Fifteen

Richard answered the knock on the door. “Evening, Micah, what can we do for you?”

“I’d like to have a word with you and Ellis, if you’ve got a few minutes.” Micah ran his hand through his hair.

“Sure, come on in. Uncle Ellis is upstairs. Make yourself comfortable in the front parlor.” Richard stepped back and opened the door farther.

“Thank you.”

Richard climbed the stairs two at a time and knocked at his aunt and uncle’s room. “Uncle Ellis, Micah Bower is here and he’d like to have a word with us.”

“Tell him I’ll be right down,” Ellis called from behind the closed door.

Richard worked his way down the stairs a bit more slowly, then entered the front sitting room. Micah was admiring some of the collections his family had gathered over the years. “Can I get you something to wet your whistle?” Richard asked.

“No thanks. These are very delicate pieces of art. Where’d you get them?” Micah placed a small jade figurine back on the shelf.

“All over the place. Uncle Ellis started the collection before Nanna and I arrived. Since then everyone in the family has added to it from time to time.”

“They’re fascinating.” Micah moved toward the high-backed sitting chair.

“Uncle Ellis said he’d be right down. Go ahead and make yourself comfortable.”

“Thanks. How’s Cook? Haven’t heard a word about her in awhile.”

“She’s doing just fine, thank ya for askin’,” Cook said with a wave as she walked by.

Micah and Richard chuckled.

“She’s a bit slower on her feet—but I wouldn’t want to test that theory,” Richard teased.

“I heard that,” Cook called back.

“Evening, Micah,” Ellis said as he entered the room. “You picking on Cook again, Son?”

“Possibly.”

Ellis leaned toward him and lowered his voice. “Good, I think it keeps her going.”

“Speak up, Mr. Ellis, I didn’t quite hear ya.”

“Good.” Ellis sat on the sofa with Micah. “So, what can we do for you this evening?”

“Have you ever used a company called Arcney Transport on the island?”

“Can’t say that I have. Don’t recall even hearing of the business. Why do you ask?” Ellis sat back in his chair.

“What did you say the name was?” Richard asked.

“Arcney. Have you heard of them?”

“Not sure. Manuel Fernandez, in Havana, mentioned an Arce Transport was interested in purchasing the ship, but decided at the last minute not to purchase.”

“Arce and Arcney are pretty different sounding, Son,” Ellis offered.

“You’re probably right. Why do you ask about Arcney Transport, Micah?”

“I’ve been trying to track them down for a couple of days. I’ve gotten nowhere. Even the man who works for the company doesn’t know where the business is centered. He says his pay is delivered to him at his home every Friday evening.”

“That’s a rather peculiar way of doing business,” Ellis suggested.

“It gets worse. They charge me double what I pay the rest of the year to Ed Flanigan. Ed’s been going back to Boston for the past few years, and he recommended Arcney Transport during the time he’s gone. I figured it was an island company, they delivered on time, never had a problem with them. But I was doing some audits and I realized my summer expenses went up every year, then come fall they would return to where they were. By the way, Richard, thanks for recommending Isabella. I’d never have had the time to do these audits; I’ve been so swamped since Father retired.”

Micah sat back. “I’m a fair man, and I wouldn’t mind paying a little extra knowing I’m only using that company during the summer months, but double, well that’s plain old ridiculous.”

His uncle rubbed his hand over his face. “How do you get in touch with this company to let them know you have work?”

“I don’t. Jesse Ryan just comes over the day after Ed Flanigan leaves for Boston. I always assumed Ed knew who to contact, never asked any questions. It’s just some minor transportation needs from the warehouse to the wharf and some supplies for the warehouse. Ed’s been doing the job for near twenty years now.”

“Is there a postmark on the bill?” Richard inquired.

“Never looked. I’ll do that when the bill comes in this month.”

“You could send a post up to Ed Flanigan in Boston and ask him who Arcney is and how he heard about them,” Richard added.

“I might just do that.”

Ellis leaned back and draped an arm across the back of the sofa. “So how’s the wife and kids, Micah?”

“Wonderful. . .” Micah went into an update on his family, and Richard’s mind focused back on his conversation with Manuel. Wouldn’t that be interesting if a Key West company was after the Sea Dove?

“Excuse me,” Richard interrupted. “Uncle Ellis, what if someone in Key West is deliberately trying to ruin Southard Sponges?”

“What are you saying, Richard?” Ellis leaned forward and braced himself with his elbows on his knees. Micah did the same.

“Let me ramble for a bit. It might be nothing, but here’s what I’m thinking. Someone had to know the ship was being held in Cuba.”

“Just about everyone on the island,” Micah interjected.

“True, but someone on the island also knew that I was managing to keep the business running without the Sea Dove.”

“Go on,” Ellis urged.

“Because after I had the offer from Marc Dabney. . .”

“Wait.” Micah reached in his pocket for a pencil. “I need a piece of paper.” Ellis reached in the small writing box and pulled out a single sheet of Aunt Bea’s finest stationery. Micah scribbled down Marc Dabney’s name. “Look at this.” He scratched out the M from Marc and the Dab from Dabney.

“Can it be?” Ellis and Richard asked in unison.

“Hold on a second.” Richard jumped up, left the room, and ran into the office. He thumbed through the files for Marc’s offer. He pulled out the thick document and hurried back into the parlor. “I knew I’d seen or heard that name before, but I couldn’t place it. Look here, on page eleven, three-quarters of the way down the page.”

“He’s still up to his old tricks, I see,” Ellis sighed and handed the document to Micah.

“Okay, so we know Marc Dabney is the man behind the Arcney Transport, and we know he overcharges me, but I don’t see how we can connect him to trying to ruin your business.”

“I’m not saying Dabney’s the one behind ruining the business, just that it’s got to be someone local. Someone who didn’t like me starting to pull the business together even without the Sea Dove, because that’s when the fleet of skiffs was stolen.”

Ellis sat back and brushed his beard. “And knowing that we can’t come up with the funds to buy back the Sea Dove, he withdrew his offer to Manuel.”

“Exactly.”

“And I thought I had problems,” Micah chimed in.

The front door rattled in its hinges. “Who could that be at this hour?” Ellis muttered.

“I’ll get it,” Richard offered. When he opened the door, he found a young man with a note.

“Richard Southard?” he asked. “Got a message for ya.” He handed Richard a tightly folded square of paper with sealing wax on top.

“Thank you.” He pulled out a coin, handed it to the young man, and closed the door. He wandered back into the parlor, wondering who could have sent him such an odd note.

“Who was it?” Ellis asked.

“I don’t know. Someone delivering this strange note for me.”

“Well, you going to open it, Boy?” Cook now stood in the hallway with her hands on her ample hips.

Richard slipped it into his pocket. “Later.” He winked.

“Ain’t good for my heart to be teasin’ an old woman, you know,” Cook replied.

The room erupted in laughter.

❧

Isabella paced back and forth at the edge of the shore. Why hadn’t Richard come? Did he get her note? Or had he decided not to come? Hopefully her parents were none the wiser that she had slipped out of the house. Perhaps she should have gone directly to his house and not worried about the social consequences of her actions.

She sat on the fallen palm tree that formed a natural bench and removed her sandals. Unconsciously, she dug the sand with her toes. “Lord, please bring Richard here. I know he can help my father. I don’t know why I’ve been so afraid of Richard courting me. I guess it’s the rebel in me.”

“Or that independent streak,” a voice whispered from behind.

“Richard.”

He gathered her in his arms. “You will let me ask your father’s permission to court you now, won’t you?”

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want you to.”

“Good. Is this what you wanted to see me about?” Richard released her and she sat back on the log.

“No. My father’s company is moving to Tampa.”

“Union?”

“Sí. They won’t have to pay union wages up there.”

“I’ve heard that’s why most of the companies have been moving up there. So, what do you need my help with?”

“I don’t want to move. I like my jobs. I know it’s selfish but—”

He grasped her hand. “Is it only the jobs that you don’t want to leave?” he whispered.

“No,” she responded in the tiniest voice she could squeeze out.

“Good, because I can’t stop thinking about you.” He wrapped her in his protective arms once again. “I know your customs, and I know if your father should see us now, we’d be married by morning. But, honestly, I don’t care. I wouldn’t mind being caught if you’d become my wife.” He grinned.

“How can you be so sure? You don’t really know me. We’ve spent so little time together.”

“My Bella, my sweet Bella, of course I know you. You’re kind and considerate, a diligent worker, and you have a passion for life that goes beyond most. Besides, you’ve haunted my dreams day and night since you first spoke to me the day after the fire.”

“And you’ve plagued mine,” she confessed.

“I’ve prayed and asked the Lord if you’re the woman He means for me to marry. I believe my feelings have continued to grow stronger with each passing day. Bella, tell me you feel the same.”

“I feel it too. But what about New York? Will you be moving back there?”

Richard released her and clasped his hands in front of him. “That’s something I still don’t have an answer for. I enjoyed working the land, overseeing the property. Uncle Ellis says I get that from my father and his father before him. I feel it is in my bones and I can’t shake it. I love Key West as well, but a man can’t plant miles of corn and wheat here. He’s fortunate to have a small garden plot in his backyard.”

“True.” She paused. “I’ve heard the snow is very, very cold.”

“Ah, but, Bella, it blankets the land with a pure fresh covering. I often think it’s like the covering we’ll receive when we go to heaven. Light and airy, covering our sins.”

“You did not mind the cold?”

“No, my Bella, you can always dress warmer. Here you can only take off so many layers of clothing to get cooler.”

“My other concern is my parents. I wouldn’t see them often. I’ve always wanted them to be close to their grandchildren.”

“Hmm, there is no easy answer for that. I suppose we could try and make a yearly voyage back to the island.”

“We are getting ahead of ourselves here, aren’t we?” she asked and prayed he wouldn’t say it was so, because at this very minute, she knew she wanted to be married to Richard, to bear his children and live wherever he lived.

“Perhaps I do need to ask your father’s permission to court you. He might not find me suitable.”

Isabella giggled. “My father is very proud of you. He cannot believe that you’ve treated Manuel with honor in spite of what he’s done to you.”

“The Bible gives very good direction on that. ‘Do unto others. . . .’ ”

“ ‘As you’d have them do unto you.’ ”

“Exactly. I’m not a great man, Isabella. I’m a sinner; I have my moments when I’d like to strike out, but God wouldn’t be honored by such behavior. If I were truly honorable, I would not be holding you as I have this evening. I know your customs, and I have not honored them. It doesn’t matter if I agree or disagree with them. I should have more self-control.”

“Set your mind at ease. I am the first to dishonor them by asking you to meet me here.”

“I will do what I can to find a new job for your father. Does he have any skills besides rolling the cigars?”

“No. But he is a smart man and learns quickly. He’s repaired broken chairs, tables and such, and refinished them. I think he has a talent. But he says he just does what any poor man would do in his situation.”

“Okay, I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Thank you, Richard. I knew I could count on you.”

“Let me escort you home before your parents find you have snuck out once again. Tell me, once we are married, you won’t be sneaking out in the middle of the night, right?”

“No, I would have no need. The man I’ve come to see will be home with me.”

“I long for that day, my Bella.” He kissed the top of her head and led her home. They spoke not another word to each other and parted with the slightest squeeze of the hands. Her heart fluttered like a butterfly; everything would be all right. Richard would find a job for her father. They would begin courting. She silently slipped into her house.

“Isabella!” her father’s voice boomed.