by Cathy Marie Hake, Lynn A. Coleman, Mary Davis, Susan Page Davis
Edith reached her hand and placed it upon Bea’s. “The Lord will give you the desires of your heart. Trust Him.”
Bea nodded her head, afraid to speak. The desires of her heart had shifted drastically since the day she first arrived on the island. No longer did she simply want to not separate from Richard. Now, she no longer wanted to part from the man who had captured her heart.
She glanced up and saw Ellis saying good night to a few families with younger children. He lifted a small child and tossed him in the air. He’s so good with children, Lord.
“There’s something more than your social status keeping you from being Richard’s nanny,” Edith whispered.
Bea nodded. She couldn’t deny it any longer. Of course Cook knew, but was Ellis ready to have the town, the pastor and his wife, know of their budding relationship? “Please don’t think poorly of Ellis, Mrs…. I mean, Edith. Cook has moved into the house, and I am remaining in the cottage.”
“I do not thinking badly of you or Ellis. Go with your heart, Dear. Trust God to work out the details.”
“Thank you.”
“Forgive me for leaving so, but I’ll never get these children to bed if I don’t start rounding them up now.” Edith smiled. “Good night, Beatrice. It’s a pleasure meeting you. I’ll be praying.”
Bea started to get up.
“No, Dear, sit … relax. You’ve done enough.”
“Good night, Edith, and thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Stop by the parsonage anytime if you need to talk or just want to visit.” Edith slipped back into the darkness, calling her children.
A parade of lanterns exited Ellis’s home and worked their way down the street. What a truly different place this is, Lord, she pondered.
Ellis said good-bye to Pastor Williams and his family. Some of Cook’s family members were helping with the cleanup. Most folks were gone, and Bea sat alone at a table. He longed to be next to her. But one person after another kept them apart.
Ellis looked to the right and left. No one. He grinned and hurried over to Bea’s table. “Finally, we can be together.” He sat down beside her. Tears edged her eyelids. “Bea, have you been crying?”
She smiled and shook her head, no.
Ellis brushed his thumb up to her eye. A tiny droplet of water sat on his thumb. “Then what’s this?”
“I’ve been holding them back,” she whispered.
“What’s the matter?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?” Do women cry at nothing? He thought back to his mother. There were a few times when he found her with tears in her eyes.
Ellis scooted closer on the wooden bench and leaned toward her ear. “I’ve longed to be this close to you all night.”
“Oh, Ellis.” Bea reached her arms around his shoulders.
Ellis completed their embrace, pulling her closer.
“I’m so proud of you, the way you stood up to Mr. Dabny tonight.”
Ellis squeezed her gently. “Thank you. The man is a … I won’t say it.”
Bea giggled. “I think I know what you were going to say.”
“Hmm, you’re dangerous, do you know that?”
“Me, dangerous?” She pulled back and looked him straight in the eye. “You, Sir, with your gallant behavior … And tonight—this entire evening—I can’t believe you pulled it off with no planning. It was just like you said it would be. Folks brought plenty of food. Everyone enjoyed themselves. I’m amazed, Mr. Southard, truly amazed.”
“Amazed enough to …” Ellis trailed her lips with his thumb.
Bea’s eyes closed in anticipation.
Did he dare? If he kissed her there would be no turning back. He wouldn’t be able to let her leave. Everything shouted she was the one for him. His soulmate, his gift from God. But for so long he had given up on the possibility of having a wife, a woman who could love him, accept him, forgive him.
But how could he resist her? No, he would not resist. “I love you, Bea,” he whispered before her velvet lips touched his.
She kissed him back. He tightened his hold of her. She tightened her hold on him.
Time dissolved into a blanket of tranquillity. Slowly he pulled away. He opened his eyes. A blush, the shade of a pale pink rose, accented her delicate nose.
Bea’s eyes fluttered open. They were wide with passion and honesty. “I love you, Ellis.” Her fingers trailed his swollen lips.
Ellis felt a tug on his pant leg. “Uncle Ellis, are you and Nanna married now?”
Ellis groaned.
Bea coughed out, “No.”
“But Uncle Ellis said that when you kissed you were married!” Richard whined.
“Richard, I said after the pastor says the man and woman are married they can kiss.”
“And you were kissing.”
“Honey, your uncle Ellis and I were kissing, but we aren’t married. We like each other,” Bea pleaded. How do you make a four year old understand?
“But …,” Richard pouted, “don’t you have to marry Nanna now?”
Ellis left her side and squatted next to Richard. “Son, a man has to ask a woman first if she would like to be his wife.”
“Did you ask her?” Richard held his mouth firm. “No, Son.”
“Are you gonna?” Richard folded his arms over his chest.
“I’m thinking about it.” Ellis squirmed.
Bea smiled. Was he really? She’d been thinking about it forever, or so it seemed. And yet it had only been a little over a week.
“Then ask her.”
“Richie …,” Bea admonished. She hoped Ellis wouldn’t think she put Richard up to such nonsense.
“I might just do that, Son.” Ellis turned to Bea.
“Ellis, you don’t have to do this.” Bea squirmed on the bench. Was he really going to ask her? Now? Here? In Richard’s presence?
Ellis smiled a wicked grin and took her by the hand. “If I ask you, Bea, it’s because I want to do this, not because of Richard’s pleading.”
“Oh, my!” Bea needed a cool cloth, her cheeks were on fire.
“Beatrice Smith, you are the most incredible woman I’ve ever known. First, you’ve raised my nephew through all sorts of perils, and all because of a love for a friend. Second, you showed me how to release myself from my past and to allow God’s forgiveness in my life. Third, you’re profoundly beautiful inside and out, and I would deeply be honored if you would consent to become my wife.”
Bea trembled. Her hands shook as they nested inside of Ellis’s larger ones and she noticed his were trembling, too.
“Are you married now?” Richard said impatiently.
“No, Son. You have to let the woman answer first.”
“Oh. Answer, Nanna.”
Bea chuckled. This had to be a first, being coached by a four year old for a proposal of marriage. “I’m going to answer your uncle Ellis.”
“When?” Richard placed his hands on his hips and tapped his foot.
Ellis bit his lips. Bea did the same and composed herself. “As soon as someone stops interrupting me.”
“Me?” Richard asked.
Bea nodded. “Yes, you. Now hush for a minute.”
“Ellis, I love you with all my heart and soul, and I would be truly honored to be your wife.”
“Is that a ‘yes’?” Richard asked.
Bea and Ellis roared in laughter. Ellis composed himself first. “Yes, Son, that was a yes.”
“Yippee! Nanna has married Uncle Ellis!” Richie ran into the house screaming.
“Are you certain, Ellis?”
Ellis climbed up off the ground, brushing the sand off his pant knee. He sat down beside her on the bench again. “Quite, my love.” He reached his arm across her shoulders. “I wasn’t going to ask you so soon, or with an audience, but I was going to ask.”
Bea combed his beard with her fingers. Soft warmth coiled around her fingertips.
“Would you be needing a year’s engagement period before we
marry?” Ellis asked.
“Not if I can help it,” Bea blurted out.
“Good, I was hoping you wouldn’t want to wait. How’s next week?”
Bea chuckled. “Too soon. Although Cook said we’d be married by the end of next week.”
“I always did like Cook.” Ellis nuzzled into her neck.
“Ellis, could we wait until my parents can come, or reply if they can’t?”
“Of course. I don’t want to wait forever, but I’ll wait as long as it takes.”
Bea wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a quick kiss.
“Now you two better stop that. Unless what the boy said is true and you’re already married.” Cook chuckled.
“Oh dear.” Bea blushed. “He said that?”
“Yup, the entire house knows you were kissin’ and are married.” Bea groaned.
“Well, he got part of it right. We’re getting married, Cook. Bea’s honored me by saying she’d be my wife.”
“Well, praise the good Lord in heaven. It’s about time the two of you got it straight.” Bea and Ellis chuckled.
“Suppose we ought to go in the house and correct the rumors our son has been spreading?” Ellis asked.
“Our son,” she whispered. Our son. Richard would finally be her son.
“Yes, our son.” Ellis squeezed her gently.
“I suppose so.” Bea hated the thought of being out of Ellis’s arms. Perhaps her parents would understand if she were to just write them and tell them her happy news.
No, she reasoned. They’d be fit to be tied. She and Ellis would have to wait. And waiting wouldn’t be such a bad thing. They still needed to get to know one another better.
Ellis stood and held his hand out for her to grasp. He curled her arm into the crook of his elbow and he led her to the house. “Come on, Cook, they’re your family. Help us straighten this mess out.”
Cook chuckled. “You has got yourselves into this mess, you can get yourselves out. I’m goin’ to enjoy watching ya.”
Epilogue
Three months later
Mom, help me?” Bea pleaded. “I’m so nervous I can’t clasp this pearl necklace.”
“Relax, Bea.” Joanna Smith eased the necklace from her daughter’s hands.
“I can’t believe my wedding day is finally here.” Bea looked at the high-collared, French-laced wedding gown that she, her mother, Cook, and Lizzy had sewn. Every day and evening for the past month, they had worked on the gown, the train, the headpiece, Lizzy’s gown, Cook’s dress, and her mom’s dress. Bea often thought Ellis had it easy. He simply went into town and hired a tailor.
She put her hair in a French braid, interwoven with pearls.
Joanna’s eyes teared. “You’re so beautiful, Bea.”
“Thanks, Mom. I hope Ellis is pleased.”
Lizzy laughed. “The man would have to be dead not to notice how beautiful you are.” Bea smiled at the woman who had quickly become her closest friend.
“Thank you, Lizzy.”
Although Lizzy still mourned her husband’s death, she was free from the anger toward the white man who had killed him. Prejudice still existed in the world, even on Key West, but Bea and Lizzy learned the only way to battle it was one person at a time. And to hate an entire race because of the actions of others was foolishness to God.
A gentle knock on the door caused Bea to stiffen.
Her mother opened the door and smiled. “You’re looking mighty handsome today, Dear.”
Bea watched her father enter the room, his sideburns laced with gray, his mustache completely gray, and his receding hairline glowing with maturity. His eyes sparkled. “You’re beautiful, Beatrice. Almost as pretty as your mother.”
“Thanks, Daddy.”
“Are you ready?”
“Yes.” Bea stepped forward and captured her father’s elbow. It was firm and comforting. Today she needed his confidence.
“Thank you for coming, Dad.”
“I wouldn’t have missed this for the world. Come on, Precious, let’s go meet your groom.”
Bea took in a deep breath and stepped to the edge of the doorway.
The music began. Ellis stepped out with Pastor Williams and Richard. Richard looked so handsome in his junior-sized black tails with a white shirt and black bow tie. Beatrice didn’t know he had Richard fitted; it was one of many surprises he had planned for her today.
Ellis watched as Lizzy came down the aisle, followed by Ruth Williams, Pastor Williams’ four-year-old daughter. She tossed the flower petals in front of her with precision, stopping to make certain the area was properly covered before moving on. Ellis grinned and spied Pastor Williams enjoying his daughter’s performance.
The music shifted and the congregation stood. Ellis watched as Bea’s father rounded the corner and a billow of white followed. His heart raced, his palms instantly dampened. “O Lord, she’s beautiful,” he whispered.
Richard tugged on Ellis’s pant leg. “Nanna’s pretty.”
Ellis smiled. “Yes, she is.”
It had taken awhile, but Richard finally understood that marriage was more than kissing and holding hands, that it was a pledge between a man and a woman with God and others watching.
Bea was so close he wanted to reach out and take her hand. Instead, Ellis held himself back and waited for the pastor’s cue.
“And who gives this woman to be married to this man?”
“Her mother and I do,” Jamison Smith answered in a strained voice.
Ellis reached out his hand to his bride. Jamison slipped her hand into his. Ellis’s strong hand encircled hers. They turned and faced Pastor Williams.
“Dearly beloved …” Pastor Williams continued with the service. When he reached the pronouncement that they were husband and wife, he proclaimed, “You may now kiss the bride.”
Ellis lifted her veil and cherished the sweet kiss of his new wife, then felt the all too familiar tug on his pant leg. “Are we married now?” Richard asked.
Bea and Ellis started to bubble with giggles. Soon the entire congregation was laughing.
“Yes, Richie, Bea and I are married,” Ellis replied.
“Yippee!” Richard screamed, then cupped his mouth with his hands. “I’m sorry.” He stood up straight and placed his hands by his side.
Bea smiled. “It’s okay, Son. We’re a family now; you can relax.”
Bea embraced her new husband and was reminded of Ecclesiastes 3:5 once again. Her time of embracing had come. She held Ellis even tighter.
THE CAPTAIN’S WIFE
by Mary Davis
Dedication
In loving memory of my stepdad, Allen Basart.
Thanks for the history lesson, Dad.
Chapter 1
Port Townsend, September 22, 1898
Leaning against the ornately carved mahogany mantel, Conner Jackson stared into the fire. The flames danced and licked at the logs like his guilt licked at his conscience. How could he have fallen for the wrong woman? In all his twenty-seven years of waiting, he thought he was smarter than that. He thought he could control his heart. Long ago, he told himself that he would leave town before coming between a friend and his lady. It was time to pull foot. Or as he’d once told his friend Ian MacGregor, he’d kick himself in the head. If he could figure out how, he’d do it.
“Here’s your cider, Conner.”
He turned to Mrs. Randolph Carlyle and took the amber liquid. “Thank you, Vivian.” Guilt caused him to avoid her gaze lest his secret be revealed—he was in love with his best friend’s new wife. His revelation twisted his gut.
Before Randolph had married, Conner had spent most of his time away from his store here at Randolph’s house. He’d attempted to stay away after Vivian arrived to give the newlyweds some privacy, but Randolph wouldn’t hear of it, insisting Conner spend time with him and his bride. Randolph seemed to need Conner to approve of his new wife, so he worked hard at getting to know her to give his friend an honest assessm
ent. She was good for Randolph: a sweet, caring woman. Vivian had given Conner a warm welcome, treating him as a longtime friend she hadn’t seen in years. He began to envy his friend’s good fortune, wishing he’d met Vivian first.
Randolph clamped a hand on his shoulder. “Won’t you have something stronger? I have some fine brandy.”
“I prefer the cider. It’s fine, as well. You should try it.”
Conner’s longtime friend stood two inches shorter than his six-foot frame but was stockier and had a booming voice. For twenty years, they had looked after each other, seen each other through difficult times and good. Randolph was his best friend.
“Too sweet for my taste.” Randolph stared into his glass but didn’t take a drink.
Conner hoped his friend was reconsidering his drinking habits. He’d already cut back quite a bit since marrying Vivian. Conner was praying Randolph would quit altogether.
Vivian sat like a regal princess, the epitome of decorum with porcelain skin, violet eyes, and raven-black hair. A rare beauty, but her real beauty came from within. She was kind and generous and always had something good to say about everyone, including the riffraff in town.
The ripping ache in Conner’s heart helped him with his difficult decision. He would make arrangements to leave town while Randolph was away. His store had done well with miners heading up to the Alaska gold rush, and he had plenty of money to start over someplace else. Maybe he would head south to Olympia.
“Randolph, you know what Conner needs?” Vivian’s sweet voice drew him back. “A wife.”
Dread clutched his gut. Did she suspect his affections for her? He groaned mentally.
Randolph took a drink of his brandy. “I believe if Conner wanted a wife, he could have any single lady in town to choose from. Isn’t that right, Conner?”
He grimaced at the truth in the crass remark. Ladies had always thrown themselves at him and made it very clear that they were available to him, married or not. Those kinds of women held no appeal. “The women around here are a bit too bold for my taste.”
“My point, exactly, Randolph. We need new blood in town. Do see what you can do about bringing him back a suitable lady.”