Sea Dreamer by Elizabeth Pulford

Author:Elizabeth Pulford [Elizabeth Pulford]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781775531975
Publisher: Penguin Random House New Zealand
Published: 2012-11-23T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

All the way back to Rewa Bay I think about Sarah Cassandra. Grandma told me that, according to family legend, she had been only sixteen when she’d run away from home. Two years older than me. I wonder why she left? What could have happened? Maybe it was to get out of an arranged marriage. I’m sure they had such arrangements in those days. Or maybe she had fallen in love with a sailor, not realising he was a pirate. Or maybe she was simply looking for a different way of life, like Rana.

‘You’re quiet,’ says Mum, slowing down at the last set of traffic lights before heading towards the bay.

I put away all thoughts of Sarah Cassandra for the moment. ‘Grandma’s giving me a kitten.’

‘Oh is she now! We’ll see about that.’ Mum puts her foot flat on the accelerator and the station wagon roars up the hill like a lion. The rain has stopped. Steam rises like muslin rags from the side of the road. ‘And was Grandma helpful about the family?’

‘She was great.’

‘Still, you don’t want to believe everything she tells you. She’s got a very vivid imagination and loves a good story.’

When I make no comment, knowing full well she’s referring to the pirate thing, Mum continues. ‘All I’m saying is, take what she’s told you with a grain of salt.’

My insides tumble about. I know Mum’s not trying to be mean, I know she’s trying to be practical. And when you think about it, she’s probably right. The sensible thing would be to do my project on Great-Grandma Rose or someone else who hasn’t been dead nearly four hundred years. But I want it to be Sarah Cassandra. I want to tell her story.

‘Remember, Ted would be happy to help you with your research.’

‘I know.’ These days Ted seems to be moving in closer and closer. Lately it feels as though he is walking right beside us all the time. I glance out the side window. Far in the distance, the mountains, like sharp teeth, eat the sky. At the moment I don’t want to share Sarah Cassandra with anyone, especially not Ted. He wouldn’t understand.

Mum continues. ‘After all, he does have access to that sort of thing, belonging to the genealogy society. He’s been telling me about the different ways information can be gleaned.’

‘I won’t forget.’ Learning that Ted is a member of the genealogy society suddenly makes me feel that the suitcase Grandma Sarah gave me needs protection. I fold my arms around it, then close my eyes until we arrive home.

After I’ve helped Mum lug her doll supplies down the track and into her workroom, I start towards my cabin, planning a quick look in the case. Before I can, Mum says, ‘Go and fetch Richard, will you, dear.’

‘But I want to …’

‘It’d be such a help. I’ve got a million things to do before Ted arrives.’

‘Where is he?’

‘At Justin’s. Where else!’

I cut my sigh short. Justin is Mac’s younger brother.

But

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