Bright Futures on the Horizon
"A-Allison! Where's Allison? Is she safe?" Matthew, still slightly delusional, was desperately asking a broom.
"Matthew, I'm right here!" Allison called as she ran out of the scullery. "I left for just a minute to get you some water, remember." She tossed the broom aside and grasped his hand. "Come on, you have to lie back down." She gently started to lead him back to the sick bay.
"Oh, yes, you're—you're—mighty—pretty…" Matthew's legs crumbled beneath him, and he fell out of consciousness.
"Oh! O-oh! Doctor, come help! Matthew has fainted again!"
Jake, Becky, and Nora just shook their heads.
"Oh, good!" Dr. Blackwell sighed. "Now he will be easier to fix up."
"Well, I'm gonna go check on others in the sick bay, make sure they're cooperating with the doctah's orders," Nora informed.
"Alright. We'll be cleaning things out here. Be prepared to help with the seamen's burial later."
"Aye, Cap'n!" She jogged over to the sick bay and walked over to Muggins. He was talking with another crewmate. "Hey there, Sam! How're ya doin'?"
His eyes lit up at her presence. "Hi, Nora! I'm good. I just have a couple of scratches here and there."
"Good. Do you think we could go somewhere more private and talk?"
"Sure! I'll talk to you later!" he said to his crewmate and walked with Nora to her quarters. "Are you sure you want me in your quar—"
"Oh, it'll be fine, Sam! It's the only place no one will bother us."
"Alright," Muggins settled down a little. "Now that we are alone, there is something I need to know. I was just wondering if what we agreed on during the fighting was really what we both want and not just the life-or-death situation influencing us. I mean, it's what I want; I just need to know it's what you want too."
"No, I do actually want ta marry you."
"Fabulous!" Muggins jumped slightly with excitement.
"You know," Nora casually mentioned, "later I might kinda want sumthin to show that I'm gonna be married. Nothin' big, just a little thing—what in the world are ya doin'?"
He finagled his hand into one of his pouches on his new weapons belt. "Oh, not this pouch; my peanuts are in there," he mumbled. He tried another pouch and pulled out an emerald ring. "How about this one?"
"Ooh, Sam!" She received the ring and put it on. "Where did'ja get it? Were you already plannin' on askin' me?"
"I picked it up at Dave Senoj's Cabinet. I've been wanting to ask you ever since we had our first dance at Mimosa's wedding."
Nora blushed and giggled. "Sam, I think that we should get married as soon possible, like at tomorrow's sunset."
"Oh, wow, that's really soon!"
"I know, but I am just so excited! Plus, I want Jake to marry us before mah mum tries ta make me get married in a frilly dress."
"Okay, if that's what you want, it's fine with me! Oh, Nora, I love you so much!" Muggins hugged her tightly.
"I love you too, Sam!" Nora and Sam then shared their first real kiss.
Fritz knocked lightly on the door and entered. "Oh, I am terribly sorry!" He was about to rush back out.
Nora blushed ever so slightly but recovered, "What is it, Fritz?"
"I was hoping that I could speak with you, Nora. But, i-it can wait."
She looked at Sam, who was as red as the sunset, and he nodded his approval. "I'll be back later to talk with ya again."
"So," Fritz began after they walked out of the room, "things look pretty serious between you and that pirate."
"Aye," Nora agreed, smiling goofily. She held up her left hand for him to see. "We're going to be married tomorrow."
"Goodness! I-I had no idea! D-did I interrupt his proposal just now?"
"No, no, I proposed while we were fightin' Murdock's men."
"Oh…You…proposed. Hmm…how unconventional. But, I am very happy for you…which is why I wanted to speak with you in the first place. You see, spending time aboard this vessel truly has shown me that you work well in this environment. It is a dangerous business—not to mention the illegalities involved, but at least you don't steal from England very often—, but you handle it very well. And you are a very brave fighter; I saw you help so many people during that last battle, sometimes putting yourself at risk. I'm so very proud of you, Nora!"
Tears were rolling down Nora's cheeks, and she hugged her brother tightly. "I've always hoped to 'ear you say that to me one day! Thank you, Fritz! That means more to me than you know."
"I think I have an idea how much."
By the next afternoon, the Scarlett Ruby was finally in her rightful order, and they were yet again on course for France. The perished souls of Captain Cardinal's crew had had a proper seamen's burial. The bodies of the enemy, however, were disposed of on the opposite end of the ship. Mimosa's faculties had returned to him, but he was not allowed to walk about. He was sentenced to bed rest and one to two hours of sitting out on deck.
Nora was in a flutter preparing herself for her wedding. Becky and Allison had offered to help her get ready, but she had kindly refused and said she could manage. She put on her fanciest of pirate garb, which included her favorite billowy shirt covered by an embroidered burgundy bodice and a calf-length Kelly green skirt. Her bobbed hair was curled around her face, and a jeweled headband adorned her head.
The next thing Nora knew, she was walking down the bridge towards the main mast where Muggins and Captain Cardinal were waiting. The whole crew lined the path leading up to the mast. Slowly, the sun sank lower, nearly kissing the horizon. Nora arrived at Sam's side, and Jake began the ceremony.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join these two pirates in matrimony. Do you, Samuel Muggins, take this woman to be your pirate wife, to have and to hold, forever and always, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"
"I do."
"Do you, Nora Aldridge, take this man to be your pirate husband, to have and to hold, forever and always, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"
"You bet I do!"
"You already have the ring, so as Captain of the Scarlett Ruby, I pronounce you to be pirate and wife. You may now kiss the bride."
Nora and Sam's wedding kiss rivaled that of Jake and Becky's wedding kiss. Everybody shouted their "hoorahs" and "congratulations," and the celebrations began.
The Scarlett Ruby arrived in France a few days later, and Jake along with his coterie, Charlotte, and Fritz took a carriage to the Aldridge chateau. Charlotte and Winnie were tearfully reunited, and Winnie couldn't stop apologizing for everything. Fritz assured his parents that Nora's pirate lifestyle was the best thing for her and that she was fully capable of doing it.
Gently, Nora broke important news to her parents: "You see, I'm married now."
"What!?" Alphonse cried. "Who? When?"
"To Sam, just a few days ago."
"Goodness!" Winnie recovered. "And you two…love each other?"
"Of course we do, Mum! We are very happy."
"Th-that's what really matters, my dear," Winnie assured herself. "I am happy if you are happy. Now, I think that we should throw a little party, to celebrate that dear Charlotte is really alive and to celebrate our only daughter's marriage."
Alphonse agreed, "That is a wonderful idea, my dear!"
They stayed at the chateau for the entire day, eating grand meals and dancing. Everyone had a surprisingly wonderful time, and they were slightly sad to leave in the morning. Winnie tried to convince Charlotte to stay at the chateau longer, but Charlotte refused and said that she was going to live as close to Jake as she could from now on.
As Nora hugged her parents goodbye the next day, she vowed, "I will write to you all fairly often, okay? I promise I won't shut myself away from you. Maybe the next time we're in town I'll come for a visit."
"Please try to come home for Christmas," Winnie insisted. "I'm sure Friedrich's children would love to see you."
"I can't promise you anything, but I'll try to come down. You know I'd love to see them too. Goodbye, Fritz."
"Goodbye, Nora," he said, giving her a hug.
"There's just one more thing I've got to say: I'm sorry that I used to pretend you were dead to me."
"You...did?"
"Aye, I did," she hung her head. "I was immature about that."
"Well, it's all in the past now. Don't fret about it."
"Thanks for understandin'. Bye!"
Jake was lounging on deck with Becky as they sailed away from France.
"Once we get back to Jakeston," Becky wondered aloud, "where is your mother going to live?"
"Well, I talked it over with her earlier. She'll stay with us at first, and we will build a nice house right next store for her."
"Oh, that sounds perfect! You know, Jake, I think our lives are going to go really well from now on."
"Yeah, our futures certainly are looking bright," he kissed her forehead lovingly and looked out at the horizon.