Call of the Sea Read Online Free Page B

isn’t all that deep, but you could do with a bandage.”
    After a moment to contemplate her options, Ellie yanked at her nightgown, tearing the decorative strip from the hem. She held up the frayed white fabric and grinned wide. “Bandages.”
    It took more effort than she’d imagined to secure the strip of material on the seal’s slippery tail. Her tongue poked from between her teeth while she concentrated on her ministrations.
    Satisfied the bandage was secure, Ellie sat back on her heels. “There. Good as new.” She shrugged, grinned. “Sort of.”
    “Ellie!”
    Ellie jumped to her feet and swung her gaze to the bluffs.
    Her mother stood at the top of the pathway, hands on hips.
    “Coming!” Turning back to the seal, she frowned. “I gotta go, but I’ll come back in the morning to check on you. You make sure to stay here and rest.” She wagged a finger. “No swimming, you hear? You’ll get your bandage all wet.”
    The seal only stared back at her.
    Ellie smiled. “Good boy.” Giggling, she spun and raced up the beach toward her mother’s waiting form.
    ***
    Daniel watched Ellie until she reached the top of the cliffs. Once she disappeared over the edge of the crag, he turned his attention to the white material strapped to his tail. Her touch had been gentle for a child, and he was confident the superficial wound would heal in no time.
    Then what?
    He rolled onto his stomach. Despite exhaustive thought, he still didn’t quite understand how the captain expected him to befriend the girl without revealing his identity. At least the first step had been accomplished. Ellie knew he existed and her curiosity had been piqued. Daniel had every confidence she’d keep her word and return the next day.
    For the time being, it would have to be enough.

 
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Four
     
    Daniel lay prone on what had become his usual rock, basking in the sunlight while he waited for Ellie to arrive. He’d managed to milk his self-inflicted wound for a full week, but she intended to take off the bandages when she came back. If he wanted to keep her occupied as the captain requested, he needed a new plan.
    Communicating without the benefit of speech had been no easy task. His grunts and barks didn’t translate into anything Ellie could understand, though he had to give her credit for effort. The way she screwed up her face when she tried to decipher his attempts at speech always made his whiskers twitch with mirth.
    “Come on down here, lazy bones.”
    Daniel twisted his head to find Ellie standing at the base of his perch squinting up at him. He sniffed the air. Herring? His gaze fell to the bucket she held in her right hand. Where did she get herring? He flopped onto his belly, and with a wiggle of his rotund body, slid down the rocks to land at her feet. Not one to stand on ceremony, or permission, Daniel stuffed his snout into the bucket of fish.
    Ellie yanked it away, laughing. “Hey, now. Where are your manners?”
    Daniel barked his disapproval. The healed wound could wait. He smacked his lips in anticipation.
    “Bandages first,” Ellie said, her mouth set in a grim line.
    After a rub of his whiskers, Daniel blew a grunt and rolled to his side. He lifted his tail for her inspection.
    She giggled and dropped to her knees at his side, wisely setting the bucket out of his reach. “Good boy.” She set to work undoing the bandage, her little pink tongue jutting between her teeth.
    Daniel watched her face twist and contort with rapt amusement.
    She finished removing the bandage and poked along the thin line where the wound had been. When he didn’t react with his usual exaggerated whimper, she smiled wide. “You’re right as rain. I bet there won’t even be a scar.”
    He flopped onto his stomach and sniffed in the direction of the bucket. Give the pet his treat now.
    Ellie rolled her eyes. “Oh, all right, breakfast time.” She reached back and grabbed the pail, setting it before him.
    Daniel