Lightning flashed followed quickly by a crack of thunder. Donald struggled with the door in the wind but managed to get it open and them inside.
He pulled the door closed as large drops pounded on the deck. Rain poured down furiously and if possible, the ship dipped lower and climbed higher beneath their feet. They struggled down the passageway to the cabin.
“Stay here and don’t come out.” He started to leave.
“Where are you going?” She grabbed his arm.
He put his hand on hers. “To help the others. I’ll be back. There is nothing to worry about. The Always Faithful is sound and Howard is an excellent sailor. This is a summer storm. He and the crew are quite expert at maneuvering through it. The ride may be bumpy for a while, but still better than sitting in a saddle.” He winked at her.
“Give me the map.” Her hand was out, her fingers beckoning for the parchment. “I’ll put it in the oiled pouch and keep the pieces safe.”
He gave her a questioning gaze, but surrendered the scrap to her, then kissed her forehead. “Keep the door closed and put as much away as you can, or it will be tossed about.”
He closed the door and was gone. She took the oiled pouch out of her bodice and put the last piece of map inside, then put the packet back next to her heart for safekeeping.
The ship rolled and she grabbed for the bed post. The lantern in the middle of the room swung violently. The items she had not yet had time to put away slid off the table and fell to the floor.
Water splashed again and again through the three arrow slits and drenched the bed. As she bent to retrieve her things on the floor, the oiled pouch tumbled out of her bodice and floated away from her. More water came through the slits.
Andrea glanced at the pouch then at the rising water. She pulled the linen off the bed, her intent to stuff it into the slits. With each push of the linen, the stream of water lessened, and the room grew darker until the water stopped, and the room was completely dark. The water on the floor was inches above her ankles as she crawled about, tossed off her knees from time to time as the ship heaved, searching like a blind woman for the pouch.
The bed was drenched. Andrea made her way along the wall not knowing what she’d find. The cabinets would be no help. The low chest fixed to the wall was here somewhere and would be her salvation. Her hand skimmed along the edge of the cabinet until she came to the chest. The gnawing need to find the oiled packet didn’t subside, but it would do her no good to ferret around in the water in the dark. There was no finding it now.
Sitting on the chest, holding onto the cabinet as the ship continued to ride the waves, her concern focused on Donald and how he was fairing on deck.
His voice echoed in her head soothing her, heating her body until she wanted to tear through the door and find him. And then what? Why did she torture herself? As soon as he got close she pushed him away.
What was she afraid of? Loving him? The words warmed her almost as much as thinking of him. Yet, something deep inside her feared loving him would mean losing herself. He didn’t believe in her search. An honorable man, he saw this trip as an obligation and told her as much. He wanted her to give up her quest and that she could not do.
The thunder diminished to only an occasional clap. The wind quieted and the boat’s rocking subsided and became much less violent.
Exhausted from fear and nerves, her head leaning against the wall and her eyes closed, she drifted off to sleep.
“M’lady.” He bowed and ushered her into a room.
He had that I-told-you-so look in his eyes and a delightful smirk on his lips. She stood in front of him and took his head in her two hands and kissed him.
Donald held her close and deepened the kiss. In minutes they were laying on the grass, the smell of the sweet air all around her.
“Rea.” Donald shook her gently. Andrea didn’t move.
“Is she well?” Scully said from the doorway. “I feared when you opened the door and water came rushing out. It’s streaming out toward the deck.”
“Rea. Come, love. The danger is over.” Donald shook her again.
Her eyes opened, squinting against the light.
“She’s fine, Scully. You have my thanks for your help.”
“These came rushing out the doorway. I gathered what I could, but some got away and over the side before I could reach them.” Scully put Andrea’s things on the bed and left.
Donald thanked him then pulled the material out of the slits. Light and fresh air came into the room.
She got on her hands and knees and searched the floor.
He rushed to get her up.
“No.” She slapped his hands away. “The pouch, with the parchment dropped into the water.”
He pulled her up. “Rea. Look on the bed. These are what was saved before items went over the side.”
She went to the bed and like a mad woman pawed through the wet debris.
“It’s not here.” Andrea turned to him. “It’s not here.” Frantically, she searched the floor. There were no empty spaces to look. The floor was wet, but there was nothing there.
“The deck.” She searched the passageway looking behind the doors and finally reached the deck.
Captain Howard, looking the worse for wear, came to them.
“Is something amiss?”
“In the heat of the storm, Andrea dropped some personal items onto the floor and cannot find them.”
“A rush of water came from the passageway when you went in. We were able to capture a few items, but I’m sorry to say, some did go through the railing into the sea.” He
