The Captain of Her Heart

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  For two days Kyrah stewed over how to tell Ritcherd what she’d done, and the horrible situation she’d gotten herself into. Daisy continued to work long hours, and Kyrah didn’t have any opportunity to discuss her dilemma and get some advice. But in her heart she didn’t need advice. She knew what she needed to do. She just had to look him in the eye and tell him. It was as simple as that.

  She went to bed with her mind made up that first thing in the morning she would just walk down to the pier, walk aboard the Phoenix and talk to him. But she woke up not feeling well and stayed in bed, hoping more rest would help. By late morning she realized that her labor had started, and her concerns shifted with the reality of the pain. She was grateful to know that Daisy would stop in for a few minutes between shifts, and she had promised that no matter what kind of trouble she got into at work she would be with Kyrah if the baby came before she left port. While she was waiting for Daisy to come, she pondered having her take a message to Ritcherd. Suddenly the idea of bringing his baby into the world without him seemed terrifying. But she was hurting too badly to move very far, and no message ever got written.

  When Daisy arrived she flew into a calm frenzy, making certain that everything was prepared. Faced with the reality of giving birth, Kyrah counted her blessings once again in having Daisy’s friendship. She’d helped deliver a number of babies in her day, and Kyrah felt a lot better about having Daisy’s help rather than soliciting the only doctor available—a man reputedly careless and insensitive.

  Outside it began to pour, and Kyrah decided it was best not to send Daisy walking to the pier in the rain, especially when she was afraid to be alone. She found some comfort in knowing that Captain Garret would tell Ritcherd where she was, and with any luck, he would tell him soon. While she had made up her mind to tell him herself, she wondered if it might be better this way. As the pain intensified, she put all her effort into praying that Ritcherd might come to help

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  her through this. Of course she knew she could do it without him. She could do whatever she had to. But she wanted him beside her. She wanted to feel her hand in his and know that he still loved her. If Ritcherd Buchanan loved her, nothing else mattered.