This isn’t the best part of town, and I wouldn’t put it past some of the men down here to decide to see just how innocent you are, alright?" Allison paled a little and nodded, her eyes flickering to the door briefly as heavy bootfalls echoed down the hall. Morgan reached across the table and took Allison’s hand. "You’ll be fine. I won’t be that far away, and I want you to throw that extra bolt after I leave." Allison felt Morgan give her hand a brief squeeze before releasing it and resisted the impulse to reach across the table and make contact again. Morgan finished her last bit of roll and pushed away from the table. Allison stood with her and followed the other woman’s movements with her eyes as she gathered some things into a satchel and slung it over her shoulder. The captain walked over and stood in front of her, tilting her chin up when she tried to look away."I will see for in a few hours for lunch, Allison." Allison nodded and bravely fought down the panic that started to fill her.
"I will see you then, Morgan," she said softly. Morgan flashed a smile at her, making her heart do double time for a moment before turning and leaving.
"Lock the door, Allison!" she said as she closed it behind her. The redhead walked slowly over to the door and turned the lock and threw the bolt. She stared at the rough wood of the door for a long moment before turning and making her way back to the chair in front of the window. As she looked down into the street she spied Morgan’s familiar form walking across the street and down the dock and followed her with her eyes until she lost her in the growing morning traffic. Sitting down she pulled her book into her lap and flipped it open to the first empty page.
Day 8
Well yesterday was a busy day. I got my wish…though I certainly didn’t expect things to play out as they did. Morgan and I are staying in an inn down on the harbor…in fact I can see her ship from where I sit writing. So much has happened since my last entry, I don’t know where to start. We found out who tried to sink Morgan’s ship - it was Carolyn. She hired a couple of men and told them to set fire to the ship and make sure it sank. Good thing some of Morgan’s crew were on board to catch them. So, Morgan was supposed to go to this dinner with Carolyn, being hosted by George Stromwell and his wife, Isabelle. From what I can gather Morgan has been friends with them since she first arrived at the island, and her involvement with Carolyn had caused them to drift apart. Morgan wasn’t going to go but I convinced her that she should go…and convinced her that she should take me. I had such a wonderful time. It was so enjoyable. Morgan was so attentive and charming, and even though I know that it was an act to make Carolyn jealous, it sort of made me feel….hmm. I don’t know that I want to put that into words. I spent most of the evening with butterflies dancing in my stomach.
Allison paused for a moment and stared out over the harbor. Men were moving all over the deck of Morgan’s ship, taking down the rigging and sails and lashing them to the deck. She could see Morgan working amongst them, her bare back gleaming in the sun as she heaved coils of rope. Allison sighed softly and turned her eyes back to the page before her.
I wish it hadn’t been an act.
So now we’re down by the docks so Morgan can keep an eye on her ship, and all I have to do is look out the window and I can see her. She’s down there on the ship’s deck working alongside her crew, stripping the ropes and sails down, getting it ready to go into the shipyard. I keep wondering if she got a response from Daddy yet. I know she sent the ransom note….I overheard her talking to Jacob about it, but she hasn’t said anything about getting a reply. I mean, I know that I don't know anything about these things, but I would think that Daddy would reply to let her know that he’s sending the money. God, I don’t know how he’s going to get that together…I know this past year was a good one, but all of that money went to paying debtors and Joseph.
Joseph..
Ugh. Just thinking about him gives me the creeps. I so wish Daddy could have found another way. I never thought I’d wish so desperately for a sister…though I don’t think I could wish this on any one else either….except maybe Carolyn. I think Morgan’s really worried that Carolyn’s going to try to get the ship again…and I can’t say that I blame her. Carolyn was shooting us lethal looks all night last night, and I’m sure that she doesn’t think that the relationship between Morgan and me is as innocent as it is. After yesterday morning I guess it would be hard for her to believe that, but she made the arrangements to have the ship sunk before that….so…why? Oh, I think I’m trying to figure out too much about things I don’t know enough about.
Allison sighed softly as she reached the bottom of the page and decided against writing anymore. Her mind was swirling around frantically enough. Turning the page she spun the book lengthwise and started sketching the harbor scene laid out before her. Time passed quickly with the scratching strokes of her quill and slowly the shape of the harbor and the ships within were starting to appear. As she set to working on the details of Morgan’s ship she realized that the men on the deck were moving away down the docks. Squinting against the glare of the noon sun on the water she saw Morgan talking to Jacob on the deck of the ship. Jacob nodded at Morgan then waved and walked away as Morgan plunged her head into a rain barrel. Allison found herself giggling as the captain shook the water all over the deck before wiping herself dry and pulling her shirt on. Allison watched as Morgan headed down the gangplank before turning away from the window and heading for the table. Carefully she laid out their plates and poured some water into glasses for them, trying to make sure that everything would be ready when Morgan arrived.
A knock sounded on the door just as Allison stepped back and nodded at the table. She walked over to the door and reached for the lock, then paused.
"Who is it?" The muffled sound of Morgan's chuckle sounded through the door.
"It's me, Allison," she said in answer. Allison pulled the bolt back and opened the door to admit the captain. Morgan leaned against the doorjamb, her hair dripping wet, and smiled into Allison's eyes. The redhead felt her stomach jump in reaction. "I wanted to make sure that you remembered to ask who was there...since I know you knew I was coming." Allison blushed as Morgan's eyes flickered meaningfully at the window and moved out of the older woman's way. Morgan headed for her trunk and pulled out a dry shirt, peeling the damp fabric of the other one off of her skin. Allison found herself openly admiring the captain's form, and even though she felt her cheeks warm as Morgan glanced at her she couldn't tear her eyes away. Morgan slipped the dry shirt down over her head and used the previous one to soak up the rest of the water from her hair before laying it across the back of her trunk to dry.
Allison smiled at Morgan as she approached her and turned to motion to the table. "I thought you might be hungry so I laid lunch out for us." Morgan smiled deeply at Allison and waved her in front of her to take a seat before she did. As they ate Morgan told Allison she was going to have to spend most of the afternoon with the foreman of the shipyard, as they found some other repairs that were going to have to be done as well as those already scheduled, and one of them would affect the moving of the ship into the yard. Then she had to check with her broker before she could come back for dinner. Finishing lunch Morgan left the table and walked to the window to look down at the movement below. Allison followed, feeling her stomach knot as she realized that she had left her journal open and Morgan was looking down at her sketch of the harbor, not at the harbor itself.
"You did this?" Morgan asked incredulously. Allison nodded shyly, a blush turning her cheeks bright red. "Allison, you are very talented. Are you going to finish it?"
"Thank you, Morgan. Yes, I plan to. I had thought if it turned out well that I would have to it cut out and maybe we could give it to the Stromwell's as a gift of appreciation for everything they did for us last night." Morgan nodded and smiled.
"That is a wonderful idea, Allison.
