Wednesday, Daniel was up early to travel to Rockland. He'd made arrangements the previous week to meet with a supplier there, but that was before Carolyn Muir blew into his life like a gale-force wind. After her invitation to lunch, he decided he would start early enough to get there and back in time to eat with her. He had convinced himself he could slow down, and not rush things with the lovely widow, and still see her every chance he got. She had invited him, after all.

He saddled Bonhomme and was on the road by six. It was less than ten miles and he was sure he could make the trip in a couple of hours. His meeting wouldn't take too long, and he thought he could be back in Schooner Bay before noon. He was sure he would be in need of nourishment by then.

XXXXX

Carolyn rose early too, though not quite as early as the Captain. She was waking far earlier than she ever had before, and after only three days, it didn't seem to be getting any easier. She knew it would take time to get used to being fully dressed and functioning at this hour, but she didn't think she'd ever adjust to being away from her children all day. It might be easier once they were in school but, until then, she knew she would continue to miss being with them.

When she devised her plan to move to Schooner Bay, she hadn't considered the impact being away from them, most of the day, would have on all of them. Thank heavens for Martha. This never would have been possible without her, and despite Carolyn's concerns, she still believed the move had been the right thing to do. If asked, she couldn't have explained why, but she was getting the feeling this was where she was meant to be.

XXXXX

The Captain was on his way back to Schooner Bay by 9:30, and made good time. With no rain in the last week, the road was dry and dusty, which was better than it being wet and muddy. His horse didn't have to slog through the muck, but Daniel wasn't sure that would be the case later, when he made his way home. The breeze had picked up and the clouds were moving in. He knew the weather was about to change.

When he returned from Rockland, he left Bonhomme at the stable. Coming through the door, and not seeing the liveryman, Daniel called his name. From a stall behind him, the young man popped his head up.

"I'm right here, Captain."

Daniel turned around and looked over the rail.

"What have you got there?"

"Oh, this dog showed up a couple of weeks ago and decided to hang around. The other night, she ended up having a litter right here."

Daniel walked into the stall and knelt down by the mother and her pups.

"She looks like a Wire Hair Fox Terrier, but I've only seen them in England." Petting the new mother, he pondered, "Well lassie, how did you make your way across the Atlantic, and all the way to Schooner Bay?" The dog licked his hand and wagged her tail at the attention.

"She's a good dog. I wouldn't mind keepin' her, but I guess I'll have to find homes for the pups. Although, I'm not sure about the smallest one. I don't know if he'll make it or not."

Daniel gently picked up the tiniest puppy, whose eyes weren't opened yet.

"Hello there, my little friend," he said cradling him in the palm of his hand. "I can tell you're tougher than you look. You'll grow up to be a fine dog, but heaven knows what you're going to look like." He placed the puppy next to his mom's teat and watched as the little one felt his way to it. "Yes, you're going to be just fine."

From his crouched position, Daniel looked around him.

"You're going to have to make some kind of a box to keep the puppies in. It won't be long before they'll have their sea legs and could wander out and get hurt. Puppies and horses don't mix well at this age."

"I hadn't thought of that. I've got some wood in the back. I'll put something together this week."

"Good man."

The two men left the stall and walked back to his horse.

"What can I do for you today, Captain?"

"I need to leave Bonhomme here for the day. Can you put him up?"

"We always have room for Bonhomme. What time will you be back for him?"

"Sometime this evening."

Quint grabbed the horse's reins to lead him to a stall.

"We'll take good care of him, sir."

XXXXX

It was almost noon by the time he dusted himself off and walked over to the office of Marley and Ebenezer. Looking at the sign, he wondered if the miser was ever going to remove Marley's name. Realizing who he was thinking about, he decided the man was too cheap to pay for a new sign.

Upon his arrival, he found Mrs. Muir busy at her desk and her uncle working at his. Turning toward the door, Claymore wasn't really surprised to see him.

"You again?" he said in an uninterested manner.

Carolyn turned to see who had provoked such a response, and her eyes brightened considerably when they spied Daniel Gregg standing in the doorway.

"Hello, Claymore."

"Is there something I can help you with?" he asked sarcastically.

"No, I was in the area and thought I'd stop by to say hello. How are you today Mrs. Muir?"

"Good afternoon, Captain Gregg. I'm very well, thank you – and you?"

"I'm fine. Thank you for asking," he smiled conspiratorially at her.

"If anyone is interested, I'm up to my ears in work. I'm much too busy for social interruptions," her employer snidely remarked.

The room could have been empty for all the attention he was getting.

"Captain, I was just going to take a break to eat my lunch. Would you care to join me?" She looked at him with innocence, as if the thought had just occurred to her.

"Thank you, I would be happy to keep you company while you eat. Shall we sit on the bench out front, or would you prefer to go to the park? The weather seems to be holding for now, and I think we'll be safe, at least through the noon hour."

"As much as I would prefer the park, I think it best we sit on the porch," she said, glancing at her uncle, who looked ready to object to her taking too much time to eat.

"Yes, of course," Daniel smiled as he watched her nimbly hop down from her stool and grab her lunch pail. He could look at her all day and not tire of the view.

"Uncle, I'll be out front if you need me," she called over her shoulder. The Captain opened the door and followed her out.

Claymore just grumbled something about wasted time and turned back to his work.

Carolyn looked in her lunch pail and started to giggle. He didn't know what was so amusing until she showed him its contents, and he began to chuckle with her. It was filled to the brim with food.

"How many people was she expecting to feed with all of this," he asked.

"Well, Monday night she was surprised that I had eaten everything she packed. She knows my appetite better than I do, I think. Anyway, I told her you stopped by, and that I shared my lunch with you. Then yesterday, and now today, it seems she wants to be sure there's enough food for both of us, if you happen to come by."

"I think there might actually be enough food for us and Claymore. Should I invite him to join us?" he asked teasingly.

"That would be wonderful, but only if you want to," she teased back.

"No, I think not. Given the choice, I much prefer your company – alone.

"I'm so glad." She smiled at him, pulled out two sandwiches, and handed one to him.

They talked as they ate, and it was obvious to Daniel that Mrs. Muir was feeling more at ease with him. She spoke of her parents and her childhood in Philadelphia. He had been there many times and was familiar with the areas she mentioned. Her parents lived in one of the oldest and nicest residential areas of the city, so he concluded she was from a well-established family. Again, he wondered what caused her to leave that kind of security to move here to live with, and work for, her miserly squid of an uncle. He wasn't going to ask but hoped she would eventually tell him.

He, in turn, told her about his childhood in Schooner Bay, and what it was like when he was a child. He mentioned his parents and sister, who had been quite a bit younger, but didn't include a lot of detail. Carolyn was curious to know more about him, but didn't want to push things, deciding he might share the important points of his life when they got to know each other better.

She finished half of her sandwich and decided, if she was going to enjoy whatever dessert was included she had eaten enough. Looking in the lunch pail, she found two pieces of cake.

"Captain, you must try this chocolate cake. It second only to Martha's cherry pie."

"Then by all means, pass it over."

She handed the larger of the two pieces to him, and their hands touched. They stopped momentarily and gazed at each other before Daniel reminded himself he was supposed to be taking things slow.

"From the pies and cookies I've tasted so far, I would imagine everything Mrs. Grant makes is delicious," he said quickly.

"Indeed it is," Carolyn replied lowering her eyes. "Jonathan has the sweet tooth in the family. He can't get enough – especially her cookies."

"With baking like this, I'm sure I could give the lad a run for his money." After a slight hesitation, he added. "Mrs. Muir, both of your children are quite remarkable. You're doing a wonderful job."

"Thank you, Captain. They are the best thing that ever happened to me."

Daniel nodded, seeing the love for her children plainly in her eyes. He told her he was looking forward to seeing how far along they were with their carvings and helping them this afternoon. This led to further discussion of the children, their likes and dislikes, how they did in school and their personalities in general.

Once they had finished their cake, Carolyn pulled out two apples.

"Would you care for an apple?"

"I couldn't possibly eat another bite. Mrs. Grant has outdone herself today. I must think of a way to thank her."

"Please take the apple for later. You might need a snack this afternoon." She held it out for him to take.

"Well, if you insist," he accepted graciously and slipped it in his coat pocket.

She was sitting on the bench repacking the lunch pail when Claymore came out the door.

"Uncle, there is a half sandwich and an apple left, if you're interested."

"No, I've got a meeting to get to, and it's about time you got back to work," he said to his niece, but glared at Daniel.

Carolyn looked at the time piece pinned to her dress.

"I'm afraid I must take the blame for the delay. I have been so absorbed in conversation with Mrs. Muir, I completely lost track of time," the Captain said, attempting to bear the brunt of Claymore's wrath.

"Gentlemen, may I remind you both, we have only been out here fifteen minutes. Surely I'm entitled to that much time to eat lunch?" she defended herself, and her companion.

"Has it only been fifteen minutes? It seems you've been away from your desk for hours," her uncle smirked and then left.

Daniel was fighting his own anger when he saw the fire in Carolyn's eyes.

"Mrs. Muir, I hope my presence is not causing any difficulties with your uncle."

"Captain, if there are difficulties, they are entirely his. He will just have to get over them. I'll not be pushed around by another thoughtless man," she ended decisively and looked away.

Daniel knew he had unwittingly touched on something painful and tentatively reached for her hand. His touch caused her to look at him in surprise.

"Mrs. Muir, I would never want to cause you any trouble."

She saw the concern he had for her, and the earnestness in his eyes. The anger she felt toward her uncle – and the memories he had churned up – slipped away. She wasn't going to let her uncle mar the pleasant lunch they had enjoyed.

"Thank you, Captain. I . . . I don't think you would."

He encircled her small hand with his and gave it a gentle squeeze of confirmation before letting go.

"I suppose I should get back to Kitty and let you get back to work." he finally said.

"Kitty?" Carolyn questioned, with a touch of jealousy not missed by Daniel.

"Yes, the Kitty Keane. My ship. I named her after my mam," he smiled.

"Oh," she smiled in relief – and embarrassment.

"Her name was actually Catherine Keane Gregg, but I opted to use her nickname, and her maiden name."

"Captain, that is so sweet of you."

"Madam, I am not sweet!" he replied firmly.

"Oh? Then what would you call a man who named his ship after his mother?"

Daniel tugged at his ear and tried to find another word to replace 'sweet.' He never allowed anyone to describe him as such. It did not fit with the image he had created of himself.

"Well, a ship's name should be something you will be proud of and look on with love far into the future, both at sea and on land. I knew that would be the case if I named her the Kitty Keane."

Carolyn was touched by the love and respect he had for his mother. What was it she had heard, 'If you want to know how a man will treat you, look at how he treats his mother?'

"Whether you want to admit it or not, that was a very sweet thing to do," she chided him.

"Oh, all right. It was sweet," he grudgingly admitted. "But madam, this is the only time I will permit that word being used to describe me," he instructed sterly. "Are we clear on that?"

Mrs. Muir giggled at his demeanor.

"Aye, aye, sir!" she said as she saluted him.

"At ease, madam."

"Thank you, sir."

He saw the folly of his remark and laughed with her. He knew, without a doubt, he had met his match.