“Linda, I’ve missed you so much. I can’t tell you how much or how often I thought of you. I love you, dear. More than you will ever know, I love you.”
“Peter, I saw the St. James in port and came home early hoping you’d be able to come to the house. Rork came by the shop on Monday and told me about what you did up in Deadman’s Bay. He said you’d probably be in later this week. He was very kind to take the time to let me know. But that battle and your wounded men. How awful it must’ve been for all of you. I worry so much for you, Peter. I love you too and worry so much when you’re gone.”
“It’s all right now, I’m back. I’m glad Rork let you know too.”
Wake could feel her tears on his cheek, and she clasped him again, clinging with desperation to him. His mind was starting to mist with emotion and he knew he had to regain self-control and get on with what he had to do.
“Linda, how is it here with your uncle?”
“He’s still dreadful, Peter. Not physically hurtful, but he is constantly distressing me with his talk about the Yankee animals and how they have destroyed his town and family. He still blames them for mother’s death from yellow fever last year.”
“And your father, what of him?”
“No word since he was sent to the prisoner of war fortress up north. That aggravates my uncle’s hatred too. Knowing that his brother is in a prison cell torments him every day. He feels he should do something for revenge.”
“Does he speak of us?”
“Peter, he knows we are acquainted but not to what extent. He is outraged that I would even speak to a Yankee officer if I didn’t have to in the course of my work at the shop. He would kill us both if he saw us here right now. The man is consumed, totally consumed. You can see it just in his eyes.”
“And how do you feel about us, then?”
“The same. Peter, I love you with all my being. I don’t care what the ladies of the town say about us. I am worried about the provost soldiers though. They come around and speak to my uncle and Mr. Carter, the shop owner, about being related to Confederates and loyalty to the Union. It just makes it worse with those two. One time they talked to me at the shop about what I knew of my father’s activities. I don’t know why they all can’t let it go. The war is elsewhere, why can’t we live in peace here?”
“Did any of them mention a colonel? A man named Grosland, who’s the commander of the garrison.”
“The man who talked to me was an officer, a young one, and he said to another soldier something about the colonel, but I can’t remember what.”
It was enough to confirm what Wake had speculated about the motives of Colonel Grosland. With no combat command, the colonel had time to pursue other enemies far less able to hit back. Linda watched as Wake grew quiet and pensive.
“Why, Peter? Why all this about Key West and the family and the soldiers?”
He remained silent, sighing as he held her in the gloom of the dark shed. Thunder was detonating on the east side of the island, sounding like the guns of ships far away. It was time to ask, and he steeled himself for her answer. It all came down to that—what she said next.
“Linda, I have a plan that will take you away from here and this sad existence. It will not be an easy life, but it will be an honest one. It’ll be a life where you can hold your head high among people who will respect you and respect us together. But most of all, it will be a life that you and I can build on, someday maybe having our own family.”
Wake paused for a moment as Linda pushed her head away from his chest and looked into his eyes.
“Peter, I’m confused. What are you saying?”
“Linda Donahue, will you marry me tonight? Will you be my wife as of this evening? Will you trust me enough to leave this place of misery and go to another island far away where people are not as materially comfortable as this, but far more content and tranquil? It will be very difficult at first, being the wife of a sailor, and I can’t promise you anything of a life of ease, but we will be free and no longer have to hide our feelings.”
It was hard to hear her soft, simple reply through the sobbing, and he worried that he had frightened her from the prospect of a life away from all that she had known. She repeated herself in a clearer voice.
“Lieutenant Peter Wake, I love you and would be honored to be your wife. Physical and mental ease is something I have not known for so long that I won’t miss it, but having the freedom to express my love for you will be a balm for my heart and mind. I will follow you wherever, Peter.”
He smiled and then laughed as he kissed her again. Soon she was laughing too and they held each other, trying not to make noise that would attract her uncle or others. In their struggle to contain themselves they rolled from the bench by the fireplace to the floor, where Wake ran his hand over her soft auburn hair.
“Linda, I have sent Rork to find a clergyman to marry us tonight. I will meet him at the Anchor Inn at five o’clock to find out where and when our wedding will be.”
“Peter, I don’t know that any church will have us, especially
