Five Sisters (A Romantic Suspense Novel)

by Leen Elle

  Then came Gail, her red hair flying about her madly and her hat in her hand. Although they once saw her as a spirited child, joining in on the sailors' games and gallivanting about the ship with glee, now she was a quiet and mournful young lady. Her eyes, once full of life, were pooled in sorrow. And her head, once always dreaming of pirates and mermaids and impossible things, could only think of Nathaniel, dying in his hospital bed.

  As she came to each sailor, she wished them a simple goodbye, not bearing the strength to say more. But can you really blame her for it? When she was filled with worry and misery at the thought of a good friend dying?

  The men didn't blame her for it. They knew where her thoughts lied. And as she came before them, they kissed her hands and said goodbye and told her that they wished the best for poor Nathaniel West.

  Next in line was Mary, the only merry girl of the bunch. Of course she was sorry to leave the ship, but how could she be sad when she had so much to look forward to? Her dear Ethan and a brand new house and a wedding and the life she'd always dreamed of.

  As she kissed the cheek of each sailor in turn, her lips burned their soft skin. They'd feel the imprint of her departed mouth and watch her with the miserable frowns of men who knew that they'd never be kissed by a more beautiful woman.

  And as she reached Noah McAdams a small, rather embarrassed smile crossed the face of that young beauty. For no matter how much she may love Ethan now, she would never forget the mistake she'd made with the man before her.

  Quickly though, she shook her head, wiping away all memories of the terrible occurrence, and kissed Noah's cheek as she had done all the other sailors'. But before pulling away, her mouth lingered a moment beside Noah's ear.

  "Thank you, Mr. McAdams," she whispered.

  He raised an eyebrow, "For what, may I ask?"

  "For helping me realize how much I love Ethan Lindsey."

  And with that, she joined her two youngest sisters at the bottom of the ramp.

  Nora stepped forward after that. Walking down the line, she slowly bid farewell to each of the sailors, waiting to see the faces of two in particular.

  Ben's arrived near the center of the line, in all its perfectly handsome glory. His blond curls fell dreamily down into sparkling eyes and a bright smile spread across his face. But for once, Nora's heart didn't melt at the sight of him. In fact, it seemed to swell with disgust.

  "Goodbye, Benjamin," she said, with as civil a voice as she could muster. And she knew then that although it was terribly difficult to say goodbye to all the other sailors, this was one man she truly couldn't wait to be parted with.

  Down the line Nora went, bidding several different men farewell, until she came to Sawyer, whose cheeks grew rather red at the sight of her. Taking a step forward, she placed a hand upon his neck and touched her lips ever so softly to his cheek.

  "Oh I wish this day had never come," Nora whispered, "I hate goodbyes. But we'll see each other again sometime, right?"

  Sawyer nodded, "Of course."

  "Well, er . . . goodbye then."

  "Goodbye."

  Nora was just about to step away and join her sisters at the end of the line when she heard Sawyer say her name. She turned around and was greeted by his arms, wrapping her in a quick hug.

  "So long, Leonora St. James," he whispered modestly, embarrassed that any of the other sailors should hear him, "I'll miss you."

  Nora smiled, hugging him back, "I'll miss you too, Sawyer. Goodbye."

  "Goodbye."

  And last of all the sisters, the brim of her hat dipping down into tear-filled brown eyes, was Sara. As she bid goodbye to each of the sailors, their faces blurred into nothingness. She spoke words she could not hear and when they would respond, words filled with sentiment and feeling, their voices sounded as soft as the hum of a bumblebees. A line of nameless men to her, for none seemed to matter but the last.

  Even before she had reached him she felt the breath being sucked out of her lungs. His letter, tucked into the pocket of her long linen jacket, was the constant dwelling place of her fingers. She'd press her fingertips against the parchment and fold the creases until they grew so weak they could rip at any moment, breaking his words apart.

  Before she knew what had happened, all sixteen sailors had passed her by. And there he was. Standing before her in silent humility.

  His rumpled hair fell down into sleepy green eyes and he wouldn't dare look her in the eye for more than an instant. His hands were buried in his pockets and he wore the same navy sweater that he'd worn the night before. The same navy sweater that she'd sewn a patch onto weeks before, covering the hole in the sleeve. Oh why should he choose to wear that particular sweater? Why, when he surely must know what thoughts and memories it caused Sara to think of?

  Never had she felt more saddened or more embarrassed or more unsure of her actions. How were they supposed to say goodbye? How could she be expected to speak to him without bursting into tears?

  Before she could decide, Charlie stuck out his hand and said simply, "Goodbye, Sara."

  A handshake! A handshake? He wanted to say goodbye to her, after all they'd been through, with a cold, distant handshake? Sara's eyes widened, but she stuck out her hand nevertheless. Her small, smooth one was enveloped in his older, wrinkled one for only a moment before he quickly pulled away again, as though the touch of her skin upon his own was likely to burn off all his fingers.

  Sara returned, her voice shaking, "Goodbye, Charlie."

  Charlie let his eyes drop to the floor, lingering on his scuffed brown shoes, "I, er . . . I hope you enjoy yourself in Brighton."

  "I'm sure I will. Thank you."

  Charlie gulped, letting his eyes raise to Sara again, "Take care of yourself. And, er . . . And your sisters too."

  Sara bit her lip. And then, without hesitation, she leaned forward suddenly and gave Charlie a chaste kiss upon the cheek, "So long."

  *****

  In only moments the Lindsey's carriage arrived and out jumped Ethan, beaming from ear to ear. His short auburn hair was combed tidily and he wore a clean gray suit and black fedora. As soon as he stepped out, he rushed forward and his eyes darted around the crowd of sailors. Before he'd even spotted her, Mary rushed into his arms, kissing his face over and over again and telling him how much she'd missed him. He returned the sentiments and once the happy couple had finished their reunion, he stepped forward, Mary still at his side, and welcomed her sisters as well.

  Several of the sailors stepped out from the back and took hold of the girls' luggage, lifting it onto the back of Ethan's carriage, while Ethan said his hellos.

  Mary insisted that he meet all of the sailors, for they'd heard so much about him on the journey, and each man met the doctor with a handshake and warm hello. Each sailor agreed, though he didn't care to admit it, that Ethan did seem to be an awfully kind and accomplished man and perhaps he did truly deserve beautiful Mary. Especially when she seemed so inclined to him, hanging on his every word and keeping her arm locked in his the entire time.

  Once he had thanked Charlie for allowing the girls to sail with him and thanked the sailors for taking such good care of his Mary, Ethan held open the door of his carriage while each of the sisters stepped inside, waving their last farewells to Violet and her crew.

  The door was shut, the horses began to canter, and away they went, rolling off down the road and out of the busy marina, leaving behind an empty ship and seventeen disappointed sailors who weren't quite ready to see them go.

  CHAPTER 27

  The Lindsey’s Home

  "How was the voyage?" asked Ethan, looking to all the girls with bright and eager eyes, "I do hope you enjoyed yourselves despite the ship's small size. I still wish you would have let me pay for your trip though. I could have found you a cruise liner fit for queens! Anything for my Mary and her sisters. And then it wouldn't have taken quite so long for to arrive. I had plenty to keep me busy, my schooling and the work on the house and everything, but
my thoughts never lingered from you for a moment. How could I not worry when I knew you were out there in the middle of the ocean? I had horrid nightmares about it. I dreamed that you'd all been thrown overboard during a sea storm or that pirates had arrived and taken you away from me. What a relief it was to receive that letter of arrival this morning from, er, what is his name? Wilkes?"

  Sara quickly looked out the window.

  "No, darling," Mary corrected, "Wilkie. Charlie Wilkie."

  "Seemed a kind fellow. Did he treat you well? And the others sailors too. I should hope they kept you well occupied, what with there being sixteen and all."

  "Oh yes, they were all very nice," said Nora, "And we made quite a few good friends, I think. It made it hard to say goodbye."

  "I could tell. You all seemed awfully reluctant to leave the ship. But perhaps you'll meet again sometime."

  Nora nodded, "I hope so."

  "Did it get very boring? Trapped aboard that tiny boat with barely anything to do?"

  Mary shrugged, "We made do with what we had. Jess had a fiddle that he'd play sometimes at night and they all had loads of stories to tell. Nora and Gail were always playing cards or checkers with the boys. Emy and I were usually cleaning or sewing or cooking, I swear I must have knitted at least a dozen pairs of socks."

  "And what about Sara?" asked Ethan, "How did you spend the voyage?"

  "Er . . . I read mostly."

  Ethan chuckled, "I'm not surprised. But where did you get so many books? You couldn't have fit very many into that trunk."

  "Well, Charlie reads a lot too. He had plenty for me to read."

  "Glad to hear it. You'll love father's library, Sara. I'll have to show you it when we arrive."

  "I look forward to it."

  The carriage bumped and jostled as it headed through the town, past quaint little shops and fish markets and white cottages. The pier and the marina were soon left behind, fading further and further into the distance, as they rolled onward towards the Lindsey's home. The houses grew more sparse and the noise of the shopkeepers and the fishermen gradually withered away. The carriage headed into the hills, where the wind blew the leaves of tall beech trees and where homely little farmers led their sheep across pastures of silky green grass. Every so often they'd pass a large, charming house and the sisters would all wonder if this was where they'd come to live. But Ethan would simply shake his head and say, "We've a little ways to go, girls."

  Ethan, Mary, and Emy sat on one side of the carriage upon plush seats covered in crimson velvet. Every so often, Ethan would take Mary's hand and squeeze it, as if assuring himself of her long awaited presence. Opposite the happy couple, Sara and Nora sat gazing out the windows with Gail squeezed between them.

  Remembering what a loud and spirited girl she had been when he'd left Laraford, Ethan commented, with an air of sadness apparent in his voice, "You've been awfully quiet this afternoon, Gail. Is something the matter?"

  "No, nothing. I'm just worried, is all."

  "About the house? Because I assure you you'll like it very much and if you shouldn't . . ."

  Mary interrupted him, "Gail made a new acquaintance aboard the ship, Ethan, a Mr. Nathaniel West. He was ill, very ill indeed, and our Gail kept him company. But he took a turn for the worse just last week and the ship had to make an emergency stop to let him off in St. Francis County for some emergency care."

  "Oh," breathed Ethan, "I'm sorry, Gail. I wasn't aware . . . But I do hope the best for your friend Mr. West. I'm sorry about his condition but the doctors in St. Francis are very capable, I assure you."

  Gail smiled weakly, "I'm glad to hear it."

  "Perhaps we will be able to find his address," suggested Ethan, "And then you could write to him, find out how he's doing."

  "He was supposed to be sent to Wickensville, he said, for some sort of treatment."

  "I see. I'll do my best to find his whereabouts for you, Gail. Some of my colleagues are heading to the hospital in St. Francis for experience and perhaps they'll be able to find out how he's faring."

  "Oh thank you. I should like nothing more than to know how he is."

  "Consider it done then."

  The rest of the trip was spent discussing the wedding and the new home Ethan's parents were building for him and Mary. Mary informed Ethan about all the decisions she'd made during the voyage regarding their matrimony. She wanted the dress to be white and elegant and the veil to be long and lacy. The church must be quaint and simple, but with enough room to hold their many guests. The invitations, bearing the date of the sixth of March, should be sent in a timely manner, as soon as the guest list was decided, and Ethan must wear his best black suit. All the details, brimming her head with delight, were revealed with joy and Ethan nodded in assent to every one, assuring his fiancée that the day would be as joyous as she'd hoped.

  While they spoke, the other sisters gazed listlessly out the windows at the broad countryside and pleasant hills of Brighton, each with a different thought on their minds.

  Sara and Nora thought of their sailors, who were heading out to sea at this very moment. Usually the ship stayed in port a bit longer, so the men could enjoy themselves in town, but Charlie insisted that they leave as quickly as possible. He didn't want to lag behind and stay so near to the Lindsey's home for fear he should weaken and change his mind on the matter that he'd so firmly decided upon. The further the distance, the easier she would be to forget. If that was even possible.

  Emy thought of her artist, studying in Clarendon. She wondered if he would be joining them very soon, to welcome them to Brighton, or if he would continue his studies without so much as a letter of greeting. Her restless mind begged her to ask Ethan of Brook's plans, but when he was so enraptured with Mary and her talk of marriage, she wouldn't dare interrupt.

  And last of all, Gail thought of her invalid, lying in a hospital bed in St. Francis County. His condition weighed on her mind all hours of the day. Perhaps he was dead at this very and she didn't even know it. After all, the last time she'd seen him he'd been standing on the edge of death. It wouldn't be remarkable if he were buried beneath his grave at this very moment. But if all went well, Ethan's colleagues would be able to find out for her. And then she would finally be able to set her restless heart to sleep.

  While each of the younger girls dwelled on their unruly thoughts and Mary and Ethan continued to make up for three months of lost conversation, the carriage slowly neared its destination. And before any of its occupants realized it, it was rolling down the thin, dirt road that led to the Lindsey's home.

  As soon as Emy spotted it, her eyes brightened and she gave a shout of happiness, causing all of her sisters to crowd at the windows for a better look.

  It was located in the center of the countryside, surrounded by lush green grass, rolling hills, and, a little ways off, the beginnings of what would come to be Ethan and Mary's home. It stood two stories high, with twelve windows, twelve pairs of black shutters, and two large columns to hold up a small balcony located on the second floor. The wood siding was painted a light, whimsy yellow, while the roof shingles were a rough gray. A large, wraparound porch, floored in white wood panels and fit with several pleasant wicker chairs, completed the structure and brought a smile to Emy's face. She'd always wanted a spacious porch to spend the lazy summer days upon.

  Several large oak and beech trees were located around the house, their leaves gathering around the lawn in colors of copper, scarlet, and straw. And just below the porch, surrounding it with shiny leaves and plump berries, were large, but neatly trimmed, holly bushes.

  Just gazing upon the house brought a warm feeling to the hearts of all five girls. Their last home, in Laraford, had been small and cramped. So to see such a lovely structure, surrounded by the charming hills of Brighton, and to know that they should be living here in the coming years, was oddly unreal for them. It was such a great shock that, for the tiniest moment, none of the sisters thought of their sailors or their artists o
f their invalids. For that moment, everything was perfect. Everything was, in a sense, as it should be.

  And as they stepped out of the carriage, their amazement continued, only to be heightened as they actually entered the house.

  John and Betsy Lindsey, Ethan's parents, met them in the parlor with wide smiles and warm greetings. John, the owner of a successful lumberyard, was a man of about Ethan's stature with snow white hair; rosy cheeks, accentuated by the winkles around his mouth and eyes; and a soft voice. He spoke little, but by his expression one could not deny his delight at meeting these five awed young girls. But Betsy, a bubbly old woman with soft silvery hair, sparkling blue eyes, and a comforting demeanor, spoke enough for the two of them.

  "Oh hello! Hello!" she'd exclaimed upon their first meeting, rushing up to the girls with a smile, "I can't believe you're already here! I feel as though it was just yesterday my Ethan wrote to me of the betrothal! Which one of you is Mary? Dear me! Why should I even ask such a question? It's quite obvious, my dear, that you are the Miss Meredith my son spoke so fondly of. He told me all about your lovely black curls and blue eyes, speaking of you as though you were an angel. But such a beauty! You may be too charming for my son, I daresay," she chuckled, "But of course. But of course. John and I are so honored that you're going to enter the family. Did you see the house way out yonder? John and Ethan have been working at it nearly everyday, making sure everything is just so. I've told John it's not good for his back to do any hard labor, but he just won't listen. Stubborn as an ox, I tell you! Stubborn as an ox! And we're so glad you brought your dear sisters with you! This house is plenty big enough for five young girls and its been in need of some good, youthful spirit, I sense. Ethan's told me so much about all of you that I feel as though I know you already! Why, you must be Sara! With your hair pulled back in a simple ponytail and those dark eyes, I know it must be you! John'll have to show you his library this evening. It's his pride and joy, it is. So many books you'll probably faint in delight! And your, my dear, must be Nora! Such a pretty, pretty name. If Ethan had been a girl I might've named him Leonora. Or if he'd had a sister. And this, surely, is Emy. With that sweet smile and such admirable sapphire eyes. We'll get along just fine, I'm sure. And finally, Gail. How could I not distinguish you from the rest, love, with this vibrant red hair? You'll love the country, I'll bet, for there are plenty of lakes and hills to roam about, if you should like to. But before you do any exploring, I insist that we show you to your rooms first. And then, while you're getting settled in, I'll have Milly stir up some lemonade and scones. You must be hungry after that carriage ride."