Read Online The Royal Handmaid by Gilbert Morris - Free Book Online

was one of the most capable men he had ever met. Starting with a single truck, he had built one of the largest trucking firms in the United States. His lifelong fight against his competitors and the endless government regulations had left its mark on him. But even so, the weariness and apprehension that were apparent just now seemed unusual to Travis. The younger man sought for words to bring some comfort, and finally he said, “She’s a strong young lady, Mr. Matthews. She’ll be all right. We’ll all be all right.”
    “I’m afraid Rena hasn’t been too kind toward you, Travis. I hate to say it, but I believe she’s a bit of a snob. I’m glad you’re willing to go despite her attitude.”
    “I’m glad just to be allowed to go,” Travis remarked. He smiled then, and his teeth shone white against the bronze of his face. “But I promise you I’ll keep an eye out for her.”
    “Good. I’d appreciate that.”
    As the two stood talking Rena left the group in the bow and came toward them with determination. “Travis,” shesnapped, “go down and help the professor shift his things around. Some of the boxes are pretty heavy.”
    “Sure, Miss Rena.”
    Loren watched the lanky young man as he left. “You shouldn’t be so curt with him, Rena.”
    Surprise raised her eyebrows. “Curt? Why, Dad, I was just telling him what to do.”
    “I don’t think you realize how harsh you are sometimes. It’s a bad time to be bringing it up, but I wish I’d see a little more gentleness in you, especially toward those who are under your authority now.”
    Rena stared at her father. “Daddy, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    “You’ve always had everything you’ve wanted, Rena. Maybe I made a mistake doing that. You’ve got too much pride.” He smiled ruefully. “Too late to get into that now when it’s time to say good-bye.”
    Rena was taken aback by her father’s declaration. She had always been highly sensitive to anything he said. Since she had lost her mother, she had clung to her father, and now her hurt was apparent as she came closer and rested her hand on his arm. “You think I’m mean and cruel?”
    “Of course not! Just—well, a little thoughtless. I guess it comes from having too much money and too much beauty. Maybe you couldn’t have been any different with all of that. I couldn’t do anything about your beauty, of course, but I suppose I didn’t have to give you everything you wanted.”
    The smile had left Rena’s face completely now. She pulled her hand back and tried to speak. Seeing her obvious distress, Loren put his arms around her and drew her close. “Don’t pay any attention to me. I’m just an old grouch. You’re going to do fine, Rena.”
    She leaned her head against him and rested there. “I don’t know what I would have done without you, Daddy,” she said. “You’re all I have in the world.”
    “I haven’t been the best father.”
    “You have too! Don’t say such things!”
    With no other children, Loren had poured himself into this young woman, and now as she clung to him, he leaned down and kissed the top of her head and could think of nothing to say. She was headed into a world he knew nothing about, and he felt as if a cord were being cut. It brought him intense sadness—but he knew he could not show it.
    “Here, now, this is no way to say good-bye.” He grinned at her. “Come along. I’ve got to tell Caleb to make you mind while you’re out of my sight.”
    “You go see him, Daddy. I want to check that everything is stowed away properly.”
    Captain Barkley emerged as Rena left. “A good day for sailing,” the captain greeted. “I wish you were going.”
    “So do I, but this voyage is for young people.”
    “That Professor Dekker is only a few years younger than you are, and he’s going.”
    “He may come to regret his decision. I can’t do the things I could do when I was thirty.”
    “Neither can I,” Captain Barkley said,