Read Online A Cornish Stranger by Liz Fenwick - Free Book Online Page A

everything revolved around her, even though her birth had taken his beloved. That was love. Jaunty looked at Gabriella and those eyes followed her.
    The boat came fully into the creek and Jaunty waved to the sailor.
    â€˜Do you know him?’ Gabriella squinted.
    The dying rays of the sun caught the curl of his hair, making it appear golden. Alex. All moisture drained from Jaunty’s mouth. He’s come for me. But, ‘No, it just seemed the thing to do when he glanced this way.’
    The man in the boat waved back. A light breeze picked up and the incoming tide took him up the creek. He disappeared from view and Jaunty found her thoughts travelling with him.
    The day had been warm when she and Alex had tied up to the quay and scrambled up to the cabin, for then it was truly a cabin. Had she known what would happen? Yes. It was all so clear, even now. She licked her lips, remembering the taste of him, and yet she couldn’t recall the taste of the sausage she’d just eaten. Still, at least she remembered she’d eaten it. She shook her head. She needed to focus on the here and now with Gabriella. She owed that to her.
    â€˜Lovely dinner.’
    Gabriella laughed and put another sausage on Jaunty’s plate.
    Jaunty pushed it with her fork. ‘It was. Food always tastes better outside and beside the water. There’s a freshness to it.’
    Gabriella shook her head. ‘If I’d pulled a few fish out of the creek and cooked them then I might agree, but supermarket sausages and bagged salad? I think not.’
    â€˜You have no romance in you.’
    â€˜In fact, you are right.’ Gabriella looked away, blinking.
    â€˜Why?’ The word slipped out and now she couldn’t take it back. Gabriella stared at her.
    â€˜I . . .’ Gabriella stopped. ‘Never mind.’ She stood and poured water over the burning charcoal.
    Jaunty put her hand out to stop Gabriella but she was just out of reach. Then she opened her mouth to speak but no words came out. Pain stabbed her chest. She sputtered.
    Gabriella swung around. ‘Jaunty!’ She fell to her knees and took Jaunty’s pulse. ‘Cough,’ she commanded.
    Jaunty tried to oblige and some sound emerged. But she wasn’t having a heart attack. It was a different pain, an unfixable one.
    Â 
    Jaunty swatted Gabe away. ‘Don’t fuss. There’s nothing wrong.’
    Gabe didn’t believe her.
    â€˜Clear up these things and let me be.’ Jaunty waved her hand at the remains of their dinner but Gabe grabbed Jaunty’s wrist and felt for her pulse. It was normal and regular. Maybe Jaunty was right and she was fussing unnecessarily. God, she must relax, but it was not something she was good at any more.
    Placing Jaunty’s plate back in front of her, Gabe cleared everything except that and the barbecue, which could wait until tomorrow morning. Scolding herself for arguing with Jaunty, Gabe climbed back to the cabin, reminding herself that she and Jaunty hadn’t lived together for years. It was bound to take some time for them to adjust to each other.
    Gabe turned and looked down to the quay before it was out of view. Her grandmother sat holding her wine, staring at the boat with the red sails that was leaving the cradle of the creek. In the cabin Gabe deposited the dishes in the sink and sighed. She needed to treasure each moment with Jaunty, not lose them in worry.
    Halfway down to the quay she heard Jaunty laughing, but not her normal laugh. It was lighter, higher pitched. In fact, if Gabe didn’t know better, she would call it playful. What on earth had caused it? Jaunty was alone on the quay, after all.
    â€˜Your boat is beautiful and in such fine condition for an old lugger.’
    â€˜Yes, Jezebel has been well loved and in my family since the twenties,’ a deep male voice replied. Gabe went rigid as she reached the last step on to the quay. Her grandmother was chatting to