Ghost of Schooner Bay
Chapter 11
Not wanting to miss what was about to happen, the Muir clan was already in the parlor as they waited for Mrs. Muir and the Captain to appear at the appointed time. Just as promised the Captain appeared in the parlor at seven o'clock, dressed in black dress slacks, whites dress shirt, and black jacket. A blue tie completed the picture.
"Very nice," Martha said.
"Wow, Dad, you look great!" Candy smiled her approval. "You're really hot."
"You look nice, "Jonathan said man to man.
"Thank you all, I'm glad this meets with your approval. And your mother?"
"Should be right down," Candy said, staring at her Dad.
"Candy? Why are you staring at me so?"
"You look good. Can I take a picture of you and Mom when she comes downstairs? No one will believe how good the two of you look."
"If your mother is willing than so am I, my dear," he smiled at his girl.
"Look, here comes mom," Jonathan said as Carolyn descended the stairs and entered the parlor. She wore a lovely green dress whose skirt didn't quite brush the floor, it flowed around her curves, fitting her very shapely figure, the color enhanced the beauty of her eyes as she smiled at her family and then at Daniel, the man she loved.
"My love, you are enchanting," he said, and brought her hand to his lips and kissed it.
"You look quite handsome tonight, Daniel." She appraised him from head to toe and felt that lovely feeling of desire that had been absent for the last week. "Very handsome indeed."
"You're beautiful, Mom," Jonathan stared at his mother, beginning to understand why the men in town thought she was so beautiful.
"Photo!" Candy said, pulling out her camera.
"Daniel?" Carolyn queried her Captain.
"It's fine. Candy wants a photo of us all dressed up," he smiled at the girl.
"You bet," she said and pointed the camera at them. "Now, smile!" They both did so and Candy took and picture and made them stand still for yet another.
"Are we done?" the Captain asked, humor in his voice. "I have a surprise waiting for your mother and I would like to get our evening started. He looked at Martha over the heads of the children and she smiled at him and gave him a nod.
"You two go and have a good time, I'll keep the kids in line," she offered.
"Come along, my dear," the Captain offered his arm to her. "We will see you tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? Daniel?"
"Trust me, my love," he said and escorted her out into the still warm evening.
The Captain led her at a leisurely pace down a road that lead to the small cottage located close to Gull Cottage. The road was seldom used and a bit overgrown, but the foliage was lovely on this summer night, and with her arm tucked within the Captain's, Carolyn couldn't have been happier. They walked in silence; there was no need for words as they were content in each other company. Something they both treasured after the discord between them of late.
After a few minutes they reached their destination, and stopped outside of the small but picturesque cottage. The white stones were aging but in reasonable repair, the woodwork worn, with vines growing up the sides of the cottage, their rich green color enhancing its quaintness. Though she had walked past the building a few time she suddenly realized she had never been inside the cottage.
She stopped and looked up at the Captain and saw he was studying her intently, his blue eyes filled with adoration for her. She shouldn't be so vain but she could never get enough of the way he looked at her like that, it was as close as she ever felt to unconditional love from anyone, and she wanted to drown in those blue pools. Without thought, she reached up, running her fingers through the curly hair at the nape of his neck, and pulled his head down for a kiss. It was a long, slow, lingering kiss that told him just how much she loved him, and always would love him.
They broke apart several minutes later and the Captain looked deep into her eyes. "We need to go inside," he said in a husky voice, and then took her hand and led her to the door. He opened the door, smiled and picked her up carrying her through the door.
"Daniel?"
"Practicing my love, our wedding day will be here quite soon, don't you think?" he set her down inside the doorway.
When she turned to look at the room before her she was amazed by what she saw. The small table by the window had been set with an old fashioned white lace tablecloth. Candles were in place on the table as was a beautiful red rose that was laid out on one of the place settings. There was a bucket next to the table that undoubtedly held either champagne or wine. The rest of the room was clean, except for the flower petals that appeared to be strewn about the floors. Half open shutters framed the windows, letting in the remaining rays of the day. She turned back to face Daniel, tears of joy beginning to run down her face.
"For me?"
"For you, and only you, my love." He stepped close and with gentle fingertips wiped away the tears rolling down her cheeks. "I had planned to propose to you here, like this before we ran into our most recent…difficulty. After I saved you I came to understand that it would be possible to have a life with you, that if I was a legal person, I could achieve my fondest wish and marry you." He shrugged. "So I had this planned."
"And I ruined it by reliving my past, and by blaming you for something you can't help."
"I am a spirit, Carolyn, and that is what I will remain over the rest of your life." His blue eyes searched her face. "Can you live with that?"
"Daniel, you are the most arrogant, egotistical, stubborn, opinionated man I have ever met…"
"Isn't this where you are supposed to compliment me? I say nice things about you; you say nice things about me…"
"Also, the kindest, most gentle and loving man I have ever met, and I plan to share the rest of my life with you."
"Better," he said with a smile. He placed his hand on her cheek, and she turned into it and kissed his palm. "There are some things that you will miss out on being married to me."
"Such as?"
"Much though it pains me to say, we can never have children together. I cannot give you any more children."
"Do you know that for a fact?"
"I would say that is an obvious statement given my current state of being," he gave her a sweet smile. "Just as well, because if I were human I'm afraid we'd have a large crew."
"You're quite sure of yourself," she teased him.
"Do you really believe otherwise? Given the love, and the passion that we feel for each other, that we have always felt for each other?"
She laughed, the laughter dancing in her eyes as she looked at him. "Daniel Gregg, I do think that circumstance would be highly unlikely, but I can live with that. More children would be wonderful but unless we can find a way to make such a thing possible, I'm very content with the life we have. You're a wonderful father to Candy and Jonathan."
"Beautiful children from a beautiful mother, I am truly blessed," he said.
"And all of this," she laughed in happiness.
"Call it practice for our honeymoon, practice makes perfect you know. And we are perfect," he said and drew her to him, opening her mouth to his as he claimed her for his own. When they paused between kisses Carolyn was breathless as she stared deep into her Captain's eyes.
"Would you like some champagne?" he asked, but his voice was barely a whisper, his eyes never leaving hers.
"Later," she took his hand in hers and led her to the bedroom. "We have some catching up to do."
"But dinner is ready," he protested, but barely.
"It will have to wait," she said, and paused in the doorway, pressing up against him as they kissed again, the heat building between them. He made a noise that sounded like a muffled groan and Carolyn understood why when she moved against him and felt his hardness press against her. She sighed in satisfaction, if she was any judge of her Captain; this was going to be a long, tiring night. She ran her hand over him and he groaned again, picking her up before she could protest he carried her over to the lovely bed that was strewn with rose petals. He flung the covers back and stood her next to him so that he could undo the back of her dress. It was off in an instant, as was his clothing. They surveyed each other in appreciation and she stepped into his embrace, flesh to flesh feeling his arousal.
"Daniel, please, ravish me," she whispered in his ear, not caring that she sounded like a romantic novel.
He picked her up and placed her gently on the bed, as he was beside her in a moment. Their kisses were hot and filled with need and hunger, and lasted only briefly, as they quickly gave way to their unfulfilled passion. He joined with her and they coupled intensely and quickly giving themselves to each other with abandon as their world exploded around them.
They stirred after a few minutes and Carolyn looked deep into Daniel's blue eyes that were filled with love for her. "There is something else that I want you to practice," she said.
"After our heated session you now have me worried, my love. Did I not do something right?" the Captain was concerned by her words.
"You were wonderful as always, Daniel, but I want you to practice calling me Mrs. Gregg. Yes, Mrs. Gregg, I do like the sound of that," she said and offered him a dazzling smile.
The Captain's heart did flip-flops at her words. He still didn't know what he had done right to deserve having her and the children in his afterlife, but he was the most blessed spirit that he knew. "It will be my pleasure, my love. Mrs. Gregg, I do like the sound of that!" He smiled happily and unable to stop himself, he gave her a sweet kiss. "When shall we get married? The sooner the better," he said, nuzzling her neck.
"Daniel!" she giggled. "Stop that."
"Why should I? We've been apart for two weeks," he continued to kiss her, tickling her with his beard. After a few minute they paused and looked at each other again.
"We don't get much talking done this way," she said, resting against his broad chest.
"We don't need to, do we?"
"The wedding," she said trying to bring him back to point. "I want to get married as soon as possible too. I think we can get married in three days once we apply for a license." She frowned and pushed him away, and laughed at his affronted look. "But that brings up another question. We both need to contribute a blood sample to get a wedding license. How can you possibly give a blood sample?"
"I may be able to arrange that."
"How?"
"Claymore has to be good for something, doesn't he?"
"Do you think he'll do it?" she asked.
"He will have no choice by the time I am through with him," he growled. 'Loathe though I am to have his blood pass as mine."
"Okay, let's say you can persuade Claymore to donate a blood sample, we need a medical expert to verify this for us. Any thought on that?" she rubbed her hand across his chest.
"Yes, an excellent one, Dr. Miller."
"Dr. Miller?" Carolyn frowned and Daniel laughed at the jealousy in her voice.
"Fear not, my love, you are the only love of my life."
"I didn't say anything," she said trying to feign indifference.
"You didn't have to."
"Well, she does find you attractive."
"Do you wonder at that?" he preened, his ego in play.
"You're impossible," she rolled her eyes.
"If that was true you would not be here with me, would you?" his eyes searched hers but she didn't answer. "I think she would be willing to assist us, after all she is interested in researching me."
"You would let her do that?'
"Maybe. I admit to some curiosity myself as to my state of existence. If she will agree to keep everything confidential, her findings could be most interesting."
"I'm not convinced on that yet, but if she can help us get a marriage license then I'm willing to think about it.'
"She is actually quite nice," Daniel murmured against her neck.
"Our bed is not the place to discuss another woman," Carolyn said.
"Very well, we can finish that plan later," he said. "You do realize that we will have to change the traditional wedding vows?"
"What do you mean?"
'Well, til death do you part hardly seems appropriate, does it?" he said, laughter in his voice.
"I hadn't thought of that, we will have to change that," she grinned at him. "And no more talk from you about running off because you want to do the right thing. You are the right thing for me and the children." Her green eyes were filled with love for him.
'I promise," he stroked her hair tenderly. "But you do realize that when I promise myself to you for eternity, I mean it."
"That sounds lovely, eternity with my Captain," she purred, and reached down under the covers. He grinned foolishly as her hand found him. "Daniel?"
"Well, it has been at least a few minutes, hasn't it, my love?" his blue eyes were dark with desire. "And I seem to have more…stamina…than a mortal man." He gave her a wicked grin.
"I take it that we're going to have a long night?" she smiled happily. "And what about dinner?"
"Dinner will keep, but it seems my mast needs attention," he growled in her ear, nuzzling her neck again.
"You mean the mast of….your ship?" she noticed talking was becoming difficult as her body was already responding to the movement of his.
"Yes, that," he rumbled.
"Blast!" she squirmed as he began to worship her body, kissing all of the right places with his talented mouth and all other thoughts fled her mind.
The rest of their night was spent as it should be with two people so deeply in love, sharing and loving, sleeping, and knowing that they now had the rest of eternity to spend with one other.
Author's notes:
The first thing is - If you stayed with this story to the end, thank you for getting here. And I do hope you enjoyed the story.
The second thing is – It took a while to put this together so this is where you get to help me. Now that you've read the whole story, please, please take a few minutes to send me a review as I love reviews and I would be most grateful. Don't be shy!
The last thing is that with this set up I can potentially write a few more stories based off of this. Would that be of interest to anyone? If so please let me know. Or should this stay as a one and done? Comments are welcome.
Thank you so much for reading.
