Candy meets the Captain

   Carolyn Muir gathered up some of her gardening tools and headed out the door to work on the flower beds.  It was a lovely spring morning, with a warm breeze wafting in from the ocean.  Martha had gone into town to do the grocery shopping, Jonathon had headed off to the harbour to meet some friends ... Candy was SUPPOSED to have gone with him.  But as Carolyn came down the front steps of Gull Cottage, she spotted her daughter sitting hunched up on the grass under the monkey puzzle tree.
   "Candy?  What are you doing?"
   Candy idly ran some of the dirt from around the tree through her fingers.  "Nothing."
   "I've heard THAT before.  I thought you were going to town with the others."
   "No.  Mom?  Can we have a woman-to-woman talk?"
   Carolyn almost dropped her gloves, spade and fork in surprise, but strove to keep a smile from crossing her face.  Her nine-year-old- going-on-ten daughter looked so serious.  Carolyn put her things down and settled down beside Candy on the grass.
   "Sure.  Anything specific?"
   "Yeah."  Candy still didn't look at her.  "You know how Jonathon has been talking about Captain Gregg since we moved in here... and how everyone in Schooner Bay says this house is haunted?"
   "Yes, but you KNOW, Candy, that...."
   "Mom, I've felt things too.  I've told you before.  Remember when you cut down the other tree because it was too close to the house, and Jonathon said you'd chased away the Captain ... I told you then how much I love this house, and how it feels like it wanted us here.  That I wouldn't mind if Captain Gregg WAS still here?  Mom, you planted another tree for him.  He IS still here, isn't he?"
   Carolyn searched her daughter's face as she looked up at her finally.  "Yes," she admitted softly.  "But it's nothing to make you frightened..."
   "Oh, Mom, that's not what I mean!  It's just...Jonathon got to see him right away.  You see him.  Why can't I?  Why doesn't he like me, Mom?  I try to be good!  I..." suddenly Candy's pixie-like face crumpled and tears flooded her eyes, spilling down her cheeks.  "Why, Mom?"
   For a split second, Carolyn felt like shaking the Captain and screaming at him for causing her daughter so much pain.  In the next instant, she wanted to find something to say to excuse the Captain's behaviour so that Candy would feel better about not seeing him, AND not think so badly of either herself or him!
   "Candy...you have to realize..." she began speaking carefully, putting her arm around her daughter's shoulders.  "Captain Gregg lived a hundred years ago.  He was not around young girls much ... you know, I have a hunch that he's afraid of you..."
   "Confound it, woman, how many times must I tell you that I am NOT a coward!  I was many things in my day, but NEVER a coward!"
   Both Candy and Carolyn started a bit as the Captain's voice thundered at them when he appeared before them.  Candy's eyes widened as she looked.  Carolyn realized almost instantly that he was trying hard to tone down his bluster before the girl, and she again smothered a smile.
   "Candy, this is Captain Gregg...Captain Gregg, my daughter Candy."
   Candy didn't say anything, just stared wide-eyed.  Captain Gregg said, almost gently, "Nice to meet you at last, Candy.  I am NOT afraid of you, contrary to what your mother says..."
   "Then why haven't I been able to see you and hear you and talk to you before?" Candy found her voice.  "Everyone else knew you were here and even Claymore must see you, because he gets all trembly when he even hears your name!  So why not ME?"
   "You have spunk...just like your mother!"
   "Captain...." Carolyn spoke in a low, warning voice.  He ignored her, and turned his considerable charm on Candy.
   "My dear Candy, in my day, a young lady was sacrosanct...you deserve your privacy, and I would not dream of invading your "space", I believe is the term ... It is certainly none of your doing or being.  I have been wanting to get to know the members of my crew, but I wanted it to be on YOUR terms.  I had to know when YOU were ready to see and hear me.  Jonathon is a boy ... I couldn't frighten him.  And I didn't WANT to frighten you ... so, I waited.  I truly did not mean to cause you such pain of heart.  I trust you will understand.  And I should not have burst in on you like this, but when your mother said I was afraid...!"  He shook his head and turned away, muttering, "Women!".  Then he vanished from their sight.
   Candy gulped.  "Does he come and go like that all the time?"
   "Pretty much." Carolyn admitted.  She gave her daughter a quick hug.  "Better now that you've met him?"
   "I guess.  He's...not really what I expected, from Jonathon's stories.  Does he yell at you all the time?"
   Carolyn shrugged.  "We have our moments...."
   "You know, Mom..." Candy was quiet for a moment, thinking, then she looked up and her grin lit up her face.  "I think you were right.  I bet he WAS afraid of me!"
   Carolyn laughed, and confided, "I think so too!"