"The Artist"

(With Denise Gagne)

Carolyn threw a stick for Scruffy to chase, and continued to walk along the beach, her thoughts on her new article. She heard Scruffy barking up ahead behind an old stone wall. It was his "I've found something new" bark, with a hint of hysteria in it.

As she picked her way over the rocks scattered on the shore at that point, Carolyn heard a man's laughing voice saying, "It's all right, dog, I'm not an enemy..."

Not recognizing the voice, Carolyn hesitated a moment, then went on. Up ahead, Scruffy was bouncing and barking around a tall, dark-haired stranger who was holding a sketch pad and pencil in his hands. He looked up when he saw Carolyn coming, and broke into a cheerful grin.

"Hello!" he called. "Do you belong to this valiant pup?"

"I guess you could say that." smiled Carolyn as she drew closer.   "Scruffy, stop that!"

"Apt name." the man commented.

"My children named him that." Carolyn laughed. "It DOES suit him, doesn't it?"  She saw his eyes roam over her face, and drop to the wedding ring on her left hand. Then he looked directly at her again. "I'm Luke. Luke Tillich." and he held out his hand.

"Carolyn Muir." she responded, shaking hands.

"I've rented the little cottage up there," and he gestured behind them, "for the next few months."

"Oh? We're neighbours, then. We live further down the road at Gull Cottage. We rent from Claymore Gregg as well. Yours is the cottage that the artist was staying in last year ... Mr. Frank?

Norbert?"

"That's right. Actually, he's the one who told me about the place. I know him. When he heard I was wanting to get away from the city for ... personal reasons, he mentioned Schooner Bay and this cottage."

"Have YOU a Moby Dick too?" Carolyn looked at Scruffy, now busy sniffing the man's shoes.

"What?" he looked confused.

"I mean, Sheila. A dog."

"Oh! No, I don't." Luke still looked puzzled.

"That's how Mr. Frank and I met ... his dog ran away and stayed with us a few days ... then Scruffy ran away and stayed with HIM until we found out where he was!"

"No dogs for me, I'm afraid." His eyes were intent on her face, and she began to feel a little uncomfortable. "Mrs. Muir, I don't mean to be forward, but do you know you have excellent bones?"

"Bones?"

"Your facial structure. You are beautiful! An artist's dream! I'd like to paint you, if I may."

"Well, I..."

"It would entail a bit of sitting ... please, Mrs. Muir? You could do a lot of story planning and sometimes even write things down when I don't need absolute stillness..."

"How do you know I write, Mr. Tillich?" Carolyn's eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at him.

"I'm an artist, Mrs. Muir. I'm paid to notice things. Like the ink stains on your fingers."

Carolyn looked at her clean hands in surprise, then back at Luke. She laughed. "I use a typewriter. What other things?"

"Names." he confessed. "I read your story, Maiden Voyage, and when Norbert told me about meeting you here, I knew I had to come."

Carolyn felt herself blushing at the mention of the Captain's rather risque story which had been published under her name. Luke took her left hand in his gently.

"Carolyn... I MAY call you that, mayn't I?... I must be honest. I had to get away from the city, and I wanted to meet you ... and now that I have seen you, I MUST paint you. Please! Your husband will surely like the picture. I can show you both a couple of other portraits I've done so you know my style."

"Well, I..." Carolyn stammered a little, quite unsure about this whole thing.

"Please, just let me show you! I'll even just do a quick sketch of you here, now, to prove I'm sincere!" Luke dropped her hand, caught up his sketch pad and pencil, and in short order had sketched in her face ... right down to the skepticism in her eyes!   He ripped off the sheet and presented it to her with a flourish.  "Take this home ... I'm sure your husband will love it and will be willing to allow me to use you as my model. Please, Carolyn!"

Carolyn accepted the paper pressed into her hand, looking at it for a moment in silence. Then she raised her eyes to his. "If I decide I'm willing to sit for you, how long would it take?"

"About a week or so. Depends on whether or not I find the right position quickly. I'll do a number of pencil sketches, then start the portrait from one of them."

Chewing her lip as she thought, Carolyn said, "And I can still jot down ideas I get while I'm sitting?"

"Except for when I'm doing your hands, or your face in detail. It mostly entails being with me a lot. Of course, your husband is welcome to come along with you sometimes. Or all the time!"

"That won't be necessary." Carolyn murmured. At his questioning look, she added, "I'm a widow."

"Oh. Oh! I'm terribly sorry! Norbert didn't mention that ... I understood you lived with a sea captain ..."

"Norbert hardly knew me." Carolyn pointed out. "Our dogs saw more of each other than we did." How on earth had Mr. Frank known about Captain Gregg?

Luke frowned. "I'm sure he said something about hearing in Schooner Bay something about Mrs. Muir's Captain being quite jealous... Even Mr. Gregg, when he gave me the keys to my cottage, warned me to stay well away from Gull Cottage. I didn't want to ask him why, but..."

"He knows I value my privacy." Carolyn said quickly. "As a writer, I don't like being disturbed too often. The isolation up here is ideal for my writing, AND my family."

"Family? Oh yes, two children, right?"

"Mr. Frank was certainly thorough talking about me, wasn't he?" Carolyn wasn't at all sure she was happy about her private affairs being discussed by two strangers.

"Not thorough enough if he thought your husband was still alive. Unless... he didn't just die in the last few months, did he?" suddenly Luke looked stricken.

"No." Carolyn said absently. She looked up the cliffs and over at Gull Cottage, wondering if the Captain were following her progress with his telescope as he was wont to do on many occasions. What would he think of her having her portrait painted? Maybe she could commission Luke, if indeed the portrait turned out as well as the sketch portended, to paint her one which she could then present to the Captain as a gift? What a wonderful idea! She always had so much trouble trying to decide what she could possibly give him for Christmas, or birthday, or any special occasion. Her face lit up, and she said impulsively, "I'd like to see your portraits, Mr. Tillich."

"Luke, please." he insisted, his eyes on her face. "Carolyn, I'm not sure I can do justice to you, but if you could keep this exact expression, as if you're thinking of something or someone you love very dearly, this portrait will be a smashing success!"

"Well, we'll see." Carolyn temporised, unwilling to make her decision on the spur of the moment. "When may I see the portraits?"

"Have you time now?"

Checking her watch, Carolyn nodded. "The children won't be home from school for another hour."

"Then, by all means, please come and view my etchings!" he grinned at her, exaggerating a leer for a moment. Laughing, Carolyn followed Luke up the path to the cottage he was renting, unaware that they were being watched ... The Captain, in the main cabin at Gull Cottage, was frowning ferociously as he peered through the telescope. He decided he had to follow them more closely, and in an instant dematerialized.

"After you, Carolyn!" Luke opened the door with a flourish.

"Thank you, sir!" she stepped in.

Luke went directly to another room and brought out four canvasses which he set up on the couch. Carolyn caught her breath at the sight. He was good! SO good!

"May I ask what you CHARGE for a portrait?" she asked, finally.

"Depends who it's for." Luke answered honestly.

"If I wanted one?"

"If you sit for me, and let me paint you, I will do you a smaller one as a gift."

"A miniature?"

"No." he smiled. "I meant smaller than these, which are 16 x 22. I'd give you a 12 x 16."

"Really?" Carolyn looked back at the pictures. "You're very good."

"Thank you. High praise coming from a fellow artist." he bowed to her. 

"I'm an artist with words only, and they do say one picture is worth a thousand words!" Carolyn laughed. "Yes, Mr. Tillich ... LUKE, I mean, I will sit for you. When do we start?"

The room darkened slightly as if a cloud passed over the sun, but neither noticed.

"How about tomorrow? Down at the beach. I can see you perched on a rock, the ocean spread out behind you, your hair windblown, with your chin in your hand, a pose rather reminiscent of the sculpture The Thinker ..."

"A NUDE?" Carolyn gasped in shock. Thunder shook the cottage, and violent winds blew through, opening and shutting doors and windows.

By the time Luke had rushed around and shut everything a couple of times, with Carolyn standing stiffly in the middle of the room, he was breathless.

"No..." he managed to pant out. The thunder and wind immediately lessened, but did not go away. "NO! It was the POSE I meant. I see you in something green ... a soft, mint green, if you have such a thing ... And not with your hand to your forehead, but rather under your chin so you can be gazing up as if at your love, the spirit of the sea and endless ages of waiting in your eyes..."

Carolyn opened her mouth to respond, then closed it when she found herself speechless. Finally she nodded. "All right. But may I say that you have a wonderful way with words, too?"

Luke dropped limply into a chair. "What a storm! It seemed to COME at my words... as if the weather is violently against nudity or something!"

Biting her lip, Carolyn murmured something inane about the unpredictability of the weather in Maine, her eyes sweeping the room for any further sign of the Captain. She knew he was here, and spying on her. She couldn't WAIT to get home and confront him!

At last getting away from Luke, promising to meet him on the beach in the morning wearing something green, Carolyn hurried up the road, her eyes flashing. She stormed into Gull Cottage and into the living room.

"Captain? Captain, where are you?"

"Here, as always." came the mild answer, and he appeared in the chair by the fireplace, looking relaxed and nonchalant.

"You are policing me again! I asked you to stop it!"

He sprang to his feet, fire in his eyes as well. "Madam, you seem to need a keeper at all times!! I merely let my ... annoyance ... show when that calumnious toad profaned your honour by asking you to pose for him!"

"What is wrong with posing for someone? YOU did it!" and she gestured to his portrait over the mantel.

"That was different!" he thundered.

"I fail to see how!" Carolyn's hands went to her hips and she faced him defiantly.

"Matthew Brady wasn't trying to seduce me!!" the Captain roared in frustration at her lack of understanding.

Carolyn's mouth dropped open. "Seduce! What makes you think Luke is trying to seduce me?"

"All his talk of the look of love in your eyes, the spirit of the sea, the endless ages of waiting ... Blatherskite! I know portrait  painters, madam, and I am not impressed! He will continue to talk while you sit, a captive audience for his flattery, and next thing you know, you'll be running off with him!"

"Running off with him!" Carolyn was really furious now. "Captain Gregg ...!"

"Madam, I know of what I am speaking!" he interrupted. "Just like Vanessa..." he stopped abruptly and turned away.

There was a pause. Carolyn took a deep breath, and forced herself to calm down. Then she spoke. "Vanessa?" She hadn't heard the woman's name for two years, and had almost forgotten the jealousy that surged through her when first hearing about the Captain's lost love.

The Captain said nothing. Carolyn stepped closer to him, and spoke in a quiet voice. "Captain? What about Vanessa?"

"'Tis best forgotten, Madam."

"But it isn't forgotten. Captain, please tell me." her voice was persuasive, and her eyes full of compassion when he finally turned to see her only inches from him.

His eyes looking faraway as he returned to the past, the Captain began speaking in a husky voice. "She was having her portrait painted to hang here beside mine. In her wedding finery, although the wedding was still a month off. He had first painted the miniature of her you have seen already, so we knew his work was good. While he was painting her portrait, he was laying on the flattery by the shovelsful, and before it could be finished, he took the money I had given him when commissioning him to do it, and he took my Vanessa. I heard later he had abandoned her down south somewhere after giving her several children ... she died of a fever, I believe ... and the scoundrel never married her! No artist can be trusted, Madam!"

"Captain," Carolyn said, wishing desperately she could wrap her arms around him in comfort, "I am not Vanessa, and Luke is not like that."

"How can we know that?" he gritted his teeth.

"Well, I'm not as young as Vanessa was ... and less likely to have my head turned by such ..."

"I well know you are not Vanessa, madam! I MEANT, how can we know that Luke is not trying to ..."

"Seduce me? Steal me from you?" her eyes softened, and her voice dropped. "Not possible, Captain. Believe me."

For a moment, both were immobile. They stood only inches apart, touching only with the fullness of their gaze ... yet they were together. As close as they could be.

"So! You'll tell that woman-chaser to shove off..." the Captain spoke abruptly, swinging away from her. He had given too much of himself away again, and was withdrawing from her.

"No, Captain. I'm going to sit for my portrait. I have to stand by my word, and I already told him I would." Carolyn spoke evenly. "I could try to go behind your back, although I realize that's almost impossible, but I refuse to stoop to that level. You may as well know upfront that I am doing it, whether or not you approve. He DID say I could bring my husband with me to the sittings, so I suppose you COULD come along, if you promise not to make such a ridiculous spectacle of yourself again!"

"Madam, I cannot be a spectacle, and I have never been ridiculous in my life!" Then he paused. "As for going to watch as your husband, I find that..."

Suddenly the front door slammed. "Mom? We're home!"

The Captain vanished. Carolyn made a sound of frustration in her throat, then called, "I'm in here, Candy and Jonathan!" Then she added under her breath, looking at the portrait of the Captain, "and we're not finished yet, Captain!"

Carolyn looked for the Captain after the children were in bed that night, but he refused to appear. She did not have a very restful night, and as she stood before the mirror in the morning brushing her hair, she eyed her wan appearance in disgust. Rummaging in her drawer, she found her green sweater and put it on, then a pair of dark green slacks. With makeup, she tried to hide the dark circles, and  hoped that the wind off the ocean would whip some colour into her cheeks. Luke was to meet her on the beach at 9:15.

The children went off to school, and Carolyn confessed to Martha that she was going to play hooky from writing for a while. "I'm taking up modelling." she said, airily.

Low thunder rumbled through the kitchen, and Martha looked around, then at Carolyn. "I see. And a certain someone is not impressed?"

"To put it mildly."

"On the beach, there's a good chance of rain..." Martha reminded her.

"There won't be today." Carolyn said, firmly. "Or we will pack up and be out of here so fast he won't know what hit him!"

"Hmm." Martha turned away to the sink. "Good luck."

As Carolyn went down the path to the road, the Captain appeared beside her. "You would really leave?" his voice was incredulous.  "You told me that nothing would ..."

Carolyn stopped and looked at him. "Captain, please listen to me. I want my portrait painted. Luke appears to be a very good artist, and a very nice man ..."

"And therein lies the problem." the Captain interrupted.

"I see." Carolyn started walking again. Then she stopped and swung around. "No, I DON'T see!! He's nice, Captain! What is wrong with that?"

"Nothing with the nice part. Nice is such a bland word."

"Then?"

The Captain didn't answer. Carolyn tried to understand, and suddenly it made sense. Luke was a man. A MAN. Captain Gregg was a spirit. He WAS jealous, and unsure of himself and of their relationship! Carolyn smiled to herself. Little did he know that he had nothing to fear! Although he certainly SHOULD know had he believed her words yesterday!

Beginning to walk again, Carolyn said, casually, "So you're coming today?"

"Today and every day, Madam. I'm going to make sure he won't talk you in to posing in ... inappropriate ... conditions."

"Oh, really?" she said, dryly. "And I was starting to think I could maybe become a centerfold for Playboy!"

"Playboy?"

"Never mind." Carolyn sighed. "I don't think I'm the type he'd be interested in painting nude anyway."

"It has nothing whatever to do with type, madam!"

Seeing Luke ahead on the beach, with easel set up, Carolyn walked a little faster. "Am I late?" she called.

"No, I'm afraid I was early." Luke said, as she came up to him.

"In fact, I've been here a couple of hours. I confess, I was sketching most of the night. This morning I've been putting in the background I want ... I'm hoping to work quickly on this."

"Oh, really?" Carolyn glanced at the easel.

"Please, sit over here." Luke ushered her over to a rock where he had placed a cushion. "I thought this would be more comfortable for the hours I may put you through here! I don't have to paint it in."

Laughing, Carolyn perched on the rock, and looked at Luke expectantly. "Now what?"

"Chin on hand ... so." Luke's fingers were gentle on her face as he positioned it the way he wanted.

Carolyn saw the Captain beside him, a thunderous scowl on his face as he watched. "Madam, is there any need of this ... mockery of..."

Smothering a grin, Carolyn winked at him, and the Captain's eyes opened wide with surprise. Luke was behaving very professionally, Carolyn thought. Why couldn't the Captain see that?

Luke stepped back. "Now, try to think of something to put the look back in to your face you had yesterday." and he began roughing in the canvas.

"Oh, Madam, you are indeed a picture like this. Much though I hate to admit that this sea slug is right. With the sea behind you, wearing that colour, your face is radiant." The Captain spoke softly, and Carolyn's eyes rested on his face.

Oh, how she loved him, she thought wistfully. For all his faults, for all his arrogance and swagger and ego, she loved him as much or more than he loved her.

"THAT'S IT!!" Luke exclaimed excitedly, working frantically.   "That's just the expression I want! Oh, Carolyn, you look as if you are listening to someone only you can hear, seeing visions only you can see!"

"You are." the Captain said, dryly. Carolyn's eyes telegraphed her amusement.

"This portrait will rival the Mona Lisa!" Luke crowed.

"Don't you think you're pushing it a little?" Carolyn spoke up. "I mean, you may be close to Da Vinci, but I'm hardly in the same calibre as..."

"Please, don't move! Not yet..." Luke continued working, his brow furrowed in concentration.

"Nice to be called a vision, for once. And to be able to speak to you without being answered back." the Captain teased Carolyn lightly.

"Let's see, to keep that glorious expression on your face, what shall I say?"

Somewhat alarmed, Carolyn could feel her cheeks reddening under his gaze.

"'Behold, you are beautiful, my love, behold, you are beautiful'," the Captain quoted. "'Your lips are like a scarlet thread, and your mouth is lovely ... you have ravished my heart with a glance of your eyes ..."

Carolyn's eyes widened slightly. The Captain grinned and bowed, "Quoting from King Solomon, my dear. Delicious love poetry. Some rather strange, of course, comparing hair to flocks of goats, teeth like a flock of ewes, ... 'Your rounded thighs are like jewels, the work of a master hand. Your navel is a rounded bowl that never lacks mixed wine. Your belly is a heap of wheat, encircled with lilies. Your two breasts..."

"Luke, how long must I say nothing?" Carolyn burst out, rudely but deliberately interrupting the Captain.

"A few more minutes..." came the absent-minded answer.

"Would that I could know the truth of the King's words 'and your kisses are like the best wine that goes down smoothly, gliding over lips and teeth'," the Captain continued wickedly.

Seeing out of the corner of her eye that Luke was looking down, rummaging through a bag he had brought for something, Carolyn hissed at the Captain, "Please stop!"

"Oh, but Madam, you know I'm not really here. I'm just a vision YOU can see and hear that no one else can. And isn't it far better to be listening to words from the Good Book as opposed to any that blasted artist fellow might say? I'm merely keeping your mind attuned to higher matters."

Resigning herself to being a captive audience, Carolyn nevertheless signalled her intentions of dealing with the Captain later. Then she tried to tune out his words, gazing through him in a manner she knew he very much disliked. Sure enough, he quietened right down.

"All done for now!" Luke came up to her, smiling, with a pad in his hand. "Here, I thought I'd show you what I was working on all night.  You have a very expressive face, Carolyn."

Carolyn accepted the sketchbook with a smile and began turning the pages. "You did this from memory?" she exclaimed, seeing herself portrayed in so many ways by such a skillful hand.

"Yes."

She examined each sketch carefully. When she started to turn to the last page, Luke made a motion as if to take the book back. "Uhh, wait..." he began.

But it was too late. Carolyn gasped as she saw herself displayed as well as any Playboy bunny could be. Suddenly a splash of water landed right on the page, the wind came up and wet sand was splattered across the pad, completely obliterating the image. Thunder crashed as  the Captain voiced his anger at Luke's portrayal.

"Just how were you going to do my portrait?" Carolyn asked evenly, as she ripped the offending, ruined page out of the book and crumpled it, handing Luke back the rest of the pad.

He looked almost miserable. "Not nude. I promised. Come and see for yourself. I'm sorry, Carolyn, about that one lapse ... I'd forgotten it was in there until just before you turned the page. I won't do it again."

"Ever?" she said sternly, getting to her feet, and stuffing the crumpled paper in her pocket.

"Ever." he sighed. Then he perked up. "But you must admit, it's a good picture, isn't it?"

"Well, it shows you have a good imagination." Carolyn conceded.   "Although I'm not sure I want to continue sitting for you if I think you are mentally undressing me!"

"I KNOW I don't want it to continue!" growled the Captain.

Carolyn walked over to the easel and looked at what Luke had done so far. It was superb, rough though it was. "It's ... it's wonderful, Luke."

"Easy, with such a lovely subject." he said gallantly.

"But ... well ... you really don't need me to sit anymore, do you?" Carolyn said. "I mean, from what you have here ... and from your imagination! ... you can finish this without me. I find I really don't have as much time as I thought I might ..." She looked over and saw the Captain grinning broadly at her. He gave her the thumbs up sign, and disappeared. She hoped he had gone back to Gull Cottage.   "And, Luke, I'd really appreciate it if you could paint me one? I'd like to give it to someone as a gift. I'm willing to pay..."

"Nonsense!" Luke said. "I told you I'd do one, and I will. I'll get right on it, as soon as I'm done this. And Carolyn, thank you."

"For?" she inquired.

"Forgiving me?" he smiled.

"All right. You are forgiven. And now I really must get back to work myself. You'll let me know about the portrait?"

"As soon as it's finished."

"Thanks, Luke. Goodbye."

"Oh, wait, Carolyn!"

She turned and looked at him inquiringly. He came up to her again. "Carolyn, I just want to look once more at your eyes, to get the colour right..." Taking her face in his hands, he tilted up her face to his.

Smiling, and feeling a little foolish, Carolyn looked at him, studying the colour of his eyes even as he was examining hers. He drew her closer still, and she read the intention in his eyes even before he acted. Slowly, so that she could pull away any time, Luke bent his face to hers and touched her lips with a light kiss. Almost instinctively, Carolyn's eyes closed, and the pressure on her lips increased. Carolyn responded, curious to see if he could affect her the way even the thought of the Captain did, but she felt nothing. It was pleasant enough, but he was not Daniel Gregg...

At that thought, she stiffened slightly, signifying her desire to be released. Luke promptly stepped back. "I'm sorry again, Carolyn.  I couldn't help myself. You are more intoxicating than I imagined."

"Luke..." she started.

"It's all right." Luke held up his hand and smiled crookedly. "You don't have to say anything. I'll let you know when I'm finished. Promise."

"Thank you." Carolyn turned. "Good-bye, Luke, for now."

"Bye." He watched her walk away, then turned back to his easel, and picked up his brush with a sigh.

When Carolyn got back to Gull Cottage, she went right up to her room. The Captain was at his telescope.

"Madam, I was wondering if I could ask a favour of you."

"A favour?"

"Yes. Could I possibly have that piece of paper you have in your pocket?"

"What?" She felt in her slacks, and pulled out the crumpled sketch. "You want THIS?" Her cheeks flushed crimson. "It's ruined! You already spoiled it with water and sand ... and anyway, it's indecent!"

"My dear," he said tenderly, "nothing with your sweet image on it could be called indecent. As for it being ruined..." With a flick of his fingers, he prised the paper from her fingers. It straightened out magically, and he blew on it gently, removing the sand and drying it off. "See? Good as new!" he waved it at her.

Carolyn lunged forward to snatch it from his hand, but he disappeared with a mocking laugh.

"Ooohh!" her frustration gave vent, then Carolyn slumped into her chair at her desk. "One of these days, Captain ...."

* * * * *

One morning, a week and a half after Carolyn's sitting, a car pulled up to Gull Cottage just as the school bus took off. Carolyn, waving goodbye to the children, waited at the open door and smiled at Luke as he got out of the car.

"Busy this morning, Carolyn?" he called.

She put her hand to her forehead dramatically. "EVERY day!" Then she grinned. "But I'll gladly take time off. Why?"

"I'd like to show you the finished portrait ... and treat you to coffee. Umm, may I come in?"

At that point Carolyn realized he was still standing by the gate.  She flushed. "Oh, I... yes, of course, Luke. Come in."

He came up the walk and took her hand, kissing it. "I'll act like an artist today ... I've watched some old movies and learning how to do it." Still holding her hand, he studied her face for a moment.

"What is it?" she asked. "A smudge on my cheek?"

"Just checking to see if I painted your eyes the right colour." he laughed.

Carolyn smiled. "Would you like coffee? I think Martha has enough left..."

"No, thank you. I was serious about treating you. Actually, I was just wondering if I could take a quick peek into Gull Cottage. Having heard so much about it from Norbert ... AND from coffee row at Norrie's! Tell me, is it really haunted?"

Pulling her hand from his, Carolyn turned away, forcing a laugh. "What makes you think I would live in a haunted house? Sounds rather creepy. The kitchen is there, the living room here ... it's really not a very large house..."

Luke walked into the living room and looked around. "Very nautical." he murmured. His gaze was caught and held by the Captain's in the portrait over the mantel. "Hmm, THIS is the Captain they talk about in Schooner Bay?"

"Yes, it is." Carolyn was rather uncomfortable, wondering just where Captain Gregg was. "He built Gull Cottage over a hundred years ago."

"So I understand. Quite a man, your Captain."

"M-MY Captain?" Carolyn couldn't keep the stammer out of her voice. "Why do you say that?"

Luke shrugged. "You live here, in his house. Just a figure of speech. Gull Cottage is rather what I expected to see. Thank you for letting me in even this far."

"Well, there really isn't much more to see ... bedrooms upstairs."   Carolyn stood her ground. She didn't know if Luke was hinting to go upstairs or not, but it was not going to happen.

"So, can you come for coffee?" Luke swung back to her from his perusal of the room.

"I ... I'd like that." Carolyn still was not sure of herself around Luke, but if it meant getting him out of Gull Cottage before the Captain was aware of his presence, OR of her leaving, all the better!

She hurried into the laundry room to tell Martha where she was going, then joined Luke at the front door, grabbing her purse from the desk in the front hall.  "Do I need a sweater?" she asked him.

"No ... we won't go to the beach. You know, Carolyn, I was pleased with the portrait until this moment."

"Why?" she looked at him, seeing his eyes warm with admiration.

"If possible, you are even more beautiful this morning than you were last week. You have a sort of glow about you... an aura of being surrounded by love..."

Chuckling, Carolyn went down the walk quickly. "You ARE a flatterer, aren't you? What do you want this time, Luke?"

"Not a thing. Well, except for a bit of time with you." he amended quickly.

"You've got it." She got in the car and he shut the door behind her, then hurried around to the driver's side.  "Are we going to Norrie's? Or for an ice cream?"

"Neither. Luke's Fine Coffee Emporium. Oh, and Art Gallery."

"Sounds good."

"I wanted to ask you down for supper last night, actually, but after my faux pas the other day with the nude sketch, I figured you'd turn me down flat. I really am sorry, Carolyn. I just thought I'd tell you, so far I've kept my word, and haven't done another."

"So far?" she asked, half laughing, half serious.

"Right. So far. But it's hard. It's really hard. That's another reason I thought I'd stick to a morning rendezvous. A candlelight supper would have really taxed my strength of mind. Of course, if you WANT to pose for me..." he pulled up at his place and grinned at her eagerly.

"That's enough, Luke. I'm here for coffee, remember?" Carolyn spoke sternly, but with a twinkle in her eyes. She was enjoying sparring lightheartedly with Luke. In some ways, it was unfortunate he was only here for a few months. Of course, he couldn't compare with the Captain in ANY way, except for the fact that he was alive!

But for simple companionship, it was easier to flirt lightly with someone for whom she didn't harbour such deep feelings! She had good talks with the Captain, but it was sometimes difficult to keep her emotions in check.

"Coffee first, or portrait first?" Luke asked.

"I guess it depends. Will I still WANT coffee after I see what you have done?"

"Guaranteed satisfaction, my dear!" he said.

Unexpectedly, the words 'my dear' jolted Carolyn. She had grown used to hearing them spoken with a resonant brogue. But she shook off thoughts of the Captain. Knowing him, if she thought about him too much, he just might appear again in Luke's house!

Luke went in to the other room, and came out with two canvasses. "Mine is done, too?" Carolyn asked in surprise.

"Indeed yes. I believe I mentioned before that you are an artist's dream?"

"Right." Carolyn scoffed.

Luke set up the paintings, and Carolyn was immobile as she looked at them. They were wonderful. He had flattered her far too much, of course, but ...

"Madam," came an unmistakable voice softly in her ear. "I must concede that you were right. You needed to have your portrait painted by this man."

"What do you think?" Luke turned to her.

Carolyn's eyes wandered over both paintings, noting the slight differences mostly in the background colours of the ocean. In the smaller, she was looking slightly away, and in the larger, directly at the viewer.

Luke caught her chin in his hand and peered into her eyes again, then compared them to the portraits. "Yes, I do believe I got the exact colour!" he crowed joyfully.

Slowly Carolyn's hands came up to cover his, and she looked at him rather than the paintings. "Luke, I honestly don't know what to say..."

"Maybe the time for saying anything is past?" Luke was suddenly serious.

"I don't like this course, madam!" the Captain rumbled.

"Luke, thank you." Carolyn breathed, and she went on tiptoe and touched her lips to his.

The rumble in the room intensified, and Luke raised his head.  "Storms again! Yet the sun was shining so brightly in a cloudless sky! I guess I'd better put the coffee on before we lose our power!"

He hurried into the kitchen. Carolyn rounded on the Captain. "What do you think you're doing?" she hissed.

"Protecting you from him, of course! He KISSED you, madam!"

"Correction, Captain. I kissed HIM!" Carolyn's glance dropped to the Captain's lips, and pain shot into her eyes. She turned away.   "Please, Captain. I MUST lead my own life. You cannot keep monitoring my actions. Go back to Gull Cottage. I will be all right. I promise." She swung back, and spoke urgently to him, "I TOLD you before that nothing and no one can steal me away from you ...from Gull Cottage! Please, Captain?"

Luke appeared at that moment, and Carolyn smiled shakily at him.  "I can't believe you finished these portraits so quickly." She went over to them to study them more closely.

"Well, I had incentive to finish. There's a show coming up in New York that I want to enter ... and I wasn't sure I'd be back here, so wanted to get yours done at the same time." Luke spoke soberly, not looking at her, but rather at his paintings. Then he looked up, flashing a grin. "They ARE good, aren't they?"

"Very good." Carolyn agreed. "I can't just take the one, Luke.   It's too ... You have to let me pay for it."

Laughing, Luke teased, "You don't have enough money, Carolyn. I'm a world-famous artist, or WILL be after this next show with your portrait!"

"But you can't..."

"Coffee's ready." he interrupted her. "Come into the kitchen."

They visited over coffee, then Carolyn pushed away from the table rather regretfully. "I'm afraid I have to get back, Luke. My typewriter is calling ... I can hear it from here!"

"I'll carry this out to the car ... I'd wrap it, but I'm afraid it's still a little wet, and I'd hate to have anything happen to it."

"Luke, are you SURE...?" Carolyn began.

"Carolyn, I have never been more sure ... although I WILL take another kiss for payment..." he turned to her suddenly, his  handtrailing down her cheek to her lips. Then his mouth was on hers again.

Carolyn waited for the thunder, the lightening, the wind ... but nothing happened. Nothing. It was eerie.

Lifting his head, Luke sighed. "There's someone else, isn't there, Carolyn?"

Biting her lip, Carolyn nodded softly. "Yes."

"I should have known. Well, let's get this home. I assume this is a present for him?"

Carolyn nodded.

"Tell him HE can exact the payment for it which I would have loved." Luke said, half seriously.

"I wish he could." murmured Carolyn longingly under her breath.

"What?"

"Oh, nothing." she said, hastily.

Luke placed the smaller portrait in the back seat of the car, and took Carolyn home, not even coming in. Instead, he waved and drove off with a spin of tires. Carolyn took the portrait into the living room, and stood looking around, wondering where it could or should be hung. She heard Martha in the kitchen, and was about to call her when the Captain appeared.

"Madam." he spoke softly. "That is a lovely portrait."

"Thank you."

"What did he charge?"

Frowning her puzzlement at the Captain's rather blunt question, Carolyn eyed him suspiciously. "He didn't."

"Not a thing?"

"Well..." she flashed a glance at him, "he took a kiss for it."

"And?" the Captain prompted.

"You don't mind about the kiss?" Carolyn was surprised.

"Madam, it was hardly earthshaking if he immediately knew that you were in love with someone else!" he was impatient.

"Ah HAH!" Carolyn was triumphant. "You WERE still there!"

"I confess I hadn't quite managed to vacate the premises... and I thank you for the wish that I could exact the proper payment."

Carolyn could feel the blush creeping up her cheeks. "You are so sure this portrait is for you?"

"For who else, madam?" he was sure of himself and of her. "But I will not insist it be hung in the wheelhouse. It might be nice to have it down here near mine ..."

"So kind of you." Carolyn said.

"After all, I have his sketch of you to look at in the wheelhouse." the Captain continued wickedly.

"Captain!"

"Of course, that sketch is missing a certain mole on the side of your..."

"CAPTAIN GREGG!!!" Carolyn's cheeks were fiery red. "What are you ...? How do you know ...? OH! I can't believe we're having this conversation!" she spun away and fled up the stairs, his mocking laughter trailing her all the way.