Call of the Sea (21 page)

He grasped sand.

Brow creased, he slid his arm from side to side, exploring the interior of the tiny cavern with his fingertips. When he came up empty, Daniel lay on his side and held the lamp to the opening. Yellow light bounced off the inside of the rocky fissure. The tide never came up this far, so the sea couldn’t have claimed it. Panic began to chew at his resolve.

He sat down beside the empty hole, drew his knees up, and cradled his head in his hands. His stomach twisted into a ball.
Why isn’t it here?

Daniel recalled the horrific stories he’d been told about selkies whose skins had been taken, kept from them until they withered and died. His own mother died, wasted away because Pa had kept her skin hidden from her.
How can it not be here?

“Lose something?”

Ellie!
His head whipped up.

She stood a few feet away, clad in her wrinkled nightgown, hands on slender hips. The breeze played havoc with her short locks, twisting them about her head like Medusa’s snakes. The pain mirrored in her twin sapphires stabbed him in the gullet.

Daniel vaulted to his feet, wrapped himself in righteous indignation to buffer the guilt eating at him. “Where the hell is it?”

“It what?” Ellie challenged. “Did you have something hidden there?” She made a show of looking up and down the coastline. “I don’t see anything.”

“This isn’t a game, Ellie. You know exactly what I mean.”
She had to know what it was.
Daniel held tight to his anger. “Didn’t your mama teach you not to touch things that don’t belong to you?” He closed the distance between them in two strides. “What did you do with it?”

Ellie took a staggering step backward. A flicker of fear shone in her eyes.

Daniel’s anger deflated instantly. He took a slow deep breath. “Just give it back, El.”

She stiffened, folded her arms over her chest, blue orbs flashing fire. “Funny thing about what I found in that hole behind you, Daniel. I mean aside from the fact that you find it necessary to tuck a seal hide in a rock.” Her eyes narrowed. “The skin looked familiar to me, like I’d seen it before. So after I brought it home, I studied it a little more closely. And you’ll never guess what I discovered.” She started pacing the sand, brow gathered as if she were trying to solve a puzzle. “I found an imperfection, a long thin scar on the tail of the seal hide.” She stopped moving, flashed him a hard look. “Did you kill Skipper?”

The question caught him by surprise. “Of course not!”

She swung an arm out, pointing at him. “Ah-ha! How do you even know who Skipper is?”

Fuck.

He searched his mind for any way he could possibly know the name she’d given her childhood pet. He shrugged, tried for nonchalant. “Your mother must have mentioned it.”

“No! I didn’t tell anyone his name, Daniel, not anyone! How do you know about Skipper?” She gestured toward the rocks. “Why did you have his skin stuffed in a secret hole on my beach? The one he lived on for years? Tell me that is a coincidence. Explain it away. I dare you!”

Daniel stood before a seething Ellie unable to speak. The time for stalling had ended.
Tell her!

“Tell me it’s mere coincidence that that same seal gave me a carving you’d made and lost?”

Now’s your chance! It can’t get any worse.

Daniel sucked up a chest full of courage.

Say it!

“I didn’t kill and skin your pet, Ellie, and I didn’t stuff his skin in a hole. I know what you named your seal friend because I
am
Skipper. It’s my skin.”

***

Ellie threw her head back and laughed so hard her shoulders shook. “What sort of ridiculous nonsense are you spouting now?” She examined him from his bare feet to the top of his chestnut head. “Strange, you don’t look like any seal I’ve ever seen.”
What kind of fool does he take me for?

Daniel’s face showed no signs of amusement. “That’s because I’m not a seal, Ellie, I’m a selkie.”

“A what?”

“Selkie, half-human, half-seal. But I can tell by the blank look on your face you don’t have a clue what I’m talking about.”

“Should I?”

He shrugged. “Your father did, so I thought you might, too. It would certainly have made this easier.”

“My father did what?”
Is he talking in circles on purpose?
“What does Papa have to do with this? He didn’t know about Skipper either. He was my secret.”
My only friend.

Daniel took a step closer, lifted an index finger to his lips. “Hush now, El, let me explain, please.”

It took all her will to remain rooted to the spot and not retreat in pace with his approach. The soulful look in his eyes tickled a familiar chord, raising the hair at the back of her neck.
Skipper?
She gave herself a shake.
Get it together, El.
“I await your clarification with bated breath.”

He blew out a huff. “Your sarcasm is showing.”

She shot him a needling stare. “Better than my ignorance, I guess.” Her hands reclaimed her hips. “Tell me why I shouldn’t have you committed for lunacy.”

“Because what I’m telling you is God’s honest truth. Daniel, the cabin boy you once hated, and Skipper, the seal you loved, are one and the same.”

She threw up her hands. “That doesn’t make sense. You and Papa were at sea when I found Skipper on the beach that first time. How can you be in two places at once? Is self-duplication part of being a selkie, too?”

“That’s where your father comes in.”

Ellie rolled her eyes. “Of course it is.”

“What do you remember about the night you almost drowned?”

She frowned. “Why do you keep changing subjects? You’re giving me a headache.”

“It’s relevant, trust me.”

Ellie searched her memory. “I remember going into the water. The waves were so much bigger than I’d expected, like giant walls. I got smashed in the face by a wall of water and I panicked. No matter how hard I kicked, I couldn’t stay afloat and my lungs burned. Then the world went black. I thought I had died.”

“Do you remember anything else, anything about the beach after I pulled you from the water?”

“I remember seeing you there, realizing you weren’t wearing clothes.” She shrugged. “That’s it.”

Daniel nodded. “I was nude because I had to change form once I’d dragged you to shore. You weren’t breathing, and flippers are a sorry substitute for hands.”

Ellie gawked at him. “You honestly expect me to believe that?”

He ignored her. “After I managed to revive you, your father found us. You soaking wet and passed out in the sand, with me hovering over you, sans clothing. He had my sealskin in his hand. Your father just gave it back to me and scooped you into his arms. He told me to get dressed and come up to the house, like what had happened was something he was used to, an everyday occurrence.”

Sounds like Papa.
“What happened when you got to the cottage?”

“He said he knew about selkies and other sea folk and that all legends have a basis in fact. He asked me to stay behind when they sailed, that he had a more important job for someone with my special skills.”

Realization widened Ellie’s eyes. “Skipper.” She chewed her lip.
Am I really buying this?

“Aye, Skipper. He asked me to stay behind and watch over you, keep you safe and occupied until it was time for you to go away to school.”

Ellie’s stomach knotted. “My father hired you to be my friend?” Tears crested her lashes.
Was my entire childhood a lie?
“Why would he do that?”

“I think he was scared, El. He knew you couldn’t stay away from the sea, so I was the perfect coastal diversion.”

She buried her face in her hands. “I can’t believe this. All this time…all the things I told you. My dreams, wishes…last night.” Last night she’d given herself to a man who’d been lying to her for half her life. Ellie let out a sob. “How could you?”

Daniel closed the remaining distance between them and gathered her into his arms. “I wanted to tell you the truth, but I was afraid you’d never forgive me for the deception.”

His warmth enveloped her, and his scent tantalized her nose. The urge to burrow into him, accept the soothing comfort of his embrace welled within her. With the sting of humiliation still rippling through her limbs, Ellie shoved herself free of his arms. Her chest ached. “Don’t you dare touch me.” She took a few steps backward. “Ever again.” Tears burned down her cheeks.

She spun on her heel and ran as fast as her legs would carry her, trying to outrun the pain shooting arrows into her heart, threatening to shatter it into splinters. She heard Daniel call her name from what seemed like miles away, but she didn’t let up until she reached the top of the bluffs.

Chest heaving, she swiped the tears away with the back of her hand. Her gaze darted from the front door to her bedroom window.
Mama might be up by now.

Ellie slunk across the yard to the window. She pushed it open and climbed through head first, grunting as she wiggled her legs. After a brief struggle, she slithered through the opening and rolled onto her bedroom floor. She stared at the ceiling as she lay there, panting and wondered how she managed to be so daft for so damned long.
Have I always been a complete taffard?

***

Daniel stood outside the cottage door, staring a hole in the wood. His fingers balled and flexed at his sides.
I need that skin.

He took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

Mrs. Winters swung the portal open, a smile lighting her face. “Just in time for breakfast. Flat cakes and sausage. Come in, come in.” She swiveled away from the door, heading back toward the kitchen.

“Thanks, but I can’t stay. I’ve got to catch the coach in a few hours.” He stepped across the threshold, eyes sweeping the room for Ellie. “Is Ellie about? I need to speak with her before I go.”

“She’s still sleeping. Sit, have some coffee and I’ll fetch her for you.” Mrs. Winters wiped her hands on her apron and spun about, crossing to Ellie’s door.

I hope to hell she’s in there.

She turned the latch while tapping on the door with a fingernail. “Ellie, honey? Are you awake?” Mrs. Winters pushed the portal open and disappeared inside.

Daniel assumed the silence that followed was a fair indication that Ellie had made it back to the safety of her bedroom.

The aroma of fresh coffee enticed him into the kitchen. He pulled open a cabinet door and grabbed a mug from the shelf. With a twist of his body and a step to the left, he was at the hearth. Daniel poured a hot cup of steaming brew and brought the mug to his lips. The liquid scorched a warm trail to his stomach.

He heard the click of the bedroom door and flipped his gaze in that direction over the rim of his cup.

Ellie emerged first, trailed closely by her mother, who scurried the short distance to her own room. “Excuse me,” she muttered before ducking inside and shutting the door.

Daniel took in Ellie’s seething form, hands on her hips and fire sparking from her stormy blue eyes. She’d changed into a dry nightgown.

“What do you want?”

He set the mug on the table and took a step toward her.

“Oh, no, you don’t. Stay there. The further you are away from me right now, the better.”

Daniel’s feet froze in place. He held his hands up in surrender. The image of her wrapped in passion’s splendor came unbidden to his mind, causing his heart rate to jump.
How did this go so wrong?
He huffed a breath. “I still need that skin back, Ellie.”

A shadow crossed her features and her arms dropped to her sides.

Disappointment?

“Fine.” Ellie spun about and crossed back into her room, emerging moments later with his skin draped over her arm. She balled it up and threw it at him. “Take it and get out. If you don’t hurry, you’ll miss your coach.”

Daniel snatched the skin from the air before it smacked him in the face. Unlike the last time his skin had been thrown at him, and the ugly hate he’d seen in his own father’s eyes, Daniel couldn’t recall Ellie looking more beautiful. She stood with arms folded over her heaving chest, blue fire in her eyes. She practically vibrated with anger.

Before he could utter a word, Ellie whirled around, stomped back into her room and slammed the door so hard the cottage walls shook.

Clutching the skin to his chest, Daniel just stared at the closed door. He warred with himself over whether or not to charge into her bedroom and beg her to forgive him, or do what she’d insisted and just leave. After a few moments of silent contemplation, he tucked the hide under his arm, turned and stalked from the cottage.

Maybe a little time apart is what we both need.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Ellie sat bent over a stack of paperwork in the shipping office double-checking figures and balance sheets, fingers tangled in her hair. She extracted her hands from the stress-snarled strands and peered out the front window. The bustling Newquay wharf lay just beyond the glass, taunting her with its proximity.

She sighed and stretched the sore muscles of her neck. It’d been three and a half weeks since she’d last seen Daniel. His trip to see the magistrate was only supposed to take two weeks at most. Things were not going according to her plans and it had begun to make her quite irritable.

To add insult to injury, she’d received word the new mainmast would be arriving tomorrow, six days ahead of schedule. With no Daniel, there was also no Nelson, since she’d charged him with following her fiancé to Truro. Ellie needed them both to return before she could even consider installing the replacement mast.

And I miss him.

Ellie grunted and redirected her attention to the stack of ledgers laid out before her. Deciphering her father’s shorthand had become her nemesis. While she’d managed to figure out most of it, thanks to hours of headache-inducing thought, one recurring entry continued to boggle her. Ellie had found three payments over the past year to an entry marked K.C.T., each substantial, indicating a large purchase, but she’d found no other receipts or paperwork to correspond with those initials or amounts.