Call of the Sea Read Online Free Page A

into her father’s lounging chair, his scent rising from the upholstery like a specter, haunting her. How could he just leave?
    “I’m sorry, honey,” her mother said over her shoulder. “I know you’re disappointed.”
    Disappointed? Ellie rolled her eyes at the understatement. The aching chasm in her chest spoke of devastation, not mere disappointment.
    She glanced out the window. An hour wasn’t all that long. Maybe she could still see his ship on the horizon.
    After a bit more brooding, Ellie jumped from the chair and rushed for the front door. Her hand found the knob, and with a twist and pull, she was streaking across the dunes. Her mother called her name, but she kept running.
    She rounded the corner at a frantic pace and rushed down the path to the sea, startling a pair of lazing gulls into flight. Ellie searched for the sails of her father’s vessel on the bobbing crests of navy and white. When a quick sweep revealed nothing, she lifted a hand to shield her eyes from the descending sun. All she saw were the rolling waves, no sails and no ship.
    Ellie growled and plopped down in the sand. She drew her knees up to her chest and watched the crests tease their way along the beach. The breakers crept up the shore to tickle her bare toes before retreating, only to be absorbed by the next surging wave. She wondered if Papa was teaching his new cabin boy the ropes. Jealousy poked at her.
    A mewing sound to her left drew Ellie’s attention away from the sea. She didn’t see anything, so she tilted her head and closed her eyes. Concentrating on separating the sound of the surf from the other noises on the beach, she listened.
    A grunt.
    Her eyes shot open, zeroed in on the large rock formation in the center of the beach. Ellie pushed to her feet and brushed damp sand from her rump. The hair on her arms stood on end as she crept closer to the boulders.
    Another grunt sounded, weaker than the first, followed by a high-pitched squeal.
    Ellie’s steps halted.
    What if it’s some kind of monster, or a giant sea creature with sharp gnashing teeth? She twisted and eyed the path winding up the bluffs, glanced back at the rocks.
    What to do?
    “Don’t be a coward, Ellie.” She urged her feet to move. One step with her left foot, then the right. Her fingers clasped and released the thin material of her nightgown.
    Steady, now. Just a few more steps.
    When a loud cry rang out from behind the outcropping, Ellie balled her hands at her sides, bit back her fear, and rushed forward. Reaching the rocks, she closed her eyes and tried to slow her breathing while she waited for her heartbeat to stop pounding in her ears.
    Calmer, Ellie scaled the giant boulder hand over hand. At the top, she took a deep breath and peeked over the rock edge to the sand on the other side.
    A shiny russet shape met her gaze.
    She drew back. A seal? Ellie gnawed on her lower lip. I was afraid of a silly seal? She stifled a giggle. Chastising herself for being paranoid, she climbed down from her perch and skirted around to the back of the boulders.
    Huge brown eyes lifted to meet hers. The seal shifted to its side and let out another pathetic cry.
    Ellie tilted her head and moved closer, looking over the seal for any signs of injury. “Are you hurt?” She dropped to her knees beside the animal.
    The seal tried to flop away, furry skin bunching and twisting as it pressed its round body against the rocks. It tucked its head beneath a front flipper.
    “You don’t have to hide. I won’t hurt you, I promise.” Ellie held her hands up, palms out. “See? No net.”
    The seal whimpered and rolled onto its back, revealing a long ragged gash along the bottom of his tail flipper.
    “You are hurt.” Ellie knelt down and reached for the frightened beast. “Let me help you.”
    To her surprise, the seal inched closer.
    She held its tail and studied the wound. She tested the edges of the gash as gently as possible. “It’s not as bad as it looks. The cut