Sequel to THE GHOST HUNTER         Susan G.

   Captain Gregg appeared and complimented Carolyn on her handling of the "ghost hunter", but added, "However, you DID lie about never having seen a ghost.  No dessert for two weeks!"
   Carolyn was highly amused ... SHE had thought of that the night before, the moment she SAID it!  The Captain had waited until NOW to bring it up?  Teasingly she stuck out her tongue at him, her eyes alight with laughter.
   For a moment, the Captain was still.  Carolyn assumed it was sheer astonishment that she had had the temerity to DO such a thing to HIM!  She tried without success to stifle her laughter.  With a reluctant grin, the Captain relaxed. 
   "My dear lady, didn't your mother ever tell you it was rude to stick out your tongue?"
   "Of course.  I used to do it anyway." Carolyn retorted quickly.  "And it didn't seem like a lie ... I often find it hard to believe that you ARE a ghost!"  There was a short silence.  That was NOT what she really wanted to admit to him, she moaned inwardly.  She hastily added, "Besides, I thought it was considered impolite to correct a lady after she told a little white lie!"
   "Quite."  The Captain seemed bemused, looking at her as if he didn't really know who she was.  Which he didn't, of course.  Not REALLY.  How could he, after only five weeks of living together?  Then Carolyn corrected her thoughts hastily.  Not living together.  SHARING Gull Cottage.  Her agitation intensified. 
   "Don't you have some sea charts to correct or something?" she finally demanded when he remained silent.  She turned away from his intent inspection and shuffled the papers on her desk.
   "Not that need doing now, at any rate.  I wondered, Mrs. Muir, if you would care to take a walk along the beach?"
   "Now?" she was surprised.  "Why?"
   "To take a break from that infernal typing ... as a celebration of your feat.  After all, you DID manage to repel our boarders.  The second time around.  And with help from the rest of your family." he paused for a moment.  "Well, let's just say, to celebrate the return of our privacy."
   "OUR privacy?  Might I remind you, Captain, that they weren't coming here with a burning desire to see ME?"
   "Well, you could come with me as a peace offering.  After our serious quarrel the other night."
   "You're wanting to apologize?"
   "Certainly not!" he looked insulted. 
   "Of course not." she murmured.  "Sometimes in anger certain words escape that are not meant."  Then Carolyn looked directly at him.  "You know, Captain, I think we both share similar values.  We are both proud, stubborn, and, I'm afraid, quick to anger.  And we both value our privacy.  You're right.  Maybe we SHOULD celebrate its return."
   He smiled happily.  Then he looked at the papers she was still shuffling.  "Why don't you work for another hour or so, then we can go?  That way you'll get something done and won't feel as much as if you were malingering?"
   "Thank you, Captain," Carolyn spoke gratefully.  She DID want to get something done.  The last couple of days had NOT been conducive to work, what with Paul Wilkie showing up, then returning, then returning yet again and bringing two others with him.  She hadn't typed anything on her story... not since the Captain had typed his erotic line for her!  She chuckled inwardly thinking of that, and didn't even notice his departure.
   Sitting down at her desk, she put some paper into the typewriter and stared at it.  She had her story half done, and was presently at a standstill.  Last week she had managed to turn the domestic crises that seemed to have struck all at once into a wonderful story simply by writing out the adventures Jonathan and Claymore had had while following the Captain's treasure map.  She had to admit that the Captain had been right about Claymore thinking more of his wallet than of his vanity!  Still, he hadn't made it seem as if he was taking over.  He had even offered to return the bet money.  She still vividly recalled the Captain's face when she called him ‘sweet'!
   If only she had the nerve to turn THIS adventure into a story!  A  ghost story!  But she wasn't sure how to do it without making it sound as if she did indeed believe in ghosts!  And somehow Carolyn did not think an idea like that would go over too well with the general public.
   "Come on, Carolyn, THINK!" she said aloud.  "A love story!  I have half of it already... THINK!"
   She scowled at the typewriter as if expecting it to type by itself.  Suddenly the idea came to her ...  Of course!  Two people getting to know one another better ... she could write out some of the discussions she and the Captain had had.  For although a century lay between them, and many diversities, they WERE adjusting to their coexistence in Gull Cottage!  Even the Captain had admitted, in such soft, melodious tones, that this arrangement they had was not as intolerable as it first seemed!  Just remembering his voice as he said it made her quiver.  Sternly she forced those thoughts aside.  For herself, Carolyn was finding that she was able to be independent and not feel threatened by the Captain's presence in her life.  Most of the time!  Granted, the other night when she had had a lot on her mind and he had startled her as she was adjusting her blouse and skirt after reaching to close the curtains, she had been very disconcerted.  It made her wonder just how much privacy she really HAD.  After all, when she could only see him if he WISHED it, how could she possibly know whether or not he was, well, spying on her?  She hoped that when she had snapped at him about knocking or at least rattling a chain he had realized that he had to respect her need for personal privacy as well.  She HAD to feel comfortable in her own home!  Yes, he seemed to be adjusting somewhat.  As was she.  Imagine.  Adjusting to sharing a home with someone who had lived and died long before she was born! 
   She started typing.  It wasn't a romance ... not really.  Carolyn tamped down any romantic feelings she thought she might have.  How ridiculous!  Impossible to have THAT kind of feelings about a spirit!  What would everyone say?  Priding herself on her practicality, Carolyn typed up a story even SHE thought was good ... and it only took her the hour to finish it!
   "Now I can REALLY celebrate!" she said aloud as she gathered the papers together into a neat pile.  "And I'll come home and proof-read it after supper."
   Grabbing a sweater and slipping into a pair of running shoes, Carolyn ran up the stairs to the attic and knocked at the door.  No answer.  She turned and mounted the stairs to the widow's walk, and there found the Captain with his hand-held telescope, viewing the sea.     "Ah, there you are, my dear!  Ready for your walk?"
   "Yes, thank you, Captain.  And thank you for leaving me to finish the story on my own.  I realize it was an inconvenience for you not being able to use the telescope in my room."
   "Oh, well, I don't need to use it all the time.  There's actually a better view from up here." he smiled at her.  "Shall I meet you on the beach?"
   "Yes ... down by those rocks?" and she pointed.
   "Fine."
   "I'll just tell Martha where I'm going, and make sure the children will be all right when they get home from school ... in case we're not back by then."
   He raised an eyebrow, and said, "You plan on a LONG walk, Mrs. Muir?"
   "Not plan ... but anything can happen, Captain."
   "Can, and often does." he agreed.  "I'll meet you there, Mrs. Muir." and he vanished.
   Carolyn stood for a moment looking out over the ocean.  What must life on the high seas have been like for him?  Maybe she could ask ... get some ideas for a story or two ...
   Running down the stairs, Carolyn found Martha in the kitchen and told her she was going for a walk on the beach.  Scruffy instantly bounded up from his position on the rug, and stood wagging his tail and barking.  Carolyn laughed.  "All right, Scruffy, you may come with us... ME!"  She avoided Martha's gaze adroitly, and turned away.  "See you later, Martha!" 
   Scruffy danced around her, barking happily, all the way down the front walk to the gate.  They went across the road and made their way down the cliff path to the beach.  Scruffy spotted the Captain and ran towards him, Carolyn following at a more leisurely pace.
   She flashed him a smile and indicated the dog.  "My chaperone."
   Raising an eyebrow, the Captain drawled, "I'm not sure he's quite necessary.  I AM only a spirit, madam!"
   "Ah, but the spirit of a sailor ... and once a sailor, always a sailor?" Carolyn teased.
   Captain Gregg scowled.  "SEAMAN, blast it."
   "I beg your pardon?"  Carolyn looked puzzled.  Scruffy started barking just then, and before the Captain could repeat his words, Carolyn laughed again.  "Scruffy's just so glad to be out here!  As am I.  Oh, Captain, I've finished the story!"
   His face relaxed into a smile.  "I'm happy for you."
   Carolyn threw a stick for Scruffy, and started to walk along the beach, the Captain pacing at her side.  She felt the pull and push of the waves seeming to tug at her heartstrings.  Her eyes, reflecting the green of the waves, sparkled as she looked out to sea.  "It must be so wonderful to be at sea in a boat.  SHIP!" she corrected herself hastily and smiled at the Captain.  "I've never been out much.  Were you ever seasick?"
   "Me?" the Captain sounded aghast at the thought. 
   "No, of course not." she looked away, her lips twitching.  "But you do have a special walk, I've noticed... almost as if you were still striding the deck of your ship."
   "You've noticed how I walk?" he sounded interested.
   Carolyn rolled her eyes at him.  "Oh, please, Captain.  Just yesterday you were teaching Candy some ghostly noises and showing her how to thump down the stairs..." she had to distract him somehow!  This was to be a time to learn more about HIM!  She did not even want to THINK about her reaction to him and whether or not he noticed it!
   "Ah, yes."  He smiled in satisfaction.  "And she had that Wilkie character fooled!"
   "Well, he was rather gullible.  And you had already played a few tricks on him, so he was SURE you would do it again for an audience!"
   "Coming at night because he thinks I'm more active ..." the Captain muttered.  "Like a blasted owl."
   "Well, you probably WERE..." Carolyn almost said he probably HAD been more active at night while he was alive, but caught it back and finished her sentence rather lamely, "the night before when you caught him."  Scruffy was scratching away at something on the beach just ahead, so she caught up another piece of driftwood.  "Scruffy, fetch!"
and she threw it hard.  Scruffy raced after it.  Carolyn turned back to the Captain.
   "How old were you when you went to sea?" she asked, somewhat timidly, not sure if he wanted to talk about his personal life.
   "A mere lad of twelve.  I was a cabin boy." The Captain spoke after a slight hesitation.
   "Didn't your family miss you?  That would be like Candy leaving home in three years!  Jonathan would miss her terribly."
   "I had no brothers or sisters."
   "Oh, right.  You were the only son of an only son." she remembered.
   "Who...?  Oh yes, I told you that already, didn't I?"
   "But your mother?" Carolyn spoke softly.
   The Captain sighed.  "You want my family history?  My father was a man of the sea as well ... his ship was lost in a squall that came up suddenly when he was only a few days from port.  I was only six.  My mother turned against the sea at that time, and vowed I would never follow in my father's footsteps and be taken from her as he was."
   "So how did she take it when you DID leave?" Carolyn's face was full of unspoken sympathy.
   "She was already gone.  Fever.  I signed up the day after her funeral, and was fortunate enough to have a good Captain for the first few years.  I was older and able to hold my own when I had a bad Captain ... but fortunately he didn't last long.  When one has good teachers, it is easy to make something of oneself."
   "I'd say it also takes a lot of determination, perseverance, and hard work!"  Carolyn said.
   "And stubbornness." he agreed.  They both laughed.  "You had a point, madame, when you said that we both were proud, independent  people who were stubborn and quick to anger!  And we both like being alone.  Up to a point."
   "Yes." Carolyn looked at the ocean again.  "Strange how the sea, in spite of constantly moving, remains so much the same."  She was still  unwilling to discuss their relationship at this point in time, so changed the subject once more.
   Sensing her reluctance to speak of personal things, the Captain launched into some tales of the sea which enthralled Carolyn.  She listened eagerly, absently throwing the stick to Scruffy each time the dog returned it.
   Suddenly Scruffy set up a loud barking and ran to the cliff path, looking back at the two on the beach.  Carolyn looked at her watch.  "Oh, it must be the school bus!  It doesn't seem as if we've been out very long!"  She was almost disappointed, then inwardly raged at the feeling.  She MUST NOT become dependent upon Captain Gregg's company. 
   "You had better go topside, my dear ... we can have other talks." the Captain said.
   "Yes, you're right.  Thank you, Captain, for asking me out.  You were right again about needing to get away for a while."  She gave him a longing look as though she wanted to say so much more, but then bit her lip and turned away.
   "Another time, my dear?" came his silky voice from behind.
   "Certainly."  She flashed a smile back at him, then waved.  "Bye for now." and she followed Scruffy up to the house, resolutely refusing to turn back again.