Read Online Voyage of the Dreadnaught: Four Stella Madison Capers by Lilly Maytree - Free Book Online Page A

sun-warmed
pines—I could smell them wafting in through the open porthole. It
was just glorious. Made me think back to summer camp days, when I
was growing up. Funny how things of nature impress you so much more
in your youth.”
    The colonel glanced over at her with a
mild surprise—he had one of the most expressive faces she had ever
seen. Sometimes, she was sure she could tell exactly what he was
feeling without him having to say a single word. Especially when he
was working away at his writing. Now, a glint of delighted
enthusiasm came into his gray eyes, and she was sure he had hit on
a break-through, or conquered some road-block in his current
manuscript, this morning.
    “ Interesting you should
bring that up, Stel! Because I was having the very same thoughts,
myself, this morning. Young people being so impressionable, and
all.”
    “ Isn't that amazing. Only
married a month, and already we're starting to think the same
thoughts. What brought it on?”
    “ A bit of inspiration that
dropped into my mind and fit like a glove.” He set his coffee down,
put his hands on his knees with a decisive smack, and said, “My
dear, I have decided to write a book for boys!”
    Another coincidence! Wasn't she
thinking about important information being “dropped down” at vital
times, only a few minutes ago? Oliver had called it an inspiration,
and simply taken it in stride. If it truly was a piece of
information from heaven—designed especially for them—what a
wonderful way to live that would be! At least, that's how Stella
was thinking about it just then.
    “ Are you talking about one
of your hero books scaled down to a reading level for younger
people? Why, Oliver, I think that would be marvelous.” She cut a
piece of cinnamon roll off with her fork and popped in in her
mouth. “Mmm. Light, perfectly spiced, with just a touch of almond
flavor in the glaze.”
    “ I don't think they can
get any closer to perfect.”
    “ No doubt. But back to
heroes. Your stories are so good. Even more so because they're
true. I don't think children get enough truth these days. In fact,
none of us do. When I taught school, it seemed like so much that
was offered to young people was beneath them.”
    She paused for a moment, wondering,
hit on a bit of logic that seemed to fit, then continued her
thinking out loud. “I remember there was some new philosophy going
around that students had short attention spans. But you know
something? Maybe they were simply bored by things that really
didn't have any depth. And, Oliver?”
    “ Yes, keep going—I like
how our thoughts keep running in the same directions.”
    “ Well, I think boys would
find stories about heroes anything but boring. Or even too
difficult. In fact, I believe they would rise to it.”
    “ That's exactly it,
Stell—they will rise to it! Only I'm not going to write them a
story about heroes. I'm going to write one that will show them how
to become one.” Then he threw back his silver-haired head and
laughed at the sheer pleasure of the thought. It was so delightful
and catching, Stella couldn't help laughing with him.
    “ And I know just how to do
it, too!” he declared. “Because I know boys like the back of my own
hand!”

3
    At ten o'clock, Stella went into the galley
to get a start on the lasagna she would be making for dinner. The
place wasn't half as scary in the daytime. Especially with everyone
coming through on various errands, or simply to get a bit of
something to nibble on. There was a large porthole over the sink
where one could look out while chopping vegetables, or doing
dishes, and today it was so lovely it practically took her breath
away.
    They were moving through a place called
Johnstone Strait, after some particularly tricky maneuvering
through another place called the Seymour Narrows. They had to leave
an hour earlier than the usual schedule in order to catch the
narrows at slack tide. But Captain Stuart knew his stuff—he had
even taken this