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“At our age we can’t afford to dither, so we’re just going to do it.”
Harrison looked between Raven and his son. “I hope we have your blessings.”
“Not that it will matter,” Hazel cracked, smiling.
“Of course you do,” Raven replied sincerely.
“Mine as well,” Braxton said.
Raven knew her mother still had feelings for Harrison, but hadn’t expected this outcome. “Congratulations, Mama,” she said, giving her a strong hug. Over the years, her mother had made so many personal sacrifices. She deserved happiness.
“We’ll keep this a secret for now and celebrate once the Charleston job is done.”
Raven agreed.
“We’ll see you two in Charleston,” Hazel said in parting.
They exited the library, and Raven was left alone with Steele.
“That was certainly unexpected.”
“Very.”
“So, are you speaking to me now?” he asked.
“I suppose I’ll have to considering we’ll be man and wife starting tomorrow, but I’m doing it under protest.”
His smile replied and hers responded. He then asked seriously, “Are you worried about Charleston?”
She nodded. “I always worry when I start a new job. So much can go wrong, but I try not to let it overwhelm me. I usually don’t get much sleep the night before though.”
“I’d offer to help if I knew what you needed to make things less worrisome.”
There was a sincerity in his tone and mannershe found touching. “There’s really nothing for it,” she replied, determined to not let him affect her any more than he already had. “I’ll be better once it all begins.”
“Then how about we sit somewhere and maybe just talk to take your mind off things?”
She’d never had anyone offer to shoulder her burden this way. Usually, she’d spend the night before a job lying in bed tossing and turning while wrestling with all the many ways she and her cousins could be exposed and arrested. This job for Welch would be their last, and she was glad because she was weary. “Sure, but you have to promise to keep your lips to yourself.”
“Understood.”
She didn’t trust him for a minute. “Let’s go sit outside.”
It was a breezy night, and fast-moving clouds periodically raced across the moon. She hoped it didn’t mean a storm was on the way. Train travel was always a challenge. Heavy rain would only make the journey to Charleston that much more arduous.
Braxton sat silent while she stood leaning on her elbows on the railing, looking out at the night. It never occurred to him that she’d be uneasy heading into a gambit. He just assumed she’d be brazen and cocky, but apparently he’d been wrong. Were her family members equally concerned about the outcomes? Did they have trouble sleeping, too?
She glanced back at him. “Tell me a cabin boy story.”
It was a surprising topic of conversation. Rather than wonder why she’d chosen it, he honored the request. “My first voyage was a short trip to Baltimore, and I was seasick the entire time there and back.”
She turned, startled.
“I was completely miserable, and being sick made the trip seem to last an eternity. Once I returned home, I had no interest in setting foot on a boat ever again, but my grandfather insisted the only way to cure me was to make me sail again.”
“Did your parents agree?”
“They did, but if they hadn’t, it wouldn’t have made a difference. My grandfather ruled our lives, and if he said up was down, no one corrected him.”
