The Complete BY THE SEA Series Boxed Set by Antoinette Stockenberg

Author:Antoinette Stockenberg [Stockenberg, Antoinette]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Historical, Retail, Romance, Suspense
Google: y1cBBQAAQBAJ
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Publisher: Antoinette Stockenberg
Published: 2014-10-13T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

The deal that Sam and Laura struck was this: Laura obviously would not leave until the Rainbow had been officially chosen to defend the America's Cup (the racing so far was very even; nothing was certain). Then, if Sam could not sail with her, he had the right to look over the first mate and decide for himself if he was competent. Laura had to promise to reduce sail every night and under no circumstances to press the boat to its optimum, day or night. If she discovered anything fishy and illegal during the course of loading the cargo in Connecticut, the delivery was to be called off (and with any luck the deposit held onto).

Laura was ecstatic, but Sam went back to the Rainbow's crew quarters aboard the depot-boat in Brenton Cove that night profoundly troubled. In the space of an hour his wife had dragged him through an emotional wringer: she'd angered him, frightened him, threatened him, tempted him, and just plain dazzled his pants off. She was too damn smart by half, and too quick to change moods; he was always a step behind her, and that put him at a loss when they didn't see eye to eye.

And she was too damn beautiful, he decided, moving his great bulk through the drunks and hookers on lower Thames Street. She was sexier than any tart, but in a wholesome kind of way. He supposed that was how they were made in the Midwest. Suddenly he laughed out loud, causing passers-by to turn and stare. What would Laura say if she knew that he'd never had another woman since the day he'd first set eyes on her? She wouldn't believe him, naturally; he'd taken care of that, with all his bragging and innuendo.

He felt a surge again just thinking of her.

But he was old, old, old. Compared to her—God, her energy—he was old. He could see sixty not so far away and beyond that, death. Well, he'd accepted that. Everything ends. It was unseemly to struggle against it like a rabbit in a trap. It just made everything hurt more. He planned to go down at sea, and when he did he hoped he would do it with dignity.

Besides, he'd had a good life, starting with his early years on the Gloucester fishing schooners, racing home from the Grand Banks with the day's catch. How many years ago? Too many. And now the age of working sail was over—except for the Virginia, slogging away toward the mid-century mark. And he was in command.

Almost in command. Why did the girl always want to stick in her two cents? Didn't she understand that one yea and one nay equaled a tie? That there can only be one captain on any vessel? Ah ... but he'd given up his command, hadn't he, for the summer. Jumped ship, so to speak.

And even he didn't know why. Flattery was part of it; he'd pumped up like a puffer-fish when Vanderbilt made the offer.

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