"Young woman, you are your own person. I know that they don’t like to let you believe that, but you are. If there is something that you want that you know will make you happy, then you ought to go for it. Don’t sit there and feel sorry for yourself, make your own future!" Allison looked up at her in astonishment for a long moment, then pushed herself to her feet and started to walk away, turning around after a few steps.

"Isabelle, thank you for trying. But I’m not like you, nor am I like Morgan. I can’t take my future into my own hands. I don’t know how." The last few words were barely more than a whisper and Isabelle spied tears welling up in the young woman’s eyes before she turned and walked away, heading for the house. Heaving a deep sigh she rose and followed the young woman, a deep sadness filling her as she thought of the painful day that her two guests were going to go through.

"George, stop." Morgan said firmly. Her friend stood leaning on his desk, a no-nonsense look on his face as he opened his mouth to speak again. "No, George. I have always respected your opinions, you know that, but in this please stay out. There is nothing that I can do to change what is going to happen tomorrow." Morgan turned and propped her hip on the corner of the desk, folding her hands in her lap and staring pensively at them.

"But, Morgan, child, you don’t want her to leave and I don’t think that she wants to. So why make her? That young woman doesn’t deserve to be sent off to Ireland to marry some man she’s never met!" George walked around the desk and sat in the chair in front of her, trying to meet her eyes. "Can you honestly tell me that you want her to go?" He said quietly. Morgan lifted her eyes to meet his and watched him wince at the pain she couldn’t hide.

"I have to turn her over to her father, George. You know that. Not only did I give my word to him I also am responsible to my crew for that money. I’m honor-bound, my friend, and I’ve no way out of it. I won’t lie and tell you that I want her to go, but I have no choice. Besides, she may think it’s all great and wonderful now, but I can’t believe that she would like to live like I do for the rest of her life. She was raised in the South, George!" she exclaimed. "With slaves at her beck and call and never having to lift a finger for anything. She could never be happy living the simple life here," she finished quietly. George frowned slightly and tilted his head.

"Have you asked her?" Morgan looked at him for a long moment and shook her head.

"No, and I won’t, and neither will you. Let this go, George. You and Isabelle have tried, but let it go. There’s no hope here." Morgan pushed away from the desk and headed for the door. After a moment she heard George rise and follow. They walked quietly back downstairs where they found Allison and Isabelle waiting in the small parlor next to the door. Morgan’s eyes immediately sought out Allison’s, a frown creasing her eyebrows at the lack of color in the redhead’s cheeks. As their eyes met Allison smiled slightly and rose from the chair where she had been perched and walked over to tuck her hand in the crook of Morgan’s arm. The young woman shook her head slightly at the captain’s inquisitive look and turned toward the Stromwells.

"Thank you both for having us to dinner, it was quite delicious. I’m sorry I won’t have the opportunity to enjoy your company further," Allison said smoothly. Morgan nodded in agreement and gave each of her friends a meaningful look.

"Yes, thank you. Your hospitality has been most enjoyable. I wish we could stay longer, but the ride down was quite long and we’re both very tired." Morgan stepped forward and embraced Isabelle then shook George’s hand, shaking her head as he shot a meaningful look at the redhead as Allison bid farewell to Isabelle.

"I will see you in a few days, George," she said quietly and firmly. The Stromwells escorted them to the door and waited on the porch as they made their way down to where a servant was holding Mercury for them.

Morgan swung herself up into the saddle and reached her arm down to Allison, smiling into her green eyes as she pulled her up behind her. They both waved to the Stromwells then Morgan turned Mercury and they headed down the drive. Allison sighed softly, wrapped her arms around her waist and leaned her head against the back of her shoulder.

"Are you alright, Allison?" Morgan asked, glancing back at her. Allison nodded slightly.

"Yes…just…weary." Morgan chuckled softly.

"Still want to spend the evening with me?" she asked quietly, holding her breath as she waited for the answer. Allison sat up behind her and leaned her chin on her shoulder.

"Of course I do. Why would you think I wouldn’t?" Morgan shrugged one shoulder a little and glanced back at Allison, finding herself caught in a pair of deep green eyes.

"I...ah...wasn’t sure if you might have changed your mind…thinking we were dragging this out a bit."

"George made sure that Father wouldn’t be able to dock until morning, it’d be rather ungrateful of us to ignore that gift, wouldn’t it?" Allison replied, the look in her eyes making Morgan’s body tingle. As she nodded in answer Allison leaned forward and brushed a kiss against her lips then settled herself against her. Morgan returned her attention to the maze of streets in front of her, a slight smile playing across her lips as she navigated her way towards the harbor.

The sun barely peeked above the horizon as they made their way through the maze of streets between the Stromwells’ and the harbor, the sky streaked with various hues of red and purple. Allison rested her chin on Morgan’s shoulder as the older woman turned Mercury down one of the main streets that ended at the wharf, settling herself more comfortably against her. She tried desperately to forget Isabelle’s fervent arguments and her own helplessness. The street curved as it topped a rise, the harbor stretching out before them, a forest of masts spearing the sky. Allison’s breath caught in her throat as she realized that her father was on one of those ships, and the reality of her departure hit home with a sudden blow. She buried her face in the cloth of Morgan’s shirt and sighed softly, tears pricking at her eyelids as her companion twined her fingers through hers in comfort. She felt Morgan echo her sigh and rubbed her fingertips against the older woman’s stomach.

They rode is silence as the steady ringing of Mercury’s shoes carried them closer to the harbor, neither of them wanting to break the tableau. Soon the street dead-ended at the curve of the harbor and Morgan turned Mercury along it, sitting up straighter in front of her. Allison felt the tension in the captain’s body build as they got closer to the inn and sat up taller herself, eyes searching the street for the men who had harassed her before their sudden departure. The Sleepy Rooster finally came into sight and Allison felt Morgan relax in the saddle in front of her with a soft chuckle.

"Looks like we have a welcoming party, Allison," she said over her shoulder. Allison squinted against the setting sun at the inn and felt a relieved laugh bubble up as she saw Jacob’s large frame leaning comfortably next to the stairway up to the inn’s second floor and recognized other members of Morgan’s crew loitering along the dock in pairs. The captain shook her head and laughed as she pulled Mercury to a halt in front of her first mate.

"Hello, Jacob."

"Hello, Mor’," he answered, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Enjoy yer time away, Cap’n?" Allison watched as Morgan cocked an eyebrow at him then nodded.