Disclaimer: The characters from 'The Ghost and Mrs. Muir' belong to 20th Century Fox and David Gerber productions. No infringement is intended, no profit is made, and the characters will be returned unharmed from whence they came. This story is for enjoyment only. All other characters, plots, story lines and development of GAMM characters belong to the authors and may not be used or changed without express written permission. Set in the From this Day On Universe, between When The Stars Come Out and Ghost Riders. We do not own GAMM or its denizens. Sean and Molly O'Casey are Mary's, forever on loan to Amanda. The rest of the new characters are Amanda's, borrowed from the following: Skeldale, Tristan and Siegfried are names and characters in part borrowed from the fabulous James Herriot books, All Creatures Great and Small, etc. Blackwood, from Andrew Greeley. Linden from Stephen R. Donaldson. Adam from Panzer/Davis. Many, many thanks to Susan Griffith for the always needed beta read.

Serendipity

Mary and Amanda

PART ONE

The sun was setting, therefore the party on the beach decided to move indoors. As they walked toward the main house, Dr. Lynne noted, "Since we're in a story-telling mode, I've heard about how Clay over there brought Dash back into everyone's lives..."

As he helped Martha up the walk, Ed snorted under his breath. Still, without the fancy lordling, he might have never realized how much he loved Martha. Not that he'd ever admit that.

Ignoring this, the doctor went on, "And we just heard about how Jenny arrived. I saw Molly show up and Sig too... when'd you come on the scene, Sean?"

"And how were you involved in that one, Little Brother?" Siegfried put in dryly.

"Not at all," Tristan scowled. "I hadn't found my way home yet, even though I didn't know it was home, at the time."

"So, how did Sean come back? Was he here all along?" Thom asked. "I can't see Hampton sharing quarters with a ghost."

"I'd like to hear myself, love. We've been catching up too much to tell stories," Molly blushed.

"Come on in," Daniel invited, opening the door from ten feet out. "It may not be as dramatic as Jenny's arrival, but — it's worth telling."

"I feel like a ten-year-old having stories told on him by adoring, albeit embarrassing parents," Sean frowned good-naturedly.

"Oh? Well, it's time someone besides me had that experience," Tristan noted as he flicked sand off his T-shirt. Dressing for the times had never been a problem for him at least.

"Embarrassing? Little brother—" Siegfried began.

"DON'T CALL ME THAT."

"I could..."

"We have fifty-dozen Tristan stories, I'm sure... I don't think I ever heard Sean's tale, either. He just kind of fits here," Adam frowned as he gave Martha a hand up the steps.

"Get settled. By the time you all have seats, I'll have the Madeira and — lemonade?" Daniel asked.

The ladies nodded, but Martha insisted on following. It was still her kitchen.

When everyone had their drinks and seats, Daniel began. "It was a few weeks after..."

"After I brought YOUR family back home," Claymore preened.

"With my help," Dash noted dryly. "Let Danny tell his story, old son. Or him and Sean..."

September 4, 1970

Gull Cottage was once again bustling with life and activity now that the Muirs, Martha, and Scruffy had returned to it, and Lord Dashire was ensconced himself to work on the memoirs Carolyn had promised to pen in, in thanks for his help in bringing them home. His Lordship's presence, however, made an issue come to the fore sooner than it might have otherwise.

"Daniel," Carolyn said tentatively during a break. "I've noticed... Lord Dashire stays — tangible more of the time than you do... is... is there a reason?"

The ghost turned from the telescope that he'd been using to keep an eye on the boy's baseball practice on the beach. Pulling his ear, Captain Gregg shrugged, "Well, Dash took to his ghost-hood better than some of us. After O'Casey and I died, we did visit some of our living crew-mates... and since Dashire was our — I suppose Candy might refer to him as our third musketeer? — We kept a check on his health and so on. He lived quite a long time, actually. I believe he was in his seventies when he passed on... well, he could see us. Some people have a talent for that. So, he knew that he might well be a ghost afterwards, and he even took steps to prepare for the eventuality. Did he tell you he has had a law firm on retainer for the last fifty or sixty years?"

Carolyn shook her head.

"He has. Apparently, his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren are not thrilled about having a ghost in the family, but they don't like each other either... so they can't decide what to do with the family home, and keep trying to sell it. He keeps them in court over it."

"Daniel," she prodded. He could tell stories all day, and never answer the question.

"Right. Well, as soon as he woke up dead, so to speak, Dash decided that he'd been — well — Superman was not around then, but he did feel as if he'd found out he was a super-hero, even if he didn't know what to call it. So, he began learning how to use his powers and even went among the living as one of them at will... if his body hadn't been found before he had it all figured out, he might have been able to continue on as a person without interruption."

"You are both persons — people," Carolyn argued softly.

"Not legally. Well, I think he is, legally, but... I'm not. For one thing, I wasn't planning on kicking the blasted gas heater and so forth, so I didn't hide funds that no one could find to make it possible. Lawyers don't work for free, love. In any case, he began practicing how to appear as normal as possible immediately. Neither Sean or myself really cared about being 'normal.' All he... that's another story. Until you came, I never even considered more than being a spirit. Using my powers to keep intruders at bay was the extent of my ambition."

"Is it difficult to learn? Dash said something about needing to stay grounded?" Carolyn tried to sort things out aloud.

Daniel laughed. "He was pulling 'Clay's' leg on the grounding bit. We need to keep a trade secret or two. Difficult, well, it does take time... concentrated time with no distractions." The look in Captain Gregg's eyes made Carolyn blush. Obviously, "no distractions" was not an easy thing to achieve for him with her around.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have wanted more," she began to apologize.

Daniel cut her off with a gentle kiss. "Let me think on it, love. There might be a solution."

Accepting this, Carolyn looked up at her seaman. "I hope so. I'd like to be able to do that more often." A flush spread over her face. "Who is Sean? You've mentioned him more than once... He was your first mate, I remember from the book."

Daniel nodded. "Yes. Perhaps someday I'll have a chance to introduce you two."

XXX

Carolyn left for town shortly after, saying she had a PTA meeting, and Daniel was left alone with his thoughts. After an hour of trying to catch up his logs, and not accomplishing anything, Daniel started pacing. If he had been a character in the 'Peanuts' cartoon the children were so fond of, you could have seen the black cloud develop over the seaman's head. He was still pacing when Lord Dashire materialized in the wheelhouse.

"Danny..." Dash looked at his friend. "Had you forgotten you had an appointment this afternoon?"

Daniel ceased his pacing. "Hmm?"

"This afternoon," Dashire repeated. "You, me, Jonathan. His room. Time to put the sail on his model and pop it in the bottle."

"It's the other way-round. And it's not time yet, Dash. You're in too much of a hurry for everything."

"Beg to differ, old son. Time has come and gone."

Daniel stared at his friend. "It's..."

"Four-thirty, Daniel. Jonathan was in his room waiting for you a half-hour ago."

"You should have called me sooner," Daniel looked apologetic. "I need to..." He started to pop out.

"No harm done, old chap," Dashire held up a hand. "Jonathan said not to bother you. He figured you were busy with something important, and that it could wait. I helped him get the ship in the bottle. You can help him with the sail later tonight. The lad wasn't upset at all."

"Thanks, Dash." The Captain resumed his pacing.

"So was it important?"

The seaman stopped again. "What?"

"The reason you missed your hobby time with Jonathan."

"No... Yes..." The seaman paused.

"Ambiguous," Dash smiled. "Care to elaborate?"

"I'm not sure you can help."

Dashire looked hurt. "Can't help?" He frowned. "If I can't, it will only be because I wasn't asked."

"I'm not sure I CAN ask you," Daniel sighed.

Dash's frown became deeper. "Danny, does this have anything to do with Carolyn? Because if it does, I am telling you right now, regardless how much you love her, I will NOT let you do anything to her or..."

"No... No, Dash, it's not that." He gave his old friend a fierce look. "Do you really think I would try to make her, or Martha or the children leave and forget about me again? I couldn't. Besides..." he added, "I don't think you or Claymore..."

"Clay..."

"...Clay..." He made a face at calling his 'nephew' that. "...would let me."

"Well, I didn't THINK you would, but you do have a strange look in your eye."

"You know me too well." Daniel gave his friend a rueful glance. "I think the only one who might know me better, at least from a century's viewpoint, is Sean O'Casey."

Dash smiled again. "Sean O'Casey! Now there's a name I haven't heard you mention in a long time! How is he?"

"I'm not sure," Daniel shrugged. He walked over and peered out the porthole window overlooking the beach. "I haven't heard from him in ages. Last time we had a chance to do any catching up was in nineteen sixty. I see him about... every ten years, mortals' time."

Dash nodded. "It has been a while, then. Tell me, is he still looking for...?"

Daniel nodded. "Yes, and he told me then that he didn't plan on stopping any time soon. That was just a little more than ten years ago," he sighed. "I almost wish he would. He might be happier."

Dash's eyebrows arched. "Danny, you didn't find your love in your lifetime... Did you stop looking? Really? Honest, now."

The Captain shook his head. "I suppose not. Not in my heart. Not until Carolyn showed up." The seaman stared out the window again, dejected. "She should be home, soon."

There was silence in the room while Dash produced a pipe from his pocket and took his own sweet time filling and lighting it.

"Danny?"

Daniel turned from the window. "Yes?"

"May I venture a guess that Carolyn DOES have something to do with your mood, and your forgetfulness this afternoon?"

"You could say so," Daniel answered, but his gaze returned to the window.

"Well then, blast it, man, what is it?" Dash asked, seating himself in the chair at the Captain's desk.

Daniel sat down on the love seat. "Carolyn and I were talking earlier, and the subject of my corporeality came up."

Dash looked puzzled. "What? You have it, don't you?"

Daniel nodded. "Yes, but it's not..."

"Not what?"

"Not as well-developed as yours is, blast it."

Dash nodded again. "I see." He revolved around once in the chair, slowly. "Well, old boy, I started practicing a long time before you did. Practice makes perfect, you know."

Daniel drew out another long 'breath.' "I know. That's what I told Carolyn." He looked at his friend closely. "But, blast it, Dash. You've been practicing for a hundred years. I... I don't have that long. Not with Carolyn here... alive... if you get my point." Dash nodded again, and Daniel continued. "I only figured out about a year ago that it was even possible."

"Bit slow on the uptake, aren't you Danny-Boy?" Dashire grinned. "Tell me, I know you can make yourself solid, albeit not for long periods of time. When, exactly DID you figure it out?"

Daniel took out his own pipe, filled it and lit it before he answered. Tugging his ear, Daniel considered, then admitted, "About — I'd say it was during the second year that the family had moved in here. Perhaps before. Keeping track of mortal time is a botheration."

"Yes, but once you get used to it again, it's not so bad, except for the not sleeping part." Dash answered. "Now, then, about..."

"I suppose the first time was when I gave Carolyn that shawl I bought for Vanessa in Morocco." Daniel answered, scratching his nose. "I..."

"Vanessa!" Dash sniffed. "Danny, you HAVE stopped mooning over that little chit, haven't you? Honestly, after she left you for Callahan the way she did, I..."

"Of course I have, and will you PLEASE keep your voice down?" Daniel shot back. "Carolyn doesn't know Vanessa ran off with Callahan, and unless circumstances change, I plan to keep it that way. Vanessa is a closed subject at Gull Cottage."

"Why was it was ever an OPEN one?" Dash asked.

"Her great-great-grand-daughter visited Gull Cottage the first year Carolyn and her family lived here," Daniel admitted. "She had the... uhm… letters I wrote to my... Vanessa, that is, and was looking for the ones her ancestor had written to me. She looked just like my... Vanessa Hamilton, that is, too. I'm afraid I made something of an idiot of myself. Among other things, I asked Carolyn to give Vanessa... the current one... that shawl I bought for my Vanessa, and..."

"Pardon me, Danny, but that was an asinine thing to do."

"Don't I know it!" Daniel tugged his ear again.

"You are going to pull that ear off one of these days," Dash teased his friend, trying to lighten the mood. "I thought you said you gave the shawl to Carolyn?"

"I did... AFTER I realized that I had almost chased her away from me," Daniel admitted. "I managed to get the current Vanessa away from Gull Cottage instead, keep Carolyn from moving out, and I gave her the shawl Vanessa the current had left behind. Carolyn was gracious enough to accept it."

"And this has to do with touching, how?" Dash frowned.

"As I laid it over Carolyn's shoulders, I realized I was touching HER." The Captain gave a soft smile. "I actually had my hands resting on her shoulders, and for a moment, I could feel her hair — soft and golden beneath my fingers."

"Poetic, Danny," Dash smiled. "Did she say anything?"

Daniel shook his head. "No, but I got the distinct impression she was felt the same way about me that I felt about her, even then," Daniel answered. "But when she didn't say anything to me, I decided she wasn't quite ready to admit anything, other than being glad she was still at Gull Cottage."

"And you didn't tell her your true feelings either?" Dash answered his own question. "No, of course you didn't. If you had, your nephew..."

"Claymore isn't my nephew."

"...never would have sought me out when you sent everyone away." He paused, not defending Claymore Gregg. "Other incidences? Prior to you sending the family away and them coming back a month ago?"

"A few minor ones," the seaman said, tapping his pipe out in the ashtray he kept near the love seat. "There were a few times I could have sworn we brushed up against each other — one afternoon when we were sharing a glass of Madeira, especially, and there were the incidents with the baby and the pies..."

"Baby? Pies?" Dash looked puzzled. "What baby? Carolyn doesn't have a..."

"Of course not," Daniel retorted. "Well, he was more of a toddler, really — One of the children that was here for Jonathan's birthday party last year. The children were all playing hide and seek and the nipper was separated from his older sister. Not sure what possessed me, but when I could tell the child was wandering, and hadn't a clue as to where to find his sibling, without thinking, I offered him my hand. He took my finger and I led him to the closet where his sister was hiding. I didn't think about it at the time — it all seemed so natural, but I realized a week later, after the children and Carolyn had surprised me on what they thought was my birthday that I had touched the tyke. Naturally, I tried it again, later, but nothing happened. I decided it was a fluke — that it had to do with the baby needing help. Then I tried again at Christmas, but still nothing. How wonderful that would have been! Especially after the dream I gave them all for Christmas, and I..."

"Envied your ability to manage five dreams at once, old boy," Dash grinned. "Spectral fraternity said that had never been done before."

"I would have exchanged that for one REAL..." Daniel broke off. Some thoughts were too personal, even for best friends. In a moment, he had started speaking again. "The last time I remember being able to touch, really touch, before Carolyn left and came back, was with the pies."

Dash nodded. "Clay mentioned that... you sabotaging his idea to make Schooner Bay a tourist attraction. I would have loved to see it, myself. And the touching comes in... where?"

"There was a mechanical man made in MY image, designed to serve pies and pizzas to the tourists," Daniel growled. "One wave of my finger took care of that! Then it went crazy, and started throwing pies all over the place. I'm not sure why, exactly, but I yelled at everyone to duck, and pushed Jonathan... PUSHED him, by his shoulders... out of the way of the pies! Again, it was such a natural reaction, I didn't even realize I had done it for a day or so, and Albertson had left town."

"Hmm..." Dash was silent for a few minutes while he emptied his pipe. "Jonathan never mentioned it?"

"No, but I KNOW I pushed him out of the way."

"Hmm... it sounds like your first instinct was a touch-to-prevent-danger scenario."

"Danger?"

"Yes. As far as the baby and Jonathan go, anyway. Can't explain Carolyn and the shawl, old boy, unless it was the 'danger' you felt at the thought of her leaving you, but the other two strong occurrences were definitely a case of preventing someone from harm. A good sign."

"Sign for what?" Daniel rose and stared out the window again, looking for Carolyn and then turned back to his friend. "I can't spend the rest of my... Carolyn' life, waiting for the odd occurrence. She loves me, and I... I love her. She..."

"You don't HAVE to wait, Daniel," Dash smiled. "You have been able to touch Carolyn since then? Kiss her? Hold her hand?"

"Yes, but never long enough," Daniel sighed. "Not like a 'real' man can, and then I need to leave and recharge."

Dash nodded. "Aye, I went through that when I was learning... About seventy-odd years ago."

"So what's the answer?" Daniel asked.

"You need a crash corporealization course," Dash said flatly. "You must learn to concentrate your abilities in a whole new way. If you apply yourself, I imagine you could have the basics out of the way in two... three weeks, by human reckoning."

"And you could do that?" Daniel asked, looking much cheered. "Dash, I would be eternally grateful to you. Just let me get the model building with Jonathan out of the way, and I'll..."

Dash surveyed his friend, shaking his head. "You know, Danny, your memory is getting worse every day... I love Carolyn too, like a brother, and I understand how you feel, but you're letting your emotions for her and this family cloud your thinking."

Daniel's face turned dark. "And how, precisely, am I doing that? I will have you know my memory is excellent; for example, mortal husbands are always forgetting their anniversaries and other important dates and I know for a fact that mine with the family... the day they moved in... Is coming up in less than three weeks, on the twenty-first." He shook his head. "If only I could be corporeal for that evening, all of it... don't you see that I need you to teach me?"

"Do you remember when we were alive and I tried to teach you the basics of archery?"

Daniel nodded slowly. "I think so."

"We ended up getting into an awful row and didn't speak for a fortnight," Dash continued.

"I do remember. I never did master the art very well, either."

"Well pardon me, sir..." Dashire threw him a mock salute. "...but I don't care to be put in that situation again." He grinned. "Nowadays it would be about as smart as a husband teaching a wife to drive... or vice versa. T'would lead us straight to 'divorce court.' No, Danny. My answer is no."

"I can't say that I blame you." Daniel shrugged. "But I feel now like I am back where I started when I sent Carolyn and my family away, I..."

"Daniel Gregg, you wouldn't..."

"No, I wouldn't, but what's the answer?"

Dash stroked his chin thoughtfully, and started pacing the small room, floors, walls and all. As he hit the apex of the roof, he stopped. "Danny, how do you think Carolyn would take to the idea of you leaving Gull Cottage... for just a while?"

"Leave?" Daniel looked shocked. "I couldn't... not after sending THEM away... and getting them back again."

"Not even if it were to mean you could increase your corporeality a hundred-fold?"

"Dashire, what's on your mind?"

"Well, Danny, as much as I would like to say I learned to be solid all on my own, I did have a LITTLE help... from another ghost... a master of such things. I call him my guru, actually."

"A ghost guru?" Daniel looked skeptical.

"Yes." Dash did a neat somersault and landed right-side-up on the floor. "And if you are willing, and apply yourself, and if Fontenot, that's his name, is available, I think he could help you. Of course I do need to talk to him, but..." The spirit scratched his nose. "He does think of me as the son he never had, and DID say once he would always be there to help me any way he could."

"Two or three weeks will seem like an eternity without Carolyn and the children and Martha..." Daniel said slowly. "But if it is for our future, then... then I have to try. If I hurry, then I'd be back in time for the day!" He glanced at the clock on the wall and then out the window. "Heavens. Carolyn's home. This is marvelous news. Why don't you pop to wherever your friend Fontenot is and I'll go tell Carolyn and the children..."

"Danny, wait." Dash grabbed his arm.

"What? Should I wait and see if your friend can take me?"

"Uhm, no, that's not it."

"What then?"

"Danny, I don't think you should Carolyn what your plans are. Not yet."

"But why?"

"Because... well... because I don't think you should get their hopes up if... if things don't work out."

"You don't think I can learn?" Daniel huffed a bit.

Dash shrugged. "No, I think you can learn anything you set your mind to, or you wouldn't have gotten as far as you have, but as the saying goes, it's 'bad magic,' or something. Kind of like people nowadays announcing to everyone in a radius of ten miles they are quitting smoking... and then fail. They disappoint not only themselves, but everyone who is rooting for them. Do you see what I am getting at?"

Daniel nodded his head. "Yes, and I believe you are right. But what do I tell Carolyn? Lie to her? Not now. Too much has happened between us."

Dash walked up the attic wall. "You never were a good liar, even when you weren't in love. Hmm..." He landed on the attic floor again. "Daniel, you have left Gull Cottage for extended periods of time before, haven't you?"

"Yes..."

"Other than that monkey-puzzle business you told me about?"

"Yes."

"When?" Dash interrupted. "Carolyn KNOWS you had to leave, right?"

"Yes."

"And did you tell her you were leaving? It wasn't a secret, was it?"

"Of course not, and yes, I told her."

"Told her you had spectral duties to attend to?"

"Yes, and..."

"And what?"

The seaman looked embarrassed. "A few times I told her I was leaving for fraternity business when the reason was..."

"Was WHAT?" Dash asked, exasperated.

"When I knew I loved her so much, I didn't think I could bear to stay in Gull Cottage a moment longer without TELLING her so," Daniel muttered quickly. "I left for a few times because of that... and came back when my emotions were more... under control."

Dashire gazed at his friend, knowing what it meant for Daniel Gregg to make such a confession.

"Well, then," he said briskly. "You tell them that, then. You have business and have been called away, and will be back in three... no, two weeks. All this is providing Fontenot can take you, of course. If you have made such trips before, they will believe you. Just don't... mess with their minds, Danny. Not like last time."

"We could do that," Daniel said slowly. "That is, if you are here to look after them. I honestly don't think Carolyn or the children or even Martha will buy off on my leaving for anywhere unless you are here. If you stay, they'll know this is exactly what it is... an excursion... and that I will be coming back and you are just taking care of things while I am gone."

"Fine. We have a plan then," Dash said, stuffing his pipe and other paraphernalia back in his jacket pocket. "I'll be back shortly, Danny. You stay here while I go talk to Fontenot...

Putting up a hand, Daniel stopped his friend once more. "Dash, you WILL take care of them, won't you?"

"Like they were my own family," Dash smiled. "On second thought no... Better than that. I LIKE your family better than I do mine. No worries, Danny."

So saying, Lord Dashire vanished.

XXX

To say that the Muir family, and Martha Grant weren't pleased at Daniel's news would be putting it mildly.

"But — we just returned home... and I thought..." Carolyn began, fighting back tears.

"And what about my ship?" Jonathan protested.

"And —" Candy began, "I wanted to write my great Americans essay about you..."

Martha crossed her arms over her chest and glared at Dash. "Well, you've got super powers too, stop him."

Dashire looked at her helplessly. "My dear, I would, if I could, but he does outrank me, and trust me, duties of this nature are not neglected lightly."

"We don't want him to neglect them 'lightly'," Carolyn shook her head. "What about a — could you trade off with someone? Just this once? A family emergency leave?"

"They'd never believe him," Dash stepped in. "Danny couldn't lie worth a flip when he was alive, and the ability did not improve with death. Ghostly duties aren't like — sick days."

"But," Daniel added smoothly, "I will return, at the first possible moment. It won't be more than two weeks, I'm sure. I've neglected this duty for far too long as it is." That was true enough. "And I have asked Dash here to stay and keep an eye out for you."

"Yes. You might say I'm collateral," the nobleman winked.

"Couldn't you have done it while we were... gone?" Carolyn frowned.

"Possibly," Daniel admitted, tugging his ear despite Dash's rolling eyes at the gesture. "But, I can't turn time backwards, and I didn't, so..."

"So, there is no help but to get it done forthwith," Dashire agreed, clapping his friend on the arm, as it happened, the one on the ear tugging side, knocking his hand down. "I know I'm not Danny, but I will do my best to repel invaders, scare off PTA ladies and so forth and so on."

September 12 – Saturday

Even if Dashire had been willing to let Daniel Gregg slip out in the middle of the night, the family wouldn't agree to that. It took all of the fortitude both sides possessed to see him off, but see him off they did. Only knowing he would return gave Carolyn and the children, and even Martha, the ability to let him go with no tears. Under dire threats, Dash crossed his heart multiple times to make sure that no harm came to the family.

The next few days had passed slowly. Having a ghost underfoot, if a ghost could be underfoot, per-se, was something the entire family had become accustomed to, more so since all the human occupants of Gull Cottage all knew how close they had come to losing their resident spirit, adopted father and surrogate employer. Carolyn was feeling the worst, all told, because the 'relationship' she had with Daniel Gregg was new, yet in some ways, at times still undefined, except for the knowledge that they could be together, and yet now they weren't. Again. The thought troubled her, naturally, but she did her best not to show it, for she was still the head of her 'ship,' and morale had to be kept up. And this time they HAD been assured that he was coming back, but the wait seemed interminable.

To be fair, Lord Dashire was doing a yeoman's job of keeping the children busy. Since Jonathan refused to finish his ship without the Captain, Dash had talked him into a new project — making a volleyball net, by hand, using all the knots Captain Gregg had taught him. Martha told the lord privately they could have bought a new net for half of what the rope Jonathan was using would end up costing, but did agree that the project WAS keeping the boy busy, and at such a time that was more important than a few dollars worth of rope.

Candy was keeping occupied too. Dash had convinced the girl she could still write her great Americans essay using the Captain as her subject, then proceeded to tell her story after story, while Jonathan listened in, about the seaman. Candy's pen flew to get it all down. Then Carolyn heard one particular story that was not told in any news article in the Captain's day, or in The Memoirs of Daniel Gregg. She insisted that it could not be used, for there was no way to explain where Candy had gotten the tale to begin with, and she had no desire to rerun the whole "John Adams vs. Ben Franklin" debacle. "It was still a 'keen story,' both children insisted. Carolyn agreed, and she made a mental note to ask Daniel why HE hadn't told her that particular tale during the course of writing the memoirs... but perhaps the question could wait until at least the second day after the seaman's return.

And so the days passed slowly. Finally it was Saturday. That in itself was a reason for celebrating, the children said, as it meant no school, and when homework and chores were done, the children were allowed to do as they wished, within reason, of course. Jonathan had asked and received permission to go roller-skating in Keystone with Kyle and Conner, two of his best friends, promising to be back by five p.m. Candy had elected to stay home. She was eager to finish her great Americans essay, and then, she told her mother, she was going to start teaching herself to type. Candy had made a face at that point. The essay she had written had been a long one, and her teacher, Miss Drew, had mentioned that learning to type was an asset. Rubbing her fingers, still aching from all the writing she did while working on her paper, Candy had agreed wholeheartedly. Since Carolyn would be spending the afternoon at the library, it was an ideal time for Candy to start... at least with the basics.

"Just don't use ALL of my eraser, okay?" Carolyn smiled, kissed both children, and after telling Dash to keep her family safe, she started toward town.

XXX

Sometimes, quiet days have a way of becoming exciting. If not exciting, just a little different, after all.

It was about two hours later, at approximately two in the afternoon that a lone figure of a man appeared on the beach, a half-mile away from Gull Cottage.

If one could see the man as he walked along, which one couldn't, the first thing one would notice is how downcast, sad and discouraged the figure looked as he came closer to the cozy cottage by the sea.

Arriving at the gate of Gull Cottage, the man gaped in astonishment at the house, now directly in front of him. It was... different. Yes. Certainly different than it was during his last visit... when was it in human time? Nineteen-sixty. That was it.

In the first place, it was clean. It almost sparkled, it was so clean. The windows shone in the sunlight. A small flowerbed surrounding a tree still held hydrangea, moss roses, petunias and impatiens, and upon looking further, he saw a hyacinth bean vine twining itself around a trellis near the side of the house. There was a small rocking chair on the front porch, and a bicycle, a girl's bicycle, leaned against the front of the house. A baseball, bat and glove were there too. Looking again, he saw a baseball cap perched jauntily on the head of one of the stone lions.

Coming closer, the man looked in the bay window. There were people inside! A little girl, blonde, was seated on the window seat, reading a paper of some sort. He couldn't see her face — the girl's head was bowed in concentration. Beyond her, he could see another woman, older, fifty-odd, busily dusting every flat surface in the room.

"Housekeeper," the man grunted, and vanished, re-materializing on the widow's-walk.

"Who are you? Advance and be recognized!" came a voice at his back. "I warn you, I have no misgivings when it comes to dealing with stowaways on board this ship!"

Turning, a look of relief came to the other spirit's face. "Dashire! It's you!"

"Sean? Sean O'Casey?" Dashire was nonplused.

Sean grinned. "Of course it's me, you crazy lord! Why did you scare me like that?" coming closer, he slapped his old friend on the back. "Advanced and be recognized, indeed! I canna believe you don't know your old shipmate when you see him! What the devil are you doing here?" Sean looked around again. "For a moment I thought I had gotten off course. I'm not in Skeldale... This IS Gull Cottage. What are you doing HERE, who are those two people inside, and where is Daniel?"

Dash looked around. The widow's-walk was an excellent place for night-watch, and to patrol from any time, but hardly a place to catch up with an old friend. "Sean, old son, I have a LOT to tell you. You are staying for a while?" He raised his eyebrows, asking an unspoken question, and Sean nodded. "Thought so — of course you are. Even a spirit needs to rest, occasionally. Care to join me in a glass of Madeira? Danny won't mind, as long as we don't abuse the privilege. I have things to tell you, and not THAT much time... Jonathan and Carolyn should be home in a couple of hours."

"Jonathan and... Carolyn?"

"Jonathan is Candy's — that's the little girl you saw when you peeked in the window — brother. They are Carolyn's children, and Carolyn is..."

"Is...?"

"Carolyn Muir is Daniel's... lady, Sean."

Sean O'Casey smiled, and then looked thoughtful. "So our admirable Captain has found his soul-mate at last?"

Dash nodded. "Yes, Sean, my boy."

"And she's..."

The lord nodded again. "Aye, Sean. She's mortal."

Sean rubbed his chin, and then slapped his fellow spirit on the back. "Lead me to the wheelhouse and the Madeira," Sean answered with a grin. "I have a feeling "A lot" doesn't BEGIN to cover what has been happening here in the last decade."

Up in the wheelhouse, over two glasses of Madeira, Dash filled Sean in.

XXX

"So that's the story, in a nutshell," Dash concluded. "Anyway, now that Carolyn, Martha and the children are safely back here, Daniel is working with Fontenot on how to remain corporeal for extended periods of time. But Sean, that's between you, me and Danny at the moment. Carolyn doesn't know, and Danny doesn't WANT her to know, just in case this two weeks of tutoring don't go well. He doesn't want her to be disappointed."

"Do you think Danny can learn?" Sean asked. "I've learned... to a degree, I guess you could say, but really I haven't felt the need that much... just enough to get by and fake it if I have to, especially when it comes to dealing with the living while I have been looking for..." He stopped suddenly, redirecting the conversation. "Incredible. Daniel Gregg falling at last. This Carolyn Muir must be quite a special lady."

Dash smiled. "She is indeed. And a perfect match for Daniel... Beautiful, feminine, but strong, smart, stubborn, determined, and not at all afraid of saying what she believes."

"She sounds like quite a woman," Sean smiled. "A little like..." His voice died away.

"She reminds me very much of Molly in some ways," Dash said calmly. "And she reminds me a bit of Aislynn too. I look forward to you meeting her." Dash gave his friend a look. "No luck in that department, Sean?" he asked, knowing his friend would know who he was asking about.

Sean shook his head. "None. Dash, I only dropped in to see Danny — He's not here, so..."

"Nonsense," Dash protested, finishing his Madeira. "You can't leave... at least not until Danny gets back and you two have had a chance to catch up! He'd never let me hear the end of it if I let you leave before he has a chance to say hello, at least! Besides..." he added, "...don't you want to stay and see what Fontenot is able to teach our dear Captain? I won't let you leave. You can't."

"Dash, I..." Sean continued to protest.

XXX

Meanwhile, downstairs, Candy Muir had finished the proof of her essay and had quietly made her way to the door of the attic, anxious to show Lord Dashire the results of her work. At the door of the wheelhouse she paused, hearing voices coming from the other side. Male voices.

Uttering a cry of delight, Candy burst in the door. "Captain! You're..." Her face fell upon seeing the spirit seated there. "...back," she finished quietly, her face turning bright red. "I'm sorry, I..." She paused. What was there to say? The handsome specter before her clearly wasn't her Captain... who WAS he?

"Sorry, love..." Dash turned to the girl, his face regretful. "Candy my dear, Daniel has not returned..." Standing, he bowed. "Allow me to make formal introductions here..." he started, trying to make the best of an awkward situation. "Sean O'Casey, this is Miss Candace Muir. Candace Muir, this is Mr. Sean O'Casey. Candy, Sean is a very old and dear friend of mine... and Captain Gregg's."

Candy looked at the handsome figure in front of her. "You're another gho — spirit?"

Sean nodded. "That doesn't distress you, I hope?"

"No... I've... I think I remember the Captain mentioning you before," said Candy.

"And my... popping in here doesn't bother you?" Sean asked, impressed at the girl's nonchalance.

"Nah, I'm kinda used to spirits," she said. "But I... I'm sorry for barging in. I really thought the Captain was back."

Sean shook his head again. "Sorry, love. I wish I could be he, if only to make you happy, but no man, alive or dead, could pass themselves off as Daniel Gregg."

"That's okay," Candy smiled, silently agreeing, and she turned to the Englishman... spirit, looking very serious. "Thanks a lot, really."

Dashire looked startled for an instant. "Uhm... why?"

"Because this time I got to meet a real live spirit BEFORE Mom and Jonathan!" Candy grinned. Turning to Sean O'Casey she added. "Did Lord Dashire tell you how I met Captain Gregg?"

"No, my dear," Sean smiled again. "But I'd love to hear about it."

"It's a cool story, but at the time it happened, I was kinda scared," said Candy, settling herself in the love seat. "And then I was a little ticked, but I'm okay now." She looked at Sean, sitting on the edge of the Captain's desk.

"Scared of Daniel?" Sean couldn't help but look surprised.

"No... The thunderstorm, silly!" Candy smiled, and began her tale.

Dash leaned back in his seat and relaxed. With a little luck, the meeting between Sean and the rest of the Gull Cottage inhabitants would go as smoothly as Candy's just had.

XXX

Not looking up from her dusting, Martha asked, "Candy, did you bring Lord Dashire down with you? I could use a hand lifting the sofa to vacuum under it..."

The unfamiliar laugh made her turn around to stare at where Candy and the two specters stood in the door. "Uh — are you..."

Taking the initiative, Dash drew his friend forward. "Martha, love, this rogue is Sean O'Casey, the Captain's first mate. He's just pulled into port and, with your forbearance, would like to dock for a bit, at least until Daniel comes home. He's a good soul, even better at moving couches than I am."

"You just don't want to stoop to manual labor, old son," Sean suggested calmly, taking Martha's hand gallantly. "But any help I can offer is, of course, yours." As he kissed her hand, the housekeeper flushed.

"Are all of you guys so charming?"

"No, there's one or two that are right scoundrels, but we won't let them board, dear one," Dashire assured her with a wink.

"Isn't it cool that you and I get to meet Sean before Mom and Jonathan?" Candy beamed.

Raising her eyebrows, Martha nodded. "Yes. We really ought to hide you for a year, to keep things even, but we won't."

"I thank you for that, Ma'am," Sean nodded. "Now, you wanted a couch lifted?"

"Oh, don't bother, I can't ask company to..." Martha protested.

"I'm not company, I'm part of Daniel's crew. Being a spirit doesn't change that," Sean assured her. Coming alongside the couch he frowned. "What's this? I don't recognize this couch."

"The one that was here when we moved in was a disgrace," Martha informed him. "So, we replaced it."

Casting his eyes around, Sean quietly observed, "Aye. And did a bit of revamping, it looks like."

Uncomfortable now, Martha looked disconcerted. "I understand that the Captain wasn't too thrilled, but that happened before I met him."

"In any case, I think Danny's adjusted," Dash added. "Now, are you going to make me levitate that thing or..."

"It'd do you good, a bit of honest labor," Sean drawled, but waved a hand, lifting the sofa until Martha swiped the vacuum under it. "Anything else?"

"No. Mrs. Muir will be home soon, I'm sure... can I get you anything?"

"Take her up on it, old son. She's a queen of the kitchen," Dash instructed, kissing his fingers.

Before Sean could agree or dissent, the door rattled and Carolyn Muir stepped inside. From the outside, Jonathan could be heard thundering up the walk.

"How'd the typing go?" Carolyn asked as she glanced at the mail in her hand. It hadn't taken the bills long to find out she'd moved home again.

"Great... Mom, this is Captain Gregg's first mate, Sean O'Casey," Candy blurted out as Jonathan ran in with Scruffy. "Martha and I got to meet him first."

"Another ghost?" Jonathan demanded.

"Aye. I think I've been one the longest of the three of us, actually," Sean shrugged, extending a hand in turn to Carolyn and Jonathan. "By a year or so. I didna ken that Danny'd let anyone move in, until I landed and Dashire here tried to run me through, verbally."

"Has he..." Carolyn began.

"I brought him up to speed, milady," Dash nodded.

"Thank you, Dash," Carolyn smiled. "Ah... are you staying?"

"If it's all right. I havena seen Danny in about ten years, and a bit longer on this rogue," Sean asked. "I promise I'm not much trouble."

"If you sing for your supper, then we'll give it due consideration," Dash jested.

"Of course you can stay," Carolyn returned, liking the kindness she could see in Sean's eyes. "Goodness knows, I've had enough guests in... surely Daniel's entitled to one, now and then... I'm not sure what the protocol is yet for..."

"I don't need a room or anything, Missus," Sean shrugged. "And if I did, well, Dash and I've had to bunk together before. Ships didn't have too many individual rooms."

"Of course... well, if you need anything... just speak up."

A bit of sadness passed over his face, quickly gone as Sean shook his head. "I don't have many needs. Dash tells me you are a writer? I wonder if I could see your book?"

"Certainly. If you'll come with me..."

"Can I have a snack, Martha?" Jonathan asked.

"Dinner is in an hour, so I think you can hold out," she instructed. "So can you, your Lordship."

The ghost exchanged a look of pure woe with the boy.

XXX

Over dinner, Sean listened with interest to the family catch up on the day's events with each other. Seeing how well his old friend fit in with them and hearing how much they respected and loved his Captain warmed a part of his heart that had felt empty for too long. The boy had a million questions, drawing him out despite himself.

After the kids were put to bed, Carolyn joined the two ghosts on the porch for after dinner coffee.

"So, you're the third musketeer," she opened the conversation.

"Musketeer?" Sean asked.

"Dumas, old boy," Dash elucidated.

"I know that, I just never thought of us as that. There were four of them, I thought..."

"D'Artagnon came along later," Dash chuckled. "I'm not sure if anyone on our old ship fits that description."

Sean considered, taking a sip of his brew. "There was one young chap, but..." He chuckled, laughing truly for the first time since arriving. Carolyn enjoyed the sound. "If things get boring, maybe we'll try to find him... but..."

"But a bit of peace is welcome," Carolyn agreed. "I'm glad to finally meet you. Daniel spoke very highly of you in his memoirs. Where do you live, haunt, normally?"

"Right now, I'm, a bit at loose ends. I just lived in a rooming house, when I needed such things or stayed with a friend... usually Daniel or Dashire here. The rooming house is a laundry place now... but for the most part, I've traveled."

"You're welcome here, whenever you like, I'm sure Daniel would agree," Carolyn offered with a gentle touch where his arm should have been. It disconcerted her a bit when her hand went through at first. Sean hastily solidified.

"Thank you, Ma'am."

"Carolyn."

"And I'm Sean, none of this Mister bit. But are you sure? I take it you aren't too fond of antiques?"

"People and things are two different things, Sean," Carolyn grimaced. "And, aside from that horrible couch, I admit I've regretted more than once getting rid of some of the antiques... but what's done is done. I'd really like you to stay, if you want to."

"Of course he does," Dash glared at his friend. "Sean is like Danny, a packrat. The shock of seeing things cleaned up just threw him a bit."

"I guess so, after so long," Carolyn smiled.

"Aye. As he said," Sean agreed.

A meditative look came into her eye for a moment. Sean and Dash saw it for a split second, but she didn't elaborate, then the look was gone. Sean considered, but when he gazed again at the sincere look still there in her lovely green eyes, he was sold. "Anything, missus."

Carolyn's face lit up. "Thank you, Sean. I guess we can't do anything about it until morning... oh, Dashire... I wondered, do I need to get your relatives' permission to do your memoirs?" The idea of dealing with the irritants she'd heard so much about clearly did not thrill her.

"Well, now that Sean is here to keep watch..." the nobleman began.

"We really don't need babysitting," Carolyn smiled.

"My word is my word," Dash insisted. "But I think Danny would let me hand off the pleasant duty to Sean, for an hour or two while I drop in on Adam."

"Adam? One of your grandsons?" she asked.

"Oh, no. Though I do wish it were so. He's my lawyer, as of — a few weeks ago, roughly. Passed the bar and inherited me from his dad, who promptly whisked Mrs. Pierce off on a tour of the globe. He took meeting me as a ghost well. I haven't hit him with any tasks yet, this would be a good start. I'll likely be home by the time you're up, but if I'm not, I'm in Skeldale, and will return shortly."

"Take whatever time you need," Carolyn firmly stated.

Sean shook his head. Who ever heard of a ghost having staff?

XXX

Carolyn paced the balcony outside the master cabin. Nine p.m. Candy and Jonathan were safely tucked in bed. Martha had finished the supper dishes and was watching television. Dash and Sean were back in the wheelhouse, "still catching up," they said. Gazing toward the sky, brilliantly lit by moonlight and the iridescent stars twinkling above her sighing, she thought about the many walks she and Daniel had taken together on such nights in the past, both before and after their relationship had changed. Looking up at the brilliant moon, she whispered:

"Wherever you are, are you are looking at the moon, too, Daniel? Isn't it lovely? Maybe if I close my eyes and think hard enough I can feel you back here, beside me, and we are seeing it together..." Shutting her eyes, she concentrated. Blast it, it just isn't the same... A single, solitary tear trickled down her cheek, followed by several more. Lifting her hand to her face, she dashed them away, and shook her head. No law that says I can't take a nice walk, on my own beach, by myself... Her thoughts continued. The moon is so bright. It looks like it's only twilight... Stepping back through the French doors, she grabbed a jacket from the back of her desk chair and made her way downstairs. Arriving in the living room, she beckoned to Martha.

"Why, Mrs. Muir!" The housekeeper looked surprised at her employer's appearance. "You're going out? I thought you were going to work on your story for a bit."

Carolyn nodded. "I was, but I... I can't concentrate."

Martha raised an eyebrow. "Sean and Dash... they haven't been bothering you, have they?"

Carolyn smiled. "Oh, no, I think they are in the attic. Have been since shortly after dinner. It's not them. I just feel restless. I thought a walk might help."

"By yourself? Isn't it kind of late? Mrs. Muir, I..."

Carolyn forced a smile. "I'll be fine, Martha. The moon is so bright; it's almost like day, and... And I really need to walk. I won't be gone long."

"Would you like some company?" the housekeeper asked, "I could..."

Carolyn shook her head. "I'd rather be by myself, but thank you for asking. I need to un-muddle myself for bit. Clear my head."

Martha shrugged. "Well, I can't stop you, but I wish you..." she broke off. "Well, I guess everyone relaxes in their own way."

"Exactly," Carolyn nodded. "I'll be back in a bit."

"You're positive you don't want me to come, too?" Martha pressed, following her employer to the foyer.

Opening the door, Carolyn shook her head. "No, Martha, I'd really rather be alone."

The door closed behind her and Carolyn was gone.

"In a pig's eye," the housekeeper muttered. "You'd rather be taking a walk with Daniel Gregg, like you have done almost every night since we all returned to Gull Cottage. You miss him." She started back toward the living room. "You miss him, Mrs. Muir, and to tell the truth, I miss the old goat, too. I wish he would come home."

XXX

Forty-five minutes after Carolyn's departure, Charles Dashire and Sean O'Casey materialized in front of Martha Grant.

"Martha, love," Dash started. "I was telling Sean here the tale of how you found out about Danny, and Sean reminded me that he hadn't even heard the full story of how Carolyn met our fearless leader. Thought she might fill us in a bit. We tapped on her door, but no one answered. It's early yet, has she retired for the night?"

Martha shook her head. "No... Mrs. Muir went for a walk. Said she was restless, and needed to think." She looked at the clock on the mantle above the fireplace. "Heavens. That was almost an hour ago. I need to..."

Dashire cut her off. "Nonsense, love. You need to stay here and watch the children. You can't leave them alone. I'll go find her. Sean can come with me."

Sean O'Casey shook his head. "No, Dash. You canna do that. You promised Danny you would keep a constant guard over his loved ones at Gull Cottage... Martha and the children can't be here, unprotected, this late at night."

"Sean, it would only be for..."

"You PROMISED, Dash."

The lord rubbed his chin, sensing a possible ulterior motive in his friend's words. "And your suggestion would be?"

Sean shrugged. "You stay here, I'll go look for her. It won't take me long. I'll make sure she gets back here safely."

Martha looked at the Irish spirit thoughtfully for a moment and then at Lord Dashire. "I think that might be a good idea. No sense putting you both out. And as you said, Sean..." Her gaze shifted back to the other spirit, and she too wondered if perhaps he wanted private words with her employer. "You can find her right away. She said she just needed the walk. I'm sure nothing is wrong, but I would feel better if one of you big strong spirits stayed here. I've grown rather used to one or two of you guys guarding the place."

Dash nodded to his friend. "Very well, Sean, old boy, you find her and then pop back here and..."

Sean cut him off. "I most assuredly will not! I'll find her and walk her home, as any self-respecting gentleman would!"

"Aye-aye, Sir!" Dash grinned. "I suppose this matter is settled. Martha love..." he turned back to the housekeeper. "The night is still young... might there still be some snickerdoodles left? I know I had a few at dinner, but I just can't get my mind off them, and..."

Rolling his eyes, Sean O'Casey disappeared.

XXX

Carolyn looked up at the stars, listened to the splashing of the waves, and as the moonlight cascaded over the water and the shoreline, she thought of Daniel, and everything that had happened in the last two years. He is coming back, Carolyn, she scolded herself. It's only for two weeks... But why does each day feel like a month?

Sean materialized about a mile and a half from Gull Cottage — and a mile down the beach. Not being quite as 'tuned in' to Carolyn and the rest of the family as Dash, and obviously, Danny, had him at a slight disadvantage. Where the devil was Carolyn? Danny would never forgive me, or Dash either if anything has happened to her... he started to walk.

He finally caught sight of her about ten minutes later. At first he wasn't sure it was she, but how many people would be walking a private beach at this time of night? Carolyn had stopped, and was leaning against a large beach rock. As he came toward her, she didn't move — just stood and stared off into space, toward the horizon. "Carolyn?" he called quietly, from a distance.

She jumped slightly, and then waved to the figure coming her way. "Sean?"

"Carolyn, my dear," he continued, coming up to where she was seated. "We... that is Martha, Dash and I were getting concerned about you."

"Concerned?" her eyebrows lifted. "This is my beach... mine and... and Daniel's. I know every inch of it. I'm fine."

"Still, you have been gone an hour, and it is late," he said quietly, not wanting to scold.

Carolyn sighed. "I suppose you're right. It is late, but I needed to think, and walking helps me think. I guess I needed to think a lot." She gave him a slight grin. "I suppose it's no secret that I miss Daniel."

Sean smiled. "Well, no, not really."

"I suppose Dashire has told you everything about Daniel and me and... everything?"

"Only as much as one gentleman would tell another gentleman, Carolyn. Dash and Daniel are both that, you know."

"I love Nineteenth-Century morals and manners," she smiled. "But you have been caught up on most of our adventures?" Sean nodded. "So I have been out here thinking, about, things, and how much I miss him. He will return, I know that, but it doesn't make the time pass any faster, and I can't tell you how much I miss not being able to TALK to him every day. And writing without Daniel around hasn't been any picnic, either. I miss him hovering over my shoulder."

"I write a bit, when I have the chance," Sean put in. "That is, when I'm not busy with other... pursuits."

Carolyn watched a shadow pass across the spirit's face... or was that just a trick of the moonlight?

"Really? I'd love to see some of your work... If you are willing to show me, that is."

"I suppose I could show you a bit, sometime," Sean shrugged. "Most of my logs and journals are stored at the moment, but I could get to them." He held his hand out to her. "Are you ready to come home, Carolyn? You walked quite a way, and we still have to walk back."

"We?"

Sean shook his head. "Twentieth-Century women! There are some things about one-hundred years ago I do not miss, but when it comes to independent women, I'm flummoxed. Manners! What you expect of men! I'm a gentleman, and if you think I am going to leave you here to walk home by yourself, you are sadly mistaken."

Carolyn smiled and took the hand he still had extended and pulled herself up from her hard seat. "I'll take your company, gladly."

XXX

They had been walking for perhaps five minutes before Sean said a word. "Mrs. Muir?" he began, formally.

"I thought we agreed it was Carolyn."

"Carolyn, yes... Carolyn, may I ask you a question? If it's none of my business you can always tell me, but I..." Sean stopped speaking and looked uncomfortable.

"Yes?"

"No... Forget I asked ye anything. I haven't known you long enough. T'wouldn't be polite."

"If it's not polite, or I don't want to tell you, I won't. Now ask."

"All right, but don't say I didn't try to keep my curiosity to myself." He paused for another fraction of an instant. "Carolyn, why did you discard Danny's furniture? I have to know... well, I suppose I don't HAVE to, but I would like to... his sofa from Madrid... his breakfront... his chart rack. You do realize that was a gift to him — from an Admiral? He was very proud of it... I'm quite surprised he even LET you give it away. And I won't even BEGIN to talk about his tree, he..."

Even in the moonlight, Sean could see her face turn red. Was it anger, or embarrassment? he wondered.

Carolyn didn't answer his question immediately, and when she did, it was with another question.

"Sean, you've known Daniel for a long time? Since you served together in the Navy?"

"Aye... and long before that. We grew up together here in Maine. Both orphaned. We ran away to sea together, finished growing up together. I was his first mate after he became Captain of his own ship, on and off, for more than fifteen years. Through thick and thin, that's us... through everything." He looked pensive for a moment, Carolyn thought, and she wondered what he was thinking about. Nodding, she continued.

"Well, knowing him that long... and another hundred years since, I suppose I can understand your curiosity... and concern? When you saw his things missing after so long. I... I guess the only thing I can say is I DIDN'T know Daniel as well as you when I sent his things to salvage."

"Salvage. Then you didn't burn them, or anything?"

Carolyn grinned, and Sean could see her face relax a bit. "No — well, I suppose I better begin at the beginning. This might take a while to explain, I..."

"We still have a stretch of the legs before we arrive at Gull Cottage. Carolyn, I'm a spirit. I have all the time in the world," he answered, giving her a wink. "Go on."

"I suppose we had been living in the house about two and a half months," Carolyn began. "It took us... me a little while to settle in, and recover financially from the move here. It had taken every cent I had, plus a little I borrowed from my folks to move, and I needed to get them paid back, first and foremost. That accomplished, I started thinking about making a few changes... you know, rearranging some furniture, and... Stuff," she concluded weakly. "Making this house, my home."

"Such as scuttling Danny's furniture?" Sean asked, frowning.

"It didn't START that way," Carolyn answered quickly. "It started late one windy night after Martha and I had made a comment about his monkey-puzzle tree, and..."

"And Danny popped his cork," Sean finished for her.

"That's putting it mildly," Carolyn frowned. "I suppose Dash told you about it... after Daniel told him. Anyway, the next day, Daniel tried to make up for losing his temper, I was still furious. More than I should have been, I suppose, but, you see, my late husband was quite dictatorial, just like his father, actually, and having a ghost, an illusion, try and tell me what to do... I just sort of flipped. After more arguing, Daniel agreed that I could do whatever I wanted to make the place homey for me, and the children and Martha."

"So where do the sofa and breakfront and chart rack come in?" Sean asked puzzled. "Between you and me, I can understand about the tree. Perhaps it was dangerous, and I do understand your concern, the children and all. It was a bit top-heavy and I do remember how much it swayed in a stiff wind, even ten years ago."

Stopping, Carolyn smiled up at the Irishman. "I appreciate that. I overreacted about the tree. There were other ways I could have resolved the problem, but it was just a combination of things." Starting to walk again, she continued. "The next morning, as I said, Daniel was apologetic — as least as much as he would admit to then, and promised I could do anything I wanted to in the way of re-decorating. I already had Claymore Gregg's permission, so I charged right in. The first thing I did was go into town and purchase a new sofa."

"Danny had a sofa, the one from Madrid."

"That monstrosity was NOT a sofa, as I know the meaning of the word," Carolyn smiled. "The frame and springs were shot, and the fabric was worn and dirty and it was the most uncomfortable thing I have ever sat on in my life, and Martha, Candy, and even Jonathan had said the same thing... a new one was a necessity, and I bought one at the used furniture store in town and had Seth and Abner deliver it at the same time they were picking up the old one."

"All right," Sean smiled. "I'll concede to you on the first point. It probably wasn't comfortable, by twentieth-century standards. I got a look at how your children like to sprawl while watching the television after supper tonight. So where do the breakfront and chart rack come in?"

"I... I goofed there," Carolyn flushed. "The new sofa took up a bit more room than the old one, and I must admit, looked a little out of place among the antiques, and the room was crowded. The breakfront was there, but wasn't being used, for anything... storage, or even to display of Daniel' curios or models, and it was such a huge piece, I decided that it was really too big for the room, but I had nowhere else to put it, so I told Seth and Abner to take it. Daniel had stopped arguing about what I was doing, so, so I guess I thought it was all right."

"Dumb move, Carrie," Sean cut in. "If you'll pardon me for saying so. I suppose you learned later that the piece belonged to Daniel's Aunt Violet? The woman who raised him after his parents died? Until we ran away to sea together, that is."

"I know it was dumb, Sean." Carolyn said softly. "I didn't find out it was his aunt's until much later." She paused. "It's been ages since anyone called me Carrie... since junior high."

"I won't call you that, if you would rather I didn't..." Sean answered. The formal tone had returned to his voice.

"No... That's all right. Actually I like it. It seems very natural, coming from you."

Sean relaxed again. "It just kind of came to me. I think it fits you. I'm glad you don't mind. Carrie, what about the chart rack? Didn't you know what it meant to Danny? It was a gift... a very special gift from Admiral—"

Carolyn held up a hand. "I know. You don't know how badly I feel, but it... it was for the same reason. Big, bulky and overpowering in the room, and where I might have been able to figure out what to do with the breakfront if I hadn't been trying so hard to assert myself, proclaim my independence from overbearing, dictatorial men... spirits, at least that's what I thought I was doing at the time, what on earth was I going to do with a chart rack? Daniel didn't even store his charts in there anymore. They were up in the attic by that time, I think. Again, it occurred to me after the tree, after our fighting, after we made up, that all I really needed to do was move both the pieces up to the attic. I would have helped him re-arrange... whatever it took, but by the time BOTH our tempers had cooled, the pieces were gone. Daniel has never mentioned their loss again, but you have no idea how much I wish I hadn't let my temper get the better of me. I'd love to get the pieces back for him, especially now that the Memoirs have been sold and the advance is in the bank. I have the money, but I have no idea where to start looking for them."

"All three pieces?" Sean grinned, baiting her a bit.

Carolyn grinned back at him, understanding what he was trying to do. "That sofa is NOT coming back here. I'd like to think it's been firewood for quite some time now."

Sean nodded. "I suspect so, but I have hopes for the other two pieces."

"I do too," Carolyn sighed. "But as I said, I have no idea where to start. I'd be happy if I could find even one of the two, but I'd rather find them both. I want to get them back for him. Sean, I know you just got here, but... but since you want to stay and see Daniel, and you did offer your help, do you think perhaps you and Dash can help me? I want to do something special for him, you see."

"I would think what you have is... very special indeed, Carolyn," Sean gave her a sad smile. "Your kind of love happens rarely... and when it does, it's for a lifetime and beyond. I'm sure Danny thinks you and your family are special enough."

"I still want to try, at least," Carolyn insisted, stubbornly. "Our anniversary is coming up."

"I thought you only returned to Gull Cottage a month ago?" Sean asked tactfully, trusting that Carolyn would understand his puzzlement.

She blushed a pretty pink. "Not THAT anniversary. September twenty-first marks the second anniversary of the day we all FIRST moved into Gull Cottage."

"I see..." Sean answered. "And you want to try to find the breakfront, or the chart rack, or both and give them to him as an anniversary present?"

"Yes."

"Any idea where you are going to put them? The living room does seem fairly full..."

She shrugged. "I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. Somewhere. Back to my idea of putting them in his wheelhouse. But there's no sense worrying about it, unless we can find them."

As the two approached the front of the house, Sean stopped. "Carrie, would this Claymore fellow I've heard of know anything? Dash says he is something of a cheapskate.. Doesn't like to give things away."

Carolyn shrugged. "I haven't an idea in the world. He gave me permission to give away the furniture two years ago. He wasn't in on the dealings back then. It's a small town, but I suppose he might know something."

Sean rubbed his chin. "All right then, it's a place to start. I'll fill Dash in on the plan tonight after you are asleep, and tomorrow we'll go see Claymore. See what he has to offer. Truthfully, I'd love to meet the man, see if he is as much of an idiot as Danny thinks he is. Besides, if we start asking around town for the blasted things, there's every possibility that we will need a mortal's name to throw around. Not to mention who's going to be buying the treasures back, if we find them." Distracted, Sean walked right through the stone gate. "Oh, I do beg your pardon, Carrie. Too much time alone. I forget my manners." A quick gesture, the gate door was open, and Carolyn had stepped through, Sean closing it behind her.

"Sean, I want to buy the furniture back. I can afford it. Besides, I never would have written the memoirs if it weren't for Daniel. Aside from the fact I want to, it's the right thing to do," Carolyn protested. They made their way up the flagstone walk to the porch, and Carolyn reached for the door.

"What's the right thing to do?" Dash asked, the door opening before she had a chance to turn the knob.

"Furniture, Dash," Sean answered, giving his friend a smile. "Come Monday, we are going treasure hunting."

END PART ONE