Chapter Twenty-six

Captain Eric Englehorn was surprised when he was wrong. The other ship, the Triggerfish, belonged to Henry Stoker, a good friend of David Seaborne. The captain watched from a distance as young Stoker strolled along the deck of the Venture with David. The two friends were chatting animatedly, obviously pleased to see each other. Englehorn couldn't help but feel a bit relieved that he had been wrong, although… It rankled a bit to be wrong…

"Eric?"

He turned and smiled at Clytie, leaning back on the rail. "Miss Seaborne. How has the return voyage been for you?"

She smiled brightly at him, her green eyes warm and alluring. "Quite splendid, thanks to a certain ship's captain I know." She moved to stand beside him at the rail, gripping it with her hands and leaning forward. Her eyes held a distant look now, and it captured the man standing beside her.

Englehorn studied her, holding his breath, almost afraid that she would disappear. She looked like some sort of beautiful wraith in the light of the stars and the ship's lights. He could look at her forever… Although, of course, looking was not nearly enough. He wanted to touch her, to kiss her, to hold her in his arms…

"Eric?" She turned to look at him, raising an eyebrow. "What is it? Why are you looking at me like that?"

He shrugged, smiling a bit, and crossed his arms, still gazing at her. "You look very beautiful," he said simply.

Clytie bit her lip, blushing slightly. "Thank-you," she said quietly, looking down at the deck.

Their tender moment was interrupted by the sound of David's raised voice. "Clytie! Clytie! Come quickly!"

Clytie gave the captain an apologetic smile. "Excuse me, Eric."

He nodded to her, smiling slightly.

She quickly descended the stairs and walked across the deck to her brother's side. "What is it, David?"

David's hazel eyes were bright. "Henry has just invited us to go on an expedition with him," he explained excitedly, motioning to his friend.

Henry, a tall, pale, blonde young man smiled at Clytie. "We're going on exploration to a newly discovered chain of islands a couple hundred miles off the coast of New Zealand," he added. "You and David would be more than welcome to come. In fact, we would be honored to have two such distinguished scientists as yourselves along."

Clytie frowned thoughtfully. "When are you going on this expedition?"

"In a few months," Henry said. "Whenever we can raise the funds and equipment."

"I'm sure Jake would be happy to help with that!" David exclaimed.

Clytie glanced sharply at her brother, then smiled. David was always volunteering Jake's seemingly endless wealth for something or other. "It sounds promising," she said quietly. Then her frown returned. "But… What are you doing out here?"

Henry smiled proudly. "We came to rescue David, too," he announced.

Clytie raised an eyebrow. "That was… noble of you."

Henry laughed. "Well obviously, we were a bit late. You got there first."

"Good thing, too," Clytie couldn't help but say. "You might not have survived the island."

"Oh, I know," Henry said nonchalantly. He looked from Seaborne to Seaborne. "So? Are you in?"

"Most definitely!" said David, shaking his friend's hand.

Henry turned to Clytie. "And you, Clytie?"

Clytie hesitated. "I--I'm not sure. I recently became engaged, you know."

"Yes, I had heard about that. Congratulations!" Henry winked at her. "But… You're still invited."

"Well thank-you. I'll think about it. But… I'll have to talk things over with my fiancé first. I'm not sure when exactly we are getting married."

"All right." The tall young man turned to David. "Well at least we have you, old pal."

(LINE)

"Maybe you should go." Englehorn did not turn around to look at her as he spoke. He kept his eyes on the horizon, trying to seem nonchalant about the whole matter. "I could go on my mission, and you could go on yours, and then we could marry when we get back to New York."

Clytie frowned. She was, by nature, a rather impatient person. "I don't know, Eric." She sighed, tapping her fingers on the map over which she stood. "Are you sure you want to wait that long to get married?"

He smiled, then. "No. I don't want to wait that long. But… It seems as if it may be best to do so."

Clytie's frown deepened. "Best? Hmph. You just don't want me to go on this new assignment with you. Why not, Eric?"

"I've already told you--it's dangerous, very dangerous. That's all you need to know."

"Eric, I've faced danger before. Just look at what we went through!"

"Yes, and I had to save your life, nearly getting killed in the process," the captain replied quickly.

Clytie turned to face him and crossed her arms. "That smacks of arrogance," she snapped.

He turned to frown at her. "And that smacks of whining," he said sharply.

Clytie's jaw dropped. She thought of a thousand comebacks, all biting and vicious, but for some reason, could not speak.

The captain winced. "I'm sorry, Clytie." He ran a hand over his face, shocked not only at her snapping, but at his as well.

"I--I wasn't whining, Eric," she managed shakily, somehow unable to say any of the countless smart comments that came to her mind. "I--I care about you, you know. I want to be with you…" She sighed, embarrassed at her childish behavior. "I'm sorry. I need to stop being so doggone impatient." She looked up at him, green eyes large and round and appealing. "Forgive me? Maybe?"

"Yes, yes," he replied quickly, waving his hand at her, feeling a bit awkward. That big-eyed look on her face was nearly more than he could take. He sighed. "And will you forgive me, Clytie Seaborne?" he asked quietly.

She bit her lip and nodded quietly.

They were both quiet for a moment, then, at the same time, they sighed and shook their heads. They met each other's eyes and laughed.

"Wow. That was rough," Clytie giggled.

Englehorn nodded. "Don't ever put me through that again!"

"You'd better not start that again, either!" Clytie replied, grinning crookedly.

Englehorn smiled at her then jerked his head, motioning for her to come closer. Clytie walked to stand in front of him, still grinning up at him, and he bent down to plant a strong kiss on her lips.

(LINE)

Henry decided that his ship would follow the Venture back to New York City. At first, he had thought about exploring Skull Island, but the horror stories told to him by David and the others quickly changed his mind. And soon, David had drawn him in on the "great bachelor adventure" that he was planning with Preston, Jimmy, and an unwitting--perhaps unwilling--Bruce.

The young explorer was a bit disappointed that Clytie was engaged to the captain. He had always been quite fond of her. But, oh well. Perhaps he would find his soul mate along with David and the other young bachelors…

(LINE)

"We'll be back to New York City in… what? A week?" Ann asked quietly. She was sitting at her vanity in the cabin, brushing her wavy blonde hair.

Jack, who was lounging on the bunk, reading one of Clytie's many books, looked up. "I'd say so. Maybe a bit more than that." He smiled at his wife, who could see his face in the mirror. "Don't worry. I think the rest of the journey should be calm and peaceful. The island, the fog--it's all behind us now."

She turned to face him, smiling softly. "I hope so, Jack. I hope you're right."

He stood, grinning down at her. "You know I am. I'm always right!" He crossed the cabin to kneel at her side, then took her hand and kissed it.

Ann bit her lip and smiled. "Always right? I'd say… almost always."

He nodded. "Almost always, then."

(LINE)

"Captain Englehorn."

The captain turned from the wheel to see the odd sight of Jake Atkins walking onto the bridge. "Clytie is in the galley," he said quickly. But before he could turn back to the wheel, Jake spoke.

"Captain, I need to apologize to you."

Englehorn raised his eyebrows. "Do you?" This was unexpected.

"As you probably know from my goddaughter, I gave her my blessing to--to marry you," Jake said quickly. He nervously fiddled with his starched collar. "But…" He sighed. "I thought I should personally… apologize to you. Face to face. Man to man."

The captain stood akimbo, studying the other man carefully. Jake Atkins was not a man to say anything lightly. "Apology accepted, Mr. Atkins," he said simply.

"Thank-you," said Jake, relief plain in his face and posture. He turned to go, then stopped and spun back around to face Englehorn. "Captain, Clytie mentioned something about going on a mission with you sometime soon. She says that it involves capturing wild animals or some such… adventure."

Englehorn worked his jaw. That girl! "Actually, we have not yet decided whether she is going with me," he explained. Then he smiled a bit. "Although I have a feeling that I won't be able to stop her when that time comes."

Jake chuckled, crossing his arms. "I know what you mean. I told her not to come on this mission. And did she stay behind? Oh no."

The two men were quiet for a moment, both thinking of Clytie.

"Look… Englehorn… Just--just take care of her, all right?" Jake spoke up.

"Of course," the captain replied.

And as Jake studied the younger man, he knew that Englehorn was telling the truth. He was a man in love.

(LINE)

"Your godfather talked to me," Englehorn said as he walked with Clytie toward his cabin.

"Did he?" Clytie felt a bit worried at that.

"Yes. He apologized to me." Englehorn opened the cabin door.

Clytie raised her eyebrows. "Oh? That was very kind of him."

"He also mentioned that you told him that you are going with me on my next assignment," the captain said, crossing his arms and looking down at her with a piercing gaze.

"Yes. I told him that," Clytie replied quietly.

Englehorn suddenly closed his eyes and sat on the edge of his bunk, his forehead creased with lines.

"Eric? Are you all right?" Clytie asked, sitting beside him.

He held one hand against his wounded shoulder. "I think I overdid it a bit today," he said quickly. "I'll be fine."

Clytie put an arm around his shoulders. "See? You need me to come along so I can take care of you," she reasoned. "You're still not over your wounds."

He gave her a crooked smile. "Is that what you think, Clytie Seaborne?"

"Yes. That's what I think." She stood, touching his cheek gently. "I'm going to bed now, my love. Good-night."

Swiftly, he took hold of her wrist and drew her back down beside him. "Not without a kiss," he said. And he kissed her deeply on the lips, his fingers lightly caressing the side of her neck, just below her ear.

It gave her shivers when he kissed her like that.

(A/N: Okay, so it's still taking me forever to get these chapters out! Ah… I remember the days when I was popping out a chapter a day! Lol. Anyways, I'm still having great fun with this. I think either the next chapter or the one after that will be the last. Then I'll start on posting the sequel! Yay! My beloved readers and reviewers had better read and review that one as well! Or I'll throw you off of my boat! Wait… I don't have a boat. At least, not yet, haha. Anyways (again) I love everyone who leaves me a nice review! You keep me going!)