WE’LL MEET TOMORROW
Chapter One

June, 1912

The Dawson farm came into view at last as Michael Cross steered his dappled gray mare, Snowball, a little to the left. Two months had passed since the sinking of the Titanic, two months since he had arrived with the Jack, Rose, and their family in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. He pulled on the reins so the horse would stop, and glanced over his shoulder.

The sun was setting, filling the sky with a brilliant orange and purplish glow. He could hear a few whinnies in the distance as two more horses, one black and one brown, came up from behind. Occupying each of the animals were Mac Dawson, Jack’s daughter, who had turned eight in May, and the Grand Duchess Anastasia.

Mac rode like a cowboy, her legs straddled over either side of the horse. This, to most of society, was considered very unusual behavior for a girl, but she was certainly not…well…usual. Mac was a tomboy who preferred pants to dresses and enjoyed boy’s games as well as hiking and fishing instead of needlepoint and cooking.

She beamed as she came to a stop beside Michael, bending forward to stroke her horse’s neck. "Where is Anastasia?" Michael asked as Ebony, Mac’s black stallion, bobbed his head impatiently, snorting.

"Taking her sweet time, as usual," Mac growled.

"You two were riding much too quickly!" Anastasia gasped after pulling Apple Cider to a stop as well.

"If you’d agreed to learn how to ride with one leg on each side, then it wouldn’t be a problem," Mac retorted. Anastasia, being the youngest daughter of Tsar Nicholas II, had been brought up to ride sidesaddle, as was customary for ladies of the day. She shared most of Mac’s tomboyish antics, but her royal blood was still thick.

"You’re not riding in a dress!" Anastasia snapped back.

"We’d better get back to the stables quickly," Michael hissed, noticing a tall figure appearing at the parlor window.

"Oh, dear," Anastasia breathed, following Michael and Mac at a canter towards the riding ring.

*****

Inside, Jack Dawson heaved a sigh, rubbing his forehead wearily. Ever since he had purchased the horses, they seemed to be more trouble than they were worth. He turned and headed into the kitchen, where Rose stood at the stove and Coddie Anna was setting the table.

"Any sign of them yet?" Rose asked quietly as Jack kissed her on the cheek.

"Yes, thank God."

Coddie Anna glanced up from where she stood, her lips fixed in what seemed to be a permanent scowl. Ever since Rose left her fiancé, Cal, and decided to marry Jack, the eleven-year-old girl had held him in great contempt. She refused to speak to him unless absolutely necessary, and spent more time than was healthy sitting in the parlor and staring blankly at the wall.

"Don’t be too hard on them, Jack," Rose begged after taking the ham out of the oven and setting it in the center of the table. "Thank you, dear," she told Coddie Anna, who turned on her heel and stalked off.

"Is it too much to ask me for permission to go out riding?" Jack asked, raising his arms in exasperation. "Just because I might be sleeping a bit more than usual these days doesn’t mean I don’t have authority!" He heard the front door open slowly, and Rose turned back to dinner, not wanting to become involved.

"Coddie Anna? Can you help me carry the rest of the food to the table?" Rose called as Jack stepped into the front hall. Mac was the first to enter the house, and it was easy to decipher her expression of guilt. Michael and Anastasia came in next, and all three stood staring at him.

"Sir, it’s my fault." Michael immediately spoke, and Mac nudged his arm. "I didn’t stop them."

"No, it’s mine," she added. "I was bored."

"I suggested we go and look at the horses," Anastasia added, and Jack narrowed his eyes at each of them.

Coddie Anna paused halfway from the counter to the table and peered down the hall. The idea that Mac and Anastasia might both be in big trouble gave her a great sense of pleasure.

"Coddie Anna, you know better than to eavesdrop," Rose warned, and gave her daughter an encouraging nudge.

"Do you realize how worried I was when the horses were gone?" Jack asked, his voice cold.

"We didn’t think it would take that long, Papa," Mac told him. "But…"

"Either way," Jack continued, "it was very irresponsible. You could have gotten lost, or hurt, and we would not have had the slightest idea of where to look! When I agreed that you could take the horses out every now and again, I meant within proximity of the house. They’re still not quite broken in yet, and could have easily thrown you."

"We’re sorry," Mac said in a quiet voice, her head bowed, and Jack cleared his throat.

"Well, that will not stop you from receiving a punishment. You have to learn to follow instructions properly, Mac. But I am not quite sure what the punishment will be, so we will discuss it after supper. Go wash up and come to the kitchen."

Mac, Michael, and Anastasia shuffled upstairs, not saying a single word.

Jack joined Rose and Coddie Anna at the table shortly afterwards, and Rose touched his arm. "That was well-handled," she told him with a nod of approval, and he looked at her.

"What am I going to do with them?" he asked, coughing.

"They’ll learn to behave." She kissed his hand. "I’m sure that once school begins, things will calm down."

"Speaking of school," Jack added, "I think I’ve decided that I am going to accept that position at the art school that Olivia told us about when she was over the other day." He took a sip of his water and continued.

"Oh, Jack, that’s wonderful!" Rose cried. Jack, still recovering from a bad case of pneumonia, had not been strong enough to work since they arrived in America. These days, he was feeling considerably better, though he was busy taking care of things around his parents’ house. As far as money was concerned, they were fairly well-off, for the time being, anyway.

When they first reached New York, Coddie Anna had discovered that Cal had accidentally left five hundred dollars in twenties in a coat he gave her. Also, Anastasia had written to her father, despite Jack’s protests, to replace the rubles he’d earned working as a guard. That had come shortly after Mac’s birthday, and with part of it, they had purchased the three horses. The rest went to final repairs on the farm, including the building of a new barn, since the original one had burned down in the same fire that had, unfortunately, taken Jack’s parents’ with it.

Mac, Michael, and Anastasia finally appeared in the kitchen, taking their usual seats at the table. Michael sat between Coddie Anna and Anastasia, and Mac sat next to her father on the opposite side of Rose.

"I trust you enjoyed your ride?" Rose asked as they began helping themselves to the food, and Mac wet her lips.

"Er…" She looked at Coddie Anna, who glared daggers at her. Mac glared back, and then looked at her father.

"Papa, please just say you’ll ground us," Mac begged, and he managed a small smile.

"Mac, I told you I would think about it over dinner," he replied.

"Just take into consideration that when your father gives you orders, you are to follow them," Rose continued. "They aren’t to be taken lightly."

Michael nodded, and all three of them replied, "Yes, ma’am."

Dinner continued in its usual fashion, though with less chatter. Anastasia and Mac kept stealing looks at each other between bites, and it took a lot of willpower not to burst into giggles.

"Did you tell Rose about the position?" Mac finally spoke, catching Michael’s eye and smiling at him.

"I did," he replied, and Mac beamed.

Anastasia finally couldn’t take it anymore and began giggling uncontrollably for no particular reason. Everyone was watching her with surprise, and after a few moments of staring, Michael began chuckling, too.

"What’s so funny?" Jack asked, and Anastasia shrugged, her eyes sparkling. Every time she tried to stop herself, she would only make it worse, and soon, Mac began giggling as well.

After a few moments, everyone burst into laughter, with the exception of Coddie Anna, who was staring at them as though they had gone completely insane.

"You know," Mac said suddenly, "if you keep scowling like that, your face’ll stay that way, though it wouldn’t be a bad look for you, either."

Coddie Anna shoved her chair back, and, without a single word, stomped out of the kitchen. Jack sighed, looking at Rose.

"Now you’ve gone and done it," Anastasia whispered.

"Mac, you know better than to tease her like that," Jack scolded, and Mac looked at him.

"Well, she deserved it," she snapped, "for being a great big sourpuss all the time!"

"Hold your tongue," Jack warned.

Rose set her fork down. "I’ll go and talk to her," she said, and Jack shook his head.

"Let her be," he said. "When she’s ready, she’ll come around."

"I thought it would take less time than this," Rose told him. "I’m so sorry, Jack."

"This is hard on her," he replied. "She lost her father, and she thinks I’m trying to replace him."

"I lost my mother," Mac cried, "and I don’t think Rose is going to replace her! I know why she’s acting like a brat! It’s because she liked Cal best because he was rich and you’re not!"

Rose’s face turned pale, and she had to turn away.

"Mac, enough!" Jack snapped, and Mac stared at him. Anastasia and Michael sat uncomfortably silent, having lost interest in their meals. "Go to your room right now."

"But…"

"Now," Jack repeated, his voice menacing. She gave a huff, and, after shooting her friends apologetic glances, stomped out of the room in Coddie Anna’s wake. She reached the room she shared with Anastasia and flung herself on her bed, weeping. She was not at all ashamed of her father’s social status, but the thought that other people looked down on him because of it infuriated her. Especially after Rose and Coddie Anna knew about their royal connections, Coddie Anna still refused to approve of her mother’s choice.

When Jack eventually came upstairs after supper ended and the table cleared away, he heard soft sobbing from Mac’s room. Lowering his head, he knocked gently on the door. "Honey, can I come in?"

There was a pause, and finally, a small voice responded with, "Yes."

Jack opened the door and found Mac lying on her stomach, her face buried in her arms. He sat down next to her on the bed and stroked her strawberry blonde hair gently. "Mac, what happened tonight?" he asked, and she gave a great sniff, allowing one eye to show.

"I don’t know," she croaked, and he encouraged her to sit up so he could hug her.

"Mac, teasing Coddie Anna isn’t going to help anything. She’s having a hard time adjusting, and we have to be understanding of that. And you have to learn to control your temper, all right?" He offered his handkerchief, which Mac accepted gratefully. After she blew her nose and wiped her eyes, she took a deep breath.

"I don’t know. I guess…I’m just so mad at her." She hiccoughed. "She keeps glaring at us and won’t talk at all. You’re trying to be nice to her, and she’s ignoring everything. Why can’t she just…accept that Rose is happier with you than she was with Cal?"

Jack kissed the top of her head. "Honey, it probably isn’t just Cal, though I’m sure she did like him. Some people have a more difficult time handling change. This is a big change for her. I remember how uncomfortable you were after you came to live with me for the first time. You were used to living in a nice house, having nice food on the table, and clean clothes every day at Aunt Olivia’s."

Mac nodded. "Yes, but I didn’t hate you for taking me away from it," she insisted.

"That’s because you’re my daughter." Jack chuckled.

"I’m sure some daughters can’t stand their fathers," Mac pointed out, and he laughed again.

"I’m sure that’s true."

"I remember hearing Aunt Olivia read the letters you sent her about all the traveling you were doing, and I thought how exciting it must be to have a father who could go wherever he wanted whenever he pleased. I always wanted to go on a great adventure. When Aunt Olivia told me you were poor, I didn’t care at all…you loved me…you always asked about me in the letters, and that was all that mattered."

Jack hugged her tightly just as Anastasia peeked through the door. "Is everything all right?" she asked, and Jack motioned for her to come in. Michael stood a few feet away, watching.

"Sir, I’ll be up at dawn to take care of the horses," he began, and Jack, after releasing Mac, looked at him.

"And so will you, my dear," Jack added, and Mac stared, horrified.

"What?" she cried, and he nodded.

"I believe I’ve decided on your punishment. You will get up with Michael and help him with the horses every morning for the next week."

"But…" Mac pouted. "I was hoping…"

"Sweetie, sometimes lessons need to be learned the hard way." He kissed her. "Michael, you will wake her when you get up."

Anastasia swallowed. "Aren’t I going to be punished too, Jack? I took part as well. It wouldn’t be fair if I did not get in trouble as well!"

Mac stared at her friend. "You’re asking for a punishment?" she asked.

"You don’t have to feel badly about giving me a punishment, too," Anastasia insisted. "I don’t want special treatment because I’m a princess."

Mac snickered and felt her shift beside her.

"Well, I suppose you may join them, then," he replied.

"All right. I’ll know more than my sisters do when I get home…how to clean a stable and take care of horses!" She smiled and gave Jack a hug.

"Well," Jack began, "thank you, Michael. I am going to speak to Rose in private, and I think I am going to turn in early again. My head is aching."

Mac frowned after he kissed her and Anastasia and left their bedroom. "Sorry," Michael apologized when both girls glared at him.

"I would rather have been grounded," Mac muttered, crumpling her father’s handkerchief in her palm.

"Well, look on the bright side," Michael began, sitting beside her. "At least you get to go outside."

"Yes," Anastasia agreed. "When you’re grounded, you’re not allowed out at all!"

Mac sighed and whacked both of her friends over the heads with pillows.

*****

Jack found Rose sitting in the living room, gazing out the window. It was officially dark now, and a gentle breeze blew through the slightly open window. "Are you okay, Rose?" Jack asked, startling her a little as he sat down.

"Jack," she breathed. "Mac may be right about Coddie Anna. She’s been so heavily influenced by my mother and the rest of upper class society over the past few years since her father died. I’m afraid you can’t easily break an old habit."

Jack smiled, kissing her. "Rose, I am sure Coddie Anna will learn that money isn’t everything. I’ll try my best to make it as comfortable as possible for her to live here. As you said, I think things will fall into place once school starts….she’ll be able to meet people her own age."

Rose took Jack’s hand and squeezed it tight, pointing towards the window. "Isn’t it beautiful here, Jack? You were so lucky to have grown up in an area like this. Philadelphia was so dirty and cramped." She leaned against his shoulder. "Oh, Jack, I love you so much," she added as he nuzzled her neck.

"I love you, too, Rose," he replied. "I think I’m going up to bed early…I have a splitting headache." He glanced at the old grandfather clock in the corner, which read 8:30.

"I’m sorry, Jack," Rose said softly. "Would you like some tea?"

He shook his head. "No, but thank you. Are you going to sit up a while?"

Rose nodded. "I think so…a little while, anyway. Good night, dear," she added after Jack gave her another kiss and headed back up the stairs.

Rose made herself a cup of tea after she had the downstairs half of the house to herself, and decided to sit out on the porch and get a breath of fresh air. Jack was unable to sit out with her for long because of his hay fever, but she loved to sit and gaze at the stars for hours. Everything was so open and endless in this part of America, and she wondered just how anyone could prefer the city to this.

It was nearly ten o’clock when she finally came in for the night, and the house was silent. She set her mug on the kitchen counter, and, using a candle, made her way up the narrow staircase to the bedrooms. She peeked in Coddie Anna’s single room, noticing that she had already gotten into her nightgown and under the covers. She was sound asleep with a book open over her stomach. Rose tiptoed over to the bed and eased the book out of her hands, setting it on the nightstand, and pulled the blankets closer to her daughter’s neck.

Coddie Anna merely shifted in her sleep, not actually waking up. Rose turned down the lamp and made her way to the bedroom she shared with Jack. He was snoring loudly, a noise Rose was slowly learning to get used to. She blew out the candle after dressing in her own nightgown and slid into bed beside her husband.

"Good night, Jack," she whispered, wrapping her arms around him and letting sleep take over.

Chapter Two
Stories