Disclaimer: These characters and this
narrative are mine, so there is nothing to disclaim in this here story. You will need an open mind to read it,
though. If you find something you think
needs disclaiming, you are more than welcome to let me know. It won’t change anything, but it may make you
feel better. Ugliness will earn you a
smack to the back of your head.
Thanks:
To my
truly awesome Beta Team. Thanks to
Carol, Marsha, Phil and Liz for the editing and for the questions, comments,
steering and encouragement. You guys
ROC!
Special Thanks: To the webmistresses
who have to put up with my funky, pain-in-the-ass formatting and post my
stories anyway. J
Author’s
Note: This
story is not part of the Valiant Series.
It is a stand alone story with two completely new characters. The Storyteller’s Cardinal Rule is in effect.
Most Cherished Dreams
Prologue: Once Upon a Time....
April 1847
Journal
entry: I had the dream again last night,
and I am beginning to go mad because of it.
Those eyes surround me and invade my soul, and yet I cannot find them
when daylight strikes the Earth.
Papa has agreed to take me on
the next voyage. Perhaps I will find
what my soul seeks there.
September 1851
Journal
entry: I found eyes similar to the ones I
have spent a lifetime searching for, but they were not the eyes that belong to
me. It was mostly by accident I think,
and I tried to warn the man away from my ship.
He didn’t seem put off that I was a woman, the Captain, nor the fact
that we bore flag of a pirate ship. If I
did not know better, I would say he was relieved to have found us.
The man, Michael, spent quite
some time on board as if he were searching for answers to an unknown riddle. He
must have been satisfied with what he found, for when he left us, he was in much better spirits than when he arrived.
I am glad he found his
answers, if he did. His last comment to
me has made me a bit unsettled, and has strengthened the resolve of my search.
“You will find her, for she
will come to you in due time.”
How could he know what haunts
my dreams?
May 1853
Journal
entry: The dreams grow increasingly more
frequent. I cannot imagine what I did to
anger God in such a way so as to be cursed like this, for I had these visions
long before I took to the seas. And the
priest assures me that what we are doing is not wrong in the eyes of God.
I almost dread the nightfall,
and yet I eagerly embrace it as well, for I know that there I will find comfort
in her arms.
She has become more clear to me as time has passed. Green eyes, the color of the grass in what
was once my home. Golden
hair that reminds me of the treasures that abound in these waters for those who
know where to look. A lithe body, muscles that speaks of hard work and softness
addressed by womanly curves. All
of this I see, and still her face remains hidden, except for those eyes that
have haunted me since I was a child.
I wonder if she dreams of me
as I do of her.
June 1855
Journal
entry: Something has changed, and for the
first time in my life I feel a true sense of anticipation for the future. Could it be our time has come at last?
Even the men have noticed the
change, and go about their tasks in a brighter frame of mind. Who can blame them... it seems as though we
have been in this stretch of ocean for hundreds of years, instead of the few
months we come this way every so often.
Truth be told, we have been here more often than usual, just because I
feel the need to be.
I have hope now, for whatever
reason. I will find her.
Chapter I
October - Twenty Years Ago
“Are ya sure about this, Jack? We can’t afford to be wrong.”
“I’m tellin’ ya, Mike. It was the three-masted
cutter of the legends. I couldn’t make
out the name, but there were people on board, Mikey, and they looked like
pirates from two hundred years ago.”
“C’mon, Jack... we both know
that there’ve been no pirates in those waters in a hundred years. You keep
talking crazy like that, they’ll lock you up and throw away the key.”
“Mike, I saw the pirate banner. I saw the cannons. I saw HER.”
Now Mike got serious. “Did you get the coordinates?”
Jack nodded. “Oh yeah. Wanna guess?”
“The Triangle?”
Mike sighed. He closed his eyes at
Jack’s affirmative nod. “Did she say
ANYTHING?”
“Not a word. She searched the area over two week period
then disappeared into the mist.”
“Was there a pattern to the search?”
“Amazingly, yes.” He unrolled a map out into the table, then place a grid on top of it. “I didn’t think a pirate would be quite so
methodical, but....”
“Daddy, what’s a pirate?”
The two men looked up at the question, and
Mike smiled at his little girl. Little five-year-old Hannah was the bright spot in his world. Beautiful, with honey colored hair and bright
green eyes, she was the spitting image of the mother
who had died giving her life. He opened
his arms, and Hannah giggled as she ran to jump up into them.
“How’s Daddy’s angel today? Did you have fun in school?”
“Oh yes, Daddy. It was the mostest
fun. We colored and pasted and played
hide-n-seek and....” Mike laughed
joyously at his daughter’s enthusiasm.
She reminded him so much of her mother, and though it was still
sometimes a very painful reminder, he found great joy in that fact as well.
“I’m glad you like school, sweetheart. Say hi to Uncle Jack.”
The five-year-old squealed. “UNCLE JACK!!”
“Hiya pumpkin! How’s my favorite niece?”
Hannah did the best grown up imitation she
could manage snuggled up in her Daddy’s arms.
“Uncle Jack, I’m your ONLY niece.”
Jack Reilly laughed. “That’s true, cutie. I brought you something back from my trip.”
“Yea!! Is it from the pirates?”
Both men looked startled at the
question. “Um, no. But it is your very own piece of
paradise.” He handed her a conch
shell. “Hold it to your ear... like
this.” He demonstrated what he
meant. “You can hear the ocean.”
She did what he said, and the green eyes
grew wide with amazement. “Wow! Daddy, can I go show Katie?”
“Sure sweetie. I’m sure Mrs. O’Shea wonders where you are.”
Hannah smiled and kissed him before he set
her firmly on the ground. She ran to
Jack and threw her arms around his neck, kissing him as well. “Thanks, Uncle Jack!” she said before she
left at a run for the next-door neighbor’s house and her very best friend in
the whole wide world with her shell clutched tightly in both fists.
“Well, if the routine holds true, we have
ten years to work on this puzzle. After
almost one hundred and fifty years of mystery, I don’t think waiting until
tomorrow to start working on it is gonna make a difference.”
“I know you’re right, Jack. I just...
can’t explain it really. I need
to solve this.”
“We will brother. We will.”
September - Ten Years Ago
“Ashes to ashes, and dust to dust,” the
minister’s voice intoned solemnly. There
were quite a few people gathered at the graveside, but the young woman sat
alone by the casket. The minister
finished his benediction, and took Hannah’s hand to mutter a few final words of
comfort. She waited in silence for him
to finish and nodded, willing him to leave her in peace.
The crowd began to disperse and still
Hannah Reilly sat quietly by the casket.
Katie and her family stood by respectfully, waiting for her to say her
final goodbyes.
“Daddy, I hope you finally found what you
were looking for when you died.” She
closed her eyes and drew a shuddering breath before continuing. “We haven’t been able to reach Uncle Jack
yet, so I’m going home with the O’Sheas for
now.” A sob shook the small frame, and
Katie started forward, only to be held back by her mother.
“Give her another minute, Kate. I don’t think she’s done yet.”
“I love you, Daddy. And I’m really gonna miss you. Maybe I should have told you about the
dreams. You might have understood them,
or at least... well, anyway. Give Mama a
real big hug and kiss for me, okay? I’m
glad you have each other again, ‘cause I know you’ve
missed her.”
Hannah stopped talking and remained seated
for another long minute. Then she wiped
her eyes and rose, nodding to the waiting funeral director. She moved toward the O’Sheas. Katie met her halfway, and Hannah gratefully
returned the embrace she found herself in.
Her best friend topped her by four or five inches, and she found herself
tucked under Katie’s chin while the curly auburn hair tickled her nose.
“I’m glad you’re coming home with us, even
if it’s just til your uncle gets home,” Katie said softly. “It’ll be nice to have another girl in the
house.” Hannah just smiled. She knew Katie idolized her three older
brothers and they doted on her.
“Are ya ready then, Hannah?”
“Yes ma’am.
Thank you for....”
“No need to thank me, dear,” Sarah O’Shea
cut in smoothly. “You’ve always been a
part of the family. We’re glad to have
ya for as long as you’d like to stay.”
Tears welled in the green eyes again, but
Hannah refused to let them fall.
Instead, she nodded slightly, and gave Sarah a watery smile. The portly woman smiled back at her, and
patted her graying red hair when a breeze blew through the graveyard.
“C’mon, now,” Sarah continued. “Let’s get home before it rains.”
Shamus had brought the car around to them
and they all piled in and shut the doors just as the bottom fell out. “Do you know when you should hear from Jack
again?” the man questioned in the silence.
“No sir.
I thought he and Daddy were together, but apparently they split up to do
some more research on the Triangle. I
expect to hear from him within the next two or three days, though. He’s always been real good about calling me
faithfully once a week whenever he’s been away on business or what have you
since I was seven.”
“That’s good then. You are always welcome in our home and in our
family, you know that. But I think he
needs to know what happened. It’s time
they gave up that damned fool hunt.”
The last statement caught Hannah’s
attention. “Do you know what they were
looking for, Uncle Shae?” The children had always referred to the
adults in this manner. Hannah didn’t
miss Sarah laying her hand on Shamus’ arm, nor the deep breath he took before
answering.
“They were chasing a ghost, little
bit. They were looking for a legend.”
“Why?”
A simple question with no simple answers. Shamus shook his head. Sarah looked at Hannah compassionately.
“They felt it was important. We were never really given any enlightenment
on the subject.”
Hannah nodded, accepting the explanation,
unsatisfactory as it might be. She had questions for her Uncle Jack when he
got home.
May - Five Years Ago
“I can’t believe you’re going to graduate
with your Master’s degree a year before I even finish my Bachelor’s!” Katie
good-naturedly complained. Hannah had
become more driven upon her father’s death, and that
energy was channeled into her studies.
And her dreams... but those remained her own little secret.
Jack had returned home immediately once he
got the news, but it was agreed that Hannah would remain with the O’Sheas whenever he was out of town. And after his
brother’s death, that seemed to happen a lot more often. Still he was good to Hannah, and doted on her
as much as he could, and he made sure she always knew how precious she was to
him.
He never told her precisely what he and her
father had been working on when Mike was killed. They had agreed early in Hannah’s life that
this part of the family history was something she would need to discover for
herself, if and when the right time for her to know ever came. Shortly after Mike’s death, Jack put out a
book on the Mysteries of the
So the time had come for Hannah to walk a
second time. She had already published
two young reader books, and had a daily syndicated column in newspapers around
the country. Her future was quite
bright, and she chuckled at the frustrated tone in Katie’s voice.
“Well, Katie, if you’d focus a little
harder on your studies, and a little less on the parties....” She let the thought trail off, then caught the pillow aimed for her head.
“Uh huh....
Well, someone has to have your share of the fun, since you don’t ever
seem to have any. I worry about you
sometimes, working so hard. What are you
looking for?”
Green eyes turned inward for a minute at
the suddenly serious turn in the conversation.
“I am trying to find where I fit, Katie.
I don’t feel like I belong here.”
“Hannah, we all feel
that way sometimes. But it seems to be
the only thing that motivates you.”
Hannah shrugged. “Maybe it is.
Sometimes the feeling is so overwhelming, I feel like I should be
searching for my way home.”
Katie wrapped an arm around the Hannah’s
shoulders. “You’ll find it. I have faith.”
Hannah stood on tiptoe and pressed her lips
to her best friend’s cheek. “Thanks,
Katie. I love you.”
“I love you too, hon. Now,” changing the subject to lighten the
discussion, “When is Jack coming into town?”
“Um, tonight, I think. Uncle Shae is
picking him up at the airport.”
“Cool!
Family reunion! ‘Cause you know the boys are coming too.”
Good... my kind of party!”
Katie rolled her eyes, but smiled
inwardly. She was glad to see Hannah
excited and enthusiastic about something other than school or work for a
change. Maybe it was an indication of
better times to come.
June - Present Day
Katie whirled into
the room, holding the wedding dress in front of her. Her long auburn curls streamed behind her,
and she giggled like the schoolgirl she hadn’t been for years now and looked at
Hannah. Her brown eyes twinkled in pure
happiness.
“What do you think
of this one? Do you think Frank will
like it?”
“Honey, Frank
isn’t going to be looking at the dress,” Hannah remarked with a teasing
grin. “If you want my honest opinion, I
like this one the best,” holding up a dress that had been tried on several
dresses before. “It suits you
beautifully.”
“Do you really
think so?”
“I agree with her,
sweetheart,” Sarah said. “And you know
Hannah has always had been honest about how things look.”
Katie chuckled,
remembering some of Hannah’s less-than-tactful, but frightfully honest comments
she had been the recipient of through the years. “Well, now that’s true.” She looked at her blonde friend. “Do you remember the green and pink Mohawk
and that ugly red and purple raincoat I had?
And your comment when you saw them for the first
time?”
Hannah laughed,
and Sarah chortled. “Um, yes.... though
I’m sure now I could come up with a better way to say ‘that sucks’ than that.”
“I dunno,” Katie
answered, still chuckling. “That was
actually pretty effective.”
They moved over to
the bridesmaid’s area, and each of them took a different rack and began looking
through the selections. As a joke, Katie
held up an outrageous feathered purple sequined number. Hannah just raised an eyebrow.
“I’m not
auditioning for a part in ‘The Best Little Whorehouse in
Both of the O’Shea
women squealed and Katie hung the dress back up. “I want to know who would wear something like
that.”
The saleswoman muttered
as she passed them with an armful of clothing, “Some things are best left as a
mystery.”
Three sets of eyes
got big at the implication, and they turned their attention back to the
racks. Sarah found the next offering...
a bright blue lace creation.
“I’m not sure the
maid of honor should have on more lace than the bride,” was Hannah’s only
comment.
“Good point,”
Sarah answered as she hung it up again.
“What about
this?” The blonde woman held up her
selection.
It was a simple
sleeveless sheath in a blue-green satin that complimented both her tan and her
eyes, deepening them and bringing them out beautifully.
“Yes,” was all
Katie said, and within minutes, their shopping was complete and the two friends
were headed out to lunch together.
“I’ll see you
girls at home,” Sarah called to them as she left them alone to catch up.
Once they were
seated, Katie took up the conversation again.
“I’m so glad you
were able to come home for this,” she said to Hannah solemnly. The blonde woman ducked her head,
acknowledging the gentle, unspoken reprimand.
As soon as she’d gotten her Master’s degree, Hannah had moved to the
city and only rarely had come home for a visit.
“You know I
wouldn’t have missed it.”
The waiter
approached and conversation halted while he took their drink orders and gave
them the day’s specials. Katie waited
until he was out of hearing before she spoke again.
“I know, but we’ve
missed YOU. Phone calls just aren’t the
same.”
“I know, and I’m
sorry. I just....”
“Are you still having
the dreams?” When Katie had come to see her after graduation, Hannah had
finally shared with her a tiny bit about the dreams that she’d had since was a
child. The blonde head nodded, and she
sighed.
“Yeah, and the
more vivid they become, the less comfortable I am in my own skin, in my job, in
my life. And it seems to be worse here.”
“I’m sorry,
Hannah. I didn’t know.” Katie clasped her hands over Hannah’s on the
table. “I wish there was something I
could do to help.” She paused briefly, then took the plunge.
“Ya know, Patrick still....”
“I know, Kate, and
I love Patrick, but like a brother.
Besides, I am not comfortable with me.
How could anyone else be?
“I think you’re
selling yourself short, hon. I mean look
at you. You are a gorgeous woman, a
successful author... and by the way, I recognize a few of the adventures Trudy
and Evan have in those stories.”
Hannah
laughed. “I’ll bet you do.”
“Ahem,” Katie
cleared her throat. “ANYWAY... I should
have said successful, award-winning author.”
Here the blonde woman simply blushed and lowered her head in
acknowledgement. Katie reached across
the table and lifted her chin. “Don’t be
ashamed of your work, my friend. I
cannot tell you the number of ADULTS I know that read your books. That is something to be proud of. Not to mention the column that runs in how
many countries now? You are
flourishing.”
The food arrived
right then, and Hannah sighed. The
waiter refilled their glasses then left them in peace again.
“That is just my
point, Katie. I have everything. I have lovely friends who keep in touch with
me regardless,” and she gave the other woman a sheepish smile. Katie smiled back broadly. “I am thriving in my chosen profession, both
of them, and have been recognized for my work.
I have a comfortable bank balance and a nice place to live,
and still....”
The waiter
returned, topped their glasses again and placed a carafe on the table, then
left without another word. Katie made a
mental note to tip him well for his discreteness. Hannah swallowed the bite of food and
resumed her thought.
“Still, Katie, I
don’t feel right.”
“I’m not sure I
understand what you mean, Hannah.”
“I have never felt
like I fit here, in this time and this place.”
She chuckled sardonically at herself.
“Don’t get me wrong. I love my
technology and my creature comforts, but it has always seemed a bit foreign to
my nature.” She sighed in frustration.
“I really can’t put into words very well what I am trying to say.”
“That’s okay,
hon. I think I understand what you are
getting at. Almost like your karmic
cycle is out of sync.”
Green eyes
widened. “My God, that’s *exactly* what
I mean.”
Katie
laughed. “See I *did* pay attention in
some of those classes.”
The blonde woman
joined the laughter. “I’m sure Aunt
Sarah and Uncle Shae will be thrilled to know their
money was well-spent on your education.”
“I’m not sure I
would go that far, but....” She paused and selected a bite of chicken. “Hannah, is there... someone... special in
your life?”
It was silent for
a time after that as the two women continued to eat while Hannah considered her
answer. “No, not
really. I’ve tried dating, but
those eyes... they... I can’t find them, and they are the key to... everything,
Katie.”
“You’re that sure,
hon?” Hannah kept her eyes locked on the
brown ones across from her, and Katie saw the conviction in them before the
blonde nodded her head. “All right,
then. I have faith that when the time is
right, you’ll find them and you’ll know.”
Hannah
smiled. “I’m glad one of us does.”
“Oh I do. And probably when we all least expect
it. Now,” taking the check and adding
the extra tip for the waiter, “Let’s go get some ice cream. By the time we walk the two blocks to get
there, I’ll have room.”
“Katie,” Hannah
intoned seriously, “There is ALWAYS room for ice cream.”
************
“So, Hannah, are
you ready to go through the house? I
think it’s time.” Jack and Hannah were
sitting in the old house that had been locked up for quite some time. Jack had taken an early retirement seven
months earlier, and had moved down to the islands he had visited so much. It was more like home to him that his
brother’s house had ever been, no matter how welcome he had been.
She sat curled
into one corner of the couch with her hands loosely clasped together around one
knee. She missed her Uncle Jack, though
they still talked regularly on the phone and communicated by email almost every
day. He looked better than he had in
years though, and she was glad to see that retirement was agreeing with him so
well.
“I think you’re
right, Uncle Jack. I can take some extra
time off after Katie’s wedding.” She
paused and swallowed. “Will you stay and
help me?”
“You bet, darlin’. I was hoping you’d ask. I don’t think anyone should have to do this
kind of thing alone.”
“Thanks, Uncle
Jack. Um, how long can you stay?”
“I am my own
boss. I can stay here as long as you
need me here.”
“Well, I have five
year’s worth of vacation, comp and sick time I can draw on, so that gives me
more than six months to work with.”
“Six
months?!? My Lord, girl... how the hell’d
you manage that?”
“Oh, it’s easy
when you don’t take vacation and you cover most of the major holidays. So I think I am due some time off. I have columns to cover six or eight weeks,
so maybe I’ll take a month off.”
“You think it’ll
take a month to clean this place out and get it ready to sell?” Jack didn’t think his brother was THAT big of
a packrat, but one never knew til they started cleaning.
Hannah chuckled,
and the older man smiled at the happy sound.
It wasn’t one he got to hear all that often anymore, and sometimes he
missed the bright-eyed child she had been.
“Um,
no. I don’t think it will take more than a
week. I was hoping maybe you’d let me
invite myself down to your place for some time in the sun.”
And so it begins....
Jack thought to himself solemnly.
Aloud he said, “I think that is a great idea, hon, and I’d love the
company. I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you
too, Uncle Jack.”
************
The following day
was the rehearsal, and the girls of the wedding party decided to spend the time
before the rehearsal itself shopping.
Their first stop was a lingerie store, and amazingly, everyone found
something scandalous they just had to have... except Hannah.
“C’mon
Hannah. You gotta get something outrageous. Get into the spirit!”
The blonde woman
took her friend aside. “Katie, who am I
gonna wear this kind of stuff for?”
Katie rested her
forearms on Hannah’s shoulders and smiled down at her. “Do you remember the talk we had
yesterday? I told you I have faith, so
you need to be prepared. ‘Cause it’s gonna happen.”
Hannah smiled back
at her, and gave her a quick, hard hug.
“Have I told you lately just how wonderful a friend you are?”
“Yes, but I don’t
mind if you keep telling me.” Hannah
swatted her on the butt, and Katie squealed.
“Don’t you be getting fresh with me, missy,” she teased. “I’ll have you know I am an almost married
woman! Now,” returning the swat, and
pushing Hannah in the direction of the lingerie, “Find something
wickedly shocking.”
Green eyes
twinkled mischievously. “I think I can
manage that,” she replied. What she
found didn’t have the material of a thong bikini, and the rest of the girls
shrieked when they saw it. It reminded
them that their next stop was for swimwear, and away they trooped to the next
store on their list.
This excursion
elicited even more howls and screams as they went though some of the most
interesting material scraps that were considered bathing suits. Katie held up one that couldn’t have had more
than a hundred threads to it.
“Where’s the
rest? It doesn’t cover anything.”
“I don’t think
it’s supposed to,” Finola commented with a chuckle.
“My question is,
why bother? I mean really... what is the
point?” Rebecca asked. “May as well walk around bare ass naked. At least then you don’t have to worry about
tan lines.”
Hannah picked up a
thong bikini that had enough material in the top that she wouldn’t pop out at
the slightest intake of breath, and enough material in the bottom that she
wouldn’t have to shave completely. It
helped matters that it was a cute tropical print.
“What about this,
guys?” She held the garment up for
inspection.
“Hey, that’s
cute!”
Niiice!”
“I like that one!”
Those and several
other murmured comments answered Hannah’s query, and she smiled, pleased with
the reaction. She took her find to the
counter.
“Um, Hannah...
where are you gonna wear that?” This from Katie.
“I thought I’d
wear it to the pool at the complex.” She
waited for Katie’s eyes to go wide before she lost her composure and broke into
laughter. “You’re so funny. I’m gonna go visit Uncle Jack after we get
the house closed up and ready for sale.
I thought I’d wear it on the beach.”
Katie took a good
long look at the suit, then Hannah’s behind, then back at the suit. “Well, at least you have the ass for it,” was
her only comment. She had to cover her
mouth with her hand to keep from howling at the expression on Hannah’s face.
Lunch was an
interesting, high-spirited affair, and the entire restaurant smiled at the
laughter that flowed from the table of women.
The afternoon offered more shopping, and when rehearsal time rolled
around, five very tired women were hauling themselves into the church.
Mary muttered to
the rest as they crossed the threshold, “Next time we sit by the pool.”
“It’ll be someone
else’s wedding,” Katie said. “’Cause I’m not doing this again.”
The group laughed
and they set themselves for rehearsal.
************
The wedding was a
beautiful affair, and by the time the bride and groom took their leave,
everyone was in a state of happy exhaustion.
Jack and Hannah were among the last to leave, having helped the O’Shea’s
to clean up once the reception was over.
There were quite a few willing hands to make the work lighter, and the
caterer was surprised to see so many pitching in to get things wrapped up.
In short order,
everything was done, and the Reillys were headed back
to their home. They dropped onto
opposite ends of the couch and kicked off their shoes simultaneously. Then green eyes met gray, and they broke into
quiet, tired laughter.
“Guess you can
tell we’re related, hmm?” Hannah commented.
“Maybe just a
little,” Jack answered. “It was a nice
wedding, but damn... I’m beat.”
“Me too, but I’m
glad I was here for this. I think Katie
and Frank will be happy together. He’s
been in love with her since we were kids.”
“What
about you, little Hannah?”
“What about me,
Uncle Jack?” She looked directly at
him. “I’m not involved with anyone, if
that’s what you’re asking. Which makes
this hysterical in the extreme,” indicating the bride’s bouquet she’d caught as
Frank and Kate were leaving.
“Why
not, Hannah? You’re beautiful, pleasant and altogether
charming and yet you remain alone.”
“So are you Uncle, and I don’t see an aunt around here,” she replied,
turning the tables on him, and seeing the slightest hint of shadow cross his
face.
“I couldn’t have
the one I loved, and I wouldn’t settle for less,” he stated quietly but firmly.
“Neither will I, Uncle Jack. I
just haven’t found mine yet.”
“When you do, hold
tight. It’s not something you ever want
to lose.” He spoke with finality and she
nodded, seeing clearly the remembered pain in his eyes and wondering at its cause.
“C’mon,” she said,
rising from the couch and bending over with a moan to pick up her shoes. “Let’s go to bed. We have a lot to do in the morning.”
“Isn’t that the
truth,” the man replied with his own groan as he stood. “I’ll start in my room. At least I know what is there... mostly.”
“That sounds
good,” Hannah answered as she started up the stairs. I don’t have very much in mine, so I’ll start
in the attic. That by itself
will take a bit.”
“Good, we can work
out the rest as we come to it,” Jack said as they reached Hannah’s room. He leaned over and brushed his lips across
her cheek, and she returned the gesture with a hug. “Good night, my dear. Sleep well.”
“You
too, Uncle.”
And the house
settled into quiet for the night.
************
“Holy
Moses!” Hannah
exclaimed as she peeked her head into the large attic space. It was much bigger than she remembered it
being, and there seems to be a lot more... stuff. She stepped into the room, and flung open the
windows. “I think I’d better go get some
more coffee,” looking down at the single mug in her hand. “Maybe I should bring a thermos.”
Several minutes
later, she could hear Jack still chuckling at her when she headed back up the
stairs. The she heard his footsteps
behind her and turned to see him coming up behind her. She moved into the attic, and allowed him
room to enter the space. He looked
around, and his jaw dropped.
“Tell ya what,
honey. I’ll help you do this first. I didn’t realize there was such a mess up
here.”
“Thanks, Uncle
Jack. Me either, actually. You want left or right?”
They were pretty
well evenly matched with things, and Jack couldn’t even tell what most of it
was. “Doesn’t matter,
really. Six of one....”
“True. Okay, you start there, I’ll start here.”
They turned on two
small oscillating fans and opened the windows on either end of the room to
encourage air circulation. Then silence
settled around them for a bit as each tried to determine the best place to
start, then beginning to set things into different piles for disbursement. Occasionally, they would find pictures or
such, but even those memories were set aside in the desire to get done with
their task. By lunch, they had made a
considerable dent in the attic and worked up quite a sweat in the process.
“My God, “Jack
griped as they moved a few of the picture boxes into Hannah’s room. “I didn’t realize they had so much up
there. So much that belonged to Mama and
Grandmother.” He set the boxes carefully
down.
“Are you sure you
don’t want to keep some of this stuff, Uncle Jack?”
“Sweetheart, I
told you. You go through and pick out
what you want to keep, then send me the rest.”
“All
right. I just don’t want you to miss out on what
should be yours.”
“Nope,
not a problem. Now let’s go get some lunch. I’m starving.”
************
It took the rest
of that day and most of the next before they finished in the attic. Hannah ended up with two trunks and several
boxes of pictures and mementos that she was slowly sorting through in the
evening.
Jack finished with
his room while Hannah tackled the study, and when he joined her after lunch the
third day, he found her sitting in the middle of the floor surrounded by books,
cradling her head in her hands.
“You okay,
sweetheart?”
“I was just
thinking how much I miss my Daddy. So many of my memories of him are tied into this room.”
“Do you want me to
do this? You want to go do the kitchen
or his bedroom or...?”
“No, I think I
need to do this. But you can sure stay
and help me if you like.”
“I like. A lot of my memories of him are wrapped up in
this room too, ya know.”
“Yeah, I guess
they would be. Ya’ll did
a lot of your research together here.”
“Yep, and if you
don’t mind, I’d like to ship any books you don’t want to the
“Oh, I like that
idea, Uncle Jack. And I think he would
too.”
************
It took them two
days to do the study, and Hannah only kept a handful of books out of the
hundreds that were in the room. Jack
smiled to himself at her choices, but didn’t say anything to her
otherwise. The kitchen, living room and
her father’s bedroom had already been mostly done, so by the end of the sixth
day things were pretty much packed up.
“I’m tired,” Jack
said plaintively as they sat in a favorite restaurant.
“I can totally
sympathize,” Hannah replied, before turning and waving the O’Sheas
over to join them.
“My goodness, the
two of you look beat,” Sarah said bluntly as she took a seat. Shamus scowled at her.
“Now, Sarah....”
he began, but she cut him off.
“No Shamus. It’s true.
So you are both gonna let the girls and me come over tomorrow and help
with the cleanup, right?”
Hannah and Jack
looked at each other. “You don’t have
t....”
“I know we don’t
dear,” Sarah said, patting Hannah’s hands gently. “But it’s the right thing to do.”
“Well, then,” Jack
answered heartily, “We accept with alacrity and thankfulness.”
Sarah
chuckled. “There are days, Jack Reilly,
when I’ve suspected you of being a poet.”
“Not me. I’m just a dream chaser. It makes me... verbose.” He cleared his throat. “Tell ya what. We’ll all help get it cleaned up tomorrow,
and then I’ll treat the entire gang to pizza and beer for lunch and the
Driftwood Restaurant for dinner.”
Shamus looked at
Jack solemnly. “Well that will get the
boys here for sure. They never miss an
opportunity to eat there, even if it requires a jacket and tie. You sure you wanna do that?”
“Yep. I’d
like to get this finished, and I’ve always enjoyed eating there myself. We have a shipper coming in the morning to
pick up the boxes that I am sending home and that Hannah is keeping. Otherwise, everything else can be taken out
tomorrow, and we can turn the keys over to the realtor on Monday.”
“Sounds like we have
a plan then,” Sarah commented.
“Yep, except for
deciding what we want for dinner tonight.”
Shamus’ observation made them look at their menus, and conversation
turned to other subjects.
************
Monday morning
arrived and so did the realtor. Hannah
was surprised to see Mary standing on her doorstep.
“Hi,
Mary! C’mon in.
I’m sorry I can’t offer you coffee or a place to sit,” motioning to the
empty house, “But I’m waiting for the realtor, and then I’m headed back to the
city.”
“I’m the realtor,
Hannah. Richard gave me the listing this
morning.”
“Wonderful. Then I know the house is in good hands.”
Mary smiled
warmly. “I already know of several
couples who might be interested in the property.”
“Really? I
didn’t think....”
“Oh yes. I wouldn’t be surprised to have an offer on
the table by the end of the week.”
“Wow, so
soon?” At Mary’s enthusiastic nod, she
continued, running a hand thru her hair.
“Um, wow,” she repeated. “Um....”
Mary placed a
concerned hand on her arm. “Hannah, are
you all right?”
“Uh,
yeah. Just surprised, I think. I didn’t think it would be so quick. I’m gonna be out of town for a couple weeks
on the
“No, I can still
reach you out there. Besides, while I
wouldn’t be a bit surprised, it may take a while. Sometimes it does.”
“I’m sorry,
Mary. I didn’t mean to freak out on
you.”
“Not a
problem. You didn’t really freak. I kinda broad sided
you.”
“Well, I sure
didn’t think about it selling quickly until then. But that is a good thing, I think.”
“As
long as you don’t forget about your friends here.”
“I don’t think
Katie or Aunt Sarah would let me get away with that even if I wanted to.”
Mary laughed,
remembering some of their escapades together as children, and unconsciously
rubbing her backside. “I think I can
agree with that.”
They laughed, and
Hannah gave Mary the keys, taking one last look around at what had always been
home to her. Then without glancing back,
Hannah stepped out and firmly closed the door on her past, and headed out to
find her future.
Chapter II
It was a four-hour
drive back to the city, and Hannah was just a little tired when she pulled into
her garage beneath the building where she lived. The doorman recognized her car, and came to
see if she needed help getting her things in.
She’d made friends with Harry when she’d moved into the building three
years previously, and the older gentleman had always made an effort to extend
every courtesy he could to the young woman.
“Hello, Miss
Hannah.”
“Hi Harry. How was your week?”
“Very
quiet. Mrs. Jenkins’ cat got out again, and Mr. Mark
had to take Dolby to the vet. Miss
Christa passed her audition, and Mr. And Mrs. Andrews left for a month long
tour of
“Well, I’m leaving
this afternoon for a two week vacation.”
Harry’s eyes widened, but he didn’t show any other sort of
surprise. Instead he held the elevator
doors open for her and stepped in behind her.
He swiped his key, and the lift began its long climb to the top floor.
“Good for you,
Miss Hannah. You’re due for a bit of
fun.” He paused. “Oh, before I forget... two trunks and a
couple boxes arrived for you on Saturday.
I had them delivered to your living room as you instructed.”
“Thanks
Harry. I have to catch a shuttle to the
airport at six. Can you call them for me
please?”
“Surely.
Will you need help with your bags?”
The car stopped and the door slowly opened into her penthouse
apartment. Harry brought her bag in and
set it by the couch.
“Thank you
Harry. I don’t think so. I am going to se my Uncle Jack in the
islands, and I don’t think two or three swimsuits will make for very much
luggage.” She smiled at him, and he returned
it with a light chuckle.
“No ma’am, given
what I’ve seen of bathing suits these days, I would be inclined to agree with
that observation. But if you find
yourself taking more than that, you let me know, and I will be up to collect
it.” He tipped his hat at her, and
stepped back into the elevator. “Have a
nice day, Miss Hannah.”
She smiled and
gave him a little wave as the doors closed on him. Then she looked at the trunks and boxes, and
sank into the couch with a moan. “Oh,
geez, I’m tired.”
She lay there in a
half doze for about half an hour before her stomach reminded her that it was
“Well, I suppose
that’s to the good, actually, since I stayed a week,” she grumbled to herself
as she grabbed the phone and a takeout menu for the deli at the curb. “And that means I don’t have to do that
before I leave this afternoon. Guess I
should call Charlie though.”
She called the
deli first and gave her name to Sally, who promised her usual would be
downstairs in fifteen minutes, then Hannah hung up so
she could dial her editor.
“Jones.” The
voice was gruff and Monday morning harried.
“Hi,
Charlie. It’s Hannah.”
“Reilly, are you
sure you need to take a vacation? I need
you here.”
She chuckled
soundlessly. Charlie was severely
lacking in the humor department on Mondays, and Hannah didn’t want to make things
worse for her or anyone else by laughing aloud.
Still, the plea was not unexpected, and Hannah found it mildly amusing
that Charlie was so predictable.
“Charlie, you
don’t need me. You need my work. And I am sending you the next month’s worth
of columns to you by courier. You’ll
have them by three this afternoon.”
“Honey, I will
always need you, and why are you sending me a month’s worth? You’re only supposed to be gone for two more
weeks. I’m not sure things will stay on
course without you here.”
Hannah knew that
Charlie had always had a bit of a crush on her, but her editor had never
crossed the lines of friendship they’d both set up for themselves when their
association developed beyond purely business.
“Sure they will,
Charlie. You’re good at keeping
everything together. Besides, I figured
you’d be more comfortable having the columns there as opposed to locked on my
hard drive. I have another month’s worth
there.”
“Okay. You’re right.
I *would* feel better about having them here. But don’t you go and do something stupid that
makes me have to use them, all right?”
“I’ll do my best
Charlie. It’s just a vacation. My most exciting plans call for an emergency
trip to the corner store for sunscreen when I run out.”
Finally Charlie laughed. “That sounds good. Relax, and have a good time, huh? You’ve earned it.”
“Thanks,
Charlie. I will. And who knows... maybe I’ll come back with
material for a novel.”
Harry brought her
lunch up shortly thereafter, and she sat down in front of one of the
trunks. The first one, the red one,
she’d already gone through. It had been
filled with pictures and mementos that her grandparents and great-grandparents
had saved... some of it dating back to the mid 1800’s. There was one in particular that almost...
well, it was familiar in a way it couldn’t possibly have been, since it had
been taken more than a hundred years before she had even been born.
So she slowly
lifted the top of the blue trunk and peered inside. Her eyebrows rose at the compartmentalization
of the contents. There were stacks of
shoeboxes, each neatly labeled with names and dates. Hannah picked up each box
and read the content’s description before neatly setting each one to the side. Towards the bottom of one side, she came to a
flat box that took up the entire half of the trunk. She paused and reached for it, hesitating
briefly when she saw its only description was “Pirates”.
“What the hell?”
she muttered to herself. “I always did
wonder what Daddy and Uncle Jack were talking about.” Her curiosity got the better of her, and she
grasped the box in both hands and drew it out gently. Moving to the sofa, she sat and raised the
lid, then sat and stared at the contents.
The first thing
she noticed was the map and grid she’d seen on her father’s table all those
long years ago. There were several
pictures, hard to make out, but with the vague outlines of a ship. There were other photographs of different spots
in the water, Hannah assumed. She turned
them over, and noted that each had a longitude and latitude written on them in
Jack’s clear firm hand. At the very
bottom was a thick notebook, and Hannah remembered having seen it on her
father’s desk many times during her childhood.
She opened it
reverently, and noted that there were several different handwritings on the
pages. Her father’s she recognized, as
well as the notes that Jack had made, but the rest.... Some of it was very old, and she was intrigued.
“Guess I’ve found
my vacation reading,” she commented to herself.
She put the diary aside, and moved back to the trunk, smiling as she got
to pictures and memories she’d remembered making.
Hannah spent the
remaining time before she left looking at the photographs she’d found. She tucked a few carefully away to give to
Jack, and went to pack her bag.
She did take a bit
more than three swimsuits, but not much.
And she wasn’t at all surprised to hear the elevator coming up at five
minutes of six, nor to see Harry standing in the doorway.
“The shuttle is
here, Miss Hannah. I told the girl you’d
be right down.” He looked at the bag on
the floor. “Is that all you’re
taking?” He hefted the bag, a little
surprised at the weight.
“Yep, that’d be
it,” she answered, looking around one last time to make sure everything was
set. “I can carry it, Harry.”
“I know you can
Miss Hannah, but it is my pleasure to do so for you.” He sketched her a
neat half bow.
She smiled in
return and gave him a slight curtsy before stepping into the elevator. “Ya know, Harry, if it wasn’t for the fact
that there is a Mrs. Padulous for you to go home to
every night, I’d have to marry you.”
Hannah smiled in sympathy with the deep red blush that moved up his
face. The car started its downward trek. “You’re a sweet man, Harry. I’m glad you’re my friend. I hope she appreciates you.”
“She surely does,
Miss Hannah. We’ll be celebrating fifty years together this August.”
“That’s amazing,
Harry. Just
wonderful.”
“We both think
so. And by the way, Bonnie will continue
to keep an eye on your plants for you while you’re gone. No one has a green thumb like my girl does.”
They reached the
garage level and stepped off towards the waiting shuttle. “You’re not kidding. Some of those plants haven’t looked so well
in years.” She held out her hand to him
and he took it, looking at her in surprise.
She held up her other to forestall his protest.
“Let me,
Harry. You have always been so nice to
me, and looked out for me like I was your daughter. Let me do something nice for you and
Bonnie. Take her to dinner and a movie
on me, okay?”
The old man gazed
into her eyes and saw the sincere desire to do this, and he capitulated with a
nod. “Thank you, Miss Hannah. We’d like that very much.”
“Good,” she said
as she grinned. “I can’t wait to hear
all about it when I get back.”
He opened the door
and she slid into the seat. “Take care,
Miss Hannah, and enjoy your vacation.”
“Thanks,
Harry. I plan to.”
************
The flight was
relatively smooth, and Hannah was surprised to be gently awakened by the
stewardess. She smiled sheepishly at
her, and stood to grab her bag from the overhead. She’d flown into
The air as she
stepped from the plane was humid and salty, and she welcomed the freshness she
could smell above and beyond the jet fuel that was prevalent on the
tarmac. Hers was the last flight in for
the evening, and she joined the small group boarding the hotel shuttle.
It didn’t take
long, and she settled in for the evening.
After a quick call to room service, she settled into the comfortable bed
and pulled out the diary.
She began by
reading the most recent entries that belonged to her father and Jack.
I saw the ship today, and she who commands
it. That much of the legend is true
then. We will have to see if we can
discover who she is and what she seeks.
We only have what the rumors, myths and this book say about her. I wonder how much of it is true. --M
Jack has gone out this time. We are trying to find the cycle that exists
for her appearances. According to all
the legends we have researched, when the “Maiden” was first seen, the intervals
were approximately twenty-five years apart.
But that seems to have changed, and she is coming into the Triangle more
frequently. There is still no indication
of who she is for sure or what she is searching for aside from the stories we
have in this journal. We do know that
she does no harm to those she encounters, and has even given aid to the
distressed on occasion. --M
The ship is simply amazing. I got close enough to see it clearly this
time before it vanished again in the mist.
I am making notes on when and where it appears, because there seems to
be a methodical search in progress instead of random appearances. So it is true that the beautiful Captain of
this boat is hunting for something of great value to her. Otherwise, why keep looking? --J
I have spoken to Donovan and members
of her crew after they rescued me from a hellacious storm. I now know what it
is she seeks, though she has never shared the actual fact with me. I know because I have been alone for the last
fifteen years, and I recognize the look of longing as she scans the horizon. There are still things about this vessel and
its mission that I do not comprehend, but I do not expect to make it to the
next sighting. I am bleeding, and there
is nothing they can do to stop it. When
I leave this ship, it will be so I can go home to be buried. --M
Hannah had to stop
reading then, both because of the tears that clouded her vision, and the knock
at her door as her dinner was delivered to her room. The waiter asked politely if she was all
right, or if she required anything else.
She shook her head and smiled at him, giving him the best grin she could
manage. He nodded and accepted the
signed check assuring her he was on call all night if she needed anything
further.
She lifted the
cover from her steak, please to see that the chef here understood what medium
rare meant, and sniffing in approval at the scent that wafted up from the
marinade. She moved the journal to the
table, and began methodically decimating her meal while continuing to read.
The cycle is coming more often
now. It has gone from twenty-five years to
eighteen years, to ten years, and now it seems to be every five. I believe Michael was right in his belief,
and I will continue to observe and make notes for myself, but it is no longer
necessary to keep the journal. The time
for fulfillment is near. --J
Hannah set the
notebook aside then pondering the words as she finished her meal. She set the tray outside the door, and moved
herself and the journal back to the bed.
“Maybe I should
have started from the end. Since the new
stuff seems to be on top, maybe the original story is in the back.”
But she soon
discovered that wasn’t the case.
Everything was somewhat randomly shoved between the two covers, and she
would need to sort through it to get any kind of order out of the chaos. “I cannot believe Daddy and Uncle Jack were
so unorganized. How did they find
anything in that mess?” muttering to herself.
She set the book gently to one side of the bed and turned off the light. “I’ll deal with it tomorrow.”
************
When morning
arrived, it arrived wet and overcast.
The blinking light on her phone was a message from Jack, letting her
know the helicopter that brought those seeking seclusion and peace on the tiny
island where he lived was going to be delayed until the weather cleared. Hannah made arrangements at the front desk
for a possible late check out, then called room
service again to order breakfast.
She noted the
journal still lying on the unused side of the large bed and shook her
head. “Shower first, I think. I need to be able to see clearly and think
rationally before I try to tackle that.”
Half an hour
later, she was wrapped in the complimentary robe and answering the door to let
the waitress into the room. Hannah
draped the towel she was drying her hair with over her shoulders and signed the
check. The girl smiled and nodded and
left without saying a word.
The blonde woman
removed the tray covers, eyeing the fresh fruit cup and adding plenty of butter
and syrup to her pancakes. She hummed in
enjoyment over the first bite, but didn’t take too much time to dawdle. She was too anxious to get the journal put
into some sort of order that she could read comprehensively.
Finishing quickly,
she dressed and moved over to the bed.
Hannah opened the journal, and began to remove the pages, spreading them
out so she could organize them by date.
When she finally got them into chronological order, she took a second
look at the dates listed on her father’s and Jack’s entries. I need
to check my diary to be sure, but I’ll just bet you.... She let the thought trail off, knowing that
she would have plenty of time to check since she never went anywhere without
it.
The phone ringing
startled her, and she jumped even as she reached to answer it. “Yes?”
“Ms Reilly, the
weather has turned, and the island hopper will be landing in approximately half
an hour. We can arrange a shuttle for you in twenty minutes if that is
acceptable?”
Hannah glanced at
the clock, surprised that the morning had passed so rapidly and that it was now
almost
“Very well,” the
cultured voice spoke. “Your bill has
been taken care of. Would you like us to
send up a bellman for your bags?”
“No, thank
you. I will be downstairs to catch the
shuttle in twenty minutes.”
“Thank you, Ms
Reilly. We hope you have enjoyed your
stay with us and will return again soon.”
************
She was the only
passenger on Jack’s small helicopter, and she gave him a big hug when he exited
the craft. He looked around in
confusion.
“Where’s the rest
of your luggage?” he shouted over the whirr of the blades.
“This is it, Uncle
Jack. I don’t plan to do much of
anything except rest and relax on the beach and hang out with you.”
He grinned broadly
in response to her own wide smile. “That sounds like a winning plan to me.”
The flight was a
short hop, and soon they were touching down on the small helo
pad near the secluded resort. Hannah
marveled at its ingenuity and privacy.
They climbed into the waiting jeep, and began moving through the resort,
and out towards Jack’s home. “Is this
your design?” she asked, motioning to the different bungalows they passed.
“Well, the concept
was mine. But there are several of us
who are partners on this project.” He
was obviously proud of the resort, and he was happy to expound on its origins
to his only niece.
“Years ago, some
buddies and I were talking about the kind of resort we’d like to build in the
islands here. Not something for
tourists, but a place where people could be alone, or interact with others like
them if they chose. The restaurant is
actually the main meeting place. It
houses the small check in area.
Otherwise, each bungalow is a separate entity, and they are each well
hidden in their own little dell.”
“That’s
fantastic... how many do you have?”
“We have twenty
cottages of various sizes. Several
corporations have research teams in the area, and they usually reserve the
larger ones and keep everyone together.
You know how paranoid suits tend to get over company secrets.” He smirked at her. “Most of them are much smaller, catering to
individuals and couples. It’s quiet, and
the locals enjoy the boost in income without the destruction of their island
and way of life.”
“I can’t wait to
explore. I didn’t realize how badly I
needed a break until I decided to take a vacation.”
Jack looked at her
then, and noted the twinkling eyes and smiling lips. “Well,” he drawled with a smile, “I’m glad
you decided to spend it with me. Though I promise not to hover.”
Hannah
chuckled. “Me too,” she replied, her
chuckle turning to a full-fledged laugh when the flush rose up his cheeks.
Soon, they were
headed up a short incline, and through the trees, the most beautiful vista
stretched before them. The water started
out a green almost the color of her eyes, and gradually darkened to a shade of
blue that sapphires would envy. The
white sand sparkled and beckoned, and in the near distance, Hannah could make
out the darker shape of two other islands.
“This is simply
lovely, Uncle Jack.”
“Uh huh, and you
haven’t even really seen it yet. C’mon in the house.”
It was then that
Hannah saw the small structure that blended into its surroundings so well she
didn’t even notice it until Jack motioned her towards it.
The outside of the
house did nothing to indicate the spaciousness or state-of-the-art technology
she found inside. She realized that part
of the house was actually built into the hillside, which aided in both its
camouflage and its roominess.
“This is
amazing. I’m gonna have to get out my
thesaurus if this keeps up, ‘cause I’m running out of adjectives.”
Jack just laughed
and watched as his niece turned in a slow circle taking in everything around
her. The limestone and granite cavern
hosted the bedrooms, study and bathroom area.
The living and kitchen spaces were actually some sort of native lumber
that appeared to have moss growing both inside and out. Her eyebrows rose at....
“A
fireplace, Uncle Jack?”
“Yeah. It
reminds me of home a little, and it can actually get very cold here at night,
especially if the wind is up. Besides,
it’s cozy.”
“The whole house
is cozy. No wonder you are so happy
living out here,”
He grinned. “This is true. It’s my own little piece of paradise. Of course,” he gestured her in to the small
study, “I have all the creature comforts of the twenty-first century, too.”
“That’s it,”
Hannah commented half jokingly as she slipped into the comfortable leather desk
chair. “I’m moving.” She swung around to look at his system
set-up, then turned her attention back to him. “Do all the cottages have this kind of
technology?”
“Um,
no. Some of the cottages don’t even have
electricity, though they all have running water and modern plumbing. People come here for a respite from their
world, so the technology stays home... or in the safe until they are ready to
leave. The corporations provide their
own gear, and the generators to run it, so that works out well for us as well.”
“Very
sweet set up, Uncle Jack. If I get inspired while I am here, I may have
to borrow it.”
“You are more than
welcome to, but I don’t think you’re gonna want to work once we get you settled
in and you get a chance to start relaxing.”
“That is very
true, but already I can feel the creative juices flowing. There’s an energy here that... well, I told
Charlie I might have enough material for a novel when I left. I feel like I am on the precipice of starting
something new.”
A momentary fear
clutched at Jack’s heart, but he covered it almost immediately with a lightly
strained laugh. “You are, my dear. You’re gonna learn how to relax and enjoy
life for a change.”
Hannah laughed
with him, not seeing his clenched fists.
“I do like the way that sounds.
Maybe I’ll take up basket weaving while I’m here.”
They left the
study, and Jack moved to the kitchen area where he had left lunch waiting in
the fridge. “Well, you could ask one of
the native ladies to teach you,” he replied, setting cold cuts and sliced fruit
on the bar top. “But I’m warning you it
is actually quite difficult and arduous.
Maybe you should try a sport... sailing for instance.”
“Do you have
instructors for that?” She started
opening cabinets looking for glasses.
Then she grabbed the iced tea out of the fridge and poured them each a
glass.
“Oh yes, we have
instructors for every activity the resort offers in the guide book.”
“Well, I may just
have to take a look. See what new
activities I’d like to try while I am here.”
She paused to take a bite of food before continuing. “But first I want to try the beach this
afternoon. I intend to go home with a
tan that will be the envy of the world.”
“I have a private
strip of beach,” Jack said, swallowing his mouthful and washing it down. “C’mere.”
They walked to the
windows that made up the sea side of the house and he pointed. “You see that?” pointing to the beach down
sloped just slightly from where they stood.
“Between the two trees marked with the bright yellow ribbons,”
indicating two very large palms some distance apart. “That is my private beach space, and everyone
respects that.”
“Even the original
inhabitants?”
“Even
the locals. It’s a long story, and maybe while you’re
here I’ll tell it to you.”
“I’d like that.”
Jack smiled at her
boundless curiosity, once again seeing a flash of the inquisitive child she’d always
been. “Okay, but you should know I use
it as a nude beach.” Hannah blushed and
her uncle continued speaking. “You don’t
have to, of course. I usually swim first
thing in the morning. If you’d be more
comfortable, we can set up some sort of signal here to let one another know
when we’ll be at the beach, or at least when we’ll be nude there. I rarely go down there except in the early
mornings though. This place keeps me
busy.”
“Well, I doubt
that I will ever do the nude thing, but maybe we should work out a signal just
in case I become a bold and daring adventurer while I’m here.”
“All
righty. We’ll come up with something. In the meantime, I want you to settle in and
relax. This is your home too.”
Hannah leaned over
and gave the grizzled cheek a kiss not saying a word. Jack patted her hands affectionately, and
they finished lunch in happy silence.
When things were
cleaned up, Jack took Hannah’s bag, raising his brow at the weight.
“I brought some
reading,” she chuckled.
“What? War and Peace?
You want to relax.”
“Nah,” she
answered nonchalantly. “Some of Daddy’s books.”
“Gotcha,” Jack
replied, trying to remember what she’d kept.
Then he shook his head, figuring he’d remember or she’d tell him
eventually. “C’mon,
hon. Let me show you your room.”
They walked into
the natural part of the house, and the temperature dropped noticeably. It was not unpleasant, just unexpected, and
Hannah shivered slightly.
“Sorry, I forgot
to tell you about that. The temperature
in here is pretty constant... around sixty degrees. That is why I added the rugs. Stone cold floor first thing in the morning
is really not a happy way to wake up.”
Hannah smiled but
didn’t have the chance to comment because Jack stopped and opened a door right
then. The room was quite large and
surprisingly airy, due in large part to the wall of thick glass that faced the
water.
“I couldn’t stand
the dark so some of my engineering buddies worked it out so I could put windows
in back here.”
“It’s gorgeous.”
And it was. The room had been whitewashed and was
decorated in blues and greens that complimented the view. The bed itself seemed an extension of the
wall, and the lighting was recessed and well hidden.
“Now, I’ll leave
you to get settled in. I have a couple
things I need to do this afternoon, so the beach is all yours.”
“Okay. Would you like me to cook tonight?”
“I thought we’d go
to the restaurant if you’re up to it.
Then I can show you the town a little more, and you can be introduced to
folks.”
“As long as I don’t
get too burned this afternoon, you’ve got yourself a date, Uncle Jack.”
He smiled. “See you later then. Enjoy.”
And he closed the door behind himself as he stepped out of the room.
Hannah stood
looking around for a moment more simply absorbing the atmosphere. Then she shook herself from her reverie and
opened her bag to begin putting things away.
“Time to go have a little sun and fun, and see if I can discover the
mystery of these pirates.”
Chapter III
The skimpy
tropical print thong bikini necessitated quite a coating of sunscreen, but
finally Hannah was ready to go down to the beach. She picked up the journal, her diary and
slipped into the bathroom that was shared between her room and Jack’s. She looked around in approval at the white and
deep blue scheme, her eyes lingering on the sunken tub.
“Oh I could
definitely get used to this,” she commented to no one in particular as she
snagged a towel.
A short stroll
downhill brought her to hot white sand, and she stood for along moment just
looking out at the water before setting everything down. A quick glance around showed her a small
shed, and inside she found several beach chairs, more towels and a tiny
shower. She nodded in approval, then
grabbed a chair and moved to the water’s edge.
She arranged the chair and towel to her satisfaction,
then took the books and sat down.
“Now, let’s see if
we can make sense of this.”
October
- 1847
Today marks the end of my daughter’s
first voyage on the “Warrior Maiden” and I have to say I am well pleased. Most of the men of my crew were skeptical and
superstitious about allowing her on board, but she won them over by sheer
persistence and presence. Her mother
will not be happy to hear this. She had
different dreams for our daughter. I believe at this point, though, the crew
would follow her as Captain if need be.
An odd note... while we were at 32*
N, 64* 90’W we came across refugees of some sort. I’ll admit to being a bit confused by their
manner and mode of speech and dress but they seemed harmless. We landed them on the nearest island and made
the Crown aware of the new settlement. I
will be interested to see how they fare.
Ernst Scott - Captain, Warrior
Maiden
There was more
scribbled down at the bottom of the page in another hand. Hannah’s eyes widened as she read the words.
I am convinced I will find the
green eyes I seek at sea. I do not know
when or where yet, but I will find you, my love. We are meant to be one together in this
lifetime. --DS
Hannah closed her
eyes and pictured the crystal blue eyes that had haunted her since she was a
small child. She reached for her own
diary, and opened it to one of the earliest entries.
I herd dady
and unkl Jack tawkin bout pirats today. I ast bout wat they wer but dady dint tell. I
think I no tho cuz I had a dreem bout a pretty
lady with blue pretty Iz and long dark hare. She was beyutifull. She was lik the pirat in my pitur book.
Hannah froze. Until that moment, nothing was clear about
that memory except the eyes that continued to haunt her to this day. And yet, having read the diary entry, she
wondered what her younger self had dreamed of.
Even though the image was unclear, she saw the eyes and the dark hair
blowing in the wind.
With a sigh, she
realized she needed something to drink and marked her place before going to the
small shed in search of something cold and wet.
She smiled when she saw the small refrigerator, and was pleasantly
surprised at the options available to her there. She took out a bottle of water, and moved
back out to her beach chair, opening the journal to the next entry.
October 1851
This mission has been fraught
with difficulty and peril. Papa was
injured early in our travels, but he refused to turn around and go home. I have been acting as Captain in his
stead. The men are satisfied with my
leadership and things in that regard have gone smoothly.
Papa will most likely
recover, but will be unable to return to his life at sea. Mama will be happy to have him home more, I
think. Maybe she will eventually forgive
me for following in his footsteps with him there.
We found an injured sailor,
and did our very best for him. He
insisted upon leaving though it was clear to all that he was dying. I suppose he wished to see his home once more. And who can blame him?
The game we play has become
hard, but still we do so, because it is the right thing to do. It is unfortunate that we have to become
pirates to keep people alive because of the greed of a few.
Donovan Scott - Acting
Captain, Warrior Maiden
Hannah closed the
book with her finger marking her place and stared at the water for long
minutes. Instead of making anything
clearer, she was simply becoming more confused.
She was sure the whole story was here, she just had to assemble all the
pieces she had in the right order. She
opened the journal again and turned the page over and found to her surprise a
note written on the back of the thick paper.
My daughter did an
outstanding job commanding this vessel during my injury and convalescence. She
is correct though, that I will be unable to return to sea. I feel the hand of destiny in this, but the
truth is Donovan is driven by something far greater than her love of the sea. I only hope I live to see it to fruition. --
ES
Hannah closed the
book, setting it and her diary on the lounge chair before taking the two steps
necessary into the warm, clear water.
She waded out until she was waist deep, then plunged head first into the
surf. She swam quite a distance,
enjoying the relative warmth of the water and the sun on her body. Pleasantly tired, she turned and headed to
shore, stopping to sit and rest on a sandbar about halfway back.
She looked out at
the water, marveling yet again at the myriad of color depth she was surrounded
by. Hannah brought her right hand up to
move the hair from her face and found her attention caught by the ring she wore
there.
It had been the
last present her daddy had given her before he’d died, and she always wore
it. Now she realized she’d found a color
to match the stone in it.
************
She’d been surprised by it, really. She was just fifteen, and Mike was scheduled
to go out to the Triangle to do some more research. Hannah knew her dad felt that whatever he was
doing was important, but they’d never really discussed his work. And she’d never shared the dreams she had of
the ice blue eyes that beckoned to her.
So she’d been taken aback when he’d called her into his study.
“Hannah, you know I’m leaving in two
days.” She nodded and waited. “I have something for you, and I hope you
like it.” Mike handed his daughter a
small jewelry box. “Go on... open it.” She did so and her mouth dropped open in
shock.
“I... it... it’s beautiful.”
And it was.
The stone was a crystal clear blue, the exact shade of those haunting
eyes. But her dad had no way of knowing
that. She looked back up at him for an
explanation.
“It reminds me of the water out there...
and it seemed suited to you for some reason.”
“Thank you Daddy.”
“Wear it in happiness, my girl. I love you.”
“I love you too,
Daddy,” Hannah muttered aloud as she came back to the present. She looked around, surprised by the angle of
the sun. “Guess I’d better get back to
the house if I want to use that wonderful tub before we go to dinner.” She headed herself for shore once more.
************
A light knocking
on the door woke Hannah from the doze she’d fallen into. Instead of a long soak in the tub, she
decided on a quick rinse in the large shower.
She was so relaxed when she stepped out that it only took a moment and
she was asleep on the bed still wrapped in her towel. She blinked her eyes open when she heard
Jack’s voice.
“Hannah, are you
in there?”
“Um, uh... yes,
Uncle Jack. Uh… ugh, hang on a minute.”
She rolled off the
bed and grabbed the robe he’d left hanging on the back of the door for her and
slid into it. She picked her discarded
towel off the floor and opened the door.
Jack was leaning against the doorframe with a crooked smile on his
face. She blushed and returned his
smile.
“Guess I fell
asleep,” she muttered.
“That’s not a bad
thing, honey,” he chuckled lightly. “Do
you feel up to going out tonight or would you prefer to stay in?”
Hannah ran a hand
through her still damp blonde mane and bit back a yawn. “Well, if you can give me a few minutes to
wake up and get dressed....”
“I can do
that. I’ll be in the living room when
you’re ready.”
Twenty minutes
later Hannah emerged from the back part of the house in a casual sundress and
sandals. Jack took one look at her and
whistled wolfishly.
“You are very
lovely, my dear.” He extended his arm to
her and she took it lightly even as a blush suffused her face. “C’mon.
Dinner awaits.”
Jack was quick to
notice the attention their entrance into the restaurant drew, and he chuckled
silently to himself as everyone in the place, both men and women, made their
way over to his table. Hannah met them
all graciously, but did not show particular interest in any of them. Several offered to spend time with her, but
all were politely turned down.
He did note with
some interest that she studied everyone’s eyes, and that occasionally her
glance would drift down to the ring she wore.
He wondered how much she knew about the significance of the stone. He made a mental note to ask her about it
later.
They stepped out
into the cool evening after dinner, and made their way over to the jeep. “People seem to be friendly here,” was her
only comment to the almost overwhelming attention she’d received during the
meal.
“You are a beautiful
woman, Hannah. Surely you are used to
such attention.”
“No, Uncle. I don’t go out much. I never got into the scene.”
He started the
engine and directed the vehicle towards home.
As they drove up into the yard, he finally turned to her and asked, “Are
you lonely, Hannah?”
“Yes... no... it’s hard to explain.”
He opened her door
and helped her from the jeep. “Try,
please?”
“Um, well, it’s
like I told you before. I haven’t found
my tree in the forest yet, so in that sense, I suppose I am a little
lonely. But I know there is someone out
there for me, and one day... well, I’ll know when it happens. That’s all.”
She couldn’t help glancing down at her ring.
“You sound sure,”
Jack said as he opened the house door and gestured her to go in ahead of him.
“I am sure.”
“If it’s not too
personal, can I ask why?”
She couldn’t hide
the blush the crawled up her face, but she met his eyes squarely. “Ask me again in a few days. I should have an answer I can share with you
then.”
He nodded, accepting
her hesitation. “I can do that. And I’ll tell you the story behind your ring
as well. Now,” he asked, changing the
subject gracefully before she could say a word.
“Would you like to walk on the beach with me? I find it very peaceful out there this time
of night. It is very relaxing.”
“Sure, I’d like
that,” Hannah responded. “Should I
change?”
“Entirely up to
you, my dear. Whatever you’re most
comfortable in. I’m going to.”
“Okay,” she
answered, heading for her room. “Meet ya
back here in five.”
************
They walked along
in silence, simply enjoying the salt tang of the breeze and the swish of the
waves and the softness of the sand as they walked along together
barefooted. The moon was about halfway
through its cycle, and made a tiny path on the water.
“Ya know,” Hannah
finally said quietly as they stood looking out over the vast ocean, “I always
wondered where the moon’s path would lead if I ever tried to follow it.”
Jack smiled in the
darkness, though she did not see it.
“Well, I think it depends on the person involved. My path led me here. Yours will undoubtedly lead you to your
dreams.”
Hannah looked at
him startled, but remained silent.
************
The following
morning, Hannah prudently stayed away from the windows until she heard Jack
come in and close the door to his bedroom.
Then she got up and went into the kitchen to start breakfast for the two
of them.
“Wow... I think I
like having you here if you’re gonna cook like this for me,” Jack teased as she
set a loaded plate in front of him. She
smiled. “Actually,” he continued before
she could comment, “I like having you here regardless. I’ve missed you.”
“Me
too, Uncle. I’m glad I came down. I may have to make this a regular event.”
“Or you could just
move.”
He’d flummoxed her
with the statement he knew, by the dazed look on her face. “It’s not something you have to decide right
now, or even while you’re here, but I would like you to consider it.”
“I... I... um...
wow.”
He smiled and
covered her hand. “Think about it,
okay?” She nodded and he pulled his hand
away and picked up his fork. “So what
big plans do you have for today?”
“Nothing major,”
Hannah replied, still trying to wrap her mind around his invitation. “I have lots of reading and sunshine to catch
up on.”
“I have a
suggestion then, if you’re open to it.” Jack offered. She nodded.
“Would you like to
go sailing with me for a bit this morning?
We could take a picnic lunch, and I’ll take you to one of the prettiest
spots on the whole island. You can read
and sun while I do some fishing. Maybe
you can even learn to sail a bit.”
“You sure I’m not
messing up your plans?”
“Yep. I
wouldn’t have offered otherwise.” Jack
grinned rakishly and waggled his eyebrows at her, and for an instant, Hannah
was taken back years. Before
the adult world and responsibilities came between them, and Jack had simply
been her doting uncle.
“I’d like that,”
she answered honestly, finishing up her breakfast.
“Good,” Jack
said. “Since you made breakfast, I’ll
take care of lunch.”
“Sounds like a
plan, Stan,” Hannah replied as she stood and moved to wash her dishes. “See ya out here in ten.”
************
The boat was
fairly small, comparatively speaking, but it was plenty big enough for the two
of them. Hannah took a seat in the bow
with her bag, and watched fascinated as Jack maneuvered them around with expert
skill.
They came to a
small inlet and Jack guided them into it.
He tied off the anchor, and stripped off his shirt. “I’m going swimming.”
Hannah stretched
out and pulled out the journal. Jack’s
gray eyes widened when he recognized the item she had, but he didn’t say a
word. Oh, Mikey... we were right.
His smile was bittersweet. Then
he jumped into the warm waters and began stroking away from the shore.
Hannah opened the
journal to her stopping place, then grabbed her diary out of the bag and looked
for the corresponding entry she was sure was there. An earlier note caught her attention and she
stopped to read it.
June
I had the dream again last
night. It is the same one I always
have. I am looking for... someone, or
they are looking for me. It is so hard
to tell.
The only thing clear in my
dream is those eyes. Not a form, or a face. I am haunted by ice blue eyes.
August
I wonder what Daddy would
think about what those eyes mean. They
are the one consistent factor in my dreams.
They are always the same. Maybe I
will ask him about them when he comes home.
September
The eyes look at me now with
love and compassion, almost as though they know of my sorrow. I need to find them. I think they hold the answers to my
questions.
Hannah stared off
into space. She remembered the confused
teenager she’d been then and smiled wistfully to herself. It had been then she’d decided that whether
her blue eyes belonged to a man or woman, fair or dark skinned, believer or
agnostic, it would not matter to her. It
had made her into the caring and considerate human being she’d become. It also made falling in love impossible for
her, for deep in her heart, she knew she belonged to the one she called “Blue
Eyes”.
She took up the
journal, realizing that the dates coincided with her graduation, and she
recalled with a blush the end result from the intensity of some of the dreams
she was having then. Yet the only clear
visual she could summon from her mind was... she looked down at her ring again,
studying the stone intently.
“How did you know,
Daddy?”
“Did you say
something to me, sweetheart?” Jack ran a hand through his buzz cut and climbed
back onto the deck.
She considered, then looked up at him.
He stood apart from her, so as not to drip on her books. He toweled himself off while gazing at her
inquisitively. “Uncle Jack, will you
tell me the story of my ring now? I think I need to know.”
He tossed his
towel on the deck and took a seat studying her.
She returned his regard and he smiled.
“Yes, but I have to go back a ways.
And you have to know how I came to have an interest in this island
first.”
She marked her
places and set the books aside, giving Jack her full attention. “Okay,” she answered, clasping a hand around
one knee. “Tell on please,” she
instructed, smiling impishly at him.
He shook a finger
at her. “Ya know,
kiddo... one of these days....”
She laughed out
loud. “You’ve been threatening me with
that since I was knee high. It’s kinda
lost its punch.”
He got up and
started menacingly towards her. She
scooted back on her behind, not liking the mischievous look in his eyes. He took another step towards her and she
backed up into the railing. Then she
held her hands up in contrition. “I
give... I give. I don’t need today to be
the day.”
Jack clasped his
hands together and raised them above his head.
“The winnah and still champeen!!”
he intoned. Hannah stuck her tongue out
at him and then broke into laughter.
“Now where was I?”
he asked, resuming his seat.
She raised a
blonde brow. “The
beginning?”
“Oh yes, well...
you have to realized that this happened five years before you were even born.”
************
“I’ll be back in time for the wedding,
Mikey. I don’t want Mama or Elizabeth on
my ass for missing it.”
“It’s not even necessary, Jack. The “Maiden” shouldn’t be seen for another
five years.”
“I know, Mike, but since I have to be in
that vicinity for the other project, I may as well swing by that way and check
things out. You’re just getting wedding
nerves.”
Mike cuffed him on the back of the head.
“I’ll show you wedding nerves, buddy.
Just be careful, all right?
You’re the only kid brother I got, and it has been a rough storm season
down there this year.”
“I’ll be fine. And I’ll be back before rehearsal.”
“You’d better,” Mike muttered, “Or I’ll sic
Mama on you.”
Jack shuddered. “No need to threaten a fella. I’ll be here... promise.”
************
“You have to
understand that your daddy was right... it had been unusually fierce in this
area that year. I took care of the paid
project, then headed over this way to work on our pet
one.”
“Uncle Jack, what
was so fascinating about the Triangle for ya’ll?”
He shook his head
at her. “That is something you will have
to discover without me telling you. That
is how it has always been with this place... in this family.”
“But....” Hannah stopped when the older man held up his
hand.
“I’m serious,
Hannah. Either you will figure it out or
you won’t, but I CANNOT tell you.” It
was easy to read the intent behind his gaze.
“Okay, Uncle. I’m
sorry. I just feel like it is
important. Please continue with your
story.”
“I headed over
this way in a speedboat from
************
Lightning hit very close to the boat and
the engine stalled. In the silence that
followed, Jack heard a cry for help. He
peered into the downpour, searching for the cause of the sound. Finally, his eyes lit on the source, and they
widened perceptibly.
There, not fifty feet away was a tiny raft
bobbing in the rough waves on the outer fringe of the storm. On the raft sat
three huddled children, clinging to one another desperately in an attempt to
keep together and stay on the raft.
Jack tried to restart his engine, getting
only a click in response to his effort.
He gritted his teeth together and tried again with the same
response. “C’mon you goddamn engine!!”
he screamed in frustration. The he
watched in horror as a wave lifted the raft up and nearly overturned it.
He slid from his seat and grabbed the
throttle cord, praying for a manual start.
He jerked the cord as hard as he could, and to his relief, the motor
sputtered to life. Jack looked back to
where he had last seen the small raft, and gave thanks for the miracle he
saw... the three children were still on the slippery craft.
Swiftly, he turned the boat in their
direction, and in a matter of minutes had all three youngsters on his
boat. Now it was raining so hard, he was
afraid of losing his bearings, and he looked at the children again.
“Do you know where your home is from here?”
he asked the oldest, a girl of about eleven.
She nodded and pointed through the storm, and he could just make out the
darker edges of what he hope was an island.
“All right, guys. Sit down and hang on. We’ll get you home soon, safe and sound. I hope.”
The last was muttered under his breath.
The ride seemed to take forever, but in reality
took less than five minutes before he landed in relatively calm waters with an
anxious group of villagers getting into their boats and canoes. When the girl stood up in the back of his
boat and waved at them, a cry arose, and he was welcomed into the village with
open arms.
************
“It turned out
that the older girl, Merryweather, was the headman’s grandchild, and the two
younger children were his great-niece and nephew. They had gone out fishing when the storm came
out of nowhere and caught them unaware.”
“My God, that’s
amazing. Talk about right place, right
time.”
“No kidding. And as token of their esteem for what I had
done, they offered me the land that I now call home. I tried to refuse it, until Jacob made me
understand that to do so would dishonor them.”
“Jacob is the
headman?”
“He is now. He is
Merry’s father. He is one of the reasons
the island is the sanctuary it is today.
He understood what I wanted to do, and he helped me convince the others,
both of his tribe and my business partners.”
“He was the tall,
dark, attractive older gentleman who stopped and spoke to us last night,
correct? Dark blue
shirt and black slacks?”
“You have an
outstanding memory, my dear. Maybe you
should consider politics.”
“Oh
no. No, thank you. That requires more compromise than I am
willing to give.” She paused a moment
and thought. “That was a great story,
Uncle Jack, but what does it have to do with my ring?”
“My word, you are
an impatient little thing, aren’t you?”
His smile took any sting from the teasing words. “I was getting to that.”
“The next trip I
made out here was after your parents married, and they came with me. In fact, we traveled out together many times
before you were born.
“The last trip we
made together was for Merry’s sixteenth birthday, and her betrothal
celebration. We were invited as special
guests, and it is when your mother got pregnant with you.”
Hannah’s eyebrows
rose. “And you can pinpoint this so
exactly how?”
“Because
the shaman here confirmed it.”
“Oh, I can’t wait
to hear this.”
************
The trio was warmly welcomed by the headman
and his family when they stepped onto the island. Merry was not present, as she was being made
ready for the ceremony and celebration that would start later in the evening.
They were escorted to their quarters. Jack was in the process of slowly carving
himself the home he now occupied, and Mike and Elizabeth had a small house in
the village. Everyone was instructed to
rest for the evening’s festivities.
As the sun touched the horizon, the drums
drew the villagers to the center square, and then the ceremony began. Merryweather’s betrothed began his claiming
dance, reaching her as the sun slipped below the sea and left darkness in its
wake. The village cheered, and the
celebration began in earnest.
As the feasting started, Cyrus, the village
shaman took a seat next to Mike and Elizabeth.
Jack sat on the other side of his sister-in-law,
and what the shaman said next cause the three of them to blush for very
different reasons.
Cyrus placed a large gentle hand on
Mike and Elizabeth sat stunned. They had been trying for a baby for three
years. How could this gentle giant
know...? But the conviction in his voice and eyes gave them unlooked for
hope. Cyrus reached into his pouch and
withdrew a brilliant blue stone. He
passed it to Mike.
“This is for the Angel. You will know when the time is right to give
it to her, and she will understand its significance when you do.”
Mike
looked at Cyrus for a long moment before extending his hand and accepting the
stone. “Thank you, Cy. For everything.”
The tall man nodded and moved away. Mike and Elizabeth gazed at one another. “We’re gonna have a baby girl, honey,”
Mike blinked the tears out of his eyes, and
tenderly wiped them from his wife’s face.
“Yeah, we are. And Jack gets to
be an uncle.”
“Whoo hoo!” the younger man cheered loudly, needing to let loose
some of the emotion flowing through him.
“This is just too cool!”
************
“When we got back
home,
“Why didn’t you
tell me about it then?” Hannah asked quietly while the tears streamed silently
down her face.
“Oh honey. You were fifteen years old and already going
through so much. I figured when you were
ready to hear about it, you’d ask.” He
smiled at her. “And you did.”
She nodded. “That’s true.
I’m not sure I would have been ready to hear that story before today,
but thank you for sharing that with me.
I’m glad to know it.”
“Good. Are you hungry yet?” Jack’s stomach grumbled loudly. “Cause I’m
starving.”
Hannah laughed, an
outlet for her emotion as much anything else.
“Yeah, I’m hungry too. Let’s see
what you packed us that’s good.” They got down to the
serious business of eating.
Chapter IV
“Uncle Jack?” The two of them were almost dozing in the
early afternoon sunlight, having eaten their fill of the lunch Jack had
provided. Her words were barely more than a murmur, and Hannah cracked an eye
open to see if the older man had heard her.
He felt her regard and tipped his head in her direction.
“Hmm?”
“I was just
wondering about something.”
He turned his head
completely and cupped a hand over his eyes to shade them. He might have been raising his eyebrows in
question, but he was squinting so hard it was difficult to tell. “ ‘bout what,
pumpkin?”
“You make me feel
like a kid again.”
“You *are* a kid,
Hannah. But I’m sure that’s not what you
were wondering about.”
She laughed. “No, actually,” she replied. “I was thinking about names.”
His eyebrows hiked
up visibly and he sat up to peer at her from beneath his shading hands. “Names?” He couldn’t imagine the train of thought that
had brought about this subject for discussion.
“Yeah. All
the natives that I’ve met so far, or that you’ve talked about have British
names... Jacob, Ernest, Scott, Cyrus, Harold, Robert. Even the woman... Merryweather. They are all good solid *British* names. Not what you would expect to find on an island
in the
“Oh,” he answered,
suddenly enlightened and cursing his dilemma.
He lay back down and closed his eyes, considering where to begin his
tale. “It’s tradition,” he said finally
breaking the silence. “Many years ago, a
ship bearing British sailors gave aid to the people of this area. As a result,
many of the people took the British names, both first and last, and named their
children after the sailors. It’s become
something of a legacy.”
“It sounds like
it. Will you tell me the story?”
“Later
perhaps. I’m going to take a bit of a nap first.”
“That sounds like
a good idea.” The gentle rocking of the
boat lulled them both to sleep.
************
“Ow! Oh!
Damn, that was stupid,” came the muttered
curses from Hannah’s lips. From the
angle of the sun, and the soreness she could already feel, she was not going to
be a very happy camper over the next couple days.
“Uncle Jack?” she
called, pleased when the man stirred immediately. “I think we need to head back in.”
Jack sat up
disoriented. He looked around in
alarm. “What? Oh, damn! Been a long time since I
fell asleep like that.” He looked
at Hannah and motioned her to turn over.
“Well, you’re about evenly done.
Looks like you flipped over sometime in your sleep.”
“Great... the only
part of me that’s not a crispy critter is the bottom of my feet.”
“No worries,
hon. I have some stuff at home that will
take out the sting, and will help turn the burn to tan.” She looked at him skeptically. “Honest... the locals swear by it.”
Hannah sat up
gingerly, and winced when the padding rubbed against her skin. “Well, I’ll try anything. I don’t want this to screw up my vacation.”
He smiled, and got
up to head the sailboat towards home.
************
“You have got to be
kidding me,” Hannah said flatly when she stepped into the bathroom. The smell was... incredible. “There is no way in hell I am getting into
something that smells like that.” Her
nose wrinkled reflexively, and she almost gagged. “What IS it, anyway?”
“It’s a panacea
the locals use. I’ve used it several
times myself.” Her eyebrows rose into
her hairline. “It’s easy,” he continued
hurriedly. “You sit and soak in the
mixture of lukewarm water for about thirty minutes, then just sit in here out
of the water for another thirty. Then a lukewarm shower to rinse off the scent to a tolerable level. In the morning, you will be tanned and can
shower as normal.”
“I have to smell
like this all night??”
“By the time you
get to bed, you won’t even notice it. I
promise.”
“By the time I get
to bed, I won’t have any olfactory sense left, you mean,” she muttered, but
moved to her room to strip out of her suit.
“You realize,” she called through the closed door. “We’re gonna be doing a lot of laundry
tomorrow.”
Jack chuckled in
response. “Won’t be the first time,
honey,” he replied.
Despite the smell,
Hannah felt much better by the time she was allowed to shower off. And true to Jack’s word. She hardly noticed
the scent by the time she stepped from the bathroom. He’d given her an aloe mixture with the
comment, “It’ll take out the rest of the heat.”
She’d covered herself in it while he soaked, sat and showered.
She felt better
once she had the cream rubbed in and went into the kitchen to see about fixing
some dinner. When Jack stepped from the
back, the olfactory senses Hannah had been complaining about earlier were
filled with the scent of fresh biscuits.
“Oh, I can see I’m
gonna have to watch myself while you’re here,” he commented with a chuckle. “I could get to be the size of a barn real
easy otherwise.”
“Didn’t you always
tell me - ‘Enjoy life to the fullest, Hannah.
You’re not gonna get a second chance at this.’ ?”
He reached for a
biscuit and liberally applied butter to it.
“You’re right. I did.” He bit into the bread and hummed
contentedly. “I’ll get new
clothes.” He washed down the biscuit and
reached for another. Hannah just
laughed.
************
The next morning, Hannah woke up darker than
she’d expected to be in her whole two weeks of vacation and smiled at her
reflection. She jumped in the shower
while Jack was at the beach, glad to scrub the lingering remains of the scent
from her body.
“Ya know,” she
commented to her uncle as they sat down to eat breakfast. “If it wasn’t for the smell of the remedy,
these guys could make a fortune with that.”
“I’d though of
that. But I have been assured that
whatever combination of things makes it stink is also what makes it work.” He paused.
“So what are your plans for today?”
“Aside from
laundry, you mean?” He chuckled and
nodded. “I think I’d like to do a little
exploring. See what I can see.”
“That sounds like
fun. Will you need the jeep?”
Hannah thought
about that for a long moment, then shook her head. “I don’t think so. I think I’ll just walk along the beach.”
Jack nodded. “All right, but be careful. You don’t want to run into trouble.”
Her brow
furrowed. “You think I will?”
“No, but I do want
you to remember that human beings are the same the world over, and not everyone
is as nice and helpful as the folks you’ve already met here.”
“That makes
sense. Even
He laughed at her
analogy. “Very true,
my dear. C’mon. Let’s get the laundry started. I have several clients to pick up
today.” It didn’t take long and the two
of them were heading out to begin their respective days after making plans to
meet for dinner.
************
Hannah slipped
into another bikini, this one a shimmering green that brought out the depth of
her eyes. She pulled on a pair of shorts
and grabbed her tennis shoes, sticking those, the journal and her diary in a
backpack. Then she moved into the
kitchen and snatched up a water bottle and several pieces of fruit and walked
out the door heading down toward the beach.
She turned right
when she got to the beach, heading west.
The sun was warm on her back, but thanks to Jack’s cure-all, it wasn’t
painful. She trudged along through the
sand, noting the small homes and neatly kept yards along the way. They grew more plentiful and Hannah realized
she was moving in towards town and smiled, altering her course just
slightly.
The town consisted
of the restaurant, a grocery/supply store and the dock that housed several
sailboats, a few Seadoos, two fishing trawlers and a
couple speedboats. Hannah made a beeline
for the grocery store, and stepped across the threshold.
It was like
stepping back in time. The counter was
solid wood, and had the oldest, most authentic turn-of-the-last-century cash
registers the writer had ever seen. The
shelves had several modern, recognizable products, but there was also a bottled
Coke machine, a wall that held bolts of cloth and other sewing supplies, and an
ice cream counter.
Hannah walked over
to the ice cream, and began looking at the twelve different choices of
hard-packed ice cream offered there. Vanilla, chocolate,
pineapple, mango, passion fruit, orange mint? Hmm...
coconut, wildberry... wonder
what kind of wild berry? Banana,
pineapple coconut, honey, and mint chocolate...
Well, I feel daring today.
“A scoop of wildberry, please.”
The woman behind the counter gave her a generous scoop, and took her
money, and Hannah exited the store. She
took a good look around town, returning the waves of a few of the locals who
she recognized from Jack’s introductions.
She saw Jack lifting off in his chopper, and she lifted a hand to
him. He gave her a thumb’s up and a big
smile before heading the bird toward
Hannah turned when
he was out of sight and made her way back towards Jack’s. She’d seen this part of the island, and was
interested in investigating the parts that she hadn’t seen yet. She was glad for the ice cream break though. It was good ice cream.
She stopped back
at the small shed and picked up a new water bottle. Then Hannah continued walking east toward the
sun.
She noticed that
along this side of the island everything had been left to grow naturally. There were no houses or walking paths or
anything that gave an indication of any form of human habitation. It was peaceful though, and Hannah let the
calm pervade her soul. She wondered
briefly why the natives left this side of the island uninhabited, and then
shrugged to herself as she spread out the towel she’d pulled from the pack.
The writer eased
out of her shorts and sat down, pulling out her lunch and her books. She grabbed up an apple and opened the
journal to the next entry.
June 1852
Journal
entry - the story begs to be told, and so
I do so here in the pages of my private journal. There it will remain hidden and private for
if the truth were to get out, my men and I would all be hanged for treason to
the Crown.
Papa was not happy with many
things within the Navy, and I found that he had surrounded himself with
likeminded officers and men. The crew of
this vessel has always been treated with dignity and respect, and they have
accorded my father and myself the same. It is one reason I was accepted into their
ranks as readily as I was. That and a
lot of hard work on my part, but I digress.
Over the years, we have tried
to correct wrongs done to the people we deal with, and in return they are good
to us when we come into port. Always,
ALWAYS when we do this, we leave behind the trappings of the Navy and become
“pirates of the high seas.”
We do not take from the
poor. Rather, we take from those who
steal from those who are without and give back to them, much in the footsteps
of the legendary Robin Hood.
Six weeks ago, we came upon a
tiny island that was being exploited to the point of destitution. The natives were starving, as the merchant
who was doing Crown business grew fat on the wealth of his spoils.
My men and I snuck onto his
ship, and in the middle of the night emptied his hold, intent on returning
everything to the natives he had stolen from. Imagine our surprise when we
found not only food and such, but children shackled like animals.
We didn’t even have to
discuss it. With only a few looks, the
children were freed and silently moved to the boats we had waiting for
booty. The rest went in search of the
crew.
We decimated them, and set
the ship on fire. It will be months
before this ship is missed.
Do I sound cold and
heartless? I am not, and I was violently
ill when we returned to our own vessel, as were many
of my crew. This was the first time we
had to utterly destroy a target, but we could not let their actions go
unpunished. The natives will let the
word get around in the right channels that that kind of behavior will not be
tolerated.
As it is, we have quite the
reputation as pirates, and we are careful not to destroy our credibility with
the Navy either. The priest has assured
me that our actions were warranted, and may make things better for the people
on these islands. I hope so, for I grow
weary of the greed and deceit I see in so many of my fellow countrymen out
here.
Could you forgive me for what
I have done here, Green Eyes? I long to find you and take you
home. Perhaps I will take you to
Hannah sat back,
absently reaching for the pear and biting into it. She thought about what the Captain had said
and done and wondered if she could have done the same thing... probably
not. But could she understand and
forgive the actions... most definitely.
In fact, if she was honest with herself, Hannah agreed with what that
Captain and crew had done... on many levels.
She wished she
knew the full story. They sounded like
interesting characters.
Hannah finished
eating a banana and packed her trash neatly, then folded the blanket and put it
away. Then she resumed her eastern trek.
She’d been walking
for about another ten or fifteen minutes, when what looked like an overgrown
footpath between two very stout trees caught her attention. Intrigued, she thought a moment, then slipped
into her shoes and started down the trail anxious to see where it led.
The trees began to
thin out as she approached what appeared to be a glade. Hannah took careful note of her surroundings,
not wanting to get lost, and saw that there were several plants growing wild
that she did not remember as being indigenous to the area. Hannah frowned as she stopped to study them a
moment, then shrugged. She would do some
research when she got back to Jack’s. In
the meantime, her curiosity had been piqued, and she was anxious to see what
lay hidden in the dell.
She broke through
the trees and stood motionless just taking in the scene. The field was a riot of color, and Hannah
again saw some plants that didn’t compute as native. Everything had been left to grow wild. And
the beauty was intoxicating.
In the center of
the grove stood the remains of what had once been a house, Hannah thought. Actually, it still was mostly, or could be
with a little work, she thought to herself.
She moved closer to get a better look.
The cottage still
had four walls and a roof, though there were shingles missing from what looked
like storm damage. Several of the
windows were missing their protective casings, and one of these was missing
glass panes as well. There were a few
that had escaped unscathed, and these still had wooden shutters covering
them. The steps leading up to the door
were stone, and slick with moss and lichens.
The whole place had the sense, not of neglect, but of sacredness...
almost as though it was hallowed ground that was waiting for its caretaker to
come home.
Hannah walked
around slowly, wondering at the story behind the old place. She stepped on the stairs carefully, not
wanting to risk a slip and fall out here all alone. She peered in the window, her curiosity
overcoming her natural caution. Prudently, she reached for the door latch,
surprised to find it unlocked. The door
did not want to open easily though, swollen from years of disuse and exposure
to the weather.
She pushed against
it gently, then with more force, jumping in
startlement at the loud cracking sound the wood made as the door opened. A whoosh of old, stale air rushed against her
and Hannah felt a momentary pang of guilt about encroaching on private property
washed over her. She hesitated on the
threshold, then felt her curiosity and... something
deeper... pulling her into the room. She
crossed into the room, and the door fell shut.
It was like coming
home... in a different era. Dark
mahogany wood graced the floors and walls and gave the cottage a warm, homey
look. The furniture was slip covered and
Hannah lifted the coverings to find heavy, solid wood antiques beneath the
dusty cotton. The cushions and seats
were done in a slightly moldy brocade, but it was
still remarkably well-preserved considering its age.
The empty
fireplace was done in stones that had bits of moss growing sporadically, and
there were leaves scattered liberally around both it and the broken
window. It was quite dark, the room lit
only by the two windows that were uncovered.
Hannah hesitated,
unwilling to trespass too much, but feeling a familiarity that beckoned her
further. She shook her head. I think
I need some more information, and I know I need some more light. She looked at her watch, surprised to find it
was mid-afternoon. I will come back tomorrow. There
is something about this place....
Hannah stepped
back out slowly, careful to close the door behind her. She walked back down the path with more than
one backward glance. When the house was
out of sight, she picked up speed, and made her way back down the beach towards
Jack’s place.
************
When Jack returned
home at almost sunset, he found his study a mess and his niece pacing furiously
up and down the beach outside, apparently talking to herself. He stood at the window and watched her for
several long moments as she pounded the air and stomped across the sand. Finally, she dropped to the ground in
frustration, and he turned his attention back to the room.
The journal sat
open on the desk, and several books had been pulled from the boxes he’d had
shipped from his brother’s home. His
smile was bittersweet when he realized that she was beginning to put the pieces
of the puzzle together. And he wondered
how long they would have together before she felt compelled to start the search
that had consumed his family for years.
He remembered how
he felt when he knew for certain that all his research was not for his own
benefit, but for Hannah’s. He’d been so
sure.... Jack shrugged his shoulders. He didn’t begrudge the fact that Hannah would
be the one to solve this particular mystery.
He just hoped he would be able to see the conclusion through to
fruition.
Jack moved to his
bedroom as he saw his niece rise from the sand and head for the house. He did not want to put her on the spot about
her findings, nor did he want to be asked questions he couldn’t answer. He knew she was close to discovering
everything.
************
The walk along the
beach into town was quiet, and dinner, surprisingly, was not a strained
affair. It was almost as if by unspoken
consent, they had put untouchable subjects aside and instead focused on other
interests they had in common. They found
a mutual liking of musical theatre, science fiction, and roller coasters. They also discovered an honest dislike of rap
music, bad art, and cocktail parties.
More people
stopped by their table to exchange greetings and meet Hannah. The lady from the general store said hello,
and Hannah complimented her on her ice cream.
The woman smiled and blushed. “It
is homemade.”
“Well, it’s very
good. I’ll be back to try more of
it.”
“Had a sweet tooth
craving this morning, huh? I wondered
how long you’d make it before you sniffed out the ice cream.”
Hannah
chuckled. “You knew it wouldn’t be
long.”
“I know. I could never understand how you stayed so thin with as much ice cream as you ate.”
“Good metabolism.”
“I guess, but it
was frustrating as hell for me.” He
patted his belly. “I always had to watch
that.”
She looked at him
wryly. “Uh huh,” she said drolly. “Try telling that to someone who didn’t eat
banana splits with you on a regular basis.”
“Ahem. Whoops, I forgot about that.”
“Yeah, I’ll just
bet you did,” Hannah laughed at him. She
looked around and sighed in contentment.
“I really do like it here, Uncle Jack.
I can see the appeal, and really understand why you stayed here.”
He didn’t say
anything, just gazed at her with quiet knowledge. “Oh,” he said as an afterthought, “before I
forget. The annual Pirates’ Ball is in
ten days, two nights before you are scheduled to fly home. So you need to be thinking about a costume.”
“Pirates’
Ball? Costume?”
Jack
chuckled. “Well, you got the
essentials.” At that moment, a tall,
dark grizzled man stopped at the table.
Jack stood in respect, and held out a hand. The elder man shook it and looked to Hannah before
returning his gaze back to Jack.
“May I?” came the
soft-spoken question in a deep voice.
“Please,” Jack
answered, and gestured to an empty chair.
“Hannah, this is Cyrus, the village shaman. Cyrus, this is Hannah Reilly, Mike and
Hannah held out
her hand, and the shaman accepted it, gazing at her eyes for a long
moment. Then he smiled at her. “It is very nice to meet you, Hannah Reilly. I have waited a long time for this.”
“Well, it is nice
to meet you too, Cyrus. I’m sorry you
had to wait so long. This is a very
beautiful place.”
“Yes, it is,” he
agreed. Jack just sat back and watched
their interaction. “Can you tell me,
what color are your eyes?” Seeing her
startled look, he continued. “I
apologize, but my sight has become such that I no longer see very well. I cannot tell if they are green or blue in
this light.”
“They’re green.”
A frown crossed
his face. “Hmm, I’d have
thought.... Well, no matter. I am glad to have made your acquaintance. Your parents were lovely people, and Jack
here is a good friend.” The older man
rose. “I look forward to seeing you
around. You will be here for the
celebration, yes?”
Hannah looked at
Jack. “I dunno. Will I?”
He nodded. “I guess I will then.”
The older man
rose. “Good. I’ll look forward to it.” Cyrus slipped off into the night before
Hannah or Jack could respond.
They settled their
bill and exited the restaurant, slowly walking back along the beach to
Jack’s. “So tell me about this Pirates’
Ball. I got that it is some kind of
costume party but otherwise....” Hannah
trailed off and lifted her hand.
“Well, the Costume
Ball is actually a culmination of the day’s events, but I figured it would take
you a little time to get a costume together.”
He watched as her eyes went introspective, then a blinding grin crossed
her face.
“Got it covered,”
she answered, pleased. “I just need to
make a phone call.”
“Oh?”
“You’ll just have
to wait and see. Now, tell me more about
this celebration.”
“Well, every June
twenty-fifth, the people of this island and the small islands surrounding us
come together to celebrate the heroics of a group of pirates.”
“Waitaminute, Uncle Jack.
HEROIC pirates??”
“Yep.
They were pirates because they were stealing from the British merchant
ships. They were heroes because their
actions helped all the native people, and they did so without thought of gain.”
Hannah cast her
mind back over the journal entry she’d read earlier, and a tiny piece of the
puzzle clicked into place.
“So anyway,” Jack
continued, oblivious to her wandering thoughts, “every year they get together
and have a field day. Races,
contests, some really good food and games. Then the night ends with the Pirates’
Ball. Almost everyone keeps in the spirit
and dresses in the 1850’s style.” He
paused. “Rumor has it that sometimes the
Captain and her crew actually show up for the
festivities.”
“WHAT?? C’mon Uncle Jack.” Hannah chuckled. “I’m sure it makes for a good ghost story,
but....”
“Don’t discount
anything, Hannah,” Jack said soberly.
“Remember, this *IS* the
Chapter V
It was late when
Hannah left the solid, strong warmth of the arms that surrounded her in her
dreams. The reality of them was so
genuine that she looked around in bewilderment for the missing body before she
realized the truth. It almost brought
her to tears.
The penetrating
scent of breakfast finally pierced her senses, and she shook her blonde head to
clear it before moving to join Jack in the kitchen.
“Well, well,” he
teased as he handed her a cup of coffee.
“Someone must have had a late night.”
He knew she’d been
up a while after he’d retired. He’d
awakened twice after retiring to check on her only to still see light pouring
from the study and to hear movement and mumbling as well. Jack wondered how her search had gone.
It had been the
wee hours of the morning before Hannah had given up in frustration. She couldn’t seem to pinpoint where she
needed to be searching. The island had
no records from the era, and no historical database she’d tapped into
referenced any ‘heroic pirates’. She’d
looked in some of her father’s books, but there wasn’t much in them
either.
She’s grabbed up
the journal again, and read the next entry.
Her brain had been jolted at what she’d read,
and she’d searched frantically for her diary.
By the time she’d recalled where it was, her eyes were too tired to
focus properly, and she’d given up and gone to bed, only to have the dream
become a living reality. Her cheeks flushed
in remembered sensations.
Jack watched the
play of emotions across her face, and wondered at the thoughts behind
them. He set a plate in front of her,
and reached to refill her coffee cup. He
startled her when he put it down.
“Oh,
sorry. Thanks, Uncle Jack. You were right... I was up late. Guess I’m not really awake yet.”
“Everything
okay?” wondering if she was ready to talk.
“Hmm? Oh
yes, just doing a bit of reading and some research. I really think I will be able to get a novel
out of this trip.”
“Very
good. I will look forward to it.” He smiled at her encouragingly.
The phone rang
then, interrupting them, and Jack excused himself to answer it. When he came back, his face was troubled.
“Problem?” Hannah asked him.
“Depends. I
have to fly to
Hannah looked at
him seriously, weighing her options. She
wanted a chance to spend time with Jack, but she needed to finish her
research. “If you don’t mind, I would
like to stay here.”
Jack nodded his
head in agreement to the not unexpected answer.
“That’s fine, honey. I will let
Jacob know to keep an eye out for you.”
“That’s really not
necessary, Uncle Jack.”
“I know, but it
makes me feel better.”
************
An hour later,
Hannah drove back from the helo pad where she’d
dropped Jack off. She found it an
interesting experience to be driving on the left hand side of the road, and was
glad to have had the road to herself. She was sure everyone was safer that way. She
was a little proud though. She’d managed
to stall the jeep only once, and only twice had turned on the wipers instead of
the turn signal. This was a new skill to
practice, but later. She was gonna take
the journal and her diary down to the beach, and do some comparisons.
A quick change
into a blue swimsuit later and she snatched up a towel and the books she
needed. Hannah settled herself in the
chair, sighing in contentment at the warm sun, the cool breeze and the expanse
of beauty surrounding her. The she
opened the journal, and began rereading the passage that had given her such
wonderful dreams the night before.
May 1853
She came to me again last
night, and it was so very real. And
though her face still is not clear to me, her eyes are engraved in my
soul. It is how I recognized her.
She is short of stature and
fits against me perfectly. Her breasts
are full and heavy and her hips are round and firm. Her waist is small, but she is tanned and
muscular as I am, which is very unlike any of the other women I have seen.
Slowly, I peel her clothing
away, revealing her to my hungry eyes.
Her skin is smooth as silk as I discover it, and she trembles in my arms
as my touch traces her features and lingers over sensitive places on her
body. She reaches for my own clothing, frustrated when then ties refuse to loosen. I take her smooth hands in my own and kiss
the fingers one by one, laving the fingertips with my tongue. I feel the moan she makes in the center of my
being.
I undress for her, watching
those green eyes deepen in lust and passion.
I reach for her, and she comes to me, and the joining is a completion of
body and soul. I dip my head down, capturing her lips even as we lay down
together on the bed. What happened then
is a private affair between us, but it is fair to say I love this woman with
all of my heart, all of my soul, all of my mind. Now I have but to find the flesh and blood
incarnation of my dreams.
She is out there. What we shared last night is too real for her
not to be. I love you, Green Eyes. Wait for me, because I will find you.
Hannah let out a
trembling breath, recognizing the arousal the words had inspired in her yet
again. She closed her eyes, seeing again
the reality of the dreams she had lived the night before.
“Okay, this isn’t
working. Maybe a swim will cool me off.”
************
The water was warm
and soothing, and Hannah enjoyed body surfing... until she ended up with a
mouthful of sand.
“<Cough,
cough> Ick! Ew! Pah, pah, phooey!”
She spit out the sand and salt water she’d inhaled, and looked around,
realizing she’d forgotten to grab a water bottle on her way out the door. She dragged herself from the surf, pushing
her blonde hair out of her eyes and walked to the small shed. She retrieved a bottle from the fridge and
rinsed her mouth out first, spitting the water out. Then she guzzled half of what remained.
“Oh
yeah. That’s much better.”
Hannah strolled
back over to the chair and snatched up the towel, rubbing herself dry and
resuming her seat.
“All righty
then... where was I?” She lifted the
journal, noting the date, then picked up her diary and opening it to the
marker, seeing the similarity in the dates.
May
I am graduating with Summa
cum Laude with my Master’s degree today, and yet all I can think of is the
dream I had last night. I know now for a certainty I have fallen in love with a
woman, and my soul and body ache to find her in the flesh.
I dreamed of her last night
and she became real to me. I cannot see
her face... only her eyes are clear. But
her body was mine for the taking, and it was beautiful.
She offered herself to me,
and claimed me for her own as well. The vividness of my dream made me wake
feeling sated and loved. I have never
felt as loved and cared for as I did last night under her ministrations. I only wish I could find the reality of
her. We fit, like nothing or no one I
have ever known, and I want it to be more than just a dream.
Hannah
sat back after reading her own words, and remembered the sensation she’d
awakened with that very morning. It
recalled to her this very time... well-loved, satisfied, protected and at the
same time lost and confused. She stared
into nothingness for a time before jumping up and grabbing her stuff. She headed into the house, setting her books
in her room and hanging the towel up to dry before slipping into the kitchen
for a bite of lunch.
************
When
lunch was finished, she slid into a pair of shorts, snatched up a towel and her
shoes, and picked up a flashlight. Then
she determinedly made her way down toward the beach and headed east, looking
for the path she’d discovered the day before.
Stopping
at the path, she set her towel down, and stepped into her shoes. Then she started up the trail to the cottage.
The
door opened a little easier this time, though the house still smelled old and
musty. Hannah crossed the threshold and
moved further into the house. The
furniture was still draped in cotton coverings, and the floor creaked just
slightly under her weight. She walked
in, turning on the flashlight and looking around in curious interest. Aside from the coverings, there were two
portraits on the wall she had not noticed before.
The
first painting made her hold her breath, gazing in
wonder at the eyes she had known all her life.
A woman in the uniform of a Captain in the British
Navy done by the loving hand of a true artist. Hannah stepped closer to the picture, not
recognizing the artist’s name, but drawn to closer inspection of it. The figure wore white breeches and waistcoat,
topped by a blue dress coat. Imposing, but not nearly as fascinating as the face.
She’s gorgeous, the writer thought to herself. Long raven hair flowed freely over the
woman’s shoulder’s framing the tanned lean face. Piercing blue eyes glowed with intensity from
beneath slim, arched brows and the high cheekbones accented the planes of her
face. There was the slightest hint of a
quirk to the full lips, and this was magnified by the twinkle lurking in the
depths of blue. Hannah found her own
lips creasing into an answering smile.
“Who
are you, I wonder?”
The
writer turned, and focused her gaze on the other picture in the room. It appeared to have been done by the same
hand as the first, and what she saw made her drop the flashlight in
startlement. It was with shaking hands
that she retrieved it and Hannah continued to stare at the picture in true
shock.
The
scene was of two women standing on the very beach this house sat on looking out
over the water. The taller stood behind
her shorter companion, arms wrapped around her in complete contentment. It was impossible to see their faces, but the
wind whipped their hair together, blending the blonde and brunette into a
single entity.
“I
recognize this... I *remember* this,” Hannah breathed to herself. “What am I saying?? I can't remember this." She shook her head again. "But it is so... familiar." Almost she could hear the wind, smell the
tang of the sea, feel the warmth of those strong arms
around her. She pulled herself away
forcefully, deliberately turning her back the sense of coming home the picture
communicated to her soul.
Instead,
she walked towards the back of the cottage, finding a small, old-fashioned
kitchen area complete with a table and two chairs set against the shuttered
window at the back of the house. The
handle pump beckoned to her, but she found it in desperate need of priming and
was unable to move it. The sink and
drainage set up was quite clever and advanced considering its age, and she was
surprised to find stored foodstuffs still in the pantry.
The
house had dishes in the cabinets, and some of the finest bone china Hannah had
ever seen. It was completely furnished
for living, she realized. A partially
opened door off the kitchen revealed a bathing room with a huge, old-fashioned
claw-footed tub, and the most peculiar plumbing she had ever seen. She opened a small closet and found the tattered
remains of what had once been linens.
She
stepped back out of the room, and opened the door from the kitchen back into
the main living part of the house. It
was then that the flashlight caught the reflection of a door handle on either
side of the fireplace, and she moved to the nearest one.
It
took a little effort, but Hannah managed to push it open, then
stopped dead. It was a bedroom, and from
one of the windows missing its covering the light was allowed to flood in. A four poster canopied bed stood regally in
the center of one wall, and was the focal point of the room. Bits of cloth draped each post, bare
reminders of their needed function. Each
side had a small table with a lamp, and an armoire stood on the wall nearest
the bathing room door.
There
were two fireplaces... the one that backed into the living room and one on the
wall towards the outside. There was a
door next to this one, and Hannah wandered over towards it. She noted an empty frame above one fireplace,
and two crossed swords over the other. It occurred to her then that the house
had been built for a single person or a couple, and every indication was that
it was a home for two.
There
was a cozy niche opposite the armoire near the second fireplace, and here
resided what looked to be two very plump, cushy chairs. Hannah lifted the covering enough to peek,
sneezing at the dust she stirred in the process. These chairs were much more worn that the ones
in the living room, and she suspected the occupants spent a lot more time here
than in the formality of the outer room.
Hannah
looked toward the door, and walked over to it, surprised when it swung open
almost easily. This room was filled with
books... very old and very well kept. A
map hung above the fireplace, and a massive desk stood against one wall. The writer's eyes glowed in appreciation for
the treasures she'd found in this room, and she delicately touched the bindings
on the shelves nearest her.
She
walked slowly around the room, green eyes taking in with interest the variety
of titles and topics the library held.
There were books overflowing onto the desk and filling every conceivable
space on the shelves. She noted the beautiful rug on the floor and the layer of
dust covering everything, and felt sadness at the neglect of so many wonderful
things that had obviously been such a part of someone's life.
Hannah
took a last look around, then walked out the front
door, closing it tightly behind her again. Then she took a seat on the steps,
mindless of the stains the algae was leaving on her shorts. She closed her eyes and put her head in her
hands. It was so easy for her to picture
what this place might have been like when it was still breathing and full of
life. The thought that it no longer was
alive brought unexplained tears to her eyes, and she let them roll silently
down her cheeks for a moment before getting up and wiping them away.
She
turned and faced the house again, smiling now at the image she had of it and
its occupants. Then she stepped back
onto the path towards the beach without a backwards glance, her mind rapidly
putting together the pieces of a new story.
Hannah
chuckled silently as she emerged onto the beach from the path. She slipped her shorts off and folded them on
top of her towel. Then she squealed in
pure happiness and plunged into the warm surf.
************
"'Tis a
beautiful day out, Mr. Merryweather. There's a feeling in
the air...."
"I'll
agree with that sentiment, Fitz. And our Captain seems to be in a fine
mood." From their positions near
and at the wheel, both men looked toward the forecastle where the Captain stood
looking out across the expanse of sea.
"Aye, sir. She
does. And it does my heart good."
The
officer put a hand on the shoulder of the steersman. "Agreed again, my
friend. I worry about her
sometimes. What we do is hard on all of
us, but her especially."
"I
hope she finds what she's been looking for out here." The first officer didn't answer, but squeezed
Fitz's shoulder as he moved towards the bow of the ship.
"Mr.
Roberts, trim the sails." He
stopped to look as several of the sailors braided and coiled rope and gave an
approving nod. Another group was busy
cleaning, and Merryweather had to laugh at the military spic-and-spanness this 'pirate' crew maintained.
"Mr.
Merryweather!" The voice from the
crow's nest beckoned. The tall blonde
man turned his attention upwards.
"Yes,
Mr. Cyrus?"
"Land
ho, sir!"
"Excellent work.
I'll notify the Captain."
The
first officer snapped his fingers at the cabin boy who scampered over to
him. "Yes, Mr. Merryweather?"
"Fetch
the Captain's spy glass, Harold. Quickly."
"Aye,
sir," and the youngster ran to do his bidding.
The
officer made his way to the front of the ship where the Captain continued to
stand looking out towards the west, waiting for the island to come into
view. She couldn't help the smile that
crossed her face from time to time. The
dream the night before had been so real, so vivid that she knew for a certainty
that destiny was approaching.
Donovan
didn't even turn around when her first officer approached. He stood quietly behind her watching as
running footsteps joined them.
Merryweather reached out his hand and the boy slipped the spy glass into
it. The officer nodded his dismissal,
and then handed the glass to the Captain.
"Sir," was all he said.
"Thank
you, Mr. Merryweather," came the low voice said gently. Then she lifted the scope to her very blue
eyes, closing one so she could focus.
Her sight swept the familiar shoreline of the island that had become a
home away from home to both her and her crew.
She missed it when they were away too long, though she understood her
men's need to go back home, and of course, their official orders dictated it
regularly.
Without
warning, her eyes lit on a vision emerging from the tree line that led to her
cottage. She focused harder, willing
herself to see the woman more clearly. A
gasp fell unbidden from her lips and she sagged slightly before she felt
Merryweather place a hand on her shoulder in silent support.
Donovan
let it remain there for a moment before she straightened and he removed his
hand as a matter of course. "Bring
the ship about Mr. Merryweather. Hard to port."
"Captain?"
"You
heard me, mister. We need to come in to
the Eastern side of the island. I have
to get to the cottage immediately."
"Captain?"
Never in the eight years they'd served together
and in the four years he'd served as her second had she ever put herself or her
needs above the crew or their duty. The
need in her eyes now was so apparent it was painful to see, and the blonde man
simply nodded in acquiescence. "Aye, sir."
"Mr.
Fitzgerald, bring her about to port, sir!
Mr. Roberts and Mr. James, man the sails. And Mr. Cyrus, keep a sharp eye out. We don't want to hit the reef!"
A
chorus of "Aye, sirs!" answered his instructions and immediately the
ship began maneuvering to come in to the east.
The Captain had raised the glass to her eye again and seemed to be
focused intently on something he could not yet see. No matter.
She had always done her best for them.
It was time to do their best for her.
Oh, Green Eyes... have I
found you at last?
************
Hannah
was tired but very relaxed when she waded out of the water some time later, and
she already had a basic outline of her new novel in her head. She smirked to herself. Charlie
is gonna be so surprised, and so is Anita knowing the reactions of both her
editor and her publisher. Both women had
been after her for quite some time to try her hand at writing for adults
instead of pre-teens.
She
walked over to her towel, shaking it open and drying off. She stood with her eyes closed absorbing the
sun for a long moment, and when she opened them caught a glimpse of a huge
three-masted ship.
She swiveled her head around, but there was nothing there. She blinked but still saw nothing, so she
shrugged and wrapped the towel around her.
She
grabbed up her shorts and shoes and stuck them in the bag with the books. Then she started back down the beach towards
Jack's house. Unexpectedly, a blast of
cold air blew across her, and she shivered in reflex. She looked around again and hugged the bag to
her, picking up speed.
She
was exhausted by the time she reached the house. She took a quick shower, and dropped into bed
for a quick nap. The sun was just
hitting the horizon when she woke up.
"Oh...
wow!" Hannah scrubbed a hand
through her hair. "Hmm, I think
that's gonna need a little water," she chuckled as she looked in the
mirror at the hair standing up all over her head. She stepped into the shower, correctly
figuring it would be the fastest and easiest method to deal with her hair. She dressed and threw a load of towels into
the washer, then headed out the door to town.
She
was glad the road was empty, because navigating backwards in the dark was
harder than she'd imagined it would be.
She arrived in town to pick up the dinner she'd ordered, and was stopped
by Jacob on the way in to the restaurant.
"Is
everything okay, Hannah? You look like
you're enjoying our island," he smiled at her engagingly.
"I'm
fine, Jacob. Thank you for asking. And I love your island. It is so beautiful here... so peaceful."
His
wife Elizabeth took her hand and answered.
"It is, and we are glad you've come to visit. You will be here for the Pirates' Ball, won't
you?"
"Yes
ma'am. I have already called for my
costume," remembering the surprise in Sarah's voice when she'd called.
"Good. It’s a great party. You’ll love it."
The
waitress came over then and brought Hannah her dinner. She paid the woman and nodded her thanks,
then turned back to Jacob and Elizabeth.
"Thank you for checking on me. It makes me feel a part of the
community here."
"You
are, and we're glad you're here," Jacob responded.
"Now
go eat your dinner while it's hot, dear,"
Hannah
nodded and made her way back to the jeep and headed for home.
************
"Are
you sure about this Mr. Merryweather?" the yeoman asked as they rowed the
longboat back to the ship. The first
officer had brought the ship to the closest point to the cottage that he could
manage, and offered to take the Captain ashore.
She hadn't refused and they had dropped her almost at the path's
entrance.
"Yes,
Mr. Jacobs. I am sure."
"Good,"
the younger man responded. "It's time she found some happiness as
well."
************
Donovan
stepped from the longboat and took her bag from her second with a nod. He offered her a salute. "Sir, we will continue on around the
island and take care of business. We
will be back around to pick you up after the Ball."
"Very well, Mr. Merryweather.
Carry on." Her expressive
eyes said what her lips could not utter.
"Aye, sir.
Enjoy your reprieve."
She
smiled genuinely then, and lifted a hand in salute and farewell. She pushed them back from the shore, then
picked up the bag she'd set to one side and headed for the place she loved to
call home.
She
ran a critical eye over the house as she stepped into the grove, pleased with
what she found. The cottage looked to be in good shape. All the windows were shuttered, and though a
few shingles appeared to be loose, they were all there and seemingly in good
condition.
Donovan
noted that the steps needed sweeping, but were in good repair, and she pushed open
the door easily, smiling in relief as the familiar scents of home greeted
her. The furniture was covered, but that
took only a moment to correct, and wood lay in the fireplace ready for
lighting. She opened the shutters to
allow the light in and opened the windows to let fresh air to flow through the
house.
She
gazed wistfully at the portrait of the two women together she had painted two
years previously, after a very intense erotic dream. Soon, Green
Eyes. Donovan opened the door
to the bedroom and set her bag down, carefully putting its contents away. She took fresh sheets from the cedar closet
and carefully made up the big bed, tying back the canopy netting until it would
be needed later that night.
She
looked around at the sparse room. I really should find something to put above
the mantles. then
she shrugged. Not like I spend enough time here to do that yet. Then she smiled. She knew she would one day. Already she had a number of creature comforts
installed, thinking of the brand new tub she had installed on her last visit,
and the gorgeous rug she'd found for her study this trip. She was still working, but more and more this
place was becoming a home.
Donovan
carefully laid the rug out in front of her desk, nodding in approval at the way
it brightened the room. She glanced at
the partially filled shelves, noting that she would have to meet the ship at
some point before they left to pick up the crate of books she'd left on board.
They would almost fill an entire shelf, leaving her with only four more shelves
to fill.
The
Captain moved into the kitchen, knowing that she would need to do some trading
for some fresh supplies while she was here.
She primed the pump, letting the water run for a moment before grabbing
a glass and rinsing it out then filling it up and taking a long cool drink.
"Ah,
that hits the spot." She knew most
of her men eschewed the thought of drinking fresh water, but to her, it was
nectar after weeks at sea. She filled a
metal basin and set it on the stove, then lit the fire. She moved back to the bathroom, starting the
water running into the tub, and congratulating herself once again for her
ingenuity. Now, if I could just figure out how to heat it before it got here.
Shrugging,
she pulled her boots off with a groan of relief, then
slid out of her leather pants and cotton shirt.
The trousers were laid over the back of a chair and the shirt was put
into a corner for washing. She stopped
the water and went back to the kitchen.
"Well,
that is going to take a while," she muttered, moving back to the
study. "Let's see what we can find
to read." She grabbed the book
she'd been reading on her last visit and moved back into the bedroom. Laying down on the
bed, she started reading, but it wasn't long before exhaustion took over, and
she feel into a deep sleep.
The
sun was just beginning to set when Donovan opened her eyes. "Holy Mother!" she exclaimed as she
rolled swiftly from the bed and raced to the kitchen.
The
water, in the still mostly full pan, was gently roiling. Donovan blew out a breath of relief, and
grabbed the basin with two pot holders and moved into the bathroom. She poured the hot water into the tepid water
already in the tub, and took the container back out to the kitchen. Then she shucked her undergarments, sighing
in ecstasy as she settled into the cleansing warmth.
It
didn't take long, and she was clean and smelling faintly of cinnamon. She smiled as she thought of her mother
preparing the soap especially for her.
She dressed carefully, sliding into clean leather and silk. Her still wet hair she combed through and
braided back tightly. She wiped her
boots off and stepped into them, pulling them up and settling them firmly. She stamped her feet and looked around, then
stepped out the door and went in search of her destiny.
Chapter
VI
Hannah
dropped the bag on the table and transferred the towels to the dryer. Then she took her dinner and put it on a
plate, deciding to sit in the small garden alcove that overlooked the beach and
eat by the light of the moon.
The
sound of the waves was mesmerizing and she took her time enjoying the spicy
island fare. She watched as the
moonlight traced a path in the water, and wondered again where it would lead
her if she followed it. So absorbed in
her thoughts was she that it took a few moments before she became aware of the
rhythmic sound of footsteps approaching her.
Strangely,
she was not alarmed by the sound. They
were sure and steady, not stealthy, and she took comfort in that fact. Obviously it was a native who had wandered
too far without realizing they'd crossed the boundary. It didn't dawn on her that the sound was
coming from the east and not the west.
She
was still eating when the figure emerged and she just looked for a long moment,
trying to discern if she'd met the person now standing down from her facing the
water. The individual was tall, strength
evident in the breadth of the shoulders and the molded leather pants. Dark hair was braided tightly and rested
against the strong back.
The
figure turned then, and the profile was silhouetted by the moonlight. Hannah drew in a breath. The vision was a woman, and so familiar. Hannah searched her memory, trying to recall
the woman's name, but nothing fell into place.
The tall woman turned slowly as though searching for something.
"Excuse
me, but are you lost?" Hannah
called out quietly. Donovan spun on her
heel. She couldn't see much of
anything... a bare outline from the direction the voice had come from. The Captain didn't answer the question. She was trying to place the tender voice.
"I'm
sorry," Hannah said again, "but you are trespassing on private
property. Can I help you find
something?"
Donovan
came to herself then, and shook her head.
"I beg your pardon, m'lady.
I was not aware this bit of land had been claimed. If you will excuse me...." And the Captain bowed with a flourish and
headed back down the beach before Hannah could recover her wits which scattered
at the low, rich lilt that had rolled across her hearing when the dark woman
spoke.
The
blonde ran her hands through her hair in frustration. There was something so familiar in that body,
that profile, that voice.... But she
couldn't place it and the harder she pushed, the more elusive the memory
became.
"I
think I need to take a break. I have been trying so hard to solve whatever this
mystery is that my brain is on overload.
Tomorrow I'm gonna do nothing but relax." She looked in the direction the tall woman
had retreated. "Maybe I'll go meet
the new neighbor... if I can find her."
************
Donovan
strolled back down the shoreline, a preoccupied frown etched on her face. That voice, she was sure that she'd heard it
before, but there was no way to be certain without being able to see the owner. She was frustrated. The darkness had made it impossible to follow
what she thought was Green Eyes' trail, even by moonlight.
She
stopped suddenly. "Wait just a damn
bloody minute," she cursed to herself.
She turned and glanced back in the direction she'd just come from. "Do you suppose...?" She took two steps back toward that voice
before jerking to a halt and shoving her hands in her pockets.
"Waitaminute, Donovan," she muttered. "You do not need to go in there scaring
the young lady half to death. If you are
right, she might understand. If she has been having the dreams, anyway. But if you are wrong, they will send you to
the loony bin for sure." She ran
one hand over her head, loosening the braid and letting her hair fly free in
the breeze. "You have waited this
long. Waiting until it is daylight not
going to kill you."
She
increased her pace until she was moving at a near run. "Maybe I will see her in my dreams
tonight." That thought caused her
exuberance to soar and the emotion made her almost giddy. She increased her pace and jumped into the
air, doing a lazy somersault before returning her feet to the earth, then
running exuberantly all the way home.
She
was still smiling when she settled down to sleep.
************
A face slowly began to form
around the loving blue eyes. Nothing clear, but a profile which was resolving itself into a
familiar shape. Hannah reached up
with trembling fingers and gently traced the planes of the Angel face, and
sifted her hand through the free-flowing dark hair. She felt large, work-roughened hands grip her
gently at the waist, and ran her other hand up the soft, strong chest to wrap
in the raven tresses.
Hannah tugged gently on the
head in her hands, and was delighted by the twinkle in the blue eyes reflected
in the growing smile as the dark head lowered. Then those full smiling lips
captured her own, and the blonde lost herself in the
passion that ignited between them.
Donovan let her hands wander
down from the small waist and over the shapely hips, pulling the lithe body
more firmly into her own. She smiled
into the kiss as the blonde began massaging her scalp, taking a firmer grip on
her hair. The kiss went on interminably
until the two were forced to pull away for a lack of air.
Blue and green gazed at each
other for long moments, speaking words that their lips did not say. Donovan caressed a smooth cheek, smiling when
Hannah closed her eyes and leaned into the touch. "You are very beautiful."
Hannah had no chance to
answer the compliment, for Donovan covered her lips again and claimed them
passionately. Hannah let her hands
wander, loosening the ties she found on Donovan's shirt and sliding her hand
inside to touch the silky skin hidden there.
Donovan pulled away from
Hannah just slightly, causing a furrow to crease the blonde's brow, until she
realized Donovan's intent. The Captain
shrugged out of her shirt and returned to the kiss-swollen lips, untying the
knot at the neck, then dropping Hannah's dress to the
floor. Without breaking the kiss,
Donovan lifted Hannah and encouraged her to wrap her strong legs around
Donovan's waist. Then the ship's Captain
walked them over and tenderly lowered them to the bed together, making their
dreams reality once again.
************
Hannah
woke up late morning wrapped around a pillow instead of the warm body she'd
expected to find there and frowned. It was so real, considering how loved
and sated she felt. Then she
smiled. I will find you, Blue Eyes. Very soon. She
stretched and swung her legs out of the bed. But first I need a shower. And then I'm gonna go meet this new neighbor
I seem to have gotten.
It
didn't take long. Hannah dressed in the
tropical print thong she'd found shopping with Katie, and tied a sarong over
her hips. Then she looked through the
fridge, putting together a picnic for two from the abundance of things Jack had
available. Nodding in satisfaction, she
headed out the door and down the beach.
Her
thoughts wandered while she walked, reviewing the dream she'd had the night before. Hannah was in quite a state by the time she'd
reached the footpath, and stopped a minute just to breathe. Finally feeling herself under control again,
she hefted the basket and started down the trail.
"Hello? Hello?" she called. "Is anyone here?" Hannah felt foolish. Her two previous visits had shown her there
was no one here, but her logical mind dictated that the woman had to have come
from here. It was the only place within
reasonable walking distance from this direction. The town itself and all the locals she'd met
lived on the other side of Jack’s.
"Excuse
me," came the lilting voice from the night before
from a position high above her.
"Are you lost? You are
trespassing on private property."
Hannah
flushed slightly, remembering these exact words falling from her lips the night
before. God, I didn't realize how snotty that sounded. She looked around for the speaker and cleared
her throat.
"No,
I'm not lost. I'm looking for
someone."
"Well,
there is no one here but me." The
voice was still out of sight, but Hannah detected the slightest hint of a smile
in it.
"Perhaps
you are the one I am seeking. Could you
step out where I can see you, please?"
Donovan
rose to her full height then, and stepped to the front of the roof. She'd awakened at dawn so refreshed and full
of energy that she'd taken a run. When
she'd gotten back to the cottage, the sun had been up, and she'd decided to
check the roof. The haze on the horizon
meant a storm this afternoon, and Donovan wanted everything tight and cozy
before then.
Hannah
stared in astonishment at the vision that stood to greet her. The woman was fierce in her presentation,
backlit by the sunshine that outlined her sculpted, muscular upper body. She felt her mouth drop slightly, but couldn't
seem to tear her eyes away.
Donovan
had been almost finished when she'd heard the young woman's approach. She looked down at herself in disgust. She was sweating profusely, and in the rough
trousers and shirtless state she’d been working in, she was in no position to
receive company.
She
snatched up the shirt she'd taken off early in her task, and slid it over her
shoulders, leaving it untied, so her breasts were covered, but her muscled
abdomen was still visible. She stepped
from the eave and slid down the ladder.
Donovan landed with a bit of a flourish and turned, freezing when blue
eyes met green for the first time.
Hannah
moved closer, reaching up a shaking hand to catch the drop of sweat rolling
down the dark brow, their gazes locked and searching each other. She stroked the sensitive skin of the
cheekbone, tracing the taller woman's features before sliding her fingers into
the damp locks.
Donovan
felt her breath catch in her throat as she realized that Green Eyes was finally
flesh and blood within her grasp. She
watched fascinated as Hannah made the first move to bring them together, almost
groaning at the first touch of skin on skin.
She forced herself to keep her eyes open while the blonde woman explored
her face, unwilling to lose the reality that was becoming hers. Only when Hannah twined her fingers in the
raven hair did Donovan finally allow herself to reach out and grasp the slim
waist and draw Hannah firmly into her.
No
words were exchanged. None were
necessary in this first real physical communication between them. Donovan leaned in slowly, offering Hannah the
opportunity to pull away if.... Then she
felt her head being drawn down and their lips met, and everything except the
reality of them melted away into nothingness for a timeless moment.
"Finally,"
Donovan breathed. "Finally I have
you in my arms. I have dreamed of you,
you know, since you were a child. I watched
you grow up in my dreams." Donovan
said quietly when their lips reluctantly parted. "You became my dream."
"And now?"
"And
now, I want to make you my reality. I am going to take the time to get to know
you personally... to court you the way a lady deserves to be courted. I find you to be a most beautiful woman. I want to know all about you, and I would like
to take you home to meet my father and mother."
Hannah
gasped slightly. "This is all so
sudden. And yet, I've waited a lifetime
for you."
"As I have for you, Angel. I
have spent my life falling in love with you in my dreams."
"I'd
like to do it for real."
"Then
you'll come home with me? Meet my
parents?"
"I
promised Uncle Jack I would stay for the Pirates' Ball. But if you still want me when that is over...
yes, I will come home with you and meet your folks. And in the meantime, we can get to know each
other outside our dreams."
Blue
eyes lit with uncontrolled happiness.
"I think I would like that.
It is something I have looked forward to for a long time."
Hannah
couldn't help the grin that plastered her face.
"Me too.
So will you join me on a picnic for lunch?"
"Well,
that depends," Donovan answered seriously as thunder rumbled ominously in
the background. A cool wind followed the
sound and Hannah shuddered slightly.
Donovan tightened her grip slightly.
"On what?" Hannah asked curiously.
"Will
you tell me your name?" The dashing
grin on Donovan's face made Hannah blush, and that simply made the grin
broaden. "I will go first. I am Donovan Scott."
"Hannah
Reilly."
"Well,
Hannah Reilly, if you would consent to allow me a few moments to clean up, I
would be delighted to join you on a picnic." The thunder rumbled ominously again. "Though we may end up
having to eat it in the house."
Hannah
smiled, her nose crinkling up in delight.
"Well," she started, bending over to retrieve the basket she
had dropped when Donovan had stood up on the roof. Donovan slipped it gallantly from her grasp,
and extended an arm. Hannah took it as a
matter of course and let the taller woman escort her toward the cottage
door. "I think I could do that." She smiled impishly, now. "Though a little rain
never hurt a body."
Donovan
chuckled. "I will remind you of
that while we are standing in the middle of the meadow getting soaked
together."
Hannah's
eyes widened at the implications and she swallowed hard. Donovan missed the expression since she'd
moved slightly ahead of the smaller woman to open the door for them to enter
the house.
Donovan
swung the door open and gestured for Hannah to step in ahead of her. Immediately Hannah was struck by several
subtle differences from her visit the previous morning. The first thing she noticed was the abundance
of light that shone in the room, and the fresh air that greeted her. The absence of dust coverings was apparent,
and she noted that the furniture seem almost new.
Unconsciously,
she looked for the two paintings that had so captured her attention the day
before, and realized that only one hung in the room now. Her brow furrowed. How
very odd, she thought to herself, but found her feet moving to stand before
the portrait of her and Donovan on the shore.
Donovan
set the basket in the kitchen, and came back out to see Hannah mesmerized by
the seascape. She walked up behind the
blonde gently, and tenderly laid her hands on Hannah's shoulders.
"I
did that one about two years ago," she whispered, her warm breath a caress
on Hannah's ear that sent goosebumps skittering along her skin. "After the most
incredible dream with you."
Hannah
flushed, and knew Donovan could feel the heat.
"I remember that," she mumbled, leaning back into the strong
body behind her. "It was the first
time we made love together in our dreams.
And before we left we stood on this shore together, wrapped around one
another just like this." She sighed
when Donovan's hands slid around her waist and cradled her carefully. "It was so wonderful." Her face scrunched up in thought. Though
I thought it was five years ago. Whatever.
"Our
first real time will be even more wonderful, I promise." Donovan felt Hannah laugh, and pulled back
slightly to peer into her eyes.
"What?"
"I'm
not sure either of us could survive it," Hannah smiled impishly, watching
Donovan's smile light up her whole visage.
"Aye, but what a way to die.
Now, if you will excuse me for a moment," she continued without
pausing for breath, “I need to clean up before I stink up the place." She placed a light peck on Hannah's
cheek. "Be right back."
Hannah
heard the water running and sank into the small couch, her eyes again regarding
the portrait while her hand rested on the still tingling spot that Donovan's
lips had touched. "Whoo boy, I think a cold shower might do me some good
too."
Hannah
sank into the couch, eyes still focused on the portrait, and letting that
visual carry her back to the events that had inspired its creation. That
was five years ago... I *KNOW* it was. Because that was the night before my Master's graduation. She shrugged. Not that the *when* actually matters.
Nothing is going to change the way that I feel or what we shared. Absently, she stroked the brocade's newness
and let her thoughts drift.
A
hint of cinnamon reached her nostrils and Hannah smiled in reflex. "Hello, love," she whispered,
sighing in contentment as two strong arms wrapped around her from behind. "You smell nice."
Donovan
chuckled and sat down, stretching an arm out in invitation. "Better than before then, yes?"
"Well,
different." Hannah scooted over
until they were touching, sitting side by side.
Donovan curled the arm around her, and Hannah turned just slightly in
the embrace. "You have a very
pleasant natural scent actually, and though I will admit to being partial to
the aroma of cinnamon, clean sweat does have its charm."
Donovan
grinned, and not for the first time Hannah noticed the roguish sex appeal it
held. "Does it now?" she
asked, leaning into Hannah just slightly and feeling inordinately pleased when
Hannah returned the pressure.
"Um
hmm," she answered, leaning even closer and brushing her lips over
Donovan's, and the Captain lost no time in returning the kiss. Her arm
tightened around Hannah, and she brought her other hand up to cup the blonde
woman's face. The embrace deepened, and two sets of breathing had gone ragged
before they separated and looked into one another's eyes.
"We
don't have to give up the kissing while we do this courting thing, do
we?" Hannah asked on a breathless
note. Donovan captured her lips again
briefly, passionately. "I'll take
that as a no," Hannah replied with a smile.
"You
would be taking it rightly then," Donovan said, gently stroking the skin
underneath her hand, happy when Hannah's eyes closed and she leaned into the
touch. "I do not want you to
think... I mean, I want to know you... um, I uh...."
Hannah
laid her hands on Donovan's chest, feeling the rapid beat of her heart. "Donovan, I am touched that you want to
court me. I'd like the chance to do the
same... to spoil you a little. And I am
looking forward to getting to now you as a person and not just a dream. But nothing, NOTHING is going to change the
way that I feel about you. All right?"
Donovan
read the sincerity behind the words in Hannah's eyes. "Very well," she nodded. "I just do not want you ever to feel
like you are being taken advantage of."
She stopped speaking as fingers covered her lips.
"I
have never been taken advantage of by you.
I have only been well loved."
Hannah leaned forward and kissed Donovan lightly on the lips. "Now c'mon," she said, looking out
an open window. "The sun is
shining, and the thunder is gone, so maybe the storm passed by us. Let's go picnic."
Donovan
stood and helped Hannah to her feet.
Hannah looked at Donovan who stood casually in cotton trousers and
shirt. The shirt had no sleeves and was
tied just below her ribcage and Hannah was again impressed with the musculature
she could see. "Come," Donovan said quietly, extending a hand out to
Hannah.
They
walked out through the kitchen, and Donovan snagged the basket Hannah had
prepared. Then they walked out the back
door, and for the first time, Hannah noticed the stone patio. "Oh, how lovely.
I like it here."
Donovan
looked around and took a deep breath.
"As do I," she smiled.
"This is my sanctuary. The
men helped me build the basic structure, but I have been working on it every
chance I get when we come here."
"How
often do you come?"
Donovan
shrugged. "For
the past four years, a couple weeks, every six months or so. This year has been a little different. This is actually our fourth trip here."
"Why?"
Donovan
turned and faced Hannah, and the smaller woman rested her hands lightly on
Donovan's hips. The Captain smiled. "I was chasing my destiny. I had a feeling I would find you... I just
had to keep trying." Hannah smiled
and blushed charmingly. Donovan kissed
her on the nose. "Besides, it gave
me a chance to get some things done around here."
"Well,
I like what you’ve done here. It's
beautiful." Hannah looked around
again. "You have very talented
hands."
Donovan
waggled her eyebrows. "Thank you,
my dear," she said with a roguish smile.
Hannah
blushed again, and slapped her arm.
"Behave, you!" Donovan
laughed out loud and they resumed their walk.
They didn't go very far... just out of sight of the cottage. Donovan set the basket down, and Hannah
retrieved the blanket she'd packed on top.
Donovan
took a side and together they laid it on the ground. Then Hannah began unpacking the lunch she'd
brought for them to share. The basket
had been an old one she'd found at Jack's and it had been quite the challenge
to figure out how some of the old-fashioned containers worked. So the first thing she did was pull everything out and set it to one side.
Donovan
was investigating the contents of each of the boxes with incredible ease,
Hannah noted absently, considering her own difficulty. Then she remembered that this woman had built
her own house from the ground up and figured the engineering involved in a
picnic basket wouldn't be terribly hard for her.
"What
do we have here?" Donovan muttered as she opened the first lid. She sniffed carefully. "Fried chicken?" She looked up at Hannah. "Potatoes, hmmm... I like potatoes. And biscuits... this just keeps getting
better." She took the fourth
container from Hannah's hands. "You
know, these are quite clever. I don't
believe I have ever seen anything quite like them."
Hannah
nodded her agreement, pulling an old canteen from the bottom of the
basket. "Neither had I, actually,
but it was all I could find at Uncle Jack's place. I guess he's not big on picnics."
"Maybe
he's waiting to find someone special to share them with." She picked up the last container. "Now, what could this be?" The perplexed look did not leave Donovan's
face, even when she opened the box.
Cautiously she lifted it nearer her nose and inhaled. "Well, it smells pretty good... like
chocolate," arching an eyebrow at Hannah.
"What is it?"
"Chocolate cake."
Hannah's brow furrowed when the brow remained cocked. "You've never had chocolate cake?"
Donovan
shook her dark head. "I do not
think so. It does not smell like
anything I have ever eaten."
Hannah
took the container from Donovan, and scooped up a blob of icing on her
finger. She lifted the finger to
Donovan's lips and waited. Donovan
sniffed at it again, then shrugged and extended her tongue to cautiously taste
the offering. Very tentatively she
tasted the morsel she'd licked from Hannah's finger, then with a primordial
growl clasped Hannah's wrist and drew the finger into her mouth, cleaning it
thoroughly.
Hannah
swooned and nearly fainted from the sensations Donovan was causing to cascade
over her body. Donovan looked up and was
treated to raw passion and desire flushing Hannah's face and making her eyes
darken and glow. Donovan cleared her
throat as she slipped the finger from her mouth.
"I
uh... I am sorry Hannah. I... that was, um... delicious. And so was the chocolate," muttered under her breath. Hannah heard her though, and she couldn't
control the flaring of her nostrils.
Donovan caught the look and smiled nervously, suddenly feeling like a
rabbit in a cage with a cobra, and she felt a distinct chill skitter across her
skin. It wasn't an unpleasant sensation,
but it was definitely different than what she was used to or expected. She cleared her throat again and inhaled a
shaky breath.
"Maybe
we should concentrate on eating lunch?" Donovan suggested in a questioning
tone.
Hannah
took a deep breath of her own and closed her eyes, willing herself to
calmness. When she felt her breathing
slow and her heartbeat resume a more measured tempo, she opened her eyes and
stared at Donovan. "Maybe we
should, because if you play with fire...."
"I
know. And I would still like to know you
as a person before I get branded for life." This said with a grin that twinkled in the
depths of her eyes.
"Oh,"
Hannah replied with a mischievous smile.
"You've been branded. You
just don't know it yet." She
smirked. "But you will. I promise you will." Hannah handed Donovan a full plate and
winked. Donovan got into the spirit of
the conversation.
"Guess
I had better find a ring and a minister then.
I need to make an honest woman out of you. Although actually...." The thought trailed off, and it wasn't until
Hannah realized that Donovan was lost in thought that she picked up the thread.
"Actually what?" She
lightly prodded Donovan on the leg. The
Captain started and began to eat the meal in her hand.
"Oh,
um, my father is a ship's captain, or he was until he retired from
service. He could marry us."
"Would
he, though? It's not like this is an
accepted lifestyle by most people."
"I
think he would. He has never wanted
anything more than for me to be happy.
He would understand that you make me happy. Mama on the other hand...." Donovan looked up and let her eyes meet
Hannah's. "I do not know how Mama
will react. She was not happy when I
went to sea with Papa. And she has never
been comfortable that as far as the world knows, I am a man." Hannah's eyes grew startled. "Oh, the men of my crew know, of course,
as do my parents, but as far as the rest of the world is concerned, Donovan is
a man. And that bothers Mama."
"What
about you?"
"What
about me? Even as progressive a time as
we live in, I cannot do what I love to do as a woman. The Royal Navy will not allow me to serve as
a Captain. So when my father retired, I
became a long-lost nephew who was found to assume his title and command. I had already been serving for four years at
that point."
"How
do your men feel about the deception?"
Donovan
smiled gently. "We all have things
to hide, and we have learned to trust one another with our lives and our
secrets."
"I'm
glad," Hannah said. "Do you
think I could meet them?"
Donovan
shrugged. "I do not see why
not. I need to meet up with the ship at
some point to get my latest case of books off."
"Good,"
Hannah replied, taking Donovan's now empty plate from her and placing a thick
wedge of chocolate cake on it.
"Here," she added, opening the canteen. "You're gonna need this to wash it down
with."
Donovan
took a small sip and smiled. "Milk? I cannot
remember the last time I drank milk."
"Yeah,
well, it is the best thing with chocolate cake." Hannah gestured with her fork. "Dig in."
Donovan
couldn't contain the moan that welled up in the back of her throat as the first
taste hit her tongue. She moaned and
growled in turn as she savored each and every bite, going so far as to lick her
fork and plate clean. Grabbing the
canteen, she chugged the milk down, delighting in its cold, clean taste. "Oh Hannah," she groaned with
repletion, leaning back on her elbows and looking up at the canopy of trees
surrounding them. "If I wasn't
already madly in love with you, you'd have won my heart with your cooking. That was absolutely delicious."
Hannah
cleared her throat. "I'm uh... glad
you liked it. Would
you like my piece as well?" offering Donovan the still untouched slice of
cake.
"No,
Angel. I am full. But thank you for offering, because it was
simply wonderful."
Hannah
smiled. "Tell ya what... why don't
I put this away for you, and you can have it tonight?" Donovan's eyes shone in delight even as her
head shook negatively.
"I
could not do that, Hannah. You should
have some too."
"Sweetheart,
I have more at home. You take this
one."
"You
are sure?" Donovan questioned. She
smiled in appreciation when Hannah nodded.
"Thank you, Hannah."
She leaned in for a kiss, a little overwhelmed by the ferocity which
greeted her, but melting into the touch.
The embrace went on for long moments as they explored one another. Only the suddenly nearby, utterly ominous
rumble of thunder separated them.
They
looked up then, and were pelted with fat, heavy drops of rain. Almost immediately, it went from shower to
storm, and they snatched up the basket and blanket and made a mad dash for the
cottage.
Chapter
VII
Hannah
hit the stone patio running, and felt the stupidity of that decision as her
feet slid right out from under her. She
closed her eyes, bracing for the impact she knew was going to hurt, but it
never came. Instead, she found herself caught
in strong arms and cradled against a comfortable chest.
Donovan
pushed the kitchen door open and stepped inside before she looked down at the
warm wet body in her arms. "Careful
there, Angel. That is a sure way to get
hurt." Hannah nodded silently, and
Donovan lowered her slowly to the floor.
"Come. Let me get you a
blanket, then I will light a fire and we can talk a bit til this is over."
Hannah
smiled, her teeth chattering just slightly from the loss of warmth when Donovan
pulled away. Almost immediately Donovan
returned and wrapped Hannah in a warm woolen blanket that smelled of cedar. She
briskly rubbed her arms then scooped Hannah up like she was a child.
"Ah...
but... uh...." Blue eyes twinkled
down at her.
"Just
hold tight." And Hannah put her
head down and closed her eyes, absorbing the warmth Donovan was giving off so
abundantly. The taller woman gently set
her precious bundle on the couch.
"Do not go anywhere now," she said with a wink, moving to the
fireplace and picking up her flint and striker.
It
didn’t take long til a brisk fire was burning and Donovan moved to the small
couch to sit next to Hannah. She
immediately snuggled up to Donovan, who extended an arm and pulled her closer. Hannah opened the blanket and covered them
both partially. Donovan just looked down and smiled.
“There
are times when dressing like a native is not always a good thing, hmm?”
indicating the expanse of exposed skin on Hannah’s body. She felt the unseen blush.
“No,
I guess not,” came the chagrined answer. “It’s just so much easier. Besides,” Hannah looked up and her nose
crinkled as she smiled. “Who expected it
to rain cold in the tropics in the middle of summer?”
“Yes,
well technically solstice is not for another few days, and summer does not
actually start til then.”
Hannah
narrowed her eyes at Donovan. “Let me
guess... you do good in math too.”
Broad
shoulders shrugged. “I do all right, I
guess. It plays into navigation and
such.”
“Figures,”
Hannah muttered. “I always hated math.”
“What
did you like?”
“
“What
happened?” from Donovan. The only people she knew who did chemistry were
doctors, and Hannah did not give her that impression of lordly stuffiness. Besides, women just didn’t do that sort of
thing. It was considered too complex,
though *that* thought made Donovan snort.
She knew better.
Hannah
blushed, remembering the embarrassment that disaster had caused her. “Um, too much reactive and
not enough neutralizer. The uh...
explosion was small, but there was a
“I
am sorry, Hannah, but that was funny.
Most women I know would never TRY something like that, much less admit
to failure. Although....” Her thoughts trailed off for a moment. “Depending on what you were trying to
achieve, that could have been a very successful experiment.”
Hannah
cocked her head and thought about it.
“That’s true, but stink bombs weren’t on the agenda.”
Donovan
chuckled again. “Tell me about your
dreams,” she said in an abrupt change of subject.
Hannah
frowned slightly. “You know about my
dreams. You were in them.”
“Not
really. For a very long time, you were
only a set of beautiful, sea green eyes to me.
Your face was unclear. Even your
body... it wasn’t until we made love for the first time that I was certain you
were a woman. I suspected, of
course....”
“Did
it bother you... my being a woman?”
Donovan
frowned now, and looked deeply into Hannah’s eyes to see where the question was
coming from. She cupped Hannah’s face in
her hands and pulled her in for a kiss.
Hannah tangled her hands in the dark hair, and endeavored to draw
Donovan closer to her. Only when their
breathing grew ragged did Donovan ease back just slightly.
“No,
I was not unhappy you were a woman. I
was, um... hoping you were, actually. I
knew you were out here waiting for me to find you, and I decided once I found
you, we would be together, regardless.”
She waited a beat. “Does it
bother you?” nonchalantly, but Hannah felt the heartbeat so close to hers speed
up noticeably.
Hannah
took a moment to look deeply into the blue orbs that had accompanied her dreams
most of her life. She slid a hand out of
Donovan’s mane and gently traced the smoothness of her decidedly feminine face.
“When
I was five years old,” Hannah intoned quietly, “I dreamed of you for the very
first time. All I saw was blue eyes and
long dark hair, and I just assumed you were a woman.” She chuckled lightly. “I thought you were a beautiful lady pirate.”
Donovan
smiled shakily and felt the bands of anxiety constricting her breathing ease up
just a bit. Hannah’s fingers brushed her
lips and she kissed them tenderly.
“You
were very sporadic in my dreams then, though even as a child I always looked
forward to seeing you. You were a warm,
friendly presence in my dreams, and I always felt loved and protected whenever
I saw you.” Hannah smiled
wistfully. “I wrote about you in my
diary every time you came.” She paused
for breath.
“Fifteen
is such an awkward age... too old for children’s games, and not yet an
adult. And my life was so turbulent
then. That is when my father died.” Hannah stopped her stroking, and Donovan’s
eyes slowly opened to me hers. “Did you
know about that?”
Donovan’s
gaze went inward as she focused her thoughts on the past. “Was your father’s name
Michael?”
Tears
welled up in Hannah’s eyes even as her head nodded affirmatively. “Yes, it was.”
“I
thought so. His eyes were so familiar...
you have his eyes, you know.”
Hannah
smiled through her tears. “That’s what
I’ve always been told.”
“It
is true,” Donovan agreed. “We did our
very best for him, but it was not enough and we all knew it. He wanted to go home to say goodbye, but we
found out shortly after he left us that he did not make it. I wanted so much to be able to comfort you,
because I saw the sadness in your eyes.”
“I
saw the compassion in yours, and it was right then I think, that I fell in love
with you. I decided that it didn’t
matter to me whether you were a man or a woman, what your nationality was, what
God you believed in or what your skin color was. All that mattered to me was that you were a
loving, caring individual... someone I had known since childhood, who protected
me.”
Hannah
looked down and swallowed hard. Her
voice grew so quiet that Donovan nearly didn’t hear her next words. “My biggest fear was that I would never find
you. My second biggest fear was that you
would not love me.”
Donovan
smiled. “No worries about that,
Angel. I was captured from the very
first. Even though I was still a child
as well, your eyes betrayed your youth and innocence. So I watched over you, and I waited for us
both to grow up.”
Donovan
took a deep breath. “It seemed like it
was taking forever, time was passing so slowly.” She smiled wryly. “And it was not like I saw you every
night. For a long time, I was not sure
if I was cursed or blessed. Then we
picked up Michael.”
Hannah
shuddered and looked up into Donovan’s eyes, her own filling with tears. “What happened to him, Donovan?”
“I
really cannot say, but I think the weather took him by surprise. We found him after a terrible storm. He was bleeding quite badly, and the priest,
who is also our doctor, said he was malnourished and somewhat dehydrated. We did the very best we could for him,
Hannah... you have to believe that.”
Hannah
held Donovan’s gaze. “I believe you,
love. I would never, ever blame you for
that. There was something about this
place. He was on a quest, driven by
it... searching for something. I was
angry with him for a long time after he died.”
“He
loved you very much, you know,” Donovan said.
“He talked about you quite a bit while he was with us.”
“I
know he did. But there was something
about this place that called to him, and even I couldn’t overcome his
obsession.”
“I
think he was doing it for you,” Donovan murmured thoughtfully, turning her gaze
to the fire. Hannah sat up and pulled
herself away from the Captain’s warm body.
“Excuse
me?”
Donovan
shifted slightly so she could regard Hannah directly. “We talked at some length, and more than once
I got the distinct impression he was interrogating me. Almost... almost like he
knew that you were the Green Eyes of my dreams.” She hesitated and looked back at the flames
before turning again to Hannah. “Did you
ever tell your father about your dreams?”
Hannah
chuckled embarrassedly. “Um, no. When I was
little, I didn’t understand you were real.
By the time I understood that, I was almost thirteen, and that was just
not something I was ready to tell him.”
The expression on Hannah’s face grew sad. “I was thinking about talking to him that
summer. I had about decided to do it
when he came home.” She drew a short,
sobbing breath. “Then we got word of his
death, and I never had the chance.” Hannah
tucked herself back under Donovan’s chin and shivered. The taller woman wrapped her arms more
securely around Hannah and kissed the top of her blonde head. “I still miss him.”
Donovan
almost missed the barely whispered words.
“I know you do, Angel. Just
remember that he loved you very much.”
They
were silent for a time after that, each absorbed in their own thoughts. The room grew warmer as the rain continued to
pour down around them. Hannah let the
blanket slide down, but made no effort to move from the heat of Donovan’s
embrace. As it grew darker outside, the
light from the fire seemed to grow.
Finally, Donovan cleared her throat to speak.
“Hannah?”
The
blonde woman stirred, the peace and security she found
in Donovan’s arms having lulled her into a state of blissful contentment. “Hmm?” she mumbled sleepily. Donovan smiled down, rubbing her cheek
against Hannah’s hair.
“What
do you think your father would think of us... as a
couple, I mean. Would he approve... or
at least be happy that you had found happiness?”
“What
kinds of questions did he ask you?” Hannah asked suddenly without
answering. Donovan frowned at the sudden
change of subject and scrambled to kick-start her mind in a new direction.
“Uh...
well, he asked a bit about my family, and we discussed my Naval
career and my plans for the future.” Her
brow furrowed. “We talked about art and
literature and education, and even a little bit about our hobbies. Almost as though....”
“Almost
as though you were a suitor,” Hannah finished the thought. “But....”
Now her own thoughts trailed off. “I know he and Jack were searching for
something out here. Even if their
actions didn’t prove it, Jack told me as much the other day.”
“Do
you know what they were looking for?”
Donovan asked quietly.
“No. As a child I was never privy to anything like
that. And by the time I figured out that
they were searching for something, Daddy died.”
Hannah sighed then continued. “I
just started reading the journals about their explorations, but so far it’s not
really clear on what specifically they were searching for. I asked Jack about it, but he refused to
answer. Said I had to
figure it out on my own.”
“Have
you? Figured it out, I
mean.”
“No, not really. I
have some clues, but nothing that makes any sense yet.” Hannah shrugged. “It’ll fall into place eventually. It’s just gonna take a while. But for now, I’m not gonna worry about
it.” She hugged Donovan hard, pleased
with the fervent response she received.
“I have you here and that is everything.
The rest will wait.”
Donovan
leaned down, tilting Hannah’s chin up to receive her kiss. Hannah didn’t hesitate, but deepened it
immediately, anxious to convey just exactly how she felt. Donovan moaned, almost overwhelmed by the
depth of emotion Hannah was communicating to her soul. She responded in kind, sliding her hand into
the blonde hair and pulling Hannah so close that even air couldn’t pass between
them.
Donovan
pulled away from Hannah’s mouth to plant kisses along her jaw line, Hannah’s
warm breath in her ear making her shiver.
She reached Hannah’s earlobe and bit gently, eliciting a whimper in
response. “I cannot begin to tell you,”
Donovan said in the barest of whispers, “How truly wonderful that makes me
feel.” She kissed down Hannah’s neck,
lingering on her jugular and sucking lightly.
Hannah’s grip on her hair grew almost painful as the smaller woman
forced Donovan’s head up and captured her lips passionately.
Long
moments passed before they came up for air, and still they were close enough to
breathe one another’s air, foreheads touching.
“But I plan on showing you every single day for the rest of our lives,”
Donovan stated firmly and quietly.
Hannah
licked her lips and gazed up into familiar blue eyes. “You’d better be planning on longer than
that. This is a forever kind of thing
for me, love.”
The
smile on Donovan’s face broadened at those words until it seemed to light the
whole room. “I am not sure that forever
will be long enough... but it is a good start.”
Hannah
couldn’t contain the happiness that bubbled up and she giggled. “I’ve spent twenty-five years dreaming about
you... falling in love with you. I want to spend eternity getting to know you.”
The
rain had tapered off to less than a drizzle and the cloying smell of wet earth
and steam rose to scent the air around them.
Hannah stood and Donovan followed suit.
“I need to get home... see if Jack is back yet. Will you join us for dinner tonight? Say around sunset?”
Donovan
hesitated, not sure she was ready to meet this “Jack”, but knowing Hannah had
agreed without hesitation to travel home with her to meet her parents, she
nodded solemnly.
“He
may not even be back yet, but I am anxious for the two of you to meet. We were always close while I was growing up,
and when Daddy died, he became like a Dad to me in a lot of ways.”
Donovan
cleared her throat, but her voice still cracked slightly when she spoke. “Um, do I need to prepare for another
interrogation?”
“No,
I don’t think... I mean... um, well, he might... I mean uh, yeah,
maybe.... Oh God!” Hannah dropped her now flushed face into her
hands. “Yes, you should probably be
prepared for a lot of questions when you meet him.”
Donovan
groaned.
“Don’t
worry, though,” Hannah answered the unspoken plea. “I’m not leaving your side.”
“I
am counting on that, Angel. I already
told you.” She took Hannah’s smaller
hands in her own. “Are you sure I cannot
come with you now?”
Hannah
kissed the large hands clasping her own, marveling at the strength so evident
in them. “I want to go home, make
something sinfully scrumptious for dinner, soak in the tub for a bit, and
become beautiful for you.”
Donovan
smiled. “You already are beautiful for
me.” She pressed her fingertips to
Hannah’s lips to halt her speech. “But I
know what you mean, and I understand the sentiment.” She walked Hannah to the door. “May I keep the picnic boxes? I would like to plan an outing, but I do not
have such intriguing containers.”
“Sure. Would you like me to take them home and wash
them first?”
Donovan
rolled her eyes and smiled. “Despite
popular belief to the contrary and my mother’s firm confidence otherwise, I am
capable of doing a few dishes.” She mock
glowered in Hannah’s direction.
“However, if you ever feel the need to share that bit of information, I
will deny I ever said it and you will be walking the plank.”
“You
really don’t think I am going to share the soft side of you with anyone, do
you?” Hannah asked, ignoring the outraged look Donovan
was casting her way. “I am a very
selfish person... and I don’t share well with others.”
“Soft??? Did you just call me soft?!?”
“Yeah,
I did. You wanna make something of it,
tough stuff?”
Donovan
stared at the fire sparking from those green eyes and smiled sheepishly, shaking
her head. “No ma’am. I know when to surrender.”
“Don’t
worry, love.” Hannah said as she ran her
hands through Donovan’s dark hair. “I
would never do anything to embarrass you.”
“I
know....” she reached out and swatted Hannah’s backside. “Now go, before I change my mind about
letting you go alone.”
Hannah
stood on tiptoe and pressed a swift kiss to Donovan’s cheek. “See you in a few hours, love.” And she rushed out the door and down the
steps, turning to wave before she disappeared into the foliaged pathway.
Donovan
stood at the open door for long moments after Hannah was gone. “My word, I have it bad.” She shook her dark head ruefully and went
back inside, deciding a hot bath was a pretty good idea, and she whistled while
she prepared her water... again.
************
Hannah
arrived home rather quickly, and went directly to start the hot water running
in the tub. She’d hit another cold patch
of air on the way home, and was now distinctly chilled. She took a quick look through the house, noting
that there was no sign of Jack’s return and letting her shoulder slump just
slightly. She was truly looking forward
to him and Donovan meeting one another.
She
crossed to the refrigerator and pulled a couple of steaks from the small
freezer. She shivered again when the
cold air blasted her, and she set the packages on the tray to thaw, then moved back towards the bathroom.
Hannah
sighed in relief as the warmth of the steam crept into her bones, and she
quickly stripped her suit off and slid into the depths of the tub and closed
her eyes. Immediately, her thoughts were
filled with Donovan, and she felt the smile broaden her lips.
She
didn’t linger too long in the tub, though the water had cooled considerably and
she was quite warm when she exited. She
wrapped in a robe and walked back to the kitchen, pleased by the fact that the
steaks were nearly thawed. She spiced
and marinated them, then stuck them into the fridge. A glance at the clock showed her that she
still had a couple hours before Donovan was due, and she decided to lay down
for a bit. The events of the day were
overwhelming, and she felt the need to consider everything that had happened.
She
never even realized when she fell asleep.
************
Donovan
was startled from her reverie by a loud pounding on her door, followed by
Harold’s youthful voice calling out to her.
“Cap’n! Captain Scott! Are you there?”
Donovan
groaned, for she knew that Harold’s coming to her place of refuge boded no good
for her. The men respected her need for
privacy in this place, and were loath to disturb her for less than a life or
death emergency. She moved to the door
and flung it open, towering above the young lad and causing him to become mute
for a long moment.
Donovan
almost chuckled at the expression on his face.
Instead she schooled her features and asked gruffly. “What is it, boy?”
Harold
swallowed hard and nodded, remembering the importance of his assignment. “Cap’n, Mr. Merryweather sent me to fetch
you, sir. One of the merchant ships, that’s been robbin’ these folks
blind, just pulled into port, sir.”
Damn! Damn! Damn! Why here?
And why now? Donovan banged her
head on the door sill, letting it rest there for a long moment. “Come in, Harold,” she stated as she walked
to the kitchen and moved the water off the stove. “I need you to do something for me.”
The
boy followed her, trying to be discreet as he studied his surroundings. His Captain was a very private woman, and
none of the crew had been out here since the day they had helped her to raise
the walls. He waited with his hands
stuffed in his pockets while she retrieved a thick sheet of paper, ink and a
quill.
Harold
stood at the doorway between the kitchen and living area, and found his
attention riveted to the portrait on the wall.
He recognized the Captain and wondered briefly who the other woman was,
and if she was the reason they had been back to the island so much lately. Not that he was complaining, he thought with
a smirk. He had met the cutest girl here
and had been looking for an opportunity to get to know her a little bit. Harold sighed soundlessly. This turn of events would put all kinds of
damper on the plans he had been making in that regard.
He
was brought out of his thoughts and back to rigid attention when Donovan rose
from the table and
stopped in front of him. “Come with me.”
She
walked with him to the end of the pathway, and took out her knife, cutting a
few of the lovely wildflowers that grew there.
She handed the bunch of them and the paper to the cabin boy and caught
his eyes with a piercing stare.
“If
you follow the coast for about a mile to the west, you will find a house
there.” She gestured in the direction he
needed to go. “I need you to take this
note and these flowers, and deliver them to the woman who lives there. You do not have to say anything to her, just make sure she gets them, all right?”
There
were a thousand questions he wanted to ask.
He knew better than to give them voice, and
simply nodded his acceptance of her statement instead.
“Good
lad. This is important.” She looked off in the direction that her
heart was pulling her, angry that she had to give up her evening with Hannah
because of someone else’s greed. Donovan
closed her eyes and swallowed hard. When
she reopened them, Harold noted the sky blue had been replaced with colorless
gray and he knew he was now looking at the Ice Princess. It was something the merchants they preyed
upon as pirates had nicknamed Donovan when confronted with her cold-hearted
fury towards them. It was an apt
description.
He
brought his attention back to her words when she began speaking again. He knew for all her fairness to her officers
and men, she could not abide slovenly work or ineptitude.
“I
will take your horse and go to the ship immediately. As soon as you have completed your task, you
make all haste on foot to join us. If we are not there, wait on the dock. I do not expect this to take too long. I have better things to be doing with my time
tonight.”
“Captain?”
Harold questioned hesitantly.
“Go
boy, and be quick!”
“Aye,
sir!” the youth answered with a smart salute, and took off running down the
beach as fast as his legs would carry him.
Donovan sighed, and moved back in the house to change into her ‘other’
uniform.
************
Hannah
awoke with a start, disoriented, heart pounding. It took a few minutes for her to get her
bearings and catch her breath. She
wondered briefly at the flashes of image that remained from her dream. Nothing concrete, but oddly terrifying nonetheless. She could still feel the violence... smell
the coopery scent of blood... feel the anger and adrenaline.... The memory coaxed a shiver from her body and
she rubbed her face with her hands.
“Ugh,”
she mumbled to herself. “That was
bizarre.” She looked around the room,
suddenly noticing that it was nearly dark outside. “Oh God... I overslept. What is Donovan gonna think?”
She
stumbled out of the bedroom looking for any sign that Donovan was waiting for
her. She flipped on the lights, noting to
her dismay that they didn’t respond.
“Dammit!” she muttered. Hannah
nixed the dress she had planned to wear and slipped into a pair of comfortable
shorts and a long silk shirt she left untucked. Then she set out to find some sort of
lighting.
Finally,
after ten minutes worth of mutterings and cursings,
Hannah managed to find a single kerosene lantern and a handful of candles. She stepped out onto the patio, realizing
that there’d been another storm while she’d been sleeping and wondering vaguely
if that had been what had given her such disturbing dreams. She shook her head, and moved to the woodshed
for some wood to stoke the barbeque pit Jack had built. It would suit her needs admirably this
evening.
Hannah
looked at the sky again, wondering what was keeping Donovan, though she
understood it was very likely the other woman had fallen asleep and overslept
herself. The power outage tended to throw everyone’s timing off.
She
built a small fire in the pit and left it to burn while she went back into the
house to finish her preparations. “Ya
know,” she muttered to herself, “You’d think that a man would have at least one
flashlight in the house.” She set the
lantern on the counter and snagged a couple potatoes from the bin, cleaning
them and wrapping them in foil with butter, salt and pepper.
She
took the steaks and the potatoes and juggled them and the lantern as she eased
back outside to the grill. With a glance
she saw that the fire was still burning, and Hannah set the potatoes on the
back away from the flame. She placed the
steaks to one side wanting to wait until Donovan arrived before starting them.
Hannah
sat back as the stars began to come out and the moon began to create its own
path on the water. After a bit, her eyes
followed its path into the yard and she noticed a lump that hadn’t been there
previously. Curiosity got the better of
her and with a glance at the now glowing embers, she
grabbed the lantern and moved down the pathway towards the spot.
Her
breath caught when she noticed it was a bouquet of wildflowers carefully placed
in the center of the path. She brought
them to her nose and sniffed, a smile crossing her face. I guess she came and when she
didn’t get an answer left these for me to find. A frown crossed her face then. Wonder
why she didn’t leave them on the porch?
She
looked back at the barbeque pit and then in the direction of Donovan’s cottage,
and gave in to the longing to go find the woman.
************
The
cottage was dark when Hannah approached and her frown deepened. She knocked but the only reply she received
was silence. She walked around the small
house, assuring herself that Donovan was nowhere around. Hannah was torn between anger and concern.
Finally,
frustrated at herself, at Donovan, at whatever had happened, she turned and
made her way back down the beach to Jack’s place.
When
she got back to the beach house, she removed the now cooked potatoes from the
grill and placed the steaks on to cook.
Hannah wasn’t really hungry, but she didn’t see the point in letting the
stuff go to waste. She stepped inside
and set the potatoes on the counter, seeing that the power had come back on in
the interim.
“Good. I’m glad something is finally working right
this evening.”
Hannah finished cooking up the steaks and
scattered the embers to allow them to cool faster while she put the steaks in
the house. She walked back out onto the
patio, allowing the breeze to riffle through her hair and breathing deeply of
the fresh, salty air.
She
blew out the lantern and retrieved the wine and a single goblet. She poured a half a glass and sat back
listening to the waves rush to the shore.
She watched the moon extend its path into the sea as she sipped at the
wine. She never felt her eyes slide
shut, and she never saw the figure that stood in front of her like a specter
hours later.
It
was unnerving when she woke up in her own bed at daybreak the following
morning.
Chapter
VIII
Hannah
awoke just as the sun completed its rise over the horizon feeling oddly refreshed,
though she looked around her room in confusion with sleepily blinking green
eyes. I don’t remember coming to bed last night. She sat up and glanced down at herself as the
sheet slid down her naked torso. And I certainly don’t remember getting
undressed. Hannah slid from the bed
and stood up stretching, noting that the house was still eerily quiet. Well,
either Jack is down at the beach or he didn’t get home last night. Surely he didn’t....
Hannah
shook her head, knowing that Jack would never presume to put her to bed like
that. He would simply have awakened her
and coaxed her to do it herself. She
frowned... it bothered her that she didn’t remember what happened. I
didn’t dream either. Hmm....
She
turned toward the mirror and regarded her reflection solemnly. She viewed herself critically, wondering not
for the first time how Blue Eyes... how Donovan saw her. Did she find her
attractive, beautiful? Or was Hannah too
muscular, too short, too.... The blonde
head fell back in frustration and the eyes closed. This is ridiculous, and is
getting me nowhere fast. There is a
perfectly good reason she didn’t make it last night. Why not give the woman a chance to explain
before you start making assumptions and accusations?
With
a nod to herself, Hannah snatched up her robe and up her robe and tied it
off. “Let me go start the coffee and
then we’ll see if I can think a little more clearly.”
Flipping
the switch on the already prepped pot, Hannah glanced out the patio doors
toward the beach, but didn’t see any movement.
She shrugged and headed in to the bathroom, content that the coffee
would be ready when she got out of the shower.
Fifteen
minutes later, she stepped out of the bedroom dressed in shorts and a tank top
feeling much better. She walked the few
steps to the kitchen, stopping short when she saw a cup of coffee sitting ready
on the counter. Before she could think
about it though, she heard the toilet flush and moments later saw Jack’s head
pop out of the hallway. They greeted one
another with smiles.
“You
nearly gave me a heart attack, ya know,” Hannah commented to him as she pulled
back from their hug. “When did you get
in?”
Jack
handed her the mug of coffee he’d left fixed on the counter for her and looked
at the clock. “Oh about fifteen minutes
ago, I guess. You started the shower
just as I passed the bathroom door.”
“How’d
your trip go?”
He
shook his head and frowned. “Not
well. I’m gonna be spending a lot of
time going back and forth in the next few weeks. Pisses me off too, I’ll tell ya, because
we’re supposed to be getting some quality time in together. The timing on this just stinks.”
She
grabbed the fruit bowl from the fridge and set out two bowls and spoons. Then she seated herself at the bar and
motioned for him to do the same. “Can
you share?” She helped herself to some fruit and passed him the container. “Or would you prefer not to?”
He
scooped a portion of the fruit into the bowl in front of him and spooned some
into his mouth, nodding his agreement.
“I can share,” he said after he swallowed, “but it really won’t make
much sense.”
Jack
took another bite and chewed thoughtfully.
“Something peculiar is happening to the weather currents suddenly. Something that has no logic behind it, and it
seems to be affecting other things as well.”
“Like
what?” Hannah asked as she continued to
eat.
“Like
fishing... or any water sport. And attitudes. People
are acting more bizarre than they usually do, even for tourists,” he added with
a smile.
“Bizarre how?”
“Um,
well... there was the group of nuns that went gambling in the casino. And the seniors’ group that
went sunbathing naked. We’ve had
the same group of people doing that particular tour for fourteen years, and
they have NEVER been nude sunbathing... especially on a public beach. Then of course there were the college kids
that decided to have a prayer meeting in the middle of the road. That particular fraternity has had more
overnights in the drunk tank than any other single
group of people that have visited the islands.”
By
now, Hannah’s eyebrows were in her hairline.
“Okay, Uncle Jack. I think I am
getting the picture.” She poured them
each a second cup of coffee. “What
exactly can you do about it though?”
“I’m
not sure, but the Triangle and its effects are my areas of expertise. I think if we can figure out the ‘why’,
fixing the problem should be fairly easy.”
He studied his empty bowl before he looked up to catch her gaze. “Unfortunately, even with my state-of-the-art
office, a lot of the equipment is at a research lab on the big island. So it means a lot of back and forthing for me.”
“Wouldn’t
it be easier for you just to stay there?
I mean....”
Jack
looked into Hannah’s face squarely.
“Yeah, it would, but that’s not right.
It’s not fair to you that....” He
stopped speaking when she covered his lips.
“You
go and you do what you need to. It will
probably go faster if you just stay there and get it done.” She arched a brow at him. “Won’t it?”
At his nod, she continued. “I’ve
been thinking about your offer... about moving here on a more permanent
basis. That idea is becoming more and
more appealing the longer I stay here.”
She smiled when she felt his lips twitch in a grin under her
fingertips. She moved them.
“You
mean that?”
“Yeah,
I do. It would be nice to be near family
again.”
“And
you’re sure about being alone for the next couple weeks? Cause I don’t know
how long this will take.”
“Will
you be here for the Pirates’ Ball?”
“Oh
yes!” came the adamant reply. “There are
some things that one just does not miss on this island. That would be at the top of the list.”
“Go
then, with my blessing. Just call me
once in a while, will ya? Let me know
how things are going?”
“You
got it, sweetheart. With any luck this
will take less time than I imagined.”
“That
would be nice.”
“All
right,” he said standing up and taking their dishes to the sink. “Let me go and get done so I can get
back.” He leaned over and kissed her
cheek. “You’re a good niece Hannah, and
a good friend. I’m glad you’re here.”
She
smiled back at him. “Me
too, Uncle Jack. Me too.”
************
Within
an hour, Jack was showered, shaved and repacked. “I still feel bad about leaving you here
alone, Hannah.”
“I’m
not alone, Uncle Jack, and so many of your friends are becoming mine as
well. So it’s not a bad thing. Now I’ll see you on the twenty-fifth if not
before, right?”
“Yep,
though I will try to make it home for the weekend... if I don’t get caught up
in things.” He scratched the back of his
neck absently.
“Happens
a lot, hmm?” Hannah teased gently.
“Yeah...
it’s gotten me into trouble more than once.”
“Just
don’t forget to call me once in a while, and you’ll be fine.”
A
horn sounded and he moved to the door.
“Thanks for calling Harry to pick me up.
I’ll call you tonight when I get settled in.”
“Have
fun, Jack. I haven’t seen you this
excited about a project in years.”
It
was quiet once he left, and Hannah turned her attention to the day
outside. She was debating with herself
on whether or not she wanted to go see if she could find Donovan. She still hadn’t decided if she was more
concerned, angry or upset when Donovan appeared at the end of the path, waiting
hesitantly to see what sort of reception she was going to receive.
Hannah
stood looking at her for a long moment, and Donovan cocked her head slightly in
supplication. The blonde stepped off the
patio and moved down the path towards the Captain. Donovan stood stock still,
not sure of her welcome.
Hannah
stood looking into contrite blue eyes for a minute before reaching out and
taking Donovan’s hand in her own. “We
need to talk, I think.” The dark head
simply nodded in agreement and Donovan allowed Hannah to lead her to the porch.
“Have
a seat,” Hannah offered. “I’ll get us
something to drink.”
Donovan
glance around at the house she had only til now seen in the darkness. It was nothing spectacular, though she found
the use of the natural rock very clever.
The patio and several of the seats thereon seemed to be carved from
it. She noted the amount of glass
windows, and figured that Jack must be a very wealthy man to have used it so
lavishly. It had taken her almost a
year’s wages to buy all the glass she had used in her own cottage, and they
were nowhere near the size of the sheet that served as the door that Hannah
re-emerged from.
Hannah
was relieved of the tray as she stepped across the threshold, and she had to
smile at the gallantness of her intrepid companion. Donovan set the glasses down on the rough
hewn wooden table very cautiously, and Hannah felt more than heard the sigh of
relief she emitted when the chore was complete.
Hannah
smiled and spoke softly. “I take my tea
unsweetened, but perhaps you like sugar... or... something in yours?”
Donovan
shook her head. “Unsweetened is
fine. I like to taste the tea.”
Hannah
nodded and poured a glass. She handed it
to Donovan, who accepted it with widened eyes.
“What?” she questioned, looking around for a problem.
“You
use ice so liberally?”
“Um, yes.
It’s the best way to drink iced tea that I know of.” Hannah realized that it was probably not that
common on the rest of the island. “It’s
just how we always had it growing up.”
Donovan
took a tentative sip. “That is very
cold,” was her comment before taking a larger swallow. “I like this.” And she gave Hannah a big grin. A grin which faded when it
was not returned. “Hannah?” she
queried.
“What
happened to you last night, Donovan? No
word, no note, nothing. And I know you
weren’t home because I went down to check.”
Donovan
scowled. “Waitaminute.
What do you mean... no note or anything?
I sent my cabin boy Harold over with specific instructions to give you
flowers and a note personally. To put them directly into your hands. You mean to tell me he did not do
that??” The Captain stood up full of
ire, and started to stomp away. Hannah
placed a calming hand on Donovan’s forearm, and she halted in her tracks.
“I
am sorry, Hannah. I do not blame you for
being upset with me. I need to go take
care of Harold. My crew knows the
penalty for disobedience. I need to find
out what happened before I set his punishment.”
“Hold
on a minute, Donovan.” Hannah tugged on
Donovan’s arm and pulled the tall woman back down into the seat beside
her. “I found some flowers at the end of
the path after moonrise last night... but there was no note. They may have been there earlier and I just
didn’t notice them. I don’t know... it’s
hard to say at this point what happened.
Maybe he left the note and it blew away.”
“Maybe. But
his directions were to give them TO you... not leave them in the path or on the
porch. He disobeyed a direct order, and
will have to be disciplined accordingly.”
“In
the meantime, that does not tell me where you were last night.” Hannah paused, realizing just how possessive
she sounded. She continued in a quieter
voice, “I was worried.”
Contrite
blue eyes glanced down before rising to meet green. “I am sorry to have worried you,” Donovan
said quietly. “We had an emergency last
night, and it had to be dealt with immediately.”
Hannah
waited, but when no more information was forthcoming, she asked, “Can you share
with me? I’d like to understand.”
Donovan
sighed soundlessly. She trusted Hannah
not to betray her, but she was still unsure what the woman’s reaction would be
to the reality of what they did. “We had
to take care of some merchants who were stealing from the tribes here
again. They think they can because they
have money, but it is not right. So we
do not let them.”
Truth, as far as it went, just none of the
gorier details. That was something Donovan hoped she never
had to share.
Hannah
thought about that for a while. “That
makes sense,” she said at last. “They
shouldn’t be allowed to take advantage of these people and their culture just
because they think they can.”
Donovan
nodded with agreement and sighed with relief.
She was glad that Hannah agreed in principle, even if she didn’t
understand the practice behind it. “I am
sorry to have missed dinner with you last night. Do you think we could try again?”
Hannah
looked at Donovan, gauging the sincerity in her eyes. “I think we could. I think I can make steak salad and twice
baked potatoes from what was supposed to be dinner last night.”
“Twice
baked potatoes?”
“Go
with me on this. It’s wonderful... trust
me.”
“I
do.” And with those words, Hannah felt
her hurt feelings melt away into the warmth of belonging. She gave Donovan a dazzling smile. “What would you like to do today?”
“What
I would like to do, and what I am going to do are two entirely different
things.” The leer she cast in Hannah’s
direction caused a distinct warming of her whole body with the
implications. “I must go speak with
Harold first. I cannot let such
impudence go unpunished. It is bad for
morale, and it is bad for discipline.”
Hannah
thought about this then nodded her slow agreement. “May I go with you? I won’t interfere, but I don’t want to give
up the day with you.” She hesitated then
tilted her head and added, “Please?”
Donovan
smiled. There was no way she could
resist that much adorable thrown directly at her. Truth be told, she didn’t really want
to. “I think we could do that. It is quite a walk, though. And um, you probably do not want to go
dressed like that.”
Hannah
looked down at her shorts and tank top, then at Donovan’s linen trousers and
shirt, and her brow furrowed. Donovan
caught the look and hastened to explain.
“*I* like it, not as much as your native garb,” she said with wiggling
eyebrows. That got her a smack on her
abs. “Oof!” she mock coughed. “Pay a woman a compliment and she beats you
black and blue.” Hannah snorted.
“Anyway,”
Donovan continued, “Like I was saying, *I* like it. But I do not want men
leering at you. That is my privilege,”
she said casting another leer in Hannah’s direction for emphasis. “My men would probably be the best behaved,
but I see no reason to throw temptation deliberately at them. The others I cannot control and I am not sure
the world is ready for the consequences.”
Hannah
caught the burning faraway look in Donovan’s eyes, and she shivered at the
intensity the Captain was emitting in roiling waves. She took a breath to speak and Donovan
turned, her gaze softening as soon as their eyes met. Hannah smiled, relived when Donovan returned
the look and reached for her. Hannah
pulled the strong hand to her waist and lifted her own hand up to stroke
Donovan’s smooth face.
“I
can see your point, but I don’t have much else.
Especially since the alternative of going native is probably not a good
option. Unless....” She tapered off and Donovan raised a dark
brow in question.
“Unless...?”
she prompted.
“Uh...
wait here a minute. I’ll be right back.”
Hannah
disappeared into the house and Donovan resumed her seat, closing her eyes and
frowning slightly as images from the previous evening assaulted her
senses. She focused her thoughts and her
breathing toward nothingness, and she almost didn’t hear Hannah return.
For
her part, Hannah stood at the closed door for a long moment just admiring the
beauty of the woman who sat on the patio.
When she pushed the door aside, Hannah felt and saw those piercing blue
eyes turn her way, and she flushed under the frank admiration there. Donovan smiled in true appreciation.
“You
are beautiful.”
She
reached out her hands to Hannah, who accepted them without thought. Donovan looked the smaller woman up and down
and nodded her head in approval. She
reached a tentative hand out to touch the dark green material, and sighed when
she made contact with silk. More and
more she was starting to realize the gulf that existed between herself and
Hannah. While her family was by no means
destitute, and was in fact titled and well-respected, the luxuries she had seen
Hannah take for granted were well beyond her means. The thought caused her to withdraw just
slightly.
Hannah
caught Donovan’s hand before it could slide was from her completely. “I don’t like that look,” she stated
frankly. “What are you thinking? Is the outfit not going to work?”
Donovan
turned away so her face was to the sea.
“It is nothing,” she muttered.
Hannah wasn’t having any of that and moved into her line of sight to
confront her.
“No,”
Hannah said so firmly that Donovan’s eyes tracked to her automatically. “No, something is bothering you and I want to
know what it is.” She paused. “If we are going to be together, love, we’re
going to have to be honest with one another.”
Donovan
looked into earnest eyes. “All right,
but let us walk... it takes awhile to get to the port from here, and I need to
take care of this now.”
“Then
this outfit is okay?”
The
outfit is perfect, though it does not do you justice.” She smiled at Hannah’s blush. “Come.
Walk with me, Angel.” She
extended a hand that Hannah accepted immediately. With a smile, the two women headed down the
path to the beach.
Somewhat
to Hannah’s surprise, they turned east towards Donovan’s cottage. She started to speak, but held her tongue
when Donovan’s fingers touched her lips.
Instead, she licked the appendages and smirked at the growl the action
drew from the depths of Donovan’s chest.
When
they reached the path to the cottage, Donovan turned and pulled Hannah with
her. They walked until they reached the
steps, and Donovan moved the smaller woman to stand in front of them as they
both faced the small home.
“Take
a good look,” she whispered into the nearby ear. Hannah had to focus on the sight in front of
her rather than the feeling of being locked in Donovan’s strong embrace. Donovan realized when Hannah’s attention shifted
from her to the house and she waited a few minutes.
“Now,
I want you to think about something... hush and let me finish.” Donovan waited for the blonde head to nod
compliance before she continued. “I have
seen how you live, Hannah. You use glass
for your doors and wear yards of silk and use ice so liberally. I cannot provide that for you, much as I
would like to.” She sighed and took a
seat on the stone step she herself had built.
“The glass you see in these windows took me almost a year’s salary to
buy. The two silk shirts I have I only
wear on special occasions to keep them from wearing out. I live comfortably, but have nowhere near the
means to support you as you have become accustomed to.” She looked down at the ground now. “I thought you should know.”
Hannah
knelt down in front of Donovan, raising her head until their eyes met. “Donovan, do you think so little of me that
you believe I would put material possessions before what we share... what we
have shared for twenty years?”
“No,”
came the instant response. “No... I, um... no, not... not really, but,
um... I, uh... I wanted you to know the truth upfront. I do not want you to think I am taking
advantage of your wealth.”
Hannah
laughed out loud at this statement, and moved to sit in Donovan’s lap. The Captain was surprised but pleased at the
action and welcomed Hannah with open arms.
“Honey, I appreciate the sentiment, but I’m really not wealthy. Comfortable, like you. Besides, we’re partners, right?” She waited for Donovan to process her words
and watched the dark head nod agreement.
“Right, and that means we share.
What’s mine is yours, all right?”
“All
right,” Donovan said emphatically.
Hannah
started to get up then sat back down rather abruptly. “Oh, and one more thing....” She caught Donovan’s chin in her hand and
made sure she had her attention. “I
want you to understand this if you don’t understand anything else, okay?”
“Okay,”
Donovan answered.
“If
all we had was a blanket for shelter, I would be happy as long as we were
sheltered together.” She stared deep into trusting eyes and willed Donovan to
believe. “Now, are we clear on this?”
Donovan
kept the gaze up for another long moment before she pulled Hannah’s lips to
meet her own. “Yes ma’am,” she whispered
against Hannah’s mouth. “We are clear.”
Hannah
had no opportunity to reply as Donovan took possession of her lips and claimed
the very air that she breathed. When
they separated, Donovan rose and brought Hannah up with her. “Come,” she said on a breathless note. “If we stay here much longer I will not be
responsible for what happens to your virtue, and I really need to get to the
ship.”
Hannah
flushed at the brazenness of Donovan’s comment, then
made one of her own. “You keep kissing
me like that and my virtue won’t be a problem.
I’ll make sure there isn’t any left.”
Donovan’s
ears turned bright red as she led the way down the path back towards the beach.
“You
know, when I was a child there were a lot of nights I did not see your eyes in
my dream,” Donovan stated quietly moving the conversation into different
waters.
Hannah
waited silently, knowing there was more.
“On
those nights, I was in a meadow very similar to the one here. As a matter of fact, that meadow is the main
reason I decided to build here.” She
sighed. “It was a wonderful place...
full of wildflowers and shady trees....”
A gasp.
“And a cave that was perfect for exploring on rainy days.”
Donovan’s
head swung abruptly towards Hannah, and her eyes widened. “How did you...?”
“Because I was there. It
was generally just the two of us, though there were a few times that I was
there alone. We ran and laughed and
played together. It was my favorite
dream, next to seeing your eyes.”
“Waitaminute...
that was YOU?? That was us... together?? How come... why didn’t we recognize each
other?”
“I
dunno,” Hannah answered slowly. “I don’t
remember ever seeing your eyes there. I
don’t think the time was right. We were
children together, becoming friends, and making memories without realizing
their importance to us until right now.”
“So
in our dreams we got to grow up together.
We got to be friends.” Donovan’s
smile was blinding and Hannah returned it wholeheartedly. She wrapped her arms around the tall woman
and squeezed tightly.
“Yeah,
we did. And I think that is
wonderful. All my most cherished
dreams.... You have always been a part
of them... a part of my life.”
Donovan
returned the embraced, leaning down to steal a kiss. “I am just glad that our dreams have finally
become reality. The dreams were
wonderful, but reality is so much nicer.”
Hannah
turned in Donovan’s arms and laced her hands behind the dark head. “It certainly is, and it’s only gonna get
better.” She urged Donovan’s head lower,
until they were a mere hairsbreadth apart.
“You
sure about that, beloved?” the Captain asked.
The tickle of warm breath across Hannah’s lips started a tingling
sensation a lot lower, and she pulled Donovan’s mouth into her own.
“Uh
huh,” she mumbled, and it was the last coherent thought for quite a few
minutes. When they separated, Hannah
looked down at Donovan’s hands that had crept completely up under her top and
were now resting considerably higher then her waist. She looked into Donovan’s eyes and grinned
at the blush that crossed her face.
“Oh,
um....” The Captain began to slide her
hands away from Hannah’s body, when strong arms locked them in place. She looked at Hannah in shocked confusion.
“Don’t
move them on my account,” came the sultry whisper from
Hannah’s lips.
Donovan
cleared her throat. “I am moving them on
mine, because I do not want our first time to be in the sand on the
beach.”
Hannah
thought about that and nodded, tying the fastener she’d loosened on Donovan’s
blouse. “I agree with you on that. Sand is just not my idea of romantic.”
Donovan
chuckled. “No, not
really. It *sounds* romantic I
know. But if you spend anytime at all on
the beach naked, you learn the fallacy of that idea pretty quickly.” She reached for Hannah’s hand to start their
journey back to the ship, and was surprised when Hannah froze, standing still
with her hands on her hips, green eyes glaring slits.
“Um, Hannah?”
“Do
I want to know how you know about being on the beach naked?” Her tone was sharp and biting, but she
couldn’t seem to help it. The sudden
surge of jealously she felt was overwhelming.
“It
is how I go swimming when I am out here, and the first couple times I just
dropped into the sand without thinking about it,” was Donovan’s quiet response.
“Oh,
uh....” Hannah dropped her gaze. “Sorry, I’m not real sure where that came
from.”
Donovan
lifted Hannah’s chin until their eyes met.
“It is okay. It is actually a little flattering for me. I have never had someone get jealous about me
before.”
Now
Hannah’s look turned to one of disbelief.
She clasped Donovan’s face in her hands and stared hard at her.
”You’re kidding me right? God, Donovan,
you’re gorgeous.” Donovan blushed at the
compliment, but maintained eye contact with Hannah.
“Thank
you, Angel. But you are the first person
to get close enough to say so. I have
always been a bit of a loner. The
friends I have would not think to comment on something like that. It would not occur to them.”
“Well
then,” Hannah answered, “I’ll make sure to tell you every single day for the
rest of our lives.”
Donovan
had no response to make, so she extended her hand to Hannah once again. When Hannah accepted, she was pulled firmly
into Donovan’s body. “I love you,”
Donovan whispered, running her fingers lightly along Hannah’s smooth
cheekbone. That got her a blinding smile
in return.
“I
love you too.” Their lips met in an
exchange that was as much an affirmation of their love as it was of their
passion. They broke apart and their
foreheads met for a long moment.
“C’mon,”
Hannah said. “We’re not making much
progress here.”
“No,
we certainly are not,” Donovan agreed laughingly. She pulled on their linked hands and began
jogging down the beach. Hannah squealed
and ran to keep up.
************
It
took them about half an hour of jogging and walking before they came around the
bend in the island that led to the port.
Hannah slowed and Donovan took three steps before she realized that
Hannah had come to a full stop. She
turned and saw the astonished expression and moved swiftly back to Hannah’s
side. “Angel?”
Hannah’s
mouth moved soundlessly for a minute before her arm rose and she pointed. “Donovan, that’s a British Man o’ War.”
Donovan
turned and glanced proudly at her ship.
“Yes ma’am. It certainly is. She is the finest ship in the fleet.” Her focus reverted back to Hannah when she
felt the small hand clutch at her arm.
“Hannah?”
“Donovan,”
the blonde woman whispered. She
swallowed twice, trying valiantly to speak normally. It didn’t help. “Donovan,” she tried again. What year is it?”
Confusion
crossed the tanned features, but she answered the question anyway. “It is the year of our Lord eighteen hundred
and fifty-five.”
She
caught Hannah as she crumpled before her body touched the sand.
Chapter
IX
“Captain!!”
the blonde man called when he saw the tall woman staggering through the sand
towards them. He wondered briefly about
the green bundle in her arms, but not enough to question it at the moment. Instead he shouted at the crew.
“Mr.
MacKensie, Mr. Trilby, see if you can assist the
captain.” The two men moved down towards
the gangplank. Trilby stopped and did an
about face, snatching up a litter to make carrying the bundle easier.
MacKensie reached Donovan and gave her a salute that
she acknowledged with a nod of her head.
Trilby was close behind him, and nudged him with the pallet. Mac turned with a growl, then
took the end of the travois. Between
them they spread the litter to accept the Captain’s burden. Their eyes widened with their first glance at
the beautiful woman Donovan carried, then they moved
away out of respect.
Donovan
smiled. She knew she could count on her
men, at least most of them, being gentlemen around Hannah. The few she was worried about... well, those
she would take care of if and when the need arose, though she hoped it never
did.
She
laid Hannah tenderly on the pallet and took the small hand in her own as she
accompanied the litter to the ship. The
men did not speak, but there was no need.
As soon as they reached the deck, Donovan resumed her hold on Hannah and
took her below decks to her own quarters.
The priest was waiting there for them.
He
examined Hannah carefully, under Donovan’s watchful gaze. Satisfied, he moved to his Captain’s side and
spoke in hushed tones.
“I
canna find a problem, Cap’n. There’s no
physical reason for her condition.”
“Thank
you, Father.” She hesitated and he
waited. “Could shock or surprise do
this, do you think?”
“Aye, sir. I b’lieve it could, if the shock was profound enough.”
Donovan
sat down in the chair and ran her hands through her dark hair. Then she brought her clasped hands to her
lips and let them rest there as she reviewed the last two days detail by
detail, searching for the missing clue that would explain Hannah’s reaction to
the date. She never even noticed when
the priest slipped out the door.
************
There
was a cool breeze blowing around her, scented with the smells of wet oak and
sea water. The platform she felt under
her was rolling gently. The screech of
gulls could be heard nearby and Hannah spent several moments just processing
the sounds and smells before green eyes opened mere slits.
There
was a porthole above her head that was open, letting in both the breeze and
enough light to allow her to observe her surroundings. She eased up on her elbows and took a good
look around the small cabin.
It
was a neat room, though sparsely furnished.
The small cot she lay upon was long and obviously made for a single
individual. There was a desk with a very
old world map tacked to the wall above it, and several ancient navigation tools
upon it. Across from the bed was a long cabinet, and two smaller ones. Underneath the cabinets sat Donovan in the
room’s only chair, sharp blue eyes focused intently on Hannah.
Hannah
gasped and sat bolt upright, clutching her head in her hands. Donovan knelt by her side
instantly, glad beyond measure that Hannah did not flinch or try to pull away
from her touch.
Hannah
leaned into the strong body trying to get her bearings. The hands that caressed her back were
soothing and familiar, as was the scent she breathed deeply into her
lungs. Donovan continued the light
touches, feeling Hannah gradually relax beneath them. Eventually, Hannah felt steady enough to push
away slightly so she could look into Donovan’s eyes.
Donovan
cupped her face gently. “Are you all
right, love?
You scared me.”
Hannah
shook her head slightly. “I’m
sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I think I had a blonde moment.” She ran a shaky hand through her blonde mane
and chuckled nervously.
“How so, Angel?”
Donovan was more than a little concerned. It was very apparent that whatever had happened,
it had shaken Hannah badly.
“I
must have misunderstood you earlier, Donovan.
I don’t know why, but I imagined you said it was
Donovan’s
brow creased. “You did not imagine
anything, Hannah. That is what I
said. It is June sixteenth, eighteen
hundred and fifty-five.”
Hannah’s
hand came up to cover her mouth, and she spent several minutes trying to
breathe without hyperventilating. “Donovan, love.
That’s not possible.”
“Um,
Hannah... not only is it possible, it is also the truth. Did you hit your head? I thought I caught you before you hit
anything but....” She reached her hands
towards Hannah’s head, only to find them captured in Hannah’s.
“My
head is fine sweetheart. Except for the
fact that I seem to have crossed into the twilight zone, I mean.”
“Twilight zone?” from Donovan, her brows
frowning at the unknown reference.
Hannah
looked up into clear blue eyes and saw nothing but honest confusion and
frustration at the situation that she was having difficulty understanding. She gasped.
“This
isn’t a joke is it? You’re not just
toying with me about the date are you?”
“No,
Hannah, I am not. Why would I?”
Hannah
brought their joined hands to her lips.
“Let me see if I can make this make sense for you, ‘cause my mind is
still spinning.” Donovan nodded and
squeezed Hannah’s fingers.
“Okay. Right here, right now it is the middle of the
nineteenth century. It is
Donovan
looked deep into her eyes, seeing a truth there that belied the ludicrousness
of the statement. “You’re serious.” A flat statement. The blonde head nodded.
“Oh boy.
Though now Harold’s statement makes a lot more sense.”
Hannah’s
eyebrow rose in question. “How so? What did he
say?”
For
answer, Donovan went to the door and signaled a crew member. With a few muttered words to the man, he
scurried off and she closed the door.
Donovan resumed her seat after moving the chair next to the bed. Within two minutes, a light knock was heard,
and in her best Captain’s voice, she bade the person to enter.
The
door opened and a small lad of about eleven crossed the threshold and stood at
attention. “Stand at ease, Harold,”
Donovan said quietly, and the boy visibly relaxed, though not without several
darting glances at the woman in the bed.
He waited silently for his Captain to speak.
“Harold,
I want you to tell your story to Miss Reilly here. I want you to tell her exactly what you told
me earlier.”
The
youth nodded and swallowed nervously. “Aye, sir.” He
swallowed again. “Um, after I left you
yesterday, I went west, like ya said. I
went forever, seemed like, til I saw the town comin’ into view, and I knew I musta missed the path. So I headed back t’other
way, til I got to your house again.” He
stopped and cleared his throat. “It was
nigh unto dark by now, and I knew I was gonna be in terrible trouble if I
didn’t find the house, so I started back west, and this time I counted off my
steps. When I got to where a mile was, I started looking for the pathway that shoulda been there.
T’wasn’t nothing there that I could see in the dark,
but then the moon lit up a path that led me to the tiniest nitch
in the woods. I pushed through the
brambles til I come to a clearing that held that rock formation ya spoke
of. I never did see no house ma’am, so I
laid the flowers on the note and left them at the end of the path.”
He
looked at Hannah directly for the first time.
“I’m sorry ma’am. I dinna know
what else to do. I couldn’t find ya, cause there was nothing there like the Cap’n said. And I had to get back here.” He turned and faced Donovan. “I’m sorry sir. I was gonna tell ya this mornin’,
but you was gone when I got up.”
Donovan
nodded. “That will be all for now,
Harold. We will discuss your punishment
later.”
He
came to attention. “Aye,
sir.” He turned and nodded at
Hannah. “Ma’am” was all he said,
respectfully. Then he slipped out the
door before Donovan changed her mind.
Hannah
sat quietly absorbing the information he had given them, then
finally nodded. “It makes perfect sense,
if anything in this whole scenario can.”
“What
do you mean?” Donovan asked. Her head
was beginning to ache trying to wrap her mind around what Hannah was telling
her, and what she was slowly trying to accept as the truth of their situation.
“We,
you and I can cross time. We have done
so for years in our dreams and now that we are physically in the same place, we
can also physically cross to share the same time. But no one else would necessarily be able to
do that. We’ve never had others in our
dreams. There is no reason why anyone
else would need to cross time like that.”
Donovan
nodded, impressed with her logic, and waiting to see if she would
continue. She didn’t have long to wait.
“I
need to check the journals. It is
entirely possible that our answer lies there.”
“Why?”
“Donovan,
my father and Jack spent their entire lives studying the Triangle. Now that I think about it... now that we have
actually met, it occurs to me that what little bit I’ve read of the journal
ties in to us.” She shrugged. “It’s worth a shot.”
Donovan
studied Hannah a moment more, then nodded
briskly. “Very well.” She ran a large hand through Hannah’s
hair. “How do you feel?”
“Honestly? Physically, I am fine. The rest of me is
kinda overwhelmed at the moment.”
Donovan
gave her a shaky, crooked grin. “We are
in agreement there, Angel.” She blew out
a breath with force enough to lift her bangs.
“Would you like to rest a while longer or would you like a tour?”
“I
think I would like a tour, Cap’n,” Hannah replied with a grin. Donovan rose and smoothed her linen trousers
before extending a hand to help Hannah to her feet. “Can I ask you a question first?” Donovan’s
brow rose and she nodded. “Is there a
reason that Harold referred to you as sir?
Surely he knows....” Hannah let
her thoughts trail into silence.
Donovan
put her arms around Hannah’s waist and pulled the smaller woman into her so
Hannah’s back was to her chest. “All the
men under my command know I am a woman, Hannah, and they afford me whatever
privacy they can because of it. When we
are not acting in an official capacity, we are more like family than a captain
and crew. However, I *am* still the
Captain, and as such I am given the respect due my position, and it is easier
for everyone to keep things straight for me to be referred to as sir. It causes less confusion than trying to
switch back and forth.”
Hannah
looked at her confusedly. “Huh?”
Donovan
motioned around the tiny cabin, and opened the tall closet. Inside hung a Naval
dress uniform complete with sword and plumed hat, and several less ornate
uniforms as well. “This is the Captain’s
cabin on a British Naval vessel... commanded by a man as law and tradition
dictates.”
Donovan
turned Hannah in her arms then and watched as the confusion cleared from green
eyes and Hannah’s brow rose. “Oh,
okay. I gotcha. That way they don’t get their sirs and ma’ams mixed up, especially in public.”
“Precisely. It
is a practice that has served us well.”
“I
will try to remember that, Captain, sir,” Hannah said seriously.
“Hannah,
I will be happy to hear you call me Donovan for the rest of my days.”
“Oh,
I think I can work with that scenario,” Hannah said, before reaching up and
placing a tender kiss on Donovan’s lips.
“Now show me your boat.”
“Ship,
Angel. She is a ship, and the proudest
of the fleet.” They left the cabin with
Hannah’s light laughter trailing behind them.
************
Donovan
took her time showing Hannah around until she noticed the rocking and rolling
of the vessel below decks was causing the blonde woman to turn the shade of her
eyes. With a muffled curse, she hastened
to get Hannah back above deck and into the fresh air and sunshine.
“Are
you all right, Hannah?” Donovan asked solicitously as she rubbed the woman’s
heaving back. They had barely made it to
the railing before everything became too much and Hannah proceeded to lose her
breakfast.
The
blonde head nodded. “Yes, love. I think everything just finally caught up
with me and the motion of the bo...
ship made it all come to a head.” She
chuckled despite herself. “So to speak.”
“Well,
I think maybe I should take you home, or maybe into town to get something to
eat?”
“Maybe just off the ship for a while?” Hannah said piteously. “I think I would
just like to feel stable again for a few minutes.”
“I
think we can arrange that. Mr.
Merryweather!” Donovan called, and Hannah stood amazed at the instant change in
her companion’s voice and demeanor.
“Aye, sir.”
“I
am very pleased with the progress. You
and the rest of the crew make sure you get some shore time while we are
here. I will be back later in the week. I would like my books dropped off at the
cottage.”
“Aye, sir.
What of Harold?”
“I
am still considering his punishment. I
will let you know when I have decided.”
“Aye,
sir, I’ll have your books delivered to the cottage this afternoon. And if I may be so bold, Captain,
congratulations. I am glad to see you’ve
found your dream at last.”
Ice
blue eyes pinned him in place for a long moment and for the first time since
their very first fight, John Merryweather was afraid he had stepped where
angels feared to tread. That fear melted
into a nothing when the blue eyes warmed and Donovan smiled at him.
“Thank
you, John,” the Captain answered quietly, shocking him with her use of his
first name. “I have, though we will have
to discuss how you knew of my dreams later.”
He
nodded and lowered his eyes. “Aye, sir. At your convenience.”
“Very well then, Mr. Merryweather.
Carry on. I will see you before
the end of the week.”
The
man saluted sharply and Donovan returned the salute before she and Hannah
headed down the gangplank to the dock.
When they reached the end of the short pier, Donovan tucked Hannah’s
hand into the crook of her elbow and covered it with her hand. Then she smiled down into sparkling eyes.
“Better,
Angel?”
Hannah
nodded briskly, still adjusting to the lightning changes in Donovan’s
deportment. She was amazed at the sheer presence Donovan exuded in her ship’s
captain persona. So very different from
the private person Hannah felt she knew so much better.
Slowly
they strolled in the direction of town, and Hannah’s first thought was one of
amazement at how very similar it was to the one of her own time. There was a trading post that Hannah could
see resembled the general store, and the beach area had several canoes and
small boats. There was what appeared to
be a communal meeting house, and a large pit close to it.
“Where
do the sailors stay?” Hannah asked, motioning back to the ship. “I don’t see a hot... an inn.”
“We
are the only ship that stays here longer than overnight anymore, and my men
stay on the ship or sleep on the beach.
Mostly they stay on the beach, glad just to be on dry land.”
“Did
there used to be an inn for them? When
the other ships came?”
Donovan
scratched the back of her neck. “Um, no. We stepped
in before that became a possibility. We
stumbled on this little island about six years ago.”
Hannah
was quiet for a bit. They continued
walking around the small village, noting the numerous small homes set back in
the trees. Donovan took Hannah into the
trading post, and she was pleasantly surprised by both its size and the variety
of goods available there. Hannah spied
what she was looking for along the back wall and clasped Donovan’s hand in her
own and moved to where the material was stacked on the shelves.
“Captain
Scott!” Donovan turned at the hail, and
her face broke out in a smile. She
opened her arms and the small woman embraced her in a crushing hug. The growl she heard at her back made her
smile broaden perceptibly. Donovan
loosened her hold on the young native, and the other woman gave her three
swift, hard kisses.
Donovan
moved completely out of the embrace, and stepped back to wrap herself
possessively around Hannah. She felt the
blonde woman’s struggle with her jealousy, and whispered, “I love you, Hannah.” Donovan felt Hannah relax back against her
and kissed her ear when Hannah’s hands came up to tangle in her own.
The
other woman watched the proceedings with interest. She’d never seen the Captain so alive, and
she squashed down the jealousy she felt for the blonde woman to rejoice in
Donovan’s happiness. She extended a hand
toward Hannah who naturally reached back.
“How do you do? I
am Satosh Nairoah.”
“Hannah
Reilly. It’s nice to meet you.” Amazing how easy it was to be gracious to
this woman when she was enveloped in Donovan’s arms.
“It
is a pleasure to meet the woman who brings such joy to Captain Scott’s
face. I have never seen her so
happy.” She and Hannah shared a laugh
over the deep flush that covered Donovan’s skin. “What can I do for you today?”
Hannah
hesitated, not sure what Satosh’s position was.
Donovan sensed the problem and answered the unspoken question.
“Satosh’s
family operates the trading post. Her
father Debendra is the tribe’s shaman.”
“It
is true. So how can I help you, Hannah?”
Hannah
looked down at the silk pajamas she was wearing. “I was looking at the material. I need a few more clothes than I originally
thought I would. I just... um... I’m not
sure.... I can’t sew.”
“That
is not a problem,” Donovan said quickly.
“Satosh does work that can rival the finest seamstresses on the
continent. She does most of my sewing
and that of my men.”
Hannah
felt the jealousy flare again and wondered why she felt that way. Donovan hadn’t given her a reason to think
there was a need for it. Then she
recognized the expression on Satosh’s face.
Before she could compose herself to comment, the young native woman
spoke up.
“I
would be most pleased to help you if you wish, Hannah.” She motioned to Donovan. “My father wishes to speak to you. Hannah and I can handle this alone.”
Donovan
gazed into Hannah’s eyes for a very long moment before she nodded. “I will be right outside. Call me if you need me.”
“I
always need you,” Hannah confirmed instantly.
“But you go on. Satosh and I will
be fine.”
Donovan
brushed a light kiss across Hannah’s lips and squeezed her tenderly before
letting her go and walking back to the front of the store and out the
door. Hannah and Satosh regarded one
another for a silent moment, before the blonde decided to lay all the cards on
the table.
“You
love her,” Hannah stated. Satosh held
her eyes briefly before she nodded and dropped them to the floor.
“From
the moment she rescued me from slavers three years ago.” She stepped behind the counter and began
lifting down bolts of cloth.
“But
you never told her... why?” Hannah
started sorting through the bolts, laying those she liked to one side.
Satosh
turned from the shelves then and faced Hannah eye to eye. “I knew she was not meant for me, nor I for her. She
told Da that her destiny and mine followed different
paths. You already owned her heart.”
“As she owned mine.”
Satosh
nodded. “I can see what is between
you. It is hard to accept such blunt
truth, but I have known it in my heart always.
Confronting it face to face is a little different.”
Hannah
reached out then and covered Satosh’s hand with her own. “You will find someone, Satosh.”
The
younger woman smiled crookedly with tears in her eyes. “You sound like my mother.”
“Hannah
chuckled. “Listen to her. I’ve been told they know *everything*.”
Satosh
laughed now and added, “Or they like to think they do anyway. It is scary how they seem to know the minute
you decide to misbehave.” She caught the
melancholy in Hannah’s eyes.
“Hannah? Have I said something to
upset you?”
Hannah
shook her head. “No, no... I just... I
never knew my mother. She died giving
birth to me.”
Satosh
reached over and squeezed her hands gently.
“Then I shall introduce you to mine.
She will adopt you much like she did Captain Scott, I expect.”
“I’d
like that.”
Silence
fell for several moments as they continued to sort through the material. Satosh restored the ones Hannah did not want
to the shelves and then turned back to the stack that was left. “Do you have any ideas on how you would like
these made up?”
Hannah
thought about it seriously for a bit, knowing she was going to have to fit into
clothing and styles of which she had no concept. “I dunno, really. Something along the lines of what Donovan
has, I guess. Maybe a
dress or two?” She shrugged slim
shoulders. “What do you suggest?”
Satosh
took a long moment to look Hannah up and down thoroughly. “Undress for me please.”
Hannah’s
brows shot to her hairline. “Excuse me?”
“I
need to measure you. I know what to do
for you. So remove your clothing please
so I can get your measurements and get started.”
Hannah
looked around at the wide open store.
Even though the two of them were alone at the moment, she was not about
to chance taking off her clothing where just anyone could walk in and see her. “Um, Satosh... I can’t do that here. What if someone walks in?”
The
native woman had already turned her attention to the material on the counter,
separating it into piles for trousers, shirts and dresses. “What?
Oh, I beg your pardon. Come with
me.” She drew Hannah into a small alcove
off the dry goods area. “Let me know
when you are ready for me. It will not
take us but a few moments.”
Hannah
ran her hands through her hair, wondering when her life had turned so
completely upside down. Then she
visualized Donovan’s face and relaxed. This will work. It has to.
Satosh
was all business when she came back into the changing room. She mumbled to herself, and made notes on a
small piece of paper with a stubby little pencil. When she was done, she left without a word
and Hannah proceeded to redress herself before stepping back into the store.
“Do
you know when Captain Scott is leaving?”
“Not exactly.
After the Ball, but....”
“That
gives me about ten days. I will ask Mama
and Tri to help me.”
“Oh,
I don’t want to put you out or anything.”
“It
will be our pleasure. Obviously you are
in great need. And despite myself and the place you hold in Donovan’s heart, I find
that I like you, Hannah Reilly.”
“I’m
glad, Satosh. It would be nice to have
another friend.” She paused then forged
ahead, her curiosity getting the better of her.
“Um, can I ask you something?”
“Certainly,”
Satosh replied. “I can always refuse to
answer.”
Hannah
chuckled. “Good point. I was just wondering about your English. It is perfect... much better than mine. Where did you learn to speak it so well?”
“Captain
Scott. Four years ago, the village
nursed her and her men back to health after they came into port with a terrible
sickness. I do not think my father knows
to this day what it was or where it came from.
In return, she offered to teach us to read and write English to better
enable us to deal with the merchants who came here. It gave us a great advantage in dealing with
them, as we could understand them, and they did not know it.”
Satosh
paused in thought then continued. “It
made me angry at first to be learning this odd language. Why did we need it,
I thought. I didn’t want to be bothered
with most of the men that came here, nor did I want their trade. Of course, I was still a child then, and most
arrogant.”
“Did
you feel the same way about Donovan and her crew?”
“No. I was angry at them for introducing the
language and forcing its use upon my people.
But to their credit, they all learned to speak mine fluently as
well. It was the slavers who made me see
differently. Because if I had understood
their language, I would have known what they were up to.”
“So
after that....”
“After
that, I made sure we ALL learned to speak this odd English language. Come... let us go find my mother, so I can
introduce you. It is almost time for lunch, so we will find Da
and Donovan wherever she is.”
“You
sound sure.”
“You
have not tasted my mother’s cooking.
Trust me... they will be there.”
The
two walked out the front door and Satosh closed it firmly behind them. Hannah looked at her. “You don’t lock it?”
“There
is no need. The door is closed. They know that we are not opened for
business.” Without another word, Satosh
led the way to a cot not far from the trading post. Hannah shook her head in amazement, dreading
the day that that sort of trust would disappear from this world and followed
without another word.
Chapter
X
“You
wanted to see me, Debendra?” Donovan extended a hand as she approached the shaman
outside of the trading post. He came
around the side of the building to receive her greeting then gestured to her
towards his home.
“Come. Mama is expecting us, and Satosh will know
where to find us when she and Hannah are done.”
“No,
Debendra. I told Hannah I would wait for
her right outside.”
“You
do not trust Satosh to do her best for Hannah?”
“Hannah
was uncomfortable. This is all very new
to her.” No-nonsense blue eyes pinned
the shaman in place.
“Very well. Let
us at least wait in the shade though. It
is too warm to be standing around in the sun if one is not working.”
Donovan
nodded, and they moved to one side of the store to sit at the base of a large
tree. Donovan could hear the murmur of
conversation floating out the open window, and though she could no longer see
the front door, she felt comfortable about being able to keep an ear out for
Hannah.
Debendra
sat quietly for a time, simply observing his young friend, noticing instantly
the difference in her demeanor. “You
have found her at last, I see. Love becomes you, my friend.” Donovan’s head snapped around so quickly it
was surprising to the older man that it didn’t go flying off. Questions burned from the eyes that seared
into his and he held up a hand and smiled.
“Calm
yourself, Donovan.” Her eyes widened further.
Only very rarely did anyone outside of her family call her by her given
name. “I have known about the dreams for
years... since you came to us with the sickness. You called for her. You called for Green Eyes.”
“You
didn’t see her eyes. You couldn’t have.”
“No,
but I can see the difference she has made in you. You have a glow about you now... a peace that
was not there before.”
Donovan
dragged her eyes away from his then, contemplating the truth of his words. She did not realize how self evident the
change she felt deep in her soul was to those around her. She wondered if she had made the same
difference in Hannah’s life.
“Yes,
you have,” Debendra rumbled. Donovan
turned to look at him again, her brows furrowed. “You were wondering if you had made such a
change for Green Eyes. The answer is
yes.”
“How
did... do…?”
Debendra
chuckled. “It was easy to see what you
were thinking just following your body language. I simply furthered your train of thought. As for her... well, you will just have to
trust that as a shaman, I know these things.
I do have to have some secrets, you know.”
Donovan
smiled. “I can respect that. And her name is Hannah.”
“A
lovely name... what is its meaning?”
Donovan
smiled. This she knew. She had done some searching in the early
morning hours after she had returned from her fight with the pirates, hoping it
would give her some insight into the woman she had fallen in love with and yet
was just learning to know.
“It
means favor, grace.”
“Then
if she is as aptly named as yourself, you are most fortunate, my friend.”
Donovan
nodded. “I think I would be, even if she
wasn’t.”
“She
has snared you very well.”
Donovan
shook her head and looked Debendra directly in the eyes. “No, my friend. She didn’t trap me. I walked willingly to stand at her side. That is my place. It always has been.”
“That
is good. Now perhaps Satosh will give up
her foolish dreams and turn her attention to her own future.”
“What?”
“Come
now, Donovan. Surely you know she has
affection for you. She has never hidden
how she feels about you.”
“She’s
always been like a sister to me Debendra.
You know that.”
“Yes,
and now she will realize it as well.”
Donovan
shifted uncomfortably on the ground before moving to stand. “Maybe I should go back inside. I don’t want Hannah....” A large hand on her arm kept her in place and
she turned her attention back to the shaman’s serious eyes.
“Satosh
will not bring dishonor to herself or me by overstepping her bounds. It is a truth she has long known. She is just facing the reality of it now.”
“But....”
“Trust,
Donovan. If not me or Satosh, trust in
Hannah’s ability to take care of herself. I think you will be surprised at the
outcome.”
“You
know something?”
“Only the strength of will that I sensed in
her. She will call you if she needs you.”
Donovan
nodded, and they sat silently for a time.
Then she turned her attention back to him. “What did you need to see me about?”
“I
was simply curious about what happened last night. Were they the same merchants as before?”
The
Pirate Captain turned to look at the shaman, and his soul was pierced by the
burning fierceness of her stare. He felt
amazement at the change so evident in her behavior and wondered again how she
could bear the weight of responsibility she carried. He was glad for her decision to accept it
though, as it had saved his people and many others from unspeakable atrocities.
“It
was Blackthorne again, yes. We are going
to have to step up our efforts to stop him.”
“Do
you think that is wise?” he asked.
“No,
but I do think it is necessary.”
Debendra
nodded. “Do as you think best, my
friend, but remember you have the welfare of another to consider now.”
Conversation
died after that, and they sat wrapped in their own thoughts as the fitful
breeze blew around them. It seemed like
forever but was in fact only minutes before they heard the door shut, and saw
two slight figures come around the corner and stop short. Debendra chuckled, and he and Donovan stood.
“You
expected us to be with your mother, young one?”
Satosh nodded and he chuckled again.
“You know me well. And we would
have been, but that Donovan gave her word to Hannah that she would wait right
outside. So that is what we did.” Debendra turned to Donovan. “Will you introduce me?”
Donovan
stepped to Hannah’s side, and took her hands.
She gazed deep into Hannah’s eyes, pleased by what she saw there. Donovan wrapped herself around Hannah and
looked at the shaman. “Debendra, permit
me to introduce you to Green Eyes... also known as Hannah Reilly. Hannah, this is my friend Debendra Nairoah... Satosh’s father and shaman of
the island tribe.
“How
do you do, Hannah? It is a pleasure to
finally meet you.”
“Likewise, Mr. Nairoah.”
“Who? Oh, Debendra,
please. Otherwise I will never remember
to answer you. Now come. Mama is waiting, and it is never a good idea
to keep Mama waiting when lunch is ready.”
Donovan
and Satosh both laughed. “That is very
true.”
Hannah
took Donovan’s hand in her own as they followed their hosts on the short trip
to their cot. She was looking forward to
meeting the formidable Mama.
************
Had
it not been rude to stare, Hannah felt quite sure that is exactly what she
would have done. Mama was the tiniest,
spunkiest whirlwind she had ever seen, and she could see precisely why Mama
ruled the roost so effortlessly.
As
soon as they crossed the threshold, she scattered the rest of the family,
insuring that she and Hannah were alone.
Hannah felt the stare that drilled into her as Mama studied her, but she
bore it as stoically as she could manage.
Satosh had been sent to find her sister and Donovan and Debendra had
been banished to another part of the small home to wait until called for the meal. Donovan hesitated, but a look from Mama and a
nod from Hannah sent her scurrying behind Debendra into the other room.
“I
am glad to meet you at last, Hannah,” Mama said in her soft, powerful
voice. “Donovan has searched for you for
a long time.” Hannah did not know what
to make of that statement and she stayed quiet.
“Tell me a little about yourself.”
Mama
took up a knife and a loaf of bread, and motioned Hannah to the stack of plates
and cutlery on the table. Hannah moved
obediently to follow the silent request, and started setting the table even as
she considered the best way to answer the older woman’s question.
“Um,
well. There’s not a lot to tell
really. I, uh... I’m a writer, and I
came here with Donovan.”
“Your
parents approved of this?”
“My
parents are not living to disapprove. I
only have an uncle left of my immediate family.
“He
approves then?”
“I
am an adult, so I haven’t asked for his permission or approval. I don’t need it, but he would be happy that
Donovan and I found each other, as would my father were he still living.”
“And
if he wasn’t?”
“It
would be his loss. I won’t give her
up... not for him. Not for anything.”
Mama
gave her a smile then and a nod of approval.
“You are the one in her dreams.
You are Green Eyes.”
“Yes
ma’am. I am, as she is the one in mine.”
Mama
nodded again, as though she had expected this revelation. She moved to the fire and removed the pot
that was sending such enticing odors throughout the small home. Hannah blushed when her stomach rumbled as
the scent wafted up to her. Mama
chuckled.
“That
is a very high compliment. Let me call
the family in and we will see if you find the taste as good as the smell.”
It
didn’t take but a minute for the family to gather around the small table, and Debendra
seated everyone, putting Hannah near Mama and Donovan between Hannah and
himself. With his daughters seated side
by side across from Hannah and Donovan, they were ready to eat, and he began to
dish up lunch for everyone.
It
was quiet for a few minutes as each person applied themselves wholeheartedly to
the task of eating. After several
mouthfuls, Hannah wiped her lips and turned to Mama. “This is spectacular.”
“Mama
knows this is my favorite,” Donovan said.
“Would
you share your recipe with me?” Hannah asked the woman at the head of the
table.
Shocked
silence blanketed the table, and Hannah looked round in alarm. “What?
What did I say wrong?”
Mama
chuckled again, and Hannah realized that all the lines in her face were really
that... laugh lines, as though she found joy in everything. She smiled expectantly. “I am sorry, Hannah. I do not laugh at you, but at the similar
reactions around the table. You see, no
one has ever dared to ask for a recipe from me.
You are the first brave enough to do so.”
Hannah
blushed furiously and reached out a hand to Donovan who immediately engulfed
the smaller hand in her own. “I’m
sorry. I didn’t mean any offense.”
“Hannah,”
Mama said, covering the hand that still rested on the table. “I am not offended. I am very pleased... for many reasons, and I
would be happy to share this recipe as well as a few of her other favorites
with you, if you would like.”
“Yes,
I would. Very much.”
“Good.”
Silence
again as the family continued to at, then the younger
sister finally spoke up, her curiosity getting the better of her. “Hannah?” spoken so quietly that Donovan had
to squeeze the blonde’s hand to get her attention. She cocked an eyebrow in question, and
Donovan nodded over towards Tri.
“I’m
sorry, Tri. I didn’t hear you. Did you ask me something?”
“Well,
I was going to.” She cleared her throat
self-consciously and spoke a little louder.
“I was just curious as to where you were from. You do not speak as Donovan or the rest of us
do.”
Hannah
closed her eyes. She’d forgotten about
the understated drawl she spoke with, and didn’t even hear the lilting brogue
Donovan spoke with except for the music it made in her ears. She opened her mouth to say... something...
when she heard Donovan answer the question.
“Hannah
is from the
Truth, as far as it went. Just not the entire truth.
It was enough for Tri and Satosh though.
Their brown eyes gleamed with excitement.
“
“I
have to admit that even with all its screw-ups and difficulties, I love
it.” Hannah felt Donovan tense. “But I would give it up in a heartbeat to
stay with Donovan.”
The
two younger women swooned at the declaration, and Mama chuckled. Hannah felt Donovan uncoil and relax under
her touch. Donovan shifted slightly to
look at her and the rest of the world faded from their consciousness.
“Would
you really?” with aching need in her eyes.
“Where you go, I go, love. You
are my home now.”
Donovan
reached a trembling hand out to Hannah’s cheek, caressing it tenderly. Only Debendra’s throat clearing brought them
back to the present and reminded them of the fact that they were not alone. But they spoke a moment more with their eyes,
reassuring one another, and making promises for later.
“So,
Hannah... Mama says you are a writer.”
Hannah’s eyebrows went up, wondering when Mama could possibly have
shared that bit of information with Debendra.
But she acknowledged the truth of the statement.
“I
find that most intriguing. What do you
write?”
“Um,
well... I write a column for the news service and I write books. Uh, books for children and young girls.”
“A news column? Is
“Well,
I have always had a forward thinking family, and both my father and my uncle
were always very supportive of my choices in life.”
“And what of the rest of your society?
Would they accept you and Donovan as we do?”
“Can
I ask a question here first?” Hannah inquired quietly. At Debendra’s nod, she continued, “Why do you
accept Donovan and me so easily?”
A
large grin broke across the shaman’s face and was echoed on those of his
household. “We are a very small
community here on the island, and there are very few secrets among us. Though we do not always agree or get along,
we have learned to be nonjudgmental of those around us unless the situation
warrants it. Love between two people
does not warrant judgment... it warrants acceptance of a beautiful gift.”
The
tears streamed silently down Hannah’s face, and Debendra grew concerned on the
sight of them. “Oh,
young one. I did not mean to
upset you.” He would have spoken further
but for the hand she held up to stop his speech.
She
shook her head and bit her lip, trying to get her emotions under control. Donovan sat silently with
one arm wrapped around Hannah’ shoulders and the other holding her hand,
stroking it gently. Finally she
took a deep breath. “No, Debendra. These are happy tears. Even in
“I
wish there was a way we could spread your philosophy,” Donovan muttered,
“especially where my mother is concerned.”
“She
will come around, Donovan,” Mama assured quietly. “I have faith.”
“Rest
assured then, my friend,” Debendra said, clapping Donovan on the shoulder. “If Mama has faith, it will be so.”
“Enough of the sentimentality. I
want Hannah to tell about the books she has written.”
“Tri!” Mama exclaimed before turning to Hannah with a smile. “The young are always so impatient.”
Debendra
laughed. “The same can be said for the
not-so-young as well.”
“Yes, Mama. We
all want to hear about it,” Satosh said enthusiastically. “We know of so few women writers.”
Hannah
laughed, as much a tension relief as honest enthusiasm. “Well, I have two young girls that I am
writing a series about. It is mostly
stories of things that happened to my best friend and me when we were growing
up. We uh... we got into a lot of
mischief, and that translates well to young readers.”
“Oh
that sounds so interesting. Do you have
any of your books here?”
Hannah
shook her head. “No. I uh, I didn’t think to bring any with me
when I left.”
“Perhaps
you could tell us one.”
“I
don’t think....”
“Please?”
“Really,
I can’t tell a story like I write one.
My thoughts flow much better when I write them out than when I try to
speak them. I’ll try to write one out
for you to read before we leave.”
“Oh,
that would be wonderful!”
“Thank
you so much. We would be so grateful!”
both young women exclaimed together.
Hannah smiled broadly at their contagious enthusiasm.
The
meal continued for a little while longer, conversation flowing between everyone
while Mama served up a luscious dessert.
Mama saw the question in Hannah’s eyes and nodded imperceptibly. Donovan watched their interaction and
smiled. Hannah had made a new friend,
and without knowing it, added to her family as well. Once Mama took you in, you were family for
life.
“Can
we help you clean up, Mrs. ... I mean Mama?
Doesn’t seem fair for you to do it all.”
“Not
this time, Hannah, though I appreciate the offer. I think Donovan is ready to leave and I do
not want to hold you up.”
“We
can wait fifteen minutes to help, especially since you cooked *and* ya’ll are
sewing my clothes.”
Mama
saw the determination in Hannah’s face and relented gracefully. She understood well the need to be accepted
as a contributing member of what she now thought of as Donovan’s family. Within moments, Hannah and Donovan were
standing alone in the kitchen with Hannah washing and rinsing and Donovan
drying and putting things away.
Mama
and Debendra stood in the doorway silently, watching the tableau unfold before
them. Hannah and Donovan operated like a
well-oiled machine. The looks and
touches were simply an added confirmation of what they so obviously shared
together.
“You
know, Mama,” Debendra whispered into his wife’s ear as he nudged her out the
door and back towards the trading post.
“I never thought we would see Donovan so completely captured.”
Mama
elbowed him in the stomach. “You just
never thought to see Donovan in the kitchen cleaning up, old man.”
His
merriment rang out across the small village like bells, and the trill of her
laughter made a wonderful counterpoint for the sound.
************
The
couple pulled the cottage door behind them as they left, and waved to Debendra
and Mama as they passed the trading post.
There was no need for words, and they remained quiet as they made their
way back towards Hannah’s with hands clasped together. The breeze was welcome in the afternoon heat
and as they neared the beach house, they felt a distinct chill pass over
them. It was momentary, but it was
distinct enough that they looked to one another to be sure it wasn’t
imagination.
“You
felt that, didn’t you?” Hannah asked.
“Yes,
and as odd as it was, it was quite refreshing in this heat. I wonder what caused it.”
“I
don’t know. Maybe I should do some more
research on it when we get home. It
could be a phenomenon that Jack and Daddy studied.”
“That
might not be a bad idea. I wouldn’t mind
a little more information if there is some kind of peculiar weather pattern in
the area. That could be useful.”
Hannah
nodded. “All right. I’ll see what I can find out. I have their journals with me. I was reading them, comparing them to my
diary.” She couldn’t help the slight
blush that colored her face.
Donovan
wrapped Hannah in her arms and whispered in her ear. “You are very beautiful when you blush. May I know the reason for it?” She felt Hannah laugh beneath her hands.
“I
was just thinking how so many things tie together now. Things that make a lot more
sense since I met you... since I understood that we have been meeting across
time in our dreams.”
“I
know what you mean. The fact that we met
in our dreams and then found one another in real life is extraordinary. The fact that we did so across time is
fantastically unbelievable.”
“Ya
know what, though?”
“What,
Angel?”
“I
like having my dream come to life. And I
like being a dream come true.”
Donovan
tightened her hold. “So do I.”
They
stood wrapped around one another gazing into the horizon for long moments. “Hey,“ Donovan
continued to whisper and Hannah shook her head at the ticklish sensation that
skittered across her neck. Donovan
chuckled. “You up for
a swim?”
“I
don’t have anything to wear.”
“Neither
do I, but we’re alone. No one will
see... except you and me.”
Hannah
turned in Donovan’s arms and clasped her hands behind Donovan’s neck. “Can I trust you to protect my virtue?” she
asked coyly.
Donovan
watched the embers in Hannah’s gaze turn to fire before she leaned down and
captured the velvety lips and claimed them for her own. Only when their breathing grew ragged did she
pull back slightly.
“Hmm,”
Hannah said on an odd breath as she stepped back slightly out of Donovan’s
reach. She slowly began to unfasten her
top. Donovan froze, her eyes locked on
the movements of Hannah’s hands. “Was
that a yes?” She slid her top off her
shoulders and dropped it to the sand. “Or a no?” The pants
slipped off with ease, and Hannah wiggled just the slightest bit before she
stepped out of them.
She
turned her back to Donovan and heard the whimper escape from her throat. Hannah smiled as she reached to unfasten her
bra and slid it down slowly, feeling the growl before she felt two large hands
at her waist. She released the garment
even as she leaned into the touch that was drawing her into the firm body
behind her.
“You
are a tease, wench!” Donovan complained, then bit lightly
into the juncture between Hannah’s shoulder and neck. Hannah moaned at the sensation. “And paybacks are bloody hell,” Donovan said
as she moved away from the warm body in front of her. “Last one in is a rotten egg!” Donovan
shouted, and proceeded to strip and make it into the water before Hannah opened
her eyes.
She
made the mistake of turning around to smirk at Hannah, and got caught by the
vision of the woman who stood nearly naked before her. “God, it is a good thing this water is cool,”
Donovan muttered as she began swimming away from the shore.
By
the time Hannah recovered her wits, Donovan was scurrying away her, and Hannah
rushed to finish her undressing to join her.
The water was refreshingly cool, and after a bit they came together to talk
and play a bit. Finally, quite worn out,
they walked jointly from the shore to their clothing. Donovan took Hannah’s hand before she could
grab her clothes and turned the smaller woman to face her.
“You
are a very beautiful woman, Hannah Reilly, and I am blessed that you love me.”
Hannah
couldn’t help the blush, but returned the compliment in kind. “You are no more blessed than I am, Donovan
Scott, and I am enjoying to getting to know you... in mind, in soul and in
body... again.” The last was said with a
bit of impish tease and a smile.
“As am I, Angel. Now
get dressed,” she added with a growl, “before I forget the manners my mother
tried so hard to instill in me. And the
gallantry my father did.”
Getting
dressed was slow going, as they both were sneaking looks at each other. Finally, though, they managed to be decent,
and Hannah took Donovan’s hand and led her down the beach to towards the beach
house.
When
they reached Jack’s house, Donovan dropped into a chair on the patio. “It is very nice here. I could stay right here to watch the sun
set. Jack chose well when he built
here.”
Hannah
fell into the chair next to her. “Yeah,
he did. I’m thirsty. Would you like something?”
Donovan
made to stand up and Hannah waved her back to her seat. “I’ll get it.
Would you like some lemonade?”
“Are
you sure?” Donovan didn’t feel right
about letting Hannah wait on her. But
Hannah for reasons she couldn’t out her finger on, had little warning tingles
running up and down her spine. There was
something wrong with this scenario, but she didn’t know what it was.
“Yes,
love. I’m sure. I’d like the chance to spoil you a little.”
Donovan
captured Hannah’s hand and lifted it to her lips. “Lemonade would be lovely,” she acquiesced.
Hannah
nodded and pulled away and walked into the house.
She
noticed the light was blinking on the answering machine and she pushed the
button as she made her way over to the refrigerator. She grabbed the pitcher from the shelf as she
listened to Jack’s voice, followed by the sound of Katie. She chuckled listening to her best friend
gush and ramble, and made a mental note to call her later.
Jack’s
voiced reminded her to pick up the journal and her diary, and she flipped
through the journal, trying to find the entry that was nagging at her. Something about the barrier
crossing. Something tied to her
father’s death that coincided with Donovan’s illness four years ago. She rubbed her suddenly throbbing temples.
With
her concentration focused elsewhere, Hannah wasn’t paying strict attention to
what she was doing, and as she reached for the tumblers, one of them slipped
from her grasp and crashed to the floor in a shattering of glass.
“Yikes!”
Donovan
heard her exclamation and the splintering of glasses, and rushed inside to see
if she could help. Just as she crossed
the threshold, Hannah looked up, and realization dawned.
“Donovan,
NO!”
But
it was too late. Donovan was gone.
Chapter
XI
Hannah
rushed to the spot where Donovan had been standing, frantically searching the
empty space, knowing in her soul that Donovan was gone, but needing to confirm
it anyway. She pushed the glass door
aside, nearly breaking the glass with the force of her shove.
Hannah
stumbled out the door and fell down the steps, scraping her knees and the palms
of her hands. She never noticed the blood that seeped out or the tears that
slid soundlessly down her face. She ran
around the house then out toward the beach.
She noted that there was only a single set of footprints leading up the
path, and fell to her knees in agony.
“NOOOOOOOO!!!!”
came the agonized scream and Hannah dropped her head
to her knees as sobs wracked her frame.
The keening of her soul was sharp and swift, and she sat in the sand for
an indefinite amount of time just breathing, focusing her energy on regaining
rational thought.
“Okay,
I need to get to the cottage. She has to
be at the cottage,” she muttered to herself, sitting up and scrubbing her eyes
with her hands. “Ow!”
Hannah
turned her hands over to look at her palms.
“Well,” she mumbled. “At least I
did a good job while I was at it.” She
moved to stand and hissed at the pain that lanced through her knees. “Jumping Jesus Christ, that
hurts!” She winced again as she ran her
hands through her hair. “Okay Hannah... think. First let’s
get cleaned up, and then we’ll take a walk to the cottage. She’ll be at the cottage.”
Satisfied
with her train of thought, Hannah eased back into the house and went straight
to the bathroom. She groaned when she
saw the amount of damage that had been done to the silk trousers she wore, as
well as the shredded skin beneath them.
She
shucked her clothes and stepped into the shower, taking care to insure that her
hands and knees were well cleaned before she shut off the water. She made sure they were no longer bleeding, then slipped into a bathing suit and sarong. Hannah grimaced at the pull in her knees, but
walked down the steps and to the beach.
She hesitated, worrying about the single set of prints in the sand, then turned her feet and her attention to the east and
Donovan’s cottage.
She
couldn’t run, but she walked as swiftly as she could manage... until there was
a burn in her legs and a lack of air in her lungs. She made it to the path and stood for a
moment, trying to catch her breath.
Something wasn’t right.
“C’mon
Reilly... suck it up and go find her.”
Talking
to herself out loud seemed to bolster her courage enough to move her down the
path towards the cottage. What
confronted her when she got there made her heart shatter.
The
cottage had reverted to its original state... that is to say it had become the
uninhabited, in-need-of-repair shell that Hannah had stumbled across her first
day on the island. A hand flew to
Hannah’s mouth to contain the sob that wanted to rip from her throat.
Hannah
continued her trek up the slick steps and into the deserted house. The furniture was cloaked once more and dust
was thick in the air. She instinctively
looked to the wall, but the picture that had been there both times before
was... destroyed. The two women had been
literally cut out of the scene and the sky had been painted an ominous, stormy
black.
“DONOVAN!!!!” Knowing it was pointless, but needing to try
anyway. Silence greeted her, and she
moved to sit on the cold, mossy steps.
She ran her hands through messy blonde hair and thought. I need
to find a way to reverse this.
She
closed the door firmly behind her and walked slowly down the path. She paid careful attention to her steps on
the way home, and as she reached her own porch, another piece of the puzzle
fell into place. There was no cold spot. It must
be the doorway, and it’s not open anymore.
Hannah
would have cried, the pain was so biting, but she put it aside for later. She was a woman on a mission, and she had
work to do.
************
Donovan
kept her eyes closed, content to let the world stop spinning at such a frantic
pace. When she finally did manage to
open them slightly, she was surprised to find herself laid out flat on the
ground. The last thing she remembered
was... “HANNAH!”
She
tried to stand and promptly fell back onto her butt. Donovan sat there for a long moment with her
eyes closed trying to regain her equilibrium.
All right, let me try this again. She opened her eyes and glanced around
slowly. The glen she was in was
familiar, and at the same time, not.
Donovan
stood up very gradually, not wanting a repeat of her first performance. She took a deep breath, satisfied that the
world wasn’t going to tilt and throw her off again. Then she took a determined look at her
surroundings.
It
was the rock formation that made her freeze in her inspection. Wait
just a goddamn minute. What the bloody
hell?? Where the hell is Hannah’s house?
Donovan
walked down to the beach noting the single set of footprints leading to the
pathway that she stood on. Then she
turned and made her way back to the glen, hoping that she’d just imagined the
missing house.
She
sighed in frustration when the house remained gone, and then reached for her
head as a slicing pain ripped through it. Oh God, not again was her last thought
before the darkness claimed her.
************
Hannah
hesitated at the threshold of Jack’s house, squaring her shoulders before she
stepped back in. The journal and her
diary still sat on the counter, a stark reminder of the reality of her
unexplainably bizarre situation. She
took two steps into the kitchen then hissed in pain.
“GODDAMNIT!”
she screamed to the world at large, furious at herself and the circumstances
she now found herself in. She reached
down and wiped gently at the gash on her foot, removing the splinter of
glass. Hannah grabbed a paper towel and
wiped at the trickle of blood, then hobbled to the bathroom. She washed the cut and bandaged it, then
stopped in her room to retrieve her sandals before slowly returning to the
kitchen to clean up the mess with grim determination.
When
she was finished, she snatched the diary and journal from the counter and
dropped onto the couch gracelessly. She
sat still for several minutes, tears welling in her eyes and her hand covering
her mouth while she concentrated on breathing.
Finally she opened the journal and began a methodical search for the
information she needed.
It
was the ringing of the phone that brought her out of her meticulous study, and
that was the first time Hannah noticed the lateness of the hour. It was nearly sunset and she rubbed her eyes,
which were stinging from the forced strain they suffered under as she focused
hard on each and every word, hoping what she needed would jump in front of
her. Only when she heard Jack’s voice
over the answering machine did she make a move to grab the phone.
“Hi, Hannah!
It’s just me chec....”
“Jack?”
Hannah’s strained whisper alerted him to her state of mind more than anything
else could have.
“Hannah? Hannah, honey... what’s wrong?”
He
could hear her breathing as she tried to regain control of her voice. He wanted to reach out and comfort her, and
cursed the fact that they were an hour’s flight apart. Jack spoke slowly and calmly into the
receiver, helping Hannah to focus on his voice.
“Hannah,
breathe now. Slowly. In and out... that’s it... in and out. Good girl.
Relax and listen to my voice and just breathe.” He noted the gradual change in her respiration
and decided to continue to talk, hoping it would relax
her enough to share whatever had upset her so greatly.
“Hey,
guess what? I may be home sooner than I
thought. Something happened about an
hour ago and the weather patterns seem to be returning to their normal
routine. I need to monitor it for a few
more days, but if things stay like they are, I may be able to come home in
for....”
“Jack?”
Hannah said still whispering. “Jack, I
need you to come home now. Please?”
Jack
heard the plea in her voice and his heart broke. There had only been twice in her life that
she had ever expressed a need that great, and he could not deny it now any more
than he had either of the other times she’d asked anything of him.
“I’ll
make arrangements, Hannah. I’ll be there
sometime shortly after dark.”
“Thank
you, Jack. I’ll be waiting at the field
for you.”
He
would have protested, even knowing the futility of his words, but she hung up
before he could speak again. He muttered
incoherently to himself instead, flinging his bag on the bed and beginning to
repack his clothes.
************
As
soon as she hung up the phone, Hannah grabbed the journal and diary and set
them near the door. She would study them
in the village while she waited for Jack to arrive. Then she walked to her room to get dressed.
It
didn’t take long, and Hannah was ready to go.
Just as she came into the living room, the phone rang again. She thought briefly of ignoring it and
leaving, then decided she could wait the thirty seconds to see if it was Jack.
“Hi, Hannah!
It’s Katie again, if you’re there?”
The
happiness in her voice made Hannah both joyful and agonized all at the same
time, and she was suddenly overwhelmed with a desire to speak to the best
friend she’d ever had. With a shaking
hand, Hannah brought the receiver to her ear.
“Hi, Katie!
How’s married life treating you?”
She smiled when she said it, picturing her friend’s face as she got
married, but she could feel the tears pooling in her eyes. And she knew by the intake of breath she
heard on the other end of the phone that Katie could hear them in her voice.
“Better
than single life is you it sounds like.
Hannah, what’s wrong?”
“Oh
Katie... I lost her. She’s gone and I
may not get her back.”
“Whoa, whoa, hon.
Slow down and take it easy. Can
we start this at the beginning so I know what page we’re on? Now who’s gone and where did she go?”
“Donovan. I found my Blue Eyes, Katie, and her name is
Donovan.”
“Blue Eyes?”
“I
found where I belong, Katie, and the one I am meant to be with. Donovan is the woman of my dreams.”
“That’s
wonderful, Hannah. I am so happy for
you. When do I get to meet her?”
Now
the tears flowed in earnest. “Oh Katie!” It was
all she could manage. There was just no
way for her to explain this, and it made her frustrated and aggravated. More than anything, it hurt beyond words.
“Hannah? I want you to listen to me, okay?” Katie
waited until she heard Hannah’s breathing become hiccups and knew that she had
Hannah’s undivided attention. “If
Donovan is the one you have been waiting for... if she is the one who makes you
fit, then you will find her again. I
promise you.”
Without
her conscious permission, Hannah felt a smile cross her face. She and Katie never made promises they did
not intend to keep. “Oh you do, huh?”
“Yep,
I sure do,” with absolute certainty.
“And
how do you know?”
Katie
hesitated, not sure she should share, then shrugged
her shoulders. It was the truth, and she
and Hannah had always tried to be honest with one another. “Because it’s meant to be,
hon.”
“You
sound so sure.”
“I
am. Trust me on this Hannah. One day, hopefully very soon, you will be
introducing me to this dream woman of yours, and I’ll get to have a little
heart-to-heart talk with her.”
Now
Hannah chuckled shakily. “Uh oh... why
don’t I like the sound of that?”
“Maybe because Jack and I have quite a
screening process for any perspective suitors.”
“Perspective suitors?!?
Screening process?!?”
“Uh huh. You
remember the inquisition you and Daddy and the boys put Frank through?”
“Oh boy.”
“Yeah,
it is fixing to come back and bite you in the ass.”
“Oh boy.”
“Uh
huh,” Katie said again, giggling. “And
you get all of us plus Jack and Frank.
Donovan is doomed!”
Inexplicably,
Katie’s firm belief that she would get the chance to grill Donovan lightened
Hannah’s heart and restored her faith in possibilities. Katie heard the change in her reply.
“I
don’t think so. She can handle you all
with ease... oh, Katie, she has the
cutest lilt when she speaks. Not quite a
brogue, but not British. I can’t wait
for you to meet her. I just....” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “I just have to find her again.”
“You
will, Hannah. I promised, didn’t
I?” Without giving Hannah an opportunity
to speak, Katie continued, “Besides, I want to see her see you in this dress.”
“How? When? But....”
Now
Katie laughed out loud. “Mama left me a
message after you called her.”
“Waitaminute... she called you on your honeymoon??”
“Oh
yeah... this was news that couldn’t wait.
Frank actually thought it was funny, especially when he found out WHY
she was calling.”
“Oh
my God... what did she tell you exactly??”
“She
said that you had finally asked for the dress you had made for the masked ball
several years ago.”
“Ooookay. And
that meant what exactly?”
“It
means that we will soon be making Donovan run the gauntlet. Now listen,” Katie rushed on. “Frank and I will be coming to the Pirates’
Ball. So I will see you in a few days,
hon. Gotta run.”
“But...
but... how... but…?” But Hannah was
sputtering to a dial tone and she finally gave up and hung up the phone with an
exasperated laugh. “I’ll have to have a
word or ten with her when they get here.
I’m pretty sure I never said....”
Hannah’s thoughts trailed off, but her spirits were considerably lighter
as she picked up the books and headed out the door.
************
She
managed to make it to town without incident, and happily parked near the tiny
restaurant. Merry saw her approach and
came out to greet her.
“Hello,
Hannah! I thought we might see you this
evening. Papa just got a call from Jack
asking him to light the field for a night landing. We don’t do those very often.”
There
was nothing in her tone to indicate her curiosity, but Hannah could feel the interest
in the eyes that met hers.
“Yes,
whatever he was working on cleared up, so he said he would come back.”
Merry
looked closely at Hannah in the waning daylight. Her eyes were shadowed, and Merry wondered
what had happened to bring such sorrow to eyes which only a few days ago had
been bright with anticipation. She
reached out and took Hannah’s hand.
“Will
you join us for supper? We will make
sure you are on hand to greet Jack upon his return.” She saw Hannah’s hesitation. “Please.
I would like you to meet my children.”
Hannah
noted the older woman’s earnest expression and relented. It wasn’t like she could do a lot before Jack
got here, and she nodded her acceptance.
“I’d like that very much.”
“Good,
come with me. It should be just about ready.”
Dinner
was quite pleasant, and Hannah was charmed by Merry’s family. She had twins who were just a year shy of
Hannah’s own age, and the daughter was married and expecting her first child. The son was on a vacation from his work on
Hannah
was a little overwhelmed. She’d hoped to
greet Jack privately, but didn’t know how to politely refuse their
company. When they saw the choppers
lights across the broad ocean, Merry motioned to her children and they bade
Hannah goodbye and moved back towards town.
Hannah looked after them questioningly.
As the sound of rotors grew louder, Merry stepped up beside Hannah.
“I
got the distinct impression you needed to greet your uncle privately. We just didn’t want you to have to wait
alone.”
Hannah
was touched by the gesture and the thoughtfulness. “Thank you, Merry. I appreciate it... all of it.”
“You
are welcome. We will see you in a day or
two hopefully.”
Jacob
waited beside her until the helicopter touched down, then with a pat on her arm
and a wave to Jack he followed his family back to town.
Jack
stepped from the copter and ducked away from the blades until he reached
Hannah’s side. With a glance at her
face, he took her in his arms and hugged her with all his considerable
strength. He pulled back far enough to
plant a kiss on her cheek and then leaned forward to whisper in her ear.
“Let’s
go home, honey. We’ll talk there.”
Hannah
nodded, taking a great deal of comfort from his mere presence. She knew if anyone could help her find a
solution to her current dilemma, Jack could.
That coupled with Katie’s promise made her heart just a little lighter.
************
They
took ten minutes once they got back to Jack’s house to change into comfortable
clothes and start some coffee before they sat down together on the couch. Hannah set the journal and her diary on the
table and focused her attention on her hands.
Jack’s brows rose when he noticed what the two books actually were, and
after waiting a moment for Hannah’s attention, he reached over and covered her
hands with his own.
“Are
you ready to tell me all about it, Hannah?”
Hannah
sat in silent contemplation, carefully considering how to start this
conversation. Finally she took a deep
breath and stood to pace. “Uncle Jack,
do you know why I decided to be a writer?”
Jack
looked stunned... not understanding where this was coming from. He shrugged his shoulders and shook his head,
hoping she would give him a clue or get to the point. He hated the feeling of complete confusion he
was currently saddled with.
Hannah
smiled sadly and began her story. “When
I was a child, just five years old, you gave me a diary. Do you remember?” she asked, gesturing to the
thick book on the table. He nodded
slowly.
“Yeah. You were always
writing, always making picture with your words, even then. It seemed like a good idea at the time.”
“Oh, uncle. It
was the best gift you could have given me.
It was part of a major turning point for me.”
“You
had a turning point in your life when you were five??”
“The
very first dream I clearly remember I had at the age of five. It was when I
found Blue Eyes, and it was where I met my imaginary playmate.”
“I’m
afraid I don’t quite follow you.”
Hannah
sighed loudly and ran her fingers through her hair. “No I guess you couldn’t. I’m not being really clear.” She sat down facing him and looked Jack in
the eyes. “When I was five, I began to
have two dreams on a regular basis. One
dream showed me blue eyes, and for the longest time, the entire focus of the
dream was those eyes. For years they watched over me, made me feel loved,
protected and special.”
“The
other dream was different. I found a
playmate. She was... she was so much
fun. We ran and played,
climbed trees... just did kid stuff. You
know what I mean.” Jack nodded
again. “It was so much fun I wanted to
write everything down. They were the
basis for some of my first stories.”
“But
I thought your stories were about you and Katie?” Jack was getting more confused.
Hannah
nodded and smiled sympathetically. “The
published ones are. No one has seen the
others. They were just too private.”
“Okay,”
Jack sighed. “I can understand
that. So why are we talking about
it?” It wasn’t asked maliciously, but
things weren’t getting any clearer.
“Because I found her. I
found my Blue Eyes, and she and my childhood dream playmate are one in the
same.”
“She’s
real? But that’s great, isn’t it??”
“It
would be, if we weren’t separated by time,” Hannah said despondently.
“Excuse
me?”
Hannah
scrubbed her face again and looked at him with tears in her eyes. “Jack, you gotta level with me. I need to know what you were looking for out
here. I have to know everything.” She held up a hand. “Please, Jack. I don’t think I have very much time. I know that you and Daddy were following a
phenomenon that involved someone named Donovan, and I know some of the things
she was involved in. But I need to know
everything. It’s imperative.”
Now
Jack ran his hands through his own very short hair and blew out a breath. “That important, huh? All right... you’re gonna fill me in on just
what exactly has happened. Then I will
tell you about the journal stories.”
Hannah
bit her lip and nodded. “All right. Let’s get
the coffee. This is gonna take a while.”
************
“Donovan
and I grew up together in our dreams.
From the time I was five until Daddy died, she was a playmate. I didn’t know she was the same Blue Eyes that
kept me company in my other dreams. I
never saw her that closely, and we never spoke.” Hannah chuckled. “We did laugh a lot, though.”
“Meanwhile,
Blue Eyes was a prominent part of my other dreams. Her eyes were all I saw of her, and they were
kind and thoughtful and warm. It was a
very long time before I knew she was a woman.”
Hannah blushed. “I fell in love
with her, even though I knew she was just a dream. I couldn’t help it. We fit.”
“She
is the reason you never showed interest in anyone?”
“Yeah. No one could compare
to what we had... even in our dreams.”
“Okay,
so what happened to change things?”
Finally Jack felt like he was getting a focused picture of what was
going on.
Hannah
took a sip of coffee and scrubbed her hands through her hair. “The first time it changed in college.” She blushed furiously. “Donovan and I... um, well that is when I
realized she was a woman.” The statement
was almost whispered. Jack flushed at
the implication and swallowed hard.
“Ahem, well... then what?”
“Our
encounters progressed and they started happening more and more often, and I was
always faithful to record them in my diary.
When I found the journal, things started to click for me a little. I mean... the bits I’ve gotten to read, well,
every sighting that has been noted corresponds to a date in my diary. And the few pieces of the old journal seem
to tie in too.”
“Can
you give me an example?”
Hannah
leaned over and grabbed the books searching carefully for the records she
needed. “Here... you see this entry?”
Jack
moved over to sit beside her, and paled slightly when he realized the event she
has chosen. “This was Mike’s final
trip... the last account he made of his journey here.”
“Yes,
it is. Now look at this,” she said
calmly, but her nervousness was betrayed by her shaking hands. “This is from the journal also, but it is
dated September 1851. And it is written
in the same hand that other entries were signed ‘Donovan Scott’.”
“Okay,”
Jack said with a nod.
“Finally
we have my diary, and if you will look at these entries. I saw the eyes in June, when Daddy left to
come here, I saw them in August when he let you know the Warrior Maiden was in the area, and I saw them again in
September. And the look she gave me then
made me believe she KNEW that the Michael she rescued belonged to me somehow.”
“Okay,”
Jack said again slowly. “Sooooo....”
“I
know that she is from the past Jack, but she is part of my future, and I need
to find a way to get back to her.”
“Hannah,
I’m not really sure what you’re asking me, or what you want me to do.”
“First
I want you to understand that I believe that Donovan and I and whatever the
weird weather patterns are that you are studying are all linked together. Then I am going to tell you what happened to
me while you were gone.”
He
nodded and got up to refill their cups.
Hannah took a deep breath and started her story.
“There
is a house down the beach to the east about a mile from it. Do you know the one I am talking about?”
“Yeah. Nice solid construction, needs a little work. The locals keep a respectful distance since
it belonged to their pirate savior, Don...”
“Donovan
Scott. I know. My first day here, I went exploring, and I
stumbled across it. I found it
intriguing and I took a closer look. The
door was unlocked, so I didn’t think it was really trespassing, especially
since it was obviously abandoned.” She
swallowed. “It was amazing, particularly
considering the apparent age of the cottage.”
“Like?”
“Well,
like the odd bathing room, and what I think was a
crude water closet. Um, a primer pump in
the kitchen, and a sink unlike anything I have ever seen. There were dust covers over antique
furniture, and the whole place smelled of age and neglect.”
“Gotcha.
I’ve never ventured over there, and I forgot to tell you about the local
custom. Sorry.”
Hannah
smiled brightly. “I’m not, because I
needed find it. You see, the next day
you were called to
“Oh,
honey... even here, that could have been dangerous.” Jack was appalled by his niece’s lack of
discretion.
“No, Uncle Jack.
Despite the incredible nature of the truth that I was facing, I knew I
was in no danger. I had found Donovan in
my dreams the night before, and I was going forward to find my future.”
“What
happened?”
“I
found her, Uncle Jack. I found her in
the cottage which had been completely restored, and it was the year 1855,
though I didn’t know that then. I was
just overwhelmed that my dream had finally become a reality. Reality was so much better than my dreams had
ever been.”
“What
happened when you realized that you were in the past and not the present?”
Hannah
chuckled. “Initially I passed out. My mind just shut down until I put the pieces
together and they started to fit. Then
Donovan took me around and I was so comfortable there, Jack. It felt like coming home.”
“So
what went wrong?”
“Yesterday
morning, Donovan came here.” Hannah drew
a shaky breath. “Everything was all
right. I mean we sat out on the porch
for a while, and then I came in to get us some lemonade.” Jack’s eyes lit in comprehension, but since
she wasn’t looking at him, he let her continue.
“I was careless and Donovan came in to check on me....”
“And
when she crossed the threshold she disappeared?”
“Yes,
but it is worse.”
“How so?”
“She
didn’t seem to have any difficulty crossing to this time, though no one else was
able to do so. Her cabin boy Harold
tried unwittingly and failed. And I had
no problems crossing to hers until now.”
“You
can’t get back?”
“No.”
She clenched and unclenched her hands reflexively. “I went back to the cottage this morning, and
it has changed again. Not only is it
neglected and in need of repair again, the picture over the mantle has
changed. And it is scary. I don’t like the message I am getting from
it.”
Jack
watched as the goosebumps rose over Hannah’s arms. “Did you get to the part in the journal about
Michael’s illness? Where it tells what
we think happened?”
She
shook her blonde head, wrapping her arms around herself. “I don’t think so. I’m not sure.
I... I know I read something about the barrier and closing the door, but
I can’t find it now,” she growled in utter frustration.
“Okay,
one more thing. When she crossed over
the previous two times did you notice anything?
Did she cross the threshold then?”
“Um,”
Hannah thought aloud while raking her hands through her disheveled hair. “Yeah, every time someone tried to cross, I
lost power.” She crinkled her brow. “Even when Harold only *tried* to cross, the electricity
went bonkers.” For the first time in a
while, she looked directly at Jack. “Is
that important?”
“It
could be. It could definitely be
something we could use. What about
Donovan? Did she ever cross the
threshold before that moment?”
“No. The first time she stayed on the beach, and
the second she sat on the patio looking at the furniture. I think she found it fascinating.”
Jack
laughed. “I wouldn’t be surprised...
most people do.”
Hannah
grinned then sobered quickly. “Do you
think we can find her Jack? Or at least
open the door for me to get back to her?
I can’t be without her... not like this.
Not knowing what happened or where she is or... God, Jack. Tell me we can fix this.”
“I
think you have discovered enough on your own.
Let me tell you what I know, and then you can tell me if we can fix
this.”
Chapter
XII
“Several
generations ago now... back I-don’t-know-how-many-greats removed, we had a
grandfather who was a young merchant captain out in these waters. It was his letters that my grandfather found
about fifty years ago that spurred our research.” Jack paused and ran his hands over his short
hair. “We’ve got a few inconsistencies, but for the most part everything we’ve
researched seems to be playing out.
“I’m
not sure I follow you, Uncle Jack,” Hannah said quietly.
“Well,
first and foremost there is Donovan’s disappearance. What triggered it? We know she was able to cross to some extent,
so did an overload of technological exposure close the door? And the flowers Harold left? They should have been dust.” Jack blew out a breath. “Let me tell you the background and then we
can worry about this. I’m getting way
ahead of myself.”
“It
seems that our ancestor, Maxwell Reilly, was something of a rogue when he was
young. He figured to make a pile of
money as a merchant. On his very first
run to the
Hannah
almost smiled. “What happened?” having a
very rough idea what the answer was going to be.
“He
ran into a female pirate captain named Donovan Scott.” This got a genuine smile from Hannah. “Max was quick to realize she would make a
much better friend than enemy, and they formed a friendship of sorts. They talked occasionally, and he made friends
with some of her crew. Eventually he had
enough of her story to be intrigued, and he wrote it down.”
“Then
about fifty years ago, my grandfather, who was recently retired from the Navy,
decided to go through all the things that were stored in his attic.”
“Waitaminute, Uncle Jack.
You mean to tell me someone had already sorted through all that stuff it
took us days to go through??” Hannah’s
voice was incredulous with disbelief.
Jack had to laugh out loud at the expression on her face. He snagged his coffee cup, then
grimaced as a lukewarm swallow slid down his throat.
“Ew. I need a refill. You?”
“No, thanks.
Water would be good though.”
Jack
stood and walked over to the bar, reaching into the fridge for Hannah’s water
before pouring himself a fresh cup of coffee.
He began fixing his coffee to taste and looked back to Hannah. “To answer your question,
no. The very first trunk he
opened had Maxwell’s letters about Donovan.
Granddad decided right then this was a mystery he wanted to solve.”
“What
mystery?”
“The mystery of Green Eyes.”
Hannah’s
mouth dropped open and the very green eyes spoken of widened perceptibly. “Excuse me?”
The question came out as a garbled whisper.
“Exactly,”
Jack agreed as he resumed his seat.
“Your eyes are a family trait, and Maxwell had brilliant green eyes just
like yours. Max caught her studying him
one day and he asked her about it. In a
rare moment of private disclosure, Donovan told him a bit about the green eyes
that were such a part of her dreams. She
didn’t reveal much, but it was enough to intrigue him, and he kept a record of
her for years after that. Donovan never
invited inquiry about it again, almost as though she regretted revealing
herself to him. But he found other
methods for obtaining information.”
“Why
would he? What made him obsess over her
like that?”
“It
wasn’t her, as much as it was her story.
Just like for Granddad... Donovan the person was secondary to Donovan
the story.”
Hannah
rubbed her forehead and closed her eyes.
“I’m getting a headache,” she mumbled.
Jack
patted her back. “It really is a lot
easier than it sounds. Donovan was out
here following her dreams, looking for the eyes that held the other half of her
soul. That is what they... what we *all*
found so intriguing. The story was so
beautiful, and it seemed to call to us.
So we followed where it led, which was to this island.”
“There’s
more to this, isn’t there?” Hannah asked
plaintively. Her heart hurt, and it was
becoming harder to maintain the focus she’d determined to have. Right now she just wanted to fall into her
dreams and find Donovan. Maybe they
could figure out how to fix what happened.
“Oh
there’s lots more.
We just have to sort through what we have so we can fix this.” He paused a moment and rose, extending his
hand to her in invitation. “C’mon. I
think reading Maxwell’s letters may clear this up for you somewhat. I know it all makes a lot more sense to me
now having heard your story, though Donovan’s appearance here and subsequent
disappearance is a somewhat unexpected development.”
“As long as we end up together.”
Jack
clasped Hannah’s hand tightly. “You will,
Hannah. We’ll find a way to make it
happen.”
He
led Hannah into his office and seated her in his big desk chair before turning
to the wall. He pressed a panel that
slid aside to reveal a small safe. A
twist, turn and spin later, the steel door swung open and Jack reached in to
draw out a small bundle. He turned and
handed the letters to Hannah.
“These
are the letters that Maxwell’s wife Abigail kept that had to do with
Donovan. According to Granddad, they
were separate from the other letters he wrote to her.” He looked at her slumped shoulders and tired
eyes. “Why don’t you take these to your
room, honey? You look exhausted. We can continue this in the morning.”
She
looked ready to refuse, then a tear wended its way
down her face. “I am, Uncle Jack. This day has been such a roller coaster ride
for me. I cannot begin to tell you.”
“I
can only imagine. My mind is still
trying to wrap itself around the facts, and I’m not nearly as personally
involved as you are. I think though,
that we can figure a way out of it, because you’re right about one thing... you
are meant to be together.”
Hannah
stood with the letters in one hand and let Jack’s strong embrace envelop
her. “Thanks, Uncle Jack. That means everything to me. She means everything to me.” She squeezed his
neck. “Though you are
pretty special too.”
Jack
chuckled, trying to keep the tears out of his voice. “Oh you sweet talker, you. You could turn a man’s head with that kind of
flattery.” He gently herded her out the
door and into her room. “Get some
rest. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”
Hannah
nodded and shut the door. She placed the
bundle on the nightstand and pulled the covers down, then went into the
bathroom. It didn’t take long, and she
stepped back into her room and dropped her clothes before crawling into the bed
and picking up the letters. She looked
at them hesitantly, then took a deep breath and untied the ribbon, opening the
missive on top.
My
Dearest Abigail, (it read)
Hannah
skimmed the letter until she reached the name she was searching for. She read the short paragraph twice.
Captain Scott is a
much better ally than enemy. I have
ne’er seen a pirate the likes of which she is.
I will have to learn more about her.
Hannah
looked through the remainder of the note, but that was the only reference to
Donovan. So she put it aside and moved
on to the next letter.
Angel Abigail, (it read)
I
have asked ‘round about the sigil. I
have never seen one quite like it. The
crossed swords are not unusual, though the blue field is uncommon among pirates
and privateers. What sets
this flag apart are the green eyes that seem to stare from above the swords...
eyes that I see when I look in the shaving glass.
I
canna find an explanation for the similarity to mine own... yet, but I
will. Meanwhile, I have learned that
honest men respect this flag, and rogues justly fear it. The ship Ice Maiden makes her own justice.
Hannah continued reading, but found nothing
else relating to Donovan and she picked up the next letter in the stack. This one went on a bit before she found
Donovan’s name. She noted to herself
that she should take a little more interest in her heritage, and decided to be
less dispassionate about it when Donovan was by her side again. Until then, history could be damned. Her breath caught when she found Donovan’s
name.
I have finally been invited aboard the Ice Maiden by the infamous
Captain Scott, and she is nothing like I expected her to be. She is a clean ship with a sharp crew and an
outstanding Captain.
I
am more than a bit confused. I am almost
sure there is a British Navy ship by a similar name. But she has a male captain and a regulation
crew. Stranger, I canna seem to find out
anything about that ship, while this one is legendary. Too much coincidence to my
thinking.
“How long did it take you, Maxwell? How long before you realized they were one
and the same?” Hannah muttered, blushing when she
realized she’d only made the connection when Donovan explained it to her. She put the letter down and reached for the
next envelope in the stack. This one was
surprisingly longer and it made her sit up and take notice when she found
Donovan’s name.
Darling
Abigail, (it read)
The
most unusual thing happened today, and I feel the need to write it down before
I forget any of the details.
We
were in the islands again, and happened on a melee that ended with a merchant
ship being taught some manners by pirates. It was of course the Ice Maiden and
her infamous crew. We managed to help,
believe it or not, and when ‘twas over the natives invited us and the Maiden’s
crew to the island for a celebration.
Bear
with me, dearest... this is going to be quite long, but I feel it needs be told
in its entirety.
The
boys and I were happy to accept. It has
been a rough sailing as you know from my previous notes to you. We were looking forward to a bit of time on
dry land, and I figure the same could be said of the Maiden’s crew. I dunno who crossed Poseidon this voyage, but
I have na seen him this angry in a while.
The
natives were very kind, and offered us great hospitality, though I noted well
that we were treated as honored guests while the Maiden’s crew was welcomed as
well-loved family.
It
was still daylight when we arrived, and were told that the revelry would begin
at sundown. As the Captain, I was
invited to join Captain Scott and the village headman, Debendra, for dinner and
conversation.
Debendra
and his wife, who everyone refers to as Mama, fussed over Donovan, and having
seen the haggardness in her appearance, I can certainly understand why. Mama clucked over her like a hen with a
chick, and the Captain surrendered to her ministrations willingly.
For
a bit, they seemed to have forgotten my presence, and I was content to watch
and listen. There were a few vague
references to green eyes and I noted more than one glance in my direction. Mama especially seemed insistent, but Donovan
was adamant in her refusal.
Debendra
engaged me in conversation, but it was clear that his attention was split, and
his heart was with Donovan and Mama. When the pirate finally closed her eyes and
Mama made her way to us, his attention focused on me and our talk turned toward
more general topics.
When
there was a break in our conversation, Mama took my chin in her hand and stared
at my eyes. AT them,
Abby, not into them. Almost as
thought they were an answer to a question only she knew.
“MAMA!” Debendra exclaimed as he came back from
the kitchen and she moved away from me.
But I did wonder what she was looking for.
They
offered me a room to clean up and rest, and I was glad to do so. And before I
knew it, it was time for us to join the celebration. This is where it got... odd.
We
went down to the meeting house where both crews and the village were
gathered. Debendra said a few words and
the crowd cheered, then Donovan and I were seated on
either side of the headman so the feasting could begin.
Mr.
Merryweather (I never did find out the man’s Christian name) is Captain Scott’s
first mate, and he was seated to my left.
We swapped several sea stories, as sailors are wont to do, but I noted
that he kept looking at my eyes strangely.
We were cups into our rum, and it finally bothered me enough to ask.
He
wouldn’t answer himself, but told me if I wanted to know I’d have to ask the
Cap’n. Well, I was drunk enough to ask,
and surprisingly, she was drunk enough to answer.
“Your
eyes, Captain, have haunted my dreams for years. But they were not your eyes.”
Abby
love, I don’t know what that means, but one day... one day I will find the
truth. She didn’t say more, and her eyes
made it clear she wouldn’t. Meanwhile, I
have learned not to drink so much rum.
Much
love to you, dearest.
Max
Hannah set the letter aside and moved the
rest of the letters to her nightstand.
She placed the already read letters beside them, and turned off the
light. With a sigh, she snuggled down
into the cover, closing her eyes to keep the tears at bay.
“Oh Donovan,” she whispered, “Please let me
find you. I need you to be in my dreams
tonight. I love you.” Then she fell asleep, escaping to their
sanctuary.
************
Donovan felt her equilibrium settle around
her after what seemed like forever. She
opened her eyes and looked around, realizing she was
not where she’d been when she’d lost consciousness. A sound caught her attention, and she sat up,
hissing at the pain that ripped through her skull. She clutched at her head and closed her eyes
again, slumping back onto the bed she was laying in. Donovan winced when Mama placed a hand on her
head.
“Donovan?”
Mama spoke melodiously, almost as though she knew that anything else
would hurt. “Donovan, do you remember
how you got here? Do you know what
happened, or where Hannah went?”
At the mention of Hannah’s name, Donovan
flinched, her head throbbing in time with the beat of her heart.
Mama felt the twitch beneath her fingers,
and she moved away to retrieve the cup she’d prepared when Debendra had walked
in the door with Donovan cradled in his arms.
The last time that had happened, Donovan had been out for days, and Mama
had feared for the Captain’s life.
Now she walked back to the bedside, and
spoke quietly again. “Donovan, I need to
get this medicine inside you. Can you
sit up on your own, or do you need some help?”
For a long moment, she wondered whether or
not she was going to get a response, then the blue eyes blinked open, and
Donovan reached a shaky hand out for the mixture. She lifted the cup to her lips, and drank
steadily until the concoction was gone.
“Thank you, Mama,” she said before closing her eyes and giving herself
over to the healing properties of the herbs and sleep.
************
It was three long days and nights of vigils
for Mama and Debendra before Donovan finally shook loose of the illness that
held her in its grasp. A sigh of relief
was heard through the entire household when her sleep was broken.
“How long?” Donovan croaked, squinting into the murky
darkness. The windows had been covered
by heavy blankets, and the air in the room was oppressive.
Mama reached a hand over and felt for
fever, relieved when she found none. She
smoothed the dark hair back from the high forehead, and reached a cup up to
Donovan’s parched lips. Donovan took
several small sips before easing the cup away and dropping back down drained.
“Three days,” Mama replied. “How do you feel?”
“Exhausted, like I still
need to sleep.”
“You probably do. Your body has spent the last three days at
war with itself.”
Without warning, Donovan shot up then fell
back down. “Oh my
God!! Hannah!!”
“She has not been round, Donovan,” Mama
said, trying to hide the anger she felt directed at the small blonde
woman. Having witnessed their
interaction herself, she could not believe Hannah would be so unfeeling, but
she was not going to lie to Donovan either.
Surprisingly, Donovan did not show any shock at the revelation.
“She can’t, Mama. She was taken from me.” Not knowing how else to explain the reality
of what had happened, Donovan closed her eyes.
Mama misunderstood the gesture and patted her shoulder.
“Rest now, my friend. We will speak more later.” But Donovan was already asleep, and searching
her dreams.
************
Hannah was frantic. For three nights she had sought Donovan out,
and for three nights Donovan could not be found. Jack was growing more and more worried by
her pale, drawn features and shadowed eyes.
They had spent their days researching every
bit of information they had, and had become convinced that the secret to the
dilemma lay in Donovan’s belief of Hannah’s story. Although Hannah knew that Donovan’s *heart*
accepted her across time and space, she was sure the logical woman’s mind was
having far more difficulty with the concept, even if she didn’t voice her fears
aloud.
Hannah wanted to be angry, but couldn’t
find it in her heart to be mad at Donovan for not understanding just what
differences lay between them because of the time distinction. Even she’d been somewhat overwhelmed by the
reality of finding herself in the past, and she’d had an opportunity to study
it and knew it had been reality at one point.
The future was an unknown, and Donovan had no idea what life was like
there.
So Hannah was desperate to find Donovan to
explain what was going on.
Jack, meanwhile, had been keeping a close
eye on the weather. He was sure now the
odd disturbances were directly related to Donovan’s appearances. In the three days since her abrupt departure
from the present timeline, the weather had reverted to its normal
patterns. But by
mid-morning of the fourth day....
“Hannah,” Jack said, trying to keep the
hopeful excitement out of his voice.
“Why don’t you go lay down? You
look exhausted,” he added, putting a tender hand on her shoulder and guiding
her in the direction of her room.
Hannah scrubbed a hand across her eyes and
ran it through her hair, mussing it up nicely.
Jack wanted to smile at the sight she made, reminding him very much in
that moment of the five-year-old niece she’d once been. But it was an agitated twenty-five year old
woman who stood before him now, and he could feel she was nearing the end of
her rope.
“C’mon,” he urged her again. “Who knows?
You may find Donovan this time, but if not, you still need the
rest. I’m getting worried about you,
honey.”
She wanted to argue and she wanted to
cry. Instead, she dropped her head to
his shoulder, and let him comfort her for a long moment. Then she sighed and nodded.
“I am tired, and it couldn’t hurt. Will you wake me in a couple hours?”
Jack was fairly certain she’d kill him when
he woke her in a couple hours if what he suspected was true really was the
truth, so he hedged his bets. “I will
check on you in a couple hours. If you
are awake or restless, I will get you up.
How’s that?”
She looked up at him then, wondering what
was going on in his mind, but his eyes didn’t reveal anything except for honest
concern. Her shoulders slumped. “That’s fine.
I don’t actually expect to sleep anyway.”
Hannah let Jack walk her the short distance
to her bedroom, then turned and kissed his cheek. “Thanks, Uncle Jack.”
“What for, Little
Hannah?”
“Caring.”
He didn’t answer, but gave her a hug, then
gently pushed her through the open door of her bedroom. Without another word, he closed it behind
her, and moved back to the kitchen to finish making his iced tea.
************
Hannah regarded the closed door with a
raised eyebrow then shook her head. Jack
had always been a good friend, and he had been like a rock for her sanity the
last few days. She would have to think
of something incredibly sweet to do for him in return. She yawned.
But not right now. Right now, she
just wanted to curl into that warm, comfortable bed and sleep... something she
hadn’t been able to manage much of since Donovan had vanished.
She wondered if that might be part of the
reason she couldn’t find her, but put the questions aside. They weren’t going to help much at this
point, and she was so tired right now her body ached.
Hannah slipped out of her clothes, and slid
between the cool sheets with an exclamation akin to relief. Within moments, she was out like a light.
************
Donovan looked around, recognizing the
familiar glade, and noticing she was quite alone. Her head dropped, and she moved over to the
outcropping that overlooked the water to wait.
************
When Hannah opened her eyes, she saw that
she was in their private hideaway, and she breathed in the fresh air with
happiness. She looked around, seeing the
broad shoulders of her lover slumped in despondency as she sat on the rocks
watching the water trickle lightly beneath her perch.
Hannah couldn’t help the tiny cry of joy
that escaped her lips at seeing Donovan, and the dark head whipped around at
the unexpected, though very welcome sound.
Donovan jumped to the ground and began
running, even as Hannah began to run towards her. Observing that Hannah was coming to meet her,
she stopped and braced herself for the impact of their reunion. With arms wide open, they met and hugged tightly,
their momentum taking them to the ground.
No words were necessary as their bodies
melded into one another, then Hannah drew back just
enough to look into the blue eyes she loved.
Still silent, she leaned down, and captured the lips of the woman
beneath her, and long minutes passed as their mouths became reacquainted.
Finally, breathless and gasping for air,
they separated enough to lie forehead to forehead breathing one another’s
air. Donovan rolled them over so that
she lay to one side, but still on top of Hannah with their legs tangled
together.
“Oh Angel!” she whispered, before claiming
Hannah’s lips for her own again. Hannah
wrapped her hands in the thick dark hair that was shielding her and reveled in
the explosion of feeling she felt emanating from both herself and Donovan.
When they pulled back again, Donovan rolled
over onto her back, and pulled Hannah onto her body, elating in the weight of
Hannah’s body pressed into her own.
Hannah rested her head just above Donovan’s heart, and sighed in
contentment as the regular rhythm beat a timely march in her ear.
“God, I missed you, Donovan! I was frantic to find you, but you weren’t
here,” said with just the faintest hint of hurt and reproach.
Donovan traced Hannah’s features lightly
with a strong hand and the green eyes closed under the tender
ministrations. “I know. I’m sorry.
I was three days fighting off an illness. This is the first natural sleep I’ve had
since you were taken from me.”
Hannah grasped the hand and brought it to
her lips, kissing each fingertip, and lightly licking Donovan’s thumb. She smiled at the swiftly indrawn breath.
“Actually, I may have some answers to all
that. But it’s kinda complicated.”
Donovan gave her a crooked grin. “Of course it is... we are involved in
it.” She tightened her hold around
Hannah’s body. “But it will wait for a
little while longer. Right now, I just
want to hold you.”
Hannah’s only answer was to tighten her
hold.
************
They lay together at for the longest time,
still entwined together tightly and enjoying the peace and contentment of
simply being together again. Hannah
squeezed Donovan’s middle, smiling at the warm hug that enfolded her for long
minutes.
“I could get used to this, ya know,”
Donovan’s husky voice filled her hearing.
“Lying here with you in my arms. I like the way this feels.”
Hannah sighed. “So do I. But we have a lot to talk about if we want to
make it a reality.”
Donovan half rose
so she could look into Hannah’s eyes.
“Have you changed your mind? Do
you not want this anymore?” She didn’t
really believe it, not with the greeting they’d shared and the peace that
surrounded them, but she was a little bewildered by Hannah’s words and
tone. Her confusion showed plainly in
her eyes.
“You know better, Donovan,” Hannah replied
reaching up and bringing Donovan’s lips down to meet her own. She spent some moments reassuring the Captain
of just exactly how she felt, and pulled back only when she felt Donovan’s
hands begin to wander. “If you never
believe anything else, never, ever doubt the way I feel for you. That’s not gonna change. Ya got it?”
Donovan’s heart leapt at the fierce love
she saw reflecting from the green eyes she cherished. She nipped at Hannah’s nose. “I understand, Angel.”
Hannah chuckled. “I will continue to remind you of that.” She slipped off Donovan’s body and knelt
beside her. The she riffled her fingers
through the long dark locks. “I love
you, Donovan Scott, and I plan on spending our lifetimes showing you that on a
minute by minute basis.”
Donovan’s eyes widened and she sat up,
cupping Hannah’s face in her hand. “I
love you, Hannah Reilly. Marry me.”
Hannah reached her own hands to tangle in
Donavan’s hair, urging her lips closer.
“Yes,” she whispered. “Oh, Donovan, yes!”
Then their lips met, and the world faded from their reality for a very long
space of time.
************
“Ya know, “Donovan stated as she trailed
her hands up and down Hannah’s back. “We
are not getting much talking done.” She
watched as goose bumps followed the path that her hand took.
“No, we’re not,” Hannah sighed, “and we
need to if we are ever going to get to have a life together outside our
dreams.”
“What do you mean,
beloved?”
Hannah rolled up and stood, reaching down a
hand to help Donovan stand. “C’mon. Let’s go sit on the outcropping and talk.”
Donovan allowed herself to be pulled up, then she held tightly to Hannah’s hand, wondering what
obstacles lay ahead of them.
Chapter XIII
“Donovan, do you remember the other day
when we went to the Maiden?” Hannah
asked when they were seated side by side.
They were facing each other and holding hands, and green eyes looked
directly into blue as Hannah spoke.
Donovan nodded slowly. “When you mentioned the twi...
twi....”
“The twilight zone, yes... exactly. Do you remember what I told you about
myself?”
“Yes, you said you were from the
future. That you had not been born yet.”
“Did you believe me, Donovan?”
Donovan nodded, but averted her eyes. Hannah gently grasped her chin and brought
their eyes level again. “Donovan,”
Hannah asked again. “Did you believe me?”
“My heart knows you are not lying to me
Hannah, but my mind cannot seem to wrap itself around that truth. I cannot understand how you can be here with
me if you have not been born.”
“Well, that is the root of our problem.”
“What do you mean?”
Hannah sighed. This was the hard part. “Jack and I have spent the last three days
researching ... geez, everything. The
door worked for us because we were ignorant of the time difference between our
two lives. We didn’t realize we were
from diverse lifetimes.”
“Until you crossed the threshold and saw
the ship.” Donovan’s brow crinkled. “But that did not close the door, because we
crossed back through to your time.”
“Right, but it was easier for me to accept
being in your time because it has already existed for me. I have read and studied history, and I know
about the things that exist in your world.”
“I see,” Donovan drawled thoughtfully. “So once my mind was presented with actual
evidence of the truth....”
“It shut down, effectively closing the door
between us.”
Donovan was silent for a time after that
contemplating the bitter truth of Hannah’s words. “I am sorry, Angel. I never meant....”
“Shh, love.
Hush. I know you didn’t. It’s really not an easy thing to comprehend,
and getting hit in the face with it, so to speak.... You say you’ve been ill.” Hannah waited for Donovan nod
affirmatively. “Does this illness
resemble in anyway the illness you had when you found Michael, my father?”
Donovan’s gaze turned introspective, and
she cast her mind back. Finally she
looked squarely at Hannah. “It is almost
precisely the same thing. My head hurt
so badly, and according to Mama, I was in and out of consciousness for nearly a
week. I do not remember much.” She shook her head. “How are we gonna get around this?”
Hannah pressed her hands together and
lifted them to her lips. “I still need
to do some more research, but maybe educating you about the future slowly is
something we could try. I don’t think it
is me making you sick... maybe it is being hit so hard by the radical changes
of the future.”
“That makes sense. It cannot hurt to try, because I am not going
to let anything come between us, especially not my own doubts of what the
future really is.”
“You don’t seem to have a problem being *in*
the future... just a problem with the future itself. Am I making any sense at all here?”
Donovan chuckled. “Yes, beloved. You are making perfect sense to me. Shall we get started on my education?”
“Sure.
Let’s start with something easy, like plumbing. You already have a rudimentary understanding
of that.”
************
Sometime later, Hannah leaned back and
watched the smile draw across Donovan’s expressive features. “That is astounding. So I really am on the right track then. I just need to... mmph?” A dark brow rose into an equally dark
hairline.
“You just need to shut up and kiss me. We can worry more about the future
later. I want a little now time, now
please.”
Blue eyes twinkled rakishly, and Hannah
felt a wet tongue glide across her palm.
She jerked her hand away reflexively and Donovan wiggled her
eyebrows. “I am happy to oblige,
Beloved.” And without warning, Hannah
found herself covered in six feet of sexy sea captain. “Is this a better now?” Donovan purred. Hannah just pulled the taller woman into
herself and began to kiss her senseless.
************
She awoke with a smile on her face, then punched the pillow.
“Dammit! We were just getting to
the good stuff!” Hannah turned her head
and looked at the clock. Surprisingly,
two hours of real time had passed for her, and she wondered what had wakened
her. Then a knock sounded on her door,
and realized what had brought her back from the lands of dreams.
With a growl, Hannah flung the cover back,
and crawled from the bed, snatching up her robe and throwing it on. She opened the door and scowled at Jack.
“Yeeeeesssss?”
she said with exaggerated sweetness. The
fire in her eyes made him take a step back.
“I just thought you should know that the
odd weather pattern seems to be back, and a storm seems to be brewing. I was just wondering, um... that is... I
thought maybe... uh well....” He
scratched his head thoughtfully. “I
don’t suppose you, um... found Donovan, did you?”
She actually growled at him this time, and
it was followed by a crash of thunder that seemed more than a little
coincidental. Jack studied her a bit
more closely, and noticed beyond her sleep tousled look, she had a twinkle in
her eyes and lightly swollen lips. He
grinned nervously and backed away another step.
“Ya know,” he said, backing further
away. “I think this will wait til
later.” He made shooing motions with his
hands. “Why don’t you just go back to
bed and I’ll... whoa!!”
He got his arms up to catch her just as she
jumped at him, and he held her in a firm hug for a very long minute.
“I am so happy for you, little girl,” he
whispered into her hair as he felt the wet warmth of tears against his
neck.
“Thank you, Uncle Jack,” she said in
return. “I can’t tell you what all your
help means to me... what it could mean to *us*.”
“I’ve got a real good idea, honey.” He slowly released her and gently shoved her
towards her door. “Why don’t you just
get back in there and see if you can get some more sleep? It looks like the storm and the weather
pattern may be here to stay for a while.
I’ll just go... do... something.”
Hannah gave Jack an all-out dazzling grin
and kissed his cheek. “I love you, Uncle
Jack.”
“I love you too, Little Hannah,” he replied
as he closed the door behind her and went back into his study to resume his
work. He had a feeling his research
might be necessary now more than ever.
************
Hannah actually took a couple minutes to
use the bathroom, splashing water on her face, running a comb through her hair
and brushing her teeth. She knew it
didn’t make a difference in the dreamscape, but it made her feel better taking
the time to do it. Then she climbed back
into the bed, curling herself around a pillow and closing her eyes. She wondered if she could will herself to
sleep faster, not even realizing when she dozed off.
When she awakened this time, Hannah found
herself wrapped snuggly next to a warm, breathing body, and she kissed the
shoulder beneath her lips contentedly.
Then she closed her eyes again firmly, luxuriating in the total
satisfaction she found in simply being with Donovan.
The third time she opened her eyes, she
found her head pillowed in Donovan’s lap, and the pirate captain was gently
stroking her hair. Hannah stretched and
purred like a relaxed, happy kitten, and she felt the belly at her cheek bounce
slightly at Donovan’s soundless laughter.
“I like waking up here, in your arms. Was I
asleep long?”
“Minutes, as far as I can
tell. I do like waking up to find you in my arms or
me in yours, as the case may be,” Donovan smiled down at her, remembering
Hannah’s body wrapped around hers.
“That’s good,” Hannah said, “because it’s
going to be a rest-of-our-lives kinda thing.”
“You think we can get past the time
difference, then?”
Hannah looked at Donovan with a serious,
quizzical gaze. “Do you want to?”
“With my whole heart and soul,” Donovan
answered with equal sincerity.
“Then we will. When I awaken in my time, I’ll try the portal
and see if it works. If not, we will
meet here and work on it until we get the breakthrough we need.”
The dark head nodded, and they sat in
silence for a bit, each lost in their private thoughts. Donovan continued her light stroking, and
Hannah was lost in a comfortable half doze when the Captain spoke.
“You know, I have studied a bit of
science. It is exciting to know that so
much of what I have read about is not only possible, but very successful. It is almost like living another dream.”
“It’s no dream, love. It’s real, and we are going to make it
possible for you to understand and believe.”
Donovan grinned.
************
When Hannah awoke again, she was alone in
her bed and groaned. Their knowledge of
the truth made things a little more difficult to manage. Knowing that Donovan was waiting out there for
here, alive and real, just in another time... Hannah rubbed her throbbing
temples. It gave her a headache if she
thought about it too long. She smiled. She didn’t need to think about it. She simply had to make their being together a
reality. Piece of cake, right?
Hannah swung her legs over the side of the
bed and sat up, scratching her hands through her hair, then rubbing her
face. She looked at her clock, doing a
double take when she saw it was late afternoon.
Hannah rose and walked to the window, realizing that the storm outside
made it seem later than it actually was.
She paused to watch it for a long minute,
noting the beauty and majesty the fury created.
She wondered if her separation from Donovan had anything to do with the
ferocity she was witnessing, and made a mental note to talk to Jack about
it. Then she walked into the bathroom,
and shut the door.
************
Jack was sitting at his desk, much as he
had been since early afternoon. The
storm’s intensity seemed to be linked to Donovan’s reconnection to Hannah. He decided it needed more study, and wondered
how Hannah would feel about sharing the dates of her dream rendezvous with
Donovan from her diary. He decided it
would do no harm to ask, and put a note on his monitor to ask her when she woke
up.
He heard the shower running, and moved into
the kitchen to begin preparing supper.
He had a feeling Hannah would need to talk about a few things at least.
He knew he sure had some questions.
Jack smiled when Hannah crossed the
threshold into the living area. There
was a sparkle in her eye and a bounce in her step that had been missing.
“You’ve got the answer,” he said calming,
continuing to chop the vegetables in front of him. She took up a knife and bumped him slightly,
until he was sharing cutting board space.
“I think we were right. If we can educate her to the future, she
should be able to cross the portal again without incident.”
“Do you have enough time? The ball is only a few days off, and
historically, the Warrior Maiden leaves for
Hannah lifted a bite of celery to her lips,
adding a little cream cheese to it and chewing thoughtfully. “I have to believe we do, Uncle Jack. I think I only need to convince her of enough
to open the portal. Once that happens,
we’ll have plenty of time.”
Jack looked at her seriously, considering
her words. “You’re going with her,” he
said flatly. “If you get the portal
opened, you’re going to go back in time with her.”
Hannah returned his gaze evenly. “Yes, I am.
And when she has learned enough, accepted enough, we will come back
here.”
Jack smiled with sad understanding
reflected in his eyes. He knew the
likelihood of that happening was nil, and he would be losing his niece to a
fate decreed long before her birth.
Still, he knew from her expression that Donovan was what she needed, so
he nodded his agreement. “I believe you,
little Hannah. If anyone can make it
happen, you can.”
She grinned at him enthusiastically. “*We* can, Uncle Jack. I never would have gotten this far without
your help.”
He dropped the chopped vegetables into the
skillet, turning the heat down and stirring as her faced her direction
again. “Would you be willing to return
the favor... help me with my research a little?”
Hannah wiped her hands on a towel and
crossed to the fridge to fix them each a drink.
“Sure, Uncle Jack. What can I do
for you?”
“Could you list the dates of your dream
meetings with Donovan? I think they
coincide with some of the more spectacular storms we’ve had here. I know her presence in this timeline makes
the weather go wonky. I just think ya’ll’s, um... reunions and separations affect it in another
way all together.”
Hannah blushed slightly and nodded. “Sure.
Let me go get my diary.”
************
They sat down to dinner with Jack’s notes
and Hannah’s diary between them making comparisons. There wasn’t much conversation except to
point out similarities and slight differences between dates and occurrences.
“It’s almost like there is a lag,” Jack
commented absently.
“Time for the portal to
open and close, perhaps?”
“Very possible.”
Jack looked directly at Hannah now.
“Are you going to try to see her tonight? In her real time, I mean.”
Hannah nodded. “I’ve been waiting for the
storm to clear,” she said, regarding the clearing skies that reflected back to
her in the setting sun. “I think our
encounter earlier may have been enough to open the door.”
“And if it wasn’t?”
She shrugged. “If it wasn’t, we’ll try again. I’m not giving her up, Uncle Jack.”
He smiled at the fire in her eyes and
voice. “I am proud of you, Hannah,” he
said unexpectedly. “Never forget that,
okay?”
She looked at him quizzically, then stood
and wrapped her arms around his neck.
She planted a kiss on his relatively unlined face. “I won’t, Uncle Jack. I’m pretty proud of you too.”
************
“Donovan, are you sure about this?” Mama
asked again. The Captain had wakened
from her rest with the color in her face restored and her spirits high. Mama secretly wondered if perhaps the illness
had gotten to Donovan and given her a touch of madness. It was the only explanation she could find
for Donovan’s odd behavior.
“Yes, Mama,” Donovan answered patiently
with just a touch of humor in her voice.
“I am sure. I need to get home so
I will be there when Hannah comes back.”
“I do not understand, but I can see this
makes you happy.”
“It does, Mama. It does very much. And I promise, if we can,
we will come back and explain it all to you later.”
Mama nodded, accepting that. “You are still coming to the ball, yes? The celebration is in two days.”
Donovan smiled rakishly. “Yes ma’am.
It is tradition, you know, and I think Hannah is looking forward to
it. She has sent for a special costume
for the masquerade.”
Mama smiled at Donovan’s enthusiasm. She hoped Donovan was correct in her
reasoning for Hannah’s absence. She had
really liked the young writer, and knew without doubt that Donovan’s future was
tied to Hannah. She just wished she
understood why Hannah had disappeared when Donovan had needed her the most.
“Have you seen it?” Mama picked up the thread with no outward
indication of the thoughts that were running through her mind.
“No.
It had not arrived when we got separated.”
“No peeking, then,” Mama said, shaking a
finger in her direction with a smile.
“You know the rules, Captain.”
Donovan shook her head. She knew the rules, and so far, she had
chosen no one by the unmasking. She’d
been hoping to escort Hannah, but maybe this way would be better. It would settle the rumors and the
speculation once and for all.
“I know, but I will be with her at the
unmasking.”
“You are so sure then?”
“Yes.”
“Good,” was all Mama
said as Donovan stepped out the door.
************
Debendra made sure Donavan got back to her
cottage safely, then Donovan shooed him out of the house. She was anxious to take a look at her bathing
room to see if she could incorporate some the knowledge Hannah had imparted
earlier. Strangely, since meeting with
Hannah in their dreams, Donovan felt no residual sickness.
She smiled,
reliving the time they had spent simply holding one another. That intimacy was something she found she
craved more than she’d ever thought possible, and she hadn’t realized it until
it was nearly taken away from her forever. Donovan shivered suddenly at the
agony the mere thought left in her heart.
She sat down, staring at the painting of
herself and Hannah and trying to catch her breath. She wished Hannah had not asked Donovan to
wait for her to try the portal first.
She had an impulsive, overwhelming need have Hannah here and in her
arms.
Donovan stretched out on the couch, closing
her eyes and wishing for Hannah’s presence.
************
Hannah stood for a moment at the end of the
path watching as the sun slipped beneath the horizon. Then she took a deep breath and turned her
steps towards Donovan’s cottage.
She didn’t feel the coolness she had come
to associate with the portal, and her heart sank. Still, she continued on her way to the
bungalow.
Hannah turned into the pathway, and felt
her spirits pick up when she saw the building was once again in good
repair. She made her way up the steps
and rapped lightly on the door before pushing it open and stepping across the
threshold.
She looked around and noted with
satisfaction that the room had been restored, and the painting was back to its
original design.
“Donovan?
Donovan?” Hannah called out as she entered the kitchen. Her heart dropped again as she made a quick
tour of the house and realized that she had not crossed into Donovan’s time,
but she was encouraged by the state of her surroundings. Things were looking up, and that was a good
sign.
She traversed the small space back to the
couch and lay down, hoping to find Donovan waiting for her in their dreams.
************
Donovan opened her eyes at the light
stroking of her face. She smiled when
she saw Hannah, and pulled her down for a welcoming kiss. They were slightly breathless when they separated,
and Hannah withdrew just enough to rub noses with Donovan.
“It did not work, did it?” Donovan asked,
seeing tears pool in Hannah’s eyes.
Hannah bit her lip and shook her head negatively.
“Not completely,” she answered quietly,
“but we have made progress. The cottage
has been restored in my time to resemble what it is like in yours. Maybe you should try it. Since the door closed on your side, you might
have to be the one that has to step through first to reopen it.”
Donovan nodded thoughtfully. “In a peculiar way, that makes perfect
sense. Shall I try it now or...?”
“That is up to you, love. I am here in the cottage in my time.”
“Very well. Let
me wake up and see if I can cross the barrier.”
Hannah leaned down and brushed Donovan’s lips with her own before the
dreamscape began to fade.
************
Donovan woke with a smile of her face,
relishing the lingering scent of Hannah she could still smell from the
dreamscape. She stretched a bit and rose
from the couch, running her fingers through her hair to order it somewhat. Then she stepped out the door, and headed
down the beach.
This
was the tricky part,
Donovan mused as she walked steadily and with purpose. She had to cross the barrier and then return
to the cottage where she would hopefully find Hannah waiting. The question was
would they be in Hannah’s time or Donovan’s.
The Captain shook her head. Circular thinking like that could give her a
serious migraine. She decided to just go
with what she knew, and hope for the best otherwise.
About halfway between the cottage and
Jack’s place, she felt the familiar, welcome chill. With a brief grin and a triumphant look, she
turned and headed back to her bungalow at a run.
Donovan slowed as she reached the path,
uncertainty clenching her guts almost painfully. She wanted so badly for this to have worked
that she could almost taste it on the back of her tongue. Hesitatingly, she took the stone steps and
gradually eased the door open.
She squeezed her eyes shut and took a deep
breath then stepped across the threshold.
************
Hannah twitched at the tickling sensation
on her nose and swatted at it half heartedly in hopes it would go away. She rolled over towards the back of the couch
mumbling incoherently. The tickly
feeling followed, only it transferred its attentions to her now exposed
ear. The warm air caused her to shiver,
but the nip caused her eyes to pop open.
Hannah swung around swiftly, nearly
clocking Donovan in the face with her head.
Donovan snapped upright, keeping her hands lightly on Hannah’s shoulders. Hannah looked hard at her, then gently raised
her own hands to tenderly trace the planes of the now flesh and blood face
before her.
“It...” she squeaked, then stopped to clear
her throat. “It worked?” she whispered,
not needing an answer as she continued to touch Donovan, but getting one just
the same.
“It worked,” Donovan grinned, leaning down
to kiss Hannah again. She could very
easily get used to this, and knew without a doubt that she coveted the feeling
for eternity.
Hannah responded enthusiastically, wrapping
her hands in Donovan’s dark hair and pulling her closer still. After a long moment, she released Donovan’s
lips but not her head and she touched their foreheads together. “Let’s not lose this anymore,” she instructed. “The dreamscape is nice, but it so pales in
comparison to the real thing.”
“I concur, Angel. What is our next step?”
Hannah loosened her hold with one hand and
leaned back slightly to scratch her jaw.
“I think we should try a practical test.”
“Such as?”
“Tomorrow, I’d like to take you inside
Jack’s house. Wait...” she added holding
up a hand to forestall the argument she could see coming. “A controlled test... one
where I control what you see.”
She chuckled at Donovan’s raised eyebrow. “Trust me.”
“I do,” Donovan answered immediately. “Implicitly.”
Hannah kissed Donovan on the end of her
nose. “Good, because I
do you too.”
Donovan got up and lit the few candles in
the room and they sat for some time cuddling and just basking in one another’s
company. Finally, Hannah looked up at
Donovan’s profile from where her head rested on the Captain’s shoulder and
sighed. “I don’t want to, but I need to
get back. There are some preparations I
need to make before tomorrow.”
Donovan brushed a kiss on Hannah’s forehead
and sighed, releasing her and standing beside her. “I will walk you home.”
“Only partway,” Hannah cautioned. “I haven’t explained everything yet, and I
don’t want to take any chances on losing you through that doorway again.”
Donovan nodded her acceptance. “Very well.” She took Hannah’s hand, and the two made
their way up the beach back to Jack’s place.
Just before they reached the pathway,
Hannah turned and Donovan took her in her arms.
“I love you, Hannah. I will see
you tomorrow.”
Hannah wound her arms around Donovan’s neck
and lowered her lips down to meet Hannah’s own.
“I love you, Donovan, and you will see me in our dreams.”
Donovan captured Hannah’s lips, and they
took long minutes to leisurely explore one another. When they separated, breathing sporadically,
Donovan smiled, and gently pushed away from Hannah. “Good night, Beloved.”
Hannah walked backwards slowly away from
Donovan. “Happy dreams, my love,” she
said before turning and making her way up the darkened pathway. Donovan watched until she passed from view,
then spun on her heel and raced for home.
She had a lot to look forward to.
Chapter XIV
Hannah awoke refreshed with a smile on her
face. She and Donovan had spent the
night cuddled together sleeping for the most part. It was a rather peculiar phenomenon. Since they had finally met one another face
to face, it seemed easier to actually sleep together. Not that they couldn’t do other things as
well, as they still did. But it was
comforting to finally have the peace of sleeping in one another’s arms, knowing
that reality couldn’t take them away from each other. Hannah was confident that today would bring
about Donovan’s bodily return to her.
She got up and went to the kitchen,
surprised to see Jack inside instead of out for his morning swim. He chuckled when he saw her... for two
reasons. The first is she reminded him
very much of the wild-haired, wide-eyed little niece he recalled fondly. The second was the look of sheer confusion as
she tried to figure out why he was there.
It was apparent she wasn’t quite awake yet.
“Uncle Jack?”
“Haven’t looked out the window this
morning, hmm, Hannah?”
Hannah took a minute to process his words
before glance around and noting for the first time just how dark it was
outside. She continued to gaze outside
for a moment longer before her eyes widened in realization.
“Wow!
That’s quite a storm! Where’d it
come from? And isn’t it pretty sudden?”
“There’s a story there. You want some coffee before I tell it?”
Hannah extended her arm, vein up,
indication her need for a direct injection.
Jack laughed again, and handed her a double sized mug.
“Here,” he said putting an arm around her
shoulders and leading her to the couch.
“I think you need to be sitting for this, even with that double espresso
in your cup.
He let Hannah take several sips as they
both stared out the glass doors into the fury of the storm. Finally, she ran her hands through her hair
and set her cup on the table and turned towards him. “Okay, Uncle Jack. I think I am almost coherent now. What’s the scoop?”
“You want the facts first or just the
theory?” he asked, scrubbing his own short hair.
“Facts first, then
theory. I wanna see if you’re thinking what I am.”
“All right,” Jack said, and rose from his place
on the couch to pace. “The fact is that
a lot of the weird weather patterns around here are directly related to
Donovan’s comings and goings. By
everything I have been able to piece together, the storms come when she crosses
into our time.”
“So you think she has crossed again?”
Hannah asked hopefully.
Jack shook his head, hating to see the
slumped shoulders and dulled eyes his response garnered. “No, not this time. This storm is different, both in origin and
intensity. Were I to hazard a guess, I
would say that she is trying to open the door.”
“This storm is stronger, fiercer than most
she has caused, isn’t it?” Jack nodded
an affirmative. “Do you have a theory on
why?” He nodded again, but still didn’t
speak. “Would you care
to share?” a little curtly. Jack
started as though coming out of deep thought.
“Sorry.
Got to thinking there. I think the difference is that she actually
has to open the door this time. She has
to accept on faith that crossing the boundary means crossing out of her world
and into the relative unknown of yours.
It’s a huge step.”
“I’m not sure I follow you, Uncle Jack.”
He rubbed his hands over his face and
through his hair before sighing. “Let me
see if I can explain it a little more clearly.
When you and Donovan crossed over before, it was no problem, because you
were neither one aware that there was a big time difference between you. Even when you realized that she was from the
past, it was easier for you to accept because you have read and studied the
past and can believe what your senses are telling you about the reality of that
time and place.”
“I know all of that Uncle Jack. What does that have to do with the storm, the
portal, and Donovan getting back to me??”
Hannah’s frustration came through her tone of voice plainly.
“Donovan is fully cognizant of the portal
and the time barrier between the two of you now. I think the storm is her struggle to allow
the truth of her knowledge to become her reality. She has faith in you. She just needs to believe in herself and
cross over.”
Hannah’s eye widened in
understanding. “I need to go,” and she was out the door
without shoes, a shower or an umbrella.
She made it down the path and partway down
the beach before she slowed. “What am I
doing?” she asked herself out loud. “She
has to come to me. It is the only way
this will work. I have to go prepare
things for her arrival, ‘cause I know she will make it
back to me.” She looked around at the
storm and raised her voice. “You hear
me, Donovan?? I believe in you!!”
Then she turned and ran back to Jack’s
without a backwards glance.
************
Donovan woke with a start, the ferocity of
the storm outside her windows a perfect reflection of the turmoil that stirred
in her mind. She understood what Hannah
had said, and even accepted the fact that it was true, but getting her mind
wrapped around it was something all together different. It gave her a terrible headache every time
she tried to imagine existing more than a hundred years into her own future.
She shook her head violently to try and
clear all conscious thought from her mind, and rose to start the water
heating. She wanted a warm bath and a
cup of hot tea before she walked down the beach to find Hannah.
************
Hannah pushed her sodden hair out of her
eyes as she carefully mounted the step.
Jack handed her a towel without a word and waited for her to drop the
cloth around her shoulders before putting a mug of something steaming into her
hands.
She sipped the sweet coffee gratefully,
soaked to the bone by her recent excursion through the rain, and thoroughly
chilled by the air that was on in the house.
“Quick trip,” Jack commented.
“Yeah, it occurred to me that I can’t do
anything except believe in her. She has to get here on her own.”
“Uh huh.”
“So, in the meantime, after my shower, I’m
going to prepare things here for her introduction to my world.”
“You’re so certain she will overcome her
own disbelief then?” Jack asked, knowing that speaking it aloud would help
Hannah confirm it in her own mind.
“Y... y...yes!” she answered vehemently, then clamped her jaws together to keep her teeth from
chattering. She shivered and
sneezed.
“All right.
That’s just about enough of that.
This is no time for you to get sick, young lady,” Jack said
sternly. Let’s go get you into a hot
shower.”
Hannah nodded. “S... s...sounds like a p...plan. Even if...f...f it t...t...takes he...her a d...day or t...two, I wa...wanna b...be r...read... ready f...for her.”
By this time they were in the bathroom, and
Jack turned on the water to warm it up.
“You get undressed and get in that shower, honey. Then we’ll see what we can do to make things
ready for Donovan. I’ll be in the office
if you need anything.” Then he closed
the door behind him without another word.
Hannah stepped into the warmth of the
shower and sighed in relief.
************
The next two days there were furious storms
and Hannah was grateful to Jack for both his help and support. They worked feverishly to hide as much of the
modernity of the house as they could manage.
Jack built cabinet doors to hide the television and the
refrigerator. Hannah put away all the
lamps and small appliances.
She knew there was nothing she could do
about the glass or the plumbing, though she was glad that Jack’s window
treatments were a cotton material, and his furniture tended towards wood and
leather, much like Donovan’s did.
They decided to keep the study locked so
Donovan couldn’t stumble into technology her mind was not ready to
understand. Hannah planned to introduce
her to life in the twenty-first century very slowly, because being without her
was just not acceptable. She had no
intention of allowing another separation like this one again if it were in her
power to prevent it.
The third evening of storms found Jack and
Hannah sitting together in the living room staring silently at the fire. They’d finished up their preparations earlier
that morning, and there was still no sign of Donovan. In fact, the storm had grown exponentially
with each passing hour to the point that Hannah feared they were sitting in the
middle of a stationary hurricane. She
mentioned the possibility to Jack.
“I dunno, Hannah. I wonder if my presence here is making it
harder for her and her frustration is making itself known in the storm. I’m gonna try something. Tomorrow morning, I’m gonna go into
town. Maybe that will clear the way for
her to make it through the door.”
“You think it will help, Uncle Jack?”
“I think it can’t hurt at this point. We only have three days until the Pirate’s
Ball. I am almost certain she crosses
then, but I think for her to be able to function in our time, she has got to be
able to control her destiny as it were.
She has to consciously be able to cross back and forth like you did.”
“And you think your being here hinders that
somehow?”
“I think the fewer obstacles in her way the
better, at least until she gets a handle on things.”
“What if she can’t, Uncle Jack? What if she can’t cross the barrier? I haven’t seen her in my dreams the last two
nights.”
Jack sat thoughtfully for a time after
that. “It could very well be she is
afraid of failure, Hannah, and doesn’t want to see you until she can overcome
what she perceives as her own breakdown in belief. It could be that she is just so exhausted
mentally trying to overcome this barrier that she is sleeping too deeply to
hear you. Whatever the reason, you have
to decide whether or not you are willing to give everything up to be with her
if she cannot come to you.”
“I am, Uncle Jack. I told her I was. But she has to open the door.”
Jack opened his mouth to say something,
then stopped and patted her thigh.
“Well, we’ll try this tomorrow, and see if it makes a difference. At the very least, I will get ice cream out
of it.” His eyes twinkled and he was
glad to see the responding twinkle in hers. It had been a few days.
She chuckled. “Uh huh. I shoulda known there was a motive behind
that.”
“You betcha,” he replied lightly. “And if you are good, I may even bring home
some for you and Donovan to share.”
“Introducing Donovan to the delights of ice
cream, hmm? I think I could learn to
enjoy that rather quickly,” Hannah said saucily, though she couldn’t stop the
blush that ran up her face.
Jack laughed, though he couldn’t hide his
blush either. “And on that note... I am
going to bed.” He stood then leaned down
and kissed Hannah on the cheek. “Goodnight, little Hannah.
Happy dreams.”
“Goodnight, Uncle Jack.”
She banked the fire, and went to her own
room, hoping beyond hope to find Donovan in her dreams.
************
“Donovan?”
“Hannah?”
Donovan looked around in the darkness.
“Hannah, Beloved, where are you?”
“I’m right here with you Donovan. Listen to the sound of my voice. Can you see me?”
“No.
It is so dark here. I cannot see
anything. I feel like I have lost you...
like I am all alone.”
The absolute despair in Donovan’s voice
made Hannah want to cry, but she steeled her resolve and focused her entire
being on believing in Donovan... believing in *them*.
“You’re not all alone, love. I’m right here with you, just like I have
always been. You just need to believe,
Donovan. I won’t let anything happen to
you. You have to have faith in me... in
us.”
Donovan’s dream self closed her eyes, and
she focused solely on the sound of Hannah’s voice. Hannah continued speaking in smooth even
tones until Donovan felt herself relaxing into Hannah’s warm embrace. When welcoming solid arms closed around her,
Donovan opened her eyes to see Hannah’s smiling face looking back at her.
Without speaking, she tilted her head up
and captured the ardent lips just above hers.
For a long moment, she simply reveled in the sensation of them being
together once more. Then she pulled away
and lifted a hand to tenderly trace Hannah’s features. Hannah’s eyes fluttered closed involuntarily
and she just let herself feel.
Finally, Donovan wove her fingers into
blonde locks and she pulled Hannah’s lips down to a mere hairsbreadth of her
own. “I missed you. I am sorry I....”
“Shh,” Hannah whispered, covering Donovan’s
supple lips with her fingertips. “It’s
all right, Donovan. I know it’s
hard.” She removed her fingers and
planted a kiss on Donovan’s mouth, then pulled back before Donovan could deepen
it.
“I want you to try something
tomorrow.” She waited until the dark
head nodded a tentative agreement. “I
want you not to worry about crossing the barrier or opening the portal or
stepping into the future, okay? I want
you to focus solely on coming home to me.
I want you to picture us together in the same time and place. Can you do that?”
Donovan thought seriously about Hannah’s
request, and about how much sense it really made. “I can do that, if you will do something for
me.”
“Anything, love. You
know that.”
“Focus all your thoughts on me. Give me a path to follow that will lead my
heart to yours.”
“It’s already there, Donovan. You just have to follow it home.”
Donovan smiled. “I love you, you know.”
“I know.
I love you, too. Now rest and I
will see you in the morning.”
************
Hannah woke to the sounds of birds and the
glint of sunshine in her eyes. She
smiled when she realized the storm had finally passed and she jumped out of
bed. It boded well for the day.
She took a quick shower and dressed in a
native sarong and halter top. She felt
confident that she would bring Donovan into her world today.
Hannah opened the house wide and let the summer breeze blow through, enjoying the tang of the sea she could smell. She grabbed two apples and two bananas, and she made her way down the steps and on the path towards the beach with a bounce in her walk.