The Guardian's Wildchild (34 page)

“Yes. And I know why, and it’s not what you’re thinking.”

“Uh huh. You got a man back home?”

“You promise not to tell anyone, especially Captain Waterhouse? Absolutely no one?”

“Hey, I know your bra size. Never told a soul. We’re friends.”

“Well, actually, I’ve never had a boyfriend.”

“Uh huh. I don’t believe a word. A pretty gal like you? And I can see you’re all sweet over Sam.”

Dr. Duncan called to Lorna.

“We’ll get back to this later.” Lorna shook her finger at Sidney.

Following close beside, Sidney whispered, “You’re crazy. I just admire the man, respect him. He’s been good to me. That’s all.”

“Don’t you tell no fibs to Lorna Paddles.”

Soon came the time when they had to prepare the seaman for evacuation. When the medical staff were loaded onto Buzz’s chopper, Lorna delivered Sidney to Sam as ordered. Exhausted from being on duty more than twenty-four hours, the medical assistant planned to go straight to her quarters after receiving the blast she fully expected from Sam.

Just before entering Sam’s reception room, she said, “You better tell him how you feel.”

Sidney shook her head. “He’s got bigger problems. Doesn’t need to be bothered by some love-sick puppy. Anyway, he’d probably think it was a joke.”

“Well, I know he wouldn’t laugh. God only knows he’s forgotten how.”

“Oh no, he hasn’t. We were playing in the ocean yesterday and he — ”

Lorna grabbed Sidney’s arm. “You were what?”

“Oh, well, I kind of forced him to go swimming and we, that is, he — ”

“Playing? Swimming?”

Sidney nodded. “Uh huh.”

“We’re talking about this Sam, right?” Lorna pointed to Sam’s office door.

“Yes.”

“Sidney, if you don’t tell him, I will.”

Sidney gasped and shook her head. “Oh, god no. You mustn’t say anything. You promised you wouldn’t say a word to him, Lorna.”

“Wouldn’t tell who what?” barked Sam, standing at his now open office door.

The two women jumped.

“Oh, nothing important.” Sidney smiled nervously. “Just girl talk.”

Sam continued to scowl. “I doubt it. Lorna, step into the boardroom. Sidney, you sit here and don’t move. I mean it!”

Sidney zipped over to her usual interrogation chair while Lorna and Sam walked into the boardroom and shut the door.

“Sit down, Lorna. You look like a wreck.”

“Oh? You hinting that perhaps I should be scuttled?”

“Relax. I mostly just want Sidney to take my orders seriously. She tends to disregard rules.”

“I see. She holds you in quite high regard, Sam.”

“What did she mean about you not saying anything?”

Lorna waved her hand in the air. “Oh that. We were talking about her love life.”

Sam nodded and stood up.

“Lorna, I’m counting on you to keep an eye on Sidney over the next few days. I’m flying to New Seattle as soon as we dock in Pearl Harbor. And please play nice with Commander Moon, okay? No pushing his buttons.”

“Captain, a girl has to have some fun. But try not to worry about anything while you’re away. Visiting your boys?”

“Yeah. You go get some rest.”

He returned to his office to find Sidney still firmly seated. He sat down in his chair behind his desk and leaned back. Suddenly, he started chuckling as if he’d just remembered the punch line to a joke.

Sidney blushed. “Something on my nose?”

“No,” he said, still chuckling. “It’s incredible. You continually manage to turn this ship and its crew inside out. You better pick up your breakfast. Get what you want from the buffet and bring your tray out to the veranda. You can eat there while I have my meeting with the officers. Once you’re done, Bridges will take you back to your room, er, cell.”

She picked out a few things for her breakfast and went with Sam onto his veranda. She was fatigued from lack of sleep. The morning air was cool, and Sidney shivered in her blouse and shorts. Sam retrieved their picnic blanket and gave it to her.

“Could I stay out here this morning? I’d like to sleep in your hammock.”

Sam thought for a moment, studying her eyes. He shook his head.

“I’ve almost lost you too many times. Not going to take any more chances than absolutely necessary. Understood?”

Sidney no longer felt tired or hungry. Sam’s response had lifted her beyond those mere annoyances. She looked into the dark brown eyes that held her heart captive.

Resisting the urge to reach for him, she obediently responded, “Yes, Captain.”

Exhausted, Sidney slept the rest of the morning in her cell. She woke shortly before lunch and began her usual daily routine of washing and tidying. She laughed at herself. In the past, her routine was a far cry from the meticulous efforts she’d now adopted. Sam’s influence was strong. His order and discipline had given her a sense of security.

Sidney sat down on her bed and surveyed her room. It was spotless and tidy. It was definitely
not
her room. Her bedroom in her small, modest home on the island was in the loft. Her bed and furniture were made out of willow. The walls, made of straw bales and stucco, held in the warmth and protected her from the winter storms. By now the dust bunnies on the storage shelves and rafters had probably given birth to countless offspring. The sun would be shining through the small window in her bedroom that overlooked the forest. Chickadees and pine siskins would be upset with her not having refilled their feeding station with their favorite seeds. She could hear their chatter and see the fluttering of their wings as they hovered over empty trays.

Bridges entered her cell and escorted her to Sam’s office. The captain wasn’t there. She continued on to eat her lunch in the boardroom. From the opened window, she heard the crew working to repair the ship. She felt distant and removed from the lives of the people around her. When she’d finished her lunch she returned to where Bridges always waited for her in the reception room. As ever, the lieutenant remained detached and avoided any unnecessary conversation.

“The captain’s orders are that you’re to remain in your cell until this evening.” He motioned for her to proceed to the hallway.

“No exercise on the deck today?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“It’s too dangerous right now.”

As they approached a doorway that led to the deck, Sidney turned toward it instead of continuing down the hallway. Through its window she saw Sam standing with Moon, surveying the deck’s damage and monitoring the temporary repairs. Large gaping holes were being cornered off. Shattered crates were being dismantled and the contents examined.

Bridges ordered, “Keep moving.”

Sidney thought about spending another five or six hours in the dark cell. It was unbearable. “Mr. Bridges. I think I should go to the infirmary.”

She placed her hand over her mouth as though trying to restrain vomiting. Bridges eyed her suspiciously and stepped back. Activating his comlink, he called to the captain, “Sir, the prisoner has requested to be taken to the infirmary, sir. I have her at the door on the midship starboard side.”

Sidney glanced back at Sam. She couldn’t tell if he was more alarmed or annoyed. He walked quickly over and burst through the door.

“What’s the matter? You look fine to me,” he said.

“I am fine. Just want to help. Seems to me there are quite a number of casualties that still need medical attention, and I’d like to help Dr. Duncan. That’s all.”

“No. It’s too dangerous.”

“What do you mean dangerous? Everyone else is working overtime. I can help.”

“Sidney, you’re not trained. You’re just a civilian. The prisoners in the infirmary are savage killers. When they’re turned over to the authorities at Pearl Harbor, you can dance on the deck if you like. Now go back to your cell.”

Sidney stood up to Sam and placed her hands on her hips. “What do you mean
just
a civilian? I can help those people in ways your trained military personnel can’t. Furthermore, I’ve survived Admiral Garland and Captain Butchart. If you think I can’t handle a few disabled, burned, broken, dilapidated, militant carbon copies of Captain Butchart, you’re terribly mistaken,
sir!”

Sam stood erect, unmovable. “You won’t go anywhere other than to my office or your cell, escorted by Lieutenant Bridges. Is that clear?”

“Yes, sir.” Sidney saw there was no point in arguing.

“Bridges, deliver the prisoner to her cell.”

“Aye, Captain.”

On the way, Bridges surprised Sidney by initiating conversation.

“You sure got guts.” At first Sidney thought he was angry; then she heard him chuckle. “Never saw anybody, except maybe Lorna, talk like that to the captain without a severe reprimand.”

Sidney smiled. “Pays to be just a civilian, sometimes.”

“Uh huh. Better watch your step, miss. You get too far away from the captain’s eyes and you could be in trouble.”

Sidney stopped and faced him. “Trouble? What kind of trouble?”

“Someone wants you dead real bad and is willing to pay big.”

During the breakfast meeting, Sam received the full report from Lieutenant Bridges concerning the pirates’ objective. The patient he’d been interrogating eventually talked. Someone had made a reckless attempt to eliminate Sidney. And the only madman that came to Sam’s mind was Captain Butchart. But he knew someone else must also be involved, someone with money to burn. Wealthy as the admiral was, he’d use only official channels to protect his political ambitions. It was time to have another chat with New Seattle’s Police Detective, Clay Flanders.

As the
Nonnah
approached Pearl Harbor, Sam asked Bridges to bring Sidney back to his office.

“Everything okay?” Sidney asked once she and Sam were alone.

Sam observed her delicate features and realized that when he’d thought of Joy in the last week, the familiar pain was gone.

“Someone desperately wants you eliminated, Sidney. We have to tighten security. Your access to the deck for exercise may be severely restricted until the
Nonnah
reaches New Seattle.” Sam shut down his computer and electronic systems, tossing his comlink aside.

“Let’s have dinner,” he said.

Sidney saw that two trays had been delivered to Sam’s boardroom.

As they ate, Sam asked, “Have you given more thought to telling me where you placed the copy of the file?”

She thought for a moment. “Someone will find you and give you guidance. You’ll know that you can trust him. If you’re meant to find that file, you’ll find it without my help.”

“Uh huh. Can you clarify that?”

She shook her head. “You know how to touch the higher dimensions for help. Anything you need to know is available to you.”

She remembered how Greystone had guided her during her early years on the island. There was so much Sam needed to learn, to experience in order to develop a trust in his higher wisdom. But they didn’t have time, so the best she could do was instruct him in the way of the Guardians throughout their meal.