PART 3
"Why is this called a widow's walk?" asked Nan, as they all climbed out onto the roof.
"They used to build 'em on houses out by the sea," explained Nick. "so sailors' wives could come up to watch for their husbands' ships to return. The thing is, sea-farin's a dangerous business, and a lot of those women were left watchin' and waitin' for ships that never came in."
"It certainly is a beautiful night," commented Jo, changing the subject. "Just look at all the stars."
They were all silent for a moment as they took in the spectacle around them. Nick raised his arm and pointed to a bright star, high in the sky. "That's Polaris, the North Star. Seamen and other travelers have used it to navigate at night for centuries."
"Show us a constellation," directed Nan, scanning the sky to see if she could pick out any kind of design.
Nick looked about for a moment, then grinned. "Now I warn you, a lot of these designs are rather… inventive. You're gonna have to use your imaginations a bit." He directed their attention to a cluster of stars. "That's the lady Andromeda. The story of Perseus and Andromeda is one of the great Greek love stories." Bess gave an approving smile, but Nan looked confused.
"That's supposed to be a woman?" she demanded.
"Like I said, you have to use your imagination. And some of the smaller stars are hard to see. The stars up top represent her head, then below is her body, with her arms stretched out 'cause she's chained to a rock."
"How come?" asked Nan, still looking doubtful.
"Well, her mother made Poseidon, the sea god, angry, so he sent a terrible sea monster to attack her parents' kingdom. The only way to appease the monster was to offer Andromeda as a sacrifice."
"Did he eat her?"
"No. Right before he was about to Perseus, who was a great hero, came along on his winged horse. He slayed the monster and took Andromeda to be his bride."
"Neat!" Nan exclaimed. "Tell us another one."
Bess yawned loudly. "It's getting rather late, and I'm tired. I think we should go in now, Nan."
Nan ignored the hint. "It's not so late. We could stay out a little longer."
"But we were going to get up early tomorrow," Bess "reminded" her pointedly. "And it's getting a little chilly up here."
Finally seeing that Bess was determined, Nan gave in. "Yeah, you're right," she agreed half-heartedly, with a hurried yawn. "We should go in."
But while Bess hurried to leave the couple alone, Nan followed slowly, hoping to hear just a little more before she left.
"Bess!" Nan exclaimed angrily as soon as they were back inside. "Why did we have to come inside so soon. Nick's stories were really interesting."
"They need to be alone," insisted Bess. "No matter how beautiful and romantic it is up on the roof, nothing is going to happen if we're there with them."
"Well, I think we could have stayed for one more story," pouted Nan.
"No. It really is getting late, and they'll be coming in soon enough as it is." Bess frowned, worried. "I don't know if this is going to work, Nan. We need them to be alone together for a longer period of time."
A sly grin suddenly crossed Nan's face. "How about all night?" she asked, nodding towards the latch on the door to the roof.
"Nan, do you really think we should? Lock them out there all night?"
"Why not? It's summer-it's not going to get too cold out there. And if it does they'll just have to keep each other warm!" announced Nan.
They both laughed, but Bess still seemed doubtful. "I don't know, Nan…"
"How about just for a couple of hours? We'll give them some time to be alone, then think of some excuse to look for Mrs. Jo--say you're feeling sick or something--and find them. A lot could happen in just a couple hours under a beautiful starry sky…"
Bess grinned, convinced, then reached up and latched the door.
"Dan!" Nat called into the barn. "Dan! Are you in here?"
"Back here!"
Nat found Dan sitting cross-legged next to the bird's box, trying to read the book he'd found by the light of his lantern. "Aren't you coming to bed?"
"In just a minute," promised Dan. "I'll be right up." Nat didn't leave, but stayed to see what Dan was doing. "I'm just worried about him," explained Dan. "I've checked him all over, and he doesn't seem to be hurt, but he won't leave the corner of the box. And the book doesn't tell me anything." He shut the book in his lap and set it aside.
"What does Nick say?"
"He says the bird will leave when he's ready. I wish I could believe him," said Dan softly.
"Nick knows what he's talking about," agreed Nat. "Maybe the bird's just tired. He has had a lot of excitement today. He'll get a good night's sleep, then leave in the morning, I bet. C'mon. Let's go get some rest ourselves."
"Alright," agreed Dan, casting back lingering looks as he picked up the lantern and followed Nat out of the barn. "I hope you're right."
"The girls certainly left in hurry," commented Jo, now alone with Nick on the roof.
Nick shrugged, "I don't think Bess was enjoyin' it as much as Nan was."
"Or as much as I am," added Jo, smiling.
Nick grinned, obviously pleased. He was secretly glad the Nan and Bess had left him alone with Jo. "Okay… Andromeda has Perseus, of course, on one side of her, and Cassiopeia on the other."
"Who's Cassiopeia?" asked Jo.
"Cassiopeia is Andromeda's mother."
"The one who angered the sea god."
Nick nodded. "Yeah. She was real vain, and claimed she was more beautiful than all the sea nymphs. So the nymphs complained to Poseidon, and he sent the sea monster to attack her kingdom. When the gods placed her in the sky, the put her in a throne that, 'cause of the movement of the stars, is upside down half the time, so she's very uncomfortable."
Jo looked in the direction when Nick had shown them Andromeda. "Where is she?"
Nick pointed. "Right there next to Andromeda. Looks kinda like a…" he thought for a moment. "a W."
Jo beamed at him, thrilled that he was taking something from their reading lessons and able to apply it. But his description didn't help. "I still don't see it," she told him.
"It's sorta on its side. See…" He pointed again, but could tell she still wasn't sure. He moved closer to her, leaning his head against hers so he could see what she was seeing. Then he pointed so she'd be able to look straight up his arm. "Right… there."
She smiled. "I see it."
"And there…" he moved his arm a little lower and to the right, indicating another cluster of stars, "is Perseus. He has one hand above his head holding a sword, and in his other hand-there-he has the head of Medusa, the gorgon."
They both stood for a moment, looking at the sky, and even though Jo had been able to pick out the constellations, Nick kept his head leaning against hers. But Jo finally pulled away. "We ought to go in--it's getting late."
"Yeah."
"Thank you, Nick," she said as they walked back towards the door. "I really enjoyed it."
"Anytime," offered Nick. "I know lots more stories. There are different ones for every season, as the skies change." He reached to open the door. "In the fall…" his words drifted away as he pulled on the door and it refused to open. He tried again and again, pulling and jiggling it in all different ways. "Jo… the door's stuck. I think we're trapped up here."
PART 4
