Page 81 of Beyond Montana's Sky
He watched her with a glint in his eyes. “Never in a million years did I think to see my prissy Mrs. Grayson sailing a boat like a pirate wench, and a very pretty one, at that.”
“Guess you have a lot to learn about me,Mr. Driscoll.”
“I want a lifetime to learn,Edith.” The intensity of his expression made her shiver.
He leaned to pick up Phillip’s bearskin and draped the fur over her lap.
As always, touched by his solicitousness, Edith smiled her thanks. “I want that lifetime together, too.” She scanned the horizon layered with hazy clouds in a pale blue sky before looking back at him. Few pleasure crafts were out today. The season was a bit too early for all but the most avid sailors. But plenty of working vessels—tugs, sailing ships, and steamers—plied the bay.
“I think today’s a good opportunity to broach the subject.”
She lifted a hand from the wheel, crossed her fingers, and held them up.
The sail flapped, and the craft slowed. “One moment, Cai.” She stood. “Coming about,” she called to Phillip.
Ben eased the ropes.
“Watch the boom, everyone,” she ordered. “Ben, take up the slack.”
He hauled on the line. The boom swung across the deck, and they ducked under.
She turnedMercyinto the wind, and the pretty craft tilted and sped.
Ben cleated the rope and joined the girls, grinning.
“Well done, Edith!” Phillip called.
Feeling the wide smile split her face, she glanced at Cai.
He saluted. “Pirate wench, indeed.”
Delighted screams from the girls and their waving drew Edith’s attention to the starboard bow. She stood for a better view and gasped in awe. “Look, dolphins!” She leaned to grab Cai’s arm, pulling him to his feet and pointing to the pod. “What a rare sight. We’re so lucky!”
He shaded his eyes with one hand and stared. He spared her a quick glance and roguish smile. “Guess those dolphins are our sign from God.”
Joy filled her.I’m so very grateful to be on the water and sharing this day with Cai.
The boat passed the dolphins. She gestured toward the lighthouse on a distant island. “Boston Light on Little Brewster Island is the site of the first lighthouse in the United States. That building’s not the original, though.”
The girls came aft, followed by the men.
“We’re hungry,” Annis announced.
The girls clattered down the steps into the salon.
“Me, too,” Ben said. “Good thing Aunt Julia brought a lot of food.”
“Time for some grog,” Steven announced.
“Oh no, you don’t.” Phillip pointed toward the helm. “You’re the lowly cabin boy. We eat. You steer. Call us if you need help with tacking.”
Steven’s pretend pout made Edith laugh. “I won’t let him starve you. One of the girls will bring you a sandwich.” She switched positions with him.
Edith and Cai followed Ben and the girls down four ladder-steps into the salon. The rest of the guests sat on built-in, navy-blue sofas with tufted backs, flanking a wide aisle, the varnished wooden floor covered by a Persian runner. To reach the bunks behind the sofas, sleepers had to climb over the backs. A V-berth in the bow provided more sleeping space. The open door, brass portholes, and overhead vents let in light and air.
Moving the runner to the side, Phillip exposed a large rectangular piece of flooring, which formed a tabletop. He and Ben lifted the table and pulled two round brass legs from their cubby.
Once the table was secured, everyone except Julia, who moved to the galley, squeezed together on the two sofas. They were a tight fit—Annis, Cai, Edith, Ben, and Phillip on one side, Henry, Mildred, the younger girls, Bear, and a space for Julia on the other.
