Constance: Bride of Florida (American Mail-Order Bride 27) (13 page)

Chapter 18

Constance stared into Drake’s deep blue eyes and felt she could get lost in them. She held her breath, waiting for the pastor to continue, but everything and everyone faded away until there was only her and Drake.

The pastor had Drake repeat his vows. To love and honor, provide and care for her. He repeated. His voice deep and husky.

Her turn came. Her voice matched his in the strength of his promise. She would love him and obey him until death parted them. Every word an oath of her love. A love she hadn’t realized until this minute.

True and deep and heartfelt, she pledged to be his for all her days on this earth.

The pastor pronounced them man and wife.

Drake turned to her, his eyes held a mysterious fire as he took her in his arms and kissed her.  He drank long and tenderly of her lips. She returned his passion. The love in her heart real and tangible.

His lips turned up in a half-smile as he righted her and took her hand to face the family and guests.

Claps and cheers resulted from the crowd. Then they were surrounded by family. Constance felt her heart glowing. Her dreams had been realized. She had a home and family. She couldn’t picture anything better.

After an hour of celebration, Mr. Ferris raised his glass in a toast. “To my son, Ethan Drake Ferris and his bride, Constance Ferris. May your lives together be filled with joy and love and may nothing come between you.”

Drake stiffened at his father’s words but gave a hearty “Hear. Hear,” to the toast.

Constance felt a coldness come between them.

She swallowed and hung onto the kiss. To the warmth in his eyes as he’d gazed at her during the wedding. He would stay with her and keep his vows. He would.

Drake wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her to his side. “Thank you, family and friends. Now if you’ll excuse us, we’ll be off on our honeymoon.”

His brothers hooted and howled causing heat to rush to her cheeks.

Drake tenderly guided her to the front door.

Edgar opened it and bowed. “Your carriage awaits you.” He smiled and gestured to the street.

Constance gasped. A carriage with a matched pair of bay horses awaited them.

Drake took her hand. “Mrs. Ferris, let’s go.”

Together they ran dodging ribbons and lace thrown their way by well-wishers.

The driver held open the door. Drake helped her in and then jumped in beside her. The driver drove them along the beach to a white cottage with yellow trim. He stopped and let them off then drove away, leaving them alone on the beach.

Drake pulled her to him. “I thought you’d like this. It’s our house for a week.”

“It’s beautiful.” She said the words but had eyes only for him.

Without a word, he scooped her into his arms and carried her inside the cottage.

Her heart raced.

The setting sun winked inside the window as it scattered hues of red, purple, and pink across the sky.

###

Constance woke just as the sky lightened. She reached over, but Drake was no longer next to her. Her heart thudded. Surely, he wouldn’t leave her. Not after the night. He’d been so tender and loving to her.

She rose, wrapped her robe around herself, and went to see where he might be. Walking past the window, she saw him. He stood outside staring at the choppy seas.

Her husband. Would he forever be as moody as the waters he loved? Could he ever love her as much?

Patience. She smiled to herself. Whether he knew it or not, he did love her. She’d seen it in his eyes at the wedding. Felt it in his touch. Recognized it as their hearts beat as one. He loved her. He would come back to her.

She debated about going out to him but decided against it. The sea was his mistress. It had to be his choice whether to come back to her or not.

She went to the kitchen and made coffee. Inside the icebox, she pulled out some eggs and bacon and made breakfast, hoping the aroma would draw him inside.

After setting the table, she went to look in on her biscuits when she heard the door open and close. She carried the food in on a tray and saw him standing beside the door.

“I made breakfast and coffee.”

His eyes darted to hers, and he smiled. “Smells good.” Tentatively, he sat and let her put his napkin on his lap. “I should be serving—”

“Hush. You’re my husband. I promised to take care of you.” She hoped he didn’t feel caged in. She didn’t want him that way. Didn’t want him to come to her any other way than by his own free will.

“Thank you.” He dug into the scrambled eggs and nodded. “Good. Great even.”

“Your mother told me how you like them.”

His face took on a thoughtful look. “I appreciate that you get along so well with my parents and brothers.”

She smiled. She read between his unspoken lines. He was happy she’d have a family once he left for the sea. Would he actually choose his aquamarine mistress over her? “They are wonderful people.”

And so the morning went like the waves. Short choppy conversations. Not allowing her inside his mind or heart, he kept her at bay. Kept her at a safe distance. Kept himself from belonging to her.

Outside, the weather changed as if the sea were angry that she held him. The wind picked up and howled, rattling the shutters and the temperature dropped.

She darted an unsure glance his way.

He grinned as if he loved the wild weather. “It’s all right. The barometer is holding steady. If it starts to drop, we’ll run for higher ground.”

Fear dropped into her heart. What if the sea claimed him the way it had taken Mrs. McCreedy’s husband?

As if reading her mind, he rose and knelt in front of her. “Wait here.”

He left her and went into the bedroom. After a few minutes, he came back in and picked her up. As he carried her in, she saw that he’d made a fire in the fireplace. Warmth blanketed the room.

He set her on the bed, and her fear melted away.

Chapter 19

Drake had to admit, Constance had surprised him. During the honeymoon week, as much as he could, he’d learned to love her. The idea of leaving her for the sea bothered him. But then, she’d known the terms of the marriage.

He’d rented a small house not far from his family. Constance loved it but seemed on edge as if anticipating his leaving. He glanced at her as she sat reading one of the books he bought her from the store.

With Father’s check in his pocket, today was the day he was going to see Captain McGregor and buy
The Sea Wind
. He’d finally seen her at anchor.

Constance looked up. Longing and questions darkened the green in her eyes.

“I’ll be back. Can I get you anything from the store?” She knew he wasn’t going to Ferris and Sons. He could see it on her face and felt as if he were betraying her. Yet, she didn’t argue. That she accepted his leaving bothered him. Did she care? Did his family fill the longing in her heart?

“No. The stew is simmering and will be ready when you return.” She forced a smile.

He nodded, took his coat from the closet, and left. The chill in his heart was colder than the air. She trusted him. Wanted him. The Good Lord knew how much he longed for her at night.

The check in his pocket grew warm. His dream was within reach. He had to try. Had to go. He could always come back to her if he didn’t like sailing the oceans. He could and would return between his adventures.

The walk to the old Captain’s home didn’t take him long. He knocked on the door. A gust of wind blew causing him to button his coat as dried, dead leaves scudded across the sidewalk. Finally, the door opened.

“Captain, remember me?”

“Course I do, son. What can I do for you? Come on in, it’s colder than a mermaid’s kiss.”

Drake shook the Captain’s gnarled hand and followed him to the parlor where they sat. “It’s about
The Sea Wind
. I want to buy her from you.”

The old captain rocked back in his chair. “Well, Drake. I’ve scheduled her for scrapping next week. Thought I told you that the last time we met at the start of summer.”

“I know. But I thought I could pay you more than what you’d get—”

“No.” The old man studied him while frowning. “She’s not worth any more than I can get for her. Her wood’s rotten, wormy, and crusted with barnacles. She’s a hundred years old, son. Her time is past.”

Drake’s heart stuttered. His dream. The one he’d thought about since he could remember shattered like a mast in a hurricane. “I really wanted to sail her around the world. Take her out and let the sea fill her sails.”

The old captain laughed. “
The Sea Wind
used to do that. I remember taking you out when you were a boy. Now, she scuttles between islands taking a few loads here and there. Mostly giving tourists a ride. But her rudder is shot. The hull leaks. And the mast is about to crash down on her. One good squall and she’d sink to the bottom of the gulf. She’s done for. Seen her time.”

Drake sat still as shock and disappointment rattled him.

The old man rose and walked to the back of the room. He pulled an old sextant from the wall and handed it to him. “My grandfather gave me this. Said to keep it and stay the course. At the time, I didn’t understand why it was important until I read the words he’d scratched on it. Take it. I want you to have it.”

Drake turned the sextant and saw the words. “Find the True Morning Star.”

The old man smiled. “When we’re young, we often think the thing that will make us happiest is just out of reach. We run, fight, and strive to achieve it only to find the victory hollow. God knows what you need and where you belong. Set your heart on what He has for you. But I’m afraid it won’t be
The Sea Wind
.”

Drake felt his dream crack and sink under the realization of the truth of the old man’s words. His father’s check still in his pocket, Drake stood. I guess I have some thinking to do.”

“Yes, I’d say so. You know many think they want to sail the seas, but it comes at a great cost. You lose a chance at a family. Maybe even your life. Oh, I’ve had me some good years, but there was a lass that haunted my dreams. I left her one summer and didn’t return for over a year. She had packed up and gone. All I had left from what could have been was a letter. I never did find out what happened to her.”

“Thanks, Captain.” He left the old man’s house, sextant in hand, and dream smashed. He stared into the gray skies and wondered why his dream had to die. Why?  He wandered to the shore and sat on a bench watching angry waves attack the shore but leave in defeat.

“The sea is an angry mistress.” Isn’t that what Mother had said? For the first time since he could remember as he looked at the cold gray waves, he felt lonely. Usually, he felt that when around other people.

He’d thought the sea was the one thing that gave him peace and solace. But today as he looked out at her, he saw her for what she was as lonely wave after lonely wave washed ashore only to be rebuffed and sent back out.

Drake thought back to all the times Mother had tried to tell him. How she’d sit with him and point out the squalls and angry winds. “Drake,” She’d say. “Your heart belongs to those who love you. The sea can’t do that.”

He picked up a rock and threw it into the water. How could it be that he’d spent so much of his life dreaming about something that was never to be? Such an empty promise. His dream to buy
The Sea Wind
had been as rotten as her timbers.

Feeling adrift and lost in a sea of unknowns, he stood and walked along the shore. The waves hissed at him as if taunting him, angry that he’d escaped their empty promise.

He’d disappointed so many. Mother, his brothers, his father. They’d all tried to include him in the family, but he’d remained aloof. What had set him apart from his family all these years?

He thought back to the small grave. His twin. A slow realization niggled his mind. Had he always been looking for him? Had the hole in his heart been from his brother who never had a chance at life?

Drake stared at the sea. Unforgiving and relentless, it tried to come ashore only to be turned away. He remembered thinking how he could float away and not be bothered with family or people and search for something. But what?

What is it he’d always looked for? Was it his twin brother? Is that why he thought he had to go to sea? That he’d find his brother?

His frozen heart thawed. He’d been looking for what he couldn’t have all these years. Denying what he did have. Denying how talented he was at business. Denying his rightful place in the family. Even his name.

The day had slipped away from him. Darkness toyed with the flickering light of the sun. Feeling hopeful, Drake left the shore and walked to the little house he’d bought for Constance. He hoped she liked it.

As he neared the house, he wondered if she’d be there. She spent a lot of time with his family. While he was thankful that she fit in with them, sometimes he had to admit it made him feel the outsider all over again.

Was there no one he could feel at one with?

He turned up the pathway and saw that light shone in the windows. Warm and yellow it beckoned him home.
Home?
He grinned to himself. Well, that was a new one. He was almost to the door when it opened.

She stood in the doorway with the yellow light behind her and surrounding her in a halo of gold.

His heart quickened. Home wasn’t a place. It was Constance. He ran to her, picked her up and hugged her to him. He caressed her face, tilted her neck and kissed her. Gentle and giving, he kissed her with his whole heart.

She returned his kiss.

Pulling away, he took her hand. “I’m home.”

Her eyes searched his. “For how long?” Her voice was low and breathless.

He grinned. “As long as you’ll have me.”

She flung herself into his arms, sobbed, and laughed.

He held her until she stopped. “I smell a good stew.”

She nodded and took his hand, leading him to their small table. Candles lit the center. “I was waiting for you.”

“I’m home, Constance.”