The Beaches and Brides ROMANCE COLLECTION: 5 Historical Romances Buoyed by the Sea

by Cathy Marie Hake, Lynn A. Coleman, Mary Davis, Susan Page Davis

  “Three days?” Hollan asked in disbelief. “The cottage and lighthouse could be in shambles if you wait that long!”

  “Hollan, it’ll be fine.” Her father laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “We’re safe, and that’s what matters most.”

  “What about the ships, Papa? Who will keep them safe? The lighthouse needs to guide them.”

  “Gunter? Is that you?” The sheriff leaned forward with his lantern.

  “Yes, Sheriff Roberts, it’s me.”

  “I’m glad to see you safe. Parson Edward said you were missing.”

  “David and his crew took me just before the storm hit. Hollan and Jacob came to my rescue.”

  “Only after they kidnapped me!” Hollan filled in. “But Jacob came for us both.”

  “I’m sorry this happened to you.” The sheriff lifted his lantern and stared at Jonathon. “And who do we have here?”

  “Jonathon, sir.” Jonathon’s voice quaked under the sheriff’s perusal.

  “That don’t tell me much.”

  Hollan hurried to intervene. “He helped us escape. He’s from the ship.”

  “Did you now? I’m glad to hear that. We’ll need to talk in the morning. I’ll have some questions for you.”

  “Yes, sir.” Relief tinged Jonathon’s words. “I’ll be here.”

  Sheriff Roberts looked at Jacob. “Swan. It’s good to have you home. Edward told me about the marriage. Congratulations to you both.”

  They thanked him.

  “Go on with you now. We’ll all get some sleep, and I’ll see you in the morning.”

  They walked up the road toward Edward’s place.

  “Your uncle has room enough for all of us?” Jonathon asked.

  “He does. He’ll probably put you men up in the church, and I’ll stay in their home.”

  “Will you be safe there?” Jonathon continued with his questions. “David is a dangerous man.”

  “Yes, she’ll be safe,” Jacob interrupted. “I intend to make sure of it.”

  “Jacob, you need to get some sleep. I’ll be fine. David won’t know where we are. He surely won’t dare to come after us.”

  “I agree. Most likely he won’t. But I’m not taking any chances. If I have to sit on Edward’s front porch, I’ll do so in order to know that you’re safe.”

  “Then perhaps we’ll all stay in their home. They have several extra rooms.”

  “We’ll see what Edward says. But I can guarantee if you’re staying in that house, I’ll be right there with you.”

  Edward answered his door and welcomed them in. Ettie pulled Hollan into her arms and cried when she saw Gunter.

  “My brother!” Edward’s eyes moistened as he took in the sight of Gunter. “You’re alive.”

  “I’m fine. Or I will be after a bit of rest.”

  “You look well, Hollan.” Edward beamed. “Married life must agree with you.”

  Hollan smiled up at Jacob. “Much to my surprise, it does.”

  “And Jacob. Is island life everything you hoped it would be? Did you find it to be a balm to your weary soul?”

  Hollan laughed out loud.

  “You find the question amusing?” Her uncle looked confused.

  Jacob looked at Hollan, and they shared another smile. “Life on the island has been interesting to say the least. Two things stand out at the moment, though. Hollan has her sight back, and Gunter is safe.”

  “Hollan!” Ettie’s tears continued. “I’m so happy, sweetheart. Let me look at you.”

  “More importantly, Auntie, let me look at you.”

  “We have a lot to catch up on.”

  “Indeed we do.”

  Aunt Ettie turned to Hollan’s father.

  “Gunter”—she gave him a little poke—“you gave us all quite a scare.”

  Uncle Edward raised his hands. “I’m glad we’ve all had a moment to catch up, but I’m sure you didn’t make your way out here in the middle of the night to share your good news.”

  Chapter 15

  Gunter and Hollan were kidnapped by my brother David.” The words rolled off Jacob’s tongue.

  A vein in Edward’s neck began to throb. “Hasn’t that boy caused y’all enough grief?”

  “He’s hardly a boy anymore, Ed,” Ettie corrected. “But he does need to be stopped.”

  “Where is he now?”

  Hollan answered, “He’s on the island.”

  “Then we need to go after him. I’ll get the sheriff.”

  “We’ve already talked to the sheriff, Uncle Edward. We’re meeting him again first thing in the morning.”

  “Hmmph.”

  “There’s more.” Hollan knew her uncle and aunt were very close to Fletcher and Sylvia. “Fletcher apparently brought our supplies over about the same time David and his men came ashore. They stole everything he had, beat him, and left him for dead.”

  “Oh dear me.” Ettie’s hand was at her throat, and she fanned herself.

  “Now, dear, sit down before you get yourself too worked up.” Uncle Edward helped her over to the settee. “Where’s Fletcher now?”

  Jacob shifted on his feet. He looked tired enough to fall over. “According to the sheriff, he’s home with Sylvia. We intend to go out there in the morning, too.”

  “I’ll be going with you.” Edward sighed. “Ettie and I were at the Black place all day. We had no idea.”

  “Poor Sylvia, dealing with this all alone.” Ettie kept shaking her head.

  “She’s a strong woman, Ettie. I’m sure she’s fine.”

  Hollan listened to them talk. “Well, I’m glad Sylvia was here to care for Fletcher.” A plan began to formulate in Hollan’s mind. If the menfolk were too busy to go over and capture an outlaw, she’d talk to Sylvia about flushing them out somehow. Surely the woman would be just as incensed as Hollan after what happened to her son. “She has to be furious at David.”

  “As well she should be,” Ettie huffed.

  Ah, yes. Hollan would surely have an ally in Sylvia. Ettie was upset, and it wasn’t even her son hurt, though Hollan was like a daughter to her.

  The simple facts were her father wasn’t well, the lighthouse was unattended, and local seafarers were unsafe as long as they had no light to guide them. Hollan glanced at her father. He’d paled and now looked exhausted. She hurried to his side. “Papa?”

  “I’m just tired. I suppose all the excitement of the past few weeks is catching up with me.”

  “Well, let’s get you tucked into bed, then.” Ettie was on her feet and acting as hostess, leading the weary Gunter to a room at the back of the house. “And you two take the room upstairs across from ours—Hollan’s room when she stays here,” she called as she retreated down the hallway.

  Hollan darted her eyes to Jacob.

  “If you don’t mind, I’d rather stay down here where I can watch the door. Let Hollan sleep in the bed. She needs a good night’s sleep.”

  “As do you,” Hollan quipped. “You’ve lost several nights’ sleep.”

  “I’ll be fine. Like I told you before, between the war and the traveling, I’ve learned to sleep in snatches.”

  “Jonathon.” Ettie’s no-nonsense voice as she came up the hall made the man jump. “You’ll settle into the room across from Gunter. Follow me to the back of the house, and I’ll show you the way.”

  Jonathon blushed. “Oh no, ma’am. I’ll be fine on the porch or in a shed if you have one out back. I haven’t slept on the likes of a bed in longer than I can remember.”

  “Then it’s high time you had a good night’s sleep. Tonight you’ll be blessed with a bed.”

  “I’ve already been blessed in many ways tonight.” Jonathon glanced at Hollan.

  She smiled back at him. “You deserve it, Jonathon. You helped save us. Tomorrow I’ll make a celebration breakfast in your honor.”

  “I’m not sure I earned such an honor.”

  “You’ve more than earned it, Jonathon,” Hollan encouraged.

>   “You brought our niece home safe and sound. We will celebrate.”

  Jonathon beamed.

  Edward walked with Ettie and Jonathon as they headed for the back of the house, leaving Hollan and Jacob temporarily alone.

  “Thank you for volunteering to stand watch. That saved us an awkward situation.”

  “I volunteered to stand watch because I want to know you’re safe. Otherwise I would have grabbed Ettie’s suggestion before you could have said anything about it.”

  “Oh,” Hollan croaked.

  He stepped closer, and his green eyes stared into hers with such intensity she figured he could read her deepest thoughts. “And when we get this all taken care of, I expect to start all over with this marriage. This time we’ll do it right.”

  “I see.”

  Jacob laughed. “My wife appears to be tongue-tied for the first time ever.”

  Hollan mashed the toe of her boot into a knothole on the floor. “And what am I to say to such talk? I wonder….”

  “What?”

  “Would it be possible to have our wedding ceremony over?” She felt silly asking. “I’d love to have Aunt Ettie there this time around. And our friends …”

  “If that’s what it takes to set this marriage straight.”

  “Your intensity embarrasses me.” Hollan stepped away but laughed. She might as well get used to it.

  He moved closer still. “It isn’t my intent to embarrass you. But you should know my thoughts. We’ll start our marriage again, and we’ll do it right this time.”

  “I’d like that.”

  “Good.” He grinned. “Now get up to bed. We have a busy day tomorrow.”

  Hollan woke later than she’d planned the next morning, after the long and tiring night. She couldn’t wait to talk to Sylvia. She wanted to check on Fletcher. But she also wanted to ask for Sylvia’s assistance in ridding their lives of David. If Jacob wouldn’t go along with her, and the townsmen still wouldn’t go after David after all that he’d done, she’d find a way to capture him herself. Surely after a night’s sleep, Jacob, the sheriff, and the townspeople would agree this couldn’t wait.

  A few minutes later she listened as Jacob dashed her dreams of going home soon.

  “We can’t do this yet. The town needs to be secured, then we’ll worry about the island. People will lose their life’s belongings if we don’t fix their roofs before the next storm rolls through.”

  “Jacob, why are you standing against me in this? Our life has been in turmoil far too long and all because of David.”

  “I’m not standing against you, Hollan. But we need to have a plan. David’s not going anywhere. The ship is stuck for now.”

  “But I want to go home. I want our life to get back to normal. I want to enjoy the return of my vision in the place I love.”

  “Oh … and here I thought you were in a hurry to get back so you could officially start your life with me.”

  Hollan blushed. “You know I want that, too. But first we need to rid the island of David.”

  Jacob refused to budge.

  She tried her ace in the hole. “The lighthouse is unattended. At least, it’s unattended if they haven’t broken into it yet. They’ve probably destroyed everything I hold of value. I could lose everything I own, too.”

  “I admit that bothers me.” Jacob paced as he always did when stressed. “But the lighthouse is well secured, and I’m pretty sure they won’t be able to get in. I’ll replace anything we lose.”

  “You’re ‘pretty sure’ they won’t get in?” Hollan raised an eyebrow. “Do you realize how long it will take to replace the lens if they find a way to damage it?”

  The scent of fried ham and eggs wafted into the room from the kitchen. Hollan’s mouth watered, momentarily distracting her.

  “Hollan. We can’t go back until we put a plan in place. Gunter, Jonathon, and I will talk to the sheriff as soon as we’ve eaten breakfast. I want you to stay here and wait with Ettie. Understand?”

  “I need to go see Sylvia.”

  Jacob’s face lit up. “That’s a wonderful plan. You spend your time with Sylvia and Fletcher while we menfolk come up with our plan.”

  Hollan scowled.

  Jonathon walked into the room. He looked uncomfortable. “Good morning.”

  “Is everything all right?” Hollan hurried over to his side.

  “I’m not used to waking up in a—home. It’s unnerving.”

  Hollan smiled at Jacob. “I’m sure it is. Aunt Ettie has breakfast ready, and we were just heading that way. Do you want to clean up and meet us in the kitchen?”

  Jonathon nodded and shuffled toward the back of the house while Hollan and Jacob headed for the kitchen.

  Hollan hesitated in the doorway. “Aunt Ettie? If you don’t mind, I’d like to go on over and see how Sylvia and Fletcher fared last night.”

  “Before you eat?” Jacob frowned.

  Her aunt looked up from the biscuits she was pulling from the oven. “Can’t you wait, dear? I’d planned to walk over with you.”

  “Father needs someone here. I’ll stay if you’d like….” She made her voice wistful.

  “But you’d really rather go yourself.” She sighed. “I know how important Sylvia is to you. I’ll stay here with Gunter. You go on ahead.”

  “If you’re sure …”

  “Go on. Here”—Aunt Ettie grabbed a biscuit and smeared it with jam—“at least eat this on the way.”

  Hollan took the biscuit and gave her aunt a grateful look. She glanced at Jacob and tried to hide the guilt she was sure he could read in her eyes. “I’ll be going then. I’ll see you … after?”

  “After? Oh, right. We’ll talk to the sheriff and meet up with you later.” He shrugged, though he still looked perplexed. Or did he look suspicious?

  Most likely Hollan was merely feeling guilty.

  She headed out the door and up the sandy path. The late morning sun beat down upon her back, and the day promised to be clear. The marshes on either side of the road were bustling with activity. Butterflies flitted from plant to plant. A lizard darted across the path right in front of her. A bit farther Hollan saw a snake slither through the tall reeds at her side.

  The lizards and butterflies didn’t bother her, but after the snake sighting, Hollan picked up her pace. It took the better part of an hour before Sylvia’s small cabin was just around the bend.

  “Hollan! What a pleasant surprise.” Sylvia had been sitting on her front porch, sipping from a steaming mug, but now she hurried to her feet. She tilted her head and studied Hollan for a moment.

  Hollan stared back and grinned.

  The wind blew Sylvia’s hair. Suddenly her hand flew to her chest. “You can see again.”

  “Yes, I can see again.” She smiled at her friend for a moment then sobered. “I heard about Fletcher. How’s he doing?”

  A cloud passed over Sylvia’s face. “He’ll be fine, no thanks to whoever harmed him. We were so worried about you.”

  “I’m fine … and I know who did this to him.”

  Sylvia slapped her mug down with a thump. “You tell me, and I’ll go after them on my own!”

  “You don’t have to go alone. I’d love to go with you.” Hollan walked up the steps and placed a hand on Sylvia’s arm. “The man responsible for hurting Fletcher kidnapped my father and me. He’s also responsible for what happened to my mother.”

  “What a horrid person. How do you know?”

  Hollan told her friend what had happened.

  “We must put a stop to this.”

  “I agree, but Jacob says the town isn’t in any shape to help us out. And he’s right. People need a roof over their heads before the next storm hits.”

  “But a very dangerous man is lurking out there, waiting to hurt his next victim. We won’t be safe until the authorities get him under control.”

  “I agree, but that isn’t my only concern. The ships aren’t safe without the lighthouse.”

  T
hey exchanged a mischievous glance.

  “Do you have a plan?” Sylvia took another sip from the mug. “You aren’t thinking of going alone …?”

  “No–o–o,” Hollan drawled. “But I am thinking of going over with help.” She sent Sylvia a meaningful look.

  “We don’t want to put ourselves in danger.”

  “I know that island like the back of my hand.”

  “The menfolk will be so upset.”

  “I’m willing to take that chance. I’m pretty upset myself that we have to sit here and do nothing while those outlaws ruin what little I have left from my previous life.”

  “This isn’t a decision to make lightly, dear.”

  “I’m not making it lightly.” Hollan put her hands on her hips. “David has hurt too many people. If we don’t act, someone else will be hurt. I saw the look in Jacob’s eyes, Sylvia. He’s telling me he has to wait to act, but I’m afraid he’ll go alone and he’ll confront David. I don’t want him hurt on my behalf.”

  “Yet you’re willing to be hurt on his behalf?”

  “I don’t intend to get hurt. But yes, I’d do anything for him. He’s been here for me through everything we’ve endured of late. I owe him.”

  “But you don’t think it’ll upset him if something happens to you?”

  “I don’t intend for anything to happen to you or to me. I plan to use a little subterfuge. I’m not going to confront David.”

  Doubt crept across Sylvia’s features. “Subterfuge?” She raised an eyebrow.

  “I just want to set a bonfire as a warning to sailors entering the mouth of the river. We might not be able to use the lighthouse to show them the island’s location, but we can light a huge fire on the beach that will serve the same purpose. They’ll see the fire and know land is nearby.”

  “I don’t know. Maybe we should just wait for the men to figure this out.”

  “And let Jacob sneak over on his own?” Hollan shook her head. “I won’t chance that. We have to watch out for the sailors. At least help me set a warning fire on the shore. David said he and his crew are wanted. If men on ships are searching for them, I’d like to do my best to protect those men and lead them our way.”

  They stared at each other for a few more moments. Hollan prayed Sylvia would come along. “Please, Sylvia.”