Pearls by Colin Falconer Read Free Book Online Page A

wondered if he was telling the truth about the pearl. She loved Flynn but she imagined it was the kind of thing he might do. But he was her father and just talking to Cameron was disloyal.
    'Aye. For your sake I well might.'
    'He's my father, Cam. Right or wrong, he's all I have.'
    'Aye, I understand.'
    'Do you miss your family, Cam?'
    'My brothers, especially Lachie and Douglas. They were a wee bit older and always looked out for me. And my Ma. She was a good woman, God knows she'd have to be to put up with my da'.'
    'You're the only one of hers that left.'
    'Aye I am.'
    'She must worry.'
    'Aye, she does. I am her blue eyed boy, right enough, even though my eyes are nae blue. I think a part of hers proud, the other half wishes I could be more like my two younger brothers and work in the shipyard offices. My da' calls them girls on account of they can read and add up without using their fingers. But you have to be true to yourself, Kate. You have to know your own character and not try to be someone else.'
    'Well, yes. I suppose that's true.'
    'Have you nae thought about that?'
    'My father says I'm stubborn and wilful. I always thought it was a bad thing.'
    'There's a fine line between stubborn and determined. I can be pretty stubborn myself.'
    'Did your father try and talk you out of the Navy then?'
    'He dinnae care what I did as long as I was nae burden to him. My ma dinnae want me to do it. You have to understand, Kate, there's nae tradition of seafaring in the McKenzies. My great-grandfather was a sharecropper. She wanted me to work in the offices that was like being a toff to her. But me, I've no head for figures. Two things I could do well as a kid, that's fight and read.'
    'You read?'
    'Still have a dog eared copy of 'Treasure Island' in my kit bag. So sixteen I applied for the Royal Navy cadets and I was away to sea and I've nae been back since. Nae to live anyway.'
    'What about your sisters?'
    'My little sister Beth took it hardest. You can't go to sea, she said, it's full of water! God bless her. She'll be grown by now, have boys chasing after her I shouldn't wonder.'
    'It's a long way from Glasgow to Broome.'
    'Aye, it is. But there's money to be made her, lass, if a man's got the belly for it. More than I'd make in a year in the shipyards. I promised my ma that when I went home I'd bring her a string of pearls and I intend to keep my word.'
    'And is there any other woman back home pining for you back home?'
    'Who'd have me?'
    She tilted her head to the side. 'Well, that's the question, isn't it? Are you wondering if I will?'
    'Maybe.'
    'Well you've sat on my back porch six nights in a row. A girl has to think a man might be interested. Or is it just a girl in every port for you?'
    His fingers touched hers on the step. 'I've nae seen any girl as beautiful as you, in any port anywhere.'
    'Beauty's not everything.'
    'Nae, but it's something to start with. Don't tell me you'd be waiting out here every night if I was five foot four and wore glasses.'
    She laughed at that.
    He leaned towards her and she felt his warm breath on her cheek. She would have turned her face towards him but at that moment they had heard Flynn's horse and trap pull up outside. There was a yell as Flynn fell out of the seat.
    'Every time he does this! I think it's deliberate!'
    She pushed him away into the dark. One of these nights she thought, I will let him kiss me. But I'm afraid that if I do, I won't ever want him to stop.
     
    ***
     
    Liddy Punyulpilpil muttered darkly to herself as she cleared away the dinner things from the table.
    'What's the matter, Liddy?' Kate asked her.
    'Not right.'
    'What's not right?'
    Liddy lowered her voice, though it was quite unnecessary. There was no one else in the house. Flynn had still not returned home. In all likelihood he was still at the hotel, drinking or gambling the season's profits away.
    'I see you b'long him,' Liddy said, rolling her eyes. 'I see you belong that one white boss. Liddy see you from