London, England
Christmas Eve, 1868

Captain Daniel Gregg and his first mate, James Horan, made their way from the ship to their favorite public house. They'd arrived in London late that afternoon and, once the docking was complete, had left the second mate, Archie Mitchell, in command of a skeleton crew to keep watch. Tomorrow, Daniel, James, and a few volunteers would replace him and the other men to give them Christmas day off.

Entering the George Tavern, the seamen stopped at the bar and were greeted by the landlord.

"Welcome back, Captain . . . James," the man nodded

"Jack," the two men replied and shook hands with him.

"It's good to see you. How long will you be in port this time around?"

"No more than five nights. Do you have any rooms available?"

"I'm afraid I only have one, but it's the room with two beds. I don't suppose you'd be interested in sharing?"

The two friends exchanged a look and shrugged their shoulders.

"We can do that," Daniel replied. "Can we get the key so we can drop our gear there?"

"Sure. I'll be right back."

The landlord moved away from the bar, but quickly returned and handed the Captain a key.

"It's room four, upstairs in the back. It's quieter back there."

"Thanks, Jack," Daniel said, paying him. "We won't be gone long. Can we get a pint and a pasty for dinner?"

"Yes, sir. We've got beef and turkey tonight."

"I'll have the beef," Daniel replied.

"Make that two," James added.

"We'll have them out to you as soon as you return."

The seamen nodded, grabbed their kits, and headed for the stairs.

XXXXX

Over dinner, the friends talked business while they ate and had an in depth discussion about the future of sailing. Neither man was convinced what was currently taking place in the world would benefit them professionally.

The last decade, sailing ships used for commerce had seen a lot of changes, or progress, as some people were calling it. Along those same lines, the face of warfare at sea had changed forever during the war. In 1862, during the Battle of Hampton Roads, two Union sailing ships, the USS Cumberland and USS Congress, were destroyed by the steam-powered Confederate ironclad, the CSS Virginia. In that one battle, the advancement of steam power had rendered sail power obsolete in warfare. Now, both men were seeing how that evolving industry could bring an end to the profession they loved.

The seaports of Liverpool and London had far more steam powered ships in their harbors than the last time the Kitty Keane had been to England, and the ratio of sailing ships was definitely on the decline. Although they didn't require fuel, or complex engines to be powered, and were more independent of a support base on land, sailing ships were hindered by adverse winds. Steam-powered ships held a definite speed advantage because they didn't have to follow the trade winds. They're routes could be more direct and could travel in half the time it would take sailing vessels.

Adding to the situation, the Suez Canal had been under construction for almost ten years, and it was expected to be operational by late 1869. As a result, steam-powered ships could avoid the South Atlantic and southern Indian Oceans, reducing the length of the journey by taking a more direct route between the North Atlantic and northern Indian Oceans via the Mediterranean and Red Seas. The distance from the Arabian Sea to London would be shortened by almost 5,500 miles.

Using the canal would be impractical for sailing vessels because of their dependence on wind, so steam-powered ships would be much faster on the European-Asian sea route. Sailing, as a way of moving cargo, could become obsolete within a generation.

"I'm afraid we may be witnessing the beginning of the end," Daniel said finishing his beer.

James had, and always would, love the sea but was truly an optimist at heart.

"If what we believe turns out to be the case, the timing couldn't be better for either one of us."

The Captain looked up at his friend incredulously.

"Come now, Daniel. Since we left home, you have done nothing but think about Carolyn and the children. I've won more hands of poker in your cabin this trip than ever before. Your eyes always stray to the photographs of your lady, and that distraction makes you an easy mark. I even suspect you think of Martha every time you sit down to eat. The grub we have here pales in comparison to the delicious meals she prepares. You can't tell me, if your life as a seaman came to abrupt end, you wouldn't take solace in knowing you could stay at home and spend more time with them? I know spending more time with Marguerite would make me very happy."

The Captain smiled slightly.

"You're right. I've been thinking a lot about this life we lead since leaving Schooner Bay. Sailing into Liverpool and then London has been a real eye opener," he said, raising his hand to the landlord for another round.

"If this is the end, what would you want to do? You wouldn't have to give up the sea, you know. You could continue with a steam-powered ship."

"Oh, I wouldn't do that. Those ships have no grace . . . no style . . . and they're so blasted loud. What I love most about this life are the simple things . . . the sway of the deck . . . the spray of the sea on my face . . . the sound of wind, in the sails, and the water as the ship cuts through the waves. It's all so peaceful. A blasted engine droning on and on, day and night, holds no appeal to me at all. I'm sure there's some ability involved in commanding one of those eye sores, but certainly not the knowledge and skill required in sailing," he replied.

"No, if I couldn't sail, I'd find something to do on land. I could always have a smaller ship to take out for pleasure trips with the family, or keep my hand in it by making short runs up and down the coast. What about you? Would you sign on to one of those graceless steam-powered ships? If you did, would you stay in Schooner Bay, or move to Baltimore so Marguerite could be near her family? In either case, there would be plenty of opportunity in the industry here or anywhere down the coast."

"I feel the same way you do about steam-powered ships. If I can't sail, I don't know what I'll do. I do know I don't want to move to a big city, and I'm not so sure Marguerite wants to move back to be near her family either. She's become quite comfortable with life in a small town, and that's been helped tremendously by her friendships with Carolyn and Sarah Farley," he admitted. "I'm pleased the women have each other for support while we're away. It made leaving her a little easier."

Daniel nodded in agreement as their pints arrived. The men raised their mugs to each other.

"To the women we love," the seamen toasted.

As they drank their beer, a woman walked up behind Daniel and wrapped her arms around him, placing her hands on his chest as she spoke softly in his ear.

"Welcome back to London, Captain. I've been wondering when I'd see you again."

Daniel removed her hands and maneuvered the woman around so he could see her.

"Hello, Callie. What brings you to the George?"

"Word on the street had it you were here, so I thought I'd stop by in case you wanted something?" she said seductively, as her finger played with his ear.

Grabbing her hands again, he tried to take control of the situation.

"Callie, I'm glad to see you, but . . ."

She interrupted him before he could finish.

"Why don't we go up to your room so you can show me just how glad you are to see me?"

"My dear, I'm sorry, but this is not a good time."

"Well, if not now, tell me when, and I'll come back."

"I'm afraid I won't be seeing you at all this trip, or any other."

"Oh?"

"Sir, I think I should leave you two alone. I'll see you upstairs," James said and stood to leave. "Unless, of course, you'd like me to go out and find something to do for a while?"

Daniel gave him a look but, before he could reply, the woman answered for him.

"Thank you, handsome. That would be perfect, wouldn't it, Danny?" she cooed as her hands roamed up his chest.

He grabbed her hands again and was reminded of his bout with a giant squid off Pago Pago some years ago.

"Mr. Horan, that won't be necessary. Miss Durbin and I can say what needs to be said right here."

"Aye, aye, sir," James smiled as he saluted and headed upstairs.

"Why can't we spend some time together?" she asked running her hands over his chest. "You know I can make you forget whatever it is that's bothering you."

By this time, the landlord was making his way over to the table.

"Now look here, Callie. You can't be hanging around the George. This is a respectable place. Get on with your business, or not, but either way, you'll have to leave," he said. "Sorry, Captain."

"Jack, just give me a minute. We won't be long," Daniel asked. Receiving a nod of understanding, the seaman took the woman's arm and started walking toward the door.

"Why don't you take me up to your room? We can talk . . . do a bit of business . . . or anything else you'd like to do. If you're in a hurry, I know a secluded place around the corner we could go for a knee-trembler. "

"Callie, thank you for the offer, but I'm no longer available to do a 'bit of business' with you."

She stopped and looked up at him, light dawning.

"So, Daniel Gregg has finally found himself a lady. You know, I don't see her with you now," she said seductively, looking around and stepping closer to him. "I'll bet I can make you forget all about her, at least for a little while," she said as her hand moved below his belt.

Quickly grabbing her wrist, he stopped her momentum and set her hand by her side.

"Thank you, but no." Reaching in his pocket, he handed her a coin. "Take this for your trouble. I wish you all the best. Goodbye, Callie," he said and eased her out the door.

Returning to the table, Daniel finished his pint, and then went back to the bar. He paid their dinner tab and placed an order for the next day before returning to his room.

Outside, Callie looked at the coin in her palm, and her eyes grew wide. Holding it tightly in her hand she made her way around the corner and tucked it safely away.

XXXXX

Upstairs, Daniel found his first mate lying in bed reading. Peering over the paper to look at his friend, James started to chuckle.

"I don't think that will be the last time you have an encounter like that, sir. You did let the 'lady' down gently, didn't you?"

"I tried," he smiled as he got ready for bed.

"So, when are you going to ask Carolyn to marry you?"

His friend gave him a quizzical look.

"What makes you ask that?"

"Come now, Daniel. You just walked away from a fine piece of woman. That's not something I've seen happen too often."

"Well, I . . . I wouldn't even consider being with someone else now. I have the most exquisite woman waiting for me at home. Why would I settle for less?"

"So, I ask again. When are you going to ask that exquisite woman to marry you?"

"When the time is right."

"Sir, not thirty minutes ago, we were discussing the possibility of the end of the only life we've known. If you're going to start fresh with a career that will keep you home, why wouldn't you marry her right away?"

"Don't think I haven't thought about it, but nothing is certain yet. Carolyn has to know she and the children can handle my absences. She's told me she would never ask me to give up this life I live, and I believe her. She's never even hinted that I should find something else that would allow me to stay home with her and the family. If it should happen that I do change careers, I don't want her to get the impression I'm giving up the life I love, for her."

"For heaven's sake, why not?"

"It may not make sense to you, but it's important that she know, in her own mind, that she is strong enough to live that kind of life. I believe she may have doubts. If not for herself, at least for the children."

"But, if she doesn't have to . . . ?"

"Whether she has to or not, she needs to know she can."

"Daniel, that makes no sense."

"James, we're talking about women. They are always, and will forever be, female . . . totally, eternally, female . . ." he said. Then smiling, added, "And I thank God for that every day."