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

route once before. Of course that was many years
ago, and he had been driving a tugboat back then. Hauling shipping
containers full of all manner of merchandise and personal effects
bound for Alaska.
    Now, the danger was past, and the
waterway had opened up into a long, wide channel of lovely
pine-forested islands, with little coves and harbors to pull into.
Should anyone take a fancy to do that. However, the crew of
the Dreadnaught had fallen
into the comfortable routine of setting out at seven each morning
(if there wasn't a fog), and then being settled at anchor somewhere
else between six, or seven in the evening. Which was always
daylight, this time of year, because the sun rose somewhere around
five-thirty, and didn't disappear until after nine in these
northern latitudes.
    Stella was thinking about all these things
when Cole DeForio (that handsome young man Lou Edna had smuggled
aboard when they first left California, and had now become their
much-appreciated First Mate), came in looking for Millie. It wasn't
until she looked up from scattering freshly-grated Parmesan cheese
over her second layer, to tell him Millie was taking a nap, that
she noticed he had the Senator tucked under one arm as if he were a
football instead than a baby.
    “ Oh, good heavens, Cole...” She wiped
her hands on her apron and reached for the toddler. “That's no way
to--”
    But the boy was having the time of his life
(such a good-natured baby!) and gave her a big grin when she turned
him right-side up, again.
    “ I don't know anything about babies,”
the young man replied. “Only bringing him to Lou, or Millie, so
Gerald can take his turn at the wheel.”
    “ Nonsense.” Stella couldn't help
reverting to her teacher-tone at such a remark. “I can tell you
everything you need to know about them in two sentences. They're
just little people. Give them the same respect you would anyone
else and they'll love you forever.”
    “ Kid doesn't even talk, Mrs. H, what's
to respect?”
    Cole had a beautiful smile to set off his
dark hair and rugged handsomeness, and he must have known it.
Because Stella had never seen anyone who had so perfected the art
of charming others. In spite of which she was completely taken in
by him, herself. Then again, she had always had a soft spot for the
restless types, especially when their hearts held the least bit of
sensitivity toward others. Which this young man's did. Not to
mention the unashamed gratefulness he carried for Captain Stuart,
who promoted him to First Mate status, rather than sending him to
jail.
    “ The same things you respect in any
other person,” she replied. “Like holding him right-side up, for
starters. Then look him in the eye, and call him by his
name.”
    “ Senator's no name for a regular
person—especially a squirt like that.” He reached a muscular
forearm in front of her (that sported a tattoo of a ship's anchor),
to snatch some of the Parmesan she had been grating. “I don't know
what Lou was thinking to name him that. Isn't going to make things
better for him, only worse.”
    “ I'm inclined to agree with you there,
but it wasn't our decision.”
    “ Do you call him Senny, or Torry? I
don't like either.”
    “ Call him anything you want, as long
as it's nice. That's what I do.” Then, by way of demonstration, she
held the child up until his darling little face was on a level with
her her own, smiled her friendliest smile, and said, “Hi, Sonny
Boy! Would you like a cracker?”
    To which he gave a delighted squeal, and
nearly bounced out of her arms in anticipation.
    Cole laughed at the obvious answer and
ruffled the baby's dark curls. “OK. I get it. Mind keeping him a
while? Lou and I had some... uh...words, last night. We need to
talk.”
    “ I'd be happy to. I'll put him in his
high chair and give him a snack.”
    Which was exactly what Stella was busy doing
when he was back not five minutes after he disappeared down the
companionway steps, as if there was a