A note to all my lovely readers:

If you wish to read my recent novel retelling the original story of The Ghost and Mrs Muir then please go to Amazon (US) and look under Books for Lucie and the Captain by Katherine Lange.

Thank you for your attention, please enjoy!

Chapter Twenty

The Gregg Family

"I'm truly sorry I worried you," Daniel whispered into Carolyn's hair as they stood together on the Schooner Bay dock, the excited children keeping a respectful distance. "An unseasonal storm trapped us in port for longer than we anticipated. No ship could leave the harbour until it passed so I couldn't send you a message not to be concerned for me."

"I understand…" Carolyn breathed deeply, nodding her head against his broad shoulder. "I know I should be a true sea captain's wife and be braver than I am. But if I ever lost you…"

"How could you ever lose me?" Daniel sighed drawing back to look down at her. "I am eternally yours. You have given me everything I could ever wish for. A family and a loving home to come back to. I never had that before."

He smiled as he cupped her cheek in the warmth of his palm. "'Your loving arms are my harbour, my shore, and my anchor in a storm-tossed world…' Are we not bound together in this life and the next?"

"Yes…" Carolyn nodded, loving him more in that moment than she thought possible. "I will try to do better the next time you sail."

"Which will be within the next two weeks," Daniel replied with a grimace. "The winter comes early enough and there are many urgent cargoes needing a ship to transport them. I must earn my crust."

"As must I." Carolyn nodded. "Miss Hall impatiently awaits the third of our manuscripts. She wrote to say that her sales are already up and she wants to keep the momentum going."

She shook her head. "I managed to complete and mail off our second novel two weeks ago. I have yet to hear back from her. I found it so hard to concentrate with you gone, but I tried to make myself work to keep my mind distracted."

"'An Angel's Song…'" Daniel mused, nodding. "I remember. I am sure she will love it as much as she did our first."

"I hope so…" Carolyn sighed. "So much depends on our ultimate success. I must tell my mother about it all one day, but I dread having to do so. I know she will not approve no matter how successful we become."

"Then we shall make up for lost time now I'm home again," Daniel replied, as he turned them toward the town and the waiting children who ran forward eagerly to greet him.

They both hugged him and then began a heated discussion over who would be the one to carry Daniel's seabag. He took the steam out of their argument by hoisting it to his own shoulder and sending them on their way back toward the town and home with a teasing word of command.

"I swear they have grown bigger every time I return," he commented, watching the children run ahead as he linked arms with his wife. "Jonathan will be wanting a berth on the ship soon enough."

"It's all he talks about. He spends all his free time in your wheelhouse going through all your nautical things." Carolyn laughed. "I look forward to the time we can all sail with you and see the world."

"I want that too." Daniel nodded.

"Tell me all about your voyage," Carolyn encouraged. "Was it eventful?"

"Well, that tardy seaman, Applegate, nearly pitched himself overboard on the voyage home." Daniel shook his head as they walked through the town and on toward Bay Road. "The man is a menace and no true seaman. He was watching the gulls feeding on the scraps the cook had tossed overboard and Applegate tripped over his own swab. He learns nothing of what I try to teach him about seamanship."

"He means well, I'm sure." Carolyn shook her head. "Please, don't be too hard on him. I heard he supports his elderly mother. I'm sure he'll learn, given time to take it all in."

"You're too good-hearted." Daniel sighed. "We shall see. I carry no dead-weights on my ships. Malcolm has already learned more than he and has proved himself well able."

"Please give Applegate more time. For me," Carolyn begged. "At least we have heard no more of Hazel. Perhaps she has learned her lesson about invading our privacy without asking first."

"If that woman learned anything at all about holding her tongue and allowing others to have an opinion, it will be a true miracle. We can only hope the rest of your family understands the same message and learns to keep their place in the lives of the Gregg family."

※※※※※

Two days later:

"Well now, all we need is your signature right here, Cousin." Claymore pointed to the required place for Daniel to sign on the adoption papers for Candy and Jonathan to officially become Greggs.

Carolyn watched her husband lean down to sign the papers on Claymore's desk and sighed with relief. "I am so grateful it's all behind us now."

"No one from your family need concern themselves any further with our children." Daniel put aside the quill pen and watched as Claymore blotted the signature.

"I'll see to it that these papers are filed with the right authorities immediately," Claymore assured them. "Then there will be no disputes."

He turned to the large filing cabinet behind his chair and opened a drawer, slotting the paperwork into the right folder. "Which is me, of course."

He closed the drawer and turned back with a smile. "It is my pleasure to expand the family name of Gregg. There are too few of us."

"Now we must settle in to also expand the Gregg family fortunes," Carolyn added. "Miss Hall impatiently awaits our next manuscript."

"Oh, that's right." Claymore nodded. "I heard that Fred Hammond down at the General Store needed to order in extra copies of that 'Ladies' View' magazine from Boston especially since you're in it."

He rubbed his hands gleefully, his expression beaming. "You've gone and set the town on the map and no mistake. We may even get a few extra tourists for the current summer season."

"Perhaps you haven't changed as much as you think." Daniel raised a disbelieving eyebrow. "Are you dreaming of being able to put up your summer rental prices, again, Cousin?"

Claymore beamed at him gleefully. "You cannot expect me to have changed that completely. Never let it be said that Claymore Gregg ever allows the grass to grow beneath his feet. Not when there's an extra dollar or two to be made!"

※※※※※

The following afternoon, Ellsworth Hall sighed heavily as he descended from his private coach onto Schooner Bay's unpaved main street. He'd spent an uncomfortable two day journey being bumped along over the long, narrow road from the civilised comforts of Boston to the wilds of Maine's rugged shore.

"No one would want to live all the way out here but fishermen and pirates…" He grimaced as he stood looking all around, disdain written large across his lined face. "This had better not be some wild goose chase I've been sent on."

He did not like what he saw. But the town's rustic appearance was of no consequence. Hall was on a self-appointed mission he intended to complete to his advantage. His headstrong daughter would soon learn her mistake in going against his wishes over the closure of her failing magazine.

He frowned at the shops lining the street, trying to decide where to ask for the directions to the Gregg household. He wanted to have an urgent word with the lady of the house.

A tall, thin man was strolling along the sidewalk on the opposite side of the street. He looked as likely as any. Hall immediately set off in pursuit.

Jaunty and very contented with his day, Claymore was walking back toward his office, humming a little tune to himself. He'd been busy showing some new summer tenants around one of his most expensive seaside rentals and they'd agreed to his newly-raised rate without a single quibble.

"Things are looking up…" He chuckled, tucking his recently purchased copies of the 'Ladies' View' magazine closer under his arm. "Life is good."

He'd decided he might as well read Carolyn's first two instalments in the magazine since everyone in town was already talking about it. He hated to be left out of anything new that occurred in Schooner Bay.

"You there!" an imperious voice shouted from behind him.

"Me?" Claymore swung around, startled.

A tall, well-dressed, bearded older man was striding in his direction, waving an impatient, summoning walking cane in one gloved hand. Behind him, the driver of an expensive looking coach was busy controlling his restive horses, unsettled by the sudden shout.

"Another well-heeled rental customer? My day is looking up indeed," Claymore murmured, immediately becoming all smiling business.

"Yes, how may I help you, Sir?" He removed his hat and bowed his head. Remembering at the last minute what he was carrying under his arm, he quickly shoved the folded magazines behind his back in his free hand.

"Are you a citizen of this town?" his assailant asked impatiently as he walked to him, grounding his stick with a thump. "Do you know it well? The houses around here and who lives in them?"

"I most certainly do," Claymore beamed. "I have lived here all my life and some of the finest homes in New England are listed exclusively with me. What do you have in mind?"

He chuckled knowingly, tapping the side of his nose with one forefinger. "I'm betting you came to this town with a firm idea in mind. You look like a man who knows his business. A grand New England house with a splendid sea view is what you're looking to find. I have just the very thing."

He turned away to indicate his office further down the street. "If you would consent to step this way, Sir, we will have you fixed up with an excellent summer rental in a trice. Or my name's not Claymore Gregg."

"Gregg, is it?" the other man demanded to know, not moving an inch. "That's the very name I have come all the way from Boston to find."

"You have? You did?" Claymore's confident voice squeaked up a notch or two. "Ah, Gregg is a common enough name in these parts," he prevaricated.

"I don't have time to play games with you." The older man stabbed at him with the silver knob of his walking cane. "I have travelled to this accursed backwater to find a woman who goes by the name of Carolyn Gregg. I was informed that she lives around here. Since you share the surname I have to assume you know her whereabouts."

"Um, yes, well…" Claymore adjusted the set of his neckerchief. "Are you sure you don't wish to rent a house from me? My portfolio is truly expansive."

The man thumped his walking stick again impatiently. "I have no need to rent anything, certainly not from the likes of you! I could buy and sell this entire wretched town ten times over!"

Claymore tried to hang onto his business like smile. "I also do a nice line in public records and I can perform a marriage service. I'm also a justice of the peace, you see. Are you planning on getting married any time soon?"

"No!" Ellsworth sighed roughly. "Are you perchance the town idiot?" he asked hardly. "You surely act like it, sirrah!"

Claymore's ingratiating smile vanished like magic. "Well, there's no need to be so rude. I have been nothing but polite to you."

He crammed his hat back onto his head. "I'll bid you a very good day, Sir."

He turned away to leave but a strong hand grasped his upper arm and he was swung back with dizzying speed. His assailant pulled the folded magazines from his slackened grasp and held them up, brandishing them in his startled face.

"This is exactly why I am here," the other man replied. "My name is Ellsworth Hall and you will give me directions to the Gregg woman's house immediately! Or it will be the worse for you!"

He looked back at his coach. "My driver has a deft hand with his horse whip."

"We will keep this civil like the gentlemen we both are…" Claymore stiffened beneath the implied threat of physical harm to his person. "Please release me. This is my best business outfit. You're wrinkling the fabric of my sleeve."

"Confounded popinjay," Ellsworth sneered, letting his victim go. "Now will you give me directions or not? If you refuse I will keep asking everyone I meet until I've tracked the woman down. I have urgent business to discuss with her. It will be to her great advantage to hear me out."

He thrust the magazines back into Claymore's hands. "But I would prefer to save time so we will keep the transaction between us."

His lean smile did not rise to his hawkish eyes as he reached into the inner pocket of his jacket and withdrew a fat pigskin wallet. "As a man who knows how to get business done, I'm prepared to pay your price. Just name it…"

Hall opened the wallet to display the thick wade of ten dollar paper bills held within. He began to slowly thumb them out, one at a time, watching Claymore's taut expression closely.

"I do not believe in travelling light," Ellsworth murmured. "One never knows what the price of the right information might be."

"I do prefer coins…" Claymore croaked, struggling with the renewed tightness of his neckerchief. "Silver dollars are rather nice. Golden ones are even better…"

He could feel his resistance crumbling. The old Claymore would have snatched at the notes and not counted the cost. He wrenched his eyes from the temptation to do just that.

But he knew when he was beaten. He was aware that any local shopkeeper would happily take the bribe for the right information. He could only try and limit the damage.

He swallowed tightly. "Carolyn Gregg lives in Gull Cottage, out on Bay Road."

He gave brief directions. "You can't miss it. It's the biggest house out there."

"Excellent…" Hall pushed the notes back into his wallet, returning it to his jacket pocket without offering a single one in return for the information.

"Oh, but…" Claymore stared at him, torn between frustrated desire and innate caution.

He hated to lose a dollar on anything, let alone a ten spot. But he had not the courage to ask for the proffered bribe to be paid.

"You gave away too quickly what I was prepared to pay for," Hall said smugly. "I had your measure the moment we met. You're too free with your tongue."

Claymore stiffened. "I'll have you know I am a man of firm principles."

"If you say so. Make very sure you do not think to warn the woman of my arrival," Hall warned him grimly. "Our business is none of your business. Good day, Sir."

He raised his walking cane again before he turned away and left Claymore to stare after him as Hall returned to his coach. He gave his driver the directions before climbing back into the vehicle and slamming the door. It immediately rumbled off down the dusty main street.

"You're welcome," Claymore replied sarcastically, watching the coach disappear with a gusty sigh.

Inwardly he cursed the steady reformation his cousin had wrought over his more base nature. But he knew he wouldn't have it any other way now. Life was too good to go backwards. But, at times, the old Claymore could prove useful. Like with the ruse for getting rid of the annoying Cousin Hazel. He was proud of his role in that little affair.

"I guess I just passed some kind of test that I didn't know I was taking." He puffed out his chest, suddenly feeling very pleased with his hard-won restraint.

But he was still troubled as to what to do about Carolyn's unexpected and overbearing visitor. He wasn't that reformed that he wouldn't like to put a spoke in Hall's wheel if he could, just to prove a point. The man was intolerable and his cousin needed to be warned.

Turning back toward his office, he saw young Malcolm crossing the street ahead of him. Claymore smiled grimly even as he raised his hand to summon Daniel's ship boy to his side to carry an urgent message to his cousin.

※※※※※

"Thank you, Malcolm." Daniel clasped the shoulder of his young crewman. "You did well to get to us ahead of this blasted Ellsworth Hall. He has no business here."

"No one can beat me running overland if they need to follow the coast road," Malcolm panted, grinning widely.

He lifted one bare, calloused foot, wriggling his toes. "And I run better without those new shoes your lady made me buy. My landlady says them's better kept for Sundays and church goin'."

"I can see that." Daniel smiled as he turned him toward the kitchen. "Go on now, and ask Martha for a drink and some food. I'll deal with the interloper when he arrives."

"Aye, aye, Captain…" The boy saluted before doing as ordered.

"What is it?" Carolyn asked, walking down the staircase. "Why is Malcolm here?"

"He brought us a message from Claymore," Daniel replied, walking to her side. "It seems Miss Hall's fears about her father's possible interference were justified. The man has driven all the way from Boston to see you. It seems he has important business he wishes to discuss with us."

"And we both know what business…" Carolyn shook her head.

She felt a deep sense of disappointment she could see her husband shared by the frowning look of annoyance in his eyes. They had planned a small interlude all to themselves before the children came home from school. Martha knew enough to keep Candy and Jonathan occupied downstairs and since their parents' latest manuscript was progressing well, Daniel and Carolyn had planned a small moment of much-needed intimacy to celebrate.

Now that hope had been dashed by Malcolm's sudden arrival, calling out that he needed to see his Captain urgently. It seemed as if the whole world was again conspiring to keep them apart. All they needed was for Cousin Hazel to return, pushing in where she was not wanted, or worse, Carolyn's parents to come visiting again.

She sighed her frustration. Never had she felt more like running away to sea.

"Do you wish me to handle this meeting, my dear?" Daniel questioned, watching her troubled expression closely. "I would not have you overset by such a selfish oaf. Not when we still have so much left to do."

He winked slowly. "I am more than willing to run him off at the point of my cutlass. You only need to say the word."

"Thank you, my love…" Carolyn shook her head slowly. "But I don't think he will be content with seeing you alone. He's a man on a mission to change our minds about working with Sally. Your word will not suffice, I fear. And he will still need my signature on whatever contract he is proposing."

Malcolm reappeared from the kitchen with a thick sandwich in one hand and a glass of milk in the other. "He's here," he warned them.

"Make yourself scarce, lad," Daniel advised. "Keep out of sight and then get yourself back to town after you've eaten. You have done well today."

"Aye aye, Sir. Thank you, Sir and Mrs Gregg." Malcolm saluted them both with his sandwich hand before retreating again, closing the kitchen door behind him with a push of his bare foot.

A heavy hand suddenly assaulted the front door, making Carolyn jump. She shook her head at her husband's frowning look of concern.

"I'll be fine," she whispered, turning toward the living room. "Let the man in. I'll be in there. He will not get the better of us. Not if I have anything to do with it."

"Cursed interlopers! Just when I thought I had you all to myself…" Daniel shook his head as he went to open the door. Outside he found a tall, well-dressed older man who looked very much like his daughter except his darkly bearded face was lined and flushed from too much rich living.

"Good afternoon." Hall touched the engraved silver knob of his walking cane briefly to the brim of his hat. "My name is Ellsworth Hall. I seek to find a writer named Carolyn Gregg. I was informed in town by a man named Gregg that she lives here."

※※※※※