looked over the girl’s head to her mother. Ruby shrugged.
 

“Good morning,” Isabelle called from outside. “I’ve got gifts. Are there any little girls here?”

Isabelle stepped onto the back porch as Emilie opened the door. In her hands were two large packages, and in the crook of her arm was a basket matching the one Emilie had found earlier.

“What do you have?” Emilie shut the door, then thought better of it and left the door open.

“What a nice breeze,” Ruby said. “We don’t have that in. . .” She paused and the twins gave one another a look. “Well, we just don’t have that nice breeze where we come from.”

“Ruby,” Emilie said, “this is my sister, Isabelle.” She paused. “Isabelle, meet Ruby O’Shea and her daughters Carol, Maggie, and Tess.”

“Very nice to meet you,” she said as she placed her bundles on the sideboard. “I’ve brought clothing for all of you courtesy of Mrs. Carter and the church ladies’ committee.” Isabelle lifted the cloth on the basket. “And Mrs. Campbell sent lunch.”

“I don’t know how to thank you,” Ruby said.

“Don’t thank me,” Isabelle said. “I’m only the messenger. You can thank Mrs. Campbell yourself when I come back to fetch you this afternoon and take you over there to stay tonight.” Isabelle smiled at Emilie. “I’m sure you’ll sleep more comfortably when each of you has your own bed.”

Ruby rose and delivered her plate to the dishpan, then began to wash it. “I’ll do that,” Emilie said. “You’re guests here.”

Ruby turned, her expression pleading. “Let me do something to thank you.”

All eyes were on Emilie. “Yes,” she said. “Of course.”
 

“Perhaps we could lay out the clothing,” Isabelle said. “The girls could be dressing while you’re washing dishes.”

Ruby smiled. “I think that’s a fine idea.”

It took some doing, but the girls all managed to find dresses that not only fit but pleased them. “All right, now take at least one more each,” Isabelle said. “It’s always good to have an extra frock.”

“In case of a party?” Tess asked.

“Exactly,” Emilie said.

They watched the girls sort and choose, then fold everything that remained and stack it neatly once more. Ruby walked through the door, the dishtowel still in her hand.

“You’ve done a good job with them,” Isabelle said. “They’re very polite and don’t fuss at all.”

“Oh, they have their moments of friction,” Ruby said, “but by and large, they’re good girls.”

Tess wandered over and grabbed Ruby’s hand. “Your turn, Ruby. I mean, Mama.”

Ruby allowed the girl to lead her to the stack of adult-sized clothing. “You can have two,” the little girl said. “One for to wear and the other in case of a party.”

Ruby looked over at Emilie. She nodded.

It was impossible to miss the fact that while the girls tackled their clothing search with great zeal, Ruby picked the first two off the top and set the others aside. “Don’t you want to sort through them and see what you like?” Emilie asked.

“I like these,” she said, her eyes downcast. “And I’m grateful for them.”

Isabelle touched Emilie’s sleeve. “I know you need to get over to the school. I’ll be staying here with the ladies until it’s time to go over to the boardinghouse.”

“Oh no,” Ruby said. “The girls and I can find our own way around. I don’t need to be bothering you.”

“It’s no bother,” Isabelle said. “And believe me, once my son arrives, you’ll see why I’ll be glad for four extra sets of hands.” She smiled. “Joey is an absolute lamb, but I think he’s trying to teeth, and that’s not making him very happy.”

“The only solution for a fussy baby is to walk ’em.” Ruby grinned. “And that’s something the girls and I can do, isn’t it, girls?”

All three nodded. Tess added a grin.

“Then I suppose I’ll be on my way,” Emilie said. “The children will take their summer break in a few days, so I will be home should you need anything.” She smiled. “Do come and visit once you’re settled.”
 

She mouthed a thank-you to Isabelle, then gathered her things for the walk to the schoolhouse. Before Emilie reached the garden gate, she heard a childish voice calling her name.
 

It was Tess. “Can I come to school with you?” she called.

Emilie smiled. “That’s something you and your mama need to discuss. Today’s going to be an awfully busy day, what with moving over to the boardinghouse and all. Oh, and it’s a lovely boardinghouse. I lived there for quite a while.”

Tess looked unconvinced.

“Once you’ve settled in and been of great help to your mother, then we can talk about school. If you’re still here, I’d love to see you girls begin classes in September. We have a little schoolhouse at the top of the summit, and I know the children would welcome new playmates.”

Seemingly satisfied, Tess ran back inside. As the door slammed, so did the garden gate. Emilie walked down the ridge toward the school, casting a wary eye out toward the ocean.
 

If Thomas Hawkins yet lived, he was either out there somewhere or cleverly hiding here in Fairweather Key. Emilie preferred to believe the former, though her worst fear was the latter.

To take her mind off her concerns, she considered the riotous morning and the houseful of females she’d awakened to. It was lovely having the little cottage filled to the brim with visitors, even if it did mean she got a stiff neck in the process.

The way Ruby cared for those girls was a sight to behold.
At least there’s one mother who didn’t leave her girls.

Emilie shook off the comparison and picked up her pace. Then she saw the strange man standing outside the schoolhouse. She turned and ran, not stopping until she was racing over the gangplank that connected the
Caroline
to the docks.

“I saw him up by the school,” she said when she found Micah sitting on the stern, a fishing line dropped into the water.

“Who did you see?”

Breathless, she leaned forward and gasped until she could talk. “A man. He was at the school.”

“Yes,” he said patiently, “I understood that part. What I don’t understand is what’s got you so all-fired upset.”

“Come with me, and I’ll show you.” She straightened and swiped at her forehead with her handkerchief. “I’m afraid it’s him.”

Micah’s eyes narrowed. “Who?”

“Thomas Hawkins.”

“The pirate whose ship we salvaged last night?” Micah laughed. “You do have an active imagination, Emilie. That man likely bailed out well before the vessel hit the rocks.” He turned to look off into the horizon. “No, I’d predict he’s got another ship by now and is back to his dirty tricks.”

“But what of the treasure he lost in the wreck?”

Micah smiled. “It was a nice haul indeed.”

“Then likely he will want to come back for it.” She shook her head. “Don’t you think it’s possible?”

“I suppose it’s possible.” He looked down at the fishing line, then back up at Emilie. “Only for you would I do this. Give me a minute to get my boots on.”

Emilie looked down and saw bare toes sticking out from his trousers. Then she looked up to see he’d not yet buttoned his shirt nor donned his collar.
 

“Oh my, I didn’t even notice,” she said as heat began to flood her cheeks. “I’m sorry for barging onto your boat like this. It was quite inappropriate. I would certainly not walk into your bedroom unannounced. Well, actually, I would never walk into you—” She caught another glimpse of skin. “Oh my. I’m—”

“Emilie,” he said in a firm but soft voice. “Stop talking and sit down over there.” He pointed to a barrel that had been fashioned into a makeshift chair. “I’ll be with you in just a minute.”

Slowly, she did as he asked, moving with care across a deck that looked to be freshly scrubbed. He emerged from the cabin fully dressed with boots and collar in place and shirttails tucked in. Atop it all was a suit jacket that made him look more like a banker than a wrecker.

He must have noticed her stare for he looked down at his garb before returning his gaze to Emilie. “I’ve business at the courthouse once I get you settled at school.” He straightened his collar. “I was appointed the wreck’s master last night.”

“Congratulations,” she said, knowing the first man to the wreck was not only deemed the master, but also given a greater share of the prize. Judging from what she’d heard, it would likely be a large reward.

“Now,” he said gently, “show me where you saw this man.”

“You’re not going to confront him barehanded, are you?”

Micah patted his coat, then lifted it up to show a pistol strapped to his waist belt. “He’ll not want for reasons to leave you be,” he said. “So just stop your worrying right now.”

“Yes, sir,” she said as she followed his broad back up the hill.

When they arrived at the schoolhouse, the grounds were deserted. A similar check of the interior proved the same.

“You stay right with me,” Micah said. “We’re going looking for him.”

“We?” she squeaked.

He gave her a patient look. “You could stay here alone, but I figure you’d prefer not to do that.”

Emilie nodded and did as he demanded, staying in Micah’s shadow until the entire perimeter of the area had been searched and the children had begun to arrive. “It appears he’s gone,” Micah finally said.

“Yes,” she said, “it does.”

“Would you like me to come back after my meeting with the judge and see what I can do about flushing the varmint out?” Her hesitation was answer enough for Micah. “I won’t be long,” he said, his expression serious.
 

“Thank you.” She smiled and led him away from the gathering group of children. “I’m in your debt, Micah,” Emilie said.