The Dreamer by May Nicole Abbey Read Free Book Online Page A

Tucker?” I carefully repeated it. “Captain Mallory Tucker. Mister Mallory Tucker. Hmm. Unusual. Feminine on the outset. Yes. I like it.” I regarded him reflectively. “So that’s why you didn’t want to tell me your name. I thought it was because you disliked the idea of being on familiar terms with me. But it’s not, is it, Captain?”
    His eyes scanned my face. “No, Rachel,” he said quietly.
    I suddenly shivered. I wrapped the wool shawl closer around my shoulders.
    “It is because you are ashamed your name is ambisexual.”
    “Ambi-what?”
    “Ambisexual — can be used with both sexes.”
    “That’s not a word,” he scoffed.
    I fingered his sleeve thoughtfully. “Hmm … it’s possible I just invented it. Shall we consult a dictionary?”
    He laughed. “No. There’s no need.”
    “Captain!”
    “What?”
    “I’ve never heard you laugh before.”
    He returned his gaze to the water. “I don’t do it very often.”
    I carefully watched him, his hair ruffled by the breeze. “In the future, perhaps,” I finally said, turning to the horizon, “to avoid confusion, you might clarify yourself. I experienced some discomforting sensations before I fully understood you.”
    “As you say,” he answered with excessive sobriety. His jaw was wide, and I noticed he had the slightest cleft in his chin.
    “But I think I will still call you Captain.”
    I looked out over the ocean, my arm through his, as per his instructions.

Chapter Six

    Notes: Eureka! I’ve found it! (Captain notably less enthusiastic.)
     
     
    The remaining weeks on the ship passed without much incident. Kept in the hold for the remainder of the trip, Charles Tipkins had virtually disappeared. And I stayed mostly out of the crew’s way, keeping either to my cabin or by the captain’s side. The men eyed me cautiously, and I eyed them cautiously, but that was the end of it.
    And remarkably, I felt a strange new exhilaration in the prospect of my adventure, despite the harrowing experience. That is to say, I was still cautious and uneasy, but there was a new charge in the atmosphere that I found difficult to explain. Colors seeming more vibrant, the wind more biting or caressing, and the smallest details more in focus than ever before. I attempted many times to dissect the reason behind these changes, but I was unable, so finally, all I could do was take pleasure in them. Eventually, it seemed hardly to matter that I couldn’t deduce the psychological reasoning behind it. I only knew that it felt good. It was almost as though that was enough.
    “Captain,” I cried, entering the adjoining library quickly. “There you are. We’ve been looking all over for you. Finley, see I …? Finley! Where are you? Oh well, he must have gone. Why is it so dark in here?”
    The captain stood abruptly, knocking his cup and tipping it over. He cursed and righted it. Before him was the large, center table, abundant with food, an empty plate set before him, another one across the table. Very few candles were burning.
    “I knew you’d be somewhere on the upper deck. But John insisted we patrol the lower decks first. Even though you’re never down there at this time of night. My, that smells delicious. May I join you? Or … it looks like you’re expecting someone.”
    “No,” he replied quickly. “Please … have a seat. Help yourself.”
    He hurried to the other side of the table to pull out my chair, according to the custom of the day, but I had already picked up my plate and set it closer to his, so he had to push the chair over to my new place setting.
    “There’s so much here, Captain,” I cried. “This will not inordinately deplete our rations?”
    “We are mere days from shore. We can safely use all we have now.” He suddenly cursed, and bent down to inspect my dish. There was a small chip in the corner. “I told Frank to use the good dishes,” he exclaimed angrily and picked up the plate. He took it to a cabinet against the wall