Chapter Seven

Gull Cottage Is a Palace

The clock had just struck noon when Claymore finished his uninterrupted lunch. He sat back, feeling replete and very pleased that his unpredictable great-uncle had not dropped in to interfere with his digestion.

"It's not like him to leave me alone to follow his commands…" He frowned nervously around his office, double-checking he was still alone.

Curiously, Gull Cottage's resident ghost had very conspicuous by his non-appearance since the morning he'd ruined Claymore's appetite by making unreasonable demands.

Claymore had expected an in-depth grilling by now on Carolyn Muir's movements and plans. He felt very proud of the fact he'd been able to carry out the Captain's terse command to the letter.

Consequently, when he unlocked and opened the front door of his office he was smiling and humming a jaunty little tune. He peered outside cautiously, looking for any sign of Mrs Muir. But thankfully, the street was empty.

"So far, so good… Oh, happy days…" He took his hat from the hanger beside the door and settled it on his head.

He walked through the open doorway only to yelp with fright when the Captain materialised right in front of him. Turning on his heel, Claymore scrambled back into his office and slammed the door shut.

Of course, it was no use. His great-uncle appeared beside him while Claymore was frantically trying to re-engage all the locks.

"Good afternoon, Claymore," Daniel greeted him affably.

"You can't hurt me! I did everything you said and then some!" Claymore babbled frantically, turning around to back up against the door. "I haven't seen her! I haven't talked to her and I haven't once mentioned the lease! To anyone!"

He snatched a terrified breath. "I've even made Deke Tuttle answer all my telephone calls, in case she phoned! And she did! Three times! And that wasn't cheap, I can tell you, because Deke wanted to be paid for his time!"

He shook his head. "I really should be reimbursed, you know. So, you have no reason to hurt or haunt me or do whatever it is you do when you're mad. I've done everything you asked of me! Everything!"

He struggled for breath as he clasped his hands in prayer. Turning his head away, he closed his eyes as he waited for the bolt of lightning to strike him. When nothing happened immediately, he opened one eye cautiously, to see his normally irascible great-uncle regarding him with a warm look of approval.

"You babbling ninny. You have far exceeded all my expectations. Congratulations, Claymore. You might actually be a Gregg, after all."

Claymore opened both eyes. "I don't even go out without checking the street first," he carried on as if his great-uncle hadn't spoken. "I don't talk to anyone! I haven't seen anyone who knows Mrs Muir. Except Deke, of course, and he doesn't count! I've sworn him to secrecy. I haven't even been to Norrie's for my usual lobster supper in days…"

He stopped, staring at Daniel with his mouth open. "I… you… what did you just say?"

"If you would stop blathering and listen, I said you have far exceeded all my expectations. I'm very proud of you, Claymore. You have proved to be very useful and resourceful. I didn't know you had it in you."

"I have…? You are…? I do…?" Claymore's voice rose high with shock. Then he began to preen. "I have, haven't I? You always knew I could do it." He grinned inanely. "I am a Gregg."

"Before your blasted head gets too big for your blasted hat, we have some urgent business to discuss. You are about to prove your worth to me, once again."

"I am? We do?" Claymore squeaked. He regarded his nemesis warily. "Um, ah… what… what kind of business, exactly?"

"First you will act as if you actually are a Gregg and a gentleman. You may unlock the door and admit Mrs Muir."

"Oh, but you said, that I wasn't to… I mean, why is she here?"

"Open the door, you cockle-head, and you will find out."

"Oh… I… Yes, whatever you say…"

Claymore unlocked the door and opened it to find Carolyn standing outside. "He made me do it," he said in a stage whisper, jerking a thumb at Daniel.

"Thank you, Claymore." Carolyn walked in, closing the door behind her. "And it's all right, he's with me."

"Yeah… He can't hurt me if you're here…" Claymore commented, before shielding his mouth with the side of his hand. "Or can he?"

"I won't hurt you, Claymore. Not if you sit down and listen to our proposal without any more of your confounded prattling!"

"Oh, very well…" Claymore hung up his hat before retreating to the chair behind his desk.

Carolyn took the seat beside it. "We have a proposal that I think will be to your liking."

"So, all those phone calls and you didn't want to talk to me about renewing your lease, after all?" Claymore frowned at her. "Are you really planning to leave Schooner Bay?"

He began to babble again. "You can't! I won't let you! He'll kill me, for sure! Or he'll haunt me until I wished I were dead!"

He grabbed Carolyn's hand, holding it tightly. "Oh, please, don't go! I'll do anything! Name your price, I'll pay anything!"

"Don't worry, Claymore, calm down." Carolyn pulled away from his grasp before soothing him with her hand on his forearm. "I'm staying, just on a more permanent basis."

"Oh, good…" Her worried landlord sagged back into his chair. "For a minute there, I thought…" He cast a worried look at Daniel. "You know, he's really not so scary when you're around…"

"Claymore…" Daniel growled. "Stop blathering and listen to Mrs Muir, you numbskull!"

"Aye, aye, Captain!" Claymore saluted smartly, stiffening to attention in his chair.

"God, give me strength…" Daniel rolled his eyes heavenward.

Carolyn tried not to smile at their interplay. "I don't wish to renew my lease, Claymore. I want a lot more than that. Circumstances have changed in my life and I want to stay here, for good. Therefore, I want to buy Gull Cottage from you, instead. Outright."

"You're staying for good and you want to buy Gull Cottage from me, instead?" Claymore repeated slowly, looking confused. "Outright…"

His frowning expression slowly changed into a conflicting mixture of cautious elation, dawning avarice and troubled wariness. "Ohhh, you're staying here for good and you want to buy Gull Cottage from me, instead… outright."

He leaned across the desk toward her. "Um, what does you-know-who think about you-know-what?" he whispered, waving a hand in his great-uncle's direction.

"Where do you think Mrs Muir acquired the idea and the necessary funds, you addle-pated barnacle?!" Daniel moved to stand behind Carolyn.

"Captain…" Carolyn warned, glancing over her shoulder. "You promised you would be nice."

"I am being nice," he shot back, his hand resting briefly on her shoulder in apology.

Carolyn laid her hand over his. A loving smile passed between them, shutting out everything else before Daniel stepped back slightly, keeping a wary eye on his great-nephew.

If Claymore noticed the intimate gesture or their silent communion, he didn't comment. His mercenary mind and frowning eyes were concentrated on another, more pressing and financial, train of thought.

"Don't tell me you've finally gotten around to digging up your treasure?" he demanded to know, frowning up at Daniel. "Wouldn't ya know it? Over one hundred years and he chooses today to come clean."

He sighed. "And I've hunted for that horde for more than thirty years…" He looked bereft.

"I was never going to allow you to find my gold. Mrs Muir has more use for it than you ever did," Daniel told him. "You will draw up the paperwork and sell my house to her, as soon as possible. And the contract is to include all the contents and every inch of the property."

"Why should I?" Claymore looked peeved. "Why should I give up a perfectly good rental just because you say so? You're dead! Under the law, everything you owned is mine, including that treasure! All mine! And I just know there's more where that came from. Right, Uncle?"

"Is your memory that short? Have you forgotten who you're dealing with?" Daniel leaned over the desk to glare at him. "Even if you could find my gold, you wouldn't live long enough to enjoy any of it."

"Gentlemen…" Carolyn intervened, holding up her hands. "I'm sure Claymore will be more than happy to sell me the house because he knows it's the best for everyone. Of course, it also means he would no longer have to put up with your constant interruptions of his mealtimes, your midnight calls and all your unreasonable demands on his time and money. And, there would be no more need for your stormy temper tantrums."

"I use my storms merely to emphasis my point, Madam," Daniel replied in an offended tone. "They are not tantrums."

"Oh, that's right, that's right…" Claymore sat up suddenly, a look of relief swiftly replacing the displeasure in his expression. "That's a very good argument. No more masquerading as him." He stabbed a finger in Daniel's direction.

"I thought you might see it my way," Carolyn confirmed. "Think of all the peace and quiet you'll be able to enjoy. The leisurely, uninterrupted meals at Norrie's. No more looking over your shoulder to see who's coming up behind you. No more demands you do as he orders, or else…"

"Well, maybe… since you put it like that, Mrs Muir. So you wanna buy old Spookface's house." He leaned forward in his chair to pick up his eyeshade and pull it on. "Very well, how much? Let's talk figures, lady."

He became very business-like. "What's the place worth to the two of you?" He wagged a finger between them. "I mean, I can't just let it go for a song. I must say I've become rather attached to the old thing now that it's been all fixed up."

"The only thing you're attached to is the size of your bank accounts!" Daniel retorted. "You will take what we are offering and like it. Or it will be the worse for you!"

"It's a seller's market…" Claymore tried valiantly to hold his ground. "Think about it. I could make money giving tours. It really is a lovely house, quite a statement piece of the period. Tourists will lap up the romance of it all."

He looked up, gazing into the middle distance, his expression becoming dreamy. "Built for a lonely sea captain by his loyal crew out of real ship timbers. Yes, ma'am, that is the Captain's portrait hanging over the fireplace."

He giggled. "Oh, yes, I'm told he was quite the fellow. But handsome is as handsome does, I've always said. But the house has the most excellent example of a widow's walk to be seen for miles around." He waved a beckoning hand to his imaginary followers. "Come, ladies, follow me…"

He brought his gaze back down and grimaced at Carolyn. "You see? I can't just give the place away. What will people say? That I've lost my mind? I have my reputation to protect."

"No one will wonder if you sell it to me," she replied reasonably, shaking her head at his flight of fancy. "A lot of people will say, about time. They know how much I love the house."

"Oh, but…" Claymore began.

The Captain leaned closer. "Do you remember a certain dream that you had a few weeks ago, about what happens to greedy people?" he asked silkily. "You encountered an old adversary of mine, a certain demon named Mr Turner. A very warm fellow…"

"Why, you…" Claymore's face paled, his dreams of conducting money-making tours evaporating before his eyes. "I… You… Very well, name your price." His resistance crumbled.

Daniel waved one hand and a bulging canvas bag appeared on the desktop in front of his great-nephew. "I think this will more than salve your conscience."

Claymore peered at it with distaste. "The last time I had trouble at the bank when I tried to deposit those gold doubloons you used to pay me for my services. I got some very funny looks and quite a few rather awkward questions."

He looked up. "You don't happen to have it in American currency? I'm also happy to take Canadian dollars…"

"How you dispose of my treasure is none of my concern," Daniel replied. "Draw up the paperwork and after we've looked it over, Mrs Muir will sign it."

"Just a minute, just a minute…" Claymore waved a hand before he picked up the bag and hefted it. "I need to count this…" His eyes closed and his expression became dreamy as the coins and jewels within all clinked together with a very satisfying sound.

His brow furrowed as he tossed the dirt-smeared bag up and down in his hands, weighing it carefully. "I would say…" He opened one eye and sighed. "That this is just about the right amount."

His lips turned down at the corners. "Give or take a handful or two of Seated Liberty silver dollars in mint condition…" He opened his eyes, a greedy gleam of hope in them. "Got any more?"

"You will take what you are given and be grateful," Daniel told him. "Now get the paperwork out and start writing before I vaporise every one of your accounts!"

"All right, all right! I'm doing it! I'm doing it!" Claymore jumped up, turning toward the filing cabinet behind him, pulling open drawers to riffle hurriedly through the documents inside.

"Please don't be too hard on him," Carolyn counselled softly. "He looks like he's about to faint."

"He works better when he's properly motivated. But if he does strictly as he's told no harm will befall him." Daniel shrugged. "This is to secure your future, Madam. And the children's. I will not allow it to be mishandled in such a bubble-headed manner by an insignificant petty conniver."

"Thank you, Captain," she whispered, smiling.

"You are most welcome…" Daniel nodded as he lifted her hand to his lips to kiss the backs of her fingers.

Again, their intimate gesture was unseen by Claymore, who still had his back to them. Daniel winked and Carolyn smothered a laugh, revelling in their new-found freedom to touch and be touched at will.

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"Captain Gregg! Captain Gregg, you came back!" Jonathan dropped his school books the moment he entered the house and saw his hero had finally returned. "Yay! I get to hear the end of my story!"

Candy followed her brother into the living room. "Hi, Mom." She greeted her mother with an affectionate hug. "He's talked about nothing else at school, all day." She sighed, rolling her eyes.

"Aye, lad, I came back." Daniel dropped to his haunches before the excited boy. "I'm sorry, but I had some rather important business that took all my attention."

His eyes met Carolyn's briefly above the boy's head. "But you didn't think I'd forget to tell you the end of my shark story, did you?"

"No, but you were supposed to finish it yesterday," Jonathan complained with the brutal honesty of the young. "You promised. And you always keep your word. You said so."

Daniel laughed. "That I did and I humbly apologise for my tardiness." He resisted the urge to ruffle the boy's hair. It was too soon to reveal his newly acquired power. "Can you forgive me?"

"Oh, all right. I guess so." Jonathan grinned. "But from now on you gotta tell Candy your stories, too. Right, Mom?"

"I do think it's only fair," Carolyn replied, watching their conversation with affection.

"'Cause I think she's old enough now not to get scared." Jonathan nodded wisely.

"Thanks!" His sister punched him lightly in the shoulder. "I'm not the one who has to check the closet every night before bed."

"Yeah, well, ya can never be too careful. There might be a ghost in there." Her brother shrugged.

He turned back to Daniel. "Can we please go up to the wheelhouse and hear the end of your story, now? I want to know what happened. I don't need milk and cookies."

"Very well. It appears I've been out-numbered and out-gunned." Daniel smiled at them all as he rose to his feet. "Chart the course, mate."

"You three go on up and I'll bring the milk and cookies," Carolyn said. "I want to hear the end of this famous story now, as well. Then the Captain and I have a tale of our own to tell."

"Two stories in one day!" Jonathan exclaimed. "Oh, wow!"

"No need to fetch the milk and cookies, Mrs Muir. I've got them all right here." Martha appeared in the doorway carrying a laden tray. "I want to hear the end of this story now, as much as the children. I've been preparing my version all day. Just in case the Captain didn't reappear."

She admonished Daniel with a frown and then a smile. "Come on, kids. Lead the way."

As the three left the room, Carolyn linked her fingers through Daniel's, turning to face him. "We really need to tell them about you. About what's changed within you. We can't leave it to a chance happening. But I don't wish to frighten them, either."

"Together we can do it." Daniel nodded. "There is no need to mention Turner or his master, especially to the children. We can only present it as a fact and as our continuing secret that they must keep forever."

"Yes…" Carolyn nodded. "That's the best way." She lifted his hand to her lips and kissed its back. "Come on, Captain. I want to hear how you managed to escape, this time."

"It wasn't easy, Madam." He smiled down at her, loving her with his look. "It wasn't easy, at all. That shark had dinner on its mind and it was determined I was to be the main course."

My family... Now and for always… he thought, as they left the room, hand in hand. If only we could have more…

※※※※※

"…and that's how I managed to escape from the shark attack." Daniel sat back; the ending of his long-anticipated story finally told.

"Well, I must say, after all the build-up, I was expecting something a little more dramatic than poking it in the eye with a bit of driftwood," Martha huffed, sitting up in her chair. "I think my ending would've been much better."

"Ah, but you forget…" Daniel shook his head. "Without that piece of wood floating by I could have been an easy meal. I was a fast swimmer but that shark was already tying on his napkin and reaching for his knife and fork."

Sitting at his mother's feet, Jonathan shrugged. "I suppose so…" He propped his chin in his upraised hand. "I guess it must have been pretty scary." He still looked unconvinced.

"Tough audience…" Carolyn sympathised, smiling at her love. "Or are you simply losing your touch?" She moved her hand closer to his.

"I'm well pleased to see you're all so happy that I survived the encounter." Daniel laughed ruefully.

"Well, it was certainly a story you could have told me anytime," Candy added. "I don't scare that easy."

"I've noticed," Daniel replied contritely. "I'll remember for the next time."

"Oh, but what about your other story?" Jonathan brightened, sitting up. "You said you had two stories to tell. What's the other one?"

Carolyn and Daniel looked at each other. He nodded, allowing her to explain in her own time and words to her children.

"Well, you see…" she began slowly. "The Captain and I went down to see Claymore this morning. We wanted to ask him if he was prepared to let me buy the house from him. After some haggling and complaining, he finally agreed. So, I've bought the house and everything in it."

Their attentive audience sat looking stunned. Martha's mouth opened and shut, but nothing came out. She shook her head.

"I don't understand…" Jonathan complained. "How's that a story?"

"No, silly…" Sitting beside him, his sister leaned closer to dig him in the ribs with her elbow. "Mom's gone and bought the whole house, so it means we get to stay here for always…"

"Oh…" Jonathan. "Oh… neat! I wanna stay here for always!"

"You've bought the house and everything in it…?" Martha echoed, frowning at Carolyn. "From Claymore? I know you're serious about staying here, but may I ask how do you intend to pay for it?"

"Let's just say I have a very good backer." Carolyn smiled, glancing at Daniel, sitting at his ease beside her on the plush velvet love seat. "The Captain used his hidden treasure."

"I'm a ghost, remember?" He shrugged. "I had no need of that treasure. It was high time it was put to the use for which it was originally intended. That of sheltering those I care most about in the world in this house."

"Yes, but, you actually got Claymore to agree?" Martha shook her head. "That man who knows the value of a dollar. How on earth did you get him to go for it?"

"Oh, he's really a pussycat, when you get to know him." Carolyn laughed. "We made him an offer he simply couldn't refuse."

"Claymore? Are you sure we're talking about the same man? He'd sell his own mother if he thought there was a profit in it for him."

"Let's just say all our money worries are over. Thanks to the Captain and his buried treasure."

"Well, I'm glad," Jonathan declared. "I love living here."

"And so, we don't have to go back to Philadelphia and live with Grandma and Grandpa?" Candy asked, frowning. "Not ever again?"

"No, we don't have to go anywhere we don't want to," Carolyn told her.

"Not that I really minded living with them when we did," Candy qualified loyally. "But I like here, much better. I love living in a haunted house with a real ghost." She grinned at Daniel.

"Well, you've got my vote." Martha looked from one to the other thoughtfully. "But your parents are going to be mighty upset when they return next week, Mrs Muir. How are you going to tell them that you've bought the place? They won't be too happy and they know you don't have a lot of money. They're gonna have questions, so you better have some answers ready."

She shrugged. "You can't show them the Captain. And no doubt as soon as she hears, Harriet will hot-foot it back here to find out what's going on."

"As much as I love my parents, they will have to accept what I tell them. I can't spend the rest of my life trying to please my family and or doing my best to live up to their expectations. I've decided that this is my life and I intend to live it in the manner of my own choosing."

Her lips firmed. "And I'll deal with Harriet if she decides to come visiting."

She looked to Daniel who nodded his approval. "Well said, my dear."

Their gazes tangled and held. Carolyn sighed, remembering the sensual feel of his lips against hers. And all he'd been prepared to sacrifice for the sake of their love.

There was so much to look forward to in the years to come. His hand in hers and his arms around her. They were free to make of this life what they willed, and they had each other.

Then, one day, far from now, when she was very old and grey and finally tired of living, her beloved would come for her and they would be together for eternity…

"We all have a secure future now." She smiled happily. "And Gull Cottage has indeed become a wonderful palace for us all to enjoy."

"Ah, there is also the matter of another change in our little world," Daniel said quietly, looking at each of his listeners in turn.

"Another story?" Jonathan's eyes grew round. "This is a good day!"

"We cannot tell you the how or the why…" Daniel shook his head. "That needs to remain our secret. You will need to accept what now is."

"This is all getting very cryptic…" Martha leaned forward in her chair. "Go on…"

"The Captain has been changed…" Carolyn attempted to put it into words the children could understand without frightening them.

"Changed?" Martha frowned. "How changed?"

"I can't explain it…" Daniel looked significantly at the children and saw Martha's nod of understanding. "Let's just say I can now do things I never could before."

"What sort of things?" Jonathan asked suspiciously.

"This sort of thing…" Daniel leaned down to ruffle his fingers through the boy's hair.

"Hey…!" Jonathan leaned away. Then he stopped and stared. "You can touch me. How'd you do that?"

"It seems I've been given some new powers. It still takes a bit of concentration to pull it off, but if I think really hard..."

"Just like Superman?" Candy demanded to know.

"Well, maybe not quite. I still can't fly, or leap buildings in a single bound…" Daniel teased gently.

"Awww…" Jonathan complained. "Wish you could."

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, lad. But such powers are beyond even me."

"It's okay…" The boy shook his head. "I like you just the way you are."

He stood up to approach Daniel tentatively, looking him over from all angles. "You don't look any different…"

"I don't feel any different," Daniel responded quietly. "Well, maybe just a little bit deep down inside."

"But now I can hug you any time I want?"

"And Mom and me can, too? Any time we want?" Candy asked in puzzlement.

Daniel nodded slowly. "That seems to be how these new powers of mine have turned out. I can now touch anyone I wish to. I just have to imagine doing it."

"Neat!" Jonathan crowed, throwing himself headlong into Daniel's arms.

"Careful…" his mother admonished as her son hugged his hero fiercely.

"The lad means no harm," Daniel replied over the boy's head, hugging him right back with a dawning look of wonder on his face.

"Well, I, for one, think it's marvellous." Martha nodded as she got out of her chair. "I don't know how it happened, and don't tell me, 'cause I don't want to know, right now. I doubt I'd understand it anyway. But I think it's wonderful, for both of you."

"Thank you, Martha…" Carolyn stood to hug her best friend and confidante. "It is all rather wonderful…"

"You and the Captain…" The housekeeper resorted to the handkerchief in her apron pocket, dabbing at her eyes. "Now you can both really be together like you were always meant to be. A proper couple and a family. Oh, I'm so happy for you."

Carolyn shook her head sadly, watching Daniel talking with her excited children as if they'd known him all their young lives. "I think that would take a much larger miracle than the one we've already been through…"

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