Chapter 21: A Moonlit Stroll

No additional memories were retrieved as a knock on the wood outside signaled Joshua and Jeremy's arrival. When Biddie removed the quilt from the opening to reveal a pair of handsome escorts, Maggie realized she was just going to have to wing it from here, and hope more missing memories came to the forefront as she sought to build new ones this evening.

Joshua and Jeremy both offered arms to their respective ladies, which each took readily. The four of them, with Biddie as the tag along chaperone, made their way to the upper deck.

Maggie liked the feel of being on Joshua's arm. The only arm she’d ever been on in any existence was her father's. It was a warm, secure, comfortable feeling she’d never felt with any other escort.

Maggie turned her attention from Joshua to Jeremy and Candy, who were a few feet in front of her. When Candy glanced back, the look of pure joy in her eyes told Maggie that she was enjoying the walk as well.

Maggie didn't really remember how many times over the last six months she had walked this deck with Joshua, but she remembered she enjoyed their time together, just sharing bits and pieces of their lives and dreams.

Even though she knew she’d seen this moon and this ocean many nights since their voyage began, it was in essence new to her tonight. She broke their silent walk to stop and admire the immense beauty of it all. She sighed as she looked out over the railing. "The ocean ... I've never seen anything so big in my life. And that moon and those stars ... I swear they seem so close that I feel like I could just reach out and grab one "

Joshua watched Maggie as she looked up at the sky with the wonder of a child on her first night aboard ship. He loved her unique way of looking at things, her excitement and anticipation for each new day, and how she delighted in sharing her thoughts and dreams with him on their walks.

It didn't matter to him that she usually carried the conversation, because when he wanted to talk, she gave him her undivided attention. The fact that in nearly 10 minutes of walking, she’d barely said anything besides her comment on the night sky, had him genuinely concerned.

"Maggie," his voice drew her attention away from the seascape. "I talked to Doctor Mike while you were sleeping. She said you’re going to be just fine now. All you need is some rest and to get your strength back. If ... ummm ... you’re too tired to walk, we can go back. I don’t mind. Really, I don’t."

Maggie smiled and squeezed his arm. "I’m not too tired. I ... I guess I’m just not really good company tonight. I’m sorry Joshua. I guess I just got a lot on my mind tonight."

"You always have a lot on your mind Maggie," he said with a chuckle "It’s just that usually we spend a good part of the walk talking about it, and tonight you've been so quiet."

She saw the look of concern in his eyes. He genuinely cared. Part of her wanted to tell him the whole unbelievable story, but the only thing that would do was worry him even more.

By this time, Biddie had come alongside them, while Jeremy and Candy waited patiently. Maggie squeezed Joshua's arm and pulled him forward as Biddie hurried to catch up with the other two.

She could feel his eyes on her, and she had to answer, so she picked a half truth instead of a whole one. "If you want to know, I guess I’m just preoccupied with the same thing every other girl on board is. Tomorrow we're going to land in Seattle. What’s it really going to be like? What are we going to do? Are we going to be happy or ... or are going to wish we’d never left New Bedford?"

Joshua weighed her words carefully before responding. He knew most of the women probably did have those same concerns. Perhaps Maggie did as well, but he felt there was something else she wasn’t sharing. But, as much as he wanted to press her, he knew he should wait for her to come to him.

"It’s understandable you’d feel that way," he squeezed her arm gently as they walked, "but for six months now Jason has been singing the praises of Seattle to you ladies. It’s green and big and beautiful and wet and muddy and ... and well, it’s just starting to grow, and it won’t be an easy life, but it can be a good one. That is ... if that’s what you want."

Maggie could feel his eyes on her and she continued to be evasive. "I would say that most women are here to find a husband and start a family."

He knew he should wait but he couldn't help but pursue. "Maggie, you’re not most women."

"You can say that again," she rolled her eyes and chuckled, saying aloud what she thought was just an internal monologue.

"There," he stopped their walk. "That’s what I'm talking about. You make little comments and references to things. I have no idea what they mean, but that’s just you. Just like you’re funny ... creative ... intelligent ... independent and ... beautiful, and not like most women who only want to find a husband and have children."

"Maybe that's because no one ever gives them a chance for anything else." Her blue eyes met his with a cool gaze.

He closed his eyes, wishing he'd left this alone, but he had no choice now. "I’m sorry. I didn't mean to offend you. Yes ... you are different from most ... no, you’re different from any woman I've ever met, but I love that about you. I know you’re a ... a woman of mystery. I know you have secrets, and you don't have to share them with me if you don't want to, but just know that nothing you could tell me would change the way I feel about you ... nothing."²

Her heart melted and her knees grew weak. She struggled to find the right words. Fortunately, or unfortunately ... Biddie found them for her.

"C’mon you two," she shouted, and Maggie once again pulled Joshua along to catch up.

Joshua waited patiently as they continued to walk in silence. Finally, Maggie’s heart spoke. "I’m not offended. I know I’m different. I’ve always been different, and sometimes I've been ashamed of those differences. It means so much to me that you don't just like me in spite of my differences, but because of them. And as for being a woman of mystery ... yes I guess I am, and I do have some secrets, but every woman does. Still, knowing you’ll accept me no matter what they are, if and when I tell you, means everything to me."

Joshua nodded, "Okay Miss O’Malley. That’s good enough for me."

Maggie smiled, truly smiled, for the first time since the walk began. Her eyes twinkled with a hint of mischief. "Are you hungry?"

Chapter 22: A Midnight Snack

Joshua returned the smile and added a wink. "What did you have in mind?"

Maggie whispered in his ear, "When they make the turn up there, do you want to slip off to the galley and find something to eat? I’m really hungry "

Joshua’s answer came when the other couple made the turn. He pulled her toward the galley on a trot as Maggie struggled to keep up.

Once inside the galley, they lit a candle. "Biddie's going to come looking for us you know," he warned her.

Maggie was busy raiding the cabinet. "Yes, I know, but this will give Candy and Jeremy some alone time too. Hey I found some crackers." She raised her prize high overhead.

"I found the cheese." Joshua pulled a plate and knife from the cupboard, and sat them on the table, then used them to start slicing the cheese.

Maggie watched him seemingly glow in the candlelight. "Can I ask you a question?" Not giving him a chance to respond, she pressed on. "What is it that you really want to do ... you know ... with your life?"

He cut the last slice, then paused for a minute. "Well ... you know what I really want to do. I want to do more than just cut and ship trees. One day Bridal Veil Mountain is going to run out of trees. When that day comes, I want to build things instead of chopping them down. Seattle is growing, and I want to help it grow and ... I would like someone to help me do that. But what about you, Maggie? I know you want to be a writer, but what else do you really want to do?"

"I might open a pizza delivery shop or the first Starbucks," she quipped, once again, speaking aloud something she should've kept in her head.

"Star what?" Jason gave her a puzzled look before laughing. "Nevermind, woman of mystery. I probably don’t want to know." He ducked when Maggie threatened to throw the cracker tin at him, then grinned and asked the same question again.

This time she answered it. "I came to Seattle because I wanted to see the world beyond New Bedford. I was afraid I might never get another chance. I want to write about everything and everyone I experience in Seattle. I agree with you about Seattle growing, and I want to be part of that, but I’m not exactly sure how."

She filled her mouth with cheese and crackers as she contemplated her statement. Joshua popped the same into his mouth, and seeing she was deep in thought, waited patiently for the outcome.

She swallowed her bite. "How many people are in Seattle, and how many of them can read?"

Joshua coughed up a few dry cracker crumbs when he heard the question. Once he could breathe normally again, he said, "Well ... I’m not exactly sure, but counting the brides, it's got to be close to 500. I would say maybe half of them can read."

Maggie nodded as she chewed another bite of cheese. "I bet I could get one in San Francisco if I have to, and I know I could get Salty to bring it up here."

"Maggie, what are you talking about?"

Unfortunately, her train of thought was on a roll, and not stopping to pick up passengers. "The rest of the supplies I can probably get in Tacoma, and then all I would need is a place, which I’m sure you can help me with. I mean, you got a mountain full of lumber right? And I can do everything myself at first you know, at least until it really gets going."

"Maggie!"Joshua raised his voice in an effort to stop the run away train.

"What? Oh Joshua I’m so sorry I just got carried away a little," she apologized.

He gently placed his hands on her shoulders and smiled, "I love when you get carried away, but ... how about taking me with you this time?"

Maggie giggled and nodded, then that mischievous look flashed in her eyes again. "Does Seattle have a newspaper?"

The penny finally dropped for Joshua, and he grinned. "Seattle doesn’t have a newspaper ... yet."

Maggie matched his grin, and then on impulse, hugged him. Realizing she may have overstepped, she released him and stepped back. Slowly, she lifted her gaze to meet his. The look in his eyes said she hadn't crossed a boundary that wasn't already wide open.

Gently he opened his arms to her, and she slowly melted into them. There was a shared quiet moment before he broke the silence "So ... Miss O’Malley is that it? Is there nothing else ... nothing else at all you want?"
.
""Well ... Mr Bolt," that mischievous spark was a flame in her eyes. "Well ... I know that Seattle is going to grow, and I want to help it grow, and I would like someone to help me do that."

She had given him his own words back to evade the question, but escape was impossible as he lowered his face closer to hers. "Any particular someone?"

Maggie’s eyes were lost in his. In any reality she had ever known, she had never wanted to kiss or be kissed like she did at that very moment. She lifted her lips toward his to answer him silently.

"Well there you two are!" Biddie bounced in, shattering the moment, and causing them to break their embrace.

Maggie grabbed a cracker and shoved it in Joshua's mouth.."Joshua was just soooo ... hungry, that we just had to find something for him to eat."

He quickly swallowed the bite and then returned the favor shoving a piece of cheese in Maggie's mouth. "And you know Maggie's been sick for two weeks, and barely eaten a thing, so I thought we should stop and get her some food."

Biddie looked at the two guilty mice with cheese and cracker crumbs on their cheeks. "Oh my goodness ... come on you two. I can’t leave Candy and Jeremy alone."

The co-conspirators winked at each as they brushed away the evidence and followed Biddie back on deck.