didn't pull away. His last thought before falling asleep was a bit unsettling.
He needed her to hold him.
They were just two days away from Nora's home, and Nathan was once again beginning to think that the rest of the voyage might prove uneventful.
He should have known better.
It was late evening on the twenty-first of the month. There were more stars than sky above, and the breeze was every bit as pretty by a seaman's measure. The wind was gentle, yet coaxingly insistent. They were making good time-a clipping speed, in fact. The mighty ship set straight in the water and cut directly through the ocean without rocking or lurching to either side. A man could put a keg of grog on the rail without fear of losing it, so calm was the sea, and there was nary a worry to annoy a seaman's dreams.
Nathan stood next to Jimbo behind the wheel. The two men were in deep discussion over the plans to expand the Emerald Shipping Company. Jimbo was in favor of adding additional clippers to their fleet, while Nathan favored heavier, more durable ships.
Sara interrupted their conversation when she came rushing across the deck. She was dressed only in her nightgown and wrapper. Jimbo noticed that right away. Nathan's back was to his wife, however, and because she was barefoot he didn't hear her approach.
'Nathan, I must speak to you at once,' she cried out. 'We have a horrible problem, and you must take care of it right away.'
Nathan had a resigned look on his face when he turned around, but that expression faltered as soon as he saw the pistol in his wife's hand. The weapon, he couldn't help but notice, was pointed at his groin.
Sara was in a high fit about something. She looked a sight. Her hair was in wild disarray around her shoulders, and her cheeks were bright.
Then he noticed her state of attire. 'What are you doing strutting around the deck dressed in your nightclothes?' he demanded.
Her eyes widened over his rebuke. 'I wasn't strutting,' she began. She stopped herself with a shake of her head. 'This isn't the time to lecture me about my attire. We have a serious problem, husband.'
She turned her attention to Jimbo. The pistol made her curtsy awkward. 'Please forgive my unladylike appearance, Jimbo, but I've had quite an upset, I can tell you, and I didn't take time to dress.'
Jimbo nodded even as he dodged the pistol she was waving back and forth between Nathan and him. He didn't think she realized she was holding the weapon.
'You've had an upset?' Jimbo prodded.
'What in God's name are you doing with that pistol?' Nathan demanded at the same time.
'I might have need for it,' Sara explained.
'Lady Sara,' Jimbo interjected when Nathan looked as if he was at a loss for words, 'calm yourself and tell us what has you so upset. Boy,' he added in a growl, 'get that damn pistol away from her before she shoots herself.'
Nathan reached out to take the weapon from her hand. Sara backed up a space and put the pistol behind her back. 'I went to see Nora,' she blurted out. 'I just wanted to say goodnight to her.'
'And?' Nathan asked when she didn't continue.
She stared at Jimbo a long minute before deciding to include him in her explanation, then glanced over her shoulder to make certain no one else was within hearing distance. 'She wasn't alone.'
She'd whispered that statement and waited for her husband's reaction. He shrugged.
She wanted to shoot him. 'Matthew was with her.' She nodded vehemently after telling that news.
'And?' Nathan prodded.
'They were in bed together.'
She waved the pistol again. 'Nathan, you have to do something.'
'What would you like me to do?'
He sounded very accommodating, but he was grinning. The man wasn't at all surprised by the news she'd just given him. She should have guessed he'd react that way. Nothing ever seemed to upset him… except her, of course. She always upset him, she admitted.
'She wants you to make Matthew leave,' Jimbo interjected. 'Isn't that right, Sara?'
She shook her head. 'It's a little late to shut the barn door, Jimbo. The cow's already out.'
'I'm not getting your meaning,' Jimbo returned. 'What do cows have to do with your aunt?'
'He dishonored her,' she explained.
'Sara, if you don't want me to make Matthew leave Nora alone, just what do you think I should do?' Nathan asked.
'You have to make it right,' Sara explained. 'You're going to have to marry them. Come along with me, husband. We might as well get it done right away. Jimbo, you can serve as witness.'
'You can't be serious.'
'Quit your smile, husband. I'm very serious. You're captain of this vessel, so you can legally marry them.'
'No.'
'Lady Sara, you do come up with the most astonishing suggestions,' Jimbo said.
It was obvious to her that neither man was taking her seriously. 'I'm responsible for my aunt,' Sara said. 'Matthew has blemished her honor, and he must marry her. You know, Nathan, this will really solve another worry. My Uncle Henry won't come chasing after Nora for her inheritance once she's remarried. Yes, this could have a happy ending, to my way of thinking.'
'No.' Nathan's voice was emphatic.
'Sara, does Matthew want to marry Nora?'
She turned to frown at the seaman. 'It doesn't matter if he wants to or not.'
'Aye, it does,' Jimbo argued.
She started waving the pistol around again. 'Well, I can see I won't be getting any help from either of you.'
Before the two men could agree with that statement Sara whirled around and started for the steps again. 'I do like Matthew,' she muttered. 'It's a shame.'
'What are you thinking to do, Lady Sara?' Jimbo called out.
She didn't turn around when she called out her answer. 'He's going to marry Nora.'
'And if he doesn't?' Jimbo asked, smiling over the matter-of-fact way she'd made that announcement.
'Then I'm going to shoot him. I won't like it, Jimbo, but I'll have to shoot him.'
Nathan was right behind Sara. He put his arm around her waist, hauled her up against him, then reached over her shoulder and grabbed hold of the pistol. 'You aren't going to shoot anyone,' he told her in a low growl.
He handed the pistol to Jimbo, then dragged Sara down to their cabin. He shut the door behind him and continued on toward the bed.
'Unhand me, Nathanial.'
'Don't ever call me Nathanial,' he ordered.
She pushed away from him and turned to look at his face. 'Why can't I call you by your given name?'
'I don't like it, that's why,' he told her.
'That's a stupid reason,' she argued. She put her hands on her hips and frowned at him. Her wrapper opened, and he was given a healthy view of her full breasts pressed against the thin nightgown.
'Sara, when is this condition of yours going to be over?' he asked.
She didn't answer that question but nagged him back to the topic of his name. 'Why don't you like being called Nathanial?'
He took a threatening step forward. 'I see red whenever I hear it, Sara. It puts me in a fighting mood.'
That wasn't really a suitable explanation, but she wasn't about to point that out to him. 'When aren't you in a fighting mood, husband?' she asked.
'Don't bait me.'
'Don't yell at me.'
He took a deep breath. It didn't calm him one bit.
She smiled. 'All right,' she whispered in a bid to placate him. 'I won't ever call you Nathanial… unless I want
