The Charlotte Series: Book 3: The Pretender's Gold

26

Chapter 26

Stu said something but she didn't hear over the pounding in her ears. The distance to the water was great and the waves pushed debris into the dock. She'd been watching a bit of wood that looked to be from a crate. It bobbed in the water between the dock and ship until a larger wave came. It was carried to the dock where it smashed into bits.

With a gasp Summer bit her lip and forced her eyes to the plank immediately in front of her feet. She made three steps and was beginning to feel a little more confident until the plank dipped several inches. Summer arched her back and her arms milled about as she felt herself falling. And then suddenly she wasn't.

Stu never let go of her hand as he stepped up behind her. Slipping his free hand about her waist he pulled her against him and took her weight upon himself.

"I've got you, love." She heard his voice softly in her ear as she felt him pressed against her. She should have been embarrassed or felt scandalized but recalling the sight of the crate breaking to bits, she heaved a great sigh and relaxed against him. She felt a nudge at the back of her knee and nodded. She needed to keep moving, but he wouldn't let her fall.

When her feet finally touched solid ground, she felt her knees give way only a second before she felt the gentle lift as Stu once again took her weight. Finding her footing, she tried to ignore her deep blush and refused to look around to see who might have seen. She felt her one of her canes being pressed into her hand and looked up gratefully.

If not for her obvious handicap, they would have drawn an audience, eager to gawk at her fall or pretend to be scandalized by the way they stood too close as they crossed the gang plank. There were always a few people that stared, but people in general tended to look away when she limped, as if looking on her imperfection might transfer it upon themselves.

That was three days ago.

As she lay in the comfort of the feathered bed, warm and safe, she stared into the darkness and closed her eyes, allowing herself to remember the feel of him so pressed so close. She relived the moment he whispered in her ear and felt goosebumps as she recalled the feel of his warm breath and the way it moved the little hairs that fell from her bun.

Her smile grew as she remembered the fluttering in her stomach as he pressed himself so close and lifted her gently as her legs gave way. She marveled at his incredible sense of balance their entire time at sea, but she was never more grateful for it then at that moment.

A soft chuckle rippled through the silence as she recalled how Freddie nearly fell as he almost missed the step into the carriage. She tried to be merciful and not look at him for a few moments after. She was certain the poor man was mortified. Richard had not been so generous.

"Aw now, Freddie. Did ye forget 'ow to walk, lad? E'en we cripples managed, yet even wit' ye being 'ole ye nearly fell on yer-"

Stu cleared his throat. Richard shrugged but fell silent.

Stu again. Always he was on her mind. The more she was around him the more he became part of her very existence. Her heart beat, her lungs drew breath and Stuart had come to occupy her every thought.

She sighed. The more wonderful he seemed more she wondered that he was real. Surely this was all some wonderful dream. She would awake in the morning and she would be tucked in her bed at Humble Cottage. This was all just the imaginings of her heart, trying to guess how it would be if she were to travel to America alone to look for her brother.

Somewhere in her musing, she drifted off to a peaceful slumber, laced with dreams of a gentle giant with sad blue eyes and an endearing whiskered smile.