“And well he should, but what if that harmonica had been a gift or an heirloom?” Elise shook her head. “There’d be no replacing that.”
Nick poured himself a cup of coffee. “I just don’t trust him.”
The captain came and filled his cup as well. Nick caught Elise’s compassionate gaze as she watched her father. “Some men have a hard time finding peace within themselves.”
Her father nodded and took a seat at the far end of the table. “That’s for certain.”
Nick sat and sampled the coffee. Elise certainly had a way with making it. It always seemed to taste fresh and strong but without the bitterness that often came in the stoutness of the brew.
“Well, I’ll get back to my work, or we’ll have no pie for dessert tomorrow.” She left them to their discussion.
Nick smiled and watched her walk away. He found her intriguing.
“She’s a fine woman,” her father declared as if knowing full well where Nick’s thoughts had taken him.
“She is. I’m surprised she can keep such a softness to her spirit.” He looked at the captain, not even trying to hide his feelings. “She’s unlike any woman I’ve ever known ... save maybe my mother.”
“Her death must have been hard for you.”
“It was, but even harder on my two younger sisters. I was fourteen, but they were only twelve and nine.”
The captain nodded with the cup halfway to his mouth. “That’s a time girls need their mother, to be sure.”
“My father had little patience for the tears and questions. He ended up sending us all to boarding school in Virginia. He said it had already been planned, but I know Mother would never have allowed it. I once confronted him about it when I was eighteen. He admitted he had lied and then asked me what purpose it served for me to have him admit it.”
“And what did you reply?”
Nick remembered the moment as if it were yesterday. “I was angry at him and myself. I wasn’t sure exactly why I’d asked the question, since I already knew the answer. I told him I really didn’t know. Maybe I was hoping to embarrass him. Make him accountable. Maybe even force him to issue an apology. He told me I was a fool to concern myself with it when there were so many more important issues between us. It taught me something about forcing people to admit their lies.”
“What was that?”
Nick met the captain’s eyes. “A true liar doesn’t care about getting caught. He’ll have some excuse for you because he’s already validated it for himself. Satan is the father of lies, and the lie itself never matters to him. He’s after the finished result.”
“That’s true enough. Rather like our Mr. Duran. He doesn’t mind giving a false apology. The end result is all that matters to him.” Captain Wright tossed back the rest of his coffee. “I wanted to give him a chance to change. God gave me a chance and a good woman, and I did come to my senses. He could do the same for Duran.”
“He could.”
“But you aren’t overly hopeful of that happening, are you?”
“No.” Nick glanced at the end of the room where Elise hummed and sliced up apples. “I think he’s dangerous and deceptive. Furthermore, I think he enjoys causing an uproar. He loves the chaos. He’ll play the men against one another at the first opportunity.”
“And that’s where we differ. I always tried to avoid people and conflict. I wanted no part of them or their troubles. I would have been content to just manage my own affairs and have nothing more to do with people.”
“That, I understand. When I left home at eighteen, I was bitter and angry at my father’s actions. He disowned me and demanded I leave the house, and I did. Not even saying good-bye. When I signed on to my first ocean schooner, I had no idea what I was doing or how hard the work would be. The first week my hands bled and swelled. I never had enough sleep and swore I’d never adjust to the schedule. The second week was hardly any better, but after a while, the routine became normal, and therewas something healing in the ocean air and rhythm of the ship in full sail. As time went by, the men around me became family, and thoughts of home were replaced.” He stopped and cradled his cup. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to go on.”
“Don’t apologize. I like knowing my men. A captain needs to know his men, wouldn’t you agree?”
“I would.” Nick stared at the coffee in his mug. “He needs to know them as well as he knows the ship—because they are the ship.”
Elise finished her duties by placing a large platter of cookies in the center of the galley table. After baking the pies, she had baked several dozen cookies in between washing up dishes and pots. She had a regular routine for everything, and when things went just as she planned, it was as if the world was in perfect order.
She put away her cleaning supplies, then locked the pantry. She trusted the men for the most part to leave the pantry foods alone, but there was no need to make it a temptation or challenge. Duran came to mind, and as if thinking of him could make him materialize, he walked down the stairs and gave her a smile.
“And there’s our pretty little cook. Seems we never get any time alone. God must have heard my prayers.”
“Oh really, Mr. Duran. You pray?” Elise asked after securing the lock. She turned to face him. “There are cookies on the table and coffee on the stove.”
“I was thinking something more hearty would do the job. Maybe a sandwich or two.”
