by Cathy Marie Hake, Lynn A. Coleman, Mary Davis, Susan Page Davis
“Would you have ever been ready?”
“No.”
“Exactly.”
She balanced on one foot until an overzealous wave knocked her backward. Jacob steadied her.
Her breath came in small huffy bursts. She was angry.
“Now see?” She poked him in the chest with her index finger. “This is exactly the behavior I worried would come along with our marriage.”
“If you’re referring to the fact that I just cleaned your wound and saved you from a tumble in the water, your worries are for naught. Speaking of our marriage, you might have all the time in the world to stand here and argue, but I have a wedding to attend.”
“Unfortunately, so do I, and I’m going to arrive looking like a drowned rat.”
“I recall asking if you were ready.”
“And I recall saying no.” She started to hobble up the shore.
“Stubborn woman! You’re going to get the wound full of sand again.”
“I’ll—”
He didn’t give her a chance to finish. Instead he flung her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. She shrieked and pummeled him on the back as he stalked up the path with long strides.
He might as well face her uncle head-on. At the rate they were going, the wedding was likely off anyway. Jacob didn’t like the thought. He still had feelings for the feisty woman in his arms. But less than an hour earlier, Edward had entrusted into Jacob’s care a healthy, pristine niece. Jacob now returned her injured, wet, and angry. The whole ordeal was anything but peaceful and relaxing. In all honesty, dealing with the townspeople couldn’t possibly be any more frustrating than this.
Jacob didn’t relish the thought of facing her uncle with his obvious failure, but the sooner they got the ordeal over with, the sooner they could put this mistake behind them.
Chapter 5
Uncle Edward’s booming laugh welcomed them back to the cottage. Hollan didn’t need to see his face—a feat that would be impossible even if she could see, thanks to her present dangling-upside-down-over-Jacob’s-shoulder position—to know that the laughter was at her expense.
“I’m thrilled that you find my situation so immensely amusing, but perhaps you could stop laughing long enough to make him put me down.” Her indignation was wasted on the man. She couldn’t be heard over the laughter with her face and voice muffled against the back of Jacob’s shirt. She tried to ignore the strength of his muscles, but it was hard to do while feeling the solid resistance as she again pummeled her fists against his back.
Jacob apparently heard. Or maybe the hard pinch to his side alerted him to her fury. He dumped her unceremoniously on her feet, only mindful at the last moment of her injury. “Thought I was going to drop you on your sore foot, didn’t you?”
His voice was low, for her ears only, and she shivered at the intimacy. His closeness unnerved her. She limped a few steps away.
“You’re hurt!” Immediately contrite, her uncle appeared at her side.
“Of course I’m hurt. Do you think I’d let him carry me up the dunes in that humiliating manner for the fun of it?” She sent another ferocious glare in Jacob’s general direction. She didn’t miss his chuckle.
“She hardly let me do anything. I had to take matters into my own hands. And it’s only a surface wound, Edward, nothing to be alarmed about. Hollan will be fine.”
“Only a surface wound? At the beach you acted as if I’d bleed to death without your immediate intervention.”
“No, I only said the wound would fill with sand and increase the risk of infection, which reminds me, you do need to let Sylvia apply that herbal poultice.”
“Help her over to this chair, Jacob, and we’ll get her taken care of.” Edward summoned Sylvia, and after a quick peek at the wound, she hurried off for the supplies. “Fletcher arrived at the dock just before you two made your appearance. He should be here shortly. As soon as he is, we’ll get this wedding started.”
Hollan sputtered. “You mean you’re still planning the wedding, even after all this?”
“Indeed. Why wouldn’t I? Jacob just proved he could deal with you quite nicely.”
“Deal with me? You consider slinging me over his shoulder against my wishes dealing with me nicely?”
“Compared to the alternative, yes. The gash isn’t life threatening, but walking on it wouldn’t have been wise at all. Jacob made the best decision for you, based on the options.”
Hollan snorted and shifted in her chair, turning her back on both of them.
“Dear, have you changed your mind?” She heard concern buried beneath the humor as her uncle placed a hand on her shoulder. “If so, you can pack a small bag and leave on the boat with us. We can collect the rest of your things later. Jacob can stay and tend to the light.”
Hollan considered his offer. The emotions she felt when Jacob stood nearby concerned her more than any of his actions. She knew he had only her best interests at heart. But she hadn’t expected the old feelings to come rushing back in such a vivid way. A part of her she’d thought long dead had come back alive in his presence. The realization scared and unnerved her.
“No, I’ll be fine.” And she would be. She wasn’t leaving her island. Samson plopped down beside her with a contented sigh, breaking the awkward moment. “Samson seems happy enough to hear he still has a home.”
“He could have stayed out here with me.” Jacob stood nearby, listening.
Hollan wished she could see Jacob’s expression. Was he disappointed she hadn’t taken her uncle up on his offer? Would he have preferred to stay at the lighthouse alone? She thought about it a moment and decided she didn’t care. She hadn’t made him come out to get hitched, and if he had his doubts, they were his problem to deal with.
“Aunt Ettie’s going to be upset about missing the ceremony.” She addressed the statement to her uncle.
“I asked if she wanted to come, but she was so sure you’d turn us down flat, I couldn’t get her in the boat.”
“She still hates it out here. She’s never cared for the island.”
“She loved your mother like a sister. And though she wanted to be here with you, she can’t deal with coming to the island just yet. I think she fully expected you to return to the house with me.”
“I understand. Tell her I’ll be in to see her soon.”
“She’ll want to have you both over for dinner.”
“We’d like that.” Jacob spoke for them both. “Ettie is a wonderful cook.”
Hollan wondered about the fact that it didn’t bother her that he spoke of them as a couple. Instead, it felt natural. Comforting.
Sylvia arrived and busied herself with tending to the cut. Fletcher arrived at the cottage, and the men exited and walked over to the dunes. A short time later Sylvia had Hollan bandaged up and ready for the ceremony. She helped Hollan into her prettiest blue dress—a color Hollan belatedly remembered was Jacob’s favorite. She blushed, wondering if he’d think she’d chosen it especially for him.
“You look beautiful, Hollan. Your mother would be proud.”
Hollan hugged the older woman, not sure she agreed. Her mother would have wanted Hollan to marry for love. They’d talked about it many times before, back in the carefree days when she was happily engaged to Jacob. Though the man remained the same, the circumstances had changed.
When Hollan didn’t answer, Sylvia cupped her cheeks. “Your mother would understand.”
Hollan nodded her agreement. “I’d like to think so.”
“Jacob is a good man. If you give him a chance, he’ll make you very happy. I think God has something beautiful planned in all of this.”
Though Hollan wasn’t so sure about that, she hoped her friend was right.
They decided to say their vows on a dune overlooking the ocean. The whole situation felt surreal. The wedding, although very similar to the one in her dreams—the wedding she’d wanted the first time before Jacob left—seemed a farce. The man standing beside her was noth
ing more than a stranger, and only a handful of loved ones stood alongside to witness the event.
Other than those few minor details, she thought wryly, the afternoon couldn’t have been more perfect for their ceremony. Hollan loved being serenaded by the seagulls that flew over their heads. The ever-present sound of the waves crashing onshore brought a familiar comforting reassurance. She knew the sounds inland would be similar—the small village was a coastal town after all—but she wouldn’t hear the roar of the surf from the Atlantic Ocean. She wouldn’t be able to tell weather conditions solely by the force of the waves hitting shore. She’d not be able to wade along the tide line, nor would she be able to wander freely as she did now.
She had Jacob to thank for that. His presence allowed her to remain where she wanted to be. She turned her attention to the man at her side. She wished she could see him more clearly. As it was, the sun silhouetted his broad shoulders, and she could tell he wasn’t the skinny boy who’d left her behind. She wondered how the planes of his face had changed with the years. She felt sure her vision would clear again. She’d see him soon enough. And even if she didn’t, she had the details of the past tucked away in her memory. His sea green eyes wouldn’t have changed, but his hair apparently had. Judging by the way the strands blew around in the wind, he’d let it grow longer than before, but she imagined the strands were the same sun-kissed color they used to be. He never had been one to stay indoors any more than necessary.
Her uncle’s voice intruded on her musings. “I think we’re ready. We need to finish up and be on our way.” The usually wordy man surprised her as he made quick work of the ceremony.
“Jacob, you may now kiss your bride.”
Before Hollan could work up a full panic, Jacob leaned forward and gently touched his lips to hers in the most gentle of kisses. Against her will, her heart began to soar.
The first few days of their marriage were awkward to say the least. Jacob could see the strain as Hollan tried to work into a steady routine of normalcy. They started each day with breakfast. Hollan worked hard to have the meal on the table before he arrived at the cottage door.
“You aren’t normally an early riser, are you?” Jacob asked during their meal on their fourth morning together.
“Why do you ask?” she questioned, hiding a yawn behind her hand.
He laughed. “You’re about to fall asleep in your eggs. At first I figured you weren’t sleeping well due to our new role as—neighbors.”
“We aren’t simple neighbors, and you know it.” She swiped his half-eaten plate of food from in front of him and made her way to the counter. “We’re in a completely unique situation, and I do find myself losing sleep trying to make sense of it all.” She snatched up a rag and returned to the table, wiping hard at the crumbs.
“You trying to wipe clean through the wood?” He stayed her hand with his.
Her breathing hitched, and she quickly pulled away. “Don’t you have a lighthouse to tend to?”
“Again the lack of subtlety.” He enjoyed putting a blush on her cheeks. He stood and pushed in his chair. “But yes, I do need to wipe down the lens.”
“Don’t forget to trim the wicks. And refuel the lanterns.”
“Did all that before coming in for breakfast. Some of us get up early.”
“Or never go to bed at all,” she muttered.
“I sleep. I just don’t need a lot of it. I sneak in a few hours before dusk and in between work.”
Hollan rolled her eyes.
“Let me know if you need me.” He wondered if she’d ever truly need him. If she’d ever care about him the way she used to.
He closed the cottage door behind him and walked over to the lighthouse. He climbed the multitude of narrow stairs that led to the top level. The day was clear, and he could see a good ways out. As had become his habit, he went around the entire walkway, looking for any sign of Hollan’s father. If the man hadn’t washed out to sea, he didn’t know what had happened to him. For Hollan’s sake, he hoped they’d someday find out. Hollan told him the lighthouse inspector was due for a visit within the month, and if her father hadn’t returned, they stood to lose the contract. In the meantime, he’d do everything he could to keep the light in good working order.
Jacob slipped into Hollan’s father’s cleaning coat. The lens had to be immaculate at all times in order to work properly. He first wiped away all loose particles of debris with a feather duster. He then used a fine cloth to carefully remove any smudges left by the oil. The prisms were delicate and easily scratched, so he always made sure to touch them with caution.
He spent longer than he’d intended on the job, and the sun tipped slightly toward the west before he headed to the cottage for the midday meal. Hollan waited in a chair out front, staring toward the horizon, her forehead creased with concern.
“Is something wrong?”
“It’s getting ready to storm.” She motioned toward a cloth-covered plate that sat on a small table tucked between the two chairs. Samson lifted his tawny head and wagged his tail in acknowledgment before lowering his chin back down to rest upon his front paws, his favorite napping position.
Jacob surveyed the horizon. He saw some dark clouds, but he knew Hollan and her father recognized the signs of a serious storm much better than he. “Will it be a bad one?”
“I’m not sure.” She’d balled her handkerchief into a small mass. “I just know the weather’s turned. The seagulls have taken refuge.”
He hadn’t noticed, but now that she mentioned it, the ever-present birds weren’t anywhere around.
“Tell me what I need to do.” He didn’t bother with his plate.
She smiled, but the lines around her mouth betrayed her tension. “First of all, eat. If it’s a big storm, you’ll be busy later.”
“Then talk to me while I eat.” He lifted his plate onto his lap and took a bite of crab cake. It was delicately seasoned and cooked to perfection. She’d garnished the plate with a side of tomato that he’d picked fresh from her garden earlier in the day. “This crab cake is wonderful. The tomato looks good, too.”
“Thank you,” she said absently. Not one to be easily distracted when she had her mind set on something, she continued to stare toward the horizon. “Do you see any clouds?”
He glanced at the ocean as he took a sip of water. “There’s a darkening of the sky way out, but otherwise it’s blue.”
“The storms move in quickly. We’ll need to batten down everything we can. The chairs and table need to go in the storage building, along with anything loose. I’m sure the process is the same as the one you’d go through in town.”
“You’re thinking this will be a large storm?”
“According to the birds, yes. But we won’t know how large till it hits.”
For the first time, he saw a chink in her armor. She’d been great about their whole situation, but her nervousness over the storm’s approach was palpable. He reached over and clasped her hand with his. “God is sufficient for all our needs, Hollan. Always remember that. We’ll be fine.”
She didn’t look convinced. “I’ve lost both my mother and my father in storms. They’ll never be my favorite thing.”
“That’s understandable.”
The wind picked up. The cloth that had covered his plate blew off the table, and Jacob jumped up to chase it. He glanced back at the horizon and saw the churning clouds moving closer at a quick pace.
“It’s coming,” Hollan stated.
“Yes.” He gathered the plate and his mug and carried them into the house. He returned for Hollan. “Come. You’ll be more comfortable inside.”
Hollan shook her head. “I’ll help with the preparations. Do you need to do anything with the light? It’ll be needed more than ever during the storm.”
“I have everything ready.”
They worked around the yard, stowing any loose gardening gear in the storage building. The sky darkened. Clouds passed over the cottage and covered the sun. Hol
lan shivered.
“I need to light the lanterns. Let me see you into the house.”
“I’d like to wait out here if you don’t mind. I’ll move in before things get rough.”
“As you wish. But I’d feel better if you waited inside.”
“Will you wait out the storm in the lighthouse? Or would you”—she hesitated—“consider waiting it out with me?”
“I’ll be back as soon as my duties are taken care of.”
Relief flowed across her pretty features. “Thank you.” She waved him away.
He hurried through the motions of lighting the wicks that he’d already trimmed to the perfect length. He’d need to return in about four hours to trim them again, but as he looked around everything else was in order. The rain had begun a few minutes earlier, but now it came down in earnest. His cozy room waiting below beckoned him—he’d be drenched before he ever reached Hollan—but he’d given her his word. He didn’t want her sitting through the storm alone, frightened.
He’d just exited the door at the base of the lighthouse, when a gust of wind slammed it shut behind him. The wind pushed him along as he moved toward the cottage. Hollan waited in the doorway, anxiety written across her face.
“I’m here, Hollan. I’m coming. Stay put.”
Samson heard Jacob and shoved his way through the narrow opening, knocking Hollan off balance.
“Samson, no!” Hollan lunged for the escaping dog. She struggled to retain her balance against the force of the storm, but the wind caught her skirts and twirled them in a tangle around her legs. Before Jacob could get to her, she fell, tumbling down the steps with a scream. Her head hit the stone walkway, and she lay unmoving in a crumpled heap.
Chapter 6
Samson turned at once, hurrying back to his mistress. Jacob pushed him aside and scooped Hollan up in his arms.
“C’mon, Samson, let’s get her inside.” Rain blew through the open doorway as Jacob entered. He hurried to deposit Hollan on the quilt-covered bed. He forced the door shut before turning to stoke the fire. Though the fire burned warm, the light wasn’t bright enough for him to check Hollan for injuries.