Taming the Wind, page 4
“They have a retirement plan. This will free me from the pressure to take over the role. Martha, this may be our opportunity.”
The wind dropped and the sun emerged. So did Frannie, panting as she floundered in the sand. “Quick. I can get a perfect shot with the sea behind you.”
Martha’s heart raced. What would happen to Palmerston House? And Rivers End? How would it continue without the revenue and work provided by the mill?
Thomas positioned them both near the water, backs to it as Frannie directed. He wrapped his arms around Martha and the panic seeped away.
“This town will survive, sweetheart. And we will have everything we want. Trust me.” Thomas whispered to Martha, as though he had read her mind.
“Now, smile!”
Our Jetty. Always.
One year from the day they met, Thomas invited Martha to the jetty for a breakfast picnic. At least, he told her it was a picnic, then forgot to bring anything. He was early and paced the length of the jetty wondering if he had time to find some food. Coffee, seeing as they’d both taken up the habit over winter.
What if he was gone too long and she left before he returned? No. Not today. They could eat later. Go to the café and buy the most elaborate breakfast to celebrate.
What if she says no?
Halfway along the timber boards, Thomas halted. Surely, she would say yes. Of course, she would. This was nervousness.
Did I bring it?
His hand flew to his shirt pocket, reassured by the small bulge there. Calm down.
For the past week he’d kept busy with extra hours at the hotel. Anything to pass the time and avoid being too close to Martha because he was as likely to give away his secret too soon. A secret between him and George.
For George was the maker of the two most beautiful rings Thomas had ever seen. Unlike Thomas who was reluctant to embrace his father’s career for himself, George followed his predecessors with great joy. The jewellery shop was an icon in Rivers End and George its next master jeweller. It was with George’s gentle nudge he now stood here as the first rays of sunlight touched the sea. “There never will be a wedding if you don’t ask Martha to marry you.” His friend said as he gifted Thomas the rings.
She was here.
Her hair swung in a ponytail as she sprinted to the jetty. She stopped on the sand at the end of the jetty and waited as Thomas met her.
“Before you say anything, I need to ask something.” Martha bit her lip as she looked past him to the far end, where a picnic should be waiting.
“I’m listening.”
“I know you’ve had more work this week, but I wondered if I’ve done something…said something to upset you.”
“Not a thing.” He extended a hand and she took it. “Will you join me at the far end?”
“Very formal!” Martha stepped onto the jetty. “You’ve seemed distracted lately. Is it a painting?”
“I have to admit there is a painting which is impossible to finish. Almost a year old and still, parts of it are beyond my ability to perfect.”
“The one you keep under a sheet in the attic?”
“The very one.”
Water lapped against the pylons at the end of the jetty. There was little else to hear, but Thomas’ heart pounded in his ears.
“Was I meant to bring the picnic?” Martha glanced down. “Shall we sit?”
“I forgot. I was bringing it and I forgot. No. You can’t sit.” He knelt on one knee.
Martha burst into laughter. “You don’t…need to…beg forgiveness.” The laughter stopped as his hand slipped into his pocket.
His fingers fumbled.
“Thomas?”
There, he had it.
He took her left hand in his. “One year ago, I found you at this spot and was so annoyed. It was my jetty. My quiet place. And then you smiled and made space for me.”
Martha’s other hand was at her lips. They quivered. Tears glistened in those gorgeous green eyes and Thomas gulped. If she said no…
“Since then, you’ve made space for me everywhere in your life. And shown me a quiet place is possible for two…if the right people are in it. Martha Ryan, you are the love of my life. Will you marry me?”
Tears slipped down her cheeks as she nodded. “Yes. Oh, yes, Tom!”
As he stood, she threw her arms around him and he almost lost his balance. His fingers tightened around the ring which he’d yet to put on her hand and for a second he feared it would fall into the sea.
Then he righted himself and kissed her thoroughly and later, after he dried her tears, he fitted the solitaire on her finger. When they married, the ring would be joined by a band of gold, inscribed Forever Taming the Wind.
As he would spend the remainder of his life trying to do.
And So, It Begins
“You will not marry him! I forbid it.” Lilian sobbed into her hands.
“And yet, I will.” Martha was calm. She’d stayed composed throughout Lilian’s tirade about the Blake family, Martha’s lack of good judgement, and not caring for her mother’s feelings. At this point, she was uncertain if she did care about them.
“Your father is telling Dorothy to come home and reason with you. He’s in the city right now!”
“Which won’t change anything, even if she tried.” Martha sighed and flopped next to Lilian on the sofa. “Mother, please stop this. I love you.”
“Then call the wedding off.”
“We’ve not set a date for it yet. We will though before the engagement party.”
Lilian’s head shot up. “Which I will not attend.”
“I hope you change your mind. We’d prefer you are part of our lives.”
“You’ve forced me out. You and this boy.”
Martha got to her feet. “Enough, Mother. Thomas is a man, a wonderful, kind man and you should be happy for me.” She left the room, unable to bear another round of arguments.
After climbing the sweeping stairway, Martha visited Dorothy’s bedroom. This was kept ready for her even though she was clear about only returning on holidays and for special occasions. She’d never live in Palmerston House again.
“I need to be more like you.”
Martha sat on the bed and plucked a doll from the open trunk at its end. Dorothy used to sing to her dolls. Line them up on the bed and pretend they were her audience.
What would you do? How would you deal with Mother?
What her older sister did was move. Leave the little town Martha loved so much and find her own life in Melbourne. Thomas was open to travel, so they’d spend some time away after the wedding. When they returned, Mother would be accustomed to having a son-in-law, even one she didn’t approve of. And when there were grandchildren, she’d turn back into the mother she remembered before Dorothy left, the one who spoilt her second daughter.
The doll back in the trunk, Martha left the room as she found it with a soft, “Thanks.”
True to her word, Lilian refused to attend the engagement party. Even Dorothy couldn’t persuade her. Martha hadn’t expected her sister to drop everything to travel all the way home for the night, yet she had arrived in the morning and spent almost the whole day comforting their mother.
Patrick gave up asking, pleading, and promising not to drink if she attended. He apologised to Martha every time their paths crossed during the day, and then when he wandered into the hall Thomas had hired.
“She’ll come round, ye’ll see.” He kissed Martha’s cheek, shook Thomas’ hand, and found a glass of whiskey.
The hall filled with their friends. Music and laughter swept away the last of Martha’s sadness about her mother. This was their night, and nothing would spoil it.
George made announcements, Frannie kept the food table stocked, and Dorothy accepted a dance with Patrick.
The music slowed and Thomas enfolded Martha in his arms. “Enjoying this, sweetheart?”
“I think everyone’s enjoying themselves.”
“Your sister has a new friend.” Thomas rotated Martha to see.
Frannie and Dorothy sat near the table, chatting.
“They know each other. Everyone does.” Martha said.
“I didn’t know you. Not really.”
“And now you do?”
Thomas answered by kissing Martha. “Now I do.”
“I’m so happy, Tom. So happy I was on the jetty that morning.”
They’d overcome whatever twists and turns were ahead. She knew this with every breathe in her body. “I love you, Thomas Blake.”
“And I love you, Martha Ryan. Nothing will ever come between us. This, I promise.”
Content, Martha leaned her head against his chest, listening to Thomas’ steady heartbeat. “I do believe.” She whispered. “I do believe in love at first sight.” His arms tightened. This love would never be over between them.
Want to follow the story of Thomas and Martha? The Stationmaster’s Cottage
Next… The Stationmaster’s Cottage
The Stationmaster’s Cottage
Available in ebook, paperback, audiobook
About the Author
Phillipa lives just outside a beautiful town in country Victoria, Australia. She also lives in the many worlds of her imagination and stockpiles stories beside her laptop.
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Apart from her family, Phillipa’s great loves include the ocean, music, reading, the garden, and animals of all kinds.
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Books by Phillipa Nefri Clark
Rivers End Mystery Romances
The Stationmaster’s Cottage
Jasmine Sea
The Secrets of Palmerston House
The Christmas Key
Taming the Wind
Or read books 1-4 in one collection
The Rivers End Collection
The Charlotte Dean Mysteries
Deadly Start
Deadly Falls
Deadly Secrets
Deadly Past
The Giving Tree
Daphne Jones Mysteries
Till Daph Do Us Part
The Shadow of Daph
Tales of Life and Daph
Doctor Grok’s Peculiar Shop Short Story Collection
(A bit of fantasy with a twist of magic)
Last Known Contact
(A gripping standalone crime/romantic suspense
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Simple Words for Troubled Times
(Short non-fiction happiness and comfort book)
Prefer Audiobooks?
The Stationmaster’s Cottage
Jasmine Sea
The Secrets of Palmerston House
Simple Words for Troubled Times
Deadly Start
Deadly Falls
Till Daph Do Us Part
Three series in one world
Twelve books across three series - all connected by characters, themes, and lots of heart…
Rivers End came first. Four main books and three companion stories, revolving around old secrets in a tiny seaside town. It is part historical mystery romance, part contemporary women’s fiction, and a whole lot of small town values.
The Charlotte Dean Mysteries are set a few hours away from Rivers End, inland among old forests and striking landscapes. Kingfisher Falls is a town with many secrets and Charlotte -who first appeared in Rivers End - finds herself in the middle of solving them. A mix of traditional and cozy mystery with a gentle romance (or two).
The Daphne Jones Mysteries continue the story of Daphne and John, who were supporting characters in all the Rivers End books and appear in one of Charlotte’s. They have retired and travel in their cute caravan, Bluebell, to allow Daphne to officiate weddings and funerals. With her inner sleuth on high alert there is always something exciting going on. This series is cozy mystery but with a strong sense of family.
Check the Books by page or Phillipa’s website for the reader order of this world set in the beautiful rural countryside of Victoria, Australia.
Phillipa Nefri Clark, Taming the Wind
