“And this is to make me feel better—picking on my age?” Peg teased.
Nate fumbled for his words. “Oh…I mean…well…oh, just pull the conch out of my mouth. Maybe I’m not designed for romancing a woman.”
Peg chuckled. “Your approach could use some work.”
She glanced back at the ship. Most of the passengers were off. The distinguished looking gentleman had taken off his jacket and was talking with Benjamin Hunte. “Did you mingle with the passengers?” she asked Nathaniel.
“Some, why do you ask?”
“Just curious. Who’s that man speaking with Ben Hunte?”
He glanced out the window. “That’s Matt Bower, a businessman from Savannah.”
“Savannah?” Peg felt the room sway. She took in a deep breath, eased it out slowly, closed her eyes, and sucked in another breath.
Calm yourself, she chided herself. There’ve been others from Savannah. Never, not even once in the twenty years she’d been on Key West, had anyone ever addressed her past. Of course, she kept a low profile. Most folks didn’t even know she came from Savannah. Not that she kept it a secret, but she didn’t go reminding everyone every time she turned around either.
She opened her eyes and focused on the two blurred images of Nathaniel in front of her. His hands were now holding hers. “Are you all right?”
“Fine, must be the heat.” She pulled her right hand from his grasp and fanned herself to hide her duplicity. Get a grip, she reprimanded herself. It’s been twenty years.
“Shall I get you some iced tea or something?”
“I’m fine. I have some water in the back room. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll go fetch some.”
“Sure, I need to get to my store anyway.” Nathaniel slipped off his stool. “Peg?”
She turned and faced him.
“Thanks. I appreciate your friendship.”
“You’re welcome. I’m sure it will work out.” She smiled. At least, she hoped she was smiling.
In the back room, a narrow storage space that followed the backside of the building, she chipped some ice from the icebox and poured herself a glass a water. “Lord, I know I should be over this, please give me strength.”
“Hello? Anyone in here?” a male voice called out from the storefront.
Peg straightened her skirt and exited the back room. “May I help—” Her voice caught. Her throat constricted.
Sweat beaded on her forehead.
Her hands turned to ice.
The room darkened.
Prickles traveled up her skin as the past slammed into the present.
The room spun.
Darkness…escape…
❧
Matt caught the delicate blond in his arms before her head hit the floor. Does she know who I am, Lord? How could she? he wondered. He pulled a decorative pillow down from the shelves and placed it under her head.
“What happened to Miss Martin?” Ben leaned over her.
“Not sure. Do you have a doctor on the island?”
Ben nodded.
“Would you please go get him?”
“Be right back.” Ben ran from the store.
Matt released her and folded her arms across her belly. He eyed a small pitcher in the back room she’d just exited. Had the heat overtaken her? It was warm, but it didn’t seem that hot. And if she lived here all the time, why would this moderate heat bother her?
He fetched the pitcher and a small towel that hung on a post beside the ice box.
Ice box. He opened it, chipped off some ice, and wrapped it in the towel.
Beside her again, he gently dabbed her face with the cool cloth. Father, she’s beautiful. Of course, she would be.
She groaned.
Her eyes fluttered open and closed.
Blue, of course.
“Hello.” He waited.
Her eyes darted back and forth.
“You fainted. Here drink some of this.” Matt lifted her head and placed the glass to her soft pink lips.
Her gaze focused. “Who are you?”
“Matthew Bower. But most folks just call me Matt.”
“Do I know you?”
“No, Miss Martin, we just met.”
She took another sip. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”
“Doc Hansen is on his way,” Ben huffed from the doorway.
“Thank you, Ben.”
“You’re welcome, Sir.”
Ben sat beside Peg Martin, who was now sitting on the floor. Matt realized he was still holding her head for support.
“Are you all right, Miss Martin?” Ben asked.
“I’ll be fine, Ben. Thanks.”
“Ain’t nothing. Just came in to show Mr. Bower your store.”
She looked into Matt’s eyes again, seeking an answer to her unanswered question. No, you don’t know me, he realized, but I certainly know you and all about your past. He glanced down to her ring finger. Her hands were slender and lightly bronzed from living on this island. But her ring finger was empty, and she was still going by her maiden name. Could she be the one? How many Margaret Martins could there be on such a small island? “The boy said you sold fine linens in here.”
“You’re looking for linens?” She knitted her eyebrows.
She’d caught him at his deception. “Truth be told, Ma’am, I was simply admiring a storefront in the middle of an export harbor. I, myself, am in the export business.”
“I see.”
“Peg?” a voice from behind queried. Doc Hansen, Matt presumed. “Ben said you fell.”
“Mr. Bower says I fainted.”
“Did you eat this morning?” The doctor began his examination. Matt got up and turned his back to give her privacy. There was no question in his mind; she was the one. The one he’d been searching for since he learned the truth. The truth… God help me, I don’t know if I can do it, Lord. I certainly just can’t—
“Dr. Hansen, I’m staying at Isaac Salinger’s place. If you’ll be needing anything from me, I’ll be there.” Without turning around, he added, “I hope you’re feeling better, Miss Martin. Good day.”
Matt flew out of the store faster than a goose flying south for the winter. Whatever possessed him to go into that store the first moment he came into town?
He kicked a sun-bleached hunk of coral out of his path. Picking up the ends of the wheel barrel, he said to Ben, “Suppose you show me where Mr. Isaac Salinger lives before anyone else passes out from this heat.”
“I never known Miss Martin to faint like that. She’s been here forever.”
Matt stole a glance back at Southern Treasures. It was a quaint store, he had to admit. Seemed to fit her delicate beauty. He wasn’t a connoisseur of fancy lady things, but he’d bought Esther a few niceties in his day.
Esther. What would she say if she knew? Would she bury the secret like Dr. Baker had? Or would she be as compelled as he had been to find Margaret Martin and tell her the truth?
Matt raked his hand through his damp hair. It was hot today. Perhaps Miss Martin was simply stricken by the heat after all.
No, there was a look in her eyes when he walked in the store. As if she knew—but how could she?
Three
“Three weeks,” Peg mumbled and went back to her work. It had been three weeks since she’d made a perfect fool of herself fainting in front of Matthew Bower. The man seemed perfectly harmless, but she still couldn’t face him. If she saw him coming down the street, she’d hurry off in another direction just to avoid him. Daniel, her brother, had even had some business with Matt. He seemed normal enough, yet there was something about him that unnerved her. The worst part was that she couldn’t figure out why.
Peg stitched the final blue heron on the baby blanket for Bea and Ellis Southard’s boy. He looked just like his father with his brown hair and blue-gray eyes. Southard eyes, Peg decided. Their nephew, Richie, had the same blue-gray eyes. The same shade of blue she’d used to embroider the heron.
&n
bsp; The bell over the door jingled. Peg looked up with a smile, then dropped it immediately. Her hands gripped the blanket.
“Good morning, Miss Martin.” Matthew Bower stood tall with his handsome jet-black hair and green eyes. The silver streaks on his sideburns made him look even more refined, if that were possible.
Peg swallowed. “Good morning, Mr. Bower. How may I help you?”
“You can tell me how you are. I’ve been concerned, but every time I’ve seen you in town you’ve run in the opposite direction.”
He’d seen her. Heat assaulted her cheeks as strong as the hot sun at noon bore down on the small tropical isle. “I’m sorry. I’m rather embarrassed by my behavior the other day.”
“For pity sakes, Ma’am, whatever for? You simply fell victim to this heat. I’m still adjusting to it. I certainly understand why things slow down in the middle of the day and don’t really resume until midafternoon.” He stepped closer to the counter. “I met your brother, Daniel. Nice fella. Pretty wife, too.”
“Carmen, she’s a sweetheart. Perfect wife for Daniel.”
“So it seems.” He surveyed the various shelves of the store. “I haven’t been in here since I first arrived. If you don’t mind, I’d like to browse.”
“Help yourself. You’ll find we have a variety of items. Several island folks make them, and I sell them.”
“Your brother seems to think rather highly of your skills.” Matthew’s hand traced the stitching she’d done on a placemat. Did he know what work was hers? How could he? Lord, what is going on with me?
“Your brother says you also hail from Savannah. That’s where I’m from.”
“Yes,” she croaked out. Did he know her shame? Did he know Billy? And why did Daniel open his big mouth? Okay, Daniel doesn’t usually have a big mouth, but this time…
“I’m looking into Key West as a port for my exporting business. I distribute cotton to South America and Europe.”
Why is he giving me all this information?
“Savannah’s a good harbor, but I’m not the only distributor there. I’m looking to expand my business and speed up the delivery time by working from here.”
“We certainly have enough boats passing through,” Peg said lamely. What else could she say? She didn’t know why the man was here; she couldn’t help her attraction to him, and yet she was terrified by him. All of which were silly reasons. After all, she was a grown woman, completely in control of her life and her destiny. She was right with God, and she’d made her peace with the past. She had a good life. So why was Matthew Bower so unsettling?
“That’s what attracts me to Key West.” Matthew stepped further away, examining the next shelf over. In front of him stood items carved from coral rock. He lifted one and examined it closely. “These are quite good.”
“Carlos Mendez makes them. It’s a hard stone to work with.”
“I can see that.” Matthew placed the item back on the shelf. “Do you miss Savannah?”
“At first I suppose I did, but now I wouldn’t know what to do with myself there.”
“Have you ever spent any time in New York?”
“No.”
“Fascinating place, but far too busy for myself.” He moved over to the far wall where some of her lace work and linens were. “Ben said you made some linens for his mother.”
“Mo bought them as a wedding gift.”
“Right, he mentioned that. Fine boy.”
“Yes, he is.” What was this man fishing for?
“Miss Martin, let me be honest with you. I’m a widower. My wife passed away two years ago. I have a son named Micah. We were never blessed with any other children. I’m a decent man, make a fair wage for my labors, and I was wondering if you’d do me the honor of your company for dinner this evening.”
“What?” Peg nearly fell off her stool.
“I find you an attractive woman, but that isn’t what interests me. The fact that you passed out at the very sight of me—well, that can make a man be fascinated with a woman. Granted, I’m certain it wasn’t my stunning looks that made you swoon.”
“You look fine.” Had she really let that slip out? Judging from the smile upon his face, she had. Her face reheated for the second time in a few short minutes.
“Ah, so it’s not the hideous growth on my back that caused you to pass out,” he chuckled.
Peg couldn’t help but laugh. The man had to be the most handsome man she’d seen in a long time. Plenty of men passed through Key West, but none distinguished themselves quite like Matthew. “I don’t keep company with men.”
“You…your brother did tell me that. I forgot. Forgive me, Ma’am. I was so taken in by your beauty, I simply forgot myself.” He bowed and grinned.
“What are you after, Mr. Bower?”
“A chance to become friends. If anything else develops we’ll leave it in the Lord’s hands, but I’m simply reaching out as a friend. Most folks are paired up here.”
That was true enough. The seamen that came to port weren’t the kind to settle down, but most other folks married young. Peg fanned herself. How did he do it? She was so flustered just being in the man’s presence.
“I’ve been here for ten minutes, and you haven’t passed out or run in the other direction. I’m making progress, I see.” Matthew flashed his handsome, twisted grin, and Peg felt gooseflesh rise on her body all the way down to her toes. No one had ever affected her like that. Well, no one since Billy, she amended.
Peg chuckled. “You’re positively incorrigible.”
“Another one of my endearing qualities. Although Esther did find it annoying a time or two.”
“Was Esther your wife?” She was interested; she couldn’t help herself.
“Yes, we were married for twenty years. A good marriage. We had our ups and downs, but God was good, and we worked through most things.”
“What happened? If you don’t mind me asking.” Peg placed the blanket on the counter.
Matthew edged closer and reached out to touch the embroidered heron. “You do marvelous work, Miss Martin. I’ve never seen anything finer. May I see the other side?”
“No, it isn’t as pretty because there is a lining to cover it.”
“Ah, much like ourselves, hey?”
Peg shielded her eyes. How could he know this about her? She was a fairly decent looking woman, although age was taking its toll. But on the inside she was still a mess. A scarred mess from the bad choices she’d made years ago. No one knew. Only her parents, and they were gone, and her brother Daniel. No one else.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to be so personal. It’s just how I see myself. I have a great facade, but some of my inner thoughts, my secrets, need to remain hidden from anyone else’s eyes.”
“Did you know my family in Savannah?” Peg pushed.
“No, I’m afraid I didn’t. It’s a fairly good-sized city and, unless your father was in the same line of work as myself, I can’t imagine our paths crossing.”
“Dad was a fisherman.”
“That explains your love for the water.”
“How did you know?” she asked a little too quickly, amazed that for the second time she’d spoken her thoughts rather than kept them to herself.
“The view. You’re the only residential business on the harbor. Everything else is commercial.”
“I got the place during the war. A wrecker was calling it quits.”
“A wrecker?”
“Oh, that’s the name they gave the folks who salvaged the goods from sinking ships. The reefs around the island fool quite a few sailors. It was a great business until the war. Then the soldiers stopped it. Of course, the increase of naval vessels in the area stopped a lot of the groundings, and the light stations helped as well.”
“So wreckers were pirates?”
“Goodness, no. It was very legal. They recovered material from the boats and were paid by the company that owned it, or their insurance company, or by the folks who bought it. Either way, a ju
dge had to decide who got which wrecking permit. Mostly it was done in order, but from time to time a man would come in with a sighting and simply stake the claim. In other words, it was salvaging.”
“Ah. I think I understand now. So, what do you say about having dinner with me?”
“Like I said before, I don’t—”
“Keep company with men. I know. I just thought once you got to know me a bit you might change your mind. Besides, I’m not really looking for a romantic dinner for two, just someone to have some conversation with. Do you go out to dinner with friends?”
“Sometimes.”
“Well, don’t I deserve your friendship after I saved your life?”
“My life?” Peg wagged her head in disbelief.
“Ah, but, Ma’am, I caught your head in my hands mere seconds before it came crashing down on this hard floor.” He winked.
“You are incorrigible.” Peg smiled in spite of herself.
“I try. Please say you’ll do me the honor of eating dinner with me. It’s so boring to eat alone.”
“I’m really sorry, but I’ve already made plans for the evening.”
“Fair enough. But be advised, I shall return, and I will ask again.” He nodded slightly, then winked before turning around and exiting the store.
“Thank You, Lord, for dinner plans.” She didn’t know how she could have turned down Matthew’s request. He had a way about him that just…just what? Made her feel so on edge she felt like she was going to explode? That her past could come crashing down around her heels at any time? Or was it more simple than that? Was he awakening in her desires she thought long ago buried? She closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. That was probably the case. He represented a threat to all the decisions she’d made in her life. Decisions that had kept her well for many years. Decisions that kept her alone and never quite forgiven.
Oh sure, she knew God’s grace covered the multitude of her past sins and present ones. But she couldn’t forgive herself. Not now, not ever. She’d made foolish choices. Costly choices, and they had long-term consequences.
“Enough,” she fumed. “I buried the past with You, Lord. Please take this guilt away. I can’t deal with it any longer.” Her son was dead, and it was all her fault.
Southern Treasures Page 2