Regan hurried to open the note. Maybe this would be the confirmation she needed that they were indeed wanted by her aunt and uncle—instead of being an unwanted burden. Her father had married her off as soon as he’d been able. Though Regan’s husband had been kind, he wasn’t the man she’d have picked had she had any say in the matter. When her husband died and she and Keera had moved back home, her father had seemed annoyed. She soon found out he’d been courting her best friend, and they had immediate plans to marry. Then Regan had been pawned off on her unknown relatives under her dad’s guise that she “see the world while she had a chance.”
She prayed that with her aunt and uncle, she and Keera would finally have the home Regan desired, a place with family where she’d be wanted. The fact that her aunt had grieved when they’d gone missing gave her hope. She quickly glanced down at the white paper and scanned the page. Her heart fell.
Ian was quick to notice her despair. “Regan, what is it?”
“My aunt and uncle apparently live in a small house, and my cousin and her family have just moved in with them.” She paused and willed her voice to remain steady. “They don’t have a place for us at this time, but my aunt said if we can wait a few more weeks she’s sure they can figure something out for us.”
She couldn’t raise her eyes from the paper. If she did and either Joseph or Ian gave a sign of sympathy, she’d surely fall apart.
Joseph worried his hat in his hands. “I’ll be headin’ back home to Ireland in a few days. If you’d like, I can take you back with me. I’m sure the missus would love to have young’uns around again. She misses our girls now that they’re all married and busy with lives of their own.”
Regan couldn’t help but smile at his kind offer. “Aye, I’m sure she does, Joseph. But I can’t be a burden on you any more than I want to be on anyone else. I’ll find a way to provide for Keera and myself.”
“This is nonsense.” Ian’s exasperation carried through his words. “You’ll not worry yourself about such things, Regan! You know you’re welcome to stay here indefinitely. Granny loves your company—she was so lonely before you arrived and now she has someone to bake with and to talk to. We just talked about the way Johnny is thriving with Keera’s company. And then there’s me….”
His voice tapered off when he looked over at Joseph.
“Spit it out, boy! The words aren’t going to come out on their own.”
Ian looked back at Regan. “I’ve enjoyed your companionship, too. The days are long out here and it’s been refreshing to have someone around to talk to, especially since you understand my calling.”
“So it’s settled.” Joseph’s grin split his face from edge to edge. “You’ll stay here at least until your aunt makes other arrangements.”
“I don’t…”
“You don’t appear to have any other choice, love.” Joseph stood. “Let’s take us a little walk.”
“Aye. A walk will clear my head.”
Joseph reached for her hand but she didn’t miss the wink he sent Ian’s way.
Ian nodded. “I want you to stay, Regan. You carry more than your own weight here. You aren’t a burden or a charity case.” He headed for the lighthouse.
Joseph led her to the beach. “I know I don’t know you very well. Maybe not even as well as that man we just left. But for whatever reason I’ve felt responsible for the two of you ever since I saw you on the ship.”
Regan nodded. She knew he’d taken a special interest in them. She figured God had set Joseph in their path to be their protector while on the ship.
“Your aunt and uncle seem like good enough people, but they do have a small house, and it’s close to the heart of town. I saw Keera on the ship. She needs lots of fresh air and open spaces. There aren’t any places for Keera to play at your aunt’s house. And to make matters worse, your aunt’s rooms are filled with collectibles. Porcelain, glass, you name it.”
Regan shuddered. What a horrible surrounding for her rambunctious child.
“I’m going to get personal here. What are the chances that you could make a life here at the lighthouse for Keera? The Morgans seem like wonderful people.”
“I’ve barely just met them…how would I know?”
“Oh, I think you know.” This time his wink was directed at her. “I think you owe it to yourself and to Keera to stick around and find out what lies in store for you here. God doesn’t make mistakes, and I feel in my heart He brought you here for a reason. Meanwhile, your aunt said she’ll ask around and see if anyone needs a caretaker or a maid that would be willing to let you bring Keera along.”
“I see.” Neither one of them would do well being cooped up in a stuffy house in town. They’d been spoiled by the vastness of space here on the coast. And Regan was able to help Granny or Ian while Keera ran free. What would Keera do in town while Regan was caring for an employer?
“Your aunt seems like a good person, Regan. But they’re in a hard place right now.”
“My father never should have sent us away.”
“Aye, I agree with you there. I’m not in his shoes, but I’d never do what he did if one of my girls needed us.”
“I know. You’re a good man, Joseph.” She stopped and grasped his hand. “And I appreciate all that you’ve done for us.”
“Aye, it was nothing.” He waved her off and headed for the boat. “Tell Ian I’m leaving one barrel here courtesy of the captain. I have no idea what he put in it, but he said to tell Ian thanks for all he’s done.”
“I’ll tell him.”
Granny, circled by men from the boat, waved them over. “I saved two more cookies for you, Joseph. You have a safe trip home and enjoy that family of yours. Regan’s told me all about you.”
He took the cookies she offered and motioned toward the barrel that the crew had unloaded. Regan nodded. Keera ran over for one last hug.
“Oh—one more thing,” Joseph called. “The captain said to keep the boat. It’ll be more trouble than it’s worth to try to get back to the ship.”
Regan grinned. Even with the barrels going back, God had still blessed Ian.
Chapter 6
Two more weeks passed. Ian came down from the tower and couldn’t locate anyone. Regan and Keera had already become such fixtures around the place he couldn’t imagine life without them. He headed for the house.
“Granny? Where’s Regan and the children?”
Gran called back from the far end of the house. Ah yes, laundry day. “I shooed them out of here. She said she’s taking them wading.”
“That’s odd. I looked up and down the coast and didn’t see them.”
“I think she said they were going inland, to explore. She wanted to take them north of here. I told them about the little creek that runs over there.”
“The creek? The one that leads to the pond?”
“I’m not sure.” Granny walked through the door with an armload of bedding. “She just mentioned that they wanted an adventure and asked if there was any clear water to wade in. I mentioned the creek, but didn’t tell them which way to go.”
Ian hurried over to take the laundry from her. He held the door open and followed her down the stairs.
Granny wiped her forehead. “Whew, thanks. It’s really warming up today.”
Ian set the laundry on the ground and took Granny by the shoulders. “Gran—you warned Regan about the alligators at the pond, didn’t you?”
Granny’s forehead wrinkled. “I don’t think so, but surely it’s come up by now in one of your many conversations? I’m sure she’ll know to watch for them.”
“I’m not sure she will. She won’t expect them to be there, and since she’s always stayed near the gulf, I never thought to warn her.”
Ian took off running. He didn’t know where to look. If they went west toward the pond, they could be in trouble. Even if they went the other way, several of the large creek’s smaller branches led toward bayous and marsh grasses where gators liked to hide.
Sure enough, he saw the lavender of Regan’s dress and the pink of Keera’s on the path leading toward the creek. Johnny tagged along behind them. The gators didn’t seem to congregate there for the most part, but if the trio headed left at the creek where it joined with the pond, they had a greater chance of disturbing one of the giant creatures.
“Regan!” He cupped his hands around his mouth. The wind carried his voice away.
He flew down the stairs, risking life and limb with the quick pace, but he needed to get to his family. He hadn’t even kissed Regan yet, but he planned to remedy that situation as soon as he had her safely in his arms. He couldn’t imagine anything that would make him decide otherwise.
The heavy lighthouse door impeded his progress, but he finally fumbled it open and tore through it. The blast of hot morning air after the cool interior of the stone walls hit him full in the face but he kept running. He had to get to them before it was too late.
“What do we plan to do at the creek today, wee ones?” Regan asked, her mind, for the moment, more focused on the cloying heat than the children’s answer. She still hadn’t acclimated to the incessant heat in this lower hemisphere. She waved a large palm frond at her face, but had a sinking feeling that the effort produced more discomfort than it fixed.
Keera answered by stripping off her dress and running into the cool waters of the creek. She danced in her pantaloons, oblivious to any proprieties she might be breaking with the endeavor. Johnny giggled and followed suit, stripping down to the basics. They danced in the waters with the carefree abandon of young children.
Regan found herself smiling as she watched. Johnny had lost the distant look he’d worn when she’d arrived. To her he looked like a normal carefree child, enjoying a romp in the water. They hadn’t been to this part of the coast before and Regan soaked in the beauty.
Occasional splashes of water thrown her way kept Regan cool, as did the shade of the leaves from the nearby magnolia she’d settled under. The bank of the creek was sandy and offered a welcome reprieve from the day’s heat and chores. The scent of jasmine drifted around her.
She’d offered Granny the chance to come with the children, but Granny had insisted on doing the laundry while Regan took a welldeserved break. Regan acquiesced. She had finally mastered the stove and now delighted in showing off her cooking skills with Irish delicacies. Granny, Johnny, and Ian seemed to enjoy them. In return, Granny insisted on doing some of the more mundane tasks about the lighthouse. The balance worked well. But that didn’t mean Regan didn’t feel guilty sitting in the cool shade watching the frolicking kids with amusement while Granny worked in the heat doing laundry.
“We’re only going to stay here long enough to cool off, and then we’ll go back to help Granny finish up around the house.”
The children chorused their displeasure.
Keera waded over to plop down beside Regan, her wet skin drenching Regan in the most delightful way. “Ack, that water feels so good I should grab your hand and run into the creek alongside you, wee one!”
“Do it, Mama! You never have any fun anymore. In Ireland you were full of spunk and vigor. Pappy always said.”
“Aye. That he did. But a person has to grow up sometime and my time has come.”
Keera tipped her head in confusion. “You look the same to me.”
“Yes, but just like we had to leave the lighthouse to come here, I have to leave my childish ways and act like an adult.”
Keera sighed. “Then I don’t much look forward to growing up.”
Regan laughed. “You’ll like the idea more as you go. It’s okay to keep some of the ways of the young.”
A look of challenge passed across Keera’s smiling face. “Then show me by going into the creek.”
“Well, it does look inviting.” Regan stared at the water, tempted. “And in this heat my dress would surely dry before we got back to the house….”
“Do it, Mama!”
“Please, Mama?” Johnny had come to stand in front of her, his huge eyes imploring in his small face. Her heart melted at his choice of words. She’d love to have the chance to be his mama.
“Maybe just this once.” She stood to her feet, grabbed both children by their hands, and with squeals of laughter they ran down the slight incline. They entered the water with a large splash. Regan’s laughter echoed over the young ones. When was the last time she’d had so much fun? She’d laughed quite a bit on the ship, but that was while watching Keera’s antics, not while joining in.
She bent down and used her hands to drench the kids with water. Their soggy clothes hung on their tiny frames. They squealed and giggled as she chased them around in circles. Keera tripped on a rock and went down. Johnny tripped over her and tumbled head over heels, landing on his seat in the shallow stream. After a moment of introspection to make sure he was okay, his infectious giggle had them all three laughing once again.
Regan took advantage of the moment and surveyed their surroundings while standing in the water. The shallow creek ran over a sandy bottom that was littered with small round pebbles. A tiny current tugged at her skirts and ankles, but not with enough force to move her.
“It’s beautiful here, Mama.”
“Aye, Keera, it is.”
“It’s prettier than Pappy’s lighthouse.”
“You think so?” Surprise trilled through Regan. “It doesn’t have Ireland’s rolling green hills.”
“No, but it has prettier water and the sandy beach.”
“True.” Regan hadn’t really thought about it, but Keera was right. Ireland had rockier beaches, at least in their area.
“And it’s warmer here, Mama.”
“Much warmer, that’s for sure.” Regan laughed. “So much warmer I’m not sure that’s a bonus point in Florida’s favor.”
“But it is! We can swim longer here. It was always cold in the water in Ireland.”
“You have a point.” Regan slowly made her way back to shore. Regan, without a doubt, wanted to stay. But she wanted to be sure Keera liked it before moving forward with that idea. “What about all the strange creatures and the trees and bushes—we have our very own jungle here.”
“I love the jungle, Mama!” Keera followed at Regan’s heels. “It’s so pretty and there are birds I’ve never seen and lots of bugs.”
Regan shuddered. She’d found a few too many bugs on their various expeditions, and even a few in the house. This, in her opinion, wasn’t a benefit to living here.
Johnny giggled. “You don’t like the bugs.”
“No, I don’t.” She reached out to tickle him as he settled against her side. “I don’t like the bugs at all.”
Keera grew contemplative. “There aren’t many shops.”
“No shops,” Regan agreed.
“The city is good because it has lots of places to go and see and enough shops to fill an entire street.”
“Aye.”
Keera had fallen back into one of their favorite games that they’d played when trying to survive city life. Regan had missed the solitary life of being a lightkeeper’s daughter and had often told Keera stories of living by the sea. Her arranged marriage had taken her inland and even Keera missed the brief moments of freedom she’d found while visiting her grandfather. They’d taken to listing all the good things about city life when trying not to think about the bad.
“In the city, you can have anything you want on a moment’s whim.”
“Really?” Johnny asked. “I’d like to go to town. I don’t get to go very often. Papa hates it there. He prefers the quiet of the lighthouse.”
Ian had heard screams and had pushed himself to run harder. In his p
anic over their safety it had taken him a few moments after his arrival to realize they were safe. He’d only heard the tail end of the conversation as he’d approached, but he’d certainly heard enough. So Regan wanted to go back to the city.
“Back to the lighthouse—all of you.” Fear over what he’d imagined when he’d heard their screams, and disappointment at the conversation he’d overheard, made his words sound harsh.
Regan and Keera shrieked as he stalked up on them. He hadn’t meant to sound so gruff, but at the moment his heart was breaking. And now they had Johnny longing for town!
“Papa!” Johnny, only weeks earlier so sullen and quiet, ignored his grumpy mood and jumped to his feet with a smile. “Come into the water with us! Regan did. It’s cool and fun, and she made us laugh.”
“I’m not coming into the water.” Ian glared past Regan, surveying the shores. “There are alligators nearby. You shouldn’t have gone in. You know better, Johnny.”
Huge tears filled Johnny’s eyes and flooded over onto his thin cheeks. “I–I’m sorry, Papa. I—I didn’t think.”
Ian felt worse. His cutting words had Johnny back to his insecure self. Ian wanted to punch something.
Regan and Keera had scrambled up the slight incline at Ian’s mention of alligators, but now Regan was staring at him with questioning eyes. “We weren’t in imminent danger, Ian. I did check the shore, and although I certainly didn’t expect to encounter a gator, I gave the area a good onceover before allowing the children to jump in. I know snakes or any of the other wildlife that reside here could have been a problem. I made sure the children were safe.”
Her musical Irish brogue deepened when she was stressed and now the lilting words practically rolled off her tongue. The hurt in her emerald eyes almost undid him. “Have we offended you somehow?”
You’ve broken my heart with your words of longing for the city.
Ian refused to voice that as the reason he was upset. Obviously, Regan missed the city and would continue on to her uncle and aunt’s at the first opportunity. He’d been a fool to hope that she’d fall in love with the lighthouse—enough so that she wouldn’t ever want to leave—in such a short time.
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