They were talking together in the living room when Claymore returned. Daniel and Carolyn were on the couch, and Martha on the wing chair away from the fireplace. The one closest to the fire belonged to the master of the house, or so he thought of himself.

"It looks like everyone's ready," he said taking his seat. "Or will the children be joining us?"

The snarky tone he took did not go over well with the Captain, or the ladies.

"We'd prefer not to include Candy and Jonathan right now," Daniel told him. "But understand this, Claymore, if something else happens, or their mother believes it's necessary, they will be included." He punctuated his remark with an intimidating stare.

That put the 'master of the house' in his place, and he clamped his mouth shut.

The seaman leaned forward in his seat and began in an even tone.

"After what happened Friday, I wanted to discuss the concerns I have for the family's safety. Based on what I've learned about him over the years, Callahan doesn't react well when he doesn't get his way. He's going to be out for revenge. Not only did Carolyn get away from him . . . she hurt him in the process. That will be a blow to his ego. The woman he chose as his next conquest caused more injury to him than he did to her."

"Captain, what can be done that we're not already doing?" Martha asked.

"We can be sure he's going to look for any opportunity to retaliate. Carolyn going to the well alone will have to be the last time anyone goes anywhere by themselves until this is resolved. Simple things like going alone to the wood pile, or the well, cannot be risked."

Carolyn and Martha looked at each other, speechless. Both focused on the unmentioned activity that required them to go outside.

"Is that everything?" Claymore asked, either ignoring the ladies discomfort, or completely missing the implication of what the Captain had just told them.

"No, it's not," Daniel replied seriously. "When Callahan does retaliate, we can't be sure he'll follow his customary pattern of behavior. He's already shown he's not taking the time to lay the groundwork he has in the past. He's becoming reckless and that concerns me. I no longer believe you can count on the house as a safe refuge."

No one had considered that as a possibility, and the women's faces showed real apprehension. Claymore was stunned knowing he would be expected to defend the family from a real threat and racked his brain for a way out. Even he knew he couldn't invite Daniel Gregg to stay with them to keep the family safe.

"You really think he would try to attack us in the house?" Carolyn asked.

"We can't know for sure what he'll do, but I don't want to take the chance. Are there locks on the doors and windows?"

"There are locks on the doors, but not on the windows," Martha told him.

"If I may, I'd like to a look around for any weaknesses that should be shored up. We'll need to confirm the locks on the doors are strong and will hold, and then see if there's something we can do to keep the windows from being opened from the outside."

"Captain, this is all getting to be too much," Claymore said. "It's bad enough the women can't go out unescorted, but to not be safe in the house? Come now, you don't really think he would be that bold?"

"After what happened Friday, you want to take a chance on this family's safety?!" Daniel roared as he stood. "What more proof do you need?! If anything happens to this family while they're in your care, your miserable life will not be worth living!"

"I . . . I . . . I . . . N-No I won't take a chance," he answered, trying to blend into the chair.

Carolyn and Martha glanced at each other, but neither was surprised by either man's reaction.

"Then I suggest we secure the house and do everything we can to make sure nothing else happens!" the seaman told him pointedly. "Claymore, take me through the house. We already know we'll have to do something about the windows, but I'd like to make sure there is nothing else we need to address. Ladies, we'll be back shortly."

The Captain turned and started to leave the room. When he realized he wasn't being followed, he stopped and gave the quivering coward an intense glare, causing the milksop to trip over his feet in his rush to catch up.

They went to the kitchen first, to examine the back door. It was solid, but the lock didn't look like it would keep anyone out if they really wanted to get in. Daniel was sure a hard push would force the locked door open. Mentally, he started making a list of what he would need. He hated not being able to take care of it today, but was reasonably sure Callahan was still nursing his wounds.

After examining the kitchen windows, he asked if they were the same throughout the house. Assured they were, Daniel decided they would be easy to secure. They were double-hung, and only the bottom window went up and down. It could be fortified by using a two by four, or two by two, as a wedge between the lower sash and the head jamb so the window couldn't be opened – assuming someone didn't break a window to knock the wedge out. Since the weather was getting cold, and there would rarely be a need to open the windows, he considered nailing the wedges in place so they couldn't be knocked out accidently, or intentionally.

Claymore had a few tools around the house, but no wood. Daniel had plenty of scrap wood at the house and, with James and Mitch returning to duty the next day, he could easily take time away from the ship. In the morning, he'd just stop at the general store to get any hardware he needed. It wouldn't take any time at all to secure Claymore's house. He was quite sure he'd be doing it alone, knowing Schooner Bay's leading penny pincher wouldn't take time away from his empire.

"Claymore, are there any exterior doors or windows in the cellar?"

"No, at least I don't think so. I've only been down there once. I think it's just a stone foundation and dirt floor."

Daniel could only shake his head.

"Let's take a look. It won't do us any good to secure the rest of the house only to have him come in through the basement."

It turned out it was just a big room with stone walls and a dirt floor. There were no doors or windows that needed to be secured. The walls were surrounded by shelves for canning and other storage, and it looked like Martha had already started stocking up food for the winter.

The Captain had been considering an idea as they made their way through the house, but when he looked at the man next to him, he struggled with what he was going to ask. He wasn't at all sure he could trust him, but decided to at least pose the question.

"Claymore, do you have any weapons in the house?" he asked, as they headed upstairs.

"Weapons? You mean guns or knives?"

"That's exactly what I mean. Do you own a gun?"

"Me?"

"Blast it all, man, who else would I be talking to?"

"I use to own a gun," Martha answered from the stove, surprising the Captain by her answer and causing Claymore to jump and make a strange noise.

Daniel pinched the bridge of his nose in effort to maintain his patience with the quaking jellyfish, while the woman at the stove worked hard to not laugh at both of them.

"What kind of gun did you have?" the seaman finally asked.

"It was a Colt six shooter."

Now, that did surprise the Captain.

"How did you come to have something that big?"

"I lived in Sharpsburg, Maryland before I came to work for the Muirs. Talk of war was running rampant and tempers, and suspicions, were high. You never knew who was going to come through town, or where their allegiance fell. Only a fool would live in a situation like that without some kind of reliable protection."

"Martha, I had no idea. What took you to Sharpsburg?"

"I worked for a family in Philadelphia for quite a few years, but when the children got older, they no longer needed my services. About the same time, my aunt asked me if I'd be interested in coming to Maryland to help her. She was quite elderly and having a difficult time keeping up with her house and taking care of herself. I had nothing to keep me in the big city and decided a change of scenery would be nice for a while, but I had no idea Sharpsburg was so divided," she said shaking her head. "When my aunt passed in early '61, I sold the house as fast as I could and went back to Philadelphia."

"I'm glad you got away from there when you did. I wouldn't have wanted you dealing with the trouble that took place at Antietam Creek. I hope you never had to defend yourself."

"I've never had to shoot anyone, but on more than one occasion, I had to use it to encourage a man to leave."

"A good shot, were you?"

"I was. I got rid of the gun when I returned to Philadelphia, before I came to work for the Muirs."

Daniel nodded his understanding, but Claymore watched the whole exchange in disbelief.

"Would you be comfortable defending the house in the event of an attack?"

"I don't know, it's been awhile," she replied.

He nodded, knowing it was quite a responsibility to ask anyone, especially a woman.

"Claymore, what about you?"

"What about me?" he said, and was met with complete silence. When he realized what he was being asked, he replied. "Of course I can shoot. I went hunting with my father and brothers when I was a boy."

"Can you fire a handgun?"

"No, I've only ever used a rifled musket. I wasn't very accurate . . . My eyes you know."

"Rifles are much easier to use these days but, if your eyesight is that bad, it might not be a good idea to put a weapon in your hands. We wouldn't want the wrong person getting shot."

"I couldn't agree more," the nervous man replied.

"So, back to my original question. Do you have any weapons in the house?"

"No. The hunting rifle I used as a boy was my father's and stayed with the family when I left home."

"Well, it was only a thought," the Captain remarked.

"Captain, we do have something that might come in handy if something happens. I'll be right back," Martha said, leaving the room and passing Mrs. Muir in the doorway.

"So, what's the verdict? Can the house be made safer?" Carolyn asked.

"Yes. We should be able to make it almost impenetrable," Daniel explained. "Claymore, I can take some time away from the ship tomorrow to come over. Can you get away?"

"Ah . . . tomorrow? No, no I can't. I've got a meeting that's going to take most of the day."

"And is that meeting at the office?" the Captain asked.

"No, I have to look at a piece of land I'm considering buying outside of town."

Martha walked in the door carrying Jonathan's baseball bat and heard the last bit of the conversation. She joined the seaman and his lady as they looked at him incredulously.

"So, the office will be closed tomorrow?" Daniel asked.

"No, I hadn't planned on it," he replied, wondering why he would ask such a silly question. The looks on their faces, and the bat in Martha's hand, finally brought his oversight into focus. "But, ah . . . now that I think about it, it would be better if Carolyn worked at home tomorrow."

The Captain gave him a stern look, but relaxed knowing she wouldn't be going into the office.

"Uncle, would it be all right if I took the day off instead? I'm caught up with the books, and there isn't really anything I can do for you at home. I was going to spend the day working in the back room."

His first instinct was to refuse her request, but he took a moment before answering. She had brought his books up to date and was starting to bring organization and order to his existence at the office, just as Martha had done at home. Perhaps giving Carolyn a day off would show them he could be generous, on occasion.

"Oh, very well, but this is only to keep you safe."

"Thank you, Uncle."

"Mind you, I don't want you thinking you can take a day off whenever you want."

"No, Uncle," she smiled at him, and then looked at the others, noticing the bat in Martha's hand for the first time. "It seems I've missed something. Would anyone care to fill me in?"

"Why don't we go back to the living room?" Daniel suggested.

Once they were all settled again, he filled them in on what he would do to secure the house.

"How does a baseball bat fit into the equation?" Carolyn asked.

"I'm not really sure. Martha?"

"I may not be comfortable with a gun anymore, but I can certainly swing a baseball bat at an intruder, if need be."

"Are we considering using guns for protection now?"

"No, not really. I asked Claymore if he had a weapons in the house and the conversation came up."

"Uncle, do you have weapons in the house?"

"No. I hunted with my family, as a boy, but haven't fired a rifle since I left."

"Well, that's a shame. A gun would certainly provide an added level of protection."

Claymore's mouth dropped open.

"You have a gun?" the Captain asked.

"No, but Dad would take me target shooting when I was a teenager, and I did go hunting occasionally with my cousins."

"Not Hazel and Harriet, I'm sure," Daniel said smiling.

"No, with those male cousins you're so anxious to meet," she teased.

"Martha's idea is an interesting one. Having watched you play baseball, I believe you could do a lot of damage with a baseball bat, if the need arose."

"We'd have to be much closer with a bat than a gun, but we would definitely get someone's attention."

"That shouldn't be an issue after the doors and windows are secured, but if you would be more comfortable with a revolver, or rifle in the house, I can provide them."

Claymore looked troubled at the thought of having a gun in the house. That, coupled with what the Captain was going to do to fortify the windows and doors, made the whole situation much too real to him.

"I think we'll be all right with what we've already got planned. No need to bring firearms into it."

"Ladies, do you feel the same way?" Daniel asked.

The two women exchanged a look and were of the same opinion.

"Yes. I think we'll be all right without using guns," Carolyn admitted.

"Then it looks like we have a plan in place. Are there any other concerns we haven't considered?" Daniel asked.

Claymore still had a look of bewilderment on his face at the dangerous situation he found himself and his family in. Carolyn and Martha looked at each other, but couldn't think of anything else.

"No, Daniel. I think you've covered everything."

"Good, but if any of you think of anything, please let me know, and we'll address it."

Everyone nodded their agreement.

"My dear, should we get the children and go?"

"I need to see Martha and take care of something first. I'll be back in a few minutes," she told him.

The women left the room, leaving the men to themselves.

"Where are you two off to now?" Claymore asked.

"We're going to take the children over to the park. Would you care to join us?"

"No, thank you. I'm quite content to stay here," he begged off. "Captain, do you really think it's a good idea to encourage the women to use a baseball bat as protection?"

"I'm for anything that will keep everyone safe. Aren't you?"

"I suppose."

Daniel caught a hint of disappointment in his voice.

"Claymore, are you sure you don't want a gun in the house for protection?"

"No. I hunted as a boy, but I never really cared for it. I'm not comfortable around them . . . never have been."

"How do you feel about the women using a baseball bat on an intruder?"

"As long as they don't come after me, I guess I don't mind. I just hope we don't have to use it."

"I couldn't agree more."

XXXXX

In the kitchen, Carolyn and Martha talked quietly about the threat, and the logistics of using the outhouse. Not only did they have themselves to worry about, but the children as well. After some discussion, they came up with a solution. It was not going to be pleasant but, under the circumstances, it would have to do. They could only hope the situation was resolved quickly, so things could return to normal. In the meantime, Carolyn had to attend to some personal business before leaving for the park.