"That's their plan, Bella, isn't it?" His wife nodded."I think so, dear. But what would Carolyn gain from that?" George shook his head and frowned across the harbor at the top of Carolyn's hotel poking up above the trees.
We left town last night. I don't know how to put into words everything that happened between us since I last wrote. Morgan told me a lot of things about her past yesterday when she came back at lunch, and afterwards I guess so much was spinning through my head she thought I was rejecting her because of the things that she told me. She crawled into the bed and slept the rest of the afternoon until I woke her up when the thugs returned. We fled the inn unnoticed thanks to her crew distracting the thugs and came here to her cabin. All I know is that everything between us has changed. We're not talking anymore. I woke up this morning and Morgan was asleep on the table, so I went out and sat on the front porch and thought for a while. I thought I had come to a solution...just keep my distance and try not to get any more involved with her than I already am. I tried to tuck all the emotions that she sends coursing through me away, and I think she took me doing that all wrong. I think she thinks that I'm rejecting her because of all the things that she went through. She's pulled so deep inside herself it makes me wonder if the warm, fascinating woman I spent the days since my capture with still exists.
I miss her.
Here we sit, on opposite sides of the room, all I have to do is look over my shoulder to see her, yet she feels so far away. The sun set a while ago and I'm exhausted, but I'm afraid to mention bed. I want to sleep next to her again, I miss being in her arms. I miss playing chess with her, laughing, talking, everything. If only she felt the same way....but it's obvious that she doesn't. If she did she wouldn't be over there ignoring me right? I tried to talk to her...ask her if she was okay...but all I got were short replies.
I guess I'm blowing things out of proportion. What was it that Daddy always told me? That I get too emotionally attached? Maybe I am.
I still miss her.
Allison wiped the tear off her cheek before it could fall and smear the ink drying before her and cleaned the tip of her quill. Blowing softly to dry the last bit of ink she closed her journal and set it next to the wall, stacking her box of pencils and her puzzle box on top of it. She took a deep breath and braced herself as she pushed herself away from the table, turning to ask Morgan if she was ready for bed. The redhead stopped and smiled sadly. Morgan had fallen asleep leaning against the wall, her chin on her chest and her book lying open in her lap. Allison turned down the lamp on the table and made her way over to the captain, quietly removing the book and marking the open page. Crouching next to the sleeping woman she reached out to touch Morgan's shoulder.
"Morgan...Morgan...," she said softly. The older woman groaned in her sleep and Allison lifted the captain's arm over her shoulder. "Let's get you into bed," she said softly, trying to pull Morgan to her feet. A bleary blue eye blinked open at her.
"Allison? What are you doing?" Morgan asked, voice groggy with sleep. Allison smiled reassuringly.
"Trying to get you off the floor and into bed. Come on," she answered, tugging on Morgan's arm. The captain haltingly pushed herself to her feet, groaning as her muscles protested, and Allison tucked herself under her arm and helped her over to the bed. Morgan collapsed onto the mattress after the redhead pulled the blankets back, gratefully stretching out on the bed.
"Damn I hurt." Allison pulled the blanket up over Morgan's bare legs and nudged the older woman's shoulder.
"Make room for me?" she asked hesitantly. She sighed in relief as Morgan slid over on the bed without comment and joined the older woman under the blanket. Cupping her hand around the chimney of the lamp she extinguished the flame and lay back, wishing the tension out of her body. Morgan's breathing deepened and Allison glanced over at the moonlit form next to her, swallowing the tears threatening to well up. Squeezing her eyes shut she rolled away from the other woman and wrapped her arms around herself, thoughts whirling in her mind until sleep finally stole over her.
"Did you talk to the Captain, Joseph?" The speaker was a weary-looking older gentleman, silver-haired and well dressed.
"Aye, Andrew. 'E says we'll reach t' island the day after t' morrow," answered a younger red-haired man. He leaned against the railing of the bow of the ship, cold eyes searching the horizon. "'Tis a good thing I sailed for Charleston when I did." Andrew nodded at Joseph and scratched at his chin, wincing at the day old growth.
"It'll be nice to be back on land, that's for certain. Soon you'll have your bride, Joseph, and a fine bride she'll be for you. Nervous yet?" Joseph shot Andrew an inscrutable look and shook his head.
"No, sir, not a bit. Just eager to meet the lass." Andrew hid a sigh and clapped his future son-in-law on the back as he turned towards the center of the ship.
"I think I'm going to go lay down, Joseph. These old bones aren't made for sea-faring." Joseph nodded at the old man and returned his gaze to the sea.
"Soon, my darlin' Allison, soon you'll be on my arm where you belong," he said quietly, toying with the small photograph of his future bride.
Clouds rolled steadily over the island, dumping rain in a relentless downpour. Water streamed from the eaves of the cabin as the rain fell in a constant, penetrating shower, pattering against the rocks that made up the foundation. Morgan blinked an eye open and glared out the window at the ominous rain clouds filling the sky and rolled over, wrapping her body willingly around the bed's other occupant. Sighing contentedly she slid an arm around Allison's waist and tugged her back into the curve of her stomach. The younger woman murmured softly in her sleep and Morgan nuzzled her neck sleepily. Her still exhausted body pulled her back into sleep and she willingly succumbed, deliberately ignoring the small voice nagging at her from the back of her mind. I don't care, I'm comfortable, I'm tired, and I want to sleep with her in my arms. I'll deal with the consequences later.
Morgan woke slowly, blinking a glare at the dim gray light filtering through the rain before stubbornly closing her eyes. Sighing softly she sleepily wrapped herself more completely around the warm body pressed against hers, her mind too cloudy to realize what she was doing. Allison lay facing her, and as the captain tugged her closer the redhead slid her leg up and over her hip, the soft bare skin of the inside of her thigh sending shivers of sensation coursing through her. Morgan moaned softly and nuzzled the soft skin of Allison’s shoulders, slipping her hand up under the redhead’s shirt to brush her fingers along her side. Allison whimpered in her sleep and nuzzled at her collarbone, the sound making Morgan’s eyes pop open.
