Book Series: The Buchanan Saga
Publishing Date: 2004
Author: Anita Stansfield
Publisher: Crosswalk Books
Category: Historical Romance
Point of View: Third Person Limited: Kyrah and Ritcherd
Chapter Count: 12
Page Count: 312
Point of View: Third Person Limited: Kyrah and Ritcherd
Chapter Count: 12
Page Count: 312
For my son, Steven…For
the smile that lights your eyes, and the happiness that has always surrounded
you. You are one of God’s greatest gifts to me, and to all who know you.
Like she did with musical group Double and their one-hit wonder for the first book, this sequel's title was also inspired by a musical group, Mr. Mister, who at least had two hits.
So...why didn't Anita title this book "Broken Wings" or name her main female character "Kyrie?"
Prologue
Blah blah blah, Kyrah and Richerd love each other but were torn apart, blah blah blah, everything you just read in the previous book summarized in four pages, blah, blah, blah.
Chapter 1 Broken Wings
The Colony of Virginia-1780 (Thank you, Anita, for FINALLY revealing where the fictional town of Hedgeton is!)
Ritcherd is appalled after Daisy tells him the state in which she first found Kyrah-beaten to a pulp and abandoned by that jerk who married her. Like any good Anita Stansfield character, he presses a hand over his mouth before falling apart in a good cry. Then he falls asleep.
Kyrah and Ritcherd have another long talk, wasting many pages catching each other up on a story the reader already knows. Naturally, a great deal of emotional angst is also involved.
Daisy has been in and out of the scene, tending both Kyrah and the baby and Ritcherd thanks God for her, for his life, for all the miracles they've experienced in finding each other.
A few days pass before Kyrah accidentally slips Peter's name in the conversation. Ritcherd stops cold. She married PETER WESTMAN?!!!
Ritcherd leaves the cottage to find a lawyer. Emergency divorce proceedings must begin immediately. When he gets back, Kyrah tells him the name she picked out to call her baby.
She wants to name her daughter after this bird,
This is an Avocet. That's right, Kyrah wants her daughter to be called Avocet. Parents can be so mean. Thank heavens Avocet will be known as "Cetty" for the remainder of this book and hopefully for the rest of her life.
Poor Cetty.
Chapter 2 The Escape
Fearing Peter might return and ruin everything, Ritcherd and Kyrah are packed and ready to go when Kyrah suddenly wakes up in the middle of the night. Something's wrong! She hurries to the other bedroom and wakes Ritcherd telling him to get his pistol. She can't explain it but somehow she just knows Peter is back. At that very moment there's a noise outside the front of the house, someone putting a key in the lock (Guess Kyrah and Ritcherd moved back to the original cottage where Peter brought Kyrah after their sham marriage).
Ritcherd confronts Peter who laughs him to scorn. Kyrah is HIS wife and this is HIS house. Peter has already assumed the child Kyrah was carrying died. Nobody bothers to correct him. Ritcherd offers Peter double whatever Jeanette bribed him. Peter would rather know Kyrah, like literally. Clutching the pistol, Ritcherd clubs Peter over the head for that remark. Peter drops like a stone. Ritcherd and Kyrah summon a carriage to find a room in town. Now that Peter is back in their lives, Ritcherd wants Kyrah to tell him, once and for all, why she married that man? Kryah bursts into tears and repeats what we already know-he spoke flattering words, told her Ritcherd would never come for her and didn't care about her. AND SHE BELIEVED HIM!
Unable to pour her heart out any more, Kyrah gets up and leaves the room, just as she was getting to the good parts. Ritcherd slams a fist into a pillow in frustration.
Next morning, Kryah talks again with Ritcherd, sharing her true feelings about Peter when Garret suddenly arrives. Their ship is ready and waiting to carry them safely away. Ritcherd carries Kyrah (already holding Cetty) down the stairs of the boardinghouse, because it's the romantic thing to do. Gerret tries not to be too envious. Ritcherd also carries Kyrah on board the Phoenix while Gerret is stuck with the baby. George is delighted to welcome them both. Nobody really cares.
The true bromance here is between Ritcherd and Garret who just dumped Daisy because, while she's a fine girl and would make a good wife, his love, his lady, is the sea (DOO-do-dot-DOO-do-do-do). Actually it's Kyrah but he's not ready to tell Ritcherd that...yet.
Chapter 3 The Duel
After a few weeks at sea, Kyrah grows restless. Ritcherd has become distant, spending more time fencing and hanging out with his fellow pirate buddies and barely speaking to her. She and Garret have a long heart to heart talk. Kyrah recalls her flutters of attraction at this tall, dark, handsome, strong, silent type who is such a good listener and full of wisdom. Kyrah sees the reciprocated feelings in his eyes. Before she can start another long speech about how Ritcherd will always be her soul mate, Garret stops her. Taking her hand, he comes right out and says it. He's in love with her. The respect he has for both of them means he will spend the rest of his life pining away for Kyrah in the friend zone. Tears run down Kyrah's face, Garret tenderly wipes them away.
Then Ritcherd walks in.
Garret excuses himself. Kyrah also leaves the room, unable to face the love triangle. Days pass and Ritcherd continues to avoid both of them while Garret and Kyrah laugh and chat like nothing's wrong. Kyrah has another cry in Garret's arms.
Again, Ritcherd walks in on them.
This time he punches Garret. Kyrah orders Garret out and slaps Ritcherd for being so immature and selfish. Many pages pass as they pour their hearts out to each other and reconcile. Kyrah mostly lecturing Ritcherd about true love and marriage. At least Garret knows a little something about self control, unlike Ritcherd who took advantage of her. (Ouch! Hitting a little below the belt there aren't you, Kyrah?) The baby wakes up before Ritcherd can think of good rebuttal and Kyrah feeds her. Ritcherd has a quick chat with Garret, challenging him to a duel. Like Kyrah, Garret tells him to man up. Besides, if he were to kill Ritcherd in a silly duel, both know Kyrah would never forgive him. Ritcherd returns to the room. He and Kyrah then spend several more pages in long, boring conversation, rehashing many of the same issues we're already very familiar with. Naturally a great deal of emotional angst is involved. Talk about a dysfunctional relationship. They end with more "I love yous" but this issue isn't over yet.
Chapter 4 The Border
Ritcherd hides in his room for three days, refusing food or water and screaming at anyone who enters to go away and leave him alone. Kyrah and Garret wring their hands and look at each other. They are both praying for Ritcherd. The rest of the crew probably are too because everyone knows how religious a pirate's life can be. Kyrah finally begs Garret to go in there and force Ritcherd to open up and share his feelings. But Ritcherd would rather lay on his side, staring blankly at the wall, wishing he were dead. Garret hauls him to his feet and punches him. He reminds Ritcherd he has a responsibility both to Kryah, who loves him and the baby he fathered. Having said his piece, Garret leaves. Kyrah is next on his list for more comfort and heart-to-heart talks. Then it's back to Ritcherd who cries on Garret's shoulder with more heart-to-heart talk.
Garret is clearly a glutton for punishment.
Finally, after a night of prayer and deep reflection, Ritcherd allows Garret to bring him fresh water so he can wash up, face Kyrah, and they can have another talk. This time it's for real. Ritcherd is ready to be a real man to Kyrah, to start fresh as of this moment, forgetting their past mistakes and all the heartache they've suffered. Kyrah emerges to tell Garret, pacing in the hall like an expectant father, that Ritcherd crossed the border of his depression and is going to pull through. Everything's going to be all right.
Now, can we PLEASE get on with this story?
Chapter 5 Consumed By Fire
At peace with life and the world, Ritcherd takes Cetty for a little stroll on the deck one night. The soft sea air suddenly interrupted by a cry from the crow's nest. Enemy ship approaching! Flying the same Jolly Roger pirate flag as the Phoenix.
It's Peter Westman, of course, come to claim what's his. His men board the ship and, just like something out of an Errol Flynn film, a great sword fight commences above while Kyrah and Cetty huddle in their cabin below. A fire breaks out and while Ritcherd and Garret are busy fighting both it and the enemy, Ritcherd sees one of the filthy men carrying a screaming Kyrah away. Pulling out his pistol, he fires low. The man drops Kyrah and he and Ritcherd rush each other, Ritcherd with his sword drawn but the pistol finds its mark, hitting Ritcherd in his upper thigh. He falls. Garret finishes the captor off, running his sword through his belly. Kyrah is free! She runs to Ritcherd, begging him to stay alive while Ritcherd groans. Garret kneels by Ritcherd's side. Peter Westman calls out from the Libertatia (the same ship used in Kyrah's kidnapping) that while the two captains may have won this time, he'll be back!
Hardly a victory for the Phoenix with the fire barely contained and Ritcherd bleeding all over the deck. Garret and the rest of the men who survived the attack, carry Ritcherd back to his cabin where the ship's doctor operates. Kyrah, after calming a screaming Cetty who was left alone all this time, assists in the procedure. Ritcherd will be okay.
Kyrah helps Garret tend the wounded up on deck. That's when Garret learns why Peter Westman was specifically after Kyrah. He had no idea! The thought of Kyrah married to that lowlife scum makes him sick. Garret also tells Kyrah about his history with Peter, how he was the one responsible for sinking their last ship, killing helpless men without a thought, like John Sloane, Garret's best friend, before he met Ritcherd.
Narration follows Garret as he paces around the deck, reflecting on how much damage Peter Westman has done to so many lives. He especially remembers the day of John Sloane's death. John had been witness to an unfortunate card game in which some foolish man had lost everything he had. John had proof that Peter Westman had cheated. He also had a promissory note the man had put down in one last desperate attempt to win everything back-five thousand Pounds. John discreetly picked up that note, later threatening Peter but Peter had someone follow John and shoot him before he could alert the authorities. As John lay dying, he passed on all this information to Garret who pulls out the promissory note and wonders who this "Stephen Page" as the name is spelled rather poorly in hastily written script could possibly be and if he's still alive.
Gee, I wonder!
Chapter 6 To England's Shore
Kyrah attends the sunrise funeral service where six men are laid to rest in the cold sea. Garret presides and Kyrah marvels over how this good man could be so single?
A few days pass. Ritcherd is up and about using a cane. Kyrah sits doing her part mending sails, a hat shading her head from the glaring sun. Cetty coos under her own little tent on deck. Finally the new sails are ready to be hoisted into place on the repaired main mast. Garret calls, "Raise the sheets!" and we roll our eyes because obviously Anita Stansfield has never seen The Ghost and Mrs. Muir who sighs over how romantic a sailor's life must be, "With the sheets billowing in the wind,"
"Sails, confound it!" snaps Rex Harrison who plays the ghost of a sailor in the film. "Sheets are line, rope." And he's right. Anita made this same mistake in the last book (p. 192). If you're going to be a writer, for heaven's sake, do your homework!
Ritcherd continues his convalescence. He is resting one evening as Kyrah with Cetty walks on deck with Garret who sighs forlornly how he wishes he could marry her and...
Kyrah protests before realizing his intent. See, Garret is legally a ship's captain with full power and authority to marry them, if Kyrah wasn't already sporting another man's name. It wouldn't be a REAL wedding but it might help in their healing process. Think of it as a rehearsal. Kyrah cries, touched at such an offer. They tell Ritcherd who likes the idea too. It's official, the ceremony will be held tomorrow morning, sunrise. Of course the entire crew attends to witness the pretend marriage of Ritcherd Christopher Buchanan and Kyrah Elizabeth Payne (Westman). Till death do they part. George was best man as well as ring bearer.
Everyone proceeds to the galley where the cook stayed up all night preparing a fine wedding breakfast for all. That night, Ritcherd and Kyrah continue to keep separate beds. So they won't...you know...be tempted or anything!
No wonder Desert Book wouldn't publish this manuscript.
In a later scene, with just days to go until reaching England, Ritcherd notices Kyrah wearing a wedding ring but...it's not HIS ring, the one he gave her at their mock ceremony. Kyrah admits she's never worn Peter's ring. Until now. She's doing this as a reminder that until she is free of Peter, she must act the part of his wife. If only to keep down the gossip. Everyone will learn her awkward situation soon enough once they arrive in Cornwall. Both realize today is their one year anniversary when Ritcherd asked Kyrah to marry him. Both want to weep at the irony. They kiss instead.
Chapter 7 Captive
Kyrah can't wait to surprise her mother. Sarah almost has a heart attack when she answers the door of her humble cottage to find Ritcherd standing there, alone. A carriage parked out front. Ritcherd teases her saying while he didn't find Kyrah, who went and got married but never mind that, he met another girl. And he wants Sarah to meet her! Her name is Cetty and she is Sarah's granddaughter. Sarah weeps for joy at the sight of her long lost daughter and the new baby.
The three adults stay up all night swapping stories. Sarah is not very impressed when she learns who Kyrah married. She is glad both are abstaining from sharing a bed until this mess can be legally resolved by marriage. The cottage has a loft which Ritcherd will take. He has no intention of facing his mother. Not yet.
First thing next day, they visit Ritcherd's solicitor who is not very encouraging or helpful. In this day and age where a woman is a man's legal property, divorce is nigh impossible. Kyrah starts to freak out. Ritcherd calms her down. The solicitor's only advice is to tell Ritcherd to return to Virginia and wait for all this to blow over. Bribery is out of the question. Peter Westman is the legally recognized husband. That's the law. And there's nothing the law can do to force a man to be kind to a woman and treat her well. Eyes wide open before marriage and all that.
They go back to Sarah and give her the bad news. Peter Peter wife beater cannot himself be beaten but they will continue to hope and pray that, somehow, God will open a way for a divorce!
Chapter 8 Gossip
Ritcherd knows he can't put it off any longer. He has to face his mother sooner or later. Jeanette actually looks relieved to see him whole and safe when she enters the drawing room. Ritcherd informs her of "Mrs. Westman's" ordeal-she's holding up remarkably well considering the hell she was put through. Jeanette closes her eyes as if suffering pain of consciousness. Could it be this woman actually has a heart? Ritcherd leaves feeling hope. He returns to the cottage and reports the entire conversation to Kyrah and her mother.
A special deliveryfrom Victoria's Secret arrives for "Mrs. Westman" from her loving husband, Peter. Furious at such a sick joke, Ritcherd throws the satin and lace teddy back in the box then storms out to pay a little visit to Mr. Westman. They pretty much have the same conversation from Chapter 2. Ritcherd has to leave before he actually does the decent thing and shoots Peter. He goes back to the cottage and takes Kyrah to town on a shopping spree. When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping!
They encounter lots of looks and snide remarks in town. Kyrah is also reluctant to spend Ritcherd's money when she is not his wife. Ritcherd later shows her a will he had drawn up in which she was left sole heir of everything.
Sunday arrives. With more awkward whispers and glances before the service starts, Ritcherd asks the vicar if he could take a few minutes at the conclusion of his sermon before leading Kyrah and Sarah to his own family pew. To their surprise, Jeanette, who went inactive and hasn't attended a service in years decided today would be a good day to come back to the fold. In a quiet, humble voice she asks if she might join them. Silently, the small family slides over. After the sermon Ritcherd gets up and makes a short speech publicly confessing his sin of fathering a child out of wedlock but that he fully intends to make it right, as soon as Kyrah can get a divorce. He stresses that Kyrah is the victim in all of this. If a scapegoat must be found, let it be him. The congregation gasps in all the right places. Kyrah is wiping away tears of gratitude when he sits down. Everyone stands to sing a closing hymn. His mother leans over to whisper her approval adding it was wrong of Ritcherd leaving her despicable part out of the story. Ritcherd reminds her he's forgiven her. Jeanette hurries out the door as soon as the last amen is spoken.
Chapter 9 The Sky's Perspective
Sunday afternoon and evening is most pleasant with the three adults eating and resting together. Next morning a knock at the door summons Ritcherd back to his childhood home. He enters the drawing room to find Jeanette looking out the window, refusing to turn and face him. Peter Westman was here, at her invite. She did her best to persuade him to give up their cruel plot of revenge against her son and Kyrah. A baby changes everything. Peter disagreed and left his mark on her face to prove his intent. That's why Jeanette called him here, she wants to warn her son. Peter is a bully and will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Ritcherd thanks her for trying and leaves to pass the warning on to Kyrah and her mother.
Not many days later, Kyrah is alone in the house while Sarah and the baby are outside enjoying the fresh air when Peter comes calling. Kyrah sticks a paring knife in his shoulder. He backhands her then tries to kiss her. That's when Kyrah pulls out the pistol. She keeps it aimed at his head until he's well away from the house. Sarah gasps seeing Kyrah's dress and apron covered in blood. There's also no hiding the shiner from Ritcherd when he returns from his earrand in town and learns the whole story. He's very proud of her.
Chapter 10 Buried Treasure
The next day who should happen to be in the area, stopping by especially to pay them a visit, but Captain Garret. They insist he stay for dinner so they can share the Payne family tragedy and their connection with Peter Westman. Garret swallows his shock and astonishment. He KNEW there was a reason he felt inspired by God to seek them out. He and Ritcherd talk privately over a couple of pints. Garret tells Ritcherd everything John Sloane told him. They return to the cottage and ask Sarah about her late husbands' papers. Did he leave anything? Both Kyrah and Sarah admit they searched the whole house. They never thought to look in the pile of love notes and letters Stephen Payne wrote his sweet wife during their entire courtship and marriage, right up to the day he died. There's an envelope stuck under the lid of the letter box, never been opened. Ritcherd reads it aloud but the clue about love being carved into the trunk of a favorite tree and the money that might have grown there doesn't make much sense to the women.
Ritcherd and Garret know better. They go out to the garden and start digging. Buried treasure! The women squeal and cry-we're rich!
Just wait till Peter finds out.
It doesn't take long. Kyrah just happens to be alone outside, taking down clean laundry from the line when Peter greets her. Word around town spread fast about the poor Payne women suddenly coming into a great deal of money and he'd like his share. He's even ready to sign the divorce papers...if Kyrah agrees to turn it all over to him. He then threatens to harm baby Cetty if Kyrah doesn't cooperate. Seething with fear and anger, Kyrah agrees to the secret meeting, tomorrow. She must come alone and, most important, she can't tell anyone about it.
Ritcherd and Sarah return from their shopping trip. Impulsively, Kyrah declares she needs to run some errands in town as well. She just put Cetty down for her afternoon nap so she won't be missed. Later that evening, it's an early Christmas of sorts. There was something Kyrah saw in a shop in Chapter 8 that she wanted to buy Ritcherd. A lovely mirror with a ship and flying birds carved into the frame. Ritcherd also got something for Kyrah, a heart shaped pendant on a chain. Both Ritcherd and Kyrah love their gifts from each other, but the real reason Kyrah went into town today was to withdraw a certain amount of money from the bank...
Chapter 11 Absolution
Garret brings the whole gang next time he comes to dinner. Like Garret, Patrick was born a gentleman-turned-pirate. He has a wife and kids somewhere in England. We've already met George who, it turns out, likes to indulge at such gatherings making him the stereotypical drunken fool. Everyone is laughing at their bad Jack Sparrow impersonations when Ritcherd answers a knock at the door. It's his mother. He invites her into the parlor (amazing how this humble cottage just keeps growing!). Jeanette stopped by in the last chapter with a very generous offer. She wants the entire family to move in with her. Plenty of spare bedrooms and all that. Ritcherd and Sarah are open to the idea. Kyrah not so much. Ritcherd tells her their decision to wait. Jeanette understands. Ritcherd insists she come into the kitchen/dining area to meet his three best friends. Everyone gets along splendidly. Looks like the Snow Queen has finally melted. It's a miracle!
For once, Kyrah does the right thing and tells Ritcherd about her upcoming meeting with Peter which they decide to skip so they can visit Jeanette instead. She invited everyone, including the three sailors, over for dinner.
Turns out Ritcherd has a sister. Her name is Celeste. She has Ritcherd's blue eyes and her mother's dark hair. The reason we've never heard of her until now is because she's a special-needs adult. With her unusual disposition as a child, Ritcherd's parents didn't know what to do with her so they neglected her before finally sending her away with her governess, one week before Ritcherd met Kyrah. After Ritcherd threw his tantrum, then sailed off to search for Kyrah, Jeanette confesses she did some deep soul-searching. With her husband gone and her life meaningless, she sent for her special daughter and re-discovered motherhood. Ritcherd wipes away tears. Another miracle!
They take Celeste into the other room so she can meet Kyrah and Cetty. Kyrah also recognizes the miracle of the prodigal mother and is happy for Ritcherd. Garret, Patrick and George arrive and dinner is served. Once again, everyone gets along famously.
There's a valid explanation for Jeanette's vindictive attitude towards the Payne family. For years, Jeanette suspected her husband was having an affair and that Sarah was the mistress, back when she lived with her guardian. This meant Kyrah could very well be the result and that would be pretty disgusting. Sarah has a perfectly logical explanation. It was another woman. Sarah and her guardian would go out to lunch or shopping while this friend of her guardian entertained her male visitors. Sarah married Stephen shortly thereafter and they were always faithful to each other. Everyone is very relieved to learn this. Jeanette is very sorry for the misunderstanding and all is forgiven.
Chapter 12 A Matter of Honor
With the conclusion of dinner, the men and women separate, not like they do in Downton Abbey episodes but because Garret requested a drink in the drawing room and Jeanette had something she wanted to show the ladies. How surprised and shocked they all, including Jeanette, are to discover Peter Westman lying in wait for them in the hallway just outside the dining room; a gun pressed to the head of a terrified maid. He's not happy Kyrah stood him up for their meeting. He's taking his money and Kyrah with him. The women slowly back into the room they were about to exit. Peter shuts the door. Refusing any more of Jeanette's offered money, he points the gun at Kyrah. He really, really wants that money he married into.
Calling Peter's bluff, Jeanette steps in front of the gun while Kyrah prays frantically the men arrive soon and rescue them.
In the other room, the men wonder why it's gotten so quiet in there? George yanks open the door, about to yell something really lame. That's when a scream and a gunshot ring out.
The men rush in. Jeanette is down! Garret already has his sword drawn and pressed at Peter's throat. Everyone else surrounds Jeanette, working to keep her alive but it's evident she's not going to make it. Because Garret is a man of honor, he's challenging Peter to duel, right now. Stand and fight, you coward!
Garret easily wins, running Peter through the chest with his sword; he dies a rather uneventful death.
Jeanette, on the other hand, can't seem to shut up for talking. Like something out of a SNL skit, just as she's about to slip away, she comes awake gasping one last breathless request to take care of Celeste or make another speech about how proud she is of all of them. Finally she dies.
Ritcherd howls before collapsing into Kyrah's waiting arms with his grief stricken sobs.
As if this story needs any more added drama, Garret later calls on Ritcherd at Buckley manor about a week later. Turns out Garret and Ritcherd are half brothers. That woman who used Sarah's childhood cottage (the same one Sarah would later return with Kyrah) as a brothel was named Elsie Wentworth. She was Garret's mother and she did indeed conceive a bastard child with William Buchanan, Ritcherd's late father. Garret never told a soul about his connections to Ritcherd's family. Ritcherd stares in shock and anger. So that's why Garret would never tell him his last name. This changes everything!
Rircherd gets over his resentment at Garret for keeping such a secret from him all this time. They tell Kyrah and Sarah, who are very happy for them, before visiting the family solicitor. Ritcherd returns from this meeting with a thick envelope which he tosses at Kyrah. Fifty thousand pounds, courtesy of the late Peter Westman, the money Jeanette paid him to ruin their lives.
Guess Ritcherd and Kyrah can get married now. Garret had the Phoenix completely rebuilt and restored like new. He shows them the new captain's cabin, now a bridal suite for the couple's first night together as husband and wife. But they aren't sailing anywhere for a honeymoon. Garret will be taking the ship to Virginia in a day or two. He promises to say hi to Daisy for them. He also has a diamond necklace that Kyrah slipped into his things during the voyage home. He is now giving back what is rightfully hers. Ritcherd fastens it around Kyrah's neck and they kiss.
THE END
Ritcherd is appalled after Daisy tells him the state in which she first found Kyrah-beaten to a pulp and abandoned by that jerk who married her. Like any good Anita Stansfield character, he presses a hand over his mouth before falling apart in a good cry. Then he falls asleep.
Kyrah and Ritcherd have another long talk, wasting many pages catching each other up on a story the reader already knows. Naturally, a great deal of emotional angst is also involved.
Daisy has been in and out of the scene, tending both Kyrah and the baby and Ritcherd thanks God for her, for his life, for all the miracles they've experienced in finding each other.
A few days pass before Kyrah accidentally slips Peter's name in the conversation. Ritcherd stops cold. She married PETER WESTMAN?!!!
Ritcherd leaves the cottage to find a lawyer. Emergency divorce proceedings must begin immediately. When he gets back, Kyrah tells him the name she picked out to call her baby.
She wants to name her daughter after this bird,
This is an Avocet. That's right, Kyrah wants her daughter to be called Avocet. Parents can be so mean. Thank heavens Avocet will be known as "Cetty" for the remainder of this book and hopefully for the rest of her life.
Poor Cetty.
Chapter 2 The Escape
Fearing Peter might return and ruin everything, Ritcherd and Kyrah are packed and ready to go when Kyrah suddenly wakes up in the middle of the night. Something's wrong! She hurries to the other bedroom and wakes Ritcherd telling him to get his pistol. She can't explain it but somehow she just knows Peter is back. At that very moment there's a noise outside the front of the house, someone putting a key in the lock (Guess Kyrah and Ritcherd moved back to the original cottage where Peter brought Kyrah after their sham marriage).
Ritcherd confronts Peter who laughs him to scorn. Kyrah is HIS wife and this is HIS house. Peter has already assumed the child Kyrah was carrying died. Nobody bothers to correct him. Ritcherd offers Peter double whatever Jeanette bribed him. Peter would rather know Kyrah, like literally. Clutching the pistol, Ritcherd clubs Peter over the head for that remark. Peter drops like a stone. Ritcherd and Kyrah summon a carriage to find a room in town. Now that Peter is back in their lives, Ritcherd wants Kyrah to tell him, once and for all, why she married that man? Kryah bursts into tears and repeats what we already know-he spoke flattering words, told her Ritcherd would never come for her and didn't care about her. AND SHE BELIEVED HIM!
Unable to pour her heart out any more, Kyrah gets up and leaves the room, just as she was getting to the good parts. Ritcherd slams a fist into a pillow in frustration.
Next morning, Kryah talks again with Ritcherd, sharing her true feelings about Peter when Garret suddenly arrives. Their ship is ready and waiting to carry them safely away. Ritcherd carries Kyrah (already holding Cetty) down the stairs of the boardinghouse, because it's the romantic thing to do. Gerret tries not to be too envious. Ritcherd also carries Kyrah on board the Phoenix while Gerret is stuck with the baby. George is delighted to welcome them both. Nobody really cares.
The true bromance here is between Ritcherd and Garret who just dumped Daisy because, while she's a fine girl and would make a good wife, his love, his lady, is the sea (DOO-do-dot-DOO-do-do-do). Actually it's Kyrah but he's not ready to tell Ritcherd that...yet.
Chapter 3 The Duel
After a few weeks at sea, Kyrah grows restless. Ritcherd has become distant, spending more time fencing and hanging out with his fellow pirate buddies and barely speaking to her. She and Garret have a long heart to heart talk. Kyrah recalls her flutters of attraction at this tall, dark, handsome, strong, silent type who is such a good listener and full of wisdom. Kyrah sees the reciprocated feelings in his eyes. Before she can start another long speech about how Ritcherd will always be her soul mate, Garret stops her. Taking her hand, he comes right out and says it. He's in love with her. The respect he has for both of them means he will spend the rest of his life pining away for Kyrah in the friend zone. Tears run down Kyrah's face, Garret tenderly wipes them away.
Then Ritcherd walks in.
Garret excuses himself. Kyrah also leaves the room, unable to face the love triangle. Days pass and Ritcherd continues to avoid both of them while Garret and Kyrah laugh and chat like nothing's wrong. Kyrah has another cry in Garret's arms.
Again, Ritcherd walks in on them.
This time he punches Garret. Kyrah orders Garret out and slaps Ritcherd for being so immature and selfish. Many pages pass as they pour their hearts out to each other and reconcile. Kyrah mostly lecturing Ritcherd about true love and marriage. At least Garret knows a little something about self control, unlike Ritcherd who took advantage of her. (Ouch! Hitting a little below the belt there aren't you, Kyrah?) The baby wakes up before Ritcherd can think of good rebuttal and Kyrah feeds her. Ritcherd has a quick chat with Garret, challenging him to a duel. Like Kyrah, Garret tells him to man up. Besides, if he were to kill Ritcherd in a silly duel, both know Kyrah would never forgive him. Ritcherd returns to the room. He and Kyrah then spend several more pages in long, boring conversation, rehashing many of the same issues we're already very familiar with. Naturally a great deal of emotional angst is involved. Talk about a dysfunctional relationship. They end with more "I love yous" but this issue isn't over yet.
Chapter 4 The Border
Ritcherd hides in his room for three days, refusing food or water and screaming at anyone who enters to go away and leave him alone. Kyrah and Garret wring their hands and look at each other. They are both praying for Ritcherd. The rest of the crew probably are too because everyone knows how religious a pirate's life can be. Kyrah finally begs Garret to go in there and force Ritcherd to open up and share his feelings. But Ritcherd would rather lay on his side, staring blankly at the wall, wishing he were dead. Garret hauls him to his feet and punches him. He reminds Ritcherd he has a responsibility both to Kryah, who loves him and the baby he fathered. Having said his piece, Garret leaves. Kyrah is next on his list for more comfort and heart-to-heart talks. Then it's back to Ritcherd who cries on Garret's shoulder with more heart-to-heart talk.
Garret is clearly a glutton for punishment.
Finally, after a night of prayer and deep reflection, Ritcherd allows Garret to bring him fresh water so he can wash up, face Kyrah, and they can have another talk. This time it's for real. Ritcherd is ready to be a real man to Kyrah, to start fresh as of this moment, forgetting their past mistakes and all the heartache they've suffered. Kyrah emerges to tell Garret, pacing in the hall like an expectant father, that Ritcherd crossed the border of his depression and is going to pull through. Everything's going to be all right.
Now, can we PLEASE get on with this story?
Chapter 5 Consumed By Fire
At peace with life and the world, Ritcherd takes Cetty for a little stroll on the deck one night. The soft sea air suddenly interrupted by a cry from the crow's nest. Enemy ship approaching! Flying the same Jolly Roger pirate flag as the Phoenix.
It's Peter Westman, of course, come to claim what's his. His men board the ship and, just like something out of an Errol Flynn film, a great sword fight commences above while Kyrah and Cetty huddle in their cabin below. A fire breaks out and while Ritcherd and Garret are busy fighting both it and the enemy, Ritcherd sees one of the filthy men carrying a screaming Kyrah away. Pulling out his pistol, he fires low. The man drops Kyrah and he and Ritcherd rush each other, Ritcherd with his sword drawn but the pistol finds its mark, hitting Ritcherd in his upper thigh. He falls. Garret finishes the captor off, running his sword through his belly. Kyrah is free! She runs to Ritcherd, begging him to stay alive while Ritcherd groans. Garret kneels by Ritcherd's side. Peter Westman calls out from the Libertatia (the same ship used in Kyrah's kidnapping) that while the two captains may have won this time, he'll be back!
Hardly a victory for the Phoenix with the fire barely contained and Ritcherd bleeding all over the deck. Garret and the rest of the men who survived the attack, carry Ritcherd back to his cabin where the ship's doctor operates. Kyrah, after calming a screaming Cetty who was left alone all this time, assists in the procedure. Ritcherd will be okay.
Kyrah helps Garret tend the wounded up on deck. That's when Garret learns why Peter Westman was specifically after Kyrah. He had no idea! The thought of Kyrah married to that lowlife scum makes him sick. Garret also tells Kyrah about his history with Peter, how he was the one responsible for sinking their last ship, killing helpless men without a thought, like John Sloane, Garret's best friend, before he met Ritcherd.
Narration follows Garret as he paces around the deck, reflecting on how much damage Peter Westman has done to so many lives. He especially remembers the day of John Sloane's death. John had been witness to an unfortunate card game in which some foolish man had lost everything he had. John had proof that Peter Westman had cheated. He also had a promissory note the man had put down in one last desperate attempt to win everything back-five thousand Pounds. John discreetly picked up that note, later threatening Peter but Peter had someone follow John and shoot him before he could alert the authorities. As John lay dying, he passed on all this information to Garret who pulls out the promissory note and wonders who this "Stephen Page" as the name is spelled rather poorly in hastily written script could possibly be and if he's still alive.
Gee, I wonder!
Chapter 6 To England's Shore
Kyrah attends the sunrise funeral service where six men are laid to rest in the cold sea. Garret presides and Kyrah marvels over how this good man could be so single?
A few days pass. Ritcherd is up and about using a cane. Kyrah sits doing her part mending sails, a hat shading her head from the glaring sun. Cetty coos under her own little tent on deck. Finally the new sails are ready to be hoisted into place on the repaired main mast. Garret calls, "Raise the sheets!" and we roll our eyes because obviously Anita Stansfield has never seen The Ghost and Mrs. Muir who sighs over how romantic a sailor's life must be, "With the sheets billowing in the wind,"
"Sails, confound it!" snaps Rex Harrison who plays the ghost of a sailor in the film. "Sheets are line, rope." And he's right. Anita made this same mistake in the last book (p. 192). If you're going to be a writer, for heaven's sake, do your homework!
Ritcherd continues his convalescence. He is resting one evening as Kyrah with Cetty walks on deck with Garret who sighs forlornly how he wishes he could marry her and...
Kyrah protests before realizing his intent. See, Garret is legally a ship's captain with full power and authority to marry them, if Kyrah wasn't already sporting another man's name. It wouldn't be a REAL wedding but it might help in their healing process. Think of it as a rehearsal. Kyrah cries, touched at such an offer. They tell Ritcherd who likes the idea too. It's official, the ceremony will be held tomorrow morning, sunrise. Of course the entire crew attends to witness the pretend marriage of Ritcherd Christopher Buchanan and Kyrah Elizabeth Payne (Westman). Till death do they part. George was best man as well as ring bearer.
Everyone proceeds to the galley where the cook stayed up all night preparing a fine wedding breakfast for all. That night, Ritcherd and Kyrah continue to keep separate beds. So they won't...you know...be tempted or anything!
No wonder Desert Book wouldn't publish this manuscript.
In a later scene, with just days to go until reaching England, Ritcherd notices Kyrah wearing a wedding ring but...it's not HIS ring, the one he gave her at their mock ceremony. Kyrah admits she's never worn Peter's ring. Until now. She's doing this as a reminder that until she is free of Peter, she must act the part of his wife. If only to keep down the gossip. Everyone will learn her awkward situation soon enough once they arrive in Cornwall. Both realize today is their one year anniversary when Ritcherd asked Kyrah to marry him. Both want to weep at the irony. They kiss instead.
Chapter 7 Captive
Kyrah can't wait to surprise her mother. Sarah almost has a heart attack when she answers the door of her humble cottage to find Ritcherd standing there, alone. A carriage parked out front. Ritcherd teases her saying while he didn't find Kyrah, who went and got married but never mind that, he met another girl. And he wants Sarah to meet her! Her name is Cetty and she is Sarah's granddaughter. Sarah weeps for joy at the sight of her long lost daughter and the new baby.
The three adults stay up all night swapping stories. Sarah is not very impressed when she learns who Kyrah married. She is glad both are abstaining from sharing a bed until this mess can be legally resolved by marriage. The cottage has a loft which Ritcherd will take. He has no intention of facing his mother. Not yet.
First thing next day, they visit Ritcherd's solicitor who is not very encouraging or helpful. In this day and age where a woman is a man's legal property, divorce is nigh impossible. Kyrah starts to freak out. Ritcherd calms her down. The solicitor's only advice is to tell Ritcherd to return to Virginia and wait for all this to blow over. Bribery is out of the question. Peter Westman is the legally recognized husband. That's the law. And there's nothing the law can do to force a man to be kind to a woman and treat her well. Eyes wide open before marriage and all that.
They go back to Sarah and give her the bad news. Peter Peter wife beater cannot himself be beaten but they will continue to hope and pray that, somehow, God will open a way for a divorce!
Chapter 8 Gossip
Ritcherd knows he can't put it off any longer. He has to face his mother sooner or later. Jeanette actually looks relieved to see him whole and safe when she enters the drawing room. Ritcherd informs her of "Mrs. Westman's" ordeal-she's holding up remarkably well considering the hell she was put through. Jeanette closes her eyes as if suffering pain of consciousness. Could it be this woman actually has a heart? Ritcherd leaves feeling hope. He returns to the cottage and reports the entire conversation to Kyrah and her mother.
A special delivery
They encounter lots of looks and snide remarks in town. Kyrah is also reluctant to spend Ritcherd's money when she is not his wife. Ritcherd later shows her a will he had drawn up in which she was left sole heir of everything.
Sunday arrives. With more awkward whispers and glances before the service starts, Ritcherd asks the vicar if he could take a few minutes at the conclusion of his sermon before leading Kyrah and Sarah to his own family pew. To their surprise, Jeanette, who went inactive and hasn't attended a service in years decided today would be a good day to come back to the fold. In a quiet, humble voice she asks if she might join them. Silently, the small family slides over. After the sermon Ritcherd gets up and makes a short speech publicly confessing his sin of fathering a child out of wedlock but that he fully intends to make it right, as soon as Kyrah can get a divorce. He stresses that Kyrah is the victim in all of this. If a scapegoat must be found, let it be him. The congregation gasps in all the right places. Kyrah is wiping away tears of gratitude when he sits down. Everyone stands to sing a closing hymn. His mother leans over to whisper her approval adding it was wrong of Ritcherd leaving her despicable part out of the story. Ritcherd reminds her he's forgiven her. Jeanette hurries out the door as soon as the last amen is spoken.
Chapter 9 The Sky's Perspective
Sunday afternoon and evening is most pleasant with the three adults eating and resting together. Next morning a knock at the door summons Ritcherd back to his childhood home. He enters the drawing room to find Jeanette looking out the window, refusing to turn and face him. Peter Westman was here, at her invite. She did her best to persuade him to give up their cruel plot of revenge against her son and Kyrah. A baby changes everything. Peter disagreed and left his mark on her face to prove his intent. That's why Jeanette called him here, she wants to warn her son. Peter is a bully and will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Ritcherd thanks her for trying and leaves to pass the warning on to Kyrah and her mother.
Not many days later, Kyrah is alone in the house while Sarah and the baby are outside enjoying the fresh air when Peter comes calling. Kyrah sticks a paring knife in his shoulder. He backhands her then tries to kiss her. That's when Kyrah pulls out the pistol. She keeps it aimed at his head until he's well away from the house. Sarah gasps seeing Kyrah's dress and apron covered in blood. There's also no hiding the shiner from Ritcherd when he returns from his earrand in town and learns the whole story. He's very proud of her.
Chapter 10 Buried Treasure
The next day who should happen to be in the area, stopping by especially to pay them a visit, but Captain Garret. They insist he stay for dinner so they can share the Payne family tragedy and their connection with Peter Westman. Garret swallows his shock and astonishment. He KNEW there was a reason he felt inspired by God to seek them out. He and Ritcherd talk privately over a couple of pints. Garret tells Ritcherd everything John Sloane told him. They return to the cottage and ask Sarah about her late husbands' papers. Did he leave anything? Both Kyrah and Sarah admit they searched the whole house. They never thought to look in the pile of love notes and letters Stephen Payne wrote his sweet wife during their entire courtship and marriage, right up to the day he died. There's an envelope stuck under the lid of the letter box, never been opened. Ritcherd reads it aloud but the clue about love being carved into the trunk of a favorite tree and the money that might have grown there doesn't make much sense to the women.
Ritcherd and Garret know better. They go out to the garden and start digging. Buried treasure! The women squeal and cry-we're rich!
Just wait till Peter finds out.
It doesn't take long. Kyrah just happens to be alone outside, taking down clean laundry from the line when Peter greets her. Word around town spread fast about the poor Payne women suddenly coming into a great deal of money and he'd like his share. He's even ready to sign the divorce papers...if Kyrah agrees to turn it all over to him. He then threatens to harm baby Cetty if Kyrah doesn't cooperate. Seething with fear and anger, Kyrah agrees to the secret meeting, tomorrow. She must come alone and, most important, she can't tell anyone about it.
Ritcherd and Sarah return from their shopping trip. Impulsively, Kyrah declares she needs to run some errands in town as well. She just put Cetty down for her afternoon nap so she won't be missed. Later that evening, it's an early Christmas of sorts. There was something Kyrah saw in a shop in Chapter 8 that she wanted to buy Ritcherd. A lovely mirror with a ship and flying birds carved into the frame. Ritcherd also got something for Kyrah, a heart shaped pendant on a chain. Both Ritcherd and Kyrah love their gifts from each other, but the real reason Kyrah went into town today was to withdraw a certain amount of money from the bank...
Chapter 11 Absolution
Garret brings the whole gang next time he comes to dinner. Like Garret, Patrick was born a gentleman-turned-pirate. He has a wife and kids somewhere in England. We've already met George who, it turns out, likes to indulge at such gatherings making him the stereotypical drunken fool. Everyone is laughing at their bad Jack Sparrow impersonations when Ritcherd answers a knock at the door. It's his mother. He invites her into the parlor (amazing how this humble cottage just keeps growing!). Jeanette stopped by in the last chapter with a very generous offer. She wants the entire family to move in with her. Plenty of spare bedrooms and all that. Ritcherd and Sarah are open to the idea. Kyrah not so much. Ritcherd tells her their decision to wait. Jeanette understands. Ritcherd insists she come into the kitchen/dining area to meet his three best friends. Everyone gets along splendidly. Looks like the Snow Queen has finally melted. It's a miracle!
For once, Kyrah does the right thing and tells Ritcherd about her upcoming meeting with Peter which they decide to skip so they can visit Jeanette instead. She invited everyone, including the three sailors, over for dinner.
Turns out Ritcherd has a sister. Her name is Celeste. She has Ritcherd's blue eyes and her mother's dark hair. The reason we've never heard of her until now is because she's a special-needs adult. With her unusual disposition as a child, Ritcherd's parents didn't know what to do with her so they neglected her before finally sending her away with her governess, one week before Ritcherd met Kyrah. After Ritcherd threw his tantrum, then sailed off to search for Kyrah, Jeanette confesses she did some deep soul-searching. With her husband gone and her life meaningless, she sent for her special daughter and re-discovered motherhood. Ritcherd wipes away tears. Another miracle!
They take Celeste into the other room so she can meet Kyrah and Cetty. Kyrah also recognizes the miracle of the prodigal mother and is happy for Ritcherd. Garret, Patrick and George arrive and dinner is served. Once again, everyone gets along famously.
There's a valid explanation for Jeanette's vindictive attitude towards the Payne family. For years, Jeanette suspected her husband was having an affair and that Sarah was the mistress, back when she lived with her guardian. This meant Kyrah could very well be the result and that would be pretty disgusting. Sarah has a perfectly logical explanation. It was another woman. Sarah and her guardian would go out to lunch or shopping while this friend of her guardian entertained her male visitors. Sarah married Stephen shortly thereafter and they were always faithful to each other. Everyone is very relieved to learn this. Jeanette is very sorry for the misunderstanding and all is forgiven.
Chapter 12 A Matter of Honor
With the conclusion of dinner, the men and women separate, not like they do in Downton Abbey episodes but because Garret requested a drink in the drawing room and Jeanette had something she wanted to show the ladies. How surprised and shocked they all, including Jeanette, are to discover Peter Westman lying in wait for them in the hallway just outside the dining room; a gun pressed to the head of a terrified maid. He's not happy Kyrah stood him up for their meeting. He's taking his money and Kyrah with him. The women slowly back into the room they were about to exit. Peter shuts the door. Refusing any more of Jeanette's offered money, he points the gun at Kyrah. He really, really wants that money he married into.
Calling Peter's bluff, Jeanette steps in front of the gun while Kyrah prays frantically the men arrive soon and rescue them.
In the other room, the men wonder why it's gotten so quiet in there? George yanks open the door, about to yell something really lame. That's when a scream and a gunshot ring out.
The men rush in. Jeanette is down! Garret already has his sword drawn and pressed at Peter's throat. Everyone else surrounds Jeanette, working to keep her alive but it's evident she's not going to make it. Because Garret is a man of honor, he's challenging Peter to duel, right now. Stand and fight, you coward!
Garret easily wins, running Peter through the chest with his sword; he dies a rather uneventful death.
Jeanette, on the other hand, can't seem to shut up for talking. Like something out of a SNL skit, just as she's about to slip away, she comes awake gasping one last breathless request to take care of Celeste or make another speech about how proud she is of all of them. Finally she dies.
Ritcherd howls before collapsing into Kyrah's waiting arms with his grief stricken sobs.
As if this story needs any more added drama, Garret later calls on Ritcherd at Buckley manor about a week later. Turns out Garret and Ritcherd are half brothers. That woman who used Sarah's childhood cottage (the same one Sarah would later return with Kyrah) as a brothel was named Elsie Wentworth. She was Garret's mother and she did indeed conceive a bastard child with William Buchanan, Ritcherd's late father. Garret never told a soul about his connections to Ritcherd's family. Ritcherd stares in shock and anger. So that's why Garret would never tell him his last name. This changes everything!
Rircherd gets over his resentment at Garret for keeping such a secret from him all this time. They tell Kyrah and Sarah, who are very happy for them, before visiting the family solicitor. Ritcherd returns from this meeting with a thick envelope which he tosses at Kyrah. Fifty thousand pounds, courtesy of the late Peter Westman, the money Jeanette paid him to ruin their lives.
Guess Ritcherd and Kyrah can get married now. Garret had the Phoenix completely rebuilt and restored like new. He shows them the new captain's cabin, now a bridal suite for the couple's first night together as husband and wife. But they aren't sailing anywhere for a honeymoon. Garret will be taking the ship to Virginia in a day or two. He promises to say hi to Daisy for them. He also has a diamond necklace that Kyrah slipped into his things during the voyage home. He is now giving back what is rightfully hers. Ritcherd fastens it around Kyrah's neck and they kiss.
THE END
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