Angel's Daughter by B. J. Scott

Author:B. J. Scott [SCOTT, B. J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781463452209
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Published: 2005-11-15T05:00:00+00:00

8.

The following morning, Megan stood on the deck with Alex at her side, as Emerald Isle plowed eastward through calm seas. They had been inseparable since emerging topside an hour earlier. She leaned back into his chest and held his arms around her firmly, sunlight playing off the golden strands in her red hair.

A hesitant Li Fanfan approached them. The teenage girl seemed lost on the vast deck, though her color had improved, her seasickness having slackened somewhat.

Megan didn’t move away from Alex, but held out her arms in welcome to the girl.

Li Fanfan bowed low. “Honorable Megan, I greet you.”

Megan smiled. “Come here, dear one,” she said. Li Fanfan didn’t move, so Megan pulled the girl to her.

She resisted at first, unsure how to act among barbarians.

Alex pulled back a bit and Megan put her arms around the girl. She could feel her stiffness and sense uncertainty. “I’m afraid I’ve neglected you,” Megan said. “I’m so sorry. I owe you more than I can ever repay. You risked your life for me. I shall spend the rest of mine trying to make up for it. Now,” she said, taking the girl’s chin in her hands and lifting it up, “the first thing you must learn is to address me simply as ‘Megan’. I would consider it a favor, and I’m not feeling particularly honorable right now, anyway.”

The girl bowed again. “Yes, Honor—yes, Megan. It shall be as you wish.”

“And have done with the bowing. That’s not necessary or required in American society.” She looked at the girl closely. “You look frightened.”

Li Fanfan’s eyes widened slightly. “Megan, your mother scare me. She call down rage from heaven.”

Megan smiled. “Well, maybe. We’ll never really know. That wave was probably coming anyway. I’ve learned, though, never to underestimate her. Don’t worry; she’ll warm to you. Just stay away from her when she gets like that.”

“I stay far away, Megan,” the girl said, looking down the deck to where Kathleen stood.

“Don’t be afraid of her. Mother will reach out to you before long. I hope you don’t regret your decision to come with us.”

Li Fanfan looked out to sea. “I leave nothing behind but hard times, Megan. I not sorry I came.”

“Is there anything you need?”

“When we reach America, I send letter to mother. Tell her where I am. Say someday I bring her to me. Can you send letter, Megan? This possible?”

“Yes,” Megan said. “I have an old Chinese friend in San Francisco I can entrust with the job. He’ll see that it gets there.” She looked at the girl, an impish smile playing about her face. “Hmm. We can’t let you run around all alone in your new country. You need looking after. And I know just the person for the job.”

She sent Li Fanfan below after a while to see if the girl could keep some food down. Then she sought out Hsien Lu, whom she found standing on the quarterdeck. After she greeted him warmly and thanked him for his service, she said, “Old friend, I have a request.

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