Amelia and the Captain Read online

  “The other women know my…feelings for you, so we can leave for Washington right away. I know you’ve been delayed longer than you planned,” she conceded. “We can be on our way shortly.” She met his steady gaze. “Agreed?”

  True, it was a backdoor marriage proposal if there ever was one, and she knew he should be the one asking her. But she wasn’t inclined to tradition. And asking him to marry her flat out seemed too pushy, even for a McDougal.

  “Agreed?” she prompted when he just stood there looking at her. Great balls of fire! He had to agree. Now that he’d turned her life upside down, he couldn’t walk away and pretend they’d never met. Pretend they’d never shared the past few weeks. Stolen kisses. Shared looks across the supper table that made a girl’s heart tie into knots. What kind of man could do that? Not this man. Not her captain.

  Turning away, Morgan appeared to be considering the idea. She worried her lower lip, waiting. This would have gone so much better if the roles were reversed. She didn’t know much about this sort of thing, but she knew enough to wish that he’d taken the initiative. If he felt as strongly about her as she did him, he’d be doing the asking. The awful thought hit her. That was the problem. He didn’t share her love—not the deep-down ache in the pit of his stomach that told him that his life would never be the same if he let her walk away.

  When he turned back, he did so with a straight face. “I want to be sure I understand what you’re saying. You are proposing marriage…to me?”

  She nodded. “Yes, but only because I know you would never ask me.”

  “And how do you know that?”

  “Well…” She thought for a moment. “We’ve only known each other a short while.”

  “That’s for certain.”

  “And we’ve had very little time alone,” she reasoned. Heat touched her cheeks, and she corrected herself. “Well, very little time together. So you really couldn’t have fallen in love with me. I’m impetuous, so my falling in love with you isn’t out of the ordinary. We both know I tend to be rather impulsive at times, but I always know what I want. At least, almost always, and in this instance, I know for certain that I want you.”

  He conceded the point. “Yes, you’re all those—but a lot more, Amelia.”

  More? Her mind raced to find another one of her less-than-appealing ways. “I have been a considerable burden to you,” she admitted, “so I understand why you wouldn’t have thought of marriage this soon. I mean, marriage between you and me. But I can simplify things because I know how I am when everything is normal, and I know that if I set my mind to it, I could make you a fine wife. Maybe not as good as Elizabeth or someone like her, because, well, Elizabeth has been married before, and…well, you know…”

  “I’m afraid I don’t. Tell me.”

  “Well.” This was embarrassing, but if they were going to be married, she supposed they’d have to get around to the subject sooner or later. “Elizabeth knows what’s expected in marriage. I don’t.”

  “You’re talking about a man and wife’s relationship after the vows are said.”

  She sighed. “I’m rattling on now. I am a bit nervous.”

  “What about…the intimacy?”

  “Intimacy. Yes, that’s the word I’m searching for. I’m not a baby. I know what marriage means, and I am more than willing to share my…home and my heart with you, if you agree.

  “Now mind you, I’ve never done anything even remotely close to…that.”

  “I admire your frankness about a subject most women would never mention. It sounds as though you’ve given this matter considerable thought between the times we’ve been outrunning Comanche, privateers, and exploding boilers. Frankly, I haven’t focused on much else.”

  She detected a teasing tone—but a sweet one, in his voice. “Not considerable…but enough to know what I want.” She glanced at him uneasily. “You don’t mind, do you? I mean, my thinking things like that about you?”

  “No,” he offered graciously. “I don’t mind.”

  “Well,” she continued. “What about me? Are you looking forward to, you know, being married?”

  His eyes skimmed her lazily. “I am.”

  “Oh.” She smiled, loving him even more for his understanding. “Then you’re accepting my proposal?” The air went out of her with relief. She’d dreaded this moment since she’d decided to propose to him, which had been two days earlier.

  “Morgan.” Her voice suddenly sounded small and uncertain. “What if something bad has happened to Abigail and Anne-Marie?” Amelia hadn’t let herself dwell on that possibility, but she must face the possibility now.

  He reached out to take her hand. “Whatever awaits you here at the mission, I’ll be with you.”

  Lifting her eyes, she looked at him. “I’m scared,” she whispered.

  “I am too,” he said softly. He took her hand and held it. They gazed at each other, and the same love that was in her eyes mirrored back from his.

  “Does this mean that you accept my proposal and you’ll come back?” She was afraid to hope or believe that he could ever be hers.

  “No,” he replied. “However, I have had the same thoughts you’ve expressed, and I’ve come to the conclusion that you would do me a great honor if you would accept mine.”

  Her eyes filled with joy. “You’re proposing? To me?” Her voice dropped to a mere whisper. “You’re actually asking me to marry you?”

  “Yes, Amelia. I’m asking. I feel I’ve cheated you out of a decent courting period, but I’ll make up for it.” He winked. “You have my word.”

  “Oh. Well. Yes. Yes! A thousand times, yes!” She threw her arms around his neck ecstatically. Her gaze locked with his. “It isn’t the amount of time that we’ve known each other that matters; it’s the knowledge, the deep-down belief that we truly belong together, that counts.”

  “I agree. Completely.” He drew her close for a long kiss.

  Applause sounded from the wagons, and they broke apart, her gaze reluctant to leave his.

  “Shall we go meet your soon-to-be new sisters-in-law?” she asked.

  He extended his arm. “It would be my pleasure, Miss McDougal.”

  Arm in arm they walked back to the awaiting wagon. The future didn’t frighten her so much anymore. With Morgan by her side, she could face anything. Even the loss of her beloved sisters.

  If you’ve read Lori Copeland’s first book in this series, Sisters of Mercy Flats, you may be wondering,

  What happened with Abigail and Captain Barrett Drake?

  And if you’ve read the second book, My Heart Stood Still, you may ask,

  What about Anne-Marie and Creed Walker?

  If that’s you, read on and find out…

  “You might as well come away from the window.” Abigail watched as Anne-Marie lifted the mission parlor curtain again to peer out. If she’d looked out once, she’d looked out a hundred times this morning. “Creed will be back.”

  Her sister let the curtain drop back into place dispiritedly. “I wish I believed that as much as you do.”

  “He’ll be back, just as Amelia will be here any day now.” Abigail stitched the hem of a new shirt she was making for baby Daniel. She had to guess at the little boy’s size. He had probably grown a mile since she’d left him last month. Only this morning a letter had arrived from the Mother Superior telling her how well he was doing. She had written that Daniel was growing like ragweed and was looking forward to the arrival of his new parents.

  Resting the shirt on her lap, Abigail thought about Daniel’s handsome, strong father, her new husband, Barrett Drake.

  At first she had been worried that her sisters had met with ill fate, but barely a week after her arrival back at the mission, Anne-Marie returned. Now only Amelia remained absent. But Amelia was late for everything, so there was no real cause for alarm. She’d be back as surely as Anne-Marie returned safely.

  Leaning against the windowsill, Anne-Marie murmured, “I wonder what Creed is
thinking these days? Do you think he will really come back for me?” Creed had been promised to another woman when he rescued Anne-Marie from the jail wagon, but by the end of their journey, both Anne-Marie and Creed Walker had fallen in love.

  “Were you surprised when he asked you to marry him?” Abigail bit the thread in two and laid the needle aside.

  “Very surprised, and thankful. I assumed he would honor his pledge to Berry Woman.”

  “But he didn’t.” Abigail smiled.

  Abigail had married her rescuer, Barrett Drake, shortly after Anne-Marie’s return. A smile crossed Abigail’s lips when she thought about Barrett. She had thought she was grabbed by a twit of a shoe salesman, Mr. Hershall Digman. She stole his horse and rode off to the nearest town, not giving him another thought…until she discovered those secret papers in his saddlebags. Mr. Digman—Barrett Drake—turned out to be a Confederate spy, and it seemed the mismatched couple needed one another.

  Anne-Marie’s champion was a Crow warrior, Creed Walker. The relationship was loathing at first sight, but with bandits on their tail and a cache of gold to hide, Creed and Anne-Marie needed each other. Apparently for a lifetime. Barrett rode off a few days earlier to finalize his discharge from the service, but he would be home soon. This time, forever. Abigail and Creed had yet to exchange vows.

  “Oh, Abigail. I long for Creed’s return.”

  “He’ll be back as soon as he ties up old business.”

  Turning away from the window, Anne-Marie flicked an imaginary piece of dust from a porcelain figure sitting on the table in front of the window. “Maybe. Remember how you used to tell us that men—all men—were no good?”

  “Yes, but I was wrong.”

  “You sure were. So very wrong.” Her sister playfully tapped the back of Abigail’s head. “I am so very glad you were mistaken.” She sobered. “What if Creed doesn’t come back?”

  “Don’t be silly. He’s madly in love with you.” Abigail’s eyes softened. “It’s written all over the man’s face.”

  Anne-Marie slowly stretched. “I don’t understand what’s keeping Amelia. She should be here by now.” Neither sister thought otherwise. The McDougals were survivors. They would be reunited, but it was strange that Amelia was taking so long.

  “How do you think she’ll take the news of our marriages?” Anne-Marie said. “Especially since you’ve contended that men were horrible.”

  Abigail bit off a thread. “One look at Barrett and Creed and she’ll understand.”

  “There is that pact we made.” Anne-Marie had gravitated to the window again, and Abigail joined her there.

  “You know,” Abigail murmured in awe, “I would have never in a hundred years thought I would meet a man that I would fall so desperately in love with.”

  A sad smile touched the corners of Anne-Marie’s mouth. “I know. And I still shudder when I think of how close I came to surrendering Creed to another woman.”

  Wrapping her arms around her sister’s waist, Abigail hugged her. “We have very good men. Honorable, kind. We are blessed.”

  “Very—only what if something dreadful happened to Amelia?”

  “We can’t allow ourselves to consider the possibility. She’s smart and practical…sometimes, even though she doesn’t show it. She’ll find a way home.”

  Abigail lifted the curtain to peer out when a ruckus outside caught her attention. “What in heaven’s name is going on?” Four buckboards had pulled into the courtyard, stirring up the guineas, that were making a terrible racket.

  “Amelia! She’s home!” Grinning, Abigail dropped the curtain back in place and gave Anne-Marie another hug. “See—I told you she’d be back!”

  Running out to the courtyard, Abigail and Anne-Marie greeted Amelia with a round of long hugs and exuberant kisses.

  “What took you so long?” Abigail exclaimed. “We were about to come looking for you!”

  “You’ll never believe what’s happened,” Amelia said breathlessly. “You see, this man, Morgan Kane, rescued me, and we rode to Galveston, and he gave me some money to buy passage on the ship back to Mercy Flats, but I foolishly decided that I wasn’t going to do what he wanted me to do, so I went shopping, and before I knew it I had shopped too long to buy my passage on the ship back to Mercy Flats. I wandered around Galveston until I bumped into this man who I thought was a wonderful, generous person, but it turned out he was nothing but a scurrilous, evil man, and before I knew it I was abducted and thrown on a ship named the Black Widow, and this horrible man who I thought was a friend, named Austin Brown, was going to sell me to a scurrilous privateer, Dov Lanigan, but then this wonderful man, Morgan Kane, rescued me a second time from Brown and put me and my new friends on this old riverboat called the Mississippi Lady, whose crew were all as old as Sister Agnes!”

  Abigail’s eyes rounded. “No!”

  “Yes. And then we were heading for New Orleans, where Captain Jean Louis and Morgan thought they could get me and the other women to safety, but then the engine broke down. Then, lo and behold, a few miles from New Orleans, a huge storm came up, and I was thrown overboard, and I thought I could hear Morgan calling for me to take his hand, but it wasn’t Morgan. It was that scurrilous Brown in pursuit. He pulled me aboard his ship, but then Morgan took aim and let him have it with a Sharps rifle, and then all at once everyone was shooting at each other, and Captain Jean Louis said he’d have to make a run for it, which we did, but then the boilers on the Mississippi Lady overheated because we were throwing everything from bacon slices to kitchen benches in it, and all of a sudden there was this horrendous explosion, and I was thrown out into the water again. Everyone started calling out their names, and I started crying because I was so happy no one was hurt, but then we still knew Austin Brown was after us. About that time, we noticed a piece of wood floating by that didn’t belong to our boat, and we knew that Austin’s boiler had blown too, so everyone was rejoicing that the chase was over, not that we were happy that folks died, but actually we were, since everybody aboard Austin Brown’s boat was evil. Not one survived the blast.”

  She took a deep breath. “It took us a few days to arrange for wagons because I’ve brought all my marvelous new friends here because I wanted to and they had nowhere else to go.” She took another deep breath. “I’ve invited the women to live here at the mission, and I had to convince them that the mission really needed them, but because most of the women didn’t have anyplace to go, they decided they might as well come back with me. Their names are Pilar, Auria, Belicia, Ria, Mira, Bunny, Mahalia, Hester, Faith, and last but certainly not least, Elizabeth.” Amelia reached out to take Elizabeth’s hand. “She’s my best friend.” She took a third deep breath. “That’s why I’m late.”

  The scary thing about the McDougal sisters was that they understood what the other ones were saying. Always.

  Turning to Anne-Marie, Abigail grinned. “Didn’t I tell you something simple like that had delayed her?”

  The nuns came out to investigate the noise, and the reunion was complete. The mission grounds were filled with sounds of laughter and happiness as introductions were made all around.

  Sister Lucille took the new ones under her wing and saw to their immediate comforts.

  That evening everyone retired to rooms earlier than usual. The McDougal sisters were finally back in their own room, the one they’d shared since childhood. It was the first moment of privacy they’d shared.

  Pulling a brush through her hair, Amelia stared at her reflection in the mirror. She had changed during a scant few weeks. Not only on the outside, but on the inside as well. She looked older. Wiser.

  She blushed, recalling the embarrassing way she had proposed to Morgan earlier. He denied her request but spoke his desire. A smile touched her lips. He proposed—and that’s really how marriage should be. The man asking the woman. He truly was in love with her.

  Lifting her finger, she touched her lips, his scent still lingering there. There had been barely time ea
rlier for a brief stolen kiss in the dark foyer before retiring. She had yet to tell Abigail and Anne-Marie about him and the future they planned together. In all the excitement, he had been briefly introduced as the man who had been her rescuer.

  “Abby,” she mused thoughtfully. “Do you know anything about integrity?”

  “Integrity?” Abigail thought for a moment. “It’s something like honor?”

  “Yes, something like that.”

  “I know a lot more than I did. Barrett has shown me the meaning of keeping one’s word. He has taught me right from wrong. I am so ashamed of what we have done, Amelia.”

  Amelia nodded. “So am I. What about you, Anne-Marie? Do you know anything about integrity?”

  “I know honor and integrity are good things among men. Creed is the most honorable man I have ever known. And I thank God for the day he rescued me from that jail wagon.”

  “Integrity and honor are good.” Laying her brush aside, Amelia turned to face her sisters. “From now on, I intend to be filled with character and truthfulness.”

  Gathering around her feet, her sisters nodded in agreement. “Me too,” Abigail admitted. “Our old ways are over.”

  “I’ve given the matter considerable thought, and I agree,” Anne-Marie said softly. “If we ask the Lord for forgiveness, and if we truly change our ways, He will grant it. We’ll work, plant a second garden, take in sewing, and even wash to earn money for the mission.”

  Joining hands, the women prayed together for grace and forgiveness for their past ways.

  “You know this means we can no longer do what we did,” Anne-Marie said when the confessions ended.

  “That’s fine with me,” both Amelia and Abigail voiced.

  Amelia explained how the women she’d brought with her were truly gifted and how they would stay on and run the mission for the aging nuns when the time came for the McDougal sisters to leave. The mission would be in good hands. The good sisters could rest assured of that.