Constance: Bride of Florida (American Mail-Order Bride 27) (6 page)

That was all he said. Once the store was open, Drake saw little of his brothers as they went to their assigned places. He didn’t have one. He looked around and made sure the clerks were in position.

He saw Edgar and went to him. “What should I do?”

Edgar looked at him with a whimsical grin. “Drake, you’re the one that can run this store. You’re a born leader. Go to the office, Father’s office, and read his notes. See what needs done and do it. Edwin and I can handle the floor.”

With a shrug, Drake made his way to the roomy workplace. He told the secretary he was sitting in for his father for a few days. He didn’t even know her name though he’d seen her for years. He’d have to ask one of his brothers.

He put a hand on the big leather chair. The room wore his father’s personality, and even his smell. After a few moments, Drake sat in the chair. It fit him. Felt good. Yet, everything in him rebelled at the idea.

Drake glanced at the window that looked out into the bay. Rolling waves. Sandy shores to the left. Ships in the bay already bringing in their catch. He yearned to be free and sail the seas. But his family needed him.

A trap
. The words wrested his mind.

He drew in a breath and looked at Father’s schedule. He had letters to write, bills to be paid and mailed, and orders to make. Then he saw the note scribbled beside the date of his birthday. His brother’s birthday.

In his Father’s forceful and direct handwriting, it read.
Order flowers. Big red roses for Martha and small buds for Evan Jr. An envelope of cash for Ethan.

Drake stared at the note. Father missed his brother and yearned for him. How many times must he have wished Evan Jr. had lived? Mourned for what could have been?              

Tapping the pencil at the note, anger took over Drake. The same anger he’d wrestled with his entire life. Now, maybe he knew where it came from. What to do with it was still a mystery. How do you compete with the dead?

He stared out the window to the sea. Constance Penny would be coming soon. The register had said the twentieth and less than a week away.

“Well, Miss Constance Penny, I hope you’re a strong woman. You’re coming into a hornet’s nest, and I’m not sure you’re going to like me. Right now, I don’t.”

Chapter 7

Constance stared out over the ocean, or the gulf, as Stubby had corrected her. They’d rounded Florida, left the Atlantic, and sailed into the gulf of Mexico. They’d passed between the United States and the tiny island of Cuba. Captain Gordon had said they had been scheduled to pick up passengers, but the plan had changed.

She grinned to herself. Soon, she’d be in Apalachicola. Her smile faded. It had been pleasurable to think about E. Ferris and dream about how wonderful he’d be. But now that meeting him was about to become a reality, doubt slapped her.

Her hair whipped against her face. Wild and frizzy, she’d let it go untamed. No doubt her face had been burned by the sun along with her hands. She wasn’t the white-faced timid woman who’d left Boston.

She grabbed at her hair and twisted it into a bun, securing it with a pin she carried in her pocket. Now that she was about to meet her intended, she needed to look her best.

“There ye are, missy. Was looking for you to tell ye the gentleman standing by the mast, would like to talk with ye.” Stubby stared at her. “Be careful with him. I think he’s a mongrel. Indeed, I been watching your cabin.”

Her heart broke a little at the thought of leaving Stubby. The old man had taken her under his care and no one had bothered her. “I trust you, Stubby. I’ll be careful with him. However, Mr. Briggs hasn’t been a problem.”

Stubby shook his head. “He’s not one to be trusted. And you, well, you’re such a sweet naïve girl. I’ll be keeping my eye on ye between captain’s orders.”

She watched him limp away. He’d been such a help to her on this trip, she was going to miss him.

A whistle drifted across the deck.

Constance turned to see Mr. Briggs waving her over. She took an instant dislike to being called as if she were a dog. To show her displeasure, she walked in the opposite direction and gazed down at the sea. At times, it was aqua others deep blue.

After a respectable time of ignoring him and his whistles, she turned to go and see what he wanted. But she didn’t have to go anywhere. Seems he’d grown impatient and had come to her.

“Miss Penny, I was calling you. There was a pair of dolphins beside the ship.” He pushed some of her wayward hair behind her ear.

She backed away. “I was busy. I wanted to look over here.” Her courage fired up inside her. “Besides, I do not answer to a dog’s call.”

He stared at her. “Sorry. I hadn’t meant it that way, but I can see how you might have interpreted my actions incorrectly. I won’t do it again.” He continued looking at her. “It’s about lunchtime. Would you care to join me?”

One thing she’d done on this trip was eat. While the other passengers spent the first part losing their meals, she’d eaten as if there was no tomorrow. Her hunger awakened, she nodded. “I’d like that.”

He escorted her to the ship’s galley and sat beside her. “We are close to port; I wonder if I may be so bold as to ask about your plans?”

Keeping her eyes aimed at the porthole, she concentrated on what to say. There didn’t seem to be any good answer for her other than the truth. “I’m meeting someone.”

“Oh, I see. Family?”

“No. A little business, perhaps more.”

“Well, then I guess it will be goodbye here aboard the
Journeys end
.”

She glanced at him. Her answer had taken the wind out of his sails. “Yes, I guess it will be. How is your stomach feeling?”

He grinned at her weakly. “As long as the seas are smooth, I’m alright. I do confess, I have never seen anyone take to sailing as you have.”

“I am as surprised as anyone. I do love it, though. The way the sun rises out of the ocean and then sinks beneath her waves to make way for the moon.”

Cooky brought their food. “I’ll miss you. It’s been a joy to cook for you, Lassie. You keep that gold star.”

“The food has been excellent, and I will miss you, too. I haven’t heard, do you know when we will be there?”

“Tomorrow. Captain said as long as everything goes as planned, we’ll dock by eight o’clock in the morning to catch the high tide.”

“Tomorrow morning? Oh, I had no idea we would arrive so early.”

Mr. Briggs stared at her with a look akin to a wolf spotting a fresh meal. “If whoever it is you are meeting won’t be there, I’d be happy to show you around.”

Startled by the change in his demeanor, she shook her head. “No, it won’t be a problem. I can tend to myself.” That part was true. She had since she was fourteen. While pleased that she could now speak above a squeak, her mouse-like nature yet lingered. What if E. Ferris refused her? What if he took one look at her and sent her back like an incorrect order? She let out a worried sigh. What was she going to do?

“Is everything all right?”

She glanced at him and saw his wolfish eyes hiding behind his kind words. “Oh, I’ll be fine.”

She hurriedly ate the food Cooky brought her and then excused herself. She needed to decide what she was going to do. First, she’d take a nap. Lots of problems could be dealt with during a nap. At least, on board the ship, it had seemed that way.

Drake pushed the pad away and set his pencil down. Another day finished. He’d managed to clean up Father’s desk and make some advantageous deals along the way. Mother was holding her own and gaining some strength.

Doc warned that she would need rest and care and that her heart could give out at any time.

Drake hated that warning. Yet, wasn’t that how they all should live. One is taken at sea, another at birth. Best to live as if it’s your last day, he figured. Then laughed when he looked around his father’s office.

Yeah, that’s what I’m doing.

He still longed for the tall sails and wide-open sea, but his family needed him. He thought Edgar and Edwin might resent his taking over, but they hadn’t. Indeed, they’d welcomed him and his ideas with open arms and minds.

And then there was Kimberly. He’d found himself looking and thinking about her more every day. By the bright sparkle in her eyes when he came near her, he thought she might be thinking of him, too.

She was everything a man could want. Beautiful, never a hair out of place, and organized. Perfect for him. Except for one problem. His
bride
was on her way from Boston. Constance Penny. What was he going to do with her? And how was he going to explain her to the family?

A dark part of his heart hoped that she’d fall in love with one of his brothers instead. After all, he’d signed all the wires and letters with E. Ferris so she wouldn’t know it was him. Edwin wasn’t interested in anyone yet as far as he knew.

The clock dinged. Time to go home. He gave a sideways glance at the calendar and shook his head. Well,
Journeys end
was due to come in a week from now. That gave him seven days to decide what he was going to do.

Kimberly seemed to be pure loveliness except that to have her meant he’d be bound to the store. Not that she’d ever said anything of the kind, or had reason to, but she wasn’t the type of woman who’d let him sail the seas and leave her.

Then there was Constance Penny. A mail-order bride he’d never met. That she had to answer an advertisement for a husband didn’t say much about her looks or personality. Yet, if he married her, he’d be free from the store and able to buy
The Sea Wind
and sail the seven seas.

As he walked the street toward home, he could only shake his head at his dilemma. Passing by the park, he noticed Edgar and Tess snuggled close to one another. Drake had to admit, seeing Father with Mother and his brother with his intended had opened a longing in his own heart.

He doubted if any woman could take the place of his yearning to go to sea, although Kimberly’s curves were giving him pause. He hoped she’d be in the kitchen when he got home. She looked so cute and homey in an apron.

After turning the corner to his street, he stopped. Doc’s carriage was outside his house.
Mother
. Fear sent him running. He rounded the iron fence, crashed through the gate, and stampeded up the steps.

Before he could get to the door, it opened and Doc came onto the porch. “Drake, it’s all right. I wasn’t able to come earlier. Mrs. Bunge had twins. Both fine and healthy.” He stopped talking and took a breath.

“I’m sorry. That wasn’t the proper thing to say to you right now.”

Drake shook his head. “It’s fine. I’m sure twins are born every day. Not something I’m going to run from.”

Doc nodded and then patted his arm. “I’m glad to hear you talk that way. Seems your attitude has changed some.”

Kimberly came to close the door but stopped. Standing in the glow of the lights and laughter inside, Drake struggled to breathe. Was she his answer?

“Yes, I see perhaps why you’ve changed for the better. Nothing like a pretty girl to do that to a fella.” Doc patted him on the arm and left.

Drake couldn’t take his eyes from her.

“Well, are you coming in?” She moved the door, tempting him to hurry.

He stepped slowly toward her. She must want him for the game she was playing. So far, she’d kept him at arm’s length. He wanted her to desire him. Feel the way she was making him feel right now.

She took a step back and slowly pulled the door a few inches.

The twinkle in her eye gave away her feelings. He rushed to her and grabbed the door before she could shut it. He’d won the little game. Perhaps won her heart. He laughed and took off his coat.

She took it from him and hung it in the closet. “How was your day at the store?”

He stared at her. Images of Mother doing the same for Father played through his mind. “It was a good day.” He didn’t take his eyes from her.

“Your mother is doing so much better. She was up for half the day. That’s great progress isn’t it? Soon, you won’t need me at all.”

Her words brought his thoughts to a halt. He didn’t want her to go.

She backed against the hall closet and crossed her arms. “A penny for your thoughts?”

His heart jumped. Penny. Constance Penny. He’d really gotten himself into a mess now. He’d have to buy
The Sea Wind
just to escape Kimberly and Constance. There was sure to be an argument when they met.

Instead of an answer, he smiled and gestured to the parlor. “Sit and have a drink with me before supper?”

She laughed. “We all ate an hour ago. You must have had your nose in the books so much you didn’t realize what time it was.”

“Guess you’re right. The offer still goes.”

A blush pinked Kimberly’s cheeks. “Only for a few minutes. I need to help ready your Mother for bed.”

“I’ll sip fast.” He bowed to her. “After you.”

Her blush deepened. She turned, brushed past him, and walked into the parlor.

Drake hung his hat on the hat rack and followed her. Like a weak victim about to be ensnared in a spider web, he followed her into the parlor.

“God help me,” he whispered.