Wild Embrace

“Yes, soon,” Elizabeth said, her voice bitter. She hugged herself, her gaze sweeping around her. The moon was high now, lighting everything with its silver light. Elizabeth could see that the whole face of the country seemed covered with trees, with huge, looming bluffs making up the sides of the Sound.

Her gaze shifted upward and she shivered when she looked at the monstrosity of a house that she would soon be entering. Tremendous in size, with its towers and turrets and rough stone construction, it stood high on a cliff, protected by a grotesque, iron fence.

Its great stone edifice overlooking the waters of the Sound looked like some unblinking, unmoving sentinel. She had been told that it had survived Indian attacks, two earthquakes, and a fire.

Trees crowded around the dark bulk of the house, crackling in the wind.

“I know the house seems grim,” Earl said, following her gaze, then looking back at her again, seeing her disapproval—even traces of fright in her wide, green eyes. “But it has to do for now. One day soon we’ll replace it with a new one. But first, let me make this the greatest seaport in the Pacific Northwest.”

Elizabeth moved her eyes to her father, wondering about a man who already had so much money he could retire to live comfortably for the rest of his life, yet hungered for more. Anyone that looked at him could see that he was a man of wealth. Tall and thin, he wore his clothes well. Tonight he sported a tan suit with a gold satin, embroidered waistcoat, and a white ascot with a diamond stickpin in its velvet folds. His golden brown hair was clipped immaculately to his collar line, his golden mustache was bold and thick, hiding his upper lip.

His eyes were the same soft green coloring as hers, yet in them were no warmth—no feeling.

“Elizabeth,” he said, nodding toward the Sound, “there’s no other place like this on the face of the earth. The water’s alive with fish. And as I’ve told you before, salmon is the prime catch. We’ll pay the Indians to catch ’em, and we’ll sell ’em at a greater profit.”

“Father, what if the Indians don’t agree to catch the salmon for you?” Elizabeth asked softly. “They will surely look to you as an intruder. Most are still angry over having been forced to live on reservations.”

“Not all Indians live on reservations,” he said matter-of-factly. “There are some who weren’t tricked by treaties. It’s these free Indians that I plan to approach—that I plan to take my offer to.”

“That doesn’t seem like good logic, Father,” Elizabeth argued. “If they couldn’t be paid off then, why would you think they could be paid off now?”

“Things were different then,” Earl scoffed. “It’s a new day, a new time. Surely the Indians are more sensible in their thinking now and will be able to see a good way to make a profit when it is shown to them in black and white. All men want to make money, even Indians.”

Elizabeth didn’t respond, having never won an argument with her father in her entire life. She could not help but think that he was perhaps the most bullheaded man in the world.

“I hope you’re right,” she said sullenly. “I’ve sacrificed enough for this new idea of yours that is supposed to make you wealthier. I found it very hard to say a final farewell to my friends in San Francisco.”

Earl embraced Elizabeth again. “Baby, you’re going to inherit all of this one day,” he said huskily. “It’ll be worth the sacrifice of leavin’ friends behind.” He patted her on the back. “You’ll see. You’ll see.”

Elizabeth slipped her arms about him, this time relishing this moment of closeness. She knew that it would be short-lived. She had seen her father looking nervously at the activity of the crew on the ship and the pier. He wanted to join them.

“Perhaps something good will come of this move after all, Father,” she murmured. “If you establish a business here on land, you won’t be out at sea as often. I so worried about you when you took those long sea voyages. I’m glad you are no longer planning to carry cargo as far as China. Now the ships will come to you.”

“Baby, had I not gone to China, how could you have boasted of having some of the finest silk dresses in San Francisco?” Earl teased. He pulled away from her arms. “You know there won’t ever be as fine a fabric hauled aboard my ship again, don’t you?”

“Yes, I know,” Elizabeth said, slipping her hands inside her cape, to smooth them along the skirt of her silk dress. “But I truly don’t care. I’d much rather have you than any foolish silk fabric brought from China.”

She wanted to shout at him, saying that had he not gone to all corners of the world, neglecting his wife for his business, his wife might have never fled for a better life elsewhere. Her mother was surely with a man who now catered to her every whim. As Elizabeth could recall, her mother had been absolutely, ravishingly beautiful.

But Elizabeth thought better of mentioning her mother now, seeing no need to spoil her father’s mood.

She had already done that, time and time again.

Earl cast another nervous glance toward his ship and his eager crew. He watched as the last of the trunks were placed on the pier.

Then he again looked into Elizabeth’s troubled eyes. “Baby, I really must get back to the ship. The men are awaiting my orders. They are almost as anxious as I am to begin building the fishery. We are going to begin as soon as the supplies are sorted out and ready.” He placed a gentle hand on Elizabeth’s cheek. “I’ll be gone more than I’ll be seein’ you, but I’ll be up at the house lookin’ in on you from time to time.”

He grew frustrated when he could tell that she still did not understand any of this. Why couldn’t she see that it was imperative to get his fishery built as soon as possible?

“But, Father, even after you go and make the Indians an offer, what will happen if they don’t agree to catch the salmon for you?” Elizabeth asked, fear gripping her when she gazed up at the massive fence that had been erected around the house. Indians were the cause. Elizabeth’s father had told her that many years ago a whaling captain had been determined to have his house on this land that overlooked the Sound. For some unknown reason the Indians had not wanted the house built on that site. They had first killed several of those who had built it, and then had tried to burn it.

The captain had not let anything, even Indians, stop him.

Now another man, just as determined and stubborn, had taken possession of the house and land, and Elizabeth had to wonder what she truly had to fear, since she was this man’s daughter and had to live there, also.

“Indians are driven to find means of survival just the same as the white man,” Earl said, shrugging. “Most are dirt poor and will surely be happy to hear the clink of coins in their pockets after I pay their wages. That will keep ’em in line. You’ll see.”

Earl went to his waiting servants. He eyed them speculatively, then began handing out orders. One by one they turned and began dragging their trunks up a briar-laden path that led to the house.