MANIFEST DESTINY Chapter 12.1

Chapter 12

         In the days that followed, the crew watched as they held hands and talked quietly with each other at various times of the day or night.  They laughed together often as they grew in a love that would become unshakable.

         They scoured the ports they entered and looked for little gifts to exchange with one another as Christmas Tide approached.  Ainsley admired several little trinkets native to the West Indies, and finally made her selection for Gareth.

         He too had watched fascinated at what she admired and selected an item over which she had lingered.

         With wrapped packages in hand, they went back aboard the ship.  They laughed like little children, excited about their first Christmas Tide together.

         Ainsley stowed her gift for Gareth in the trunk at the end of the bunk, and turned to look at him.  “I am so glad we can be together for our first Christmas Tide.”

         Gareth placed her gift on his desk.  “So am I.  I know I would be wondering about you and regretting that you had been left behind.”

         “Would you have?  Our relationship at the time was all show for the benefit of Mr. Greenfield.”  Ainsley looked at the package and wanted to open it, but had self-control to wait until the morrow.  Besides, she wanted to see his face as he received his from her hand.

         “Not all show.  I always told you I care about you.  And there were times when I was very proud to have you with me.”

         “Really?  Then maybe you are beginning to feel some love for me?”

         “I do not know if I would go quite that far.  But I did enjoy your presence; you are a very beautiful woman and I am very happy you belonged to me.”

         “And what about now?”  She stowed the gift she found for her father, afraid the intimacy they shared was no more than a need between them.

         “You have shown me that there is more to a relationship than what is found in bed.  I value you as a person, and I am proud of the fact that you are my wife.”

         “But you still do not love me.”

         “Love gets in the way of a good relationship.  And I believe we have a good relationship.”

         “Even a good relationship needs a foundation to build on.”

         “Let’s go on deck.  The stars are bright tonight.  We might even be able to make out the Southern Cross.”

         “Do you think so?  I have heard about it, but I have never seen it before.”

         “You have to be in the right place in the world to see it.  We are close to the equator here, and it can be seen quite easily.”

         He led her on deck.  “There it is, see it?”

         He pointed to the night sky and she followed his finger and saw the cross, and a strange excitement filled her at the bold display of God’s glory there in the night sky.  “It really is a cross.”

         She turned her eyes on him and saw the desire but instead of being happy with it, she felt deflated that the only thing between them was a physical desire without any basis in love.  She turned her attention back out to sea and watched the waves froth away from the ship.

         “Tomorrow’s Christmas.  I hope you do not mind that I invited father for breakfast with us.”

         “No, I do not mind.”

         She looked back at him and saw the thoughtful look on his face.  “I am going to retire.  I want to be up in plenty of time to receive father.  I cannot wait to give him the gift I got for him.”

         He led her to the cabin and held her close until she lay asleep in his arms.

         The next morning she rose early.  Christmas Tide had always been her favorite day of the year.  She dressed with care as she anticipated her father’s arrival.

         A knock sounded on the door and Gareth went to open it, and found Ian in full highland attire with a big smile on his face.  “Welcome.”  Gareth opened the door wide for him to enter.

         Ainsley gave him a kiss on the cheek.  “Happy Christmas Tide, Papa.  You look like a true Scotsman should, dashing.  Be careful that you do not turn a wayward eye.  You will have all the maids eating out of your hands.”

         “Listen to you.  I’m happy just being aboard the ship.  Happy Christmas Tide to you also.”  Ian preened at her praise and took his place at the table as Jedidiah proceeded to serve their breakfast meal.  “You two have been happy together lately.”

         “I have learned to appreciate your daughter.  She’s right.  Your highland attire does bring out the best in you.”  Gareth gave Ainsley a tender look.

         “I dinna ken either of ye would come to terms before yer graves.”

         “You have a very intelligent daughter.  I value her opinion very highly.  She has a good head for sums and knows a fair price for the cargo.”

         “Aye, I was grateful when she took over the accounts when my wife died.  Though I still dinna help much.”  Ian looked at her with regret in his eyes.

         “It is over papa.  All is well.  I am very happy, and soon we will return to Delaware Colony and we will have both ships and the crews, if not the cargo.  But we will have that too, I am certain.”  Ainsley had a smile on her face as she gazed at Gareth.

         “Ye baith be not gypit?  Tis too soon fer another child!  I hae no wish to bury me daughter at her tender age.”

         Ainsley blushed scarlet at his comment about the intimacy of their marriage.  “Everything will be fine Papa.  Gareth takes special care of me.”

         “Still, I dinna want to see anything happen to you.”

         “I promise you sir, nothing will happen to your daughter.  We have the Lord’s protection.”

         “Aye that ye do.”

         Jedidiah appeared to take the empty plates and Gareth got up and took the package from the desk where he laid it the day before and Ainsley likewise retrieved her packages from the trunk.  The first, a large package, she presented to her father, as he also gave one to her.

         Ian opened the package and stared at the bagpipes in his hands as tears moistened his eyes.  “I han’t set me eyes on a set of baggies since I left home.  Oh darlin’ it's a foin gift for this poor Scot.”

         “Play something Papa.  I have so missed your playing since mother died.”

         Ian took the pipes in his hands and soon a melody floated in the air that Ainsley had not heard since before her mother died.  A happy melody that made her feet tap to the music.  He walked the floor of the cabin as he played and the swing of his kilt made Ainsley’s eyes moist with past memories.  When he put the pipes down, the music died away in the small cabin.  “They’ll be thinking I killed a poor animal.”

         “That was wonderful.”  Gareth had not heard the pipes played in many years, and not as well as his father-in-law played them.

         Ainsley could see her home as he played the pipes, and tears rolled down her cheeks at the fond memories they evoked.  “Yes Papa, it was wonderful.  I always enjoyed listening to you play the pipes.”

         “Now open yours,” Ian said.

         Ainsley took the package in her hands, and wondered what he had gotten her.  As she opened it, she stared at it.  Tears ran down her cheeks at the one thing money would never be able to buy.  Her mother’s cross necklace.  She had never seen her without it up to the day of her death.  The gold was faded with years of wear, but the precious rose in the center of the cross was still as beautiful.

         “She wanted you to have it on yer bridle day, but I ken I would wait until a happier time.”

         Ainsley went to him, and gave him a hug and kiss on the cheek.  “Thank you Papa.” 

         “I gave that to her when I asked her to be my wife.  She wore it every day till the day she died.”

         “And I will give it to my daughter on her bridle day.”

         “Let me put it on you.”

         Ainsley stood still for him, as he clasped the necklace about her neck, tears still rolled down her cheeks as she placed her hand over the cross.  “Now your present.”  She handed Gareth a smaller package.

         Gareth opened it and found a carved replica of a ship, the detail very fine as he looked over the entire structure.  “This is exquisite.  Thank you, and now my gift to you.”  He handed her the package she had eyed since the night before.

         Ainsley opened it and found the lace shawl she had so admired.  The intricate rose pattern was a variation of several lightly colored threads, which made it shimmer in the light.  “Thank you.”  Ainsley reached up and gave him a kiss of thanks.

         As he cleared his throat, Ainsley remembered her father was in the cabin with them, as she looked at him and blushed.  “I am glad to see that the baith of ye getting on better than ye hae been.  It makes me heart glad that I will not need to give any faitherly advice to either of ye in the near future.”

         “I think it would be a good idea to go up on deck.”  Gareth led Ainsley to the door, as her father followed.

         “Good idea.”  Ainsley let her father precede them, bagpipes in hand.

         The next day saw them leave the West Indies behind as they made their way to their homeport in Delaware Colony.

         “When do you want to announce your pregnancy?”  It was the first night out of port, and their holds were full.

         “Not until we get closer to Delaware.”  Ainsley lay content in his arms.

         Gareth claimed eager lips.  “We will be back all too soon.”

         “I want to wait awhile yet.”

         “Whatever you say.”  Gareth’s voice was husky with his passion.  They had been intimate on the voyage and he wondered whether he had in fact gotten her in that state as he thought about her moodiness of late.  He would have to be more careful.  He had no desire to lose another child or her.