Penny said no more, though she was thinking of the conversation overheard while at the factory gatehouse. Even if Jack took no interest, she decided she would try to do what she could herself. But there really seemed no place to begin.
“If you get any good ideas, I’ll be glad to help,” Jack said as if reading her thoughts. “Just to barge ahead without any plan, doesn’t make sense to me.”
Penny knew that he was right. Much as she desired to help clear Sally, she had no definite scheme in mind.
As the pair turned to leave the docks, they heard a shout from across the water. The Cat’s Paw, with canvas spread wide, was sailing before the wind, directly toward the island. Sally, at the tiller, signaled that she wanted to talk to them.
The boat came in like a house afire, but though the landing was fast, it was skillful. Sally looped a rope around the dock post, but did not bother to tie up.
“Penny,” she said breathlessly. “I didn’t get half a chance to thank you this afternoon for helping me in the race.”
“I didn’t do anything,” Penny laughed. “I merely went along for the ride.”
“That may be your story, but everyone who saw the race knows better. What I really came here for is to ask you to spend the night with me aboard the River Queen. We’ll have a chance to get better acquainted.”
The invitation caught Penny by surprise. Sally mistook her hesitation for reluctance.
“Probably you don’t feel you want to leave here,” she said quickly. “It was just one of those sudden ideas of mine.”