“I had grown considerably, and the heavy work of the mines suited my body, if not my intellect.”
She had seen those rippling muscles for herself and knew it to be true.
“I recognized an Andrew when I saw one, when I was on that supply run in Wales,” her father said. “The familiar face woke me after two years of mechanical slavery.”
“He smuggled me out and took me to the Christmas, hidden in Eastbourne,” Andrew said. “I owe him everything.”
“And there’s no animosity, since you were not present when the relationship between our families deteriorated,” she marveled. “This explains so much.”
“Can I see my grandchild?” the automan asked. “Is Terrwyn well enough?”
“I’m sure she’s sleeping, but we can peek in,” Linet said.
The three walked back down the beach and climbed the ladder into the airship.
A thin wail stopped them at the cabin door, and Linet rushed in to pick up her niece from the makeshift cradle before her sister could stir.
“My mum died in childbirth,” Shakespear whispered, looking down at the babe in her arms. “Your father explained while we were waiting outside. That was why my father hated yours so much. He knew she couldn’t survive another baby, but my mother was starved for affection and turned to yours. My mother didn’t tell Captain Fenna about her medical problems, just that she was an abandoned wife.”
“How dreadful,” Linet whispered, not wanting to wake her sleeping sister.
Shakespear touched the baby’s soft skin with his finger. The baby turned her head, rooting instinctively.
“I’d better give her to Terrwyn. She’s hungry.” She tucked the baby against her sister’s chest and her sister’s eyes opened. “Don’t worry, Terrwyn, I’ll explain later. Happy Christmas.”
“Happy Christmas,” her sister said with a faint smile.
“A Christmas miracle,” Linet said. “I had never thought to have a family again, and here we are, even an Andrew.”
“I hope you will continue to include me in the future,” Shakespear said, with purpose in his eyes.
“You are one of the family now,” Terrwyn told him. “I’d have it no other way after what you did for us.”
“Linet? Do you agree?” he asked.
“Let’s let the new mother rest.” She moved toward the cabin door and the man and automan followed her outside.
The three spoke for a while, discussing how long they had before the Blockaders came for them again and what safe houses were available for the Fennas.
“Keep watch,” she told her father, when they had run out of thoughts on such topics. “I want to speak to Shakespear privately.”
“I will.” The purple eyes seemed to glow brighter for a moment.
Linet could still see them as she followed Shakespear down the ladder to the beach.
Once they were on sand, she stood on her tiptoes and threw her arms around him. Dirty and battered, neither of them were a romantic dream, but she put her lips to his cheek anyway.
“I can never thank you enough.”
“I can come up with some thankful suggestions,” he said with a wink. “Try kissing me again.”
“Where is the mistletoe?”
“We don’t need it, on Christmas or any other day. You’re the brave, beautiful girl for me.”
“Oh, Shakespear. I should have known you were never Erasmus. He never could charm a girl.” She laughed and pressed her lips to his for a brief kiss.
“Rumor had it he couldn’t kiss either,” he suggested. “But I can prove myself to be different.”
She tilted her head, laughing at his sly expression, and he swept her into a dip as their lips met in tender embrace.
“Welcome to my family,” he whispered, as a perfect crescent moon hovered above them in the night sky. “I hope you’ll be a part of it next Christmas.”
Her breath caught as they smiled at each other, then she hugged him again. “I can’t wait to see what the new year brings. The Fennas and Andrews are thick as thieves again.”
His warmth kept the wind from chilling her as they hugged. She’d never forget her daring climb into the heavens last night, but was so grateful he’d been at the end of the ladder. Thanks to her father, they had reclaimed their places in the world as a free man and woman. Together, their adventures would truly be the stuff of grandurchin stories in years to come.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Heather Hiestand is the author of many novels, novellas and short stories. She lives in Washington with her husband and son. Find Heather Hiestand online:
Website: http://www.heatherhiestand.com
Blog: http://blog.heatherhiestand.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/hahiestand
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Heather-HiestandAnh-Leod/24271017921?ref=ts
Thank you for purchasing this Coffee on Sundays Press publication. For other books of the heart, please visit our website at www.coffeeonsundays.info.
For questions or more information contact us at [email protected].
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MORE BY HEATHER HIESTAND
Anthologies:
“The Burro” in Murder Across the Map
“Victoriana” in Holiday in the Heart
Looking Forward, Looking Back and Other Stories
“The Bachelor” in Cupid Gone Wild
Novellas:
Victoriana Adventure
Captain Andrew’s Flying Christmas
Novels:
Cards Never Lie
One Juror Down
Gunshot Grange
Two on the Hunt
In Flight
Captain Andrew's Flying Christmas Page 6